Document Document Title
US09721370B2 Kinetic sequencer for IoT devices
A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for memorizing a configuration sequence comprising: capturing an image of a device to be configured; recording a configuration sequence of physical movements performed by a user when configuring the device to provide a recorded configuration sequence; overlaying the sequence of physical movements with the image of the device to provide an overlaid image of the configuration sequence; and, storing the sequence of physical movements and the overlaid image of the configuration sequence.
US09721369B2 Systems and methods for utilizing multiple map portions from multiple map data sources
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can acquire a request for a map of a particular region. A first set of one or more map portions for representing a first portion of the particular region can be identified based on the particular region. The first set can be associated with a first map data source. A second set of one or more map portions for representing a second portion of the particular region can be identified based on the particular region. The second set can be associated with a second map data source. The map of the particular region can be generated based on a combination of the first set and the second set.
US09721367B2 Apparatus, method and medium for editing symbol images
An apparatus and a method for editing symbol images can convert characters of various languages or numerals to symbol images, or can output the characters or numerals by analyzing the symbol images. The symbol images may symbolically represent the Korean characters, and at least one of symbolized objects may be arranged in a part of divided spaces by dividing the space so as to separate initial consonants, medial consonants, and final consonants of the character in the predetermined divided spaces for expressing at least one character.
US09721365B2 Low latency modification of display frames
This disclosure generally provides an input device that includes a by-pass path for improving latency between a touch controller and a display driver. In one embodiment, the by-pass path directly connects the touch controller and display driver, thereby by-passing a host processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or graphic processing unit (GPU)) in the input device. By doing so, the input device can detect user input and update a display to reflect the user input faster than if the display driver had to wait until updated display frames are sent from the host processor. For example, the host processor may transmit touch data received from the touch controller to an application that uses the touch data to change the display. In some input devices, this process can take hundreds of milliseconds, which may be enough time for the user to notice a delay.
US09721361B2 Systems and methods for parallel processing of imaging information
A method for iteratively reconstructing an image is provided. The method includes acquiring, with a detector, computed tomography (CT) imaging information. The method also includes generating, with at least one processor, sinogram information from the CT imaging information. Further, the method includes generating, with the at least one processor, image domain information from the CT imaging information. Also, the method includes updating the image using the sinogram information. The method further includes updating the image using the image domain information. Updating the image using the sinogram information and updating the image using the image domain information are performed separately and alternately in an iterative fashion.
US09721360B2 System for processing magnetic resonance images using automatic segmenting
An apparatus and method for performing automatic 3D image segmentation and reconstruction of organ structures, which is particularly well-suited for use on cortical surfaces is presented. A brain extraction process removes non-brain image elements, then classifies brain tissue as to type in preparation for a cerebrum segmentation process that determines which portions of the image information belong to specific physiological structures. Ventricle filling is performed on the image data based on information from a ventricle extraction process. A reconstruction process follows in which specific surfaces, such as white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM), are reconstructed.
US09721358B2 Method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium for video-based circular object localization
A method and a system for localizing at least one circular object in a video frame captured by an image capture unit are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: A. performing edge detection to obtain a plurality of image edge points in the video frame; B. extracting a contour set of image contours by linking neighboring edge points; C. generating a plurality of circle samples from the extracted contour set by a structural sampling process; and D. localizing the at least one circular object from the generated circle samples by calculating a respective fitness score for each of the circle samples to measure the supporting evidence of the image edge points on a neighborhood of each of the circle samples, and by choosing the circle sample(s) whose fitness score(s) is/are greater than a threshold value as the circular object(s) found in the video frame.
US09721356B2 Methods and systems for programatically identifying shapes in graphical artifacts
Methods and systems are provided for processing a graphical artifact. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, a graphical artifact having at least one unknown graphical element; determining, by the processor, graphical features of the unknown graphical element; computing, by the processor, a plurality of similarity scores based on the features of the unknown graphical element and features of a plurality of known graphical elements; and storing data associated with the unknown graphical element with data associated with a known graphical element based on the plurality of similarity scores.
US09721350B2 Methods circuits devices systems and associated computer executable code for video feed processing
Disclosed are methods, circuits, devices, systems and associated executable code for multi factor image feature registration and tracking, wherein utilized factors include both static and dynamic parameters within a video feed. Assessed factors may originate from a heterogeneous set of sensors including both video and audio sensors. Acoustically acquired scene information may supplement optically acquired information.
US09721348B2 Apparatus and method for raw-cost calculation using adaptive window mask
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for calculating a raw-cost necessary for combining images into one image by matching of stereo images. The raw-cost calculation apparatus includes an image acquirer, a window generator, a window mask generator, a window masker, and a raw-cost calculator. In the raw-cost calculation apparatus and method, a raw cost may be calculated by using an adaptive window mask so that accurate 3D information may be obtained on the boundary of thin structures even when stereo images are matched and combined.
US09721344B2 Multi-aperture depth map using partial blurring
The present disclosure overcomes the limitations of the prior art by using partial blur kernels, rather than using full blur kernels. For example, single-sided blur kernels may be used in order to accommodate different edge orientations. In one aspect, the single-sided blur kernels may be used in order to accommodate edges caused by occlusions, where the two sides of the edge are at different depths.
US09721340B2 Systems, methods and devices for analyzing quantitative information obtained from radiological images
An example method for analyzing quantitative information obtained from radiological images includes identifying a ROI or a VOI in a radiological image, segmenting the ROI or the VOI from the radiological image and extracting quantitative features that describe the ROI or the VOI. The method also includes creating a radiological image record including the quantitative features, imaging parameters of the radiological image and clinical parameters and storing the radiological image record in a data structure containing a plurality of radiological image records. In addition, the method includes receiving a request with the patient's radiological image or information related thereto, analyzing the data structure to determine a statistical relationship between the request and the radiological image records and generating a patient report with a diagnosis, a prognosis or a recommended treatment regimen for the patient's disease based on a result of analyzing the data structure.
US09721339B2 Device having digital infrared sensor and non-touch optical detection of amplified temporal variation of vital signs
A microprocessor is operably coupled to a camera from which patient vital signs are determined and a digital infrared sensor. A temporal variation of images from the camera is generated and amplified from which the patient vital signs, such as heart rate or respiratory rate, can be determined and displayed or stored and temperature is determined from digital infrared sensor.
US09721336B2 Tomographic imaging of multiphase flows
Tomographic reconstruction is performed of cross-sectional images of downhole or surface multiphase flows containing water (brine), oil, and gas phases. Measures are obtained of digital transmission (or analog attenuation) and also of analog transit time to form two views of the same cross sectional flow in a location of interest in a flow conduit. The measures are then merged by synthesizing a composite image of the multiphase flows. Rather than performing a complex tomographic reconstruction requiring a large number of calculations, measures are also obtained directly from the tomographic pattern which can be used to reconstruct an approximation of the cross sectional flow by the superposition of circles of variable position, radius and density representing flow patterns.
US09721328B2 Method to enhance contrast with reduced visual artifacts
A method to enhance the contrast of a set of pixels each pixels being characterized by a set of color attributes comprising the steps of: determining a first property of the set of pixels; determining a second property of the set of pixels; determining, for each pixel of the set of pixels, a first property of said pixel; and modifying the color attributes of each pixel of the set of pixels as a function of the first and second property of the set of pixels and the first property of said pixel.
US09721325B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes an exaggeration unit configured to perform on an original image including a hand-drawn element an exaggeration process that expands the hand-drawn element to generate an exaggerated image; and a reduction unit configured to reduce the exaggerated image to generate a reduced image of a predetermined size smaller than a size of the original image.
US09721323B2 Semiconductor device, electronic apparatus, and image processing method
A semiconductor device 1 includes an image input unit 11 and an image output unit 12. The image input unit 11 receives first image data from a camera 91 and outputs second image data to a memory unit 93 through a shared bus 130. The image output unit 12 receives the second image data stored in the memory unit 93 through the shared bus 130 and outputs third image data to a monitor 92. The third image data is generated by performing an affine-conversion on the first image data. Magnification processing in the affine-conversion is not performed in the image input unit 11. In this way, it is possible to provide an excellent semiconductor device suitable for image processing or the like.
US09721321B1 Automated interactive dynamic audio/visual performance with integrated data assembly system and methods
The computer applications, user devices, methods, and/or systems described herein provide a user with automated tools to facilitate creating dynamic, interactive performances of visualizations that utilize datasets of various digital/web content provided from various data sources and types without loss of access to underlying data used to create the performance.
US09721319B2 Tap and wireless payment methods and devices
Example embodiments include methods and apparatus for exchanging, using a contactless interface included in a portable device, transaction information associated with an electronic merchant device when the portable device is brought into close proximity to a contactless interface associated with the electronic merchant device, with the information identifying the electronic merchant device and identifying a handover wireless network connected to the electronic merchant device and with information including security credentials required to form a secure connection, establishing a persistent, secure wireless connection with the electronic merchant device, using a wireless network interface in the portable device and the transaction information, over the handover wireless network and exchanging transaction messages between the portable device and the electronic merchant device over the persistent, secure wireless connection during a shopping interval.
US09721318B2 Method for watermarking a three dimensional object and method for obtaining a payload from a three dimensional object
A method for watermarking a three-dimensional object is disclosed. The watermarking method comprises computing shape descriptor of a local neighborhood of a current vertex among the plurality of vertices of the three-dimensional object; obtaining a target shape descriptor from the shape descriptor using a quantization grid associated with a watermark payload; and modifying said local neighborhood wherein a position of at least one vertex of said local neighborhood is modified such that a shape descriptor of said modified local neighborhood is close to said target shape descriptor and wherein said current vertex is not modified.A method for obtaining payload from a three-dimensional object, a 3D object carrying a watermark and devices implementing the disclosed methods are further disclosed.
US09721317B2 Pillow display cart
A cart for marketing bedding is provided that includes a rack including a plurality of vertical support members and at least one tray positioned between the support members. The tray includes a plurality of compartments. A pillow is disposed in each of the compartments. Each of the pillows has a different configuration. Methods of use are provided.
US09721315B2 Claim processing validation system
A system evaluates processing rules used for processing claim data related to reimbursement for provision of healthcare to a patient by specific payer organizations. The system includes at least one repository of information including first claim data. The first claim data processing rules and associated output data comprise first claim result information derived by applying the first claim data processing rules to the first claim data. The system also includes a source of a second claim data processing rule and a rules processor for applying the second claim data processing rule to the first claim data in deriving second claim result information corresponding to the first claim result information. A comparator compares the second claim result information with the first claim result information to identify changed result data elements and associated data fields in a claim form used in obtaining reimbursement in response to a claim. An output processor provides data representing a visual display image highlighting data fields associated with the changed result data elements.
US09721312B2 Customized electric power storage device for inclusion in a microgrid
An electric power storage device included in a microgrid is described herein. The electric power storage device has at least one of a charge rate, a discharge rate, or a power retention capacity that has been customized for the microgrid. The at least one of the charge rate, the discharge rate, or the power retention capacity of the electric power storage device is computed based at least in part upon specified power source parameters in the microgrid and specified load parameters in the microgrid.
US09721307B2 Identifying entities based on free text in member records
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for identifying entities (such as companies) that are associated with members of an online social network. During operation, the system obtains text strings from member records in the online social network, wherein each text string is an identifier for an entity that is associated with a member. The system also obtains connection information specifying connections among members of the online social network, and possibly location information for the members. Finally, the system uses the text strings, the connection information and the location information to identify entities that are associated with members of the online social network.
US09721304B1 Vehicle damage assessment using 3D scanning
Automated claims adjustment is engineered to receive submission of two-dimensional data or three-dimensional data from a structured-light scan and other pieces of information directly via a mobile device. Upon receiving sufficient information to open a claim, automated claims adjustment and settlement processes are executed aiding and guiding a claimant. This reduces the time involved by the claimant in waiting for a claims adjuster to manually review a specific case file.
US09721303B2 Audit performance evaluation
Audit performance systems and methods can be used to provide objective assessment of the performance of claim administrators. Data from audits performed by one or more insurance broker consultants can be input into the audit performance system, and analyzed, to generate reports that compare the performance of a selected claim administrator to an industry standard level of performance or to one or more other claim administrators.
US09721298B2 Trade-credit exchange apparatus
An apparatus configured with software that enables participants to exchange trade-credit comprising one or more databases and processing components and which utilizes automated value matching algorithms and trade search engine algorithms to discover and process exchange paths.
US09721296B1 Learning an entity's trust model and risk tolerance to calculate a risk score
Systems and methods are described herein for learning an entity's trust model and risk tolerance. An entity's trust score may be calculated based on data from a variety of data sources, and this data may be combined according to a set of weights which reflect an entity's trust model and risk tolerance. For example, an entity may weight data of a certain type more heavily for certain types of transactions and another type of data more heavily for other transactions. By gathering data about the entity, a system may predict the entity's trust model and risk tolerance and adjust the set of weights accordingly for calculating trust scores. Furthermore, by monitoring how entities adjust weights for different transaction types, default weighting profiles may be created that are customized for specific transaction types. As another example, an entity's trust score, as reported to a requesting entity, may be adjusted based on that requesting entity's own trust model, or how “trusting” the requesting entity is.
US09721286B2 System and method for tracking purchases
A novel method for obtaining transaction information includes receiving a first transaction record including data indicative of one or more products purchased by a first purchaser from a first merchant, storing the data included in the first record, receiving a second transaction record including electronic data indicative of one or more products purchased by the purchaser from a second merchant, storing the data included in the second record, and providing the first purchaser access to the first transaction record and the said second transaction record. The method is performed on a handheld device which is carried by the first purchaser. A point-of-sale system is also disclosed and includes: a processing, a product interface operative to receive product data, memory operative to store a first transaction record, and a transaction record interface operative to output electronic data indicative of the first transaction record.
US09721281B2 Computer-readable storage medium having stored therein information processing program, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method
An example computer-readable storage medium stores an information processing program, and this information processing program causes a computer of an information processing apparatus 10A to function as a close proximity communication unit 13 and an information processing unit 12. The close proximity communication unit 13 receives communication history data indicating a history of communication of application data by an information processing apparatus 10C by close proximity communication from the information processing apparatus 10C by close proximity communication. The information processing unit 12 performs predetermined information processing with the communication history data received by the close proximity communication unit 13 as a parameter.
US09721279B2 Determining mobile operators for mobile devices
Determining a mobile operator for a mobile device. The mobile operator is determined using one or more of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and a current operator name (CON) and service provider name (SPN) pair. Correlations between the IMSI and mobile operators, and between the CON/SPN pairs and mobile operators, are maintained. Correlations between unrecognized CON/SPN pairs and mobile operators are created based on a quantity of requests received from the mobile devices. In some embodiments, identifying the mobile operator enables financial transactions by the mobile device when visiting, for example, a mobile applications store.
US09721274B2 Modifying tailored content based upon a service dialog
The present disclosure identifies and/or delivers tailored content based upon a service dialog. For example, the systems may receive a request for tailored content, facilitate a service dialog to obtain information related to the request, and communicate a plurality of tailored content based upon the information related to the request. Further, the systems may identify tailored content based upon a consumer profile, communicate the tailored content to a web client, and/or receive a selection of the tailored content. Further still, the systems may modify a magazine (e.g., content that is presented electronically) based upon tailored content.
US09721271B2 Methods and apparatus to incorporate saturation effects into marketing mix models
Methods and apparatus to incorporate saturation effects into marketing mix models are disclosed. A disclosed method includes calculating adstocked gross rating points associated with an advertising campaign during segments of a period of time. The adstocked gross rating points are based on raw gross rating points corresponding to the advertising campaign. The raw gross rating points are delivered during the segments of the period of time. The example method further includes calculating an effective reach realized during the segments of the period of time for the advertising campaign. The effective reach realized is based on the adstocked gross rating points.
US09721270B2 Integrating communications services with personalized social networks
Communications services are integrated with personalized selections of content and with social networks. A computer of an interactive system determines that an initiating communications party is associated with a personal content account external to the communications service provider. Personalized selections of content are provided from the personal content account to the initiating communications party during the communications session. The computer of the interactive system may also determine an agent to assign to the communication session in accordance with feedback received from communications parties based on previous communications between the communications parties and agents of the communications service provider. The agent to assign to the communications session first can be assigned in accordance with the feedback received from the communications parties based on previous communications between the communications parties and agents of the communications service provider.
US09721267B2 Coupon effectiveness indices
Profiles characterizing each of a plurality of consumers are received. Thereafter, each profile is associated with one of a plurality of customer segments (e.g., matched pairs, etc.). Thereafter, a coupon effectiveness index is determined for each of the plurality of consumers for an offering based on the associated customer segment. The coupon effectiveness indices model characterizes causal effects estimates determined using historical data of purchases of individuals having varying coupon treatments for the offering. Subsequently, provision of at least a portion of the determined coupon effectiveness indices is initiated. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US09721261B2 Systems and methods for electronically circulating a conditional electronic currency
Persistent, electronically anchored currency notes (PEAC notes) may be generated by a transaction provider and maintained in a datastore. Each PEAC note may be associated with a respective unique identifier and asset held by a custodian. The transaction provider may provide for assigning ownership of the PEAC notes to various entities and/or transferring ownership therebetween. Ownership transfers may be performed by the transaction provider while maintaining the PEAC notes in the datastore and/or maintaining the asset(s) associated therewith their respective custodian(s). A PEAC note may be tied to one or more usage conditions, which restrict transfers thereof. The usage conditions may be removed when release conditions are satisfied.
US09721258B2 Validation of cryogenically treated articles
Embodiments validate cryogenic processing of metal-matrix validation articles according to destructive and/or non-destructive testing of witness articles. For example, validation can certify that the validation article has undergone a particular cryogenic treatment protocol, resulting in validated and/or certified enhancements in wear characteristics, resistance to corrosion, increases in electrochemical bonding of surface treatments, increases in theoretical useable lifespan, etc. According to some embodiments, processing results are validated by generating witness results from destructive and/or non-destructive testing of the witness articles subsequent to deep-cryogenic treatment. The processing (e.g., including witness results and/or analysis thereof) may then be entered into a computer-controlled, parametric analysis system that generates absolute and comparative validation and/or certification of the validation articles.
US09721256B2 System and method for providing secure product data collection, monitoring, and tracking
A system for providing product data collection, monitoring, and tracking contains a memory and a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of: receiving product information and a scannable code; creating and assigning a unique product identifier to the received product information and associated scannable code; receiving customer registration information; creating and assigning a unique customer identifier to the received customer information; associating the unique product identifier with the unique customer identifier; and after receiving the scannable code from a remote device, providing the remote device with access to the received product information. The collected structured and/or unstructured data is secured during transit.
US09721255B2 Distributing coupon content and transactional advertisements
A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium having processor-executable instructions recorded thereon is provided for distributing transactional advertisements from a distribution site over a network to online publishers. Transactional data items are rendered by the online publishers, with control elements provided from the distribution site, to control use of the transactional data items on the user terminal.
US09721253B2 Gating decision system and methods for determining whether to allow material implications to result from online activities
Various forms of information are utilized in a system and accompanying method for making inferences regarding the trustworthiness of a person performing an online transaction and deciding whether to allow the transaction to have material implications. More specifically, the information relates to the online browsing activity of a user and the online transaction being performed by the user. Further, information regarding certain probable characteristics of the user is determined based on a possible association between the user and one or more known entities. Based on the foregoing information, model attributes are derived and provided as input to a fraud determination model. Using this model and one or more of the attributes, a probability that the transaction is fraudulent is determined.
US09721251B1 Intelligent capture in mixed fulfillment transactions
This disclosure describes techniques for intelligent payment capture in mixed fulfillment transactions. For example, the techniques described herein may include generating a purchase ticket associated with multiple items in a mixed fulfillment transaction. The purchase ticket may facilitate conducting a mixed fulfillment transaction in which a payment instrument is authorized for the cost of the multiple items in the mixed fulfillment transaction, with partial payment captures being made as items are fulfilled without requiring additional authorizations.
US09721250B2 Location based authentication
A portable consumer device that is used to conduct a transaction at a merchant is authenticated. Information provided to a server computer includes locations of a merchant and a mobile communication device possessed by a consumer. If the location of the mobile communication device corresponds to the location of the merchant, the portable consumer device that is used to conduct the transaction is authenticated.
US09721247B2 Payment terminal system and method of use
A payment terminal, including: a display, an input device configured to generate input signals indicative of a user input, a payment instrument reader configured to receive payment instrument data from a financial payment instrument, a secure processor connected to the payment instrument reader, a main processor connected to the display, the main processor separate and distinct from the secure processor, a secure input processor connected to the input device and the secure processor, wherein the secure processor is operable between an unsecured mode, wherein the secure processor sends input coordinates based on the input signals received from the secure input processor to the main processor; and a secured mode, wherein the secure input processor ceases input coordinate forwarding to the main processor.
US09721246B2 Synchronization patterns for mobile applications
An object-oriented synchronization pattern for synchronizing a mobile application and a corresponding enterprise application is provided herein. The synchronization pattern uses service invocations to convey application state differential from the mobile device to the enterprise server and object-based database synchronization for conveying application state differential from the enterprise to the mobile device. Service invocations may be conveyed in batch or individually separately and using a variety of service types.
US09721238B2 Point of interaction loyalty currency redemption in a transaction
Multiple different non-financial loyalty currencies held by different issuers are used by a consumer as financial tender for a transaction with a merchant. Each issuer pays to a primary issuer the financial currency value of the non-financial loyalty currencies being held in return for a corresponding reduction of the balance of non-financial loyalty currency. For each reduced balance, the primary issuer adds an equivalent primary loyalty currency to a primary loyalty account for the consumer. The primary issuer pays the merchant for the transaction in financial currency and makes an equivalent reduction in the balance of the primary loyalty currency. The financial value of each loyalty currency may be dependent upon its use in a transaction with a competitor of a merchant supplying loyalty currency to the consumer.
US09721236B2 Distributed processing of a check image
Apparatus and methods for distributed processing of a check image are provided. A payee may submit a request to deposit a negotiable instrument. The request may be received at a first financial institution. The negotiable instrument may be a check. A transaction record may be generated at the time of the request. The transaction record may be based on information handwritten or printed on the negotiable instrument. The transaction record may be transmitted to a second financial institution. The second financial institution may conduct a fraud analysis based on the transaction record. The second financial institution may transmit a fraud indicator to the first financial institution. Based on the fraud indicator, the first institution may accept or deny the request of the payee. Apparatus and methods may distribute computing resources associated with detection of fraudulent negotiable instrument. The resources may be distributed among the first and second financial institutions.
US09721235B2 Systems and methods for electronically circulating a currency
Persistent, electronically anchored currency notes (PEAC notes) may be generated by a transaction provider and maintained in a datastore. Each PEAC note may be associated with a respective unique identifier and asset held by a custodian. The transaction provider may provide for assigning ownership of the PEAC notes to various entities and/or transferring ownership therebetween. Ownership transfers may be performed by the transaction provider while maintaining the PEAC notes in the datastore and/or maintaining the asset(s) associated therewith with their respective custodian(s). The transaction provider may keep records of ownership transfers and/or may provide datastructures for tracking payments (e.g., invoice datastructures). Information about each PEAC note be publically available through the transaction provider.
US09721233B2 Just-in-time conference room scheduling
Systems and methods for just-in-time scheduling of conference rooms based on a plurality of conference room scheduling requests are provided. In some embodiments a plurality of conference room scheduling requests are obtained. A conference room scheduling request in the plurality of conference room scheduling requests includes at least one meeting constraint. The plurality of conference room scheduling requests is serviceable by a plurality of conference rooms. At least one conference room in the plurality of conference rooms is available for assignment. Prior to assigning the plurality of conference rooms in accordance with the plurality of conference scheduling requests, polling is conducted for a predefined trigger event corresponding to the at least one meeting constraint. In response to detecting the predefined trigger event, the plurality of conference rooms is assigned in accordance with the plurality of conference scheduling requests.
US09721231B2 Computer system for processing data from a plurality of remote input devices for transmission to a third-party computer
According to some embodiments, workers' compensation claims are received at a payor processing system from a plurality of remote bill input devices. The workers' compensation claims may be transformed in accordance with a jurisdiction-based claims processing rule. The transformed workers' compensation claims may then be transmitted to a workers' compensation adjudication engine.
US09721229B1 Systems and methods for monitored social media participation
Systems and methods to provide for social media monitoring and employee social media monitoring are described herein. In one example, a system includes a database access engine configured to store a plurality of filtered social media postings; a scoring engine configured to analyze the filtered social media postings to determine a likelihood of a trigger event being associated with the filtered social media postings; a directory service engine, communicatively coupled to a directory service, configured to authenticate an employee and to determine the employee is authorized to respond to social media postings associated with the trigger event; and a social network access engine configured to post a response message from the employee to a social network in response to a first social media posting of the filtered social media postings.
US09721224B2 System and method for managing transportation and storage of goods
A method, system and computer program product for managing transportation and storage of goods, including a personal computer device; and a package control device associated with a package. The personal computer device is configured to store transport and storage operations information regarding the package in the package control device. The package control device is configured for identifying an operator responsible for at least one of transport and storage of the package based on the transport and storage operations information. The package control device is configured to allow the operator to have access to the package for at least one of transport and storage of the package based on the transport and storage operations information.
US09721214B1 Training a model using parameter server shards
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training a model using parameter server shards. One of the methods includes receiving, at a parameter server shard configured to maintain values of a disjoint partition of the parameters of the model, a succession of respective requests for parameter values from each of a plurality of replicas of the model; in response to each request, downloading a current value of each requested parameter to the replica from which the request was received; receiving a succession of uploads, each upload including respective delta values for each of the parameters in the partition maintained by the shard; and updating values of the parameters in the partition maintained by the parameter server shard repeatedly based on the uploads of delta values to generate current parameter values.
US09721208B2 Living activity inference device, program, and computer-readable recording medium
The living activity inference device according to the present invention includes: an obtainer configured to obtain an energy consumption of an electric appliance; an appliance operation detector configured to identify an operational state of the electric appliance based on the energy consumption obtained by the obtainer; and an activity inferrer configured to perform an inference process of determining which one of a plurality of living activities predetermined a current living activity corresponds to, based on existing information including the operational state of the electric appliance identified by the appliance operation detector and a past living activity.
US09721200B2 Card with metal layer and an antenna
In a smart card having an antenna structure and a metal layer, an insulator layer is formed between the antenna structure and the metal layer to compensate for the attenuation due to the metal layer. The thickness of the insulator layer affects the capacitive coupling between the antenna structure and the metal layer and is selected to have a value which optimizes the transmission/reception of signals between the card and a card reader.
US09721197B2 Control device and control method
A control device comprises: a movement control unit configured to control movement of an object; a detecting unit configured to optically detect, at a specific position, the object moving through control by the movement control unit, to thereby output a detection voltage; and a movement amount determining unit configured to determine a movement amount of the object to be moved through the control by the movement control unit, based on a tendency of a change in the detection voltage when the object is moved.
US09721194B2 Printing device
There is provided an input device which accepts input with a simple operation. A printing device 100 is an input device which accepts the input of input data, including a motion detection section 100a, a determination section, and an acquisition section 100d. The motion detection section 100a detects the motion of the input device. The determination section determines whether an input condition is met. When the determination section determines that the input condition is met, the acquisition section 100d acquires a trajectory of the input device based on the motion of the input device detected by the motion detection section 100a to acquire, as input data, the layout of a pattern corresponding to the trajectory.
US09721192B2 Complementary item recommendations using image feature data
An apparatus and method to facilitate finding complementary recommendations are disclosed herein. One or more fashion trend or pleasing color combination rules are determined based on data obtained from one or more sources. One or more template images and rule triggers corresponding to the fashion trend or pleasing color combination rules are generated, each of the rule triggers associated with at least one of the template images. A processor compares a first image attribute of a particular one of the template images to a second image attribute of each of a plurality of inventory images corresponding to the plurality of inventory items to identify the inventory items complementary to the query image. The particular one of the template images is selected based on the rule trigger corresponding to the particular one of the template images being applicable for a query image.
US09721190B2 Large-scale classification in neural networks using hashing
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for classification using a neural network. One of the methods for processing an input through each of multiple layers of a neural network to generate an output, wherein each of the multiple layers of the neural network includes a respective multiple nodes includes for a particular layer of the multiple layers: receiving, by a classification system, an activation vector as input for the particular layer, selecting one or more nodes in the particular layer using the activation vector and a hash table that maps numeric values to nodes in the particular layer, and processing the activation vector using the selected nodes to generate an output for the particular layer.
US09721188B2 Landmarks from digital photo collections
Methods and systems for automatic detection of landmarks in digital images and annotation of those images are disclosed. A method for detecting and annotating landmarks in digital images includes the steps of automatically assigning a tag descriptive of a landmark to one or more images in a plurality of text-associated digital images to generate a set of landmark-tagged images, learning an appearance model for the landmark from the set of landmark-tagged images, and detecting the landmark in a new digital image using the appearance model. The method can also include a step of annotating the new image with the tag descriptive of the landmark.
US09721187B2 System, method, and computer program product for a stereoscopic image lasso
A system, method, and computer program product for providing a lasso selection tool for a stereoscopic image is disclosed. The method includes the steps of obtaining a lasso region of a stereoscopic image pair based on a path defined by a user using a lasso selection tool. An object in a first image of the stereoscopic image pair is identified, where the object is at least partially included within the lasso region and the object is identified in a second image of the stereoscopic image pair.
US09721183B2 Intelligent determination of aesthetic preferences based on user history and properties
Techniques for selecting a digital image are disclosed. The techniques may include receiving a first set of digital images, analyzing the first set of digital images to extract first image features from each of the first set of digital images, accessing a user profile, comparing the extracted first image features to a preset list of image features, ranking each digital image of the first set, selecting each digital image having a ranking that exceeds a threshold, assigning a category to each selected digital image based on a comparison of each selected digital image to a category database of digital image categories, displaying each selected digital image with the assigned category, receiving an input from the user in response to the displaying, updating the user profile and the category database based on the input, and selecting at least one subsequent digital image based on the updated user profile and category database.
US09721181B2 Cloud detection on remote sensing imagery
A system for detecting clouds and cloud shadows is described. In one approach, clouds and cloud shadows within a remote sensing image are detected through a three step process. In the first stage a high-precision low-recall classifier is used to identify cloud seed pixels within the image. In the second stage, a low-precision high-recall classifier is used to identify potential cloud pixels within the image. Additionally, in the second stage, the cloud seed pixels are grown into the potential cloud pixels to identify clusters of pixels which have a high likelihood of representing clouds. In the third stage, a geometric technique is used to determine pixels which likely represent shadows cast by the clouds identified in the second stage. The clouds identified in the second stage and the shadows identified in the third stage are then exported as a cloud mask and shadow mask of the remote sensing image.
US09721178B2 Automatic extraction of closed caption data from frames of an audio video (AV) stream using image clipping
Exemplary methods of extracting closed caption (CC) image from a frame of an audio video (AV) stream are described. For all pixels of the frame, setting a color value of the pixels to a determined pixel value when the color value of the pixel is different from a background color value associated with CC image. A set edges is analyzed to identify one or more polygons. A polygon that contains text is determined from the one or more polygons. The frame is cropped along the polygon to obtain a CC image. Upon determination that the CC image is identical to another closed caption image a frame count associated with the other closed caption image is increased by 1; and upon determination that the CC image is not identical to the other CC image the closed caption image is stored along with a position and a time value as metadata information.
US09721176B2 Supplemental device for gathering information concerning the use of an injection device
A supplemental device for gathering information concerning the use of an injection device, the supplemental device having a first camera sensor portion for generating a first camera output indicative of a scene in the field of view of the first camera sensor portion, a second camera sensor portion for generating a second camera output indicative of a scene in the field of view of the second camera sensor portion, and at least one processor. The processor configured to use the first camera output to determine whether a rotational speed of an object in the field of view exceeds a threshold speed, if it is determined the rotational speed of the object does not exceed the threshold speed, to process the second camera output to identify a feature provided on the or another object, and if it is determined the rotational speed of the object does exceed the threshold speed, to refrain from attempting to identify the feature.
US09721175B2 Systems and methods for high fidelity multi-modal out-of-band biometric authentication through vector-based multi-profile storage
A method for generating multiple biometric profiles for a user is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method may include (1) receiving data from a user, the data comprising biometric data for a user and device specifications for the electronic device; (2) at least one computer processor retrieving at least one existing user profile; (3) the at least one computer processor determining whether the data is consistent with at least one of the existing profiles; and (4) the at least one computer processor updating at least one existing profile if the data is consistent with the existing profile.
US09721172B2 Imaging system and method with ego motion detection
An imaging system and method for a vehicle is provided, and includes an imager configured to image a scene external and forward of the vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A controller is configured to receive the image data and analyze an optical flow between successive image frames to compute a relative motion between the imager and the imaged scene, wherein the optical flow includes a pattern of apparent motion of objects of interest in the successive image frames.
