| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09889014B2 |
Implant for bone fixation
A bone implant, particularly but not necessarily, for fixing bones of the foot is provided having body in the form of a crescent or arced shaped wedge, or a wedge in the shape of a crescent or arc. The crescent shaped wedge has bone screw bores that are each configured to hold a bone screw at a particular angle for receipt in a bone, eliminating the need to also use a plate. The crescent shape provides a graft area that allows introduction and retention of bone graft material to promote bone fusion. One or both tapered sides of the crescent shaped wedge may also have teeth, serrations or the like. |
| US09889010B2 |
Automated implantable penile prosthesis pump system
A dual poppet valve assembly for a pump assembly of an implantable penile prosthesis having a suction poppet engagable by a plurality of fingers allowing free travel of the poppet and to prevent vacuum lockup of the pump assembly. The suction poppet can also include an elongated shaft receivable within a corresponding bore of a cylinder poppet to prevent the suction poppet from becoming misaligned during the operation of the pump assembly. |
| US09889008B2 |
Treating dysfunctional cardiac tissue
Medical devices, systems, and methods reduce the distance between two points in tissue, often for treatment of congestive heart failure and often in a minimally invasive manner. An anchor is inserted along an insertion path through a first wall of the heart. An arm of the anchor is deployed and rotationally positioned according to a desired alignment. Application of tension to the anchor may draw the first and second walls of the heart into contact along a desired contour so as to effect a desired change in the geometry of the heart. Additional anchors may be inserted and aligned with the first anchor to close off a portion of a ventricle such that the ventricle is geometrically remodeled and disease progression is reversed, halted, and/or slowed. |
| US09889006B2 |
Device and methods for self-centering a guide catheter
This document provides devices and methods for the treatment of heart conditions such as valvular stenosis. For example, this document provides devices and methods by which a guide catheter can align itself with a blood flow stream to thereby help direct a guidewire or other elongate device transmitted from the guide catheter through an orifice of a heart valve. |
| US09889005B2 |
Loading and delivery of self-expanding stents
A method of deploying a stent includes providing a delivery system with the stent loaded in a reduced diameter configuration between an inner catheter and an outer sheath, the stent including a covering positioned on a luminal wall surface thereof, the inner catheter including a radially outwardly extending protrusion that extends into the covering but does not intersect a plane along the stent luminal wall surface, advancing the delivery system to a stenting site, and withdrawing the outer sheath to deploy the stent at the stenting site. |
| US09889004B2 |
Sealing structures for paravalvular leak protection
A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a native valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end, and a valve assembly disposed within the stent, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets and a cuff annularly disposed about the stent. The cuff includes a surplus portion capable of forming a sealing structure having a diameter greater than a diameter of the proximal end of the stent when deployed. |
| US09889002B2 |
Devices useful for implantation at a heart valve
A device useful for implantation at a native heart valve can include an anchor element having a tubular configuration defining a longitudinal direction and a circumference, a heart valve prosthesis disposed within the anchor element, and a plurality of elongate members positioned at equidistant angular intervals about the circumference of the anchor element. The device can be configured to be transitioned from a radially collapsed delivery configuration to a radially expanded implantation configuration, and the plurality of elongate members can have a length extending in the longitudinal direction of the tubular member in the expanded implantation configuration. |
| US09888998B2 |
Flexible implant with adjustable coils
Devices and methods for securing a graft with respect to bone are provided. One exemplary embodiment of a surgical implant includes a flexible filament body and a suture filament or repair construct that extends through the filament body at multiple locations. The repair construct is formed into one or more coils, which can receive a graft. The flexible filament body can be configured to be actuated between unstressed and anchoring configurations, the latter of which sets a location of the suture filament, and associated graft, in a bone tunnel. More particularly, the flexible filament body can ball up, or become denser, to a size that cannot pass into the bone tunnel in which the suture filament holding the graft is disposed. The present disclosure also provides for feedback units to assist a surgeon in knowing a location of the implant. Further, other exemplary devices and methods are provided. |
| US09888997B2 |
Soft anchor assembly with barbed flexible strand and techniques for use
A soft anchor assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a sheath and a flexible strand at least partially surrounded by the sheath. |
| US09888996B2 |
In vivo hydraulic fixation including bio-rivets using biocompatible expandable fibers
The disclosure describes implantable medical products, that include dry or partially hydrated biocompatible constructs comprising collagen fibers configured to expand in situ after implantation to frictionally engage a bone tunnel wall to thereby affix the construct in the bone tunnel. |
| US09888993B2 |
Embolic protection device
Embolic protection devices useful for filtering emboli during interventional cardiac, vascular, or other procedures are described. The device can include first and second expandable mesh filters having open and closed ends. The first filter is attached to a catheter at its closed end. The second filter is attached to a steerable guide wire at its closed end. The second filter includes a cinching wire circumferentially attached to the filter. The filters are deployed in separate vessels, such as the brachiocephalic artery and the left common carotid artery. A procedure is performed, and the filters trap any emboli travelling through the path of the filters. At the end of the procedure, the second filter is closed using the cinching wire, and retracted into the first filter. Both the first and second filters are collapsed into a sheath and removed from the body with along with any emboli trapped in the filters. |
| US09888981B2 |
Interdental laterally expansive wedge
An interdental laterally expansive wedge includes a prismatic wedge member having a furled bottom side expansible from a first position to an expanded position when fluid is forcibly directed into the wedge member through a proximal interconnect. Lateral expansion of the wedge member is thereby effected when each of a pair of basal ridges is forced apart to impress consistent and even pressure in contact with interproximal structure, such as approximal teeth and a matrix band inserted to gird a cavosurface for approximal filling preparation and finishing. Importantly, the present interdental laterally expansive wedge is laterally expansive without effecting deformation or ballooning between and around the teeth, and prevents invasion into the cavity proper. |
| US09888977B2 |
Medical sterile container with safety ventilation valve
A medical sterile container includes a tray-like first container part, a lid-type second container part, a fastener and a ventilation valve to ventilate a container interior surrounded by the first container part and the second container part. The fastener is mounted on one of the container parts so as to be pivotable between a closed position, in which the container parts are locked to one another by the fastener, and an open position in which the container parts are unlocked. |
| US09888971B2 |
Method and system for image processing to determine patient-specific blood flow characteristics
Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model. |
| US09888969B2 |
Automatic quantitative vessel analysis
Apparatus and methods are described including designating within an image of blood vessels of a subject, a target portion of the blood vessels. In response to a first input from a user that designates a single point on the image, a first location within the blood vessels in a vicinity of the designated point is designated. In response to second and third inputs from the user, proximal and distal locations within the target portion are designated. The target portion is designated such that the target portion passes from the proximal location of the target portion to the distal location of the target portion, and such that the target portion includes the first location. Quantitative vessel analysis is performed on the target portion of the blood vessels, and an output is generated based upon the quantitative vessel analysis. Other applications are also described. |
| US09888964B2 |
Side-firing laser fiber with glass fused reflector and capillary and related methods
A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a reflector and an optical fiber end portion disposed within a capillary for use in side-firing optical fibers. The reflector surface can be coated with a multilayer dielectric coating to increase the amount of side-fired laser energy. An outer member or cap can be used to protect the capillary when being inserted through a catheter or endoscope. The endoscope is then at least partially inserted into a patient's body to provide laser-based medical treatment. Multiple grooves can be defined on an outer surface of the optical fiber buffer layer to increase the surface area and improve the mechanical strength of the coupling between the optical fiber and the capillary. In some embodiments, the outer member or cap can also be coupled to the grooved surface portion of the optical fiber buffer layer. |
| US09888957B2 |
Pressure sensitive tissue treatment device
Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways. |
| US09888954B2 |
Plasma resection electrode
Disclosed herein are embodiments of an electrosurgical device that include one or more floating electrodes and are specifically adapted to remove, resect, ablate, vaporize, denaturize, coagulate and form lesions in soft tissues, preferably in combination with a resectoscope, particularly in the context of urological, gynecological, laparoscopic, arthroscopic, and ENT procedures. Specific adaptations for urological and gynecological applications, for example BPH treatment, are also described. |
| US09888950B2 |
Plate benders and system
A pair of plate benders is provided for bending a bone plate having a plurality of screw holes and a plurality of tubular drill guides removably preassembled into the screw holes. Each plate bender has a first end, a second end, and a handle extending between the first and second ends. The first end has a lower table on which the plate is received, an upper retaining structure which is adapted to engage the tubular drill guides, a recess defined between the lower table and upper retaining structure into which a portion of the plate is received such that the plate extends over a portion of the table and below a portion of the retaining structure. The retaining structure engages the periphery of the tubular drill guides to secure the plate relative to the bending tool. |
| US09888949B2 |
Osteotomy plate, plate driver and method for their use
An orthopedic plate is specifically configured for use in osteotomies, in which part of the plate extends into a portion of a first bone segment and part is external to the cortical surface of an adjacent bone segment to fix the segments to allow them to fuse. The plate has a first end and a second end where the end which is inserted into the bone has a chamfer and a through hole having a hole axis optionally at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the plate, and which can receive a screw, peg or pin. The second end of the plate includes a locking screw hole and optionally including a compression slot extending in a direction toward a screw hole in the opposing end. Optionally, the non-locking hole has a shroud that forms an arc or portion of a cylinder over the hole. A plate driver having a recess that holds the plate is used to insert the plate into the bone. |
| US09888944B2 |
Spinal stabilization system with rigid and flexible elements
A spinal stabilization system generally comprises first and second anchor members configured to be secured to first and second vertebrae within a patient's body, a flexible element secured to the first anchor member, and a rigid element secured to the second anchor member. An end portion of the rigid element is coupled to an end portion of the flexible so that the system is able to provide both rigid and dynamic stabilization. The coupling is maintained even if the flexible element relaxes after a period of time within the patient's body. |
| US09888943B2 |
External fixation clamp using a trigger mechanism and stored spring energy
An external fixation clamp for receiving a fixation element includes an inner jaw and an outer jaw movable between an open position that permits the fixation element to be placed between the inner and outer jaws and a closed position that restricts removal of the fixation element from between the inner and outer jaws. A latch assembly may cooperate with the inner and outer jaws to secure the jaws in a closed position. The latch assembly may comprise a latch and a latch biasing member. The latch may be configured to translate linearly relative to one of the inner and outer jaws, and the latch biasing member may have a first higher level of stored energy when the inner and outer jaws are in the open position and a second lower level of stored energy when the inner and outer jaws are in the closed position. |
| US09888940B2 |
Neural injection system and related methods
A novel neural injection system and related methods are herein disclosed. Various embodiments of an embodiment of a neural injection system of the present invention provide for at least one benefit of enhanced injection characteristics, increased operational efficiency, reduced cost per unit, reduced incidence of injury through intraneural/intravascular injection, reduced incidence of injury through pricking/piercing, and/or the like. |
| US09888939B2 |
Device and method for preparing a recess in a bone
A punching device for preparing a recess in a bone has a punching tool usable for such a punching device. An implant usable with the punching tool is provided and a method for preparing a recess in a bone are disclosed. The punching device comprises an ultrasonic sonotrode and a punching tool which is fixable to the sonotrode at its proximal extremity. At its distal extremity, the punching tool has a thin-walled portion having a non-rotational symmetric cross-section. By ultrasonic vibration of the punching tool, the thin-walled portion can be forced into a bone thereby preparing a recess of which is not rotationally symmetric. Subsequently, an implant can be held in such recess. Due to its lack of rotational symmetry, the implant may absorb rotational forces around its longitudinal axis. |
| US09888934B2 |
Microsurgical holding and/or cutting instrument
A surgical handheld instrument for grasping an object includes two lever elements, each lever element having a grip portion and a jaw portion. A lever joint connects the two lever elements rotatably to each other between their grip portion and their branch portion. Each of the two grip portions is adjoined by a respective spring portion for connecting the two grip portions such that the two lever elements are held resiliently in an open position. To create an easily manageable, elegant and releasable connection for spring ends on surgical instruments, the handheld instrument includes a hinge pin at a free end of one spring portion and a bearing eye at a free end of the other spring portion. The bearing eye has a longitudinal slit for radial insertion of the hinge pin into the bearing eye. |
| US09888933B1 |
Vaser assisted high definition liposculpture
A surgical procedure for performing liposculpture on the human body comprising defining a surgical site where the liposculpture is to be performed including substantially 360 about at least the torso portion of the body and/or the limbs. The surgical site is infiltrated with a predetermined quantity of solution and subsequently performing multi-layer emulsification of fat deposits about the surgical site utilizing technology comprising “vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance” or (VASER), wherein the multi-layer emulsification includes at least a superficial layer emulsification of fat deposits and a deep layer emulsification of fat deposits. Subsequently, a multi-layer liposuction extraction of the emulsified fat deposits is performed, wherein the multi-layer liposuction extraction comprises a deep layer liposuction; a superficial layer liposuction and an intermediate layer liposuction. |
| US09888928B2 |
Cutting guide with internal distraction
A cutting guide for performing a bone osteotomy procedure is disclosed. The cutting guide includes a first arm having a first cutting guide surface formed therein, a second arm having a second cutting guide surface formed therein pivotably connected to the first arm and a distractor operatively connected to the first arm. The cutting guide is adapted to be affixed to the bone such that the first cutting guide surface is open to the second cutting guide surface. The first arm and second arm are rotatable with respect to each other such that manipulation of the distractor creates a force between the first arm and the second arm causing rotation of the first arm and second arm relative to each other. A method for using the cutting guide in a bone osteotomy procedure is also disclosed. |
| US09888926B2 |
Apparatus and method for deploying stent across adjacent tissue layers
Transluminal access system includes a stent delivery catheter having a handle control mechanism. The catheter comprises a number of components for establishing an initial penetration between adjacent body lumens and subsequently implanting a stent or other luminal anchor therebetween. Manipulation of the stent components is achieved using control mechanisms on the handle while the handle is attached to an endoscope which provides access to a first body lumen. |
| US09888924B2 |
Wound closure material
Articles are provided having no orientation or a multi-directional orientation. Such articles may be in the form of films, ribbons, sheets, and/or tapes and may be utilized as buttresses with a surgical stapling apparatus or as reinforcing means for suture lines. The articles may be produced with etchings on at least a part of a surface of the article. |
| US09888921B2 |
Surgical stapling apparatus
A surgical stapling apparatus (stapler) is provided. The stapler includes a housing, elongated member, and a reload. A cartridge is configured to selectively couple to a first jaw member of the reload and includes one or more resilient members thereon. An anvil operably supported on a second jaw member of the reload is configured to compress one or more fasteners ejected from the cartridge. The anvil includes one or more locking members thereon. A knife is configured to translate through the cartridge and anvil when the first and second jaw members are in a closed configuration. Engagement between the knife and the resilient member(s) causes the resilient member(s) to move from an initial configuration that allows the knife to travel distally past the locking member(s) to a final configuration that allows the locking member(s) to engage the knife. |
| US09888918B2 |
Horizontal-transvertebral curvilinear nail-screws with inter-locking rigid or jointed flexible rods for spinal fusion
A horizontal-transvertebral curvilinear nail-screw (HTCN) including a body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is opposed to the second end; and a head at the first end of the body portion, wherein the body portion has a predetermined curvilinear shape and includes a pointed tip at the second end of the body portion, and a method of surgically implanting universal horizontal-transvertebral curvilinear nail-screws (HTCN) into a plurality of adjacent vertebrae. |
| US09888915B2 |
Method and device for suture removal
A suture manipulation device with a snare is provided. The snare includes a receiving end adapted to provide support to tissue and to ensnare a portion of suture passed through the tissue and the receiving end. The receiving end further adapted to secure the portion of the suture while removing the support of the tissue. The receiving end still further adapted to remove the portion of the suture. |
| US09888914B2 |
Suturing instrument with motorized needle drive
A surgical instrument includes a body, at least one user input feature, an elongate shaft, a needle applier, and a motor. The needle applier includes a needle and a drive assembly coupled to the needle. The drive assembly is configured to drive the needle along an orbital path about a rotation axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, in response to an actuation of the user input feature. The motor is configured provide motion to the needle applier to thereby actuate the drive assembly. |
| US09888912B2 |
Collapsible tissue anchor device and method
Collapsible tissue anchor device and method for inserting into a tissue structure in a first non-collapsed configuration and collapsing into a second collapsed configuration. A sleeve is provided having a bolt or shank extending through an interior. The bolt or shank exerts a force upon the sleeve to collapse it thereby forming flanges that engage or abut tissue. A sling, suture, mesh or the like may be coupled to a portion of the anchor to support tissue or an organ. |
| US09888908B2 |
Device for taking at least one sample of tissue