US09721168B2 Directional object detection
Video analytics is used to track an object of interest represented in video data representing the field of view of a scene observed by a video camera. A multidimensional virtual beam is used to detect whether the tracked object of interest is continually present in a detection zone within the field view of the scene. An occurrence of an event is signaled when the tracked object of interest is continually present in the detection zone during a period beginning when the tracked object of interest enters the detection zone and ending when the tracked object of interest leaves the detection zone through the opposite side, after having completely crossed through the detection zone. Use of a virtual beam detection zone reduces false alarms as compared to the numbers of incidences of false alarms of traditional detection methods, while adding several features and benefits.
US09721160B2 Manually-assisted detection of redeye artifacts
A machine-implemented method of processing an input image includes receiving user input that manually identifies a location in the input image that corresponds to a potential redeye artifact. A set of detected redeye artifacts in the input image is received. One of the detected redeye artifacts that is closest to the manually identified location is identified. The identified detected redeye artifact is stored in a list of redeye artifacts that are identified with manual assistance if the identified detected redeye artifact is within a threshold distance from the manually identified location.
US09721157B2 Systems and methods for obtaining and using information from map images
Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system with a display device to perform the functions of: displaying an image of a region of a metric vector space; obtaining a set of pixel extents in the image that contain apparent textual annotations; for each pixel extent of the set, obtaining a confidence score that the pixel extent actually contains a textual annotation; and displaying the set of pixel extents in a ranked list based on the corresponding confidence scores. In some embodiments, the program further causes the computer system to perform the functions of, for at least one pixel extent of the set, at least one of automatically generating a text string based on the apparent textual annotation, and accepting user input entering a text string based on the apparent textual annotation.
US09721149B2 Ensuring a desired distribution of images in a multimedia document utilizing facial signatures
A method, system and computer program product for ensuring a desired distribution of images in a multimedia document (e.g., yearbook, slideshow). A desired distribution of facial signatures in a multimedia document to be created by the user is received. Upon receiving an image to be added to the multimedia document by the user, a facial signature for a face detected in the image is generated. The current number of instances of the facial signature in the multimedia document is then determined. A determination is then made as to whether the current number of instances of the facial signature meets the desired distribution. An indication is then provided to the user as to whether the current number of instances of the facial signature meets or does not meet the desired distribution. In this manner, the user can ensure a desired distribution of images in the multimedia document.
US09721147B1 Digital identity
A digital identity, which may include a user interface that may be displayed on a mobile computing device, may be generated to include information extracted from a physical identification card (e.g., driver license or passport), as well as information regarding validation of the physical identification card and of the consumer's identity. The digital identity may be used in place of the physical identification card.
US09721146B1 System and method for analyzing features of a human face using one or more overlay facial grids
The present invention generally relates to human facial feature analysis. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate a system and method for utilizing one or more overlay grids in conjunction with imagery of a human face in order to analyze beauty and attractiveness of the face in the underlying imagery. In a preferred embodiment, the system utilizes computerized image capture features and processing features to analyze a human face in relation to a plurality of overlay grids in order to identify and empirically measure beauty and attractiveness based on the alignment of said overlay grids with specific features (e.g., nose, lips, eyebrows) of the human face and whether a successful fit exists with specifically defined Hayduke facial grids or by how close the individual's facial features align with specifically defined Hayduke facial grids.
US09721142B2 Multi-resolution fingerprint sensor
Multi-resolution fingerprint sensors and methods of using the same are provided. The multi-resolution fingerprint sensors each include a portion of the imaging area or region of the sensor that provides higher imaging resolution than the remaining imaging area of the sensor. The area of higher resolution is useful for anti-spoofing purposes, but because only a portion of the sensor is higher-resolution, advantageously it will not impact hardware costs nearly as much as a sensor that was higher resolution over its entire imaging area. Furthermore, the higher resolution area can be down-sampled so there would be no impact on the standard matcher and image processing software stack, which expects a uniform resolution for the entire image acquired.
US09721138B2 System and method for fingerprint validation
The invention provides a system and method for rapid validation of identity from tissue using registered two dimensional and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan images. The preferred embodiment provides, for a human fingerprint, validation that the surface fingerprint matches the primary fingerprint. An alternate embodiment provides validation of “aliveness” by ascertaining blood flow. Various embodiments are taught.
US09721135B2 Depth sensor based auto-focus system for an indicia scanner
An indicia reading terminal has a three-dimensional depth sensor, a two dimensional image sensor, an autofocus lens assembly, and a processor. The three dimensional depth sensor captures a depth image of a field of view and create a depth map from the depth image, the depth map having one or more surface distances. The two dimensional image sensor receives incident light and capture an image therefrom. The autofocusing lens assembly is positioned proximate to the two dimensional image sensor such that the incident light passes through the autofocusing lens before reaching the two dimensional image sensor. The processor is communicatively coupled to the two dimensional image sensor, the three dimensional depth sensor, and the autofocusing lens assembly.
US09721134B2 Mark reader with reduced trigger-to-decode response time
Systems and methods for use with a handheld mark reader that reduce the time between activation of the reader's trigger and the reader returning a successful decode response. Image processing may be performed prior to the user actuating the trigger and thus obtaining a decodable image with reduced delay. Separate pre-trigger and post-trigger parameters may be used for image decoding. A feedback loop may be incorporated for repeated parameter updates. An adjustable lens may be utilized either with illumination OFF or ON.
US09721133B2 Imaging barcode scanner for enhanced document capture
An imaging barcode scanner and method are provided. The scanner includes a housing defining a work surface, a window supported by the housing, a first array of photosensitive elements having a first field of view traversing the window and intersecting the work surface at a first angle, and a second array of photosensitive elements having a second field of view traversing the window and intersecting the work surface at a second angle. The scanner also includes a processor connected to the first and second arrays of photosensitive elements, and configured to: receive a first image of the work surface from the first array of photosensitive elements, and a second image of the work surface from the second array of photosensitive elements; register the first image with the second image; and generate an enhanced image of the work surface based on the registered first image and second image, the enhanced image having a greater pixel density than the first image and the second image.
US09721131B2 Barcode-reading system
This patent specification describes a barcode-reading enhancement accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability. The accessory may include an outer case and an inner carriage. A mobile device is encased in the inner carriage, and the combination of the inner carriage and the mobile device is accommodated in the outer case. The inner carriage is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a particular size such that a mobile device of a different size may be accommodated in the outer case using a different inner carriage. The accessory may also include an optic system to fold an optical path of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device and/or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device.
US09721127B2 Systems and methods for controlling activation of options preloaded on a material handling vehicle
Systems and methods for a material handling vehicle include a controller and a near field communication reader adapted to communicate with the controller. The controller is configured to activate at least one of a software option and a hardware option when a near field communication device encoded with option information is placed within an operable range to the near field communication reader.
US09721126B2 Magnetic bar code chip and reading method thereof
Disclosed are a magnetic bar code chip and a reading method thereof. The magnetic bar code chip comprises binary information bits formed by N rows and M columns of permanent magnet bars and/or null bits, and information identification bits that are peripheral to the binary information bits. The information identification bits are composed of permanent magnet bar identifiers and used for representing a position and a state of the magnetic bar code chip. The permanent magnet bars and the null bits represent 1 and 0 or 0 and 1 respectively. During reading, a strong magnetic field in a row direction of the binary information bits of the magnetic bar code chip is firstly used to set a magnetization direction of the permanent magnet bars, and then a magnetic bar code reader such as a multi-channel magnetic field gradient sensor, a magneto-optical microscope, a magnetic field monitor, a scanning magnetoresistivemicroscope and the like is used to convert magnetic field distribution information generated by the permanent magnet bars on the magnetic bar code chip into the binary information bits and information identification bits respectively, thus implementing reading on a reading result of the magnetic bar code chip. The present invention has characteristics of a small size and strong security.
US09721125B2 Electronic device enclosure
An enclosure for an electronic device includes a device opening and a device window. The enclosure typically includes a door that may be rotated about an axis to provide access to the device opening while remaining connected to the enclosure. Exemplary enclosures include a slot for a magnetic card reading system that facilitates the alignment and insertion of a magnetic card.
US09721124B1 Magnetic card reader
A magnetic stripe reader including a base element defining a first spring seat, a magnetic module support element arranged for limited pivotable motion relative to the base element and defining a second spring seat, a generally truncated conical spring having a first, relatively large diameter end seated in the first spring seat and a second, relatively small diameter end seated in the second spring seat and a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto the magnetic module support element.
US09721122B2 Method and system for performing secure I/O operation in a pluggable flash storage device
The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for performing secure read/write operations in the pluggable flash storage device. In one embodiment, a request for at least writing and reading of data in/from the pluggable flash storage device is received. Upon receiving the request for writing data, the storage device is authenticated based on a predetermined signature of the pluggable flash storage device. Upon authenticating the storage device, the at least one of user and the storage controller who made the request is also authenticated and write operation is performed based on successful authentication of the at least one of the user and the storage controller. By way of establishing secure communication between the storage device and the user or the storage controller during the read/write operation the hacking of the data in the storage device or use of the storage device with wrong intent is avoided.
US09721117B2 Shared identity management (IDM) integration in a multi-tenant computing environment
Techniques are disclosed for enabling tenant hierarchy information to be migrated directly between different multi-tenant system (e.g., from a shared IDM system to a Nimbula system, or vice versa). A corresponding new tenant is created in a Nimbula system based on a combination of the tenant information and the service information from the shared IDM system. The Nimbula system extracts the tenant name and the service name from a request and asks the shared IDM system to verify that the user actually is a member of the tenant identified by the extracted tenant name. Upon successful authentication of the user, the Nimbula system requests the IDM system for roles that are associated with both the user and the extracted service name. The Nimbula system enable access to the service upon determining whether the requested operation can be performed relative to the specified service based on the roles.
US09721113B2 Host controller and system-on-chip
A host controller that controls a storage device includes an encryption unit that is selectively configured in response to file encryption information and disk encryption information to encrypt data. The encryption unit encrypts the data using a file encryption operation based on the file encryption information and/or a disk encryption operation based on the disk encryption information.
US09721112B2 Passive compliance violation notifications
Disclosed are various embodiments for passive compliance violation notifications. In one embodiment, it is detected that that a policy violation with respect to use of a client device has occurred. It is then determined that the policy violation may be passive. A user notification of the policy violation is generated by the client device in response to determining that the policy violation may be passive. The frequency and/or intensity of this notification may depend upon an extent of the policy violation. If the policy violation is later determined to be active, additional actions may be performed, such as disabling access to or removing managed resources on the client device.
US09721107B2 Using biometric verification to grant access to redacted content
Some embodiments provide an electronic device with a novel content redaction engine. The content redaction engine of some embodiments determines whether to redact content for output based on whether a user is biometrically verified. When the content redaction engine receives verification data indicating that the user is biometrically verified, the device displays content without any portion redacted. On the other hand, when the content redaction engine does not receive such verification data, the device displays the content with at least a portion redacted. The electronic device of some embodiments additionally includes a biometric reader and a biometric verification engine. The biometric reader reads a person's uniquely identifying biometric data (e.g., thumbprint/fingerprint, iris scan, voice, etc.). This biometric information is then read by the biometric verification engine for comparison to a stored set of verified user biometric data. When the biometric data matches the stored data, the person is verified.
US09721106B2 Method and system for scanning a computer system for sensitive content
A computer-implemented method for scanning a computer system for sensitive data. A scan manager manages a scan of files of a second computer. The scan manager receives a request to scan and identify files stored on the second computer based on at least one category of sensitive data. The scan manager receives scan report recipient information and generates a user profile based on the at least one category and the recipient information. The scan manager makes the user profile available to a category server for use in creating a scan profile defining the scan criteria and deploys a scan agent to a computer to conduct the scan based on the scan profile. When the scan is complete and upon creation of the scan report, the scan manager makes the scan report available to the intended recipients.
US09721100B2 Technologies for protected hardware function monitoring and forensics
Technologies for monitoring protected functionality of an integrated circuit device include an integrated circuit device having a protected function module. The protected function module includes a modifiable security device. When the protected function module is activated or powered up, an attribute of the modifiable security device is irreversibly modified. The integrated circuit device may be a processor, and the protected function module may be a debug module of the processor. The modifiable circuit device may be an oscillator. The frequency of the oscillator may change when the oscillator is powered due to oscillator aging. The integrated circuit device may be included in a computing device. The integrated circuit device may expose data indicative of the attribute of the modifiable security device to firmware or software of the computing device. The data may be exposed through a cryptographically signed, firmware-readable memory space. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09721099B2 Systems and methods for identifying associations between malware samples
Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying associations between binary samples, such as e-mail files and their attachments or a document and an executable program associated with the document. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a plurality of binary samples, and extracting metadata from the plurality of binary samples. The metadata for a binary sample from the plurality of binary samples includes a set of attributes of the binary sample. The method further includes identifying a set of associations between the plurality of binary samples based on the extracted metadata. Each association is characterized by at least one attribute the associated binary samples have in common, and each association has a confidence level indicative of a strength of the association. The method also includes identifying associations with a confidence level that exceeds a predefined threshold.
US09721090B2 System and method for efficient inspection of content
A system and method of efficiently inspecting content is provided. Embodiments of the invention may inspect files accessed by an application prior to an activation of the application. Selective inspection of files accessed by an application may be based on a previous inspection. Inspection of files accessed by an application may be postponed or performed concurrently with the access. A prioritized queue may include references to files, a priority may be related to a risk level and an inspection order may be according to a risk level.
US09721089B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for efficient computer forensic analysis and data access control
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for efficient computer forensic analysis and data access control. The method includes steps occurring from within a virtualization layer separate from a guest operating system. The steps include monitoring disk accesses by the guest operating system to a region of interest on a disk from which data is copied into memory. The steps also include tracking subsequent accesses to the memory resident data where the memory resident data is copied from its initial location to other memory locations or over a network. The steps further include linking operations made by the guest operating system associated with the disk accesses with operations made by the guest operating system associated with the memory accessed.
US09721088B2 Evaluation of a password
A method and computer for assessing whether a password can be generated by using characteristics of a physical arrangement of keys of an input device. A received password includes characters corresponding to respective select keys in a sequence of select keys of the input device. For each select key, a final detection frequency is calculated as a sum of an initial detection frequency and an additive correction. A password determination value is calculated as a ratio of a total number of select keys having a final detection frequency equal to a minimum detection frequency and the total number of select keys in the sequence of select keys. A determination of whether the calculated password determination value is, or is not, less than a predetermined threshold value indicates that the password cannot, or can, respectively, be generated by using the characteristics of the physical arrangement of keys of the input device.
US09721086B2 Methods and systems for secure and reliable identity-based computing
The embodiments herein provide a secure computing resource set identification, evaluation, and management arrangement, employing in various embodiments some or all of the following highly reliable identity related means to establish, register, publish and securely employ user computing arrangement resources in satisfaction of user set target contextual purposes. Systems and methods may include, as applicable, software and hardware implementations for Identity Firewalls; Awareness Managers; Contextual Purpose Firewall Frameworks for situationally germane resource usage related security, provisioning, isolation, constraining, and operational management; liveness biometric, and assiduous environmental, evaluation and authentication techniques; Repute systems and methods assertion and fact ecosphere; standardized and interoperable contextual purpose related expression systems and methods; purpose related computing arrangement resource and related information management systems and methods, including situational contextual identity management systems and methods; and/or the like.
US09721084B2 System for controlling access to an account
An account management server, a communication device and a service device are provided for managing access to an account. The account management server, for example, includes, but is not limited to, a storage device configured to store identifying information for each of a plurality of service devices and configured to store an account associated with each of the plurality of service devices, and a processor communicatively coupled to the storage device, wherein the processor is configured to: receive identifying information from a communication device; identify at least one service device whose stored identifying information matches the received identifying information; and grant management access to the account associated with the identified at least one service device to the communication device.
US09721080B2 Systems and methods for multi-factor authentication for administration of a computer-based test
Systems and methods are provided for providing a computer-based test to be taken at a computer. A determination is made as to whether a geolocation of the computer is within an approved geolocation range. A determination is made as to whether a time at which the computer-based test is to be provided to the computer is within an approved time range. A hardware profile of the testing center is compared to an expected hardware profile of the testing center. Biometric data of a test center administrator is compared to expected biometric data of the test center administrator, and a confidence score is modified based on results of the comparison. If the confidence score meets or exceeds a threshold, the computer-based test is provided to the computer over a network. If the confidence score is less than the threshold, the computer-based test is prevented from being provided to the computer.
US09721078B2 System and method for user enrollment in a secure biometric verification system
A computer-implemented method and system for verifying the identity of a user in an identity authentication and biometric verification system which includes collecting information from the user regarding the user's identity, which is then electronically authenticated. Upon authentication, personal information regarding the verified identity of the user is retrieved from a source database which is used to verify the identity of the user, via user interaction. Upon successful verification and authentication, biometric data regarding the user is electronically collected.
US09721076B2 System and method for remotely assigning and revoking access credentials using a near field communication equipped mobile phone
The present invention is generally directed toward a mobile device that can be used in a secure access system. More specifically, the mobile device can have credential data loaded thereon remotely updated, enabled, disabled, revoked, or otherwise altered with a message sent from, for example, a control panel and/or controller in the system.
US09721075B2 Method for processing data
Method for processing data, in which a Petri net is encoded, written into a memory and read and executed by at least one instance, wherein transitions of the Petri net read from at least one tape and/or write on at least one tape symbols or symbol strings, with the aid of at least one head. [Fig 1]. In an alternative, data-processing, co-operating nets are composed, the composition result is encoded, written into a memory and read and executed from the memory by at least one instance. In doing this, components can have cryptological functions. The data-processing nets can receive and process second data from a cryptological function which is executed in a protected manner. The invention enables processing of data which prevents semantic analysis of laid-open, possibly few processing steps and which can produce a linkage of the processing steps with a hardware which is difficult to isolate.
US09721072B2 Systems and methods for providing automatic content recognition to verify affiliate programming
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for an Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) system that determines whether affiliates are adhering to criteria set by content providers. The ACR system, using control circuitry, receives a portion of a media asset, determines a content signature for the portion of the media asset based on audio or visual information presented in the media asset, cross-references the content signature with a database listing a plurality of reference signatures that adhere to a criterion set by a content provider, determines whether the portion adheres to the criterion, and automatically notifies the content provider in response to determining that the portion does not adhere to the criterion. The ACR system includes storage circuitry to store the database.
US09721070B2 Selective oligomerization catalysts and methods of identifying same
A method comprising obtaining a control catalyst set having a plurality of members each having a control characteristic, wherein the members of the control catalyst set comprise a transition metal and an organic ligand, selecting an intermediate formed during a catalytic cycle of each member of the control catalyst set, geometrically and energetically optimizing a structure of the intermediate, determining one or more characteristics of the geometrically and energetically optimized structure of the intermediate, determining a mathematical relationship between the control characteristic and the one or more characteristics of the geometrically and energetically optimized structure of the intermediate, utilizing the mathematical relationship to identify one or more members of a sample catalyst set having a control characteristic within a desired range, contacting the identified sample catalyst with a reactant under conditions suitable for the formation of product, and recovering the product.
US09721068B2 System and method for providing evidence-based evaluation
An approach is provided for determining associations and/or propensity among the word occurrences during a therapy interaction for supporting a procedure. The approach involves parsing captured therapy interaction data to identify one or more word occurrences. The approach also involves determining one or more associations among the one or more word occurrences using a fuzzy association analysis and deep belief networks. The approach further involves determining a propensity of the one or more associations based on a probability analysis. The approach also involves specifying the one or more associations as evidence data for supporting a therapeutic outcome, a mental state classification, or a combination thereof.
US09721064B2 System and method for preventing wrong-site surgeries
A container holds at least one surgical implement, has a lock mechanism, and has a signature label that impedes access to the surgical implement until the correct surgical site is confirmed. A method of using the container includes the steps of confirming the correct surgical site, signing the label and removing it from the container, placing the label in the medical record, unlocking the container, removing the implement, and beginning the surgery, wherein the surgical team is forced to pause to confirm the correct surgical site before starting the surgery. The system and method may also include a wrong site surgery profile used by individuals within the surgical procedure environment and third parties for tracking and determining if, and where, a wrong site surgical procedure occurred. The profile can be updated, tacked and monitored while a patient is interacting within the medical environment.
US09721060B2 Beverage dispensing system with social media capabilities
A method is provided comprising receiving instructions at a first device. The instructions may correspond to an item transaction. The item may be a food product. The item transaction may comprise an item gift. The method may comprise generating a code based on the instructions received at the first device for the item transaction. The method may comprise generating a message at the first device. The method may comprise transmitting the code and the message from the first device to a second device.
US09721053B2 Method and system for printed circuit board layout
A system for printed circuit board layout includes a processing unit and a memory unit. The memory unit stores physical node data and virtual node data. The processing unit is electrically coupled to the memory unit and configured to execute steps of a method for printed circuit board layout. In particular, the physical node data of a printed circuit board (PCB) is acquired. The physical node data include a plurality of data structure and coordinate points of the physical nodes. The virtual node data of the PCB is acquired. The virtual node data include a plurality of data structure of the virtual nodes. A corresponding relation of the physical nodes and the virtual nodes is determined according to the physical node data and the virtual node data. The virtual nodes are disposed at the physical node coordinate points according to the corresponding relation.
US09721052B1 Concurrent design process
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for multi-user, at least partially concurrent, electronic circuit design. Embodiments may include displaying, at a first client computing device associated with a first user, at least a portion of an electronic circuit design, wherein the electronic circuit design is accessible by multiple users in an at least partially concurrent manner. Embodiments may further include processing a command at the first client computing device from the first user and receiving a temporary update from a server computing device, wherein the temporary update corresponds to a second user associated with a second client computing device. Embodiments may also include displaying, at the first client computing device, an operation corresponding to the received temporary update.
US09721044B2 Systems and methods for non-destructive evaluation of molds and crucibles used in investment casting
Systems for non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of molds and crucibles used in investment casting processes include a support, a 3D scanning device, and a computer component. Methods for non-destructive evaluation include providing a system for non-destructive evaluation of a mold or crucible; securing a mold or crucible to the support of the system; and operating the 3D scanning device of the system in conjunction with the computer component in order to create a 3D structure difference map that indicates whether the mold or crucible falls within or outside a desired structural integrity parameter range.
US09721040B2 Mechanism to input, search and create complex data strings within a single dialog
A mechanism and accompanying method adapted for use with a user interface for manipulating complex data strings. In an example embodiment, the method includes providing a dialog box that includes a first user option to input data pertaining to a complex data string; using data input pertaining to the complex data string to selectively verify that portions of the complex data string represent valid portions; providing a first user option via the dialog box to employ data input pertaining to the complex data string as one or more search criteria to selectively perform a search of preexisting complex data strings; and providing search results in response thereto, wherein the search results are displayed within the dialog box. In a specific embodiment, the method further includes providing a mechanism via the dialog box to trigger creation of a complex data string that a user has specified via the dialog box when search results for the complex data string to be created do not include a match. The complex data string includes a Key Flex Field (KFF) code employed in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software application. Hence, mechanisms for inputting, creating, searching, and displaying complex data strings may occur within a single dialog box.
US09721039B2 Generating a relationship visualization for nonhomogeneous entities
A relationship visualization system displays contextual information for a relationship between two entities of a document management system, such as for a user and a document. The system can receive a request for a relationship visualization from a user, such that the request indicates the user and a document. Then, the system determines, from a multipartite graph, a set of relationship paths coupling entity nodes that correspond to the user and the document. A relationship path can include one or more entity nodes indicating contextual information for the relationship between the user and the document. Then, the system selects a first group of entity nodes from the set of relationship paths to represent the relationship between the user and the document. The system then provides a relationship visualization that displays contextual information from the first group of entity nodes to illustrate the relationship between the user and the document.
US09721037B2 Data stream converter
A method and system for converting XML files to and from files in a data format based on hierarchies in real-time. A method for converting from XML to the data format based on hierarchies includes: applying a stylesheet to at least one XML file thereby generating at least one data record in an intermediate format and including information included in the at least one XML file; and, translating the at least one record in the intermediate format to the data format based on hierarchies. A method for converting from a data format based on hierarchies to XML includes: translating at least one record including information stored in the file format based on hierarchies to an intermediate format; and, applying a stylesheet to the at least one record in the intermediate format thereby generating at least one XML file being indicative of the information and suitable for transmission.
US09721034B2 Browser tab management
The management of tabs in browser applications may be at least partially automated. In a described implementation, a link present in browser content information may include a link property indicating that the new browser content information targeted by the link is to be opened in a new tab. A browser application can therefore automatically launch a new tab without a user request. In another described implementation, a new travelog created for a new tab may be initially populated with an historical entry that points to spawning browser content information and identifies the originating tab. When a user attempts to move backward from an initial page of the new tab, a browser application can therefore automatically redisplay the spawning browser content information at the originating tab.
US09721033B2 Social networking content management
A machine-controlled method may include receiving a file in a designated shared folder on a local device, automatically providing access to the file to a social networking website or service, and directing the social networking website or service to make the file available to users that are allowed to access a particular user account at the social networking website.
US09721030B2 Codeless sharing of spreadsheet objects
A user interface that when selected triggers the automatic sharing of a spreadsheet object in a spreadsheet with a chosen network service (e.g. social network, blog, or some other network location). For example, cells, tables, charts and other objects of the spreadsheet may be selected to be shared using the user interface. When a spreadsheet object is selected and indicated to be shared using the user interface, the spreadsheet is automatically saved to a network share, permissions are set for the spreadsheet to share the spreadsheet object, and the spreadsheet object is shared with the network service. Changes made to the spreadsheet after the spreadsheet object is shared are reflected in the spreadsheet object on the network service.
US09721022B2 Searching and displaying related content to a post in an activity stream
A method for searching and displaying content related to a post in an activity stream may include presenting, by a processor, an activity stream to a user. The activity stream may include a plurality of posts. The method may also include detecting a user action with respect to a particular post of the plurality of posts and analyzing content of the particular post. The method may additionally include searching at least other posts in the activity stream of the user for related content to the particular post based on the analysis of the content of the particular post. The method may additionally include generating a list of posts including related content to the particular post in response to the search. The method may further include presenting the list of posts comprising the related content. The list of posts provide a history or context leading up to the particular post.
US09721021B2 Personalized search results
The disclosure relates to personalizing search results based on the device features of a user device. An example method for personalizing search results includes receiving an encoded device profile indicating the device features of the device. The device features indicate one or more native applications installed on the device. The device features may further indicate native applications recently executed by the device, native applications that have been deleted from the user device, and/or web applications recently accessed by the user device. The method further includes identifying the device features of the device based on the encoded device profile, receiving a search query from the device, and performing an application search based on the search query to identify a consideration set of records. The method further includes adjusting the consideration set based on the device features and generating search results based on the adjusted consideration set.
US09721018B2 System and method for displaying of most relevant vertical search results
There is provided a method and a system for conducting a search and presenting results. The method can be executed at a server. The method comprises receiving a search query from an electronic device associated with a user; responsive to the search query, generating a search query result set, the search query result set including a vertical search result; determining a confidence level that the vertical search result is the most relevant to the search query; responsive to the confidence level being above a pre-determined threshold, causing the electronic device to display exclusively the vertical search result.
US09721017B2 Search and navigation to specific document content
A computer-implemented system and method for search and navigation on a network to find and display specific search identified information in documents. Queries are sent to search engine services and responses comprising snippets are returned. Then, in response to only one or a few user inputs, documents are opened and locations of content matching or best matching the snippets are found reliably and distinguished in a display.
US09721016B2 System and method to search and generate reports from semi-structured data including dynamic metadata
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for searching and reporting on semistructured data that can include dynamic metadata. One embodiment can comprise providing a user interface to a user based on an object type definition for an object type that allows the user to specify search criteria associated with a set of metadata, mapping the user search criteria to a query that comprises at least one structured query constraint and at least one unstructured query constraint, processing the query to search a set of data objects containing semistructured data associated with the object type according to the query and returning a set of results to the user. The search results can be returned to a user based on user-specified reporting parameters. Additionally, the reporting definition can be saved as an object for future execution.
US09721015B2 Providing a query results page
Providing a query results page is disclosed, including by: receiving a current query; determining a correction factor corresponding to the current query; determining a corrected query results request quantity based at least in part on the correction factor; performing an initial search for a plurality of query results responsive to the current query, wherein a quantity of query results included in the plurality of query results corresponds to the corrected query results request quantity; determining a quantity of compliant query results of the plurality of query results by comparing at least some of the plurality of query results to one or more display conditions and identifying compliant query results that meet the one or more display conditions; and causing a page of query results to be presented based at least in part on the quantity of compliant query results.
US09721013B2 Method and system for providing targeted searching and browsing
A server constituted a processor and a server memory, the processor arranged to: provide a selectable plurality of attributes, the plurality of attributes stored on the server memory; provide, for each selected one of the plurality of attributes, a selectable plurality of values, the plurality of values stored on the server memory; and generate an archetype responsive to the selected values of the selected attributes. Preferably, a system exhibiting the server and a user computing station in communication with the server, is provided, the user computing station comprising a user input device, wherein each of the selected one of the plurality of attributes is selected responsive to the user input device, and wherein each of the selected one of the plurality of values for each of the selected one of the plurality of attributes is selected responsive to the user input device.
US09721012B1 Providing social presence information for content items
A system and machine-implemented method for displaying social presence information associated with content, the method including identifying content being provided for display, determining an entity associated with the content, determining one or more social presence scores for the content based on social activity at one or more pages belonging to the entity at one or more social networking services, the social presence score being determined based on one or more indications of the quantity or quality of the social activity, determining, based on at least one score of the one or more social presence scores, whether the content should be annotated with social presence information regarding the social activity and providing the content and social presence information for display if it is determined that the content should be annotated with social presence information.
US09721009B2 Primary and foreign key relationship identification with metadata analysis
A method for identifying a primary key relationship using metadata of a data source is described herein. In an implementation, the method includes identifying a pair of metadata from the data source for comparison. A phonetic code of each of the pair of metadata is determined Further, the phonetic code of the pair of metadata is compared to determine a phonetic disparity score. A string sequence of the pair of metadata is compare to determine a string comparison score. Further a compliance to a predefined set of constraints are checked for the pair of metadata, and a primary key and foreign key relationship is determined based on the phonetic disparity code, string comparison code and compliance of the pair of metadata to a predefined set of constraints.
US09721008B1 Recipe generation utilizing natural language processing
A method for generating a recipe from a literary work. The method may include ingesting a plurality of recipe content using a plurality of natural language processing (NLP) technology. The method may further include creating an ingredient ontology based on the ingested plurality of recipe content. The method may further include ingesting a plurality of content of the literary work using the plurality of NLP technology. The method may further include generating a knowledge graph based on the ingested literary work. The method may further include calculating a relatedness score based on the number of edges between the first plurality of nodes and the second plurality of nodes. The method may further include generating a plurality of recipes based on the calculated relatedness score satisfying a predetermined threshold.
US09721007B2 Parallel data sorting
Techniques for high-performance parallel data sorting are provided. K, M, and N exceed 1. In a first phase, a plurality of unordered data elements to be sorted is divided into K unordered lists each preferably having approximately M elements. Each of these K unordered lists can be independently sorted in parallel using any algorithm, such as quicksort, to generate K ordered lists. In a second phase, N balanced workloads are determined from the K ordered lists by using an iterative converging process capped by a maximum number of iterations. Thus, any non-uniform or skewed data distribution can be load balanced with minimal processing time. Once the N balanced workloads are determined, they can be independently sorted in parallel, for example by using a merge sort, and then combined with a fast concatenation to provide the final sorted result. Thus, sorting operations are fully parallelized while avoiding expensive data scanning steps.
US09721005B2 Answering questions via a persona-based natural language processing (NLP) system
A mechanism is provided, in a question answering (QA) system, for performing persona-based question answering is provided. An identification of a requested persona is received from a user along with a natural language question input specifying an input question to be answered by the QA system. Responsive to receiving the requested persona, components of the QA system are customized to answer questions from a viewpoint of the requested persona. An answer to the input question is generated from the viewpoint of the requested persona based on the customization of the components of the QA system. The answer to the input question is output in a form representative of the requested persona.
US09721004B2 Answering questions via a persona-based natural language processing (NLP) system
A mechanism is provided, in a question answering (QA) system, for performing persona-based question answering is provided. An identification of a requested persona is received from a user along with a natural language question input specifying an input question to be answered by the QA system. Responsive to receiving the requested persona, components of the QA system are customized to answer questions from a viewpoint of the requested persona. An answer to the input question is generated from the viewpoint of the requested persona based on the customization of the components of the QA system. The answer to the input question is output in a form representative of the requested persona.
US09720998B2 Massive clustering of discrete distributions
The trend of analyzing big data in artificial intelligence requires more scalable machine learning algorithms, among which clustering is a fundamental and arguably the most widely applied method. To extend the applications of regular vector-based clustering algorithms, the Discrete Distribution (D2) clustering algorithm has been developed for clustering bags of weighted vectors which are well adopted in many emerging machine learning applications. The high computational complexity of D2-clustering limits its impact in solving massive learning problems. Here we present a parallel D2-clustering algorithm with substantially improved scalability. We develop a hierarchical structure for parallel computing in order to achieve a balance between the individual-node computation and the integration process of the algorithm. The parallel algorithm achieves significant speed-up with minor accuracy loss.