This invention relates to a device (10) for taking at least one sample of soft tissue from an organ, said device comprising a body (11) and a needle (12) formed by a stylet (13) and a cannula (14) coaxial with said stylet, said device comprising a mechanism for arming the needle, designed for sequentially moving the cannula (14) and then the stylet (13) from a rest position wherein the stylet and the cannula are extended towards the outside of the body, to a shooting position wherein the stylet and the cannula are retracted towards the rear of the body, and a triggering mechanism designed to release the stylet then the cannula and to allow their displacement from the shooting position to the rest position, the cannula being coupled kinematically to a cannula slider (24) comprising at least one retaining element (26) for maintaining the cannula slider in a shooting position, the stylet being coupled kinematically to a stylet slider (30) comprising at least one retaining element (32) for maintaining the stylet slider in a shooting position and means for unlocking (34) the cannula slider. The device is characterized in that at least one element among said retaining element of the cannula slider (26) and said retaining element of the stylet slider (32) comprises at least one hook (50, 50′) arranged to cooperate with a retaining device (27, 33) of said hook. The device for taking a sample further includes unlocking means (34, 41) of said arranged hook to release said retaining element from the corresponding retaining device. The sampling device further includes at least one locking element (52, 52′, 52″, 52′″) arranged to prevent said hook to be released from said corresponding retaining device when said locking element is in a locking position and in order to allow said hook to be released from said corresponding retaining device when said locking element is in a position allowing the shot. |
| US09888897B2 |
High dynamic range mammography using a restricted dynamic range FFDM
Methods of imaging a breast comprising acquiring a sequence of image data sets having differing exposure parameters; and combining the image data sets into a mammography image having greater dynamic range than the dynamic range of any single component image data set. Disclosed methods may further comprise determining an exposure parameter of one or more component image data sets prior to acquiring the sequence of image data sets. The step of determining an exposure parameter of one or more component image data sets may comprise determining exposure duration or an exposure irradiation level. Also disclosed are mammography apparatus and systems to obtain images according to the disclosed methods. |
| US09888896B2 |
Determining a three-dimensional model dataset of a blood vessel system with at least one vessel segment
A three-dimensional model dataset of a blood vessel system of a patient including at least one the vessel system is determined from a number of projection images, which have been recorded from different recording angles, of the blood vessel system The projection images are divided up into image areas each containing at least one pixel. A feature vector is determined for each of the image areas. Classification information, which describes how the respective image area belongs or does not belong to a vessel segment of the blood vessel system defined in accordance with anatomical specification data, is defined for each of the image areas by applying a classification function to the feature vector assigned to the image area. The classification function has been trained by training data records annotated with classification information obtained from at least one person other than the patient. The blood vessel system in the projection images is segmented by grouping image areas with the same classification information. The three-dimensional model dataset is calculated as a function of the segmented projection images and the classification information. |
| US09888895B2 |
Angiographic examination method to implement a rotational angiography
In an angiographic examination method to implement rotational angiographies, two x-ray projections of the examination subject are acquired from different acquisition angles, the x-ray projections are segmented to generate the outer contours of the examination subject in both x-ray projections, the outer contours of the examination subject are discretized in both x-ray projections, the coordinates of the focal points of the examination subject are calculated from these discrete points in both x-ray projections, the deviations of the coordinates of the focal points of the examination subject are determined, the deviations of the coordinates are evaluated, and the results of the evaluation are emitted as an output. |
| US09888893B2 |
Method and apparatus for combined dual-energy mammography and tomosynthesis imaging
In a method and tomosynthesis apparatus for combined dual-energy mammography and tomosynthesis imaging of a predetermined volume of an examination subject, while contrast agent is flowing through the volume, an x-ray source is set to radiate x-rays at low and high radiation energy. A pre-shot of the volume is obtained with the high radiation energy, and recording parameters for high-energy images, low-energy images, and low-energy tomosynthesis scans are obtained from the pre-shot. A high-energy image is then obtained, followed by operating the x-ray source at a low energy, and a low-energy tomosynthesis scan of the volume is executed using the recording parameters, and a two-dimensional low-energy image of the volume is generated during the low-energy tomosynthesis scan. |
| US09888892B2 |
X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus
An X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus according to this embodiment includes a display for displaying an image and a processing circuitry which calculates an incident dose on a body surface of an object, superposes information based on the calculated incident dose on a three-dimensional image which is a three-dimensional image relating to the object and is capable of rotating display at a corresponding position on the body surface of the object and causes the three-dimensional image on which the information is superposed to be displayed on the display. |
| US09888891B2 |
X-ray imaging unit for medical imaging
The application relates to an X-ray imaging unit for a medical imaging. The unit comprising a rotating part comprising a first X-ray source and an X-ray imaging detector unit configured to provide an image by means of at least a rotational movement (R) around a rotation axis of the rotating part, and an upper shelf for supporting the rotating part. The upper shelf is configured to enable the rotating part to move with respect to the upper shelf by means of a linear movement (L) and to be attached to a column with a pivoting joint for enabling a pivot movement (P) of the upper shelf around the column. The rotating part is configured to be positioned by the linear movement and the pivot movement during the imaging. |
| US09888880B1 |
Method and system for estimating fractional fat content of an object
A method and system for estimating fractional fat content of an object of interest. An energy emitter is used to direct an energy signal toward the region of interest, wherein the region of interest has an object of interest, a reference, and a boundary area with one or more boundary locations between the object of interest and the reference. Next, a plurality of thermoacoustic or ultrasonic transducers is used to receive a plurality of thermoacoustic bipolar signals from the one or more boundary locations, wherein the thermoacoustic bipolar signals are induced by the energy signal. A machine configured to accept data from the energy emitter and the plurality of thermoacoustic or ultrasonic transducers and calculate a fat concentration that is a function of the thermoacoustic bipolar signal at each respective boundary location and the distance or distances between locations. |
| US09888876B2 |
Method of analyzing multi-sequence MRI data for analysing brain abnormalities in a subject
The present invention, referred to as Oasis is Automated Statistical Inference for Segmentation (OASIS), is a fully automated and robust statistical method for cross-sectional MS lesion segmentation. Using intensity information from multiple modalities of MRI, a logistic regression model assigns voxel-level probabilities of lesion presence. The OASIS model produces interpretable results in the form of regression coefficients that can be applied to imaging studies quickly and easily. OASIS uses intensity-normalized brain MRI volumes, enabling the model to be robust to changes in scanner and acquisition sequence. OASIS also adjusts for intensity inhomogeneities that preprocessing bias field correction procedures do not remove, using BLUR volumes. This allows for more accurate segmentation of brain areas that are highly distorted by inhomogeneities, such as the cerebellum. One of the most practical properties of OASIS is that the method is fully transparent, easy to implement, and simple to modify for new data sets. |
| US09888874B2 |
Stimulus presentation system
The present invention provides a stimulus presentation system which determines a mental state and changes presentation contents of a problem based on the determined mental state. The system determines the mental state by measuring gaze and cerebral function of a user, and changes presentation contents of a problem based on the determined mental state. |
| US09888873B2 |
NIRS sensor assembly including EMI shielding
A NIRS sensor assembly includes a light source, a light detector, a first insulating layer, an EMI shielding layer, and a second insulating layer. The first insulating layer covers an exposed portion of the light detector. An optically transparent portion of the first insulating layer is aligned with an active area of the light detector. The EMI shielding layer covers the first insulating layer. An optically transparent portion of the EMI shielding layer is aligned with the active area of the light detector. The second insulating layer covers the EMI shielding layer and the first insulating layer. An optically transparent portion of the second insulating layer is aligned with the active area of the at least one light detector. |
| US09888870B2 |
System and method for monitoring pleural fluid
The disclosure is directed to intrapleural air leak detection and monitoring. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an air leak may be detected utilizing at least one sensor to determine whether fluid extracted from a pleural cavity of a patient includes carbon dioxide and/or a second substance. The second substance may be a foreign substance inhaled by the patient to confirm presence of the air leak. The air leak may be further monitored over a period of time by collecting temporally successive measurements associated with detected concentrations of carbon dioxide. Therefore, tissue damage and recovery may be assessed according to objectively collected criteria. |
| US09888868B2 |
Energy aware sensor management for wearable medical systems optimization
A sensor system and method configured to take multiple channels of sensors, and based on context and user behavior reflected in the signals, identifies specified channels for sensing according to a sensing policy. The sensing policy is used to reduce the amount of data sampled, such that it is possible to reconstruct the values of the non sampled sensors efficiently. The sensing policy is influenced by user and system's behavior and can be assigned either offline or in real time. |
| US09888864B2 |
Method and system for identifying a location for nerve stimulation
A system and method for identifying a stimulation location on a nerve is disclosed. The system includes an image-based navigation interface used to facilitate advancing a stimulation element within a patient body toward a target nerve stimulation site. Using the system one determines, separately for each potential target nerve stimulation site, a neuromuscular response of muscles produced upon applying a stimulation signal at the respective separate potential target stimulation sites. The image-based navigation interface is configured to display a graphic identification of which muscles were activated for each respective potential target nerve stimulation site upon applying the stimulation signal. |
| US09888862B2 |
Electroanatomical mapping
This invention relates to the determination and/or representation of physiological information relating to a heart surface. |
| US09888857B2 |
Methods and systems for reducing energy consumption of a heart rate monitor
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for automatically configuring a mobile device for collecting and inferring heart rate data of a user. The method may include capturing heart rate data for a user with a heart rate sensor that is coupled with a mobile device. The method may also include monitoring a activity state of the user from activity data captured by the mobile device, and detecting a constant activity state of the user. The method may also include inferring heart rate data for the user from the captured heart rate data during a period in which the user remains in the constant activity state. The method may also include providing the inferred heart rate data, as captured heart rate data, to a heart rate calculator during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state. |
| US09888851B2 |
Hand-held medical-data capture-device having determination of a temperature by a microprocessor from a signal from a digital infrared sensor having only digital readout ports and the digital infrared sensor having no analog sensor readout ports and having interoperation with electronic medical record systems on a specific segment of a network to transmit the temperature and device information
In one implementation, an apparatus estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point is described, estimates temperature from a digital infrared sensor and determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer, or determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer and estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point; after which the estimated and/or determined information is transmitted to an external database. |
| US09888850B2 |
Hand-held medical-data capture-device having detection of temperature by a microprocessor from a signal from a digital infrared sensor on a separate circuit board with no A/D converter and having interoperation with electronic medical record systems to transmit the temperature and device information
In one implementation, an apparatus estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point is described, estimates temperature from a digital infrared sensor and determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer, or determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer and estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point; after which the estimated and/or determined information is transmitted to an external database. |
| US09888849B2 |
Hand-held medical-data capture-device having variation amplification and having detection of body core temperature by a microprocessor from a digital infrared sensor and interoperation with electronic medical record systems via an authenticated communication channel
In one implementation, an apparatus estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point is described, estimates temperature from a digital infrared sensor and determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer, or determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer and estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point; after which the estimated and/or determined information is transmitted to an external database. |
| US09888848B2 |
Measurement system
A measurement system may comprise a sensor wire and a transceiver unit. The sensor wire may comprise an insertable portion configured to be inserted in a blood vessel of a patient's body and two sensors disposed within the insertable portion at a distal end of the sensor wire. The sensors are configured to measure a parameter when inserted inside the patient. The transceiver unit may comprise: a housing adapted to be connected to a proximal end of the sensor wire; and a first communication module within the housing adapted to wirelessly communicate by a communication signal with an external second communication module in order to transfer information to the external second communication module. |
| US09888844B2 |
Control apparatus and control method
A control apparatus includes an irradiation unit configured to irradiate a measurement object with a measuring beam, a restriction unit configured to restrict the measuring beam from being incident on the measurement object and to reflect or scatter the measuring beam, and a polarization control unit configured to control, based on the measuring beam reflected or scattered by the restriction unit, polarization of the measuring beam. |
| US09888843B2 |
Capacitive sensors for determining eye gaze direction
An apparatus for tracking eye gaze includes a capacitive sensor array having a plurality of capacitive sensors. The capacitive sensor array is configured to detect eye movement based at least on a proximity of the plurality of capacitive sensors to a part of an eye of a user (e.g., a bulge in the cornea). A frame of the apparatus is configured to be worn on a head of the user and configured to support the capacitive sensor array positioned in front of the eye. A control circuit of the apparatus is configured to receive signals from the capacitive sensor array. A body electrode of the apparatus is positioned on the frame and electrically connected to the control circuit, the body electrode configured to establish an electrical connection with a body of the user. A conductive line of the apparatus connects the body electrode to the control circuit. |
| US09888842B2 |
Medical diagnostic gaze tracker
A method to track a user's gaze for medical diagnostics is described. The method includes detecting a gaze behavior of a user in response to a stimulus. The stimulus is a non-diagnostic stimulus. The method also includes determining a type of the stimulus and generating an indication of the gaze behavior and the type of the stimulus. The indication may then be used to generate an expected gaze pattern describing expected gaze behavior to given stimuli. Additionally, the indication may be used to determine whether the gaze behavior is indicative of a potential problem and, in response, an alert may be generated. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described. |
| US09888841B2 |
Head-mounted optical coherence tomography
The invention provides a system and method for obtaining ophthalmic measurements whereby the inventive device is configured to be head mountable, automatically axially length aligned with a selected target, and laterally aligned so that light from an OCT source enters through the pupil of the eye under test. The frame of the head mountable OCT is customizable, capable of analyzing both the left and right eye of a subject. The inventive device can be operated by the person undergoing test. Embodiments include mechanisms for eye fixation, lateral, angular and depth scanning of target regions. A variety of embodiments are taught, including the scanning of both eyes of a subject at substantially the same time, and a configuration of a photonic module coupleable with a plurality of frames. Embodiments include a variety of OCT sources, such as MRO, swept source, time domain, and spectral domain. |
| US09888834B2 |
Endoscope with a window and process to manufacture an endoscope
An endoscope includes a window on a distal end of the endoscope, an interior body with a first material on the distal end, and a mantle with a second material on the distal end, such that the window and the interior body are joined. |
| US09888831B2 |
Imaging device and imaging method
The imaging device includes an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels that generate an image signal from an object image that is formed by an imaging optical system, a scaling section that performs a scaling process on an original image that includes image signals that correspond to the plurality of pixels, and an output section that outputs an image after the scaling process as a scaled image, the scaling section performing the scaling process using a different scaling factor corresponding to the position of a pixel of interest within the scaled image, and the image sensor including pixels in a number larger than the number of pixels of the scaled image as the plurality of pixels. |
| US09888829B1 |
Forced air drying dishwasher
The forced air drying dishwasher provides an intake and air channel that ensure a smooth and more than adequate air entry, coupled with a narrowed venturi area to accelerate an air flow into a blower. With the air flow heated by a heating element, a distribution manifold coupled to a pair of nozzle manifolds with a plurality of spaced apart, evenly distributing nozzles are all joined via a plurality of laminar bends to ensure the air flow that is further aided. A gradual bend of an exhaust provides proper exit of the air flow. With such a plurality of air flow enhancements, a drying of dishes is comparatively more hastened and complete. |
| US09888824B2 |
Cleaning device
A holder for a cleaning pad or the like can include a base and one or more features to inhibit damage to a surface adjacent a surface being cleaned. For example, the holder can include a lip extending downwardly from an edge of the base along one or more sides to inhibit the pad from being coupled to the holder so that the pad extends beyond the edge of the base. The holder can also include one or more contacting features extending outwardly from the base on the side(s) including the lip to space the base and lip from the adjacent surface during use. The contacting features can be one or more wheels horizontally disposed on a top surface of the base. |
| US09888822B2 |
Mop tool
Disclosed is a mop tool. The mop tool includes an elongated stick; and a plate-shaped cleaning head rotatably coupled to one end of the stick and having two or more mop fasteners that have different coupling types. The cleaning head is provided with a mop hanging bar from which a connecting loop of a mop hangs. |
| US09888820B2 |
Vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaning system and methods of use in a raised floor environment
A method of cleaning a raised access flooring system includes providing a vacuum cleaner for raised floor environments. The vacuum cleaner includes a body sized to fit underneath the raised access floor system, a power source supported by the body, a vacuum module supported by the body, the vacuum module being configured to intake air and exhaust air, and a drive module supported by the body. The method further includes placing the vacuum cleaner into a space formed between an original floor and a plurality of raised panels of the raised access flooring system, and operating the vacuum cleaner to perform a cleaning operation. |
| US09888819B2 |
Robot cleaner
A robot cleaner includes a body forming an external appearance of the robot cleaner, a body moving part provided to the body to move the body, a body driving unit to drive the body moving part, a dust collector to capture suctioned foreign substances and provided with a first chamber and a second chamber communicating with the first chamber, a suction generation unit to supply suction force to the dust collector, and a guide member to guide the foreign substances captured in the first chamber to the second chamber and to apply pressure to the foreign substances in the second chamber in order to compress the foreign substances. |
| US09888818B2 |
Evacuation station system
A cleaning system includes a robotic cleaner and an evacuation station. The robotic cleaner can dock with the evacuation station to have debris evacuated by the evacuation station. The robotic cleaner includes a bin to store debris, and the bin includes a port door through which the debris can be evacuated into the evacuation station. The evacuation station includes a vacuum motor to evacuate the bin of the robotic cleaner. |
| US09888816B1 |
Wearable fluid-dispensing apparatus
An antibacterial dispensing bracelet includes a frame having a receptacle receiving a removable cartridge defining an interior reservoir for containing a quantity of antibacterial fluid. A finger-activated pump assembly is mounted to the frame proximate to the receptacle and engages an extraction port in the cartridge for extracting antibacterial fluid. The pump assembly further defines a nozzle port for dispensing the antibacterial fluid therethrough by activation of a piston of the pump assembly being mounted in a housing of the pump assembly and movable between raised and depressed positions. The pump assembly also includes a spring biasing the piston to the raised position and a conduit extending in the cartridge to the extraction port thereof. The conduit, housing, and piston define a fluid pathway between the cartridge and nozzle port. A wristband extends from each side of the frame for securing about an arm of a user. |
| US09888812B2 |
Cooking device
Disclosed herein is a cooking device which may be used for the mixing and stirring of sauces, soups, gravies, and other foodstuffs while being heated on a heat source such as a stovetop, gas burner, hot plate, barbeque grill, charcoal, open flame, etc. The term “sauce” will be used herein to indicate all such foodstuffs to be cooked in order to abbreviate this disclosure. The cooking device allows a user (cook) to stir and mix the sauce while heating the sauce and optionally while a lid assembly is in place thus, more efficiently retaining heat, steam, and flavors within the cooking device during cooking and stirring. |
| US09888803B2 |
Wok apparatus applicable to fully automated cooking machine
A wok apparatus applicable to fully automated cooking machine includes a wok, electromagnetic heating coils, an electromagnetic heating device, a wok rotating device and a wok working position controlling device, wherein the electromagnetic heating coils wind around an external wall of the wok and heat the wok under the control of the electromagnetic heating device, the wok rotating device is connected with the wok so as to control the wok to rotate 360 degrees; the wok working position controlling device is used for securing the wok to a frame of the cooking machine and rotating the wok to respective working positions to perform respective operations, the electromagnetic heating device, the wok rotating device and the wok working position controlling device are all connected with a main control device of the cooking machine, so as to receive control commands and perform corresponding operations according to the control commands. |
| US09888798B1 |
Beverage container holder
A beverage container holder with air gap insulation that can be formed from a single sheet of material, can be formed with one single die cutting stroke, and does not involve glue or any other materials to retain the sections together as the sections are automatically retained together and formed into a round retaining member by the simple action of rotating the central sections approximately 90 degrees. |
| US09888791B2 |
Platform and double frame display hanging system
A molded double frame display hanging frame system that is easy to assemble to hang a display object on a vertical surface. The system includes a square or rectangular platform with four, straight perpendicularly aligned outer edges. Attached to the platform's outer edges is the outer frame. Formed on the center region of the platform is a four sided, raised inner frame structure that allows an inner frame to be selectively attached to the front surface of the platform. A plurality of holes are formed at the inside corners of the mounting area adjacent to the inner frame structure which receive pin connectors that hold the display object over the mounting area. A transparent panel may be placed over the display object and held in position by the inner frame. The platform, the outer frame, and the inner frame may be made of molded composite material. |
| US09888789B2 |
Refrigerated sales cabinet
A refrigerating cabinet (1) comprises at least one goods presentation and air circulation space (2), a refrigeration cycle for cooling the at least one goods presentation and air circulation space (2), and at least one drain conduit (36; 42) configured for draining condensed water, which is produced when the refrigeration circuit is operating, from the at least one goods presentation and air circulation space (2). At least a portion of the at least one drain conduit (36; 42) is filled with a granulate material (34) or provided with a movable flap (48) allowing water to pass through the drain conduit (36; 42) and blocking air from passing through the drain conduit (36; 42). |
| US09888788B2 |
Playards, changing table assemblies, and methods of operating the same
A playard having a floor and an upper frame is disclosed. The upper frame includes a first end supported a first distance above the floor, a second end supported a second distance above the floor, and at least two opposed sides. Each of the opposed sides includes a first rail, a second rail, and a joint joining the first and second rails. The joint is positioned in a first plane when the joint secures the first and second rails in an erected position, the first plane being transversely oriented with respect to the floor. |
| US09888785B2 |
Mattress
A foam mattress in which a layer of latex or latex-like foam placed above a layer of memory foam is described. This construction of the mattress provides the contouring pressure relief that a visco-elastic foam provides with a top surface with quick recovery (a latex-like “bounce”) that prevents people from getting “stuck” in the visco-elastic foam and improves the springiness of the mattress. The mattress may also include straps and cinches to aid in transportation of the mattress. The mattress may also include removable covers that aid in keeping the mattress clean. |
| US09888782B1 |
Temperature controlled mattress system
A mattress assembly includes at least one core layer. The core layer having a top surface and a bottom surface. The assembly also includes at least one channel running through the core layer from the bottom surface to the top surface. In operation, the at least one channel receives temperature conditioned air flow at the bottom surface of the core layer. Additionally, the assembly includes a fluid permeable surface layer coupled to the top surface of the core layer and a fluid dispersal region positioned between the top surface of the core layer and the fluid permeable surface layer. Further, the assembly includes a quilted panel surrounding the core layer and the fluid permeable surface layer, and the quilted panel includes a plurality of fire retardant layers made from fiber material. |
| US09888780B2 |
Holder apparatus for detachable coupling to fold down tray table
A holder apparatus includes a platform having a primary aperture sized to supportingly receive a drinking cup partially extending therethrough; a supporting hook having an opening sized and shaped to receive an edge of a fold down tray table therein, the supporting hook which at least in use is physically coupled to the platform to support the platform from the fold down tray table while the fold down tray table is in an upright configuration; a device retention hook sized and shaped to receive an edge of a portable electronic device; and a bias member that physically couples the device retention hook to at least one of the platform or the supporting hook and which biases the device retention hook toward the platform when the portable electronic device is positioned between the device retention hook and at least one of the platform or the supporting hook. |
| US09888776B2 |
Seating/reclining furniture
A seating/reclining furniture comprising a seat part, a backrest part, and a cantilever support structure. A foot support device is provided which comprises a support frame and a first and a second foot support portion, and the first foot support portion is pivotally mounted on the support frame and can be adjusted between a storage position and a working position. The second foot support portion can be adjusted linearly relative to the first foot support portion between a retracted position and an extended position. The foot support device comprises a working device which causes the first foot support portion to be pivoted relative to the support frame by means of a first fitting and the second foot support portion to be moved relative to the first foot support portion by means of a second fitting independently of a change of the relative position of the backrest and the seat part. |
| US09888769B1 |
Configurable shelf assembly
A shelf assembly is provided. The shelf assembly includes at least one board. Each board has at least on connector on the bottom surface. Legs are configured to mate with the connector during assembly. In addition, the shelf assembly includes a shoe with a magnet in the shoe to position the legs on top of the board using positioning elements disposed on the board. A board and shoe are also provided. |
| US09888768B2 |
Vertical lift system
A vertical lift system provides an ergonomic system for raising and lowering a lift carriage which contains non-slidable and/or slidable shelves. By having interchangeable modular raceways providing electrical, liquid, vacuum, gas and/or data delivery systems, equipment and appliances can be easily connected to these delivery systems without interfering with the up/down movement of the vertical lift carriage. The vertical lift system also includes a height adjustable work surface which can be raised/lowered based on an individual's personal preference. Some of the shelves can be manually extended or electronically controlled. The vertical lift system also allows the monitoring, processing and collecting of data from multiple pieces of equipment. The vertical lift system can connect to local and global networks and systems, such as the Internet or other communication systems or networks, other shared equipment, and can monitor alarm and environment data. |
| US09888766B2 |
Lifting mechanism with support function
A lifting mechanism with support function includes pivot arm component composed of a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm parallel to each other. The first and second pivot arms each have two ends thereof pivotally connected to a fixation joint and an active joint respectively, and the pivotally connected points connecting the first link, the second link, the fixation joint and the active joint jointly define a parallelogram. One end of an adjustable damper pivotally connects to the pivot arm component, and the other end thereof pivotally connects to the fixation joint or the active joint via an adjustment component, so the adjustable damper can be controlled to extend/retract or be locked; the adjustment component includes a first pivot seat capable of relatively moving to change the support angle of the adjustable damper to adjust the damping support force provided from the adjustable damper. |
| US09888763B2 |
Position detection of an oral care implement
An oral care implement (1) comprising: an electrode pair with an impedance formed therebetween when electrified; a frequency generator, electrically connected to the electrode pair, for applying a voltage with at least two different frequencies between the electrode pair; an impedance measurement unit, electrically coupled to the electrode pair, for measuring impedance values between the electrode pair at least at the different frequencies; and a contact determination unit, in communication with the impedance measurement unit, wherein the contact determination unit comprises a memory for storing a function, wherein the function correlates impedance values of a defined oral area at the different frequencies, and wherein the contact determination unit comprises a processor for processing the measured impedance values to the stored function so as to determine contact information of the electrode pair with the defined oral area. |
| US09888762B2 |
Fan brush cosmetic applicator
A cosmetics brush for applying cosmetics. The brush includes a rod, a ferrule formed at the end of the rod, the ferrule defining an insertion groove, and a bundle of fibers inserted in the ferrule. The insertion groove extends from an opening to a closed end and is defined by opposed side walls and opposed front and rear inside walls. The opposed side walls taper toward one another moving from the opening to the closed end. |
| US09888761B2 |
Backpack with suspension arrangement
A backpack includes a pack body, two shoulder straps extended from the pack body for allowing the wearer to wear the pack body at the wearer's back, and a suspension arrangement which includes a resilient unit provided between the pack body and the shoulder straps for absorbing a bounding force of the pack body. Therefore, the resilient unit allows a relative movement of the pack body with respect to each of the shoulder straps but minimizes the relative movement of the pack body by absorbing the bounding force of the pack body. The resilient unit is also arranged for evenly distributing a loading force of the pack body to each of the shoulder straps, such that the resilient unit absorbs the bounding force of the pack body at different directions so as to balance the uneven loading force at the pack body. |
| US09888758B2 |
Nail dryer
An impeller an axis passing through a void and blades extending from the void. A housing: has a planar terminus defined by the housing; is rotatably mounted to the impeller such that, when the housing is positioned with the terminus horizontal and defining the housing bottom, the axis extends vertically and the impeller is above the terminus. The housing has a tubular sidewall: through which the axis extends and in which the impeller is positioned; shaped and dimensioned such that a gap is defined between the sidewall and a notional plane aligned with the terminus to direct air flow ejected from the impeller through the gap. The housing further has a screen occluding the sidewall end distal to the terminus, adapted to allow throughpassage of air and to restrict throughpassage of fingers and such that the screen has a portion that lies in the void. A motor rotates the impeller. |
| US09888757B2 |
Epilator
An attachment for an epilator or an epilator having at least a clamping unit for clamping and plucking hairs that is arranged for driven movement relative to a housing along a hair capture direction is disclosed. The clamping unit has a moveable clamping element having a clamping surface and a hair guiding surface and a fixed clamping element having a clamping surface and a hair guiding surfaced. The moveable clamping element and the fixed clamping element are arranged to be cyclically moveable between an open position in which the two clamping surfaces have a minimal distance such that a gap for receiving hairs is formed between them and a closed position in which the two clamping surfaces abut on each other. The two hair guiding surfaces form a funnel in front of the gap in the open position with respect to the hair capture direction. |
| US09888756B2 |
Item and luggage loss prevention system
Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing item or luggage loss prevention, which, in some cases, is based on weight measurement. In some embodiments, a device with a processor can be placed under a bag's handle, within an interior compartment of the bag, below or in the feet or wheels of the bag, and/or the like. The device can allow a user to lock in a weight of the bag. If any item is subsequently removed from (and not returned to) the bag, the device will notify the user, using one or more of audio notification, visual notification, and/or mobile device notification (e.g., via e-mail, text message, SMS, MMS, chat message, and/or the like) that the weight of the bag has changed. In some cases, location detection devices may be implemented to allow the user to backtrack where the missing item might have been left behind. |
| US09888755B2 |
Luggage
Luggage as well as systems, devices, methodologies, and software for use with such luggage are disclosed. The luggage may include one or more compartments and lids that can be locked. The luggage may also include an identification device for obtaining information identifying a user and a computing device, such as a microcontroller or processor. The computing device may be configured to compare identification information with reference identification information to determine whether a user is authorized to access an interior of the luggage. Based on results of the comparison, the computing device may control a locking mechanism to unlock one or more of lids of the luggage to allow a user access to the interior of the luggage. The luggage may also include a GPS transceiver for tracking the luggage, a sensor for weighing the luggage, or a coupling mechanism to couple the luggage to another piece of luggage. |
| US09888752B2 |
Luggage item, a luggage item system, a luggage item adaptor
A luggage item, a luggage item system and a luggage item adaptor are provided. The luggage item is for use in luggage system comprising a luggage trolley and another luggage item. The luggage item comprises a first side, a second side, a first coupling element and a second coupling element. The second side is opposite the first side and is separated by flanks from the first side. The first side and the second side have an area larger than the areas of the flanks. The first coupling element is arranged at the first side. The second coupling element is arranged at the second side for engaging with a first coupling element of the other luggage item to releasably attach the other luggage item to the luggage item and for engaging with a trolley coupling element of the luggage trolley to releasably attach the luggage item to the luggage trolley. |
| US09888749B1 |
Accessory
An accessory includes an accessory frame body having a pair of bearing recesses positioned at a prescribed spacing, and a decorative member held in a swingable state across the region between the bearing recesses of the accessory frame body, the decorative member extending in the horizontal direction after curving upward at a prescribed location, and having formed at the extended ends, protruding to both sides, swinging arm sections with downwardly-pointing pivoting support shafts, the pivoting support shafts of the swinging arm sections engaging with the bearing recesses formed in the accessory frame body, thereby attaching the decorative member to the accessory frame body in a freely swingable state. |
| US09888748B2 |
Zip fastener
A zip includes: a pair of stringer tapes, each of which supports a row of teeth; the teeth on the two tapes being mutually opposing and capable of interdigitation thereby to fasten one stringer tape to another; a slider, adapted to move along and whose motion is guided by the rows of teeth, the slider being adapted to cause interdigitation of the teeth as a result of motion along the teeth in a first direction, and to disconnect the teeth by motion along the teeth in a second direction; wherein the first and second stringer tapes are formed of a matrix of threads interspersed with a waterproof material. |
| US09888744B2 |
Slip resistant shoelace
The present invention is for a slip resistant shoelace comprising a shoelace tube and one or more friction inducing features such as a plurality of beads placed inside the shoelace tube. The plurality of beads of the shoelace interlock with each other while in a knot and thus resist slipping of the knot in the slip resistant shoe lace. The interlocking occurs as one or more beads of the plurality of beads of one section of the slip resistant shoelace fit in space available between two consecutive beads of the plurality of beads of another section of the slip resistant shoelace which are passing over each other in the knot. The interlocking prevents the shoelace from getting loosened and untied inadvertently. The slip resistant shoelace can be tied and untied in the traditional manner. |
| US09888742B2 |
Article of footwear with knitted component having plurality of graduated projections
An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper defines a cavity that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper is at least partially defined by a textile. The textile includes a first area that is substantially smooth. The first area defines a reference boundary that conforms to the cavity. The textile includes a second area. The second area includes a plurality of projection structures that project away from the reference boundary and outwardly from the cavity at varying heights. The second area includes a plurality of recess structures that recess away from the reference boundary and inwardly toward the cavity. The plurality of projection structures and the plurality of recess structures are in an alternating arrangement across the textile. |
| US09888739B2 |
Thermal footwear