US09720997B2 Method and apparatus for prioritizing metadata
A method and an apparatus for prioritizing a metadata item associated to audio or video data are described. A metadata item is retrieved from a metadata repository or via an input. An analyzing unit determines a priority value of the metadata item using one of a plurality of prioritization methods. A storing unit then stores the priority value in a priority table and references the priority table in a metadata table.
US09720989B2 Dynamic partitioning techniques for data streams
A partitioning policy, comprising an indication of an initial mapping of data records of a stream to a plurality of partitions, is selected to distribute data records of a data stream among a plurality of nodes of a stream management service. Data ingestion nodes and storage nodes are configured according to the initial mapping. In response to a determination that a triggering criterion for dynamically repartitioning the data stream has been met, a modified mapping is generated, and a different set of ingestion and storage nodes are configured. For at least some time during which arriving data records are stored in accordance with the modified mapping, data records stored at the first set of storage nodes in accordance with the initial mapping are retained.
US09720988B2 Content transfer
The present invention provides a method of transferring content from a file and a database. In this case, the file includes content instances, each content instance being associated with a respective field, and each field having a respective type. The transfer is achieved by determining the type of each field, and then storing each content instance in a store in accordance with the determined field type of the associated field. Each content instance can then be transferred to the database in accordance with the determined field type. A similar procedure is provided for creating XML files based on content within the database.
US09720987B2 Systems and methods for cooperative data exchange
Various systems and methods for financial analysis are provided. A system is provided comprising a first node comprising a public facing data store in communication with a private facing data store, wherein the first node further comprises a cooperative lookup module configured to locate a second node, a secure data connection between the first node and the second node, and wherein the first node is configured to request processed internal data from the second node.
US09720986B2 Method and system for integrating data into a database
A method for integrating data into a database comprises storing data comprising a plurality of records which each comprise a plurality of attributes; analyzing a sample of records from the plurality of records by: identifying duplicate pairs of records in the sample records; analyzing each attribute of each record of the duplicate pairs of records to identify a respective attribute condition which is indicative that the pairs of records are duplicates; wherein the method further comprises: comparing each attribute of a record with the respective attribute condition and, if the attribute satisfies the attribute condition, allocating the record to a disjoint group which comprises records with an attribute that satisfies the same respective attribute condition; identifying duplicate pairs of records in the records in each disjoint group; identifying duplicate pairs of records in records that are not allocated to a disjoint group; and consolidating each duplicate pair of records into one consolidated record and storing the consolidated record in an integrated database.
US09720981B1 Multiple instance machine learning for question answering systems
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for question answering using multi-instance learning. The mechanism trains an answer ranking multi-instance learned model using a ground truth question and answer-key pairs set. When used for answering questions, the mechanism receives an input question from a user and generates one or more candidate answers to the input question. Each of the one or more candidate answers has an associated set of supporting passages. The mechanism determines a confidence value for each of the one or more candidate answers using an answer ranking multi-instance learned model based on the sets of supporting passages. The mechanism ranks the one or more candidate answers by confidence value to form a ranked set of answers, classifies supporting passages to identify the ones which truly support the answer, and presents a final answer from the ranked set of answers, the confidence value for the final answer, and supporting evidence for the final answer to the user.
US09720980B2 Evaluating typeability of domain names
Methods and systems are disclosed for assessing an identifier. The method comprises receiving a string of characters making up the identifier and determining a keyboard type for a keyboard. The method further comprises calculating, by a calculator module, a typeability score for the identifier based on the string of characters and the keyboard type, wherein the typeability score signifies a difficulty of typing the identifier on the keyboard type. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises determining a finger positioning corresponding to a position of a typer's fingers on the keyboard, and the typeability score is further based on the finger positioning. In some embodiments, the finger positioning is based on the typer's typing habits.
US09720977B2 Weighting search criteria based on similarities to an ingested corpus in a question and answer (QA) system
A mechanism is provided, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory configured to implement a question and answer (QA) system, for weighting search criteria based on similarities to an ingested corpus in the QA system. A set of question characteristics found in a received input question are compared to a set of data characteristics respectively describing data in each corpus of a corpora. For each question characteristic in the set of found question characteristics, a first weight is assigned to the corpus within which data associated with the data characteristic resides in response to the question characteristic being more related to a data characteristic; otherwise a second weight is assigned, where the first weight is greater than the second weight. A selective search is then performed for an answer to the received input question in one or more corpora with a higher weighting.
US09720959B2 Data output method, computer-readable recording medium storing data output program and data output system
A data output method, includes: extracting, by a computer, data satisfying a first condition on one data among a plurality of conditions, from a plurality of data, as a node; creating a first graph by coupling two nodes satisfying a second condition on a relationship between two data among the plurality of conditions with a link; creating a second graph by deleting a node that does not satisfy the second condition from the first graph; determining candidates of data combination in the second graph; and outputting a data combination satisfying the plurality of conditions from the candidates of data combination.
US09720958B2 User driven business data aggregation and cross mapping framework
An approach is provided for aggregating business data. Based on received columns, attributes, and keys of a dataset, the dataset is registered in a central hub of datasets which include data that is independently and locally maintained. Initial or updated data is loaded into the dataset in the central hub. Other datasets in the central hub that include columns, attributes, or keys that match the received columns, attributes, or keys, respectively, are determined and displayed. In response to receiving a user selection of one or more of the displayed datasets, cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more selected datasets are automatically generated. The cross-links are based on the columns, attributes, or keys of the displayed datasets that match the received columns, attributes or keys. The cross-links provide an aggregation of business data in the dataset and the one or more selected datasets.
US09720956B2 Client-side search templates for online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an unstructured text query from a first user of an online social network; and accessing, from a data store of the mobile client system, a set of nodes of a social graph of the online social network. The social graph includes a number of nodes and edges connecting the nodes. The nodes include a first node corresponding to the first user and a number of second nodes that each correspond to a concept or a second user associated with the online social network. The method also includes accessing, from the data store of the mobile client system, a set of grammar templates. Each grammar template includes one or more non-terminal tokens and one or more query tokens. The query tokens include references to zero or more second nodes and one or more edges and each grammar template is based on a natural-language string.
US09720955B1 Search query predictions by a keyboard
A computing device is described that includes at least one processor and a memory including instructions that when executed cause the at least one processor to output, for display, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, and determine, based on an indication of a selection of one or more keys from the plurality of keys, text of an electronic communication. The instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to identify, based at least in part on the text, a searchable entity or trigger phrase, generate, based on the searchable entity or trigger phrase, a search query, and output, for display, within the graphical keyboard, a graphical indication to indicate that the computing device generated the search query.
US09720939B1 Method and system for implementing categorically organized relationship effects
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method and system for developing variables for model generation comprises: initiating, via an input to a computer, creation of a new variable for a dataset for model generation; extracting, by the computer, data relevant to the variable from one or more data sources; processing, by the computer, the extracted data to automatically generate an input variable; displaying, via a user interactive interface, the processed data relative to a target variable; modifying, via the user interactive interface, one or more parameters that define the input variable; executing, by the computer, the input variable by extracting code that captures the processing step to generate the input variable; and storing, in a database, the extracted code for the input variable.
US09720938B2 Similar image retrieval device, method of operating similar image retrieval device, and similar image retrieval program
A feature amount calculation unit 61 calculates a feature amount corresponding to a pattern of a lesion by analyzing an inspection image. A probability calculation unit calculates a first existence probability which is a probability of the pattern of a lesion existing within the inspection image, using a calculation expression. The calculation expression is created in advance by a statistical method on the basis of a relationship between the feature amount and the presence or absence of the pattern of a lesion within an image for learning which is visually determined by a person. A similarity calculation unit calculates a similarity between the inspection image and a case image on the basis of the first existence probability and a second existence probability which is a probability of the pattern of a lesion existing within the case image which is calculated by the statistical method similarly to the first existence probability.
US09720930B2 Travel management
A travel management system may include a client module to generate a request to update and/or search for data related to a trip. A database module may receive the request and communicate with a database. The database may include data organized in a trip data store table including unique keys respectively identifying trips. The database may further include index tables related to attributes of the trips and identified by the unique keys. The database module may obtain data related to the request from an index table corresponding to a unique key and forward a response to the client module.
US09720929B2 Methods, computer program products, and systems for automatically synchronizing directory structures across different applications
Directory structures of a messaging application and a personal file manager application are synchronized. A designated layer in the directory structure of the messaging application is associated with the designated layer in the directory structure of the personal file manager application. Each time a folder is created or an existing folder is modified or deleted in the designated layer in the directory structure of the messaging application, a corresponding folder is created, modified, or deleted in the designated layer in the directory structure of the personal file manager application and vice versa. Files or links to files are created in the folders of the messaging application to correspond to files or links to files within folders in the personal file manager application, and vice versa. A folder (and its contents) is deleted in the messaging application to correspond to deletions in the personal file manager application, and vice versa.
US09720928B2 Removing overlapping ranges from a flat sorted data structure
A system can efficiently removes ranges of entries from a flat sorted data structure that represent stale fingerprints As part of fingerprint verification during deduplication, the system performs an attributes intersect range calculation (AIRC) procedure on the stale fingerprint data structure to compute a set of non-overlapping and latest consistency point (CP) ranges. During the AIRC procedure, an inode associated with a data container is selected and the FBN tuple of each deleted data block in the file is sorted in a predefined FBN order. The AIRC procedure then identifies the most recent fingerprint associated with a deleted data block. The set of non-overlapping and latest CP ranges is then used to remove stale fingerprints associated with that deleted block from the fingerprint database. A single pass through the fingerprint database identifies the set of non-overlapping and latest CP ranges, thereby improving efficiency of the storage system.
US09720927B2 Method and system for database storage management
Embodiments of the present invention relate to run-length encoded sequences and supporting efficient offset-based updates of values while allowing fast lookups. In an embodiment of the present invention, an indexing scheme is disclosed, herein called count indexes, that supports O(log n) offset-based updates and lookups on a run-length sequence with n runs. In an embodiment, count indexes of the present invention support O(log n) updates on bitmapped sequences of size n. Embodiments of the present invention can be generalize to be applied to block-oriented storage systems.
US09720925B1 Software similarity searching
Similarity analysis of software is disclosed. An input file is received. Pairs of files that consist of the input file and files included in a corpus are categorized into one of a possible match and a mismatch. Those pairs classified as possible matches are analyzed using a pairwise component analysis.
US09720923B2 System for providing user privilege information associated with secured data
In one embodiment, a system receives a request for user privilege information associated with an object of a first database. The system determines a class of a second database that corresponds to the object and accesses user privilege records that the second database associates with the class. The system determines a subset of the user privilege records that correspond to a selected user. Each of the subset of user privilege records comprise a privilege and a user privilege value indicating whether the selected user is authorized for that privilege. The subset of user privilege records are consolidated into a privilege matrix comprising a first axis listing the selected user, a second axis listing the privileges, and for each intersection of selected user and privilege, a corresponding user privilege value determined from the subset of user privilege records. The system communicates the privilege matrix in response to the request.
US09720922B2 Recording medium and method for file access
A method for file access includes accessing, by a processor, a file which is divided and stored in data area including a plurality of access units on the base of an access unit management table, the accessing including using a first table included in the access unit management table, the first table including a first management information corresponding to a first access unit and indicating that the first access unit and a second access unit following the first access unit in chains are located in continuous addresses and a second management information corresponding to the first access unit and indicating that the first access unit and the second access unit are located in discontinuous addresses, and using a second table included in the access unit management table, the second table including access unit identification information of the first and the second access units which are located in the discontinuous addresses.
US09720919B1 System and method of assessing the state of a database product for installation consistency
A computer-implemented system and method performs an iterative process to assess the installation of an upgrade version of a database product for consistency with a baseline version of the database product. To assess the installation, the baseline version and the upgrade version are reconciled by modifying one or both of the baseline and upgrade versions. The modified baseline and upgrade versions are then analyzed to determine whether any remaining inconsistencies exist. Any remaining inconsistencies are then identified and classified, and reconciled. Thereafter, the process is repeated iteratively until the upgrade version is reconciled with the baseline version.
US09720918B2 Session-based processing method and system
A log file processing system sorts records from large log files and groups them by session without making a complete copy of the log files by capturing a subset of the log files in a sliding memory window and identifying all records in the window that form a complete user session. Records belonging to a complete session are output for analyzing, and the remaining records are output as raw log data for additional processing. Using a ring buffer to implement the sliding memory window, data structures are used to group records by session, to identify completed sessions, and to index into the ring buffer to retrieve records for completed sessions that are to be directly analyzed. Any records remaining in the ring buffer at the end of slide window processing may be output as raw log file data and are processed as incomplete or malformed session records. An embodiment of the log file processing system provides a significant improvement on the speed of data extraction from log files into analyzable session data.
US09720912B2 Document management system, document management method, and document management program
It is possible to reduce a review load of a reviewer. A document management system includes a screen display unit that displays a document group having a plurality of pieces of document data extracted from digital information to be determined for relevance to a lawsuit by a user and classification buttons allowing the user to select classification conditions for classifying the document group under predetermined conditions, a selection information reception unit that receives information relating to a classification button selected by the user among the classification button displayed by the screen display unit as selection information, and a classification instruction unit that analyzes the document group based on the selection information, classifies document data in the document group using the analysis result, and instructs the screen display unit to display the document group based on the classification result.
US09720906B2 Knowledge-based editor with natural language interface
A computer-implemented method for knowledge based ontology editing, is provided. The method receives a language instance to update a knowledge base, using a computer. The method semantically parses the language instance to detect an ontology for editing. The method maps one or more nodes for the ontology for editing based on an ontology database and the knowledge base. The method determines whether the mapped nodes are defined or undefined within the knowledge base. The method calculates a first confidence score based on a number of the defined and undefined mapped nodes. Furthermore, the method updates the knowledge base when the first confidence score meets a pre-defined threshold.
US09720905B2 Augmented text search with syntactic information
An approach is provided in which a knowledge manager generates syntactic annotation tokens that correspond to syntactic relationships between terms included in a source document. The knowledge manager creates a knowledge structure that stores the syntactic annotation tokens in parallel fields and stores the source document terms in original text fields, which align to the parallel fields. In turn, the knowledge manager utilizes the knowledge structure to generate answers to questions based upon the syntactic annotation tokens.
US09720904B2 Generating training data for disambiguation
A method for generating training data for disambiguation of an entity comprising a word or word string related to a topic to be analyzed includes acquiring sent messages by a user, each including at least one entity in a set of entities; organizing the messages and acquiring sets, each containing messages sent by each user; identifying a set of messages including different entities, greater than or equal to a first threshold value, and identifying a user corresponding to the identified set as a hot user; receiving an instruction indicating an object entity to be disambiguated; determining a likelihood of co-occurrence of each keyword and the object entity in sets of messages sent by hot users; and determining training data for the object entity on the basis of the likelihood of co-occurrence of each keyword and the object entity in the sets of messages sent by the hot users.
US09720903B2 Method for parsing natural language text with simple links
A parser for natural language text is provided. The parser is trained by accessing a corpus of labeled utterances. The parser extracts details of the syntactic tree structures and part of speech tags from the labeled utterances. The details extracted from the tree structures include Simple Links which are the key to the improved efficiency of this new approach. The parser creates a language model using the details that were extracted from the corpus. The parser then uses the language model to parse utterances.
US09720901B2 Automated text-evaluation of user generated text
A method for an automated text-evaluation service, and more particularly a method and apparatus for automatically evaluating text and returning a score which represents a degree of inappropriate language. The method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied in a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions. The programming instructions are configured to: receive an input text which comprises an unstructured message at a first computing device; process the input text according to a string-structure similarity measure which compares each word of the input text to a predefined dictionary to indicate whether there is similarity in meaning, and generate an evaluation score for each word of the input text and send the evaluation score to another computing device. The evaluation score for each input message is based on the string-structure similarity measure between each word of the input text and the predefined dictionary.
US09720898B2 Row heights in electronic documents
A computer-implemented method for managing row height in an electronic document includes receiving, at a computing device, a request to display a portion of a document that defines a plurality of rows of content and that is represented by a document model; determining heights of the plurality of rows and saving information about the determined heights in a cache that correlates rows to the height information; and using the document model and the cache to generate a view of the document model having the determined row heights.
US09720894B1 Methods and systems for annotating an image and publishing the annotated image
A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system for rendering an annotatable image within an image viewer. An indication of an intent to annotate the annotatable image is received from a user. A meme generation interface is rendered with respect to the annotatable image. Meme annotation criteria is received from the user via the meme generation interface. The meme annotation criteria includes one or more of: a meme message, a meme position indicator, and a font type identifier. The annotatable image is modified based, at least in part, upon the meme annotation criteria, thus generating an annotated image. The annotated image is published to a meme publication website.
US09720891B2 Managing file changes made during a review process
A method for managing file changes is provided. A file editor is able to view if the file he is submitting for review, is already under review with any reviewer. A reviewer would be informed that another editor has edited the same file and has submitted his changes for review. Editors would be informed of all reviewer comments if there are multiple reviewers on one file.
US09720889B1 Systems and methods for detecting auto-redirecting online content
Systems and methods for checking for redirection of a content item are provided. A first web page identified by a first uniform resource locator (URL), the first web page comprising a content item. The first URL is stored in a memory element. After a predetermined period of time elapses, a second URL associated with a second web page rendered by the browser is identified. A discrepancy between the first URL and the second URL is detected. Responsive to the discrepancy detection, the content item is identified as ineligible for participation in an online auction system.
US09720886B2 System and method for dynamic linking between graphic documents and comment data bases
A method for dynamic linking between graphic documents and comment databases is described and includes entering a base graphic representation of a project in a computer system. The base graphic representation may be the conversion of a user supplied format graphic to a web support format graphic. A coordinate overlay grid of a coordinate overlay program may be linked to the base graphic representation for overlay positioning and display on the base graphic representation. The coordinate overlay program may have a notation subprogram linked to the coordinate overlay grid for a user to designate notation with an identifier relative to a distinct location of the base graphic representation on the coordinate overlay grid. A text or graphic comment data record may be entered in a comment data record referenced to an identifier and displayed using a computer cursor device and display to activate an identifier.
US09720884B2 System and method for using data and angles to automatically generate a narrative story
A system and method for automatically generating a narrative story receives data and information pertaining to a domain event. The received data and information and/or one or more derived features are then used to identify a plurality of angles for the narrative story. The plurality of angles is then filtered, for example through use of parameters that specify a focus for the narrative story, length of the narrative story, etc. Points associated with the filtered plurality of angles are then assembled and the narrative story is rendered using the filtered plurality of angles and the assembled points.
US09720883B2 Multi-level architecture for image display
A system and method for providing the dynamic display of content and related advertisements are provided. The advertisements are displayed based on predetermined customer types. A network resource, such as Web page, can include a plurality of dynamic content modules. Depending on the available display area and additional display criteria, each dynamic content module displays a subset content and related advertisements. Each dynamic content module corresponds to an integration of multiple layers of content, such as text, graphics, and image rendering information.
US09720880B2 System and method for an asynchronous processor with assisted token
Embodiments are provided for an asynchronous processor using master and assisted tokens. In an embodiment, an apparatus for an asynchronous processor comprises a memory to cache a plurality of instructions, a feedback engine to decode the instructions from the memory, and a plurality of XUs coupled to the feedback engine and arranged in a token ring architecture. Each one of the XUs is configured to receive an instruction of the instructions form the feedback engine, and receive a master token associated with a resource and further receive an assisted token for the master token. Upon determining that the assisted token and the master token are received in an abnormal order, the XU is configured to detect an operation status for the instruction in association with the assisted token, and upon determining a needed action in accordance with the operation status and the assisted token, perform the needed action.
US09720879B2 Reconfigurable circuit having rows of a matrix of registers connected to corresponding ports and a semiconductor integrated circuit
A reconfigurable circuit includes a plurality of processing elements and an input/output data interface unit, and the reconfigurable circuit is configured to control connections of the plurality of processing elements for each context. The input/output data interface unit is configured to hold operation input data which is input to the plurality of processing elements and operation output data which is output from the plurality of processing elements. The input/output data interface unit includes a plurality of ports, and a plurality of registers. The registers are configured to be connected to the plurality of ports, and to include m (m being an integer of 2 or more) number of banks in a depth direction.
US09720873B2 Method for a deterministic selection of a sensor from a plurality of sensors
A method for a deterministic selection of a sensor from a plurality of sensors, having a control unit and multiple sensors connected to the control unit by means of a three-wire bus, wherein the sensors are connected to the three-wire bus through at least two lines in parallel to one another, and a protocol frame in conformity with the SENT specification is used between the control unit and the sensors for a data exchange, and a particular sensor is selected within the protocol frame by the control unit through the predefined duration of a selection signal, wherein the duration of the selection signal is determined by the interval between a first falling signal edge and a second falling signal edge.
US09720869B1 Coupled device deployment location classification
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of devices, methods, and software for coupled device deployment location classification in an automated manner. One embodiment, in the form of a method, includes searching a device tree of a computing device to identify any devices of interest. This method, for each identified device of interest, may then identify a path within the computing device of the device of interest and classify, based on the identified path, a relative location of the device of interest. This method may then store the classification of the device of interest in a memory device of the computing device.
US09720863B1 Migrating MMIO from a source I/O adapter of a source computing system to a destination I/O adapter of a destination computing system
Migrating memory MMIO from a source I/O adapter of a source computing system to a destination I/O adapter of a destination computing system, includes: collecting, by a source hypervisor of the source computing system, MMIO mapping information, where the source hypervisor supports a logical partition on the source computing system and the logical partition is configured for MMIO operations with the source I/O adapter through an MMU; placing, by a destination hypervisor of the destination computing system, the destination I/O adapter in an error state; migrating the logical partition from the source computing system to the destination computing system; configuring, by the destination hypervisor of the destination computing system, the destination computing system for MMIO with the LPAR utilizing the MMIO mapping information collected by the source hypervisor; and restarting the logical partition on the destination computing system, including recovering, by the logical partition, from the error state.
US09720859B1 System, method, and computer program product for conditionally eliminating a memory read request
A system, method and computer program product are provided for conditionally eliminating a memory read request. In use, a memory read request is identified. Additionally, it is determined whether the memory read request is an unnecessary memory read request. Further, the memory read request is conditionally eliminated, based on the determination.
US09720858B2 Technique for performing memory access operations via texture hardware
A texture processing pipeline can be configured to service memory access requests that represent texture data access operations or generic data access operations. When the texture processing pipeline receives a memory access request that represents a texture data access operation, the texture processing pipeline may retrieve texture data based on texture coordinates. When the memory access request represents a generic data access operation, the texture pipeline extracts a virtual address from the memory access request and then retrieves data based on the virtual address. The texture processing pipeline is also configured to cache generic data retrieved on behalf of a group of threads and to then invalidate that generic data when the group of threads exits.
US09720852B2 Universal serial bus (USB) key functioning as multiple USB keys so as to efficiently configure different types of hardware
A method, data storage device and computer program product for efficiently configuring different types of hardware components. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) key is preloaded with multiple profiles, where each profile contains a configuration file(s) associated with a particular type of hardware component. Upon plugging the USB key into a hardware component, the USB key recognizes the type of hardware component based on the properties of the hardware component available on the USB interface. The USB key identifies a profile containing the configuration file(s) associated with the recognized type of hardware component. The USB key then presents the configuration file(s) contained in the identified profile to the connected hardware component. Such a process may be repeated for configuring another type of hardware component. In this manner, the user is able to efficiently configure different types of hardware by having the USB key function as multiple USB keys.
US09720849B2 Token-based encryption rule generation process
Data storage systems are disclosed for automatically generating encryption rules based on a set of training files that are known to include sensitive information. The system may use a number of heuristic algorithms to generate one or more encryption rules for determining whether a file includes sensitive information. Further, the system may apply the heuristic algorithms to the content of the files, as determined by using natural language processing algorithms, to generate the encryption rules. Moreover, systems are disclosed that are capable of automatically determining whether to encrypt a file based on the generated encryption rules. The content of the file may be determined using natural language processing algorithms and then the encryption rules may be applied to the content of the file to determine whether to encrypt the file.
US09720848B2 Storage device and control method for storage device
Key information that is currently in use is archived in a management server to prevent the key information from being lost. A storage device 10 is communicatably connected to a management server 60 managing key information 1. The storage device includes a memory device 21, and a controller 100 controlling the memory device. The controller implements encryption processing on data inputted and outputted to and from the memory device by using the key information. When stoppage of an operation is indicated, the controller determines whether the key information used by the controller is managed by the management server, stops the operation in a case where the key information is managed by the management server, and does not stop the operation in a case where the key information is determined not to be managed by the management server.
US09720843B2 Access type protection of memory reserved for use by processor logic
A processor of an aspect includes operation mode check logic to determine whether to allow an attempted access to an operation mode and access type protected memory based on an operation mode that is to indicate whether the attempted access is by an on-die processor logic. Access type check logic is to determine whether to allow the attempted access to the operation mode and access type protected memory based on an access type of the attempted access to the operation mode and access type protected memory. Protection logic is coupled with the operation mode check logic and is coupled with the access type check logic. The protection logic is to deny the attempted access to the operation mode and access type protected memory if at least one of the operation mode check logic and the access type check logic determines not to allow the attempted access.
US09720842B2 Adaptive multilevel binning to improve hierarchical caching
A device driver calculates a tile size for a plurality of cache memories in a cache hierarchy. The device driver calculates a storage capacity of a first cache memory. The device driver calculates a first tile size based on the storage capacity of the first cache memory and one or more additional characteristics. The device driver calculates a storage capacity of a second cache memory. The device driver calculates a second tile size based on the storage capacity of the second cache memory and one or more additional characteristics, where the second tile size is different than the first tile size. The device driver transmits the second tile size to a second coalescing binning unit. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that data locality and cache memory hit rates are improved where tile size is optimized for each cache level in the cache hierarchy.
US09720841B2 Hardware managed compressed cache
A computing element, system, and method for implementing control structures for a compressed cache in hardware. Embodiments provide a first engine configured to allocate and deallocate virtual memory pages and physical memory pages from pools of available pages to store received data to the compressed cache, a second engine configured to compress received data and store the compressed data. Embodiments also provide for embedding data within the virtual and physical memory pages to indicate page size, type, and data compression.
US09720838B2 Shared buffered memory routing
A shared memory controller receives a flit from another first shared memory controller over a shared memory link, where the flit includes a node identifier (ID) field and an address of a particular line of the shared memory. The node ID field identifies that the first shared memory controller corresponds to a source of the flit. Further, a second shared memory controller is determined from at least the address field of the flit, where the second shared memory controller is connected to a memory element corresponding to the particular line. The flit is forwarded to the second shared memory controller using a shared memory link according to a routing path.
US09720836B2 Preemptible-RCU CPU hotplugging while maintaining real-time response
A grace period detection technique for a preemptible read-copy update (RCU) implementation that uses a combining tree for quiescent state tracking. When a leaf level bitmask indicating online/offline CPUs is fully cleared due to all of its assigned CPUs going offline as a result of hotplugging operations, the bitmask state is not immediately propagated to the root level of the combining tree as in prior art RCU implementations. Instead, propagation is deferred until all tasks are removed from an associated leaf level task list tracking tasks that were preempted inside an RCU read-side critical section. Deferring bitmask propagation obviates the need to migrate the task list to the combining tree root level in order to prevent premature grace period termination. The task list can remain at the leaf level. In this way, CPU hotplugging is accommodated while avoiding excessive degradation of real-time latency stemming from the now-eliminated task list migration.
US09720832B2 Store operations to maintain cache coherence
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes encountering a store operation during a compile-time of a program, where the store operation is applicable to a memory line. It is determined, by a computer processor, that no cache coherence action is necessary for the store operation. A store-without-coherence-action instruction is generated for the store operation, responsive to determining that no cache coherence action is necessary. The store-without-coherence-action instruction specifies that the store operation is to be performed without a cache coherence action, and cache coherence is maintained upon execution of the store-without-coherence-action instruction.
US09720830B2 Systems and methods facilitating reduced latency via stashing in system on chips
Systems and methods that facilitate reduced latency via stashing in multi-level cache memory architectures of systems on chips (SoCs) are provided. One method involves stashing, by a device includes a plurality of multi-processor central processing unit cores, first data into a first cache memory of a plurality of cache memories, the plurality of cache memories being associated with a multi-level cache memory architecture. The method also includes generating control information including: a first instruction to cause monitoring contents of a second cache memory of the plurality of cache memories to determine whether a defined condition is satisfied for the second cache memory; and a second instruction to cause prefetching the first data into the second cache memory of the plurality of cache memories based on a determination that the defined condition is satisfied.
US09720822B2 NVRAM caching and logging in a storage system
In one embodiment, a node coupled to solid state drives (SSDs) of a plurality of storage arrays executes a storage input/output (I/O) stack having a plurality of layers. The node includes a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). A first portion of the NVRAM is configured as a write-back cache to store write data associated with a write request and a second portion of the NVRAM is configured as one or more non-volatile logs (NVLogs) to record metadata associated with the write request. The write data is passed from the write-back cache over a first path of the storage I/O stack for storage on a first storage array and the metadata is passed from the one or more NVLogs over a second path of the storage I/O stack for storage on a second storage array, wherein the first path is different from the second path.
US09720819B2 Concurrent, moving, garbage collector
Electronic garbage collection moves objects within memory to consolidate the objects thereby reducing access time and improving memory performance. Transactions occurring in an atomic transactional memory appear to occur instantaneously—such that the transaction completes in its entirety or is aborted. A garbage collection circuit attempts to move a memory object from a first memory location to a second memory location using a transactional fast-path move operation. If the transactional fast-path move operation is unsuccessful after a number of attempts, the garbage collection circuit attempts to move the object using a non-transactional slow-path move.
US09720815B2 Automatically generating testcases
A technique for generating testcases includes receiving a new product specification for an application. A noun-verb pairing is performed on the new product specification. An attempt is made to locate a similar noun-verb pairing in a previous product specification for the application that corresponds to the new noun-verb pairing. In response to locating the similar noun-verb pairing in the previous product specification, a new testcase is generated by modifying an existing testcase that is associated with the similar noun-verb pairing in the previous product specification. In response to not locating the similar noun-verb pairing in the previous product specification, the fact that the new testcase was not generated is indicated.
US09720807B2 Using core files to develop diagnostic programs
A list of classes found in a core dump file is determined. One or more classes requested by a classloader is also determined. A set of one or more classes requested by the classloader that are found in the core dump file is then determined.
US09720804B2 Dynamic tracing framework for debugging in virtualized environments
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for a dynamic tracing framework for debugging in a virtualized environment. Embodiment of the present invention can include selecting a home node and a set of remote nodes to which apply a set of probes. Data collection is performed by a tracing agent of each node and the collection of data is shared across multiple software systems.
US09720803B2 Methods and apparatus for debugging of remote systems
Methods and apparatus for debugging of remote systems are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an activator to establish a connection between a first computer system and a second computer system, a data fetcher to transfer values of a first set of data elements from the second computer system to the first computer system via the connection, an executor to execute a first software code on the first computer system using the transferred values of the first set of data elements after the connection is closed, and a debugger to debug the first software code on the first computer system after the executor executes the first software code on the first computer system.
US09720802B2 Breakpoint for predicted tuple processing time in a streaming environment
A stream of tuples is received to be processed by processing elements operating on one or more computer processors with each processing element having one or more stream operators. A breakpoint is identified for a stream operator that is configured to be triggered when time for processing of a tuple by the first stream operator is predicted to exceed a threshold time. A tuple is received at the stream operator having a set of attributes. A predicted time to process the tuple is determined based on the set of attributes. It is determined that the predicted time exceeds the threshold time. The breakpoint is triggered, in response to determining that the predicted time exceeds the threshold time, to pause processing of the tuple by the first stream operator.
US09720801B2 System and method for linking debugging message
The present invention relates to a system and method for linking a debugging message, and the system for linking a debugging message includes: a web development terminal for creating, if information which needs to be confirmed while developing a web program is input, a debugging message, outputting the debugging message on a debug window displayed in a predetermined area of a screen, and transmitting, if a magic number is input from a user through the debug window, a debugging message registration request signal including web development terminal identification information, the magic number and the debugging message to a service providing device; the service providing device for storing, if the debugging message registration request signal is received from the web development terminal, the debugging message.
US09720794B2 Method and system providing a self-test on one or more sensors coupled to a device
A method and system for providing a self-test configuration in a device is disclosed. The method and system comprise providing a self-test mechanism in a kernel space of a memory and enabling a hook in a user space of the memory, wherein the hook is in communication with the self-test mechanism. The method and system also include running the self-test driver and utilizing the results.
US09720792B2 Information theoretic caching for dynamic problem generation in constraint solving
Computer-implemented techniques are disclosed for verifying circuit designs using dynamic problem generation. A device under test (DUT) is modeled as part of a test bench where the test bench is a random process. A set of constraints is solved to generate stimuli for the DUT. Problem generation is repeated numerous times throughout a verification process with problems and sub-problems being generated and solved. When a problem is solved, the problem structure can be stored in a cache. The storage can be based on entropy of variables used in the problem. The problem storage cache can be searched for previously stored problems which match a current problem. By retrieving a problem structure from cache, the computational burden is reduced during verification. Problems can be multi-phase problems with storage and retrieval of problem structures based on the phase level. Caching can be accomplished using an information theoretic approach.
US09720790B2 Devices and methodologies for implementing redundant backups in NVRAM reliant environments
Technology described herein includes an arrangement whereby a hardware-based solution is implemented to enable mirroring of NVRAM data in a master server directly to NVRAM in a sleeper server. Both the master server and sleeper server implement a like motherboard unit, which is configured to implement the mirroring technology. That is, the roles of master and sleeper may be reversed. The master server includes a hardware module that monitors (but does not affect) NVRAM operations at the master server, and replicates those operations via a high speed communications link, such as a fiber optic link, to the sleeper server. The term “high speed communications link” refers to a link with at least 2.5 gigabit speed, and preferably at least 5 gigabit speed. The sleeper server is configured to, when in sleeper mode, suspend control of its own NVRAM module. Instead, the NVRAM module is controlled by a module that is configured to receive NVRAM operations via the fiber optic link, and apply those operations. In this manner, there is a direct mirroring of all master NVRAM content affected in the master's NVRAM to the sleeper's NVRAM. Using technology described herein, this is affected at an “atomic” (e.g. NVRAM bus cycle) level.
US09720786B2 Resolving failed mirrored point-in-time copies with minimum disruption
When the mirrored point in time copy fails, at that point in time all the data for making the source and target of the point in time copy consistent is available on secondary volumes at disaster recovery site. The data for the source and target of the failed point in time copy are logically and physically equal at that point in time. This logical relationship can be maintained, and protected against ongoing physical updates to the affected tracks on the source secondary volume, by first reading the affected tracks from the source secondary volume, copying the data to the target secondary volume, and then writing the updated track to the source secondary volume.
US09720784B2 Cloud infrastructure backup in a shared storage environment
A technique for cloud infrastructure backup in a virtualized environment utilizing shared storage includes obtaining a workload input/output (I/O) profile to the shared storage over a time period. An attempt to locate one or more time windows in the workload I/O profile for which a cloud infrastructure backup can be staged is initiated. In response to determining the cloud infrastructure backup can be staged during at least one of the time windows, staging of the cloud infrastructure backup is scheduled during a selected one of the time windows. In response to determining the cloud infrastructure backup cannot be staged during at least one of the time windows, an interference tolerance approach is employed for accessing the shared storage for active workloads and the cloud infrastructure backup during the staging of the cloud infrastructure backup.
US09720782B2 Authenticating a backup image with bifurcated storage
Authenticating a backup image stored on a storage device prior to restoring the backup image. A value such as a hash value is generated based on the image to be preserved. The value is stored on the storage device in a first area accessible for writing only when the computing device is in an update mode. The first area becomes read-only when the computing device is in an operating system mode. The image is stored on the storage device in a second area accessible for writing when the computing device is in the update mode or the operating system mode. When attempting to restore the image from the second area, the value from the first area is compared to another value generated at the time of the restoration for validation.
US09720778B2 Local area network free data movement
Systems and methods for backing up data associated with storage area network (SAN) data stores connected to a backup device over a SAN such that the backup is performed without using a local area network (LAN). The systems and methods include receiving a snapshot of a virtual machine (VM), the VM being associated with a VM datastore disk, which is further associated with a unique ID. The unique ID associated with the VM datastore disk is compared with a unique ID associated with a disk available on the computing device. When the unique ID associated with the VM datastore disk matches the unique ID associated with the disk on the computing device, the disk on the computing device with the matching unique ID is opened for reading, and data from the opened disk is copied to a copy data storage pool over a storage area network.
US09720776B2 Server system, method for controlling the same, and program for executing parallel distributed processing
If the number of task attempts has not exceeded the maximum number of attempts, a server system transmits a regular job to cause tasks to execute a particular process, and if the number of task attempts has exceeded the maximum number of attempts, the server system transmits a failed job to cause the tasks to execute post-processing corresponding to the particular process.
US09720772B2 Memory system, method for controlling magnetic memory, and device for controlling magnetic memory
A memory system according to an embodiment includes a plurality of magnetic nanowires, a read unit that reads data from the magnetic nanowires, a shift control unit that shifts domain walls in the magnetic nanowires, and a read control unit. The read control unit is configured to control the read unit to read the data from the magnetic nanowires in parallel, store two or more of the data read in parallel, and when the data corresponding to a first magnetic nanowire of the magnetic nanowires are delayed or advanced as compared to the data corresponding to a second magnetic nanowire of the magnetic nanowires, determines a misalignment in the data and correct the data based on the misalignment.
US09720768B2 System and method for early packet header verification
A receiver, transmitter and method for early packet header verification are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) receiving a payload flit of a preceding packet and a header flit of a current packet; and (2) using a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) in the header flit to verify the payload flit of the preceding packet and the header flit of the current packet.
US09720767B2 Storage apparatus and storage apparatus control method
A storage apparatus includes a channel control unit, a storage device, and a processor. The channel control unit includes a plurality of operation units. The processor specifies, when receiving a request for read of a plurality of pieces of element data from a host computer, the plurality of pieces of element data to the plurality of operation units, respectively. The plurality of operation units respectively reads the plurality of pieces of element data from the storage device, calculates a plurality of partial codes that is a plurality of guarantee codes on the basis of the plurality of pieces of element data, and transmits the plurality of partial codes to the processor. The processor calculates, on the basis of the plurality of partial codes, a sequence code that is a guarantee code of sequence data including the plurality of pieces of element data which is concatenated.
US09720764B2 Uncorrectable memory errors in pipelined CPUs
Uncorrectable memory errors in pipelined central processing units. A processor core may be connected to a memory system and it may include a processor cache. In response to determining an uncorrectable error in data stored in the memory system, the address of a memory location of the uncorrectable error is stored in an address buffer and a recovery procedure is performed for the processor core. When fetching data from a memory location and if it is determined that the address of this memory location is stored in the address buffer, the content of a cache line related to the address is moved into a quarantine buffer of the processor core. When detecting an error in the data of the moved cache line, a repair procedure for the data of this address is triggered.
US09720763B2 Proactive cloud orchestration
Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing proactive cloud orchestration services for a cloud hardware infrastructure. A health management system may monitor component(s) of the cloud hardware infrastructure. The health management system may determine a failure probability metric for the component(s) based on the monitoring of the component and in consideration of historical information associated with the component, or similar components. The health management system may determine an optimization strategy for the component and, when an optimization decision has been reached, initiate a reconfiguration procedure to implement the optimization strategy. The optimization strategy may provide for mitigating or eliminating the consequences of the component failure associated with data loss, downtime, and the like.
US09720760B2 Mitigating wireless networking problems of a wireless network
Systems, methods and apparatuses for mitigating a wireless networking problem of a wireless network are disclosed. One method includes determining, by an analytics engine, a problem associated with the wireless network, wherein the analytics engine is operative as a central intelligence for detection, analyzing, classifying, root-causing, or controlling the wireless network. The method further includes receiving, by the analytics engine, a collected user input and state information, mapping, by at least the analytics engine, a problem signature of the user input and the state information to at least one of a number of possible problem network conditions, determining, by the analytics engine, instructions for alleviating the problem based on the mapping of the problem signature, and providing, by the analytics engine, the instructions.
US09720755B2 Information processing device
An information processing device includes: a virtual machine built in the information processing device and able to use a physical device included by the information processing device; and an information processing device failure managing unit for detecting a failure in the information processing device. The virtual machine includes: a virtual machine failure managing unit for detecting a failure in the physical device which the virtual machine can use; and a failure notifying unit for notifying occurrence of a failure in the physical device detected by the virtual machine failure managing unit to the information processing device failure managing unit.
US09720753B2 CloudSeer: using logs to detect errors in the cloud infrastructure
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting error in a cloud infrastructure by running a plurality of training tasks on the cloud infrastructure and generating training execution logs; generating a model miner with the training execution logs to represent one or more correct task executions in the cloud infrastructure; after training, running a plurality of tasks on the cloud infrastructure and capturing live execution logs; and from the live execution logs, if a current task deviates from the correct task execution, indicating an execution error for correction in real-time.
US09720752B2 Techniques for performing resynchronization on a clustered system
Various embodiments are generally directed an apparatus and method for receiving information to write on a clustered system comprising at least a first cluster and a second cluster, determining that a failure event has occurred on the clustered system creating unsynchronized information, the unsynchronized information comprising at least one of inflight information and dirty region information, and performing a resynchronization operation to synchronize the unsynchronized information on the first cluster and the second cluster based on log information in at least one of an inflight tracker log for the inflight information and a dirty region log for the dirty region information.
US09720745B2 Method and apparatus for device-specific communication between application programs
A method for providing communication between application programs running via devices connected to a same network is provided. The method includes an operation for connecting a first application program, which is running in a first device via a web socket server in the first device, with a second application program, which is running in a second device, and an operation for transmitting and receiving data between the second application program and the first application program via the web socket server.
US09720742B2 Service and system supporting coherent data access on multicore controller
A system and method for accessing coherent data on a controller. The system and method include a first buffer and a second buffer that each may be read from or written to and an indicator that indicates which of the first or the second buffer is read from while the other of the first or second buffers is written to. The system and method also include a read synchronization protocol that allows the coherent data to be read from the buffer that the indicator indicates is the read buffer and a write synchronization protocol that allows the coherent data to be written to the buffer that the indicator indicates is the write buffer.
US09720738B2 Datacenter scheduling of applications using machine learning techniques
A computer-implemented method including: (i) receiving a computational task to be processed by the datacenter environment; (ii) receiving a set of computational task parameters, The computational task parameters specifying characteristics of the computational task to be processed; (iii) receiving a set of computing entity parameters, The computing entity parameters specifying characteristics of the computing entities; (iv) transmitting the computational task parameters and the computing entity parameters to a scheduling entity; and (v) selecting one or more computing entities of The plurality of computing entities for processing the computational task by the scheduling entity, based on various factors.
US09720737B2 Controlling resource allocation with automated consumption against a work breakdown structure
A computer system displays a user interface display with a user input mechanism that can be actuated in order to identify a set of resources, and corresponding capacities. A team configuration is stored in memory and reflects the configuration of the resources and corresponding capacities that were identified. A task dependency structure is obtained, and is indicative of an underlying project. Resources from the stored team configuration, and corresponding capacities, are assigned to the tasks in the task dependency structure and the team configuration is updated, in memory, to reflect the assignments. A display is generated that shows the state of the underlying memory, and that is indicative of a remaining capacity and a consumed capacity.
US09720736B2 Job management and resource allocation in a data protection system
A system according to certain aspects improves the process of managing jobs and allocating resources to those jobs. The system can include a job manager that processes and generates resource allocation requests for a plurality of jobs and a resource allocator that allocates computing resources for the plurality of jobs based on the resource allocation requests. The process of allocating resources may involve locking one or more resource objects before allocating the computing resources for the plurality of jobs and unlocking the locked resource objects after the computing resources have been allocated for the plurality of jobs.
US09720735B2 Policy-based data routing for a multi-mode device
Communication devices capable of at least two communication modes (e.g. WLAN, WMAN and WWAN and/or wired modes) can be configured to optimize communications using a policy-based mechanism to configure connections and routes. A rules engine evaluates its policies on a state change (e.g. network availability, time of day, etc.) to configure a routing table and, together with communication APIs, provides an appropriate connection to an application for its respective communications. Policies may be responsive to various factors such as Radio Access Technology (high/low bandwidth), cost, presence, time of day, location, application type and quality of service (QoS) requirements among others to optimize communications.
US09720734B2 Multi-host configuration for virtual machine caching
Systems and methods disclosed herein are used to efficiently configure a plurality of memory caches. In one aspect, a method includes a server receiving or accessing a storage policy including a first caching mode for a first set of one or more virtual machine elements and a second caching mode for a second set of one or more virtual machine elements. If a virtual machine element requires configuration, the server determines whether the virtual machine element is a virtual machine element of the first set or the second set. If the virtual machine element is a virtual machine element of the first set, the server applies the first caching mode to a section of a logical solid state drive. If the virtual machine element is a virtual machine element of the second set, the server applies the second caching mode to the section of the logical solid state drive.
US09720731B2 Methods and apparatus for coordinating and selecting protocols for resources acquisition from multiple resource managers
Techniques are disclosed for allocation of resources under the control of resource managers and the choice and coordination of resource acquisition protocols to communicate with these resource managers. The resource managers may be distributed and heterogeneous. For example, a technique for use by a service provider for allocating one or more resources from multiple resources associated with multiple resource managers based on at least one service agreement offer from a service client comprises the following steps/operations. At least one service agreement offer is obtained. A resource allocation is automatically determined based on the obtained service agreement offer. The automated step/operation of determining the resource allocation comprises: (i) coordinating selection of a resource acquisition protocol from among multiple resource acquisition protocols for use in communicating with the multiple resource managers to acquire one or more resources associated therewith; and (ii) evaluating a performance associated with one or more of the multiple resource acquisition protocols.
US09720730B2 Providing an asymmetric multicore processor system transparently to an operating system
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a multicore processor with first and second groups of cores. The second group can be of a different instruction set architecture (ISA) than the first group or of the same ISA set but having different power and performance support level, and is transparent to an operating system (OS). The processor further includes a migration unit that handles migration requests for a number of different scenarios and causes a context switch to dynamically migrate a process from the second core to a first core of the first group. This dynamic hardware-based context switch can be transparent to the OS. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09720725B2 Prefetching of discontiguous storage locations as part of transactional execution
Transactional execution of a transaction beginning instruction initiates prefetching, by a CPU, of discontiguous storage locations specified by a list. The list includes entries specifying addresses and may also include corresponding metadata. The list may be specified by levels of indirection. Fetching of corresponding discontiguous cache lines is initiated while in TX mode. Additional instructions in the transaction may be executed and use the prefetched cache lines.
US09720713B2 Using hardware transactional memory for implementation of queue operations
Using hardware transactional memory (HTM) for queue operations includes invoking a first operation for a concurrent linked queue of an interpretive program using a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler of a virtual machine, wherein the first operation does not use HTM, determining whether a data processing system executing the virtual machine supports HTM, and responsive to determining that the data processing system does support HTM, detecting, using a processor and within the first operation, a call to a second operation that is that is configured, in byte code, to return an indication of a failed hardware transaction. Responsive to detecting the second operation, a machine code implementation of the first operation that includes a machine code implementation of the second operation is generated. The machine code implementation of the second operation is an implementation of the first operation that does use HTM.
US09720712B2 Physical/virtual device failover with a shared backend
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes identifying an assigned device that is assigned to a guest operating system of a virtual machine. The method includes transmitting, to the guest operating system, a request indicating a failover event. The failover event involves a switch from the assigned device to an emulated device. The assigned device and the emulated device share a backend physical device. The method further includes receiving an acknowledgement message from the guest operating system that it is ready to switch from the assigned device to the emulated device. The method further includes preventing access to the assigned device by the guest operating system. The method further includes associating a device driver of a hypervisor with the backend physical device and providing a notification to the guest operating system that the emulated device is available for use.
US09720710B2 Dynamically provisioning, managing, and executing tasks
Embodiments relate to systems, devices, and computer-implemented methods for provisioning, managing, and executing tasks. An agent program can be configured to receive task data, determine a task definition corresponding to the task data, retrieve the task definition, and execute the task definition using the task data. The agent program can additionally be configured to set a time-to-live for the task definition and locally delete the task definition when the time-to-live elapses.
US09720704B2 Data driven hardware chips initialization via hardware procedure framework
A method provides processor initialization in different platform environments via a single code set. The method includes: in response to detecting a power-on operation of the processor, a microcontroller retrieving hardware procedures (HWP) framework code from a storage and triggering execution of the HWP framework code on the processor. The execution of the HWP framework code generates a HWP framework that comprises a plurality of application programming interfaces (APIs) which govern how all communication processes involving hardware procedures can be accomplished. The method further includes performing one or more initialization procedures by communicating one or more attribute data via the HWP framework to configure the processor for operation within a specific platform environment in which the processor is to be operated. The HWP framework includes standard interfaces and enables direct updates to hardware procedures without requiring a new flash code or a firmware patch.
US09720701B2 Providing support for device states
A method of providing support for power-management of a device. The method may include gathering contextual data from a sensor communicatively coupled to a sensor controller. The method may also include receiving power-management data including an operational state of a main processor of the device. The method may also include modifying the operation of the device based on the contextual data and the power management data.
US09720700B1 Secure storage devices, with physical input device, for secure configuration in a configuration-ready mode
A secure storage device includes a physical key input device, a secure memory and a controller. The controller arbitrates access by a host to securely configure the device based on the device's mode of operation. The controller determines whether the device is in a configuration-ready mode based on information within the device. Only when the device is in the configuration-ready mode, the device may be configured by the host. When a device is in a non-configuration-ready mode, the device is prevented from being configured by the host, but the device can be set to the configuration-ready mode, for example, by nullifying configuration data (e.g., PINs), by creating new encryption key(s), and by setting the mode to the configuration-ready mode. A null PIN is unusable to unlock the device after being locked. A new encryption key is unusable to decrypt data previously stored in the device, making such data unrecoverable.
US09720699B2 Efficient RAM usage in computing devices
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing program code in a computing device, such as an embedded system. In a computing device, a non-volatile flash memory stores program code comprising initialization code designed to be executed a single time during device booting, main program code separate from the initialization code, and main code loader code designed to direct a controller of the computing device to load the main program code from the flash memory to the RAM when executed by the controller. The controller loads the initialization code and the main code loader code to first and second adjacent portions of the RAM, respectively, and loads the main program code, separately from the initialization code, to a third portion of the RAM at least partially overlapping the first portion but not overlapping the second portion, thereby at least partially overwriting the initialization code.
US09720698B2 Method and device for increased boot sequence speed using a cache in non-volatile memory
An OS bootloader or other code or data requested by firmware during a boot sequence is cached inside ROM or another non-volatile memory location. Firmware uses this cached version, instead of retrieving the OS bootloader or other code from a peripheral location to speed up the boot sequence. Embodiments also create additional room in the cache based on pre-determined rules if the cache doesn't already include the requested data and doesn't have enough room to store the requested data at the time of the firmware's read request.
US09720696B2 Independent mapping of threads
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for mapping the architected state of one or more threads to a set of distributed physical register files to enable independent execution of one or more threads in a multiple slice processor. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed including a plurality of dispatch queues which receive instructions from one or more threads and an even number of parallel execution slices, each parallel execution slice containing a register file. A routing network directs an output from the dispatch queues to the parallel execution slices and the parallel execution slices independently execute the one or more threads.
US09720695B2 System for providing trace data in a data processor having a pipelined architecture
The invention is a method and system for providing trace data in a pipelined data processor. Aspects of the invention include providing a trace pipeline in parallel to the execution pipeline, providing trace information on whether conditional instructions complete or not, providing trace information on the interrupt status of the processor, replacing instructions in the processor with functionally equivalent instructions that also produce trace information and modifying the scheduling of instructions in the processor based on the occupancy of a trace output buffer.
US09720689B2 Context-specific view of a hierarchical data structure
Dynamic ontological working sets support the automatic identification of a context-specific working set (or a visualization of a tree in a hierarchical data structure) that displays those tree nodes that are most relevant to an identified context. Pre-defined rules are used to determine a level of relevance to be applied when identifying the context-specific working set. Context-specific working sets may be displayed automatically when identified.
US09720684B2 Merit based inclusion of changes in a build of a software system
Software configuration management for a software system under development includes receiving a change to the software system under development from a first user, determining a merit score for the first user, wherein the merit score is calculated according to success of prior changes received from the first user, and comparing, using a processor, the merit score for the first user with a merit threshold for the software system under development. The change is accepted for inclusion in a build of the software system under development responsive to determining that the merit score for the first user complies with the merit threshold.
US09720682B2 Integrated software and hardware system that enables automated provisioning and configuration of a blade based on its physical location
An integrated software and hardware system is described that functions as a communications service broker in a telecommunications (telecom) network environment. The system can be used to perform mediation and orchestration of services in the telecom network. The integrated system provides the ability of fully automated configuration and provisioning of a compute blade module based on its physical location (in a chassis enclosure). In accordance with an embodiment, each blade in the chassis is assigned either a worker or bootstrap role. The worker blades perform the core processing of the service broker functionality and the bootstrap blades are used to provide the bootstrapping and administration of the worker blades.
US09720681B2 Device programming system with data broadcast and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a device programming system includes: providing a target programmer, having a programming bus; coupling an electronic device, having a non-volatile memory, to the target programmer by the programming bus; and programming a data image into the non-volatile memory by the target programmer includes: subscribing to a broadcast message, receiving a logical block, of the data image, by the broadcast message for programming the non-volatile memory, and sending an unsubscribe message after receiving the logical blocks of the data image from the broadcast message.
US09720678B2 Network switching method, version upgrade method, and terminal device
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a network switching method, a version upgrade method, and a terminal device, which relate to the field of communications technologies. A terminal receives a user instruction that instructs the terminal to access a network of a target operator. If an operator of a network currently accessed by the terminal is different from the target operator, a preset file is read to obtain image information corresponding to the target operator. A target image file corresponding to the target operator is obtained according to the image information and version switching is performed according to the target image file. The preset file includes image information that corresponds to all image files of operators stored in the terminal in one-to-one correspondence.
US09720674B1 Automating application of software patches to a server having a virtualization layer
A method and system for automating application of software patches to a server system having a virtualization layer. A plurality of software patches are downloaded to a computer system having a first operating system. The software patches to apply to a server console operating system are then determined. The software patches are automatically copied to the server system by executing a first script file. The copied software patches are automatically decompressed by executing a second script file. The decompressed software patches are installed in a specified order by executing the second script file. The console operating system is rebooted only after all software patches are installed.
US09720669B2 Deployment of software across an enterprise system
Software is prepared for deployment across an enterprise system. The software initially included a base package and now includes an extended package. The extended package includes duplicate files and new files with respect to the base package. A method comprises using a computer to create indices of files for each of the base and extended packages, the indices identifying properties of the files; compare the properties of the files listed in the indices to identify the duplicate files and the new files in the extended package; and create a deployment package that includes only the new files.
US09720666B2 Densely stored strings
The disclosed embodiments provide a system for densely storing strings within the memory of a software program. During operation, the system receives a set of characters to be stored in a string, wherein each character is encoded using a multi-byte public encoding. The system then stores the set of characters in the string at least in part by performing the following steps. The system determines whether every character of the set can be encoded using a first private encoding that consumes less space per character than the multi-byte public encoding. Responsive to determining that every character of the set can be encoded using the first private encoding, the system stores a particular value associated with the first private encoding in a particular field of the string. The system then stores the set of characters in the string in the first private encoding.
US09720664B2 Method for defining alias sets
One or more processors determine whether a first procedure within a first program meets a first criterion. The first criterion is included in a plurality of criteria that are configured for pessimistic aliasing. Responsive to the determination, one or more processors determine whether to flag the first procedure for pessimistic aliasing.
US09720661B2 Selectively controlling use of extended mode features
An optimizer identifies application code to be modified and modifies that code, such that the application includes unmodified code and modified code. Based on generating the modified code, the optimizer sets one or more controls to selectively enable use of extended mode features by the application. The extended mode features include one or more features at an instruction set level different from an instruction set level available to the application. The controls may be set in a control register or entries of address translation structures, as examples.
US09720657B2 Managed assertions in an integrated development environment
The present disclosure relates to maintaining assertions in an integrated development environment (IDE) tool. According to one embodiment, the IDE receives a request to add an assertion at a specified location within source code of an application from a user interacting with an integrated development environment (IDE) tool. The source code is stored in a first file associated with a development project. The IDE tool receives a definition for the assertion and stores the definition for the assertion in a second file associated with the development project. The IDE tool creates an association in the development project between the source code of the application and the assertion.
US09720655B1 User interface event orchestration
Methods, systems and computer program products for user interface event orchestration are provided. A computer-implemented method may include defining a business domain object, associating the business domain object with a user interface component type, defining a rule for an event of the user interface component type, generating an event handling routine providing the defined rule in a programming language, and associating the generated event handling routine with a user interface component of an application interface.
US09720654B2 Modifying a middleware
An apparatus for modifying a middleware shared by multiple tenants by preparing a data packet comprising modification information and tenant information, the modification information comprising information of a specific class to be modified in the middleware as well as modification content for the specific class, the tenant information indicating a specific tenant of the plurality of tenants to which the modification content is directed; and in response to acquisition of the data packet: modifying the specific class in the middleware in runtime according to the modification information to create a modified specific class; and applying the modified content only to the specific tenant. When multiple tenants share a same middleware, different versions of the middleware may be provided for respective tenants, without affecting the use by other tenants, thereby satisfying sharing and customization requirements of each of the multiple tenants.
US09720651B2 Strategy maintenance system
A strategy-maintenance system comprises a memory, an interface, and a processor. The system is operable to store a plurality of templates. A template comprises a statement that facilitates writing one or more strategies. The system may further communicate to a first computer the plurality of templates for presentation on a first graphical user interface. The system also receives a first selection of at least one of the plurality of templates for a strategy. The strategy is operable to calculate a key value based on at least one of the plurality of templates. The system finally executes the strategy to calculate the key value and communicates the strategy for execution on a remote machine.
US09720650B2 Method for post-processing an output of a random source of a random generator
A method and an assemblage for post-processing an output of a random source of a random generator are presented. In the method, an output signal of the random source is compressed, thereby yielding a sequence of compressed signal values that are checked in terms of their distribution.
US09720648B2 Optimized structure for hexadecimal and binary multiplier array
A method for hiding implicit bit corrections in a partial product adder array in a binary and hexadecimal floating-point multiplier such that no additional adder stages are needed for the implicit bit corrections. Two leading-one correction terms are generated for the fraction in the multiplier floating-point number and two leading-one correction terms are generated for the fraction in the multiplicand floating-point number. The floating-point numbers may be single-precision or double-precision. Each leading-one correction term for the single-precision case is appended to the left of an intermediate partial product sum in the adder array that is an input to an adder so as to not to extend the bits in the input further to the left than the bits in another input to the adder. Each leading-one correction term for the double-precision case replaces an adder input that is unused when base-2 floating-point numbers are multiplied.
US09720647B2 Multipattern regular expression search systems and methods therefor
A tool, system, and method for searching input data includes a pattern input module, configured to receive regular expression patterns of symbols. An interpreter module may be configured to access individual ones of the symbols of the input data and upon accessing each symbol and compare a thread against the symbol. For each pattern, the thread corresponding to the pattern is compared against the symbol prior to the at least one thread being compared against a subsequent symbol of the input data. An output module may be configured to output an indication of ones of the patterns determined to be contained within the input data based on the comparison of the corresponding at least one thread to the symbols of the input data.
US09720645B2 Audio obstruction effects in 3D parallax user interfaces
Various systems and methods for providing audio obstruction effects in 3D parallax user interfaces are described herein. An apparatus comprises: a presentation module to present a 3D parallax user interface on an electronic device, the 3D parallax user interface including a foreground layer and a background layer, the foreground layer having a foreground user interface component and the background layer having a background user interface component, the foreground user interface component obstructing at least a portion of the background user interface component; a receiving module to receive a signal to generate an audio notification for the background user interface component; and an audio effect module to: determine an audio effect to apply to the audio notification, the audio effect based on the position of the background user interface component in relation to the foreground user interface component; and apply the audio effect to the audio notification.
US09720642B2 Prioritizing media content requests
Examples described herein may include a first playback device sending a first request for first media content to a computing system associated with a media service provider and a second playback device sending a second request for second media content to the computing system. The first and second playback devices may be associated with an account of the media service provider. The computing system may determine whether either or both of the first and second playback devices are allowed to receive the respective requested media content based on information included in the first request and the second request. Such information included in the requests may characterize playback operations respectively associated with the requests and/or may indicate a time at which the respective playback devices last received a playback command.
US09720640B2 Multifunction button
Aspects of the present invention enable a storage device (e.g., a recordable book, toy, computing device) to be controlled with a single control button that performs multiple functions. Different interactions with the button produce a different control input. In one aspect, the storage device is an audio recording device that can record, lock, unlock, transfer to a separate storage device, or play back one or more audio recordings. These five functions (i.e., recording, locking, unlocking, transferring, and playing back) are initiated or facilitated by depressing a single button located on the audio storage device for different lengths of time or in different patterns. Audio recordings may be played in response to user interactions with the button to help the user interact with the button properly and warn the user of action that is about to be taken.
US09720637B2 Display device
A display device includes a first display unit and a second display unit disposed parallel with the first display unit in a first position or a second position, wherein the first display unit and the second display unit overlap in the first position and are extended out in the second position. The display device further includes a sliding unit having at least one engaging groove which the first display unit and the second display unit are inserted into and slide through, a first driving unit disposed on one side of the first display unit, and a second driving unit disposed on one side of the second display unit.
US09720633B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming system, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention performs image processing on image data in units of pages stored in a page memory on the basis of parameter setting, transferring the image data to a buffer at a first speed, transmitting the image data, which is read out from the buffer at a second speed, to an image forming unit, and executing parameter setting for image processing performed when image data for a subsequent page is transferred after the image data for a single page has been transferred but before image data for the subsequent page is started to be transferred, wherein the first speed is faster than a second speed.
US09720632B2 Image formation apparatus, method for management of image formation apparatus, and non-transitory storage medium
There is provided an image formation apparatus that can prevent a system from having a reduced throughput even when the system includes an increased number of image formation apparatuses. When each MFP included in the system detects a presence of a user within a predefined range, the MFP notifies another MFP of the detection result. Each MFP determines, based on the detection result, a group of one or more MFPs from which the MFP of interest requests a list of one or more jobs issued by the user, more preferentially than another MFP, and the MFP of interest notifies another MFP accordingly.
US09720626B2 Cluster configuration information replication
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for cluster configuration information replication, managing cluster-wide service agents, and/or for cluster-wide outage detection. In an example of cluster configuration information replication, a replication workflow corresponding to a storage operation implemented for a storage object (e.g., renaming of a volume) of a first cluster may be transferred to a second storage cluster for selectively implementation. In an example of managing cluster-wide service agents, cluster-wide service agents are deployed to nodes of a cluster storage environment, where a master agent actively processes cluster service calls and standby agents passively wait for reassignment as a failover master in the event the master agent fails. In an example of cluster-wide outage detection, a cluster-wide outage may be determined for a cluster storage environment based upon a number of inaccessible nodes satisfying a cluster outage detection metric.
US09720625B1 Storage system and method for adaptive thermal throttling
A storage system and method for adaptive thermal throttling are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for adaptive thermal throttling is provided that is performed in a storage system having a memory. This method comprises determining if a temperature of the storage system is above a threshold temperature; and in response to determining that the temperature of the storage system is above the threshold temperature: reducing performance of the storage system in an iterative manner until the temperature of the storage system is within a temperature envelope around the threshold temperature; and storing, in the memory, a value indicating what the performance of the storage system was reduced to in order to get the temperature within the temperature envelope. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.
US09720620B1 Efficient data volume replication for block-based storage
A block-based storage system may implement efficient replication for restoring a data volume from a reduced durability state. A storage node that is not replicating write requests for a data volume may determine that replication for the data volume is to be enabled. A peer storage node may be identified that maintains a stale replica of the data volume. One or more replication operations may be performed to update stale data chunks in the stale replica of the data volume with current data chunks without updating data chunks in the stale replica of the data volume that are current. Stale replicas that are no longer needed may be deleted according timeouts or the amount of stale data in the replica.
US09720618B1 Maintaining backup snapshots using continuous replication from multiple sources
A method and system for synthesizing backup snapshots is discussed. IO's may be streamed from multiple locations, and placed in journal files. These journal files may thereafter be used to synthesize the backup snapshot.
US09720614B2 Allocating storage for cloned data
A method and associated systems for efficient management of cloned data. One or more processors create a “child” clone of a “parent” software image. The child and parent contain identical information organized into identical sets of file blocks. To conserve storage, each child block initially points to a physical storage location already in use by a corresponding parent block, rather than requiring additional storage of its own. The first time a child block is updated, however, it will require additional physical storage. At the time of the child's creation, the processors reserve a number of physical blocks sufficient to store the contents of all child file blocks likely to be updated. A child file block is identified as likely to be updated by analyzing past volatility of a corresponding file block of the parent or of corresponding file blocks of other children of the same parent.
US09720605B2 Method for dynamically establishing translation layer of solid state disk
A method for dynamically establishing a transition layer of a solid state disk (SSD). When a SSD is activated, the storage mode of the logical to physical (L2P) table is dynamically selected according to the state in the buffer memory of the SSD and the comparison between the capacity of the buffer memory and that of the L2P table. The establishing position of a flash translation layer (FTL) is suitably adjusted according to the selected storage mode such that the lifespan of the SSD can be prolonged.