An article and system for regulating temperature in footwear. Thermal footwear may include a power generation layer, a thermocell layer, and an accessory layer. The power generation layer may be constructed of an actuator material—for example, a dielectric elastomer—which may generate an electric current when compressed or decompressed. The thermocell layer may be configured to either warm or cool a user's foot, and may be reversible by being removably coupled to the power generation layer. The accessory layer may include other components; for example, an integrated circuit chip for power transmission to an external device may be included. |
| US09888731B2 |
Aquatic sport performance garment with arms-up construction and method of making same
An aquatic sport performance garment configured to improve a user's performance, enhance a user's speed and ease with which the wearer moves through water, provide better control of body temperature in diverse environments and reduce overall fatigue while wearing the garment. A garment having an upper-torso portion, a free-floating, sealing collar and sleeves biased in an arms-up configuration. |
| US09888722B2 |
Electronic cigarette and atomizing assembly and atomizing element thereof
An atomizing element for an electronic cigarette is provided, which includes: a porous body comprising an atomizing surface and a liquid absorbing surface; and a porous heating film formed on the atomizing surface. An electronic cigarette and an atomizing assembly including the same are also provided. |
| US09888721B2 |
E-cigarette with segregated cartridge for selective disbursement of liquid solution flavors
An e-cigarette provides enables selective disbursement of multiple liquid solutions having different flavors into an atomizing chamber for vaporization with a single atomizer. A cartridge containing the liquid solutions segregates the various flavored liquid solutions into multiple compartments through a rotatable barrier. Each compartment is in communication with a cartridge opening and a chamber opening. A rotatable plate attaches to the rotatable barrier. The rotatable plate includes a plate opening and a plate plug. The plate plug intervenes between the cartridge opening and the chamber opening of a first compartment to restrict passage of a liquid solution from the first compartment. Simultaneously, the plate opening enables passage of a different liquid solution through the cartridge opening and the chamber opening from a second compartment. Thus, the rotatable plate regulates passage of the desired liquid solution from a compartment to an atomizer for vaporizing the desired flavor of liquid solution. |
| US09888720B2 |
Cartridge for electronic cigarette
The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for an electronic cigarette. The cartridge includes a cartridge body defining a smoke channel for smoke flowing therethrough and a reservoir chamber surrounding the smoke channel for storing liquid solution, the reservoir chamber comprising an opening which communicates the interior of the reservoir chamber with the exterior of the reservoir chamber; and a sealing member secured to the cartridge body, the sealing member comprising a first sealing portion for sealing the opening. |
| US09888717B2 |
Electronic cigarette case with cigarette lighter
An electronic cigarette case with a cigarette lighter comprises: a case body, a case cover buckled with the case body, the cigarette lighter located in the case body, a battery located in the case body and used for supplying power to the cigarette lighter, and a charger located in the case body and used for charging the battery. Because the cigarette lighter is built in the electronic cigarette case, the problem of inconvenience in smoking is avoided that a smoker leaves a lighter when the smoker has a conventional cigarette, and personalized requirements of the smoker are met to some extent. |
| US09888714B2 |
Electronic hookah simulator and vaporizer
Provided are systems and methods comprising receiving, from an input device, a first signal indicating a desired rate of flow of vapor to each of at least two tubes of an electronic vapor device, receiving, from the input device, a second signal indicating a selection of whether each of the at least two tubes is to receive vapor from a first vaporizable material or a second vaporizable material, and causing the electronic vaporization device to provide vapor to each of the at least two tubes from the respective selected vaporizable materials at the desired rate of flow. |
| US09888712B2 |
Oral pouch products including a liner and tobacco beads
Provided is a pouched, oral tobacco product including a porous membrane having a liner and an inner filling material. The inner filling material includes loose, fibrous tobacco material and tobacco beads formed from tobacco fines and dust which are too small to be included in traditional pouched tobacco products. The tobacco beads are extruded and spheronized. |
| US09888711B2 |
Twin screw rotary head extruder, method of extrusion and random extruded products
An improved rotary head extruder incorporates a twin auger system, in lieu of the typically used single auger, to create random extruded products having a density within the range of about 3.0 to about 6.0 lbs/cu ft. Extrusion using the rotary die system of a rotary head extruder together with the twin auger system allows for a wide variety of fine materials to be successfully introduced into and conveyed within a rotary head extruder to the die assembly, where the materials are cooked to form random extruded products. A transition piece at the downstream end of the augers allows for continuous, uniform flow to the die assembly, where cooking takes place. The extruded products incorporate formulations with various ingredients aside from the typically used corn meal formulations, having different tastes and nutritional benefits while maintaining the desired bulk density, texture, and crunch of random extruded products. |
| US09888709B2 |
Compositions and methods for enhancing neurological development
Compositions and methods useful to enhance neurologic development of a growing animal are disclosed. |
| US09888708B2 |
Systems and methods for producing fermented milk replacer and methods of feeding same to animals
Young animals such as calves may be fed milk replacers containing soy having been preserved through treatment with acid-producing bacteria that reduces a pH of the milk replacer through microbial digestion of sugars present in soy to thereby produce a fermented milk replacer. The milk replacer is edible for at least 48 hours and its digestibility in the young animals is increased due to the microbial digestion of sugars in the soy that are otherwise indigestible in the gut of the young animals. The fermented milk replacers may be ingested by young animals in group settings. In addition, the milk replacers containing soy may be treated with enzymes adapted to hydrolyze complex indigestible carbohydrates within the milk replacer, potassium sorbate or both. Feeding systems incorporating these fermented milk replacers may result in increased gain and increased dry matter intake without negatively affecting animal health. |
| US09888704B2 |
Oil or fat composition and chocolate
A chocolate having good solidification properties, a high mold releasability and a high crystal stabilization rate, said chocolate being obtained by using an oil or fat composition wherein StOSt and POP triglycerides are contained each in a definite amount or more and StLSt, PLP, StStO and PPO triglycerides are contained each in a definite amount or less. As a result, the productivity of the chocolate can be increased. |
| US09888703B2 |
Method for making coffee products containing cannabis ingredients
The present disclosure is directed to methods of making a coffee products containing cannabinoids that are extracted from Cannabis plant. According to one embodiment, the method includes the steps of (a) extracting cannabinoids from Cannabis plant; and (b) admixing the cannabinoids into a coffee product. The disclosed methods produce coffee products that possesses the benefits of both coffee and Cannabis plant. The methods can be used to produce different coffee products including single-serve coffee pods, ground coffee, and espresso. The methods are used to make coffee products with desired and consistent amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). |
| US09888702B2 |
Low-mycotoxin coffee cherry products
A coffee cherry is harvested, preferably in a sub-ripe state, and quick-dried to provide a basis for numerous nutritional products. Such coffee cherries and portions thereof may be particularly characterized by their extremely low concentration of mycotoxins, including various aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxins, and/or vomitoxin (DON, deoxynivalenol). |
| US09888698B1 |
Multifunctional shell-opening utensil
A utensil to open a shell of a shellfish, including a first end including a shell breaking tool, a second end including a fork, and a handle to connect the first end to the second end, such that at least a portion of a bottom surface of the handle includes a sharpened edge. |
| US09888696B2 |
Automated product profiling apparatus and product slicing system using the same
An apparatus for acquiring a profile of a food product for use in subsequent processing of the food product includes a scanning area and one or more product drives for driving a product through the scanning area in a longitudinal direction. First line lasers project one first transverse laser line transversely to the longitudinal direction on the first surface and two first cameras arranged to capture different, overlapping first transverse image portions of the first transverse laser line. A reference laser projects a beam on the first surface that indicates a transverse reference position, and the two first cameras also capture the reference position. A control system uses the transverse reference position to combine the different first transverse image portions captured by the two first cameras to calculate a first profile of the first surface at multiple positions along a length of the first surface as the product is driven through the scanning area. |
| US09888694B2 |
Slow compression stretch packaging
A process and an apparatus for controlling temperature loss and shrinkage of meat after an animal is slaughtered for food. Shrinkage is controlled by compressing the meat during cooling, the compression offsetting a natural tendency of the meat to contract and providing a measure of control over the shaping of the meat. Apparatus for the process includes one or more rigid rings for placement around the meat. Each ring is wrapped with a thread secured rigidly to one side of the ring and secured movably to the other side such as to allow the length of thread on the second side of the rigid ring to form at least one winding around the meat. As the meat cools, the thread shrinks, applying the thermal contraction of the thread along the ring to constrict the winding around and thus longitudinally elongate the meat. |
| US09888683B2 |
Macrostructure forming surfactants useful as spray drift control agents in pesticide spraying applications
The present invention relates to an aqueous agrochemical spray solution containing an agrochemical active and a surfactant. The spray solution comprises a dispersed phase comprising dispersed particles which have an average particle size between 1 to 100 microns and the concentration of said dispersed particles is from about 0.001 to 5 wt %. The aqueous agrochemical spray solution is capable of reducing the volume of the fine droplets in mist whose size is less than 150 microns during spraying by at least 20% compared to the same aqueous spray solution without the presence of the surfactant. The present invention also relates to a method of reducing the spray drift of an aqueous agrochemical spray solution upon spraying with a spraying apparatus. The method includes adding the surfactant to the aqueous agrochemical spray solution in an amount effective to form the dispersed phase. |
| US09888682B2 |
Composition and method for the treatment of plant matter
The herein-disclosed invention is a liquid, humectant composition comprising about 70%-88% distilled water, about 7%-14% food-grade USP propylene glycol, about 5%-10% ethanol, about 4%-8% raw honey, about 0.15%-0.16% Cascade hop oil, about 0.5%-0.7% citric acid, and about 0.06%-0.4% sodium benzoate. The composition should be prepared with USP, food-grade ingredients at room temperature, atmospheric pressure. Super-critical extraction of the Cascade hop oil ingredient is recommended.Once prepared, between 88.8 ml and 600 ml of said composition should be dropped onto a vented humidor disc for absorption; said saturated disc should then be placed with desired plant matter into a sealed plastic baggie, optionally inside a sealed humidor box. Said plant matter should reach an equilibrium humidity between 60% and 75% and should receive lasting preservative and aromatic effects. |
| US09888681B2 |
Assembly for freezing a plurality of conditioning tubes each filled with a predetermined volume of biological substance
An assembly is provided for freezing a plurality of conditioning tubes each filled with a predetermined volume of biological substance, in which each of the tubes is driven in rotation in a flow of cooling agent, the assembly including a cooling enclosure configured in order to be passed through by the flow of cooling agent and a conditioning unit which is removable and placed in the enclosure; the unit is provided with a greater capacity than the plurality of tubes in order to directly receive this plurality of the tubes, the enclosure is fixed and the assembly includes a unit for driving the conditioning unit in rotation, which unit for driving in rotation is provided with a connection interface on which the removable conditioning unit is placed. |
| US09888680B2 |
Functional recovery of human lungs for transplantation
The vasculature of a donor lung is perfused with a lung preserving fluid to preserve its structure. At the same time, a decellularization fluid is perfused through the airways, which strips away donor cells. The decellularized region is then seeded with pulmonary cells of the transplant recipient, which regenerate the lung. The pulmonary cells may be derived from stem cells, and the decellularization can be targeted to reduce the quantity of cells required. |
| US09888677B2 |
Adjustable fly fishing rod system with transversely loadable line guides
A modular fly fishing rod system includes elongated rod blanks configured for mutual end-to-end removable engagement, with adjacent rod blanks having mutually distinct transverse cross-sections to form a rod portion extending from a proximal end having a relatively large transverse cross-section, to a distal end having a relatively small transverse cross-section. The rod blanks include intermediate rod blanks and a tip top rod blank, in which each intermediate rod blank has one or more helical line guides configured to permit the fishing line to be moved transversely into and out of engagement therewith. A handle has a reel seat to support a fishing reel, and a chuck configured to releasably engage any of the rod blanks, wherein the handle may be selectively used with the tip top rod blank alone or with one or more of the intermediate rod blanks engaged therebetween to selectively vary the length of the rod portion. |
| US09888676B2 |
Fishing lure and attractors and methods of manufacture
A blade body component of a fishing lure formed from a material that includes a first side and a second side, wherein a surface relief grating image effect component is positioned on at least one side of the blade body component. In certain embodiments, the blade body component includes a curvature produced by a curving device. The blade body may be part of a quick change blade system that allows the user to quickly and easily remove and replace one or more of the blade body component on a fishing lure by using a combination of a quick change clevis and a clasp. |
| US09888663B2 |
Automated cluster remover
A method comprises receiving a displacement signal generated by a sensor, the displacement signal generated by the sensor in response to detecting movement of a piston from a retracted position in a cylinder toward an extended position in the cylinder. The method further comprises generating, in response to receiving the displacement signal, a valve control signal to be communicated to a valve located on a vacuum line connecting a vacuum source to a vacuum port of the cylinder. The valve control signal causes the valve to move from a first position in which a vacuum pressure is applied to the cylinder via the vacuum port to a second position in which atmospheric pressure is applied to the cylinder via the vacuum port. |
| US09888659B1 |
Soybean cultivar 61040705
A soybean cultivar designated 61040705 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 61040705, to the plants of soybean cultivar 61040705, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 61040705, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 61040705. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 61040705. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 61040705, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 61040705 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09888656B1 |
Maize hybrid X00K393
A novel maize variety designated X00K393 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X00K393 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X00K393 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X00K393, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X00K393. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X00K393. |
| US09888654B1 |
Maize hybrid X08K233
A novel maize variety designated X08K233 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X08K233 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08K233 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08K233, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08K233. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08K233. |
| US09888653B1 |
Maize hybrid X15K726
A novel maize variety designated X15K726 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X15K726 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X15K726 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X15K726, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X15K726. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X15K726. |
| US09888650B1 |
Soybean cultivar S140173
A soybean cultivar designated S140173 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S140173, to the plants of soybean cultivar S140173, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S140173, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S140173. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140173. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140173, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S140173 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09888649B2 |
Sweet corn hybrid SVSK0391 and parents thereof
The invention provides seed and plants of sweet corn hybrid SVSK0391 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of sweet corn hybrid SVSK0391 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a sweet corn plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another sweet corn plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the parts of such plants. |
| US09888644B2 |
Tomato line CHD-A808019
The invention provides seed and plants of tomato line CHD-A808019. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato line CHD-A808019, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants. |
| US09888639B2 |
Soybean cultivar CC1313450
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CC1313450 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CC1313450 and its seed, cells, germplasm, plant parts, and progeny, and methods of using CC1313450 in a breeding program. |
| US09888632B2 |
Powered cutting tool
A cutting tool has a cutting head, a motor and a transmission means drivable by the motor. The cutting head comprises first and second cutting members, wherein the first cutting member is pivotably moveable with respect to the second cutting member. At least the first cutting member is drivable by the transmission means between a first angular position with respect to the second cutting member and a second angular position with respect to the second cutting member, in which a space between the respective cutting blades is closed. The transmission means is a bevel gear on the output shaft of a gearbox which conveys drive power from the motor to the drive gear. The bevel gear directly engages a bevel wheel member connected to the first cutting member and which swivels with the first cutting member about the same swivel point. A controller comprises main, first and second switches which control the motor to move the first cutting member (movable blade). The main switch acts as a main power switch whereas the first ad second switches act as limit switches detecting movement of said movable blade at the limits of its intended motion. The controller exerts automatic control over movement of the first cutting member in response to inputs from the first and second limit switches. |
| US09888630B2 |
Robot positioning with station-keeping
A system including one or more first carriers each configured to carry two or more robotic systems. The system also can include one or more second carriers configured to be coupled to a vehicle that is movable across a surface. Each of the one or more first carriers each can be movably coupled to and carried by one of the one or more second carriers. The system can be configured to automatically hold each of the one or more first carriers in a first carrier position and stationary with respect to the surface for a first time period while the vehicle moves the one or more second carriers in a first direction with respect to the surface, such that at least a portion of each of the two or more robotic systems carried by each of the one or more first carriers is carried in a stationary manner with respect to the surface for the first time period by each of the one or more first carriers. Other embodiments are provided. |
| US09888629B2 |
Harvester
A harvester having a frame, an agitating system and a product gathering system. The frame has a central portion configured to receive and pass plants therethrough. The agitating system is positioned within the central portion that has a first side agitating assembly further comprising an axle with an axis of rotation and a plural of axial wands extending axially outwardly therefrom in a spaced apart configuration. The axle has a first end which is both above and outboard of the second end and the axle is angled relative to a vertical plane bisecting the frame body from front to back thereof. The axial wands can be agitated. The product gathering system includes an outer guide wall positioned below the rotary agitator assembly. The outer guide wall is angled relative to a vertical plane bisecting the frame body from front to back thereof. |
| US09888628B2 |
Apparatus and method for harvesting plankton and other biomass from a dead zone
Apparatus and method for harvesting biomass from a dead zone in a body of water includes structure and/or function whereby, preferably, at least one guide float is configured to float below the water surface. At least one support structure is configured to be coupled to the bottom beneath water, and is configured to support a substantially rigid frame within the dead zone. A main funnel is coupled to (i) the at least one guide float and (ii) the substantially rigid frame within the dead zone, and is configured to collect descending biomass and funnel it toward a lower funnel that is coupled to the bottom of the main funnel. A collection canister is disposed adjacent the lower funnel and is configured to store the descending biomass. Hauling structure is coupled to the guide float and is configured to haul the collection canister from the lower funnel to the surface. |
| US09888621B2 |
Blade assembly flange
A flange for securing a rotary blade to a shaft that includes a solid plate with: an axially oriented shaft hole substantially in the center of the plate; two or more additional blade holes for securing a blade to the flange; an embossment around the shaft hole, providing a profile for stopping blade rotation about the blade hole; and a depression on the back face of the plate opposite the embossment, which provides a welding surface to secure the plate to a shaft passing through the shaft hole. Also are assemblages that include a flange, such as a blade assembly system for attaching two or more blades to a shaft, a bladed shaft, an attachable farm implement including a bladed shaft, and a powered machine, which includes a bladed shaft. |
| US09894819B2 |
Suction nozzle for mounting electronic components
A suction nozzle, including a suction assistance section provided within an intake passage and connecting a side downstream of a pin and a side upstream of the pin, is provided. A cross section (the area of a cross section cut in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the intake passage extends) of the intake passage is narrowed by the pin. Air bypasses the pin by flowing through the suction assistance section. |
| US09894818B2 |
Tray feeder and part providing method using the same
Provided are a tray feeder which provides parts to a part mounting device and parts providing method using the same. The tray feeder includes: a magazine which houses at least one tray for accommodating parts; an inserting/extracting member which inserts a tray into the magazine or extracts a tray from the magazine; a buffer member which is positioned above the magazine and supports a standby tray from which parts accommodated therein are to be mounted on a board by a part mounting device; and a feeding member which is positioned above the inserting/extracting member and provides a tray supported by the feeding member so that parts accommodated in the supported tray are adhered by the part mounting device, wherein the inserting/extracting member is elevated or lowered to insert a tray into the magazine or extract a tray from the magazine. |
| US09894817B2 |
Composite electromagnetic-wave-absorbing sheet
A composite electromagnetic-wave-absorbing sheet comprising (a) a first electromagnetic-wave-absorbing film 10a comprising a plastic film 11, and a single- or multi-layer thin metal film formed on at least one surface of the plastic film 12, the thin metal film 12 being provided with large numbers of substantially parallel, intermittent, linear scratches 122 with irregular widths and irregular intervals in plural directions, and (b) a second electromagnetic-wave-absorbing film 20 composed of a resin or a rubber in which magnetic particles or non-magnetic, conductive particles are dispersed. |
| US09894813B2 |
Electric apparatus provided with frame and power supply
An electric apparatus includes a casing, a power supply, a frame, and a fan. The power supply is accommodated in the casing, and includes a power supply board and a power supply component mounted on a mounting surface of the power supply board. The frame is disposed outward of the power supply within the casing. The frame is formed with a through-hole extending therethrough, and has a first part and a second part. The first part is made from a flame retardant resin, and constitutes at least a part of the ambient portion surrounding the through-hole. The at least a part of the ambient portion is positioned at a side the same as the power supply component with respect to the mounting surface. At least a part of the second part is made from a material having flame retardancy lower than that of the flame retardant resin. |
| US09894812B2 |
Inverter case
An inverter case is provided on a transaxle of a vehicle so as to be inclined downward toward a vehicle front side, and the inverter case includes: a refrigerant passage connection portion provided on a front side surface of the inverter case in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the refrigerant passage connection portion having a shaft seal structure; a refrigerant passage member disposed on the front side surface of the inverter case and connected to the refrigerant passage connection portion by the shaft seal structure; and a projecting portion provided on an upper part of the front side surface of the inverter case, the projecting portion being configured such that a front side end of the projecting portion is placed at the vehicle front side relative to a front side end of the refrigerant passage member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. |
| US09894807B2 |
Changeable, airflow venting cover assembly for an electronics rack
An apparatus is provided which includes a changeable cover assembly sized to cover, at least in part, an air outlet side of an electronics rack. The cover assembly, when positioned at the air outlet side of the rack, redirects and vents airflow egressing from the air outlet side. The cover assembly includes a frame and at least one vent cover. The frame has at least one opening through which air egressing from the electronics rack passes, and the vent cover(s) is coupled to the frame and overlies, at least in part, the opening(s) in the frame to facilitate redirecting and venting the air passing through the frame. The at least one vent cover is changeable to change a direction of the vented air. For instance, the vent cover(s) may be reversible, or otherwise adjustable or changeable, to change the direction of vented air egressing from the cover assembly. |
| US09894805B2 |
Heat sink and memory module having the same
A heat sink for a memory module includes a thermally conductive base plate configured to be mounted to a module board underneath the base plate, a plurality of radiation fins protruding upwardly from the base plate, and a pocket cover extending upwardly from an opening that is formed in the base plate to be positioned corresponding to a passive device on the module board, and covering the passive device that protrudes through the opening. |
| US09894804B2 |
Electronic control unit and electric power steering apparatus having the same
An electronic control unit includes a board, a high-heat-generating device, a controller, a heat-dissipating member, and a heat-conducting member. The high-heat-generating device is mounted on a surface of the board. The heat-dissipating member has a surface located facing the surface of the board. The surface of the heat-dissipating member is recessed to form a recess capable of holding the high-heat-generating device. The heat-conducting member is located between the board and the heat-dissipating member and in contact with both the high-heat-generating device and the recess to transfer the heat of the high-heat-generating device to the heat-dissipating member. The recess is shaped to match a shape of the high-heat-generating device. |
| US09894796B1 |
Slam latch
A slam latch includes a retaining screw that is held in position by a distal upper support that constrains a distal portion of the retaining screw from moving upward, a middle lower support that constrains a middle portion of the retaining screw from moving downward, and a proximal upper support that constrains a proximal portion of the retaining screw from moving upward. The slam latch further comprises one or more L-shaped retaining members on the side that allow sliding the one or more L-shaped retaining members into a corresponding slot(s) of a device being secured, thereby preventing the slam latch from torquing and bending with respect to the device. |
| US09894793B1 |
Cable management bracket
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a device for managing cables within a rack. The device may include a first planar surface and a second planar surface connected by a bend line, wherein the first and second planar surfaces form a cable bracket body. The cable bracket body may include a plurality of cable tie-down points. Further, the cable management device may include an attachment clamp which corresponds to respective mount points located on vertically aligned horizontal rails of a rack. The attachment clamp may be configured to securely attach the cable management bracket onto the mount points of vertically aligned horizontal rails. |
| US09894792B2 |
Display panel, electronic device including the same, and bonding method thereof
A display panel includes a display configured to display an image by receiving a drive signal, and a pad region including first and second pads groups configured to receive the drive signal from an external and to provide the received drive signal to the display, wherein the first pad group includes a plurality of first pads extending along a plurality of first imaginary lines, wherein the second pad group includes a plurality of second pads extending along a plurality of second imaginary lines, and wherein the plurality of first imaginary lines converges into a first point and the plurality of second imaginary lines converges into a second point, the first point and the second point are located at different positions. |
| US09894789B1 |
Structured fabrics for electronic devices
Electronic equipment may include structured fabric. Structured fabric may be used as a protective case or cosmetic cover for an electronic device, may be used to form a band that holds an electronic device against a user's body, or may be used to cover one or more openings in an electronic device. Structured fabrics may be soft and pliable while maintaining the ability to hold a given shape without added support. Structured fabric may be formed by laminating fabric such as warp-knit fabric with a stiffener such as polymer film. Structured fabrics may include openings through which signals such as optical or audio signals pass. To maintain the geometry and shape of the openings in the structured fabric without covering the openings, the stiffener and adhesive that are attached to the fabric may be cut to form a pattern of openings that align with the openings in the fabric. |
| US09894787B2 |
Systems and methods for coupling sections of an electronic device
This is directed to systems and methods for coupling sections of an electronic device together. Sections of an electronic device can be coupled together via “knuckles.” The particular shape and structure of the knuckles can be based on various design considerations. For example, in some embodiments each section can function as an individual antenna. In this case, the knuckles can be designed in order to provide electrical isolation between the sections, thus allowing proper operation of the antennas. For example, the knuckles can be formed from a dielectric material, etc. As another design example, the knuckles can be designed in order to provide increased strength in areas of high strain, and/or to counteract torsional twisting in areas of high impact. As yet another design example, the knuckle can be designed in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing or which otherwise meets cosmetic requirements. |
| US09894780B2 |
Method of manufacturing resin multilayer substrate
A method of manufacturing a resin multilayer substrate with a cavity, includes stacking insulation substrates including thermoplastic resins and thermocompression-bonding the insulation substrates. At least one of the insulation substrates is formed by affixing a peelable carrier film to one main surface of the insulation substrate, making a cut in the insulation substrate having the carrier film affixed thereto, the cut being designed to form the cavity, penetrating the insulation substrate in a thickness direction and not penetrating the carrier film in a thickness direction, and removing the carrier film and a portion of the insulation substrate that is cut out by the cut. |
| US09894777B2 |
ACF sticking method and ACF sticking apparatus
An Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF) is stuck to a substrate by: under-receiving the substrate on which a film-shaped component is mounted by a under-receiving section, increasing an interval between a sticking head and the under-receiving section in the under-receiving step; transporting a tape member in which a base tape is bonded to the ACF and causing a sticking surface of the ACF to face the substrate, pressing the ACF together with the base tape on the substrate and sticking the ACF to the substrate, peeling the ACF sticking to the substrate from the base tape by moving a peeling member in a horizontal direction by causing the peeling member to be interposed between the ACF and the base tape, and regulating an upward warpage deformation of the component during peeling the ACF from the base tape by moving the peeling member. |
| US09894776B2 |
System for refurbishing or remanufacturing an electronic device
An approach to refurbishing or remanufacturing an electronic device may involve exposing electrical components that are situated within an interior of the electronic device. The approach may also involve replacing one or more defective electronic components of the electronic device with one or more replacement components and applying a protective coating to at least a portion of the interior of the electronic device. The protective coating may cover the circuit board and the electronic components it carries. The protective coating may also cover at least some of the electrical connections of the electronic device. The protective coating may also be applied to the replacement component prior to reassembly. The resulting refurbished or remanufactured electronic device may thus be provided with moisture resistance to help protect the electronic device from damage caused by exposure to moisture. |
| US09894775B2 |
Method of manufacturing substrate and method of manufacturing electronic device
There is provided a method of manufacturing a substrate, the method including: polishing a surface of a material substrate; and forming a penalization film on the surface of the material substrate alter the polishing of the surface of the material substrate. |
| US09894771B2 |
Occam process for components having variations in part dimensions
An Occam process (solderless manufacturing) that employs a component support fixture that provides permanent or temporary support for components during subsequent processing in a solderless process for electrically connecting the components to circuits. The component support fixture provides oversized compartments for housing the components which may have varying sizes. The compartments are provided with vent holes or apertures for venting air or excess glue as the component support is pressed against the components during manufacture. |
| US09894769B2 |
Board and cable connection board
A board includes: a signal layer; a first layer and a second layer disposed so as to interpose the signal layer; a connector shell portion embedded on a first surface side of the board; a first solder joint portion that brings the connector shell portion and the first layer to be electrically conductive with each other; a contact portion disposed in a state where a center axis line of the contact portion coincides with a center axis line of the connector shell portion and the contact portion is electrically conductive with the signal layer; and an insulating portion disposed around the contact portion. |
| US09894761B2 |
Prepreg, metal-clad laminated plate and printed wiring board
A prepreg includes a resin composition including: (A) at least one of an epoxy resin having a naphthalene skeleton and a phenolic hardener having a naphthalene skeleton; (B) a polymer having at least the structures of formulae (2) and (3) among formulae (1), (2) and (3) and having a weight-average molecular weight of from 200,000 to 850,000 inclusive; and (C) an inorganic filler: wherein x:y:z (molar fraction)=0:0.95:0.05 to 0.2:0.6:0.2 (where x+y+z≦1, 0≦x≦0.2, 0.6≦y≦0.95, 0.05≦z≦0.2); R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R2 includes at least one of a glycidyl group and an epoxidized alkyl group among a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a glycidyl group and an epoxidized alkyl group in formula (2); and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R4 represents Ph (phenyl group), —COOCH2Ph or —COO(CH2)2Ph in formula (3). |
| US09894757B2 |
Extremely stretchable electronics
In embodiments, the present invention may attach at least two isolated electronic components to an elastomeric substrate, and arrange an electrical interconnection between the components in a boustrophedonic pattern interconnecting the two isolated electronic components with the electrical interconnection. The elastomeric substrate may then be stretched such that the components separate relative to one another, where the electrical interconnection maintains substantially identical electrical performance characteristics during stretching, and where the stretching may extend the separation distance between the electrical components to many times that of the unstretched distance. |
| US09894753B2 |
Wireless communication module and solar photovoltaic system
A wireless communication module includes: a wireless circuit configured to transmit/receive a wireless signal; a first inter-board connector; a first board on which the wireless circuit and the first connector are mounted; a signal processing circuit configured to process the wireless signal transmitted/received by the wireless circuit; a second inter-board connector configured to be connected to the first connector; and a second board on which the signal processing circuit and the second connector are mounted. The first board overlaps at least partially with the second board under a condition where the first connector and the second connector are interconnected. |
| US09894750B2 |
Floating connector shield
The disclosure generally relates to shielded transmission lines, electrical systems including the shielded transmission lines, cables using shielded transmission lines, and electrical connectors using shielded transmission lines. In particular, the present disclosure provides transmission lines that include floating shields capable of isolating interference between conductors that can result in reduced crosstalk. |
| US09894748B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a board having a first surface on which a heating element is mounted, a heat sink plate disposed to face the first surface of the board, and a heat pipe disposed between the board and the heat sink plate such that one end of the heat pipe is disposed at a position where the one end is in contact with the heating element, and the other end of the heat pipe is disposed to be in contact with the heat sink plate, wherein the heat sink plate has a stacking structure of a first heat sink plate of which a front surface faces the board, and a second heat sink plate disposed on a rear surface of the heat sink plate, and a through hole is formed at a position on the first heat sink plate. |
| US09894747B2 |
Radio-frequency electrode and cyclotron configured to reduce radiation exposure
Radio-frequency (RF) electrode for a cyclotron. The RF electrode includes a hollowed dee having first and second surfaces that oppose each other and define a gap therebetween. The hollowed dee is configured to be electrically controlled to direct a beam of charged particles through the gap and along an orbit plane of the cyclotron. The orbit plane extends parallel to the first and second surfaces through the gap. The RF electrode also includes a bridge structure that is coupled to and extends away from the hollowed dee. The bridge structure includes a side wall that defines an interior cavity of the bridge structure. The side wall has a particle opening therethrough that coincides with or is proximate to the orbit plane such that the particle opening receives neutral particles from an orbit of the charged particles. |
| US09894746B2 |
Target windows for isotope systems
Target windows for isotope production systems are provided. One target window includes a plurality of foil members in a stacked arrangement. The foil members have sides, and wherein the side of a least one of the foil members engages the side of at least one of the other foil members. Additionally, at least two of the foil members are formed from different materials. |
| US09894744B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light generation apparatus
An extreme ultraviolet light generation apparatus may include: a chamber in which extreme ultraviolet light is generated when a target is irradiated with a laser beam inside the chamber; a target supply part configured to supply the target into the chamber; and a target collector configured to collect the target which is supplied by the target supply part but is not irradiated with the laser beam in a collection container, by receiving the target on a receiving surface having a contact angle of greater than 90 degrees with the target. |
| US09894743B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light generation apparatus