US09720603B1 IOC to IOC distributed caching architecture
In an embodiment of the invention, a method which speeds up the transfer of data and increases the data throughput in an IO network comprised of Host Bus Adapters (HBAs)/IO bridges-switches, IO devices, and hosts is described. In the embodiment of the present invention, HBAs and IO bridges-switches utilize a multi-level cache composed of volatile memories (such as SRAM, SDRAM, etc.) and solid-state memories (such as flash, MRAM, etc.). These memories are used to cache the most recently accessed IO data by an active host or by another HBA/IO bridge-switch. Cache content can be from the local IO devices (the ones connected directly to the HBA/IO bridge-switch), from remote IO devices (the ones connected to different HBA/IO bridges/switches), or from both (a portion from local IO devices and another portion from remote IO devices). The combination of these caches from different HBAs/IO bridges-switches creates the cache for all IO devices in the entire network. Multiple copies of the same IO cache are possible depending on the transactions with the hosts.
US09720601B2 Load balancing technique for a storage array
A technique for load balancing uses heuristic-based algorithms with respect to input/output (I/O) latency of workloads destined to storage devices, e.g., solid state drives (SSDs), of a storage array attached to a storage system. Illustratively, “front-end” requests received from a host result in a back-end workload as those requests are processed by a storage I/O stack of the storage system and stored on the storage array. Accordingly, the technique maintains a consistent latency for the host requests (front-end) to control latency for the back-end workload. The load balancing technique illustratively load balances fixed (back-end) workloads having similar I/O sizes and I/O patterns. Illustratively, the technique balances the workloads across a plurality of storage ports over one or more I/O paths to the SSDs. Access to the SSDs may then be distributed among the storage ports.
US09720600B2 Apparatus and method for transferring data between storages having different access speeds
An apparatus is connected to a first storage and a second storage which is accessed at an access speed lower than an access speed of the first storage. The apparatus accesses each of blocks stored in the second storage, and counts, for each of the blocks, the number of accesses made for the each block. The apparatus determines, based on the number of accesses that has been counted for each of the blocks, a transfer target block that is a target which is to be transferred from the second storage to the first storage, and determines a transfer time at which transfer of the transfer target block is to be performed. The apparatus transfers the determined transfer target block to the first storage at the determined transfer time.
US09720598B2 Storage array having multiple controllers
A storage system comprises a storage array comprising a plurality of solid state storage devices (SSDs), a first processor comprising a first root complex of the storage system, a plurality of controller devices, and a first switch to interconnect the plurality of SSDs, the first processor and the plurality of controller devices. A first controller device of the plurality of controller devices is to connect the storage system to one or more remote servers. The first controller device is further to receive a first request from a first server of the one or more remote servers and determine whether the first request is a data request or a control request. The first controller device is further to send a first message to a first SSD of the plurality of SSDs via the first switch, bypassing the first processor, responsive to a determination that the first request is a data request.
US09720592B2 Mobile gesture reporting and replay with unresponsive gestures identification and analysis
In gesture reporting and replay, touch events are captured from an operating system of a client device for touch actions on a touchscreen. The touch events are interpreted as gestures. Any application events are captured from an application in response to the gestures. A given gesture and any given application event in response to the given gesture are compared against an expected application event. When there is a match, the given gesture is identified as a responsive gesture. When there is no match, the given gesture is identified as a non-responsive gesture. The gesture information for the given gesture, any application event in response to the given gesture, and a screen layout displayed on the touchscreen at the time of the given gesture are sent to a service. For the information received, the service replays the given gesture and generates a report.
US09720589B2 Touch display device including visual accelerator
A touch display device includes a touch sensor, a visual accelerator, and a display. The touch sensor senses a touch. The visual accelerator visualizes the touch. The display displays information corresponding to the visualized touch. When the touch is outside a visual acceleration area, the visual accelerator does not process the touch. When the touch is in the visual acceleration area, the visual accelerator visualizes the touch on the display.
US09720586B2 Apparatus and method for providing for interaction with content within a digital bezel
An apparatus, method, and computer program product are described that provide for an active digital bezel area on a display of a device. Touch input may be received in a bezel area provided on the display, where user interaction with content presented within the bezel area at a location corresponding to the location of the touch input is initially disabled. A force component of the touch input may be detected and compared to a predetermined force threshold. In cases in which the force component of the touch input exceeds the predetermined force threshold, user interaction with the content at that location may be enabled. In this way, the force exerted by the user in applying a touch input in the bezel area may be considered an indication of the user's intent to interact with corresponding content within the bezel, and such interactions may be provided for accordingly.
US09720581B2 Responsive image rendition authoring
A method may include receiving a first input containing a markup language file, an image, and a style sheet file having breakpoints and image display rules for generating image renditions of the image. The method may further comprise displaying a first image rendition based upon the breakpoints and the image, the first image rendition having the first image and crop borders corresponding to the breakpoints. The method may further comprise receiving an input indicating modification of the image rendition, and displaying a second image rendition based upon the modification to the first image rendition. The method may further comprise amending the markup language file with at least one image display rule based upon the second image rendition, the at least one image display rule conforming to the first set of image display rules.
US09720579B2 Processing element placement tool
A method, system, and computer program product for selectively associating one or more processing elements, or portions thereof, to one or more compute nodes. The method, system, and computer program product can include presenting a stream computing application, presenting metrics associated with at least one compute node and at least one processing element (or portion thereof), receiving input from a graphical display, associating one or more processing elements (or portions thereof) to one or more compute nodes, and updating the graphical display and the metrics to reflect the selective associations.
US09720573B2 Method for controlling page flipping of terminal and terminal
Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a method for controlling page flipping of a terminal. The method includes: obtaining a distance or variation of distance between an object and a terminal and on a designated direction of the terminal; generating a page flipping operation instruction corresponding to the distance or variation of distance between the object and the terminal according to a preset corresponding relationship between the distance or variation of distance between the object and the terminal and page flipping operation instructions; executing the page flipping operation instruction. Embodiments of the present invention further discloses a terminal. Employing the present invention, a page flipping operation instruction corresponding to the distance or variation of distance between the object and the terminal may be generated, and the page flipping operation instruction is executed, making modes of page flipping be various, and improving experience of users of the terminal.
US09720571B2 Immersive mode for a web browser
Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for providing a light bar for a web browser in an immersive mode. A system is configured to display a web browser in a first browsing mode, wherein the browser in the first browsing mode comprises one or more tabs and receive, from a user, an indication to enter a second browsing mode for the web browser. In response to receiving the indication, the web browser may be displayed in the second browsing mode in which the one or more tabs are not shown. One or more light bars may also be displayed in a display area of the web browser at locations corresponding with the one or more tabs. Each of the one or more light bars is associated with one of the one or more tabs.
US09720570B2 Dynamic sorting and inference using gesture based machine learning
The technology disclosed relates to identification of future activity options. In particular, it relates to identifying future activity options that are similar to a selected future activity, similar to past activities, that meet descriptive language criteria, that form compatible sequences of activities, or that form compatible multi-day sequences of activities. The technology disclosed also relates to rapid and convenient sorting through activity options.
US09720567B2 Multitasking and full screen menu contexts
Multitasking and full screen menu contexts are described. In one or more implementations, an input is received to cause output of a menu in a user interface of a computing device. Responsive to this receipt, a determination is made as which of a plurality of portions displayed simultaneously in the user interface in a multitasking mode has focus, each of the plurality of portions corresponding to an output of a respective one of a plurality of applications. Responsive to the determination, output is caused of the menu as associated with the focused portion of the user interface and having a representation of at least one function based the focused portion, the representation selectable to cause performance of the function.
US09720561B2 Progress bar with graphical effects to indicate download progress and connection state
The invention relates to MicroBlog field, and provides method, apparatus and terminal for page refreshing. The method includes: outputting a preset animation interface when a page refreshing operation is performed, wherein the preset animation interface comprising a preset logo, moving cursors, and a refresh progress bar, and the moving cursors move to the refresh progress bar starting from the preset logo; calculating and outputting current length of the refresh progress bar when it is detected that the moving cursors arrive at the refresh progress bar; and outputting pulled refresh information when the current length of the refresh progress bar equals to width of the preset animation interface. The invention can enable a user to get better sense of experience when a preset animation interface is output upon page refreshing.
US09720558B2 Systems and methods for providing a personalized media service user interface
An exemplary method includes a media service provider system tracking statuses of media programs with respect to a user of a media service through which the media programs are distributed by way of a plurality of different media distribution models and providing a user interface view personalized for the user for display on a display screen, the user interface view including personalized user interface content that indicates one or more of the statuses of one or more of the media programs with respect to the user. In certain examples, the statuses indicated in the user interface view may include at least a first status of a first media program distributed by way of a first media distribution model and a second status of a second media program included in the media programs and distributed by way of a second media distribution model. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
US09720557B2 Method and apparatus for providing always-on-top user interface for mobile application
An approach for providing an always-on-top user interface for a mobile application is described. An always-on-top module may provide an always-on-top user interface mode for a mobile application, wherein the always-on-top user interface mode presents at least one session of the mobile application in a user interface element that is always visible in a display of a mobile device. The always-one-top module may also receive an input for activating the always-on-top user interface mode for the mobile application. Further, the always-one-top module may render the user interface element for presenting the at least one session in the display of the mobile device.
US09720551B2 Touch window
A touch window includes a substrate, and an electrode on the substrate. The electrode includes a first mesh line, a second mesh line crossing the first mesh line and a reinforcement part adjacent to the first or second mesh line.
US09720550B2 Adaptable input active zones at an information handling system projected user interface
Inputs to a projected or other type of displayed user interface are filtered at different portions of the displayed visual images to provide a user-defined input management. For example, a user defines a portion of a desktop so that touch inputs have a first effect while the other portion of the desktop has a second effect, thus allowing the user to manage the risk of inadvertent inputs in the defined portion relative to other desktop regions. In one embodiment, an icon activates and deactivates touch input filtering in a region defined by dragging the icon around the user interface. The defined region is depicted with an identifying visual image, such as a coloration or shading that distinguishes the regions as having a response to touch inputs different from that of other regions.
US09720549B2 Touch-sensitive display device
A touch-sensitive display device includes a display body, a container, a movable cover and at least two optical modules. The display body has a display surface. The container is connected with the display body. The movable cover pivots on the container so as to have an open position and a storage position. The two optical modules are disposed on the movable cover. When the movable cover is at the open position, the two optical modules protrudes outward from an extended surface of the display surface, such that the two optical modules is exposed outward from the container. When the movable cover rotates from the open position to the storage position, the movable cover drives the two optical modules to move backward to be underneath the extended surface of the display surface, such that the two optical modules are located inside the container.
US09720547B2 Optical apparatus including non-electric type touch panel
An optical apparatus includes a touch substrate; a waveguide layer arranged on the touch substrate, the waveguide layer including a plurality of waveguides; an optical output structure arranged on the waveguide layer and configured to output light propagating in the plurality of waveguides at touched locations on the touch substrate; a gap layer arranged to provide a predetermined gap between the waveguide layer and the optical output structure; and an optical system, which projects light output by the optical output structure.
US09720546B2 Calibration of a force sensitive device
A force sensitive surface measures force or pressure applied to the surface. The surface may also detect the touch position. The force sensing surface is calibrated with a stylus having a force measuring element. The stylus measures the force information from force applied on the surface and sends the information to the device with the force sensing surface. The device detects the same force and calibrates the force sensing element according to the information received from the stylus. The device may also detect the position of the touch. As the force information obtained from different portions of the surface may be different, the calibration may be repeated for multiple positions on the force and touch sensitive surface. The calibration may also be used to calibrate a position sensing feature on a force sensing surface having multiple force sensors.
US09720544B2 Techniques for reducing jitter for taps
Distinguishing sloppy taps from sliding motions is disclosed using an algorithm that can take into account both a time instability factor Tinst and a touch instability factor Zinst. A limited amount of motion per frame can be subtracted off immediately following the detection of a touch event. Small lateral motions indicative of a sloppy tap can be suppressed, while fast finger motions indicative of a quick, long cursor movement can immediately pass through the filter without being suppressed by a significant amount. A motion pass-through suppression factor can be applied subtractively to motion in particular direction as a function of Zinst and Tinst, wherein Zinst can represent a suppression value given as a finger speed for a particular percentage change in touch instability per frame, and Tinst can represent a suppression value given as finger speed for a particular tpress.
US09720541B2 Arrangement of sensor pads and display driver pads for input device
The disclosure generally describes input devices with associated processing system configured to perform display updating and capacitive sensing. The processing system includes first and second pluralities of display driver pads coupled with a plurality of source lines, and a plurality of sensor pads disposed between the first and second pluralities of display driver pads and coupled with a plurality of sensor electrodes through a plurality of conductive routing traces. The plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least one common electrode of a display device, the common electrode configured to be driven for display updating and capacitive sensing. The processing system is configured to drive the plurality of source lines for display updating, and to drive the plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing.
US09720538B2 System and method for measuring individual force in multi-object sensing
An input device is provided that facilitates improved user interface functionality by determining force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region. The input device includes a processing system, a sensor configured to sense objects in a sensing region proximate a surface, and a plurality of force sensors. The plurality of force sensors are coupled to the surface to provide a plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. The processing system is configured to determine positional information for each the multiple objects sensed by the sensor in the sensing region. Furthermore, the processing system is configured to determine force information for each of the multiple objects from the positional information and the plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. Thus, device and method provides the ability to determine both positional information and force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region.
US09720537B2 Scaling pressure data from a pressure-sensitive device
A method and apparatus for filtering pressure data from a pressure-sensitive device is disclosed. A computer implemented method for filtering pressure data from a pressure-sensitive device comprises receiving, from a pressure sensitive device, a raw pressure value for a stroke, filtering the raw pressure value for the stroke to determine a filtered pressure value, and computing a width of a stroke based on the filtered pressure value.
US09720531B2 Electronic device
An electronic device capable of applying an appropriate driving signal to a piezoelectric element is provided. The electronic device 1 includes a piezoelectric element 31 and a control unit 40 configured to apply a driving signal to the piezoelectric element 31, and the control unit 40 applies a driving signal so that a voltage of a positive electrode of the piezoelectric element 31 is equal to or greater than a voltage of a negative electrode thereof.
US09720528B2 Display apparatus, control method thereof, input apparatus, and display system
A display apparatus including: a display unit; an image processor which processes an image signal to display an image on the display unit; a communication unit which communicates with an input apparatus including a button and a touch pad; and a controller which controls the image processor to display a first item corresponding to a current setting state of the display apparatus in response to a first input from the input apparatus through manipulation of the button and to display at least one second item to be selected to change the current setting state on the display unit in response to a second input from the input apparatus through the touch pad, subsequent to the first input.
US09720527B2 Evolutionary touch-based graphical user interface for electronic devices
An electronic device having a customizable interface includes a processor configured to execute instructions and a display device configured to generate an interface based in part in response to the processor. The electronic device further includes a touch screen associated with the display device and configured to sense a user input with respect to a plurality of objects, wherein the input is provided to the processor. The processor further configured to determine at least one of a physical aspect of the user input and a frequency of an interaction with each of the plurality objects displayed on the touch screen. The processor further configured to modify a manner in which the plurality objects are displayed on the display device based on the determination of at least one of the physical aspects of the user input and the frequency of interaction with the plurality of objects.
US09720525B2 High resolution and high sensitivity optically activated cursor maneuvering device
A cursor-manipulating device comprising a light diffusing surface, for example a Lambertian surface, covering a cavity containing a light source and an image sensor, wherein the cursor-manipulating device is a touch pad like device. The image detector senses the touching of the outer surface of the cursor-manipulating device with a pointing device, for example a finger, in which the outer surface comprises a light diffusing surface that allows the image sensor to capture and track an image of the pointing device touching the light diffusing surface in order to control a cursor of an electronic device. Multiple touching devices, like fingers, can be used to control simultaneous events on the screen of an electronic device, e.g. a notebook PC, cellular phone, game device and a GPS device.
US09720523B2 Active pencil and transmitter
A device includes a connector configured to electrically contact a conductive core of a pencil and a circuit electrically connected to the contact. The circuit transmits a signal via the contact and the conductive core.
US09720522B2 Determining response to contact by hand with region of touchscreen
An apparatus that has a touchscreen, is configured to determine a response to a contact by a hand with a region of the touchscreen, and includes a first means for determining a location of a graphical projection of a digital pen onto the touchscreen, a second means for determining, via an ultrasonic wave, a first angle between a first line along an edge of the touchscreen and a second line along the graphical projection, a third means for determining a distance between the touchscreen and the digital pen, and a fourth means for determining, from the distance, the response to the contact by the hand with the region defined by the location and the first angle.
US09720520B2 Imaging input/output with shared spatial modulator
An image input/output apparatus and method includes a light source in optical communication with a spatial radiation modulator for projecting an output image and an image sensor for capturing an input image along a shared input/output path. In a described embodiment, the display of an output image and the capture of an input image is effected using a common spatial radiation modulator (SRM) in the form of a deformable mirror device (DMD).
US09720516B2 Viscoelastic keyboard key design
A system and method which provide a keyboard with keys which are configured using a viscoelasticity model. More specifically, with the viscoelasticity model at least certain keys within the keyboard include an elastic component and a viscous component. The elastic component provides a component force which occurs substantially immediately upon application of a stress to the key and relaxes substantially immediately upon release of the stress from the key. In this way the elastic component functions similarly to a spring in a mechanical dashpot model key. The viscous component provides a component force which grows with time as long as a stress is applied to the key. In this way, the viscous component functions similarly to a dash in a mechanical dashpot model key.
US09720513B2 Apparatus and method for receiving a key input
Provided are an apparatus and method for inputting a character The apparatus includes a recognition unit configured to measure lengths from arbitrary points on a user's hands to respective fingertips and recognize a click gesture using the measured lengths, a control unit configured to control character input according to the recognized click gesture, and a display unit configured to display a character pad for the character input and display a character input according to the click gesture recognized on the character pad.
US09720506B2 3D silhouette sensing system
A 3D silhouette sensing system is described which comprises a stereo camera and a light source. In an embodiment, a 3D sensing module triggers the capture of pairs of images by the stereo camera at the same time that the light source illuminates the scene. A series of pairs of images may be captured at a predefined frame rate. Each pair of images is then analyzed to track both a retroreflector in the scene, which can be moved relative to the stereo camera, and an object which is between the retroreflector and the stereo camera and therefore partially occludes the retroreflector. In processing the image pairs, silhouettes are extracted for each of the retroreflector and the object and these are used to generate a 3D contour for each of the retroreflector and object.
US09720505B2 Extramissive spatial imaging digital eye glass apparatuses, methods and systems for virtual or augmediated vision, manipulation, creation, or interaction with objects, materials, or other entities
A sensing and display apparatus, comprising: a first phenomenon interface configured to operatively interface with a first augmediated-reality space, and a second phenomenon interface configured to operatively interface with a second augmediated-reality space, is implemented as an extramissive spatial imaging digital eye glass.
US09720503B2 Vibration control device and computing device including the same
A vibration control device configured to provide a haptic function and control a vibration device driven by a sine wave. The vibration control device includes a sampling frequency signal generator and a sine wave synthesizer. The vibration control device is configured to generate a sampling frequency signal using a clock signal, wherein the sampling frequency signal is related to an operation cycle of a digital filter; and the sine wave synthesizer includes the digital filter. The digital filter is configured to adjust at least one of a cycle of the sine wave and amplitude of the sine wave using the sampling frequency signal and a plurality of coefficients of the digital filter; and generate an adjusted sine wave.
US09720501B2 Dynamic tactile interface
One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a tactile layer including a deformable region and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region; a substrate coupled to the tactile layer, the substrate defining fluid channel and cooperating with the deformable region to define a variable volume fluidly coupled to the fluid channel; a displacement device coupled to the bladder, displacing fluid into the variable volume to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, and displacing fluid out of the variable volume to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting, the displacement device defining a equilibrium range of fluid pressures within the fluid channel; a reservoir fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and supporting a reserve volume of fluid; and a valve selectively controlling transfer of fluid from the reservoir to the fluid channel.
US09720499B2 Display apparatus
A display apparatus having a screen on which recording by a user's touch can be performed is provided. The display apparatus includes a display configured to provide the screen, an accommodator configured to accommodate the display and having a screen aperture formed thereon with a predetermined depth to expose the screen, a touch position sensor configured to sense the position of a touch device that is used by a user when a distance between the screen and the touch device is shorter than the predetermined depth, a vibration sensor mounted on the display and configured to sense vibration of the display due to a contact of the touch device with the screen, and a controller configured to control the display to perform recording on a point of the screen that corresponds to the sensed position of the touch device when the vibration is sensed.
US09720498B2 Controlling a vehicle
Systems and techniques are disclosed for controlling a vehicle. A vehicle control apparatus includes a sensing unit that senses an eyeline of a passenger in a vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus also includes a controller. In some implementations, the controller identifies a window of the vehicle that corresponds to the sensed eyeline of the passenger, detects a window control action performed by the passenger, and controls the identified window to open or close based on the window control action performed by the passenger. In some implementations, the controller identifies a device of the vehicle that corresponds to the sensed eyeline of the passenger, and operates the identified device based on the sensed eyeline of the passenger, wherein the identified device is a multimedia device or a navigation device of the vehicle.
US09720496B2 Techniques for stabilizing a display scene output
Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus and method for determining when an eye is focused on a display scene and determining movement of the eye based on image information when the eye is focused on the display scene. Various embodiments may also include detecting motion of an apparatus based on motion information and adjusting at least one of a position and a size of a frame in the display scene based on at least one of the movement of the eye and the motion of the apparatus.
US09720493B2 Managing access to data on a client device during low-power state
Disclosed is a novel system and method for maintaining computing functionality when a client device must be used in a low-power state. More particularly, when a client device is placed in a low-power state, sleep mode, or even shut-down, this method transfers aspects of the machine state onto a virtual machine in the cloud. This virtual machine may then function as a partial or full emulator of the user's client machine and thus can be: 1) accessed; and 2) communicated with by the machine's owner or others who use the machine. As long as the client device is shutdown, the cloud continues to temporarily function as the user's machine. Numerous embodiments are disclosed including a “hybrid decomposition feature” in which the data on the client machine is prioritized and then transfer to a server, typically a virtual emulator, component by component or piecemeal manner or manner.
US09720487B2 Predicting power management state duration on a per-process basis and modifying cache size based on the predicted duration
Durations of power management states are predicted on a per-process basis. Some embodiments include storing, in one or more data structures associated with one or more processes, information indicating previous durations of a power management state associated with the process(es). Some embodiments also include predicting a subsequent duration of the power management state for the process(es) using information stored in the data structure(s).
US09720482B2 Unbalanced load sharing with parallel power supplies
Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include determining a required electrical power level for one or more computer elements. Upon selecting a first value indicating a first electrical power level that is less than the required electrical power level, the first value is conveyed to a first power supply unit (PSU), so that that the first PSU delivers, to the one or more computer elements, the first electrical power level. A second value is selected that indicates a second electrical power level that is different from the first value, the second value indicating a difference between the required electrical power level and the first electrical power level. The second value is conveyed to a second PSU, so that that upon receiving the second value, the second PSU delivers, to the one or more computer elements, the second electrical power level.
US09720478B2 Storage battery monitoring method, storage battery monitoring system, and storage battery system
A storage battery monitoring method receives identification information indicating a storage battery system and characteristic data of a storage battery, the characteristic data including history information which indicates charging and discharging history of the storage battery; determines, based on the received history information, a deterioration model corresponding to the storage battery from among deterioration models managed in a database, the deterioration models each indicating a relationship between a state of health and a number of charging and discharging cycles performed by the battery as indicated by the charging and discharging history; generates control data for suppressing deterioration of the storage battery at a predetermined point in time according to the corresponding deterioration model; and transmits the generated control data to cause the storage battery system to control the storage battery.
US09720475B2 Information processing system, information processing device, and information processing method
An information processing system includes a receiving unit that receives user operation; a setting unit that holds association information in which pieces of necessity information each indicating necessity of a shutdown process indicating a process required for stopping power supply to a corresponding device are associated with a plurality of devices, respectively; a first instruction unit that instructs a target device for which the power supply is to be stopped to perform the shutdown process when the receiving unit receives operation to stop the power supply and the target device requires the shutdown process based on the association information; and a second instruction unit that instructs a power supply control device that controls execution or stop of the power supply to the target device to stop the power supply to the target device when the shutdown process of the target device is completed.
US09720468B2 Controller and a method for power sequencing a computer
A controller and a method for power sequencing a computer. The controller may be configured to provide to a south bridge, before the south bridge has completed power management resets, a real time clock signal at a first frequency, and provide to the south bridge, after the south bridge has completed power management resets, a real time clock signal at a second frequency.
US09720467B2 Thermal mitigation adaptation for a mobile electronic device
The various embodiments provide methods and systems for adjusting the thermal mitigation system of a mobile electronic device when an add-on outer casing is attached. The mobile electronic device determine whether an add-on outer case is attached to the mobile electronic device and change a thermal mitigation parameter of a thermal mitigation process implemented on the mobile electronic device in response. The determination may be via a sensor or a user input. A changed thermal mitigation parameter may be stored in memory, or input by a user or in a communication from the add-on case. The changed thermal mitigation parameter may be determined based on a particular make, model or properties of the add-on case, and/or may be obtained from a database stored in the device or accessed via a network. Removal of the case may be detected and the thermal mitigation parameter returned to an initial value.
US09720464B2 Dynamic thermal platform operating point for electronic devices
In one example a electronic device comprises a housing, at least one heat generating component disposed within the housing, at least one internal heat dissipation device positioned proximate the at least one heat generating component, and a thermal interface defined in at least a portion of the housing to allow direct thermal contact between the heat dissipation device and an external heat dissipation device. Other examples may be described.
US09720463B2 Scalable panel cooling system
Method and system are provided for controlling a scalable panel cooling system having multiple cooling panels for cooling heat-generating components housed in a support structure. The method includes: dividing the support structure into areas, each area of the support structure capable of housing a heat-generating component; for each area of the support structure: providing a cooling panel adjacent the area of the support structure; determining whether the area of the support structure is housing an operational heat-generating component; in the case that the area of the support structure is housing an operational heat-generating component, activating the cooling panel adjacent the area of the support structure housing the operational heat-generating component; and in the case that the area of the support structure is not housing a operational heat-generating component, deactivating the cooling panel adjacent the area of the support structure.
US09720462B2 Heat dissipation in computing device
A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a shock mount assembly that is configured to provide impact absorption to sensitive components such as a display and an optical disk drive. The computing device also includes an enclosureless optical disk drive that is housed by an enclosure and other structures of the computing device. The computing device further includes a heat transfer system that removes heat from a heat producing element of the computing device. The heat transfer system is configured to thermally couple the heat producing element to a structural member of the computing device so as to sink heat through the structural member, which generally has a large surface area for dissipating the heat.
US09720461B2 Carrier with adjustable heat removal elements
A system for removing heat from a computing device includes a carrier and one or more heat removal elements. The carrier includes a carrier surface having a carrier surface pattern. The carrier surface pattern includes coupling portions. The coupling portions of the carrier surface pattern selectively couple, at different locations on the pattern, the heat removal elements to the carrier. The heat removal elements conduct heat from heat producing components of the computing device to the carrier. The carrier conducts heat away from the heat removal elements.
US09720459B2 Carbon-fiber chassis of an information handling system
A chassis and a method of manufacturing a chassis of an information handling system are disclosed. The chassis includes a carbon-fiber composite and a plurality vents of formed in the carbon-fiber composite. Each of the plurality of vents is a channel extending through the carbon-fiber composite.
US09720458B2 Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal comprises: a metallic frame; a first cover and a second cover coupled to a front surface and a rear surface of the metallic frame, respectively; and a first waterproof layer and a second waterproof layer formed between the first cover and the metallic frame, and between the second cover and the metallic frame, respectively, wherein the metallic frame includes: a base portion configured to support a display unit formed on the front surface of the metallic frame; and an edge portion formed along an outer periphery of the base portion so as to radiate heat generated from the base portion, and exposed to outside of the mobile terminal between the first cover and the second cover.
US09720457B1 Solid state disk
A solid state disk is provided, including: a main body, including a shell portion having a light-penetrable shell portion, a substrate disposed on the shell portion and a memory module disposed on the substrate, the substrate having a light-penetrable portion and a first face and integrally formed with the light-penetrable portion, the first face having a first coating layer which has an emergent light-penetrable portion, the light-penetrable shell portion corresponding to the emergent light-penetrable portion, the substrate including a transmission port, the memory module electrically connected to the transmission port; a light-emitting portion, buried in the substrate and electrically connected to the transmission port, a light emitted from the light-emitting portion being capable of being projected toward an interior of the substrate to the light-penetrable portion and the emergent light-penetrable portion and via the light-penetrable shell portion to an exterior of the solid state disk.
US09720455B2 Display device
A display device including: a first body member; a second body member; a hinge coupling the first body member and the second body member; a flexible display panel that is foldable, that is fixed to the first body member and to the second body member, and that is configured to display an image; and a controller configured to: measure a temperature of the flexible display panel; and control the hinge, when the measured temperature is lower than a reference temperature, to: maintain a state in which the first body member and the second body member are folded; or maintain a state in which the first body member and the second body member are unfolded.
US09720453B2 Fabric adhesion to an apparatus
Techniques for fabric adhesion to an apparatus are described. According to one or more embodiments, an apparatus is laminated with fabric utilizing one or more fabric layers. In at least some embodiments, multiple adhesive zones are defined on a fabric layer. Each adhesive zone, for instance, has a particular set of properties, such as a particular location on a fabric layer, a particular adhesive thickness, a particular adhesive type, and so forth. In at least some embodiments, different adhesive zones differ from one another based on one or more of their respective properties and thus enable different fabric characteristics to be specified at different adhesive zones.
US09720451B2 Information handling system port seal
An information handling system opening, such as at a cable port, selectively closes and opens through inflation and deflation of a seal, such as an expanding balloon structure interfaced with a microfluidic reservoir. The seal fills the opening to block contaminants from entering the information handling system and deflates to provide room for cables to pass when desired. Automated sealing of a port is provided in response to detection of contaminants, such as liquids or dust.
US09720448B2 Display unit and its manufacturing method
A display unit which can realize reduction in thickness and weight of the display unit by omitting a void between a touch panel and a display panel, and its manufacturing method. Whole faces of the touch panel and the display panel are directly bonded together with an adhesive layer in between. The display panel has a structure wherein a driving substrate in which organic light emitting devices are formed and a sealing substrate are bonded together with an adhesive layer in between. The touch panel has a structure wherein a lower plastic film in which a transparent electrode is formed and a touch-side plastic film in which a transparent electrode is formed are layered so that the transparent electrodes are placed opposite. The display panel is constructed with only the driving substrate, and the organic light emitting devices are sealed by the touch panel instead of the sealing substrate. Therefore, thickness and weight of the display unit can be further reduced.
US09720446B2 Information handling system projected work space calibration
Desktop surface references are selected and applied to define a coordinate system for calibrating projected visual images and end user inputs at the projected visual images. For example, a desktop edge is detected with the depth camera by the increase in detected distance along the axis from the depth camera to the desktop edge, and then the desktop edge is used as an origin for a coordinate system that defines a projection area for presenting a user interface. Monitoring end user inputs and projected outputs relative to the desktop edge aids in coordinating interactions by a user through the projected user interface in the event the camera or projector move relative to the desktop surface.
US09720444B2 Furniture system for computer system having integral display
A furniture system is for a computer system having an integral display. The furniture system includes a base section. A computer-peripheral section is configured to extend from the base section. The computer-peripheral section presents a built-in computer-peripheral having built-in computer-peripheral wiring configured to interface with the computer system. A computer-support section presents a fixedly-attached computer-mounting mechanism configured to couple with the computer system in such a way that the integral display faces the user of the computer system. The computer-support section is configured to move relative to the computer-peripheral section in such a way that the integral display of the computer system and the computer system are movably positionable at selected user-display positions.
US09720442B2 Flash insert for mobile phone case
A case, for an electronic device such as a mobile phone, containing an insert located near a camera, still image recorder, or video recorder and a flash of the device is disclosed. The placement, material, color and properties of the insert helps reduce and/or eliminate problems associated with the case affecting the resultant flash/light from the camera, causing and adding erroneous colors, effects, and information on the resulting pictures, images, sensors, or videos.
US09720441B1 Generating time-of-day values without causing execution stalls
A system and method for generating a timestamp without processor core execution stall are provided. For example, the method includes generating, using a first processor core, a timestamp. The method also includes preventing, using the first processor core, a second processor core from accessing the timestamp for a minimum time granularity interval. The time granularity interval provides a delay such that the timestamp generated by the first processor core is earlier in time than a second processor core timestamp.
US09720440B2 Communication apparatus and method for controlling communication apparatus
There is provided a communication apparatus. A communication unit transmits data to a communication module, which communicates with an external device, according to a clock signal, and receives data from the communication module in accordance with a timing corresponding to a timing signal generated by delaying the clock signal. An adjustment unit adjusts an amount of the delay. A control unit controls the communication unit to repeatedly perform first processing for transmitting a first command to the communication module, second processing for receiving a first response that is sent from the communication module, and third processing for transmitting a packet to the communication module according to the first response. In a predetermined mode, the control unit controls the communication unit to perform processing for transmitting data of the packet regardless of contents of the first response.