An apparatus for generating extreme ultraviolet light may include: a chamber having an opening through which a laser beam is introduced into the chamber; a reference member on which the chamber is mounted; a target supply unit for supplying a target material to be irradiated by the laser beam to a predetermined region inside the chamber; a laser beam focusing optical system for focusing the laser beam in the predetermined region inside the chamber to turn the target material into plasma; and a collector mirror for collecting the extreme ultraviolet light emitted from the plasma. |
| US09894741B2 |
Intelligent lighting system with predictive maintenance scheduling and method of operation thereof
Alighting system may include: at least one controller which may be configured to: obtain lighting logging data including feature information related to features of the lighting system and obtained from a plurality of feature spaces; determine lighting prediction data which predicts at least one component failure in the lighting system at a future time in accordance with the lighting logging data and include at least one complex feature; model predicted component failures which are predicted to occur at a future time in accordance with the lighting prediction data and maintenance cost; and/or store the predicted component failures model in a memory. |
| US09894740B1 |
Intelligent lighting module for a lighting fixture
A lighting fixture includes an LED light source that outputs light for general illumination in response to a drive signal, and a driver module configured to provide the drive signal in response to an intelligent lighting module (ILM) instruction. An ILM that is separate from the driver module is provided and has a first plurality of sensors, a first communication interface, a second communication interface, and first control circuitry. The control circuitry of the ILM is configured to communicate with at least one remote entity via the first communication interface as well as generate the ILM instruction for the driver module based on sensor data gathered from the first plurality of sensors, remote entities, or a combination thereof. The ILM instruction is provided to the driver module via the second communication interface and used by the driver module to control the drive signal for the LED array. |
| US09894738B2 |
Light-emitting apparatus with near field communication unit, a control method therefor, and a non-transitory recording medium
There is provided a portable light-emitting apparatus including: a near-field wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving a light emission mode to and from another light-emitting apparatus; and a switching unit for starting control of the light-emitting apparatus according to the light emission mode received by the near-field wireless communication unit in response to a switching instruction originating from at least one of an action using the light-emitting apparatus and an action using another light-emitting apparatus. As one example, when a switching instruction is outputted by touching another light-emitting apparatus, it is possible for a plurality of light-emitting apparatuses to successively emit light in the manner of a torch relay. |
| US09894735B2 |
Systems and methods of determining a type and feature set of a light source, and the control thereof
Systems and methods of the disclosed subject matter provide to detect the signature of a light source through either electrical signature on a circuit or external light signatures output by the light source, and a switch can change modes and features to match the capabilities of the connected light source. Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide a light source, a sensor to determine a type of the light source, and a switch, including a processor, to determine a set of operations according to the determined type of light source, and to control the light source to perform a selected operation from the determined set of operations. |
| US09894734B2 |
Stretchable display device and method of manufacturing the same
A stretchable display device includes a display panel made of a stretchable material, a fastening structure fastened to an edge of the display panel, and a fastening fixing part fixed to the fastening structure and integrally connected to the edge of the display panel. |
| US09894733B1 |
Standalone light emitting diode (LED) controller
Embodiments are provided that include a light emitting diode (LED) controller connectable to a matrix of LEDs. A start code is received via at least one input pin, and a selected curve profile is retrieved from a programmable local memory in response to receipt of the start code, wherein the programmable local memory stores a set of curve profiles, each of which is associated with a different start code. A set of coefficients of a polynomial calculator are initialized to a set of values defined in the selected curve profile, wherein the set of values represent a light output curve. A sequence of light intensity values are calculated according to the polynomial calculator, and at least one pulse width modulation (PWM) signal is generated based on the sequence of light intensity values, wherein the at least one PWM signal controls light output of at least one LED. |
| US09894728B2 |
Flash lighting with optimized power-distribution
Flash light-generating methods and systems are provided, which, in one aspect, include: obtaining one or more measurements of existing light on or around an illumination target; ascertaining a desired color attribute(s) for a combined light to be provided on the illumination target, the combined light including the existing light and a flash light to be generated; determining a flash light spectral power distribution of illumination which achieves a combined light spectral power distribution of illumination on the illumination target having the desired color attribute(s), the determining using, in part, the measurement(s) of existing light, and the desired color attribute(s) for the combined light; and generating the flash light with the determined flash light spectral power distribution of illumination to provide the combined light on the illumination target having the combined light spectral power distribution of illumination with the desired color attribute(s). |
| US09894724B2 |
Portable lighting system
An LED lighting system including an LED array including one or more LED lights, a main power supply supplying power to the LED array, and an emergency power source supplying short-term power to the LED array upon detection of a loss of power from the main power supply. The emergency power source consists of a super capacitor array charged by the main power source. |
| US09894722B2 |
Driver with open output protection
Driver with open output protection Starting current for a load driver (200; 300) for driving a load (L) is provided via the load. In a load driver (200; 300) for driving a load (L), an operating current or an operating voltage at a reference point is derived from a power voltage bus (105; 305) by coupling said reference point to said power voltage bus via the load. A load driver (200; 300) for driving a load (L) comprises an output capacitor (125; 325) and two output terminals (128, 129; 328, 329) coupled to the output capacitor. A coupling diode (202; 325) is coupled in forward connection from one output terminal to a terminal of the output buffer capacitor. A startup terminal (111) of a converter circuit (110) is coupled to said one output terminal (129; 329) to receive a startup current (Is) via the driven load if the load is present to conduct this current. |
| US09894718B1 |
Constant current source LED driver circuit with self-clamped output
A driver circuit provides current to a light source from a resonant tank having a single inductive element. The driver circuit is coupled to DC power source having a power rail and a ground, and includes a power inverter providing AC input to the tank, which further includes a DC blocking capacitor and a primary winding of the inductive element coupled in series between the output of the inverter and the ground. A leakage inductance of the inductive element provides resonant inductance for the tank. The inductive element further distributes power output from the resonant tank to a plurality of secondary windings coupled to an output rectifier. A resonant capacitor coupled across output ends of the secondary windings provides resonant capacitance for the tank. The output voltages across the secondary windings are clamped to a value based in part on a turns ratio between respective secondary windings. |
| US09894715B2 |
Electric heating device
An electric heating device, particularly for a motor vehicle, is provided that has at least one heating element disposed in a housing, whereby the housing has a housing cover and/or a housing base with at least one opening through which the at least one heating element is disposed protruding at least in sections, whereby a sealing element in which the at least one heating element is disposed is provided in the at least one opening in the housing cover and/or in the housing base. |
| US09894713B2 |
Method of controlling a base station system
A method of controlling a base station system is provided. The method comprises generating and transmitting a control signal arranged to cause a radio equipment controller to control a first radio equipment from a plurality of radio equipment at a first time; and generating and transmitting a control signal arranged to cause the radio equipment controller to control a second radio equipment from the plurality of radio equipment instead of the first radio equipment at a later time; wherein each of the plurality of radio equipment is coupled to a respective antenna having a respective coverage area. Also provided is a controller and a computer program product configured to control a base station system. |
| US09894710B2 |
Method for releasing wireless link resource and user equipment
A method for releasing wireless link resources and a user equipment (UE) are provided in the present document. The method includes the following steps: the UE monitoring a transport layer signaling state in a data communication process; the UE prejudging whether a corresponding condition for releasing wireless link resources is satisfied according to the detected transport layer signaling state (102); and when the condition for releasing the wireless links is satisfied, the UE sending a message used for releasing the wireless link resources (103). With the method for releasing the wireless link resources and the UE of the embodiments of the present document, the power saving effect of the UE can be improved. |
| US09894708B2 |
Coordination of Wi-Fi P2P and LTE data traffic
For LTE cellular data and Wi-Fi P2P technology coexistence scenario, a user equipment can generate in-device coexistence (IDC) indication message to the base station for DRX-based IDC solution. LTE data scheduling is described by a set of DRX parameters, while Wi-Fi P2P data scheduling is described by Opportunistic Power Saving (OppoPS) and Notification of Absence (NoA) parameters. When generating the IDC indication message for Wi-Fi P2P group client (GC), the DRX parameters must be selected carefully to maximize efficiency. Even though Wi-Fi shares less time, with proper time alignment, its coexistence performance could be better. For Wi-Fi P2P group owner (GO) with IDC TDM scheduling constraints, OppoPS and NoA should be aligned with DRX parameters to achieve best performance. |
| US09894702B2 |
Performing primary cell functions in a secondary cell
Technology for maintaining connectivity between a user equipment (UE) and a secondary (e)NodeB when connectivity is lost between the UE and a primary (e)NodeB is disclosed. The UE can start a first timer for monitoring a connection between the UE and the primary (e)NodeB. The UE can start a second timer for monitoring a connection between the UE and the secondary (e)NodeB. The UE can detect radio link failure (RLF) between the UE and the primary (e)NodeB after expiry of the first timer at the UE. The UE can maintain the connection with the secondary (e)NodeB while the second timer is unexpired, wherein the secondary (e)NodeB is configured to behave like the primary (e)NodeB or become the primary (e)NodeB depending on a capability of the UE and for a selected period of time after the connectivity between the UE and the primary (e)NodeB is lost. |
| US09894701B2 |
Inter-node coordination for managing a modem processing pipeline
Various aspects of the disclosure provide for apparatus, methods, and software, for enabling inter-node coordination between scheduling entities and subordinate entities for managing a modem processing pipeline. Pipelining is a proven technique for improving the utilization of hardware processing blocks without substantially increasing chip area. Accordingly, various aspects of the present disclosure provide for efficient processing pipelining at the modem of a wireless communication device, with a general aim to reduce communication latency even in a wide bandwidth network. In various examples, modem processing pipeline efficiency may be augmented by utilizing certain coordination signaling between the sender and the receiver of downlink transmissions, to make the sender aware of the receiver and the pipelining enhancement to be undertaken at the receiver. By virtue of this coordination, the best tradeoff for pipeline efficiency may be targeted, while still meeting a generally tight ACK turnaround requirement. |
| US09894700B2 |
Direct routing of communication sessions for mobile IP communication end points
Embodiments of methods and systems for direct routing of communication sessions for mobile IP communication end points are presented. The methods may be implemented in a service provider network. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, on a first service provider network, a request for access to a target communication device, the target communication device being associated with a second service provider network. The method may also include receiving an indicator, from the second service provider network, that the target communication device is roaming on a third service provider network. Additionally, the method may include establishing a peer-to-peer communication link with the target communication device on the third service provider network by a direct peer-to-peer interconnection process. |
| US09894699B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for proximity-based service
Methods, corresponding apparatuses, and non-transitory computer readable mediums for a Proximity-based Service are provided. A method comprises receiving, from at least one user equipment, a resource utilization indication that indicates resources used by at least one user equipment for a ProSe device-to-device discovery procedure. The method also comprises determining, based on the received resource utilization indication, resources for the at least one user equipment to perform a subsequent ProSe device-to-device discovery procedure. The method additionally comprises signaling the determined resource to the at least one user equipment. With the claimed inventions, utilization efficiency of the radio resources may be improved and the complexity and overhead in allocating the resource for ProSe D2D discovery procedure may be lowered. |
| US09894691B1 |
Systems and methods for establishing a communication link between an implantable medical device and an external instrument
Systems and methods are provided for establishing a bi-directional communication link with an implantable medical device. The systems and methods include an implantable medical device (IMD) and an external instrument configured to establish a wireless bi-directional communication link there between over a wireless protocol. The wireless bi-directional communication link is established based on a scanning interval. The external instrument includes one or more processors electrically coupled to a radio frequency (RF) circuit and a memory device. The one or more processors are configured to define the scanning interval based on an advertising schedule received from the IMD. |
| US09894682B2 |
Mobile station, base station, transmitting method and receiving method
A radio communication base station device can efficiently obtain a multiuser diversity gain from frequency scheduling while reducing the amount of a reference signal occupying an uplink. In the device, a grouping section divides a plurality of RBs (Resource Blocks) into a plurality of RB groups. An RB group control unit performs a control to change the correspondence relationship between the RBs and the RB groups with time. When the grouping section divides the RBs into the RB groups, the RB control unit performs a control to change a combination of the RBs included in each of the RB groups with time. A scheduling section performs a scheduling of allocating each of a plurality of mobile stations to each of the RBs in each of the RB groups according to the reception quality of the reference signal. |
| US09894674B2 |
Method and apparatus for system level solution for different service co-existence
An apparatus and method for implementing a system solution for co-existence between a first service and a second service including accepting a first service selection for a first wireless system on a mobile terminal; performing a data transport using the first service selection on the mobile terminal; accepting a second service selection for a second wireless system on the mobile terminal; implementing a suspension of the data transport using the first service selection on the mobile terminal; and redirecting the data transport using a different wireless system. |
| US09894672B2 |
Method and access network device for interference coordination
The present invention discloses a method and access network device for interference coordination, said method comprises: getting time-frequency resource of cell, and dividing said time-frequency resource into multiple resource subsets; grouping users to be scheduled in the cell into multiple user groups according to AOA, the amount of said user groups is equal to the amount of said resource subsets, different user groups have different resource subset selection priority orders; allocating time-frequency resource of the resource subsets to users, which are in neighboring cells and have the same direction, according to said resource subset selection priority orders of the user groups. The present invention could reduce inter-cell co-frequency interference and improve channel quality. |
| US09894666B2 |
Base station apparatus for communicating with a mobile base station
A base station apparatus is provided, by which a new base station (cell) can be surely added in a neighboring-cell list even when a maximum value is set for the number of base stations (cells) capable being registered in the neighboring-cell list. The base station apparatus is installed in a base station communicating with a mobile station in a mobile communication network. The base station apparatus comprises memory means of memorizing a list of peripheral base stations located at a periphery of the own base station, list-update means of adding a new peripheral base station in the list when finding the peripheral base station, and delete means of deleting at least one peripheral base station registered at an early timing in the list when the number of peripheral base stations registered in the list reaches to a predetermined maximum value that is set in advance. |
| US09894665B2 |
Soft access point backend data connection speed within a Wi-Fi beacon
Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. A station (STA) may be in the coverage area of a number of access points (APs). The STA may select an AP based on signal strength for each available AP. However, using only signal strength for selecting an AP may be insufficient, such as if an AP is a soft AP and may be connected to a number of different networks. As such an AP may transmit network information to the STA. The STA may request the network information through a probe request. The network information may be transmitted to the STA as a beacon or a probe response. The STA may use the network information in addition to the signal strength when determining an AP to select. An AP may transmit network information if a change in network conditions is detected. |
| US09894664B2 |
Uplink scheduling when using interference suppression
A radio base station and a method therein for scheduling an uplink radio resource to a first user equipment in a wireless communication system which employs CDMA are provided. The method includes measuring an Interference Suppression (IS) gain for each user equipment in a set of user equipments currently being served by the radio base station. The method further includes determining a user constellation pertaining to information regarding the different user equipments in the set of user equipments and their respective bitrates, and updating a table of IS gains with the measured IS gain in bins corresponding to the determined user constellation. The method further includes predicting a load based on at least the updated table, and scheduling the uplink radio resource to the first user equipment at least partly based on the predicted load. |
| US09894662B2 |
Method and device for maintaining the performance quality of a communication system in the presence of narrow band interference
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for detecting power levels of signals of a group of signals that lie within a wideband channel, wherein the detecting of the power levels is according to an analysis order for the group of channels, determining an adaptive threshold based on power levels of at least some of the signals, and detecting interference associated with a channel of the group of channels based on the adaptive threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09894659B1 |
Assigning physical-layer cell identities to base stations
A method includes receiving a transmission power, a distance from a source base station, and physical cell identifications (PCIs) under mod3 and mod30. The method includes determining a mod3 cost associated with allocating the PCI to the source base station based on the transmit power and the distance of the corresponding neighboring base station, and determining an overall mod3 cost as a summation of the mod3 costs of the neighboring base stations having the same PCI under mod3. The method also includes determining a mod30 cost associated with allocating the PCI to the source base based on the transmit power and the distance of the corresponding neighboring base station, and determining an overall mod30 cost as a summation of the mod30 costs of the neighboring base stations having the same PCI under mod30. The method further includes allocating the PCI having the minimum overall cost to the base station. |