US09720439B2 Methods, apparatuses, and systems for deskewing link splits
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described for deskewing between multiple lane groups of deskewed data streams. Multiple distinct and deskewed lane groups can be aligned by utilizing an inter-group synchronized set of counters. The counters supply a way to measure the time delta (counter difference) in clocks between the multiple streams. Using this delta, one or more streams can be stalled to align the multiple streams. The counter values are communicated between the multiple groups in a way that they align to set data stream markers. These fixed markers and the breaking up of the counters in relation to the periodicity of the markers allows for a robust way to compare the multiple streams and calculate an accurate time delta.
US09720438B2 Clock switch device and system-on-chip having the same
A clock switch device includes a controller and a switching circuit. The controller sets a clock switch period using a control signal when a logic level of a mode signal is changed. The switching circuit receives a first clock signal, a second clock signal and an auxiliary clock signal. The switching circuit, based on the control signal, outputs one clock signal between the first clock signal and the second clock signal as a glitch free clock signal before the clock switch period, stops outputting the one clock signal and outputs the auxiliary clock signal as the glitch free clock signal during the clock switch period, and stops outputting the auxiliary clock signal and outputs another clock signal between the first clock signal and the second clock signal as the glitch free clock signal after the clock switch period.
US09720436B2 Operation input device
In an operation input device, a supporting part supports an operation part to be displaceable with respect to the base part, and a reaction force generating part generates reaction force in an axial direction coaxial with the displacement direction in response to the displacement. The supporting part includes: a support member having: one end connected to the base part and another end protruded from the base part; and a plurality of plate springs respectively having a plate surface perpendicular to a center axis of the support member, arranged radially around the center axis, and a tip in a radial direction connected to the operation part. The reaction force generating part includes: an electromagnet generating magnetic force in an axial direction parallel to the center axis of the support member; and a magnetic member arranged opposite to the electromagnet to receive magnetic force to apply reaction force to the operation part.
US09720435B2 Reference current source
Systems, methods, and apparatus for generating a reference current. A reference current source can include a current generator circuit; a first resistance circuit that has a positive temperature dependence; and a second resistance circuit that has a negative temperature dependence. The first resistance circuit and the second resistance circuit can be connected in parallel to the current generator circuit.
US09720431B2 Method for optimizing the flexible constraints of an electric power system
A method for optimizing the flexible constraints of an electric power system includes a step S1 of expressing the total power generation cost of the electric power system by using the sum of quadratic functions of active power outputs of all generator sets in the system and constructing an objective function, a step S2 of selecting a multi-dimensional flexible optimization model or a flexible power generation cost optimization model according to the practical situation of the electric power system and the practical purpose of optimization, a step S3 of determining the operating conditions of the electric power system, and a step S4 of carrying out load flow calculation.
US09720429B2 Sensing a switching-power-supply phase current
In an embodiment, a coupled-inductor structure includes first and second windings. The first winding is configured to conduct a phase current, has a first node configured for coupling to a phase node of a power supply, and has a second node configured for coupling to an output node of the power supply and to a first node of a sense impedance that is configured to generate a sense signal representative of the phase current. And the second winding is configured for magnetic coupling with the first winding, has a first node coupled to the first node of the first winding, and has a second node configured for coupling to a second node of the sense impedance. For example, the first winding may be a phase inductor of a switching power supply, and the impedance may be a capacitor that generates a sense voltage representative of the phase current.
US09720423B2 Apparatus and method for process control
A method and a device for open-loop or closed-loop control of a process uses an actuator, a position sensor, a process valve, a process sensor, and a tuning stage. n positions of the process valve are approached, and the associated actual position values are detected. The respective actual process values are detected for each corresponding actual position value to thus obtain value pairs of actual position values and actual process values. Correction values are calculated based on the identified value pairs, and position set values corrected with the correction values are determined to compensate for nonlinearities of the process, such that a linear overall behavior is achieved.
US09720420B2 Two-stage switching valve
An annular valve seat is projected radially inward from a passage wall. A valve element is located on the upstream side of the valve seat. A spring biases the valve element toward the upstream side. The valve element has a through hole to pass fluid between the upstream side and the downstream side when the valve element is seated on the valve seat. The valve element switches between a large opening state, in which the valve element is lifted from the valve seat to pass fluid around an outer circumferential periphery of the valve element and to pass through the through hole, and a small opening state, in which the valve element is seated on the valve seat to pass fluid through the through hole. The valve element is supported and slidable on a guide surface, which is formed on the passage wall, at the outer circumferential periphery.
US09720419B2 System and method for remote control of unmanned vehicles
An open architecture control system is provided that may be used for remote and semi-autonomous operation of commercial off the shelf (COTS) and custom robotic systems, platforms, and vehicles to enable safer neutralization of explosive hazards and other services. In order to effectively deal with rapidly evolving threats and highly variable operational environments, the control system is built using an open architecture and includes a high level of interoperability. The control system interfaces with a large range of robotic systems and vehicles, autonomy software packages, perception systems, and manipulation peripherals to enable prosecution of complex missions effectively. Because the control system is open and does not constrain the end user to a single robotics system, mobile platform, or peripheral hardware and software, the control system may be used to assist with a multitude of missions beyond explosive hazard detection and clearance.
US09720418B2 Autonomous vehicle monitoring and control
An autonomous vehicle may be partially controlled or monitored by a remote endpoint assigned to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle sends one or more assisted driving messages directly to the autonomous vehicle or through a server. The server may identify multiple potential remote driving endpoints and assign one or more of the potential remote driving endpoints to the autonomous vehicle. The one or more potential remote driving endpoints return a command to the autonomous vehicle directly or through the server.
US09720416B1 Vehicle security system
A determination is made that a vehicle is unoccupied. Detecting of at least one of an unexpected object in the vehicle and an intrusion into a vehicle compartment is performed. A route to a location is selected according to detected object and/or intrusion. The vehicle is navigated to the location.
US09720414B1 Autonomous vehicle providing services at a transportation terminal
Methods and systems are provided for providing services to an individual at a transportation terminal. In one method, an item is received with a mobile robot from an individual at a first location at the transportation terminal. The item is autonomously secured with the mobile robot using a component of the mobile robot to thereby prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing the secured item. The secured item is autonomously transported with the mobile robot from the first location to a second location at the transportation terminal. The mobile robot is capable of independent navigation without need for physical or electromechanical guidance devices in an environment within which the mobile robot operates.
US09720410B2 Remote assistance for autonomous vehicles in predetermined situations
Example systems and methods enable an autonomous vehicle to request assistance from a remote operator in certain predetermined situations. One example method includes determining a representation of an environment of an autonomous vehicle based on sensor data of the environment. Based on the representation, the method may also include identifying a situation from a predetermined set of situations for which the autonomous vehicle will request remote assistance. The method may further include sending a request for assistance to a remote assistor, the request including the representation of the environment and the identified situation. The method may additionally include receiving a response from the remote assistor indicating an autonomous operation. The method may also include causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the autonomous operation.
US09720408B2 Methods and apparatus to detect root causes of alarm patterns in process control systems
Methods and apparatus to detect root causes of alarm patterns in process control systems are disclosed. An example method includes retrieving process control data generated in a process control system during a historical period of time. The process control data includes alarm data associated with alarms activated during the historical period of time. The example method also includes generating an alarm activation timeline for the historical period of time. The alarm activation timeline includes icons representative of the alarms to visually represent a temporal relationship of activation of the alarms, where one of the icons is representative of an alarm that is no longer active. The example method further includes storing the alarm activation timeline in a database.
US09720407B2 Substrate processing system, substrate processing apparatus and method for accumulating data for substrate processing apparatus
A substrate processing system includes a monitored data receiving unit receiving a plurality of types of monitored data; a temporary memory unit periodically storing the monitored data; a monitored data rate detection unit detecting, as a monitored data rate, a total number of times each type of monitored data changes during a first time period by more than a predetermined amount; a monitored data writing allocation unit allocating a storing frequency to each type of monitored data based on the monitored data rate and an upper limit; a monitored data writing unit writing the monitored data to the temporary memory unit during the second time period based on the storing frequency; an accumulative memory unit storing the monitored data for a plurality of periods; and an accumulative data writing unit reading the monitored data for every third time period and storing the monitored data in the accumulative memory unit.
US09720406B2 Measuring system
A measuring system including: at least one sensor module having a measuring transducer and an electronics module. The electronics module has a data memory, and a superordinated control unit, connected to the at least one sensor module via an interface module. The interface module has a signal processing, and communication, electronics, which converts received signals from a control unit into signals processable by the sensor module and outputs these signals to the sensor module. The control unit is embodied to execute an operating program; the operating program is embodied to read out sensor specific data and, based on the data read out, to provide to a user a guiding through a sequence of steps for performing at least one calibration procedure associated with the sensor module and to operate the sensor module for performing the calibration procedure.
US09720402B2 Method and device for monitoring and controlling an industrial process
The present disclosure relates to a method for facilitating monitoring and control of an industrial process by means of a portable device comprising a projector arranged to project process graphics associated with process components of the industrial process. The method comprises a) obtaining, by means of the portable device, process component identification data of a process component; b) obtaining distance data for determining a distance between the portable device and the process component; and c) obtaining a process graphics image based on the process component identification data and the distance data for projection by the portable device, wherein the process graphics image is associated with a portion of the industrial process comprising the process component, and wherein information contained in the process graphics image is based on the distance between the portable device and the process component. The present disclosure further relates to a computer program and to a portable device.
US09720398B2 Method and apparatus for customizing tool paths for aircraft parts
A method and apparatus for customizing tool paths. A reference tool path is identified for a tool based on an expected shape for a surface of an object. Offset data is generated for a plurality of sample points identified for use in evaluating the surface of the object. The offset data identifies a difference between the expected shape for the surface of the object and an actual shape of the surface of the object. The reference tool path is modified using the offset data to form a modified tool path for the tool.
US09720395B2 Synchronization control for reconnecting microgrid to main grid after islanding
A method and system are provided. The method includes synchronously reconnecting a microgrid to a main grid after islanding of the microgrid. The synchronously reconnecting step includes calculating a phase angle difference between synchrophasor measurements collected from a common coupling on the main grid and synchrophasor measurements collected from a common coupling on the microgrid. The synchronously reconnecting step further includes calculating, by a controller, a frequency reference deviation based on the phase angle difference. The synchronously reconnecting step also includes adjusting a frequency of the diesel generator based on the frequency reference deviation.
US09720393B2 Automation system and method of manufacturing product using automated equipment
An automated control of a system having a plurality of cooperating components involving controlled elements and sensors uses a simulator configured to simulate operation of the components. The simulator stores data representing states of the components and modifies the states over time in accordance with simulated operation of the system. An input module receives data from at least the sensors and updates in the simulator the data representing states of the components. An output module reads from the simulator the data representing states of the components and generates at least controlled element control signals for the controlled elements of the components. The simulator contains a virtual state machine representing the system, and automation of the system is achieved without state machine logic representing the system within the input module and the output module.
US09720389B2 Context recognition apparatus and method
Context recognition methods and apparatus are provided for an application processor and a micro control unit. It is determined whether an operation switch condition for switching to a sleep mode is satisfied. A request for execution of a context recognition function is sent to a micro control unit, when the operation switch condition is satisfied. The application processor switches to the sleep mode, when the context recognition function is executed by the micro control unit. The micro control unit collects sensor data at previously stored time intervals, and previously stored state information is updated based on the sensor data.
US09720388B2 Method for controlling an electrical system
A method is provided for controlling an electrical system. A first characteristic value of the electrical system is determined. For the first characteristic value, a suitable first group of optimizing variables is determined. A first group of command variables suitable for the first group of optimizing variables is determined. For the first group of command variables, a first group of current boundary values is determined. For each boundary value of the first group of current boundary values, a prediction is made to obtain a first group of predicted boundary values. A probability is assigned to each predicted boundary value of the first group of predicted boundary values to obtain a first group of predicted, probability-related boundary values. All boundary values of the first group of current boundary values and of the first group of predicted, probability-related boundary values are prioritized in order to obtain prioritized boundary values. The prioritized boundary values are used to calculate at least one control value with which the system may be controlled.
US09720386B2 Field device for determining or monitoring a physical or chemical, process variable
A field device for determining or monitoring a physical or chemical, process variable, comprising: a sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle; and a control/evaluation unit. The control/evaluation unit is realized on a partially dynamically reconfigurable FPGA component, which is constructed from a plurality of FPGA blocks units. Each FPGA block unit comprises a plurality of logic blocks. Global resources or global function blocks are associated with each FPGA block unit or groups of FPGA block units. At least a first section and a second section are provided on the FPGA-component. The sections comprise FPGA block units and corresponding global resources global function blocks. In each section a digital measuring path comprising a plurality of software based and/or hardware based, function modules, is partially dynamically reconfigurable.
US09720385B2 Timepiece with internal antenna
A timepiece includes a case that is made of a conductive material, a bezel that is made of a nonconductive material, a patch antenna that is disposed inside the case and at the back side of the dial, and a bezel that is made of a ceramic.
US09720383B2 Electronic timepiece and electronic device
An electronic timepiece enables a simple construction, and an electronic device has the electronic timepiece. A wristwatch has a button or external operating member; a controller that sets the operating mode of the wristwatch based on an input operation of the button. Based on the continuous input time that the button is operated continuously, the controller changes the operating mode between a timekeeping mode that receives a satellite signal from one or more GPS satellites and adjusts the internal time information based on time information contained in the received satellite signal; and a positioning mode that receives satellite signals from three or more GPS satellites and adjusts the internal time information based on time information and positioning information contained in the received satellite signals.
US09720382B2 Electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece has an outside perimeter part disposed around a dial, hands, and a control unit. Further, 40 to 60 time zone indicators including time difference information representing the time difference between Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the standard time used in each time zone are on the outside perimeter part. The control unit indicates a specific time zone indicator with a hand.
US09720379B2 Chronometer with speed selector
The invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising at least first and second functions implementing the display of at least first and second pieces of information. According to the invention, the movement has a selection member comprising an actuator, at least one lever configured to take at least first and second positions, respectively corresponding to the first and second functions, and respectively corresponding to the creation of first and second kinematic connections, and a cam cooperating with the actuator and the at least one lever so as to create the first and second kinematic connections.
US09720378B2 Apparatus to monitor chronologically the term of a pregnancy and to reconfigure itself to celebrate the date baby is due
A chronometer to monitor the passage of time prior to a projected date of birth of a baby and to recognize and celebrate the birth of the baby. The chronometer includes a generally hollow egg-shaped housing including a bottom, a top, a hinge mechanism, and a latching mechanism. The hinge mechanism rotatably connects the top to the bottom so the top can open and close. The latching mechanism releasably connects the top to the bottom. The chronometer also includes a replica of a young chicken housed in the chronometer, and includes a display to indicate the length of time until the projected birth date of the baby.
US09720377B2 Jewellery item
A timepiece includes a representation of a non-rectilinear object, the representation particularly including a movable element kinematically connected to a drive mechanism. The representation also includes at least one second movable element, the drive mechanism being arranged such that the movable elements each move, simultaneously and in synchronization, between a first and a second end position, and vice versa, the movable elements forming the representation at a first size and at a second size greater than the first, respectively, when the movable elements are in the first and second end positions thereof.
US09720376B2 Band type electronic device and substrate arrangement method
A band-type electronic device and a method for configuration of a flexible circuit board in a band-type electronic device are disclosed. The band-type electronic device includes a plurality of segments connected with each other in a band-like shape, a plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments, and a flexible circuit board connected to the plurality of electronic components arranged in the plurality of segments, wherein the flexible circuit board is partly deformed into a meandering shape in at least one of the plurality of segments.
US09720366B2 Drive coupler for a rotatable component of an electrophotographic image forming device
A drive element for a rotatable component of an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a body having a center hole for receiving a drive shaft therein. The center hole defines a rotational axis of the body. A drive coupler is positioned on the body and centered around the rotational axis. A drive slot on the body extends radially relative to the rotational axis and is sized to receive a cross pin. The drive slot includes one or more snap features formed on the body that are positioned to retain the cross pin axially in the drive slot and that permit the cross pin to snap axially into and out of the drive slot.
US09720356B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that stores a developer containing a toner and develops an electrostatic charge image on a image holding member by the developer to form a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image holding member onto a recording medium, and a fixing unit that performs an operation of heating and pressing twice or more to the toner image on the recording medium by at least one heating and pressing member which contacts with the toner image, wherein the toner has a sea and island structure of a sea portion containing a binder resin and an island portion containing a release agent, a maximum frequent value and a skewness in distribution of eccentricity B of the island portion is 0.75 to 0.95 and −1.10 to −0.50, respectively, and eccentricity B is defined in the specification.
US09720355B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer member, and a power source. The image bearer includes a plurality of layers. The transfer member forms a transfer nip between the image bearer and the transfer member. The power source outputs a transfer bias to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The transfer bias alternates between a transfer-side bias that causes the toner image to move from the image bearer to the recording sheet, and an opposite-side bias different from the transfer-side bias. A duty ratio of a time period, during which the opposite-side bias is output, relative to one cycle of a waveform, is greater than 50%.
US09720354B2 Intermediate transfer belt
An intermediate transfer belt for use in electrophotography is provided. The intermediate transfer belt includes a thermoplastic resin having a vinylidene difluoride (VdF) structure. The intermediate transfer belt has a degree of crystallinity in the range of 17% to 39%.
US09720352B2 Image forming apparatus with accurate positioning of sensor unit
An image forming apparatus is designed to be capable of easily suppressing a variation of an inclination of a sensor relative to an endless belt and capable of high accuracy and stabilized sensing operation. The image forming apparatus includes a belt unit having an endless belt supported to be rotatable in a circumferential direction, an image forming unit for forming an image on the belt unit, and an optical sensor for detecting light projected onto the endless belt. The image forming apparatus further includes a sensor supporting member for supporting the sensor, and a positioning portion including, as a unit, a first positioning portion for positioning the belt unit by being contacted by the belt unit and a second positioning portion positioning the sensor supporting member by being contacted by the sensor supporting member.
US09720350B2 Device for connecting a centerless auger to a rotatable member
An auger assembly according to one example embodiment includes an auger having a helical flight extending along a longitudinal axis. The auger has a central opening running along the longitudinal axis. The auger has an end that includes at least a portion of a turn having substantially zero pitch. A retaining member has a body including a groove on an outer surface of the body. The groove has a shape complementary to the helical flight at the end of the auger. At least a portion of the end of the auger is retained within the groove. A rotatable coupling member extends along the longitudinal axis. At least a portion of the rotatable coupling member is positioned within the central opening of the auger and presses the outer surface of the retaining member against an inner diameter of the end of the auger.
US09720349B2 Developer supply kit, developer supplying device and image forming apparatus
A developer supply kit detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus comprising a developer supply container and a developer accommodated therein, wherein the developer supply container includes, a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer, a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, a drive receiving portion to which a driving force is inputted from the developer supplying apparatus, and a pump portion operable so that an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion alternately and repetitively changes between a pressure lower than a ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure, by the driving force received by the drive receiving portion, wherein the developer accommodated in the developer supply container includes toner containing binder resin material and a coloring material, the developer satisfies, 10≦E (mJ)≦80, 0.4≦Ea (mJ)≦2.0, where E is total energy when it is not aerated, and Ea is total energy when it is aerated.
US09720347B2 Image forming apparatus and developing cartridge
A developing cartridge includes a case having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, and a developing roller disposed between the first sidewall and second sidewall. The developing roller can include a developing roller shaft and a developing roller member configured to carry a developing agent thereon, the developing roller member disposed around the developing roller shaft. Also, the developing cartridge can include an electrode disposed on the first sidewall adjacent to the developing roller shaft, the electrode electrically connected to the developing roller member, and a driven coupling disposed on the second sidewall. The electrode can include, an extending portion extending in a direction away from the first sidewall. An outermost periphery of the driven coupling defines a projection plane projecting in a direction towards the electrode, wherein at least a part of the extending portion is disposed within the projection plane.
US09720345B2 Image forming apparatus
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak.
US09720344B1 Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes a charger, a charge eliminator, and a controller. The charger charges a surface of an image carrier. The charge eliminator eliminates residual charge from the surface of the image carrier charged by the charger. The controller performs control to reduce a level of charge elimination performed by the charge eliminator during a third period compared to a level of charge elimination performed by the charge eliminator during a second period in which an image for determining an image-forming condition is formed. The third period is a period other than the second period within a first period that is a period, other than a period of normal image formation, during which the surface of the image carrier is charged by the charger.
US09720342B2 Developing agent container including supply chamber and waste chamber
An image forming device includes a housing; a conveying belt, and a retaining member. The retaining member retains image bearing members that juxtaposed with and spaced apart from one another. The retaining member is slidingly movable relative to the housing in a direction that the image bearing members are juxtaposed. The retaining member retains the image bearing members to confront the conveying belt. The image bearing members and the conveying belt are arranged in a reference direction. The retaining member includes a cleaning member that removes residual developing agent from the conveying belt, and a guide unit that guides the recording medium to the conveying belt. The guide unit is located on the image bearing member side and the cleaning member is located on the conveying belt side. At least part of the guide unit overlaps at least part of the cleaning member when projected in the reference direction.
US09720340B2 Toner
Provided is a toner that has satisfactory chargeability and hardly causes a reduction in image density, fogging, and density unevenness in various environments ranging from a low-temperature and low-humidity environment to a high-temperature and high-humidity environment. The toner includes toner particles obtained by fixing resin particles to toner base particles each containing resins, in which: the resins contain 50.0 mass % or more of a styrene-acrylic resin and 1.0 to 40.0 mass % of a polyester resin A; the polyester resin A contains 0.10 to 30.00 number % of an isosorbide unit; the fixing amount of the resin particles to the toner base particles is from 0.1 to 5.0 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the toner base particles; and the glass transition temperature of the resin particles is higher than the glass transition temperature of the toner base particles.
US09720339B2 Toner, developer using the toner, image forming apparatus
A toner including at least a crystalline resin as a binder resin, wherein a tetrahydrofuran soluble content of the toner includes 5.0% or more as a peak area of a component having a molecular weight of 100,000 or greater in a molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography, and the tetrahydrofuran soluble content of the toner has a weight-average molecular weight of 20,000 to 60,000.
US09720336B2 Microlithographic apparatus and method of varying a light irradiance distribution
A microlithographic apparatus includes an objective that includes a transmission filter that is configured to variably modify a light irradiance distribution in a projection light path. The transmission filter includes a plurality of gas outlet apertures that are configured to emit gas flows that pass through a space through which projection light propagates during operation of the microlithographic apparatus. The transmission filter further includes a control unit which is configured to vary a number density of ozone molecules in the gas flows individually for each gas flow. In this manner it is possible to finally adjust the transmittance distribution of the transmission filter.
US09720334B2 Stage apparatus, lithography apparatus, method of manufacturing an article, and determination method
The present invention provides a stage apparatus including a stage being movable, comprising a driving unit configured to drive the stage by providing thrust to the stage, a measuring unit configured to measure a position of the stage, and a control unit configured to control the position of the stage by supplying, to the driving unit, a signal composed of a first signal for reducing a deviation between a current position of the stage and a target position, and a second signal for reducing vibration of the stage caused by a thrust ripple included in the thrust.
US09720332B2 Information calculation method, exposure apparatus, exposure method, device manufacturing method, program, and recording medium
An information calculation method includes: calculating liquid information regarding a liquid on an object, which faces an optical member that emits exposure light, when moving the object; and calculating region information indicating a region, in which the liquid information satisfies predetermined conditions, on the object.
US09720331B2 Liquid immersion member, exposure apparatus, exposing method, method of manufacturing device, program, and recording medium
A liquid immersion member is used in a liquid immersion exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate by exposure light via a first liquid between an emitting surface of an optical member and the substrate, and is capable of forming a liquid immersion space on an object movable below the optical member. The liquid immersion member includes a first member that is disposed at at least a portion of surrounding of the optical member; a second member that includes at least a portion disposed below the first member, that is capable of being opposite to the object and that is movable outside an optical path of the exposure light; and a protection part that protects the optical member. The protection part decreases a change in pressure which the optical member receives from the liquid in the liquid immersion space.
US09720323B2 Chemically amplified positive resist composition and pattern forming process
A resist composition comprising a resin adapted to be decomposed under the action of acid to increase its solubility in alkaline developer and a sulfonium or iodonium salt of nitrogen-containing carboxylic acid has a high resolution. By lithography, a pattern with minimal LER can be formed.
US09720318B2 Pattern definition of nanocellulose sheets through selective ashing via lithographic masking
A masked etching process can prepare patterned nanocellulose for use in conformal electronics such as electrodermal structures might be adhered to human skin.
US09720316B2 Reflective mask blank for EUV lithography and process for its production, as well as substrate with reflective layer for such mask blank and process for its production
A mask blank for EUV lithography (EUVL) excellent in in-plane uniformity of the peak reflectivity of light in the EUV wavelength region and in in-plane uniformity of the center wavelength of reflected light in the EUV wavelength region, at the surface of a multilayer reflective film, and a process for its production, as well as a substrate with reflective layer for EUVL to be used for the production of such a mask blank for EUVL, and a process for its production. A substrate with reflective layer for EUVL having a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light formed on a substrate, where the reflective layer is a multilayer reflective film having a low refractive index layer and a high refractive index layer alternately stacked plural times.
US09720315B2 Reflective mask blank, method of manufacturing reflective mask blank, reflective mask and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Provided is a reflective mask blank capable of facilitating the discovery of contaminants, scratches and other critical defects by inhibiting the detection of pseudo defects attributable to surface roughness of a substrate or film in a defect inspection using a highly sensitive defect inspection apparatus. The reflective mask blank has a mask blank multilayer film comprising a multilayer reflective film, obtained by alternately laminating a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer, and an absorber film on a main surface of a mask blank substrate, wherein the root mean square roughness (Rms), obtained by measuring a 3 μm×3 μm region on the surface of the reflective mask blank on which the mask blank multilayer film is formed with an atomic force microscope, is not more than 0.5 nm and the power spectrum density at a spatial frequency of 1 μm−1 to 10 μm−1 is not more than 50 nm4.
US09720314B2 Dual projection in short screen distance
A theatre system is described that includes a screen and a projection system. The projection system includes a first mirror and a second mirror that are positionable within axes for imaged light and between projection lenses of projectors and the screen. The axes include a first axis and a second axis. The first mirror and the second mirror are configured for causing the first axis and the second axis to be parallel to each other and to have a displacement between the first axis and second axis along a dimension by which the screen is curved.
US09720313B2 Imaging plate for projection
An imaging plate for projection, the imaging plate comprising an impermeable plate and a projecting device disposed in said one surface of the plate in a certain distance, wherein the projecting device is capable of projecting light and image; the plate having a plurality of cylinder through holes disposed on both surface thereof; wherein the cylinder through holes are filled with transparent pillars, one end of said pillar defined an input end which receives the light and image from the projecting device and then guides them to an output end thereof; wherein an inner wall of the cylinder through holes comprises a light reflective surface; wherein the both input end and output end of transparent pillar are parallel to the rear and front surface of the plate.
US09720309B2 Optical projection apparatus and illumination apparatus using same
An optical projection apparatus includes a light specification setting unit for setting a specification of a light, a shape setting unit for setting a shape made by the light, a position setting unit for setting a position of the shape, a size setting unit for setting a size of the shape, an optical data generation unit for generating optical data based on the specification, the shape, the position, and the size. The optical projection apparatus further includes a light drawing unit for generating light drawing data by performing a drawing process with the optical data, an optical projection unit for projecting the shape at the position with the light drawing data, and a manipulation unit for allowing a user to set one or more parameters indicating the specification, the shape, the position, and the size.
US09720300B2 Dual-tap electro-optic modulator auto-bias control
A method and apparatus for controlling operation of an electro-optic modulator is disclosed. A first intensity of light is obtained at an input to the electro-optic modulator. A second intensity of light is obtained at an output of the electro-optic modulator. A difference between the obtained first intensity and the obtained second intensity is used to control a biasing of a modulator transfer function of the electro-optic modulator to control the electro-optic modulator.
US09720296B2 Display panel
A display panel is provided. The display panel includes a first substrate, a first insulating layer, a common electrode, a second insulating layer, a first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode. The first insulating layer is located on the first substrate. The common electrode having a first through hole is located on the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer covers the common electrode and partially covers the first through hole. The first pixel electrode is located on the second insulating layer and penetrates through the first through hole. The second pixel electrode is located on the second insulating layer. The second pixel electrode is adjacent to the first pixel electrode and overlaps a portion of the first through hole.
US09720293B2 Display panel
A display panel includes pixel structures. Each pixel structure includes an active device, a pixel electrode, and a protective layer. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the active device, wherein the pixel electrode has at least one block-shaped electrode. The protective layer is located below the pixel electrode and includes a recess main portion and recess branched portions. The width of the recess main portion is greater than 0 μm and equal to or less than 4 μm, and the recess branched portions are extended along at least four directions. The pixel electrode covers the recess main portion and the recess branched portions. The display panel includes at least one polarizer, wherein the direction of an adsorption axis of the polarizer is different from the four directions of extension of the recess branched portions.
US09720291B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate; a gate line disposed on the first substrate; an insulating layer disposed on the gate line; and first and second subpixel electrodes respectively including pixel branch electrodes, wherein the first and second subpixel electrodes respectively comprise first and second regions, the first and second regions of the first subpixel electrode have a polygonal shape where two sides meet in a diagonal line, and one of sides of the polygon, excluding the diagonal line, is perpendicular to the gate line, the first and second regions of the second subpixel electrode have grooves disposed at one of sides thereof corresponding to the shape of the first subpixel electrode, the first and second regions of the first subpixel electrode are connected with each other, and the first and second regions of the second subpixel electrode are connected with each other.
US09720283B2 Curved display device comprising first and second liquid crystal molecules with respective first and second pretilt-angles and method of manufacturing the same
A curved display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, the liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules, a first alignment layer including reactive mesogens which are polymerized with each other, the first alignment layer being disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and a second alignment layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate, where the reactive mesogens have a functional group having charges.
US09720275B2 Display device, color filter and manufacturing method thereof
A method of manufacturing a color filter is provided. The method includes: forming at least black matrix electrodes, first electrodes, second electrodes and third electrodes insulated from each other on a base substrate; and depositing at least a black matrix layer, a first color filter pattern, a second color filter pattern and a third color filter patter on the base substrate using an electrophoretic deposition process respectively by means of the black matrix electrodes, the first electrodes, the second electrodes and the third electrodes. A color filter and a display device are also provided. The described solution provides a process which is simple, convenient to operate, ease of control, and allows fast film formation.
US09720269B2 Display device
A display device includes a display module configured to output image information, a front case configured to cover a front edge portion of the display module, with an opening formed in a central portion, and a rear case coupled to the front case to cover a back side of the display module, with a rib projected therefrom to support the back side of the display module. The display module includes a display panel, a light guide unit arranged on the back side of the display panel, a back cover configured to cover the first lateral side of the light guide unit and a predetermined portion of the back side of the light guide unit, and a light source coupled to the back cover. The display device may reduce the material cost and the overall weight by omitting a metallic top cover and reducing the size of the back cover.
US09720268B2 Display panel and method for narrowing edges and increasing edge strength thereof
An edge narrowing method for a display panel is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing the display panel, a grinding apparatus and a polishing apparatus; tilting the display panel so that the first substrate and a grinding member of the grinding apparatus have a first grinding angle therebetween; grinding the first substrate and the light-shielding area with the grinding apparatus while the display panel is tilted at the first grinding angle, thereby forming a first grinding end surface; stopping grinding of the first substrate and the light-shielding area when the width of the light-shielding area is between 0.35 and 1 mm; and polishing the first grinding end surface with the polishing apparatus to form a first end surface.
US09720266B2 Liquid crystal display with switchable viewing angle and method of viewing angle control
An LCD with switchable viewing angle includes a first substrate, second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate is provided with a first electrode and a first alignment film. The second substrate is provided with a second electrode, a third electrode and a second alignment film. The liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the first alignment film are tilted at a first pretilt angle. The liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the second alignment film are tilted at a second pretilt angle. The first pretilt angle and the second pretilt angle have the same magnitude but are contrary in direction. When no bias voltage is applied to the first electrode, the LCD is displayed with a narrow viewing angle; and when a bias voltage is applied to the first electrode, the LCD is displayed with a wide viewing angle.
US09720264B2 Polarization-maintaining optical fibre and preform and method for producing the same
The invention relates to a method for producing a polarization-maintaining optical fiber, consisting of a core region and stress-generating elements embedded in the fiber body, having the following method steps: producing a core preform for the core region using internal deposition on a substrate tube, the internally coated substrate tube subsequently being collapsed, generating recesses on the core preform by virtue of the material on the outer surface of the core preform being removed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core preform at diametrically opposed positions, filling the recesses with stress-generating rods, with the tightest possible rod packing, in a freely selectable first filling geometry, possibly filling the recesses in addition with non-stress-generating rods in a second filling geometry, sheathing the filled core preform with a jacketing tube, preparing the sheathed core preform for a fiber-drawing process, and drawing the sheathed arrangement to form the optical fiber. A preform for producing a polarization-maintaining optical fiber contains a core preform, having a core region and a lateral region, and also contains a jacketing tube, which encloses the core preform, as well as stress-generating elements contained in the lateral region, wherein the stress-generating elements are provided in the form of recesses in the lateral region, wherein the recesses are filled with doped rods and/or undoped rods, and wherein the rod filling forms a first and/or a second arrangement geometry.