| US09894658B2 |
Joint pattern beam sectorization method and apparatuses performing the same
Provided is a joint pattern beam sectorization method and apparatuses for performing the same, wherein the joint pattern beam sectorization method including generating, in a service target region, a pattern sector corresponding to an antenna array including antennas having an identical radiation pattern by using the antenna array and generating pattern beam sectors in the pattern sector through a beamforming using the antennas. |
| US09894657B2 |
Communication control device, communication control method, communication device, communication method, and communication system
Provided is a communication control device including a communication unit configured to make communication with one or more secondary communication nodes operating a secondary system using at least one of a frequency channel allocated to a primary system and a frequency channel adjacent to the frequency channel, a determination unit configured to determine an upper limit number of secondary systems or secondary communication nodes to be allocated with transmission power, and a power allocation unit configured to allocate transmission power to each secondary system or each secondary communication node in each secondary system based on the determined upper limit number and the acceptable interference amount of the primary system. |
| US09894655B2 |
Adaptive uplink/downlink timeslot assignment in a hybrid wireless time division multiple access/code division multiple access communication system
A wireless network device may receive a first list indicating a first assignment for uplink and downlink time intervals in a time division duplex (TDD) frame and determine at least first downlink time intervals based on the first list. The device may receive a second list indicating a second assignment for uplink and downlink time intervals in a TDD frame and determine at least first uplink time intervals based on the second list. The device may determine at least second downlink time intervals and second uplink time intervals based on a third list, wherein the third list indicates a third assignment for uplink and downlink time intervals in a TDD frame, and wherein the second downlink time intervals include downlink time intervals of at least the first downlink time intervals and the second uplink time intervals include uplink time intervals of at least the first uplink time intervals. |
| US09894654B2 |
Defining sub-subchannels for data communication using separately provided frequency and time resources and related wireless terminals and network nodes
Methods may be provided to operate a network node of a radio access network. Such methods may include transmitting first control information to a wireless terminal, and the first control information may define a frequency resource available for data communication with the wireless terminal over a subframe. After transmitting the first control information, second control information may be transmitted to the wireless terminal. The second control information may define a time resource for a sub-subframe of the subframe. Communication of data may be provided between the network node and the wireless terminal during the sub-subframe of the subframe defined by the frequency resource of the first control information and the time resource of the second control information. Related network nodes and wireless terminals are also discussed. |
| US09894652B2 |
Method and apparatus for channel access in wireless LAN system
A method and apparatus for performing channel access in a WLAN system are disclosed. A method for managing a network allocation vector (NAV) by a station (STA) in a wireless LAN (WLAN) system includes: receiving a Contention Free (CF)-END frame including a duration field; if the CF-END frame is a first-type CF-END frame, resetting the NAV; and if the CF-END frame is a second-type CF-END frame, determining whether to reset the NAV according to a comparison result between a value of the duration field and a NAV value of the STA. |
| US09894651B2 |
Methods and apparatus for resource allocation for D2D communications
A user equipment, apparatus, and method are provided for wireless communication in a hybrid communication network. A method includes transmitting, by a first user equipment (UE), a scheduling request to a first eNodeB (eNB). The scheduling request indicates that the UE is capable of device-to-device (D2D) communications. The method includes receiving, by the first UE, a first scheduling assignment (SA) from the first eNB. The first SA indicates resources to be used by the first UE for device-to-device (D2D) communications with the first eNB. The method includes communicating, by the first UE, with the first eNB according to the first SA. |
| US09894647B2 |
Downlink coverage enhancements
Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for enhancing downlink coverage for certain user equipments (UEs) (e.g., low cost, low data rate UEs). Certain types of UEs may have limited coverage or should receive enhanced coverage relative to other types of UEs. For example, some types of low cost UEs may have only a single receive chain, thereby limiting DL coverage, while other types of UEs benefit from multiple receive chains. One example method generally includes identifying a first type of one or more UEs that is to receive enhanced downlink (DL) coverage relative to a second type of UEs and utilizing one or more DL coverage enhancement techniques when communicating with the first type of UEs, the one or more DL coverage enhancement techniques designed to adjust at least for reduced DL processing gain of the first type of UEs relative to the second type of UEs. |
| US09894646B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving downlink control information for repeater
A method is provided for a base station to transmit downlink control information to a relay through a Relay-Physical Downlink Control Channel (R-PDCCH). The base station transmits one or more candidate positions for the R-PDCCH. The base station further determines, based on the one or more candidate positions, a Virtual Resource Block (VRB) set for the R-PDCCH. Moreover, the base station transmits the downlink control information to the relay through the R-PDCCH. The one or more candidate positions are within the VRB set including at least one VRB, and a candidate position for the R-PDCCH of a higher aggregation level includes a combination of 2 adjacent candidate positions among candidate positions for the R-PDCCH of a lower aggregation level. |
| US09894645B2 |
Method for transmitting control information and base station, and method for receiving control information and user equipment
According to one aspect of the present invention, antennas or antenna nodes spaced away from each other by a predetermined distance or more are configured to be able to transmit control information of mutually different user equipment groups, thereby increasing the efficiency in the operation of control channels. In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, a resource region for transmitting control information for an improved user equipment, which is a target of a multi-node cooperative transmission, is set differently from a resource region for transmitting control information for a legacy user equipment, thereby increasing the efficiency in the transmission of the control information for the improved user equipment. |
| US09894644B2 |
Method for transreceiving downlink control information and apparatus for same
A terminal receives downlink control information through downlink control channels repeatedly allocated by a plurality of subframes. To this end, the terminal receives configuration information related to the plurality of subframes through higher layer signaling. The terminal receives the downlink control channels repeatedly allocated by the plurality of subframes and combines the received downlink control channels based on the configuration information. |
| US09894638B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. A receiver receives a broadcast signal including mobile service data and main service data. A known data detector detects known data from the broadcast signal. An equalizer performs channel equalization on the mobile service data received by means of the detected known data. An RS frame decoder acquires an RS frame from the channel-equalized mobile service data. A management processor extracts a Generic Stream Encapsulation (GSE) packet from a GSE Base Band (BB) constructing one row of the RS frame, and calculates an IP datagram from the extracted GSE packet. A presentation processor displays broadcast data using data contained in the calculated IP datagram. |
| US09894634B2 |
Methods for enhancing positioning measurements with multi-antenna transmission schemes
A method in a wireless device may support positioning with different antenna transmission schemes. An antenna transmission scheme used by at least one cell on whose radio signals the wireless device performs a positioning measurement may be determined. A measurement procedure may be adapted to compensate for potential measurement error associated with the antenna transmission scheme. Related methods in positioning servers and radio network nodes are also discussed. |
| US09894630B2 |
ADSS enabled global roaming system
Described here is a wireless network management system and methods that may include the use of Authorized Device Specific SSIDs (ADSSs), Access Point Managers, Registries, and Wireless Enabled Devices (WEDs) for providing a roaming service. Systems described here may include access points which may establish connections with WEDs using suitable SSIDs and credentials, where WEDs may attempt to connect to access points broadcasting suitable SSIDs automatically when in range. Access point hardware of use in systems described in the present disclosure may be able to broadcast multiple SSIDs, publicly or hidden, and may form one or more virtual access points (VAPs) perceivable by WEDs in range of the access point. Multi-region access point systems described here include a registry used to store information about services associated with WEDs, and are able to return the information to Access Points in multiple regions to provide service to the WEDs. |
| US09894629B2 |
Telematics terminal, control method thereof, data center, control method thereof, and data service system
A data center includes a modem unit communicating with a telematics terminal, and a controller i) controlling the modem unit such that a service search instruction is transmitted to the telematics terminal to search for a service provided by a vehicle, ii) controlling the modem unit such that information about whether the service is to be provided is received from the telematics terminal, iii) requesting that the telematics terminal register the service when the service is to be provided, and iv) receiving the service from the telematics terminal when the request is accepted. |
| US09894626B2 |
Secondary synchronization signals for a synchronization channel
Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. The method may include determining, at a wireless device, a logical identifier (ID) as a pseudo-random function of a physical device ID of the wireless device and a synchronization channel index, where the synchronization channel index corresponds to an instance of a periodically repeating synchronization channel in a radio frame. The wireless device may be a base station in a serving cell, such that the synchronization channel may be to synchronize a downlink to communicate with a user equipment (UE) operating in a narrow-band cellular internet of things. The method may also include generating a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) for each instance of the periodically repeating synchronization channel in the frame based at least in part on the logical ID and the corresponding synchronization channel index, and transmitting the frame from the wireless device. |
| US09894622B2 |
Wireless communication terminal device and power allocation method
Provided are a wireless communication terminal device and a power allocation method, wherein transmission channel quality information, regarding a Pcell having a high probability that UCI is multiplied therein, can be accurately estimated by an SRS having high priority in power allocation, and an eNB can instruct appropriate transmission power to an UL channel which transmits the subsequent UCI. A power scaling detection unit detects whether or not a total transmission power value of the UL channels transmitted by the plurality of CC exceeds the maximum transmission power specific to the UE. When a plurality of SRS are simultaneously transmitted using a Pcell and a Scell, and power scaling occurs, a power scaling control unit performs power allocation so that transmission power of the SRS of the Pcell has the higher priority than that of the SRS of the Scell. |
| US09894620B2 |
Transmission power control of user equipment communicating with low power base station and high power base station
There is provided improved interference control of uplink transmissions, when user equipment is communicating with at least two base stations in a communications network. A threshold is defined for a difference of the determined allowed transmission power to an allowed transmission power for the user equipment to a second base station of the at least two base stations. It is determined whether the determined allowed transmission power to the first base station meets the defined threshold. Transmission rate of relative power control commands from at least one of the base stations is changed, when the threshold is met. |
| US09894615B2 |
Power efficient communications
A method, system, and device provide power-efficient communications within the context of available power. Transmission and receipt data rates are scalable in accordance with output power available from a power source. Data is transmitted at a data rate determined, at least in part, by the available output power. |
| US09894612B1 |
Reducing power consumption in a remote unit of a wireless distribution system (WDS) for intermodulation product suppression
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to reducing power consumption in a remote unit of a wireless distribution system (WDS) for intermodulation product suppression. Intermodulation products generated by a power amplifier circuit can leak from a downlink signal path into an uplink signal path to degrade sensitivity of the uplink signal path in a remote unit. In this regard, the remote unit is configured to measure a power of the leaked intermodulation products and enables a selected number of power amplifiers in the power amplifier circuit for reducing the measured power of the leaked intermodulation products to a predetermined threshold. By enabling only the selected number of power amplifiers based on the measured power of the leaked intermodulation products, it is possible to avoid enabling an excessive number of power amplifiers in the power amplifier circuit, thus helping to reduce power consumption for intermodulation product suppression. |
| US09894608B2 |
Multicast/broadcast service continuity in multi-carrier networks
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe devices, methods, computer-readable media and systems configurations for management and/or support of multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) service in a wireless communications network. An evolved Node B (eNB) may transmit MBMS assistance information to a user equipment (UE). The MBMS assistance information may identify a carrier by which one or more upcoming MBMS services are to be provided and an indicator of a carrier selection mode to be used by the UE. The UE may transmit an MBMS interest indication message including information related to one or more targeted MBMS services which the UE wants to receive. |
| US09894607B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing channel in WLAN system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, disclosed are a method and an apparatus for accessing a channel in a WLAN system. A method for accessing the channel from a station (STA) in the wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a step of transmitting a power save-poll (PS-poll) for channel accessing from a listening interval to an access point, wherein the station operates in a non-traffic indication map (TIM) mode which is not limited by a TIM element that is transmitted from the access point, and wherein the time of transmission of the PS-poll is not limited by the TIM element. |
| US09894604B1 |
Automated wireless access point selection
Approaches enable a device capable of wireless communication, such as a device having a wireless adapter, to automatically select and connect to an available wireless access point (AP) having favorable performance, security, and/or other attributes that may be ascertained through various parameters, despite the wireless AP not being the last-known and/or last-connected-to wireless AP. The wireless-enabled device may determine the wireless AP to connect to in a number of ways, such as by determining all available wireless APs in the vicinity of the device and identifying, ranking and/or scoring the parameters for some or all of the available wireless APs to determine a ranking of the wireless APs. Once a favorable wireless AP is identified, the device may automatically attempt to connect to the wireless AP. If the wireless AP is not available, the device may automatically attempt to connect to the next wireless AP in the ranked list, etc. |
| US09894600B1 |
Providing adaptive network access
A method, system, and medium are provided for adaptively providing network access to mobile devices. The mobile devices have a first interface for a wireless access network and a second interface for a personal area network. The wireless access network connects the mobile devices to a base station, and the personal area network connects the mobile device to other mobile devices that are part of the personal area network. Wireless access conditions are generated by the base station and communicated over the wireless access network to mobile devices that generate network access requests. Additionally, the mobile devices may transmit the wireless access conditions over the personal are network to other mobile devices that are within a predetermined distance. The mobile devices detect that the wireless access conditions in the wireless access network have degraded and adaptively select alternate routes to complete the network access requests. |
| US09894598B2 |
Network override of device volte setting
A method, performed by a device of a wireless access network, includes determining, by the device, that Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) capability is enabled for a network segment of the wireless access network; designating, by the device, the network segment for VoLTE enforcement; adding, by the device, an indication of VoLTE enforcement to a message information block; and transmitting, by the device, the message information block on the network segment. |
| US09894591B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing device-to-device communication-based service for isolated user equipment in mobile communication system
The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates beyond 4th-generation (4G) communication system such as a long term evolution (LTE).A method for providing a device-to-device (D2D) communication-based service for an isolated user equipment (IUE) by a relay user equipment (RUE) in a mobile communication system is provided. The method includes establishing a D2D link with an IUE; and supporting establishment of a relay cellular link for the IUE based on the established D2D link, wherein the RUE is within a service coverage of an enhanced node B (eNB). |
| US09894585B2 |
Base station, and method for sector selection
A method in a base station for handling sector selection is provided. A wireless terminal is connected to a first sector comprised in a combined cell. When a quality of the communication resources in the first sector is below a first threshold, the base station determines that the first sector is no longer the best sector for the wireless terminal. Then the base station sends an order to the wireless terminal to initiate a random access procedure in the combined cell. The base station then selects a second sector in the combined cell based on measurements of signal strength of random access preambles received from the wireless terminal in each respective sector in the combined cell. The random access preambles are received from the wireless terminal in the initiated random access procedure. The second sector is selected for the wireless terminal to communicate in. |
| US09894582B2 |
Congestion control implementation method and apparatus
The embodiments of the present invention provide a congestion control implementation method and apparatus, where the method includes: determining one or more user equipments for which single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC) offloading needs to be performed; sending an SRVCC offload message to an E-UTRAN NodeB serving the one or more user equipments, so that when triggering an SRVCC handover procedure, the E-UTRAN NodeB switches the one or more user equipments from a Long Term Evolution (LTE) domain to a circuit switched (CS) domain. When the SRVCC handover procedure is completed, the one or more user equipments can be switched from VoLTE user equipments to VoCS user equipments. In this way, LTE cell load can be alleviated and QoS of the one or more user equipments can be guaranteed. |
| US09894571B2 |
Enhanced mobility robustness optimization