US09720254B1 Eyeglass structure with rear-view mirror
An eyeglass structure includes a glasses frame, a temple, and a rear-view mirror unit. The temple has a front end connected to a side edge of the glasses frame. The rear-view mirror unit includes a rear-view mirror and a holder. A first end of the holder is pivotally integrated with the temple or glasses frame for a rotational movement of the holder relative to the temple or the glasses frame. The rear-view mirror is pivotally fitted at a second end of the holder for a rotational movement of the rear-view mirror relative to the holder. A cyclist wearing a pair of eyeglasses with the eyeglass structure can watch traffic conditions at the back through the rear-view mirror for vigilant purposes such as avoiding collision risks proactively.
US09720246B2 Complex spatial light modulator and 3D image display including the same
A complex spatial light modulator for modulating a phase and amplitude of a light beam and a 3-dimensional (3D) display including the same are provided. The complex spatial light modulator includes a spatial light modulator modulating a phase of a light beam, a lenticular lens array disposed next to the spatial light modulator, and a volume holographic lens array spaced apart from the lenticular lens array and allowing light beams output from the lenticular lens array to be superimposed and to interfere with each other, and so that the phase and an amplitude of the light beam are simultaneously modulated.
US09720240B2 Wearable high resolution audio visual interface
An adjustable visual optical element is provided, which may be supported, for example, by an eyeglass. The optical element is preferably adjustable in each of the X, Y, and Z axes to allow the wearer to optimize projection of the optical element. A view axis of the display is preferably also angularly adjustable with respect to a wearer's straight ahead normal line of sight. Source electronics may be carried onboard the eyeglasses, or may be connectable to the eyeglasses via either a hardwire, optical guide, or radiofrequency link.
US09720230B2 Head mounted display, detection device, control method for head mounted display, and computer program
A head mounted display for supporting improvement in an act of moving a body is provided. The head mounted display includes image display unit that transmits external scenery therethrough and forms an image, a body motion detection unit that detects motions of a body of a user and at least a part of a tool bundled with the body, a model moving image acquisition unit that accesses a model moving image storage unit which stores, as a model moving image, a moving image showing a motion of the body, used as a reference of the act and stores the model moving image for each type of act, and acquires one or a plurality of model moving images corresponding to a detection result from the body motion detection unit, and a display control unit that causes the image display unit to form the acquired model moving image.
US09720229B2 Head-mounted display
A head-mounted display includes a first display portion, a second display portion, and a support portion. The first display portion is capable of presenting an image to an eye of a user. The second display portion is capable of presenting an image to the other eye of the user. The support portion has a band member and a first communication member. The band member connects the first display portion and the second display portion with each other and is curved to be disposed around a head portion of the user. The first communication member is disposed in the band member and electrically connects the first display portion and the second display portion.
US09720228B2 Collimating display with pixel lenses
A display assembly (515) includes: (a) an image display system (10) which includes an array of pixels (120) and (b) an array of pixel lenses (115). The array of pixel lenses has each lens positioned to collimate or substantially collimate light from a corresponding single pixel of the array of pixels. The display assembly (515) is used in a head-mounted display apparatus (500) which includes a frame (510) to support the display assembly (515) a desired distance from a user's eyes. The head-mounted display apparatus may also include a beam splitter (520) to reflect images from the display assembly (515) to the user's eyes. The head-mounted display apparatus may provide a wide field of view to the user and may be of the augmented-reality or immersive type.
US09720222B2 Calibration targets for microscope imaging
This disclosure is directed to optical microscope calibration devices that can be used with optical microscopes to adjust the microscope imaging parameters so that images of samples can be obtained below the diffraction limit. The microscope calibration devices include at least one calibration target. Each calibration target includes a number of features with dimensions below the diffraction limit of a microscope objective. Separate color component diffraction limited images of one of the calibration targets are obtained for a particular magnification. The color component images can be combined and image processed to obtain a focused and non-distorted image of the calibration target. The parameters used to obtain the focused and non-distorted image of the calibration target can be used to obtain focused and non-distorted images of a sample for the same magnification by using the same parameters.
US09720218B2 Volume imaging
A system for a laser-scanning microscope includes an optical element configured to transmit light in a first direction onto a first beam path and to reflect light in a second direction to a second beam path that is different from the first beam path; a reflector on the first beam path; and a lens including a variable focal length, the lens positioned on the first beam path. The lens and reflector are positioned relative to each other to cause light transmitted by the optical element to pass through the lens a plurality of times and in a different direction each time. In some implementations, the system also can include a feedback system that receives a signal that represents an amount of focusing of the lens, and changes the focal length of the lens based on the received signal.
US09720216B2 Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side: a positive first lens group; a negative second lens group; a positive third lens group; a negative fourth lens group; and a positive fifth lens group. The distance between the first and second lens groups constantly increases, the distance between the second and third lens groups constantly decreases, the distance between the third and fourth lens groups constantly changes, and the distance between the fourth and fifth lens groups constantly increases when changing magnification from the wide angle to the telephoto end. The first lens group includes, in order from the object side, a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens. The fourth lens group includes, in order from the object side, a negative lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens, and moves toward the image side when focusing from a far distance to a close distance.
US09720215B2 Zoom lens
A zoom lens including first to seventh lens units arranged in this order from an object side to an image side is provided. The first to seventh lens units respectively have refractive powers of negative, positive, negative, positive, positive, negative. The first to seventh lens units are disposed along an optical axis of the zoom lens, and a distance between the seventh lens and the image side is fixed, and the first lens unit, the second lens unit, the third lens unit, the fourth lens unit, the fifth lens unit and the sixth lens unit are adapted to move along the optical axis between the object side and the image side.
US09720214B2 Zoom lens system, imaging optical device, and digital apparatus
In a zoom lens system, a distance between a first lens group and a second lens group is increased, a distance between the second lens group and a third lens group is reduced, and a distance between the third lens group and a fourth lens group is reduced. The third lens group includes, in order from an object side, a front lens group and a rear lens group separated from each other by a widest air gap on an optical axis in the third lens group. Camera-shake correction is performed by moving whole or part of the front lens group as a camera-shake correction lens group perpendicularly to the optical axis. Conditional formula below is satisfied: −3.0
US09720212B2 Variable focal length lens system and image pickup unit
A variable focal length lens system includes: first to fourth lens groups alternately having negative and positive refractive power; and an aperture stop; the first to fourth lens group being arranged to allow a space between the first and second lens groups to be decreased and spaces between the second and third lens groups and between the third and fourth lens groups to be varied, the third lens group travelling to allow image-plane position variation caused by subject position variation to be compensated and satisfying a following conditional expression, 0.05
US09720208B2 Inner focusing lens
An inner focusing lens has sequentially from the object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, and a third lens group having a negative refractive power. The first lens group has negative meniscus lenses disposed farthest on the object side thereof. The second lens group is moved along the optical axis whereby focusing from a focus state for an object at infinity to a focus state for the minimum object distance is performed. The inner focusing lens satisfies predetermined conditions and thereby, realizes a compact inner focusing lens having high imaging performance at wide angles, suitable for compact cameras having a function of capturing video.
US09720206B2 Lens apparatus having magnification variator configured to move during magnification varying and image pickup apparatus having the same
A lens apparatus includes a magnification variator driven for zooming, a drive unit that drives the variator, a detector that detects the position of the variator, a deriving unit that derives a second drive signal to drive the drive unit based on: an information representing relationship between position of the variator and size of field of view; a position detected by the detector; and first drive signal, wherein field-of-view change rate obtained when the drive unit is driven based on the second drive signal is smaller than field-of-view change rate obtained when the drive unit is driven based on the first drive signal, and a corrector that outputs position data in which variation of speed of the variator is smaller than that of position data based on the second drive command, when the variator is driven based on the second drive command derived by the deriving unit.
US09720200B2 Method, system, and apparatus for installation of optical fiber cable
Methods, systems, and apparatuses that facilitate installation of a communications cable, e.g., an optical fiber cable, are disclosed. The system may include a communications cable and an adhesive for securing the cable to a surface. The method may include the use of an adhesive to secure the communications cable to a surface. The apparatus may include a pathway to avoid over-bending of the communications cable, which may otherwise result in transmission loss and compromise the performance of the cable.
US09720197B2 Transition box for multiple dwelling unit fiber optic distribution network
A transition box for a fiber optic network for a multiple distribution unit (MDU) is disclosed. The transition box comprises an enclosure a fiber optic adapter removably mounted in the enclosure. The fiber optic adapter is configured to receive one or more optical fibers of a riser cable to provide optical communication service from a service provider to a subscriber premises. A payout reel removably mounted in the enclosure stores slack of the riser cable paid out to at least one of one or more distribution levels in the MDU.
US09720196B2 Bridging connector for adjacent sliding trays
A sliding tray unit for communication channel patching includes at least first and second horizontally adjacent sliding trays, with each tray including a platform with a bulkhead, with an area between the bulkhead and a front of the sliding tray being considered a trough. Lips are formed at forward edges of adjacent troughs. Each lip includes an indentation or hole. A bridging connector includes a gap formed between front and back walls. The lips fit into the gap. First and second projections formed on the back wall project into the gap and removably snap into the indentions/holes of the adjacent lips. The first and second sliding trays slide as a single unit with the bridging connector installed on both lips. The bridging connector may pivot about the engagement between a projection and its mating indentation/hole when the other projection is removed from its mating indentation/hole, so that the adjacent sliding trays may slide independently.
US09720192B2 Interface for transmitting high-speed signal and optical module including the same
An interface for transmitting a high-speed signal and an optical module including the same. The interface may include a main substrate and a sub-substrate. The main substrate may have at least one high-speed signal line formed on the upper surface of the main substrate. The sub-substrate may have a first conductive line formed on the lower surface thereof so as to adjust high-speed signal transmission characteristics of the high-speed signal line, wherein the first conductive line may be coupled to the upper surface of the main substrate and partially overlap with the high-speed signal line.
US09720190B2 Optical module and method for manufacturing optical module
An optical module includes: at least one optical waveguide provided on a surface of a substrate; a plurality of grooves provided in the optical waveguide on the surface of the substrate and having both a surface orthogonal to the surface of the substrate and an inclined surface; multiple pairs of light-emitting and light-receiving elements aligned with the plurality of grooves in the optical waveguide and provided so as to correspond to light of different wavelengths on the optical waveguide; and a plurality of light-selecting filters each provided on an inclined surface of the plurality of grooves in the optical waveguide and reflecting light of the wavelength corresponding to the light-emitting element in the respective pair of light-emitting and light-receiving elements towards the optical waveguide, and selectively reflecting light of the corresponding wavelength from the light propagating through the optical waveguide towards the corresponding pair of light-emitting and light-receiving elements.
US09720188B2 Connecting mid-board optical modules
A clip connects two ferrules together, without a housing, to form a fiber optic connection. The clip has proximal and distal ends which define, and the clip has arms extending along the longitudinal axis to hold a cable-side ferrule in connection with fixed ferrule connected to a photonic module or die. The arms form an opening through which the cable-side ferrule is passed for connecting to the fixed ferrule. The arms have resilient bends forming a spring that can be resiliently extended along the longitudinal axis. The arms have a contact area at their ends which grasp the end of the cable-sided ferrule. The arms resiliently retract to compress the cable-sided ferrule towards the fixed ferrule with a predetermined force. The clip is positioned with respect to the circuit board using a pick and place system. The clip is not taller than either ferrule portion, enabling a limited vertical clearance.
US09720182B2 Fiber optic ferrule with improved ability to achieve ferrule mating plane contact
A fiber optic ferrule includes on a rear surface thereof a pair of spring pads, each of the pair of spring pads having an engagement surface facing away from the fiber optic ferrule to engage a spring to eliminate off-axis moments. A fiber optic connector is also provided that uses the fiber optic ferrule. The engagement surface could be flat or rounded.
US09720174B2 Optical package and a process for its preparation
A package including optical components has one or more structures with optical input or optical output. An optical interconnection optically connects to the optical input or optical output of the structure(s). A component is provided in which the optical interconnection and the optical input or optical output of the structure(s) are embedded. The component is made of a first material and the optical interconnection of a second material. The first and second materials are chemically identical. The first material has a first primary and/or secondary structure and the second material has a second primary and/or secondary structure. The first primary and/or secondary structure is different from the second primary and/or secondary structure. The refractive indices of the component and of the optical interconnection differ from each other by at least 0.0004 at 850 nm, 1,310 nm, and 1,550 nm, respectively. The optical interconnection is mechanically fixed by the component.
US09720173B2 Printing of liquid crystal droplet laser resonators on a wet polymer solution and product made therewith
A method of manufacturing a security feature for identifying objects or documents of value. The method may include the steps of encoding information in a pattern; and ink jet printing a chiral nematic liquid crystal material from a reservoir using a print head on to a substrate in the pattern. Thus, the method forms a patterned array of chiral nematic liquid crystal material deposits. The print head, or the reservoir, or both, may be heated to a temperature above the clearing point of the chiral nematic liquid crystal material. The chiral axes of the chiral nematic liquid crystal material deposits may be aligned substantially perpendicular to the substrate such that a predetermined portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is selectively reflected over other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum by the chiral nematic liquid crystal material deposits.
US09720172B1 Hyperuniform disordered material with resonant structures
An optical structure includes a Hyperuniform Disordered Solid (“HUDS”) structure, a waveguide, and a resonant cavity. The HUDS structure is formed by walled cells organized in a lattice. The waveguide is configured to guide an optical signal. The resonant cavity is formed along a boundary of the waveguide. The resonant cavity is configured to be resonant at a frequency band that is a subset of a bandwidth of the optical signal.
US09720160B2 Display device and optical member
Disclosed are a display device and an optical member. The display device includes a light source, a wavelength conversion member provided adjacent to the light source, and a reflection-transmission part interposed between the light source and the wavelength conversion member.
US09720159B2 Optical member and display device including the same
Disclosed are an optical member and a display device including the same. The optical member includes a receiving member; a host in the receiving member; and a plurality of wavelength conversion particles distributed in the host. The receiving member includes a light incident part having a first refractive index; and a light exit part having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index. The optical member improves the optical characteristics by adjusting the refractive indexes of the light incident part and the light exit part.
US09720157B2 Flame retardant light diffusing fiber
This disclosure is directed to lighting diffusing fibers (LDFs) having a flame retardant coating thereon. The LDFs comprise a glass RAL fiber core having a primary polymer coating of a clear, colorless polymeric material having an index of refraction less than that of the glass fiber core and a flame retardant coating applied over the primary coating. The flame retardant coating consist of approximately 35-85 wt. % UV curable polymer forming monomers and 15-65 wt. % of an inorganic, halogen free filler, along with at least one photoinitiator and an antioxidant. In an embodiment phosphor-containing polymer layer can be applied between the primary coating and the flame retardant coating. In another embodiment the phosphor can be added to the flame retardant coating.
US09720151B1 Broadband light funneling in ultrasubwavelength channels having periodic connected unfilled apertures
A structure for broadband light funneling comprises a two-dimensional periodic array of connected ultrasubwavelength apertures, each aperture comprising a large sub-aperture that aids in the coupling of the incoming incident light and a small sub-aperture that funnels a significant fraction of the incident light power. The structure possesses all the capabilities of prior extraordinary optical transmission platforms, yet operates nonresonantly on a distinctly different mechanism. The structure demonstrates efficient ultrabroadband funneling of optical power confined in an area as small as ˜(λ/500)2, where optical fields are enhanced, thus exhibiting functional possibilities beyond resonant platforms.
US09720150B2 Color-film substrates and liquid crystal devices
A color-film substrate and a liquid crystal device are disclosed. The color-film includes a substrate body and a color filter layer on the substrate body. The color filter layer includes duplicated color filter elements arranged in a sequence, and the color filter layer includes a first display area and a second display area arranged in a rim of the first display area. A thickness of the color filter elements of the second display area is larger than a thickness of the photo-resistor of the first display area such that a transmission rate of the display panel corresponding to the second display area is smaller than the transmission rate of the display panel corresponding to the first display area. In this way, the transmission rate of edges of the display panel is reduced and the light leakage problem can be overcome such that the uniformity of the brightness is enhanced.
US09720148B2 Camera system, in particular for a vehicle, and method for ascertaining pieces of image information of a detection area
A vehicle camera system includes a camera that includes an image sensor, a filter mask, and a control and evaluation device, to which the image sensor outputs an image signal with frames that correspond to different exposure times. The image sensor includes an arrangement of sensor pixels outputting pixel signals, and the filter mask includes an arrangement of filter pixels situated in front of respective ones of the sensor pixels, where different filter pixels have different transmission behavior. The control and evaluation device compares to each other pixel signals (a) contained in the frames of different exposure times, and (b) output by sensor pixels which record light filtered differently by the filter pixels.
US09720146B2 Display member, transfer foil, and article with display member
A display member according to this invention includes a plurality of pixels. At least one of the plurality of pixels includes a relief structure formation layer including a first region configured to display a predetermined color on a condition, and a second region different from the first region, a first layer made of a first material, and covering at least the first region, and a second layer made of a second material different from the first material, and covering the first layer. The display member displays an image based on a distribution of the first region on the condition that the display member is observed in the oblique direction, and displays an image based on a distribution of the second region on a condition that the display member is observed with transmitted light.
US09720145B2 High brightness multijunction diode stacking
An apparatus includes at least one multijunction diode laser situated to emit a plurality of beams along respective mutually parallel propagation axes, each beam having an associated mutually parallel slow axes and associated collinear fast axes, a fast axis collimator situated to receive and collimate the plurality of beams along the corresponding fast axes so as to produce corresponding fast axis collimated beams that propagate along associated non-parallel axes, and a reflector situated to receive the plurality of fast axis collimated beams and to reflect the beams so that the reflected fast axis collimated beams propagate along substantially parallel axes.
US09720144B2 Liquid crystal lens and cell for liquid crystal lens
Provided is a liquid crystal lens having low wavefront aberration. A liquid crystal lens (1) includes a liquid crystal layer (11), a first electrode (21), a second electrode (22), and a third electrode (23). The first electrode (21) is provided with an opening (21a) and a communicating cutout (21b) formed therein, the communicating cutout (21b) allowing the opening (21a) to communicate with the outside. The second electrode (22) includes a main electrode portion (22a) and a linear leading electrode portion (22b). The main electrode portion (22a) is disposed within the opening (21a). The main electrode portion (22a) is electrically insulated from the first electrode (21). The leading electrode portion (22b) is electrically connected to the main electrode portion (22a). The leading electrode portion (22b) is disposed within the communicating cutout (21b). The third electrode (23) faces at least part of the first and second electrodes (21, 22). A junction of the leading electrode portion (22b) with the main electrode portion (22a) has a width of 70 μm or less.
US09720141B1 Cover assembly for electronic devices
Describe herein are electronic devices that include a display stack having a cover component atop a display component. In some instances, the cover component includes an anti-reflective stack having multiple layers tuned to reduce the amount of natural light reflected at a user of the device. In some cases, an anti-fingerprint coating may be applied over the anti-reflective stack to provide an exterior surface to the display stack.
US09720139B2 Polymerizable polysiloxanes with hydrophilic substituents
The invention provides an actinically-polymerizable amphiphilic polysiloxane which comprises a polysiloxane polymer chain comprising a polylsiloxane segments comprising at least one siloxane unit having a low molecular weight hydrophilic polymer chain connected with a silicone atom of the siloxane unit, and (meth)acrylamido groups each covalently bonded to one of the ends of the polysiloxane polymer chain and/or to the end of one of low molecular weight hydrophilic polymer chains each connected with one silicone atom. The present invention is also related to a polymer, an actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymer, a silicone hydrogel polymeric material, or a silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises repeating units derived from an actinically-polymerizable amphiphilic polysiloxane of the invention. In addition, the invention provides a method for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses using a water-based lens-forming formulation comprising an actinically-polymerizable amphiphilic polysiloxane of the invention and/or an actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymer of the invention.
US09720138B2 Poly(oxazoline-co-ethyleneimine)-epichlorohydrin copolymers and uses thereof
The invention is related to poly(2-oxazoline-co-ethyleneimine)-epichlorohydrin copolymers and chemically-modified derivatives thereof as well as their uses in formation of non-silicone hydrogel coatings on silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
US09720136B2 Photo-alignment copolymer, optical anistropic film and its preparation method
This invention relates to a photo-alignment copolymer which enables the formation of an optical anisotropic film that exhibits superior optical anisotropy, an optical anisotropic film using the photo-alignment copolymer and a method of manufacturing the optical anisotropic film. The photo-alignment copolymer includes both of a photo-alignment repeating unit having a photo-reactive functional group such as a cinnamate-based functional group, a chalcone-based functional group, an azo-based functional group or a coumarin-based functional group, and a repeating unit having a specific structure able to increase optical anisotropy.
US09720130B2 Guided bayesian experimental design
A Bayesian methodology is described for designing experiments or surveys that are improved by utilizing available prior information to guide the design toward maximally reducing posterior uncertainties in the interpretation of the future experiment. Synthetic geophysical tomography examples are used to illustrate benefits of this approach.
US09720129B2 Electronics for a thin bed array induction logging system
A logging tool electronics system is disclosed with noise minimization features and pulse compression signal processing techniques to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of array induction logging tools. The borehole is radiated with a magnetic field produced by a configurable multi-frequency and/or multi-amplitude sine wave signal stimulus section driving a fully differential single transmitter coil. Received signals from multiple mutually balanced fully differential receiver arrays are processed by receiver signal chains using adaptive algorithms under firmware control. The received signals are used to determine the conductivity and resistivity of the formation surrounding the borehole.
US09720127B2 Caliper tool with in-situ temperature compensation
A tool for evaluating the internal surfaces of tubular is provided, wherein one or more arms extend outwardly from the tool into contact with an inner wall of the tubular, and changes in the dimensions or condition of the inner wall result in changes in the position of the ends of the arms relative to the tool. This motion is converted, through an electromagnetic transducer, into an electrical signal, the accuracy of which deteriorates as the temperature of the tool changes. Calibration transducers are provided on the tool to provide correction factors to convert the electromagnetic transducer output into an accurate reading of the distance of the end of the arms from the tool thereby increasing the accuracy of the assessment of the inner wall of the tubular.
US09720124B2 Logging in gas shale and other unconventional reservoirs
Apparatus and methods for characterizing hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation include obtaining a sample of the subterranean formation; measuring, uphole, the porosity of the sample; using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool downhole in the borehole, sending NMR pulse sequences configured for formation pore size and measuring NMR signals that characterize the formation at a location in the formation; analyzing the signals to find a gas porosity of the formation at the location; and determining a hydrogen index (HIg) of the subterranean formation from the gas porosity and from the porosity of the sample. The obtained HIg may then be used in conjunction with downhole NMR measurements to find corrected gas porosities at locations of the formation.
US09720122B2 Reflection-only sensor at multiple angles for near real-time determination of acoustic properties of a fluid downhole
Methods, systems, and devices for determining a parameter of interest of downhole fluid using an acoustic assembly comprising a single solid acoustic transmission medium having a face immersed in the downhole fluid. Methods include using characteristics of a plurality of acoustic pulse reflections from a solid-liquid interface at the face of the solid acoustic transmission medium to estimate the parameter of interest in near real-time. The characteristics may comprise a corresponding reflection amplitude and the corresponding unique angle of reflection for each acoustic pulse reflection. Methods may include generating a two dimensional data set from measured characteristics, generating a curve by performing data fitting on the two dimensional data set, and using the reciprocal slope of the curve to estimate the parameter of interest. Methods may include estimating time-dependent values for the parameter of interest substantially continuously while the acoustic assembly is on a single logging run in the borehole.
US09720112B2 Neutron detector
A device having: a scintillator material, an optically transparent element containing a glass or polymer and gadolinium oxide, and one or more photomultiplier tubes adjacent to the scintillator material. The optically transparent element is surrounded by the scintillator material.
US09720111B2 Neutron detector and method for detecting neutrons
An apparatus comprises a neutron detector. The neutron detector comprises a conversion layer comprising a mixture of a neutron absorbing material and a scintillation material; and a photodetector optically coupled to the conversion layer and arranged to detect photons generated as a result of neutron absorption events in the conversion layer; wherein the apparatus is adapted to be carried by a user and the conversion layer is positioned within the neutron detector such that when the apparatus is being carried by a user in normal use neutrons are absorbed in the conversion layer after passing through the user such that the user's body provides a neutron moderating effect. In some cases the apparatus may be carried in association with a backpack or clothing worn by a user, for example, the neutron detector may be sized to fit in a pocket. In other cases the apparatus may be a hand-held device with the conversion layer arranged within a handle of the device to be gripped by a user when being carried.
US09720097B2 Multi-antenna radio-navigation signals reception device
The invention relates to a device for receiving satellite radio-navigation signals comprising a plurality of receiving antennas forming an antenna array. The invention consists in using a plurality of antennas disposed around the circumference of a carrier and in demodulating the signals received by each antenna separately. The diversity of the demodulation chains is utilized to compensate the signal loss on one of the chains when the corresponding antenna experiences a signal loss due to the masking of the satellite by the carrier.
US09720094B2 Systems and methods for efficient reception and combining of similar signals received on two or more antennas
A radio signal processing system includes a first antenna; a second antenna; a first receiver communicatively coupled to the first antenna; a second receiver communicatively coupled to the second antenna; a first processing unit communicatively coupled to the first receiver and configured to receive a first signal from at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna when the system is operating in a first mode; a second processing unit communicatively coupled to the second receiver and configured to receive a second signal from the second antenna when the system is operating in a first mode; and wherein the first processing unit is further configured to receive a third signal from both the first antenna and the second antenna when the system is operating in a second mode.
US09720083B2 Using sounds for determining a worn state of a wearable computing device
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described herein related to using self-generated sounds for determining a worn state of a wearable computing device. A wearable computing device can transmit an audio signal. One or more sensors coupled to the wearable computing device may then receive a modified version of the audio signal. A comparison may be made between the modified version of the audio signal and at least one reference signal, where the at least one reference signal is based on the audio signal that is transmitted. Based on an output of the comparison, a determination can be made of whether the wearable computing device is being worn.
US09720081B2 Systems and methods for object localization and path identification based on RFID sensing
A networked radio frequency identification system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the RFID tag readers over a network, and a software module for storage on and operable by the computer that localizes RFID tags based on information received from the RFID tag readers using a network model having endpoints and oriented links. In an additional example, at least one of the RFID tag readers includes an adjustable configuration setting selected from RF signal strength, antenna gain, antenna polarization, and antenna orientation. In a further aspect, the system localizes RFID tags based on hierarchical threshold limit calculations. In an additional aspect, the system controls a locking device associated with an access point based on localization of an authorized RFID tag at the access point and reception of additional authorizing information from an input device.
US09720080B1 Combined radar and telemetry system
A combined radar and telemetry system is described. The combined radar and telemetry system includes a processing unit that executes instructions, where the instructions define a radar waveform and a telemetry waveform. The processor outputs a digital baseband signal based upon the instructions, where the digital baseband signal is based upon the radar waveform and the telemetry waveform. A radar and telemetry circuit transmits, simultaneously, a radar signal and telemetry signal based upon the digital baseband signal.
US09720078B2 System and method for wide-area stratospheric surveillance
Methods and apparatuses for providing wide-area surveillance with a radar and/or other sensors from a stratospheric balloon launched from a land or ship platform for detection, tracking, and classification of maritime, land, and air objects such as ships, people/vehicles, or aircraft are described generally herein. In one or more embodiments, an apparatus is battery operated and includes a stratospheric balloon filled that is filled with helium when it is launched and a gondola with a radar system and communication equipment suspended therefrom. When launched, the apparatus can travel with the wind until it reaches an altitude of approximately 68,500 ft., then it can move substantially horizontally with the stratospheric winds until it returns to earth via a parachute. Multiple apparatus launches at periodic intervals can help provide continuous coverage of the surveillance area. The apparatus can be recovered and re-used or can be considered expendable.
US09720076B2 Calibration circuitry and method for a time of flight imaging system
A time of flight imaging system includes a light source coupled to emit light pulses to an object in response a light source modulation signal generated in response to a reference modulation signal. Each pixel cell of a time of flight pixel cell array is coupled to sense light pulses reflected from the object in response a pixel modulation signal. A programmable pixel delay line circuit is coupled to generate the pixel modulation signal with a variable pixel delay programmed in response to a pixel programming signal. A control circuit is coupled to receive pixel information from the time of flight pixel array representative of the sensed reflected light pulses. The control circuit is coupled to vary the pixel programming signal during a calibration mode to synchronize the light pulses emitted from the light source with the pulses of the pixel modulation signal.
US09720073B1 Vehicular radar sensing system utilizing high rate true random number generator
A radar sensing system for a vehicle includes transmit and receive pipelines. The transmit pipeline includes transmitters able to transmit radio signals. The receive pipeline includes receivers able to receive signals. The received signals are transmitted signals that are reflected from an object. The transmit pipeline phase modulates the signals before transmission, as defined by a first binary sequence. The receive pipeline comprises an analog to digital converter (ADC) for sampling the received signals. The transmit pipeline includes a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) generator for outputting a second binary sequence of bits with an equal probability of 1 and 0. The first binary sequence is defined by least significant bit (LSB) outputs from the ADC and the second binary sequence of bits. The first binary sequence comprises a truly random unbiased sequence of bits with an equal probability of 1 and 0.
US09720060B2 FET switch as detune circuit for MRI RF coils
A radio frequency (RF) coil assembly for use in magnetic resonance includes a radio frequency coil (42, 100) and an electronic switch (28) which switches between open and closed states to detune and tune the coil to a preselected resonance frequency. Each electronic switch includes at least one field effect transistor (FET) (70) and a bias network (72).
US09720055B1 Magnetometer with light pipe
A device includes a diamond assembly. The diamond assembly includes a diamond with a plurality of nitrogen vacancy centers and electrical components that emit electromagnetic waves. The device also includes a light source configured to emit light toward the diamond and a photo detector configured to detect light from the light source that traveled through the diamond. The device further includes an attenuator between the diamond assembly and the photo detector. The attenuator is configured to attenuate the electromagnetic waves emitted from the electrical components of the diamond assembly.
US09720053B2 Magnetic sensor annealing using a rocking field
Implementations described and claimed herein provide a system comprising an external magnetic field generator, wherein the external field magnetic field generator is configured to rock an effective annealing magnetic field between a first positive angle and a second negative angle compared to a desired pinning field orientation in an AFM/PL structure.
US09720051B2 Sensor package including a magnetic field sensor and a continuous coil structure for enabling z-axis self-test capability
A magnetic field sensor includes in-plane sense elements located in a plane of the magnetic field sensor and configured to detect a magnetic field oriented perpendicular to the plane. A current carrying structure is positioned proximate the magnetic field sensor and includes at least one coil surrounding the in-plane sense elements. An electric current is applied to the coil to create a self-test magnetic field to be sensed by the sense elements. The coil may be vertically displaced from the plane in which the sense elements are located and laterally displaced from an area occupied by the sense elements to produce both Z-axis magnetic field components and lateral magnetic field components of the self-test magnetic field. The sense elements are arranged within the coil and interconnected to cancel the lateral magnetic field components, while retaining the Z-axis magnetic field components to be used for self-test of the magnetic field sensor.
US09720050B2 Systems and methods for offset reduction in sensor devices and systems
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for reducing errors in sensor devices and systems. In embodiments, the sensor devices comprise magnetic field sensor devices, such as ordinary or vertical Hall sensor devices, and the error to be reduced is a residual offset error, though in other embodiments other sensor devices can be used and/or other types of errors can be targeted for reduction or elimination. In one embodiment, at least two such sensor devices not electrically coupled with one another are sequentially operated in a spinning current-type mode such that an individual output signal from each of the at least two sensor devices is obtained. A total output signal can then be calculated, such as by averaging or otherwise combining the individual output signals from each sensor device.
US09720049B2 System and method for high voltage system isolation resistance measurement
A circuit that measures isolation resistance in a battery pack that is associated with a load includes four resistors. Two resistors are connected between terminals of the battery pack and another two resistors are connected in the load in parallel to the resistors in the battery pack. A controller operates two contactors to disconnect the battery from the load and measure first and second voltages in the battery pack and one of the two resistors. The controller operates the two contactors to connect the battery to the load and measures third and fourth voltages in the battery pack and one of the two resistors. The controller identifies the isolation resistance with reference to resistance values of the four resistors and the first, second, third, and fourth measured voltages.
US09720044B2 Method and apparatus for sensing the status of a circuit interrupter
A circuit interrupter apparatus for plug-in connection to a panel board. The circuit interrupter apparatus includes a line terminal for plug-in connection with a line power member provided as part of the panel board, a load terminal for plug-in connection with a load power member provided as part of the panel board, a moveable contact moveable between a closed position, where the line terminal is electrically coupled to the load terminal, and an open position, where the line terminal is not electrically coupled to the load terminal. The circuit interrupter apparatus also includes a sensor module for a plug-in connection to a number of signal conductors provided as part of the panel board. The sensor module detects whether the moveable contact is in the closed position or the open position and output a signal to at least one of the signal conductors indicating a current position of the moveable contact.
US09720041B2 Scan-based test architecture for interconnects in stacked designs
Aspects of the invention relate to scan-based test architecture for interconnects in stacked designs. The disclosed scan-based test architecture comprises a scan chain. Scan cells on the scan chain are configured to receive data from, based on bits of a control signal, outputs of neighboring scan cells or outputs of mixing devices that combine data from through-silicon vias with data from the outputs of the neighboring scan cells. The scan-based test architecture can be used to identify single or multiple defective through-silicon vias.
US09720036B2 Signal tracing using on-chip memory for in-system post-fabrication debug
A post-fabrication debug and on-line error checking framework for 2D- and 3D-ICs with integrated memories is described. A design-for-debug (DfD) architecture can include, for an IC with on-chip memory, a debug module connected to a functional bus of the IC. The debug module receives trace data for an interval, generates compact signatures based on the received data, and compares these signatures to expected signatures. Intervals containing erroneous trace data can be identified by the debug module and stored in on-chip memory. A single iteration of signal tracing for debug testing between automated test equipment and the IC is possible.
US09720033B2 On-chip parameter measurement
An apparatus and method for performing on-chip parameter measurement is disclosed. In one embodiment, an IC includes a number of functional circuit blocks each having one or more sensors for measuring parameters such as voltage and temperature. Each of the functional blocks includes circuitry coupled to receive power from a local supply voltage node. Similarly, the circuitry in each of the sensors is also coupled to receive power from the corresponding local supply voltage node. Each of the sensors may be calibrated to compensate for process, voltage, and temperature variations. Various methods based on characterization of the sensors may be used to perform the calibrations.
US09720030B2 Systems and methods for testing a clamp function for insulated gate bipolar transistors
An integrated circuit includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (“IGBT”), a clamp element coupled to a control gate of the IGBT to allow current flow in a first direction when voltage is applied to the control gate of the IGBT, and a blocking element coupled to the control gate of the IGBT and to the clamp element. The blocking element allows current flow in a second direction when voltage is removed from the control gate of the IGBT, the second direction is opposite the first direction. A resistive element has a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal is coupled between an anode of the clamping element and an anode of the blocking element and the second terminal is coupled to an output of test circuitry.
US09720029B2 Semiconductor device including a sense element and a main element, and current detector circuit using the semiconductor device
False detection relating to overcurrent is prevented, and it is determined with no dead time whether or not the current of a main element is an overcurrent. By a gate signal indicating conductivity being applied to the gate of a sense element earlier than to a main element when the main element is caused to be conductive, and overshoot caused by a differential circuit of the sense element gate input portion being caused before current flows into the main element, it is possible to prevent false detection relating to overcurrent, and determine with no dead time whether or not the current of the main element is an overcurrent.
US09720026B1 Radiation hardened chip level integrated recovery apparatus, methods, and integrated circuits
Methods, apparatus, and integrated circuits that provide radiation hardening through chip level integrated recovery are provided. The apparatus may include first and second circuits within a partition of an integrated circuit having isolated grounds and a state machine configured to monitor current leakage of the first circuit while the first circuit is powered on and to power on the second circuit and power off the first circuit when the monitored first circuit current leakage exceeds a first current leakage threshold. The method may include powering a first circuit of a partition within an integrated circuit, monitoring current leakage of the first circuit while the first circuit is powered on and the second circuit is powered off, storing values representing a current leakage signature over an operating range of the first circuit, and powering off the first circuit and powering on the second circuit when the monitored first circuit current leakage exceeds a corresponding first current leakage threshold with the stored values.
US09720024B2 Sensor circuit, vehicle and method therefor
A sensor circuit includes at least one signal processing circuit connectable to at least one sensor operable on a channel and configured to receive and process a periodic sensor signal therefrom the sensor circuit further includes a switching device coupled between the signal processing circuit and the at least one sensor, at least one switch coupled to the switching device and a controller connected to the at least one switch and to an output of the signal processing circuit. The controller is operable to re-configure the switching device via control of the switch and determine whether a short condition exists on the at least one sensor or channel based on the output from the signal processing circuit.
US09720022B2 Systems and methods for providing characteristics of an impedance matching model for use with matching networks
Systems and methods for generating and using characteristics of an impedance matching model with different impedance matching networks are described impedances and/or power efficiencies are measured using a network analyzer or a sensor. The impedances and/or power efficiencies are used to determine the characteristics. With use of different impedance matching networks, the values of the characteristics are changed to achieve same or similar results across different plasma tools for a variety of conditions.
US09720021B2 Apparatus and method for selecting optimum electrical power converter for variable power source
A method and apparatus use a programmable logic circuit to receive data representing environmental conditions such as irradiance, temperature, wind, snow, elevation, and the like, in a given location, to provide an input signal to a simulated variable power source which produces an output that approximates the output of a variable power source such as a photovoltaic panel that is subject to such environmental conditions. Power from the simulated variable power source is separately directed to each of a number of power converters and the efficiency of each power converter is tested to determine the optimum power converter for use with the variable power source in the given location.
US09720017B2 Apparatus and methods thereof for power consumption measurement at circuit breaker points
Apparatus and methods are provided for the measurement of power consumption at points of interest, such as circuit breakers, machines, and the like. Accordingly, means are provided for measurement of power consumption for each electrical sub-network that is controlled by a circuit breaker. Each apparatus is enabled to communicate its respective data, in an environment of a plurality of such apparatuses, to a management unit which is enabled to provide finer granularity power consumption profiles. Challenges of measuring relatively low supply currents, wireless operation in an environment of a large number of apparatuses, and self-powering are addressed.
US09720015B2 Intelligent visualization in the monitoring of process and/or system variables
The disclosure relates to a method and system for intelligent visualization in the monitoring of process and/or system data used in technical processes and in the operation of technical systems. The behavior of signals in the past is analyzed and used for a future optimized visualization. Continuously running online algorithms support the system operator by detecting and correspondingly highlighting deviations from the historically observed signal patterns.
US09720014B2 Semiconductor evaluation apparatus and semiconductor evaluation method
A back surface potential lead-out portion has one end portion disposed in a side of a back surface of a semiconductor wafer held by a semiconductor wafer holding portion and the other end portion disposed in a side of a front surface of the semiconductor wafer held by the semiconductor wafer holding portion. The semiconductor wafer and the semiconductor wafer holding portion that holds the semiconductor wafer are movable in an in-plane direction of the semiconductor wafer. In a case where the semiconductor wafer and the semiconductor wafer holding portion that holds the semiconductor wafer are moved in the in-plane direction, a portion of the back surface potential lead-out portion located in the in-plane direction from the semiconductor wafer is fixed close to the outside of a movement region of the semiconductor wafer.
US09720013B2 Method of fabricating a semiconductor package
A method of testing a semiconductor structure is provided, including providing at least a semiconductor structure having an interposer and a semiconductor element disposed on the interposer; disposing the semiconductor structure on a carrier having a supporting portion, with the interposer being supported by the supporting portion; and performing a test process. The semiconductor structure has been tested for its electrical performance prior to packaging, thereby eliminating the necessity for a conductive pathway to pass through an inner circuit of an package substrate. Therefore, the testing process is accelerated and the time is save.
US09720011B2 Monitoring device and method for monitoring a movement profile of a user in the region of an actuating element of an aircraft or spacecraft
A monitoring device for monitoring a movement profile of a user in the region of an actuating element of an aircraft or spacecraft, having at least one movement sensor which is configured to detect a first monitoring space of the monitoring device and at the same time a second monitoring space of the monitoring device which differs from the first monitoring space. Also a method for monitoring a movement profile of a user in the region of an actuating element of an aircraft or spacecraft, with: detection of a first monitoring space of the monitoring device by at least one movement sensor; and simultaneous detection of a second monitoring space, which is different from the first monitoring space, by the at least one movement sensor.
US09720007B2 Method and assembly for transporting single and multiple reaction vessels
A method and apparatus for transporting single and multiple reaction vessels. At least one reaction vessel is provided and at least one tray includes at least two seats for the at least one reaction vessel, and at least one gripper. One of the reaction vessel or the tray is engaged with the gripper at a first position. The gripped element is transported to a second position wherein the gripper is released. A gripping collar is provided both on the reaction vessel and the tray for the gripper to engage. At one transport stage one of the reaction vessel or the tray is engaged with the gripper at a first position by pushing the gripper from above to engage with the gripping collar and in a second stage the transported element is disengaged from the gripper by moving the gripper sideways in relation to the center axis of the gripping collar.
US09720001B2 Methods for mass spectrometric biopolymer analysis using optimized weighted oligomer scheduling
A method for detecting a list of known biopolymer molecules comprises: calculating, for each biopolymer, a respective list of oligomer molecules predicted to be produced by chemical processing; calculating, for each oligomer molecule, a respective predicted chromatographic elution time period; assigning, for each biopolymer molecule, one or more selected oligomer molecules to be detected, wherein the selecting is performed using weighted selection probabilities determined from the predicted elution times; scheduling a plurality of oligomer detection events of a detection system, wherein each oligomer detection event corresponds to a respective one of the predicted elution time periods; performing the chemical reaction or processing of the sample to generate a processed sample; introducing the processed sample into a chromatographic system; introducing any eluting oligomers into the detection system; and operating the detection system so as to search for each of the selected oligomer molecules in accordance with the scheduled detection events.
US09719998B2 Ultraviolet absorbing polymeric dyes and methods for using the same
Water soluble light harvesting multichromophores that have an ultraviolet absorption maximum are provided. In some embodiments, the multichromophores include a conjugated segment including a fused 6-5-6 tricyclic co-monomer and a UV absorbance-modifying co-monomer. The multichromophores may include an acceptor chromophore covalently linked to the multichromophore in energy-receiving proximity therewith. In some embodiments, a specific binding member is covalently linked to the multichromophore. Also provided are methods of evaluating a sample for the presence of a target analyte and methods of labelling a target molecule using compositions including the light harvesting multichromophores. Kits and systems for practicing the subject methods are also provided.
US09719997B2 Methods of labeling cells with fluoroquinolone antibiotics
Provided are methods of labeling cells in at least one of a biological tissue, bacteria, and fungi with fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin).
US09719995B2 Drug selection for colorectal cancer therapy using receptor tyrosine kinase profiling
The present invention provides methods for selecting a suitable anticancer drug therapy, and for identifying and predicting response, for the treatment of colorectal cancer. The present invention also provides methods for monitoring the status of colorectal cancer and monitoring how a patient with colorectal cancer is responding to anticancer drug therapy. The present invention further provides methods for the rational selection of therapy with one or more anticancer drugs tailored to target signal transduction pathway components with dysregulated expression and/or activation levels in patients with somatic mutations in an oncogene.
US09719994B2 Method for detecting an infection by the hepatitis C virus
The invention relates to a method of in-vitro detection of an infection with a hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a biological sample, comprising the simultaneous detection of the HCV capsid protein and of an antibody directed against said capsid protein, said method using, for capturing the anti-capsid antibodies, a peptide comprising an antigenic fragment derived from the truncated HCV capsid. The invention also relates to the peptide for capturing the anti-capsid antibodies and the kits comprising it.
US09719990B2 Systems and methods for multi-analysis
Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.
US09719984B2 Immunoassay methods
The invention relates to a method of detecting a disease state or disease susceptibility in a mammalian subject which comprises detecting an antibody in a test sample comprising a bodily fluid from said mammalian subject wherein said antibody is a biological marker of a disease state or disease susceptibility, the method comprising: (a) contacting said test sample with a plurality of different amounts of an antigen specific for said antibody, (b) detecting the amount of specific binding between said antibody and said antigen, (c) plotting or calculating a curve of the amount of said specific binding versus the amount of antigen for each amount of antigen used in step (a) and (d) determining the presence or absence of said disease state or disease susceptibility based upon the amount of specific binding between said antibody and said antigen at each different antigen concentration used.
US09719979B2 Methods of identifying crosslinking molecules for polymers
Methods for screening molecules or moieties for their ability to crosslink are disclosed. An aromatic carbonate, aromatic ester, or aliphatic ester group is attached to the molecule to mimic the presence of a polymer. A solution of the modified molecule is irradiated, and the first-order kinetic rate constant is measured. If the rate constant is high enough or a threshold amount of the molecule is consumed, a polymer is synthesized using the molecule/moiety as an endcap or co-monomer. The polymer is irradiated, and the increase in crosslink density and the gel formation percentage are determined. These parameters, if high enough, indicate the suitability of the molecule/moiety to act as a crosslinking agent, particularly for polycarbonates. Alternatively, the molecule/moiety may be identified as suitable solely by its first-order kinetic rate constant.
US09719978B2 Detecting oil under ice
Methods and systems for detecting oil proximate to a body of ice is disclosed herein. An example system includes an energy emitter disposed proximate to a first surface of a body of ice. An energy detector is disposed proximate to a second surface of the body of ice. The energy detector is used to map a distribution of oil proximate to the body of ice based, at least in part, on differences in energy transmitted through the body of ice.
US09719975B1 Mercury detection in water-based compositions
A method of detecting Hg2+ in an aqueous solution. The method includes contacting the aqueous solution with a composition containing a plant extract and biosynthesized silver nanoparticles. The composition has an average particle size of 30-50 nm. A color change following the contacting indicates the presence of Hg2+ in the aqueous solution. The composition is preferably synthesized by reduction of a silver salt with an extract of Ocimum basilicum.
US09719973B2 System and method for analyzing the effectiveness of an application to a crop
In accordance with an example embodiment, a system is presented for collecting information about a crop to analyze the general health the crop relative to corresponding information from a previous information collection process. To ensure an optimal harvest, a field is typically treated with multiple material application steps. Starting with seed application, the system collects visual information and corresponding positioning data. With each subsequent application (e.g., fertilizer, pesticide, etc.), the information collection process is repeated. The new information is compared to corresponding information from a previous application step, such that the effectiveness of the prior application can be revealed.
US09719968B2 Ultrasound probe
An ultrasound probe which is connected to an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an acoustic element for converting an electric signal and an ultrasound to each other, an electric signal processing circuit electrically connected to the acoustic element, a case for storing the acoustic element and the electric signal processing circuit, an acoustic element board for electrically connecting the acoustic element to the electric signal processing circuit, and a partition part which is arranged to contact with the case and separates the acoustic element and the electric signal processing circuit. A space on the side of the acoustic element in the case separated by the partition part is filled with a first material having lower thermal conductivity than that of a material for forming an inner wall surface of the case. Accordingly, the heat generated by a circuit unit such as the electric signal processing circuit can be more efficiently dissipated.
US09719967B2 Structural health monitoring system
The present invention relates to a structural health monitoring system, for example a system used in the non-destructive evaluation of an aircraft structure. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for evaluating one or more anomalies within a structure using a structural health monitoring system that includes at least three transducers arranged in operative contact with the structure such that no two transducers are aligned to be parallel. A transducer excites an elastic wave that propagates through the structure, and reflections from any anomalies within the structure are collected by the three transducers. These collected signals are analyzed to identify an anomaly within the structure. Time of flight techniques are used to determine the location of the anomaly.
US09719959B2 Hydrogen ion sensor
Provided is a hydrogen ion sensor including: a substrate having a well and a first contact, the well having a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth contacts, the second contact having the same conductive type as the well, and the third, the fourth, and the fifth contacts having an opposite conductive type to the well; a first gate insulation layer on a region between the fourth contact and the fifth contact; a second gate insulation layer on a region between the third contact and the fourth contact; and a hydrogen ion sensing unit formed on the first gate insulation layer, wherein the hydrogen ion sensing unit transfers a voltage level adjusted according to a hydrogen ion concentration of a solution to be measured, to the first gate insulation layer.
US09719952B1 Method for measuring the amount of extracellular fluid surrounding a surface disposed within a plant and the ionic population and identity of the dominant ion in that fluid
This method determines the amount of extracellular fluid surrounding a surface disposed inside a plant, the ion population in that fluid and the identity of the dominant ion in that fluid. The method has four parts: 1) Providing an electrochemical circuit between the surface and external electronics 2) Executing two electrochemical procedures which result in a sequence of measured charge transfer values, 3) Processing the measured charge transfer values into a value proportional to the of extracellular fluid surrounding the surface, a value proportional to the total ion population in the fluid and a value that identifies the dominant ion in the fluid, 4) Generating a set of time/quiescent potential pairs of values which are used to identify the dominant ion type in the extracellular fluid during different time ranges.
US09719951B1 Method and apparatus for moisture detection
A method and apparatus for detecting moisture that includes at least three conductors. One of the conductors has a different resistance than the other conductors. A liquid extends between the conductors. The difference between the impedance through a pair of conductors and the liquid and the impedance of through another pair of conductors and the liquid may be used to determine the position of the liquid along a length of the conductors. Similar methods may be used to determine an area of a liquid with respect to the conductors.
US09719946B2 Ellipsometer and method of inspecting pattern asymmetry using the same
An ellipsometer includes a stage, a light source, a polarizer, a detector, and a processor. The stage is configured to support a substrate including a pattern. The light source is configured to emit illumination toward the substrate. The polarizer is configured to polarize the illumination. The detector is configured to generate, in association with a plurality of azimuthal angles, data corresponding to polarized illumination reflected from the substrate. The processor is configured to: control rotation of the stage in association with sequential inspection of the pattern at the plurality of azimuthal angles, and determine asymmetry of the pattern based on the data. Each azimuthal angle of the plurality of azimuthal angles corresponds to a different rotational state of the stage.
US09719943B2 Wafer edge inspection with trajectory following edge profile
This inspection system has an optical head, a support system, and a controller in electrical communication with the support system. The support system is configured to provide movement to the optical head with three degrees of freedom. The controller is programmed to control movement of the optical head using the support system such that the optical head maintains a constant angle of incidence relative to a wafer surface while imaging a circumferential edge of the wafer. An edge profiler may be scanned across the wafer to determine an edge profile. A trajectory of the optical head can be determined using the edge profile.
US09719942B2 Sintered ceramic and ceramic sphere
Provided are a sintered ceramic and a ceramic sphere which are inhibited from suffering surface peeling due to fatigue resulting from repetitions of loading and can attain an improvement in dimensional accuracy when subjected to surface processing and which have excellent wear resistance and durability.
US09719934B2 Reading of assays
Disclosed is an assay result reading apparatus for use with an assay in which a detectable substance tends to accumulate within a detection zone of the assay, the reading apparatus comprising: a housing or baffle, having a window therein; a light source which emits light through the window so as to illuminate the detection zone of the assay; and a light detector to detect the amount of light reflected and/or transmitted by the detection zone, which amount is at least partly dependent on the amount of detectable substance accumulated in the detection zone; wherein the shape of the window is adapted to render the reading apparatus less sensitive, preferably insensitive, to minor mis-positioning of the detection zone relative to one or more of the window, the light source and the light detector.
US09719933B1 Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of oil sands
A method of quantifying at least one property of interest of an oil sands ore sample is provided using a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) method. The LIBS method may be applied to oil sands ore being conveyed prior to a slurry process to measure oil sand composition and provide information which may predict extraction characteristics. The LIBS method may be applied to oil sands core samples in a laboratory setting to reduce the cost and analysis time associated with conventional laboratory measurement techniques.
US09719931B2 Surface enhanced raman spectroscopy resonator structures and methods of making same
A nanoplasmonic resonator (NPR) includes a substrate, a first metallic member disposed on the substrate, a second metallic member spaced apart from the first metallic member, and a first insulation layer at least partially disposed between the first and second metallic members. The first insulation layer includes at least one of a notch formed laterally therein such that there is an open gap separating outer edge portions of the first and second metallic members, at least a portion thereof having a toroid shape, and a length extending between the first and second metallic members which are laterally adjacent to each other.
US09719924B1 Wideband antenna structure with optics reflector as ground plane and associated methods
A compact transducer system includes both an antenna subsystem and an optical transducer subsystem. The antenna subsystem may include multiple radio frequency (RF) radiating elements disposed adjacent to a ground plane. The ground plane may also serve as an optical reflector within an optical path of the optical transducer subsystem. A secondary reflector may also be provided within the optical path of the optical transducer subsystem. The secondary reflector may be formed of dielectric material (e.g., meta-material) in some embodiments to prevent undesired coupling with RF circuitry.
US09719922B2 Optical system and optical quality measuring apparatus
An optical system comprising: a light source; a photodetector; a first light-receiving system for causing the photodetector to receive first reflected light with a first angle of reflection from a surface; and a second light-receiving system for causing the photodetector to receive second reflected light with a second angle of reflection, different from the first angle of reflection, from the surface is provided. Here, a first light-receiving area of the photodetector with respect to light, of reflected light from the surface, via the first light-receiving system is spaced apart from a second light-receiving area of the photodetector with respect to light, of the reflected light from the surface, via the second light-receiving system.
US09719918B2 Apparatus and system for determining, optimizing or monitoring at least one process variable
An apparatus for determining or monitoring at least one process variable, comprising: a sensor element and a measuring electronics, which form a measuring unit; and at least one control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged removed from the measuring unit; and/or an in/output unit arranged removed from the measuring unit and the control/evaluating/calculating unit. The control/evaluating/calculating unit and the in/output unit are connected with the measuring unit via a first interface and a second interface. The measuring electronics operates the sensor element and forwards the measurement signals via the interfaces to the control/evaluating/calculating unit as unprocessed, raw, measured values. The control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged removed from the measuring unit determines, improves and/or monitors the process variable based on the raw, measured values and makes such available via the in/output unit.
US09719914B2 Mobile water analysis
An embodiment provides a method, including: operating a motor to position sample fluid within a fluid channel of a cuvette; transmitting light through an optical chamber of the cuvette; measuring a value of received light that has been transmitted through the optical chamber; comparing the measured value of light to one or more thresholds; determining a position of the sample fluid within the fluid channel based on a comparison from the comparing step; and generating a response based upon the position of the sample fluid with the fluid channel. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09719913B2 Outer part for a device and device
An outer part for a device which is attachable thereto as a housing and/or an attachment part, a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface being formed on the outer part so that at least one signal emitted by an optical and/or acoustic source is directly or indirectly deflectable onto at least one detector surface of an optical and/or acoustic detector, an optical path being configured as a cavern or continuous recess in the outer part or as a depression of a boundary surface of the outer part, the optical path having at least one opening via which at least one substance is transferable into the optical path, and the at least one signal being deflectable into the optical path to the second reflective surface which is formed at a second end of the optical path with the first reflective surface at a first end of the optical path.
US09719908B1 Electrofracturing test system and method of determining material characteristics of electrofractured material samples
A device for electrofracturing a material sample and analyzing the material sample is disclosed. The device simulates an in situ electrofracturing environment so as to obtain electrofractured material characteristics representative of field applications while allowing permeability testing of the fractured sample under in situ conditions.
US09719907B2 Particulate detection system
A particulate detection system (1) for detecting the quantity of particulates S in a gas under measurement EG, including a detection section (10), a drive circuit (210, 240), and a control section (230, 202). The detection section (10) has an ion source (11) and a particulate electrification section (12). The drive circuit (210) includes an ion source drive circuit (210) for performing constant current control. The control section (230, 202) includes current convergence determination means S2-S3, S5-S6, and detection start means S8 for starting detection of the quantity of the particulates S using the signal Is, detected by a detection circuit (230), after the gaseous discharge current Id has converged to an allowable range IR.
US09719901B2 Impact tester device
Systems and methods for testing an impact response of a material and/or structure to one or more impacts of known magnitude. The systems and methods include a portable impactor device for imparting an impact force on a surface of an engineered structure, wherein the portable impactor device has an adjustable orientation such that an impact may be delivered as an angle ranging from +90° to −90° relative to a horizontal plane. Additionally, the portable impactor device described may be utilized to test an impact response of one or more surface areas of a full-scale prototype structure.
US09719900B1 Strain-gauged washer for measuring bolt preload
This invention installs multiple miniature strain gauges inside a regular dimensioned bolt washer to accurately measure bolt preload. To enhance the strain gauge sensitivity, an alloy with low elastic modulus and high yield strength is selected to fabricate the metal washer. In addition, multiple gauges are connected in series to multiply the effective gauge length and enhance measurement sensitivity. Further, the stain gauges are encapsulated in the middle of the washer as opposed to on the external surface which offers much improved sensitivity and physical protection of the strain gauges.
US09719897B2 System and method for biological specimen mounting
A system and method for mounting a section onto a substrate, the system comprising: a fluid channel including: a fluid channel inlet that receives the section, processed from a bulk embedded sample by a sample sectioning module positioned proximal the fluid channel inlet, a section-mounting region downstream of the fluid channel inlet, and a fluid channel outlet downstream of the section-mounting region; a reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid channel outlet; and a manifold, fluidly coupled to the reservoir, that delivers fluid from the reservoir to the fluid channel inlet, thereby transmitting fluid flow that drives delivery of the section from the fluid channel inlet toward the section-mounting region.
US09719896B2 Aid for filling liquid, and method for filling liquid
A liquid filling aid that is placed on a plate-shaped member and defines a reaction chamber to be filled with a liquid, the aid includes a main body, a storage section that is formed in the main body and stores the liquid, a reaction section that is a recess formed at a bottom of the main body, a communication aperture for fluid communication between the storage section and the reaction section, and an air vent for communication between the reaction section and outside air, wherein the reaction section and an upper surface of the plate-shaped member define the reaction chamber and a liquid filling method including a step of placing the liquid filling aid on the plate-shaped member, and a step of discharging the liquid in an amount equal to or larger than the volume of the reaction chamber for supply to the storage section.
US09719894B2 Specimen collector for collecting a laser micro-dissectate
A laser microdissectate specimen collector for a laser microdissection device includes a collecting chamber configured to receive a dissectate. The collecting chamber has, on a specimen side, an opening open to the environment for receiving the dissectate. The collecting chamber also has a first valve. The first valve, in a closed state thereof, forms a closure of the collecting chamber opposite to the opening for retaining the dissectate. A capillary line is connected downstream of the first valve to the collecting chamber such that the capillary line is configured to transport the dissectate out of the collecting chamber.
US09719890B2 Micro-sampling for aquatic chemical analysis
The current invention describes in vivo and vitro (cultured) sampling technologies that allow direct temporal and spatial sampling from living ecosystems such as those associated with marine ecology. The optional use of parallel sampling methods, observatory design, provides for the ability to measure the response of individual organisms to a variety of both biotic and abiotic stresses. Sampling in small volumes and close proximity to living organisms has allowed direct measurement of various invertebrate and other aquatic species in marine ecosystems. These sampling techniques are intended to apply to any liquid based ecosystem in an attempt to minimize sampling as a dependent variable in measuring the chemical and biological behavior of the ecosystem. If is intended that this sampling technology be used to directly measure the chemical behavior of a wide variety of organisms; including, plants, animals, and micro-organisms (e.g. algae, plankton). These probes facilitate the direct measurement of metabolism, decomposition, pollution, and stress or stimuli from the local environment. A variety of sampling tips and probes have been developed for discrete and continuous sampling. A variety of sampling probe geometries, sizes, and sampling capabilities are disclosed that enable both contact and non-contact sampling of the chemical environment. The liquid sampling has been optimized for chemical analysis with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Fatty acid and lipid profiling have been demonstrated on a number of species from a cultured aquatic using these techniques.
US09719887B2 Field device commissioning system and field device commissioning method
A field device commissioning system includes a commissioning tool, which is configured to communicate with a field device and a repository. The commissioning tool is configured to retrieve at least one property from a field device. The commissioning tool is configured to determine, from a registration file in the repository, if the retrieved at least one property is in the registration file. When the retrieved at least one property is determined to be in the registration file, perform a first test. When the retrieved at least one property is determined to be not in the registration file, determine, from a control system loop information file in the repository, if the retrieved at least one property is for a predetermined field device. When the retrieved at least one property is determined to be for the predetermined device, perform a second test different from the first test. When the retrieved property is determined to be not for the predetermined device, perform a third test different from the first and second tests.
US09719876B2 Fluid pressure sensor
This fluid pressure sensor includes a coil the self inductance of which varies as a function of the pressure of a fluid inside the flexible pipe. This coil includes a turn including: a first portion and a second portion of its periphery rigidly mechanically connected to a first location and a second location on the periphery of the pipe, respectively, and third and fourth free portions of the periphery of the turn situated between the first and second portions and each on a respective side of a central axis of the pipe and each separated from the flexible pipe by a clearance.
US09719875B2 Low profile pressure sensor
A pressure sensor may comprise a nylon socket, an upper PCB, a lower PCB, and a hex housing. The nylon socket may include a plurality of co-molded electrical pin conductors extending axially from electrical connectors defined within a top end of the nylon socket for receiving an external electrical cable to a bottom end of the nylon socket. A top side of the upper PCB may have electrical contacts configured to contact the electrical pin conductors. The lower PCB may be connected to the upper PCB by at least one structural member, and electrically coupled to the upper PCB and to strain gauges coupled to a diaphragm. The hex housing may have an interior axial port extending from a bottom of said hex housing to a counterbore for holding the diaphragm, thereby exposing a first side of said diaphragm to the fluid within the axial port.
US09719872B2 High over-pressure capable silicon die pressure sensor with extended pressure signal output
A pressure sensor includes a base having a high-pressure contact portion, and a diaphragm positioned over the base and having an external top surface opposite the base. The external top surface is defined within a closed perimeter and external side surfaces extend down from an entirety of the closed perimeter toward the base. A high-pressure contact portion of the diaphragm is aligned with and separated by a gap from the high-pressure contact portion of the base. A sensing element is coupled to the diaphragm and provides an output based on changes to the diaphragm. When a hydrostatic pressure load above a threshold value is applied to the entire external top surface and external side surfaces of the diaphragm, the hydrostatic pressure load causes the high-pressure contact portion of the diaphragm to contact the high-pressure contact portion of the base.
US09719870B2 Read circuit for POSFET type tactile sensor devices
A read circuit of an electrical signal produced by a POSFET device comprising a transconductance amplifier connected at an inverting input thereof to the output of the POSFET device; and at least one neuron connected at the output to the transconductance amplifier. The transconductance amplifier is adapted to: receive a signal coming from the POSFET device representative of a force or pressure exerted on the POSFET device, and produce at the output at least one current signal representative of the force or the pressure. The at least one neuron is adapted to receive said at least one current signal and to produce at least one output signal, said at least one output signal being a pulse train having a frequency proportional to said at least one current signal produced by the transconductance amplifier.
US09719868B2 Electronic measurement unit for a polymorphous device for force measurement and polymorphous device including the same
An electronic measurement unit for a polymorphous device, comprising a number of lateral structures, each lateral structure including: a support structure; at least one sensor constrained to the support structure and generating an electrical signal indicative of a deformation of the support structure; and a coupling structure that constrains a corresponding external covering element to the support structure in a releasable manner, so that when the external covering element is constrained to the support structure and an external force acts on the external covering element, the electrical signal is indicative of the external force.
US09719867B2 Method and system for measuring heat flux
A heat flux sensor equipped measurement wafer includes a substrate, a cover thermally coupled to a portion of the substrate, a sensor cavity formed between the substrate and the cover, a thermal barrier disposed within at least a portion of the sensor cavity, a bottom temperature sensor thermally coupled to the substrate and insulated from the cover by a portion of the thermal barrier and a top temperature sensor thermally coupled to the cover and insulated from the substrate by an additional portion of the thermal barrier, wherein a temperature difference between the bottom temperature sensor and the top temperature sensor is related to a heat flux passing through the substrate and cover proximate to the sensor cavity.
US09719865B2 Thermally determining flow and/or heat load distribution in parallel paths
A method including obtaining calibration data for at least one sub-component in a heat transfer assembly, wherein the calibration data comprises at least one indication of coolant flow rate through the sub-component for a given surface temperature delta of the sub-component and a given heat load into said sub-component, determining a measured heat load into the sub-component, determining a measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component, and determining a coolant flow distribution in a first flow path comprising the sub-component from the calibration data according to the measured heat load and the measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component.
US09719864B2 Method and system for determining ambient temperature of an electronic device
A method for determining the ambient temperature of an electronic device, the device comprising heat-generating components (102) and a temperature sensor (105) positioned within a common casing (101), the method comprising the steps of: in an environment with a controlled ambient temperature: determining (307) a device-specific coefficient of power dissipation change (a) between a first (Emin) and second (Emax) power modes, wherein in the second power mode (Emax) the device dissipates more power than in the first power mode (Emin); and in an environment for which the ambient temperature is to be determined: measuring (203-205) temperatures (Tmin, Tmax) by the temperature sensor (105) for the first power mode (Emin) and the second power mode (Emax), calculating (206) ambient temperature (Tamb) as a function of the measured temperatures (Tmin, Tmax) and the device-specific coefficient of power dissipation change (a).