Methods, apparatus and computer program products are disclosed for enhancing mobility robustness optimization in self optimizing networks. Neighbor relation information indicating relations between a handover source cell and candidate handover target cell(s), each including a first counter indicating events of an unsuccessful handover of a user equipment from the handover source cell to one candidate handover target cell, and a second counter indicating events of connection re-establishment attempt of the user equipment to the candidate handover target cell after an unsuccessful handover to another cell. A first candidate handover target cell to which handover of the user equipment was unsuccessful and a second candidate handover target cell to which the user equipment has re-established a connection, out of the candidate handover target cells, are determined. The first counter and/or the second counter of the neighbor relation information concerning the determined first and second candidate handover target cells is updated. |
| US09894569B2 |
Method and apparatus for applying assistance information for traffic steering in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for applying assistance information for traffic steering between a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) access network and a non-3GPP access network in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) receives assistance information for traffic steering through a dedicated signaling from an eNodeB (eNB), and starts a timer upon entering an idle mode. The UE applies the assistance information received through the dedicated signaling until the timer expires. After the timer expires, the UE applies assistance information received through a broadcast signaling. |
| US09894567B2 |
Handover handling
A system is proposed to provide handover in a mobile telecommunications environment, particularly applicable to 3GPP networks, which does not increase signalling overhead but minimizes user data loss during handover. In the modified system, PDCP SDUs with Sequence numbers are buffered and retransmitted as necessary. At the time of handover, SDUs not received by the user device are forwarded to the target base station for forward transmission to the UE. The handover procedure is designed to minimize packet loss while keeping to a minimum the duplication of packet transmission over the air interface. |
| US09894566B2 |
Mobile communication method and radio base station
A mobile communication method involving performing, at a mobile station UE which establishes a first connection in a first cell, a cell selection process at the time of detecting a failure in the first connection, transmitting, from the mobile station UE to a second cell selected in the cell selection process, a connection re-establishment request signal, determining, at a radio base station that manages the second cell, whether or not to store context information of the mobile station UE in response to the connection re-establishment request signal, acquiring, at the radio base station, the context information of the mobile station UE from a radio base station that manages the first cell, when determining that the context information of the mobile station UE is not stored, and establishing a second connection in the second cell for the mobile station UE, based on the context information of the mobile station UE. |
| US09894564B2 |
Circuit-switched fallback (CSFB) call setup utilizing multiple RF receive chains
In a wireless communication system, a user equipment device (UE) may undertake a circuit-switched fallback (CSFB) process by using or more secondary radio frequency (RF) receive chains to search for candidate circuit-switched (CS) cells, in parallel with using a primary RF receive chain to wait for an extended service request (ESR) response. The UE may send, using a first RF receive chain, an ESR message on a packet-switched (PS) network in response to receiving a CS voice call page on the PS network. The UE may also start an ESR timer upon sending the ESR message, and monitor, using the first RF receive chain, for receipt of an ESR response on the PS network. While monitoring for receipt of the ESR response, the UE may use a second RF receive chain to acquire an initial CS network, and detect whether the ESR timer expires before the ESR response is received. |
| US09894562B2 |
Managing wireless transmission capacity
An apparatus and method for managing wireless transmission capacity, comprising storing, at a server, available wireless transmission capacity obtained from a wireless transmission capacity provider, reserving by the server at least part of said available wireless transmission capacity for a first user, updating said stored information based on said reserved wireless transmission capacity, receiving by the server an indication about wireless transmission capacity need concerning another user, detecting that said wireless transmission capacity need cannot be met, and taking action by the server to increase wireless transmission capacity available for allocation for said another user. |
| US09894559B2 |
Network load estimation and prediction for cellular networks
Various embodiments estimate network load in a wireless communication network. In one embodiment, at least one call detail record associated with a wireless communication network is received. A topology representing the network is analyzed. The topology includes a plurality of nodes each representing a network element within the wireless communication network. The topology also includes a plurality of edges between two or more of the plurality of nodes. Each of the plurality of edges indicates that the two or more plurality of nodes are communicatively coupled to each other within the network. A set of paths is identified between two or more nodes in the plurality of nodes corresponding to a set of call flow information within the at least one call detail record. A state of each network element represented by the two or more nodes in the set of paths is determined based on the call detail record. |
| US09894558B2 |
Lower and upper bounds for flow-control data requests between network nodes
Lower and upper bounds for flow-control data requests between network nodes Methods and devices are shown for a wireless communication network where a user equipment consumes radio resources provided by at least two different network nodes, at least one node being a master node and at least another node being a secondary node. The secondary node determines a desired amount of data to be targeted to the user equipment and then transmits an indication of the desired amount of data to the master node. A master node receives an indication of the desired amount of data targeted to the user equipment and then controls the amount of data transmitted to the user equipment via the secondary node based on that indication. |
| US09894555B2 |
Information processing method for providing an appropriate wireless connection service to a wireless terminal device
Provided is an information processing method including a setting process of, when a service is provided to a first wireless terminal device having a first access right to access a base station related to a first communication service provider via a radio line, setting a second access right to access a base station related to a second communication service provider to the first wireless terminal device, and a service providing process of providing the service to the first wireless terminal device to which the second access right is set through the base station related to the second communication service provider. |
| US09894554B2 |
Packet data network gateway and terminal mobility management system
A packet data network gateway and a UE mobility management system are disclosed. In the packet data network gateway, a context management unit is configured to: when the P-GW is selected as the UE's target P-GW, create a context for the UE and store the UE's context information from S-GW and a source P-GW to which the UE is currently attached; an identity management unit is configured to: assign a location identity including the UE's routing information to the UE. The present invention reselects a P-GW for the UE to attach, thereby eliminating the circuitous routing in the process of the UE connecting and using services, saving transmission bearer resources, reducing transmission delay of data packet, and ensuring that the UE is still reachable after changing the attached P-GW, thus neither the UE nor the peer end is aware of the movement of the UE in the IP level. |
| US09894553B2 |
Evolved node-B, user equipment and methods for mission-critical machine type communication
Embodiments of an Evolved Node-B (eNB) to support Mission-Critical Machine Type Communication (MC-MTC) User Equipments (UEs) are disclosed herein. During a transmission notification (TN) monitoring period, the eNB may monitor for TN signals from MC-MTC UEs. When a presence of TN signals is detected, the eNB may refrain from allocation of dedicated MC-MTC traffic resources to other UEs for transmission during a traffic period. In response to a detection of an absence of TN signals from the first group of MC-MTC UEs during the TN monitoring period, the eNB may allocate the dedicated MC-MTC traffic resources to the other UEs for transmission during the traffic period. Starting times of the traffic period and the TN monitoring period may be spaced apart by a predetermined time difference. In some embodiments, the predetermined time difference for MC-MTC UEs may be not greater than 10 milliseconds. |
| US09894552B2 |
Regulating data communication between a mobile data client and a remote server
Disclosed are methods, circuits, apparatus, systems and functionally associated computer executable code for providing connectivity between a mobile communication device communicatively coupled to an access point of a mobile communication network and a remote server. According to some embodiments, there may be provided a data buffer at or in communicative proximity with the access point and which responds to receipt of data packets from the remote server with a packet receipt acknowledgement emulating a packet receipt acknowledgment of the mobile communication device. |
| US09894548B2 |
Method and poll control entity for controlling a polling procedure
A method and poll control entity (300) for controlling a polling procedure in a radio communication where a data transmitting node (302) transmits data (3:1) to a data receiving node (304) and sends polls to the data receiving node according to a default polling frequency. The polls require the data receiving node to send feedback (3:2) to the data transmitting node indicating whether said data has been received and decoded by the data receiving node or not. The poll control entity detects (3:3a-c) a trigger of the radio communication indicating a deviation of a feedback time which is a time period between a time of sending the poll and a time of receiving the feedback from an expected feedback time range. The poll control entity then adjusts (3:4) the polling frequency based on the detected trigger such that the deviation of the feedback time is reduced, and enforces (3:5) the adjusted polling frequency at the data transmitting node. In this way, the polling frequency can be dynamically and individually adapted to the current situation of traffic load and/or radio conditions which may influence the resulting feedback time in the radio communication, to achieve efficient communication of data and good throughput. |
| US09894540B2 |
Optimisation of a cellular radio network
Self-optimization for a base station within a cellular radio network is provided. The base station has a first communication interface for providing a service to mobile terminals and a second communication interface for communication with other network entities of the cellular radio network. A degradation in performance of the service provided over the first communication interface is detected. A reliability level for the second communication interface is identified and a Self-Organizing Network (SON) algorithm is implemented in dependence on the identified reliability level and in response to the detection of degradation. |
| US09894537B2 |
Autonomous proximity-based standby mode switching remote antenna unit
A broadband wireless mobile communication system for high a speed mobile transportation corridor and methods for operating such a system are disclosed, including a base station and remote antenna units distributed along the corridor and sectors of the respective base station communicating with the base station via radio over fiber. An autonomous sensing remote antenna unit structured is used as one or more of the remote antenna units, which toggles between standby and active modes in response to locally sensed presence of one or both of a mobile transceiver and a vehicle along the corridor. |
| US09894528B2 |
Methods and systems for almost blank subframe (ABS) pattern selection for small cells
Embodiments provide systems and methods for selecting almost-blank sub-frames (ABSs) in wireless networks. ABSs may be utilized as part of enhanced inter-cell interference cancellation (eICIC). In an embodiment, an ABS pattern is selected in a distributed fashion without use of a direct interface between neighboring base stations. Embodiments operate with a hybrid self-organizing network (SON) that includes a centralized self-organizing network (cSON) unit and a distributed self-organizing network (dSON) unit. The cSON may provide the dSON with information about a plurality of ABS patterns, and the dSON may utilize the information received from the cSON to select an ABS pattern from the plurality of ABS patterns. In some embodiments, a base station may select neighboring base stations to perform eICIC based on a reference signal received power (RSRP). |
| US09894527B2 |
Electronic device and control method
An electronic device includes a controller that changes an authentication level that is used to perform unlocking on locking based on a locking function according to a travel state of a user. The controller acquires first biometric information that is acquired by a biometric information acquisition module in association with an unlocking operation, determines an unlocking condition on the basis of the changed authentication level, calculates a matching rate between the first biometric information and second biometric information that is set and registered in advance, and when it is determined that the matching rate satisfies the determined unlocking condition, performs unlocking on the locking. |
| US09894524B2 |
EHF secure communication device
A communication device employs a contactless secure communication interface to transmit and receive data with a computing device using close proximity extremely high frequency (EHF) communication. The communication device and the computing device periodically initiate a discovery operation mode, whereby the devices periodically transmit identifying information about the respective devices and listen for identifying information from the other device. Upon completion of the discovery mode operation, the devices enter a link-training operation mode and exchange capability information about the respective devices. During transport mode operation the communication device employs methods to manage access to data stored on the communication device by encrypting the data using one or a combination of training information or capability information as a basis for generating an encryption key. |
| US09894516B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating IP address in wireless communication network
A method and apparatus allocates an IP address between terminals in a wireless communication network in which terminals directly communicate with each other in a wireless scheme without an AP. The method for allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a wireless terminal capable of performing P2P communication, includes a discovery step of discovering at least one external terminal capable of performing the P2P communication and connecting with the at least one discovered external terminal by the wireless terminal; and a negotiation step of negotiating and determining with the external terminal which external terminals become a group owner and a group client in a P2P group, respectively by the wireless terminal. One of the discovery step and the negotiation step includes transmitting an IP address to be allocated to the group client to the external terminal from the wireless terminal. |
| US09894513B2 |
Determining the operational characteristics and configuration for wireless devices operating in the U-NII band
Embodiments are directed towards collecting information regarding the implementation of dynamic frequency selection and automatic channel selection by one or more wireless communication devices using the U-NII radio band. And to use the collected information to determine if other communication devices are coupled to communicate with each other via a wireless connection or a wired connection, or to modify the automatic channel selection mechanism used by one or more wireless communication devices. |
| US09894512B2 |
Mode-speed switching for exploiting high-speed in BLE-Mesh systems
A BLE-Mesh device includes a controller coupled to a memory and to a transceiver adapted to be coupled to an antenna, wherein the controller implements an applications layer including BLE and Mesh applications, and a BLE stack and a mesh stack. The BLE-Mesh device has a switchable high-speed and low-speed mode and a speed switching algorithm for implementing a method of communications in BLE-mesh network. A broadcast ping is sent to neighborhood devices with a time to live (TTL)=1. A manufacturer's ID is analyzed to identify in a manufacturer's ID field in pongs received to determine a higher-speed capable device or a lower-speed device. A higher-speed data rate is utilized for mesh communications if a percentage of higher-speed capable devices is≧a threshold percentage or a lower-speed data rate is utilized for the mesh communications if the percentage of higher-speed capable devices is |
| US09894511B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for automatic provisioning of external identifiers used for machine type devices in a 3GPP network
In one aspect, the teachings herein propose a procedure provided by an appropriately configured 3GPP Core Network (CN), which allows External Identifiers to be provisioned dynamically by the 3GPP operator or an MTC service provider, using the existing 3GPP M2M architecture. As such, these teachings can be understood as providing for automatic activation, modification, deactivation, etc., of MTC service subscriptions or services, using protocol-based signaling between the involved entities, e.g., between a 3GPP HSS and an MTC Server (a Services Capability Server or SCS) and/or an MTC Bootstrapping Server that provides for MTC subscription activations, modifications, cancellations, etc. |
| US09894510B1 |
Event-based data backup and recovery for mobile devices
A mobile application that allows for backup and restore of user data on a mobile device is provided. The data backup application records a history of all user actions performed with mobile device data. The backup application monitors all of the user actions or applications that affect the mobile device data and reflects it into history, which can be viewed by the user. If the data is affected—it is backed up on a cloud. This works best within a framework of a continuous backup. A user can undo any of his destructive actions and the backup application can restore the affected data from the cloud storage. A history list serves as a filter to user data already located on the cloud. |
| US09894509B2 |
Providing mobile communication service using a dongle device
A system may receive, from a dongle device (“dongle”), a connection request to receive mobile communication service (“service”) associated with a service campaign (“campaign”) for a mobile device: the mobile device being associated with a first service provider (“SP”); the dongle being associated with a second SP and the campaign; the dongle being configured to provide the service from the second SP to the mobile device; and the connection request including a dongle device identifier (“identifier”) associated with the dongle. The system may compare the identifier with stored identifiers associated with the campaign. The system may determine that the identifier is associated with the campaign if the identifier matches one of the stored identifiers and may cause a connection to be established to provide the service to the mobile device via the dongle based on the identifier being associated with the campaign. |
| US09894508B2 |
Macrocell base station and terminal
A macrocell base station includes a storage to store information of a plurality of virtual areas obtained by dividing a macrocell and information of small cells associated with the plurality of virtual areas, and a controller to perform a process of specifying the virtual area where the terminal is located, the specifying using a distance between the macrocell base station and the terminal residing in the macrocell, and a process of generating cell search information for the small cell that is to be transmitted to the terminal, the generating using the small cell information associated with the information of the specified virtual area. |
| US09894505B2 |
Networked media station
Disclosed herein is a networked media station providing a variety of features including a wireless network interface, a wired network interface, a peripheral interface, and a multimedia interface. The wireless network interface(s) allows the device to communicate to serve as a wireless base station or repeater and/or a bridge between a wireless and a wired network. The peripheral interface allows the device to communicate with a variety of peripherals, and, in conjunction with the network interface(s), allows sharing of a peripheral among multiple networked computers. The multimedia interface allows the device to be used with entertainment devices for streaming of multimedia information from a network connected computer to the entertainment device. Control of various aspects of the device is preferably controlled from a network connected computer. |
| US09894499B2 |
Systems and methods for providing instant messaging with verification feature
In an instant messaging device, a selection is received from a user, where the selection specifying a plurality of contacts to participate in an instant messaging session. At least one attribute type corresponding to the at least one intended recipient is retrieved in response to detecting a trigger event relating to a message intended for at least one recipient among the plurality of contacts. A verification operation is retrieved for each of the retrieved at least one attribute type. At least one retrieved verification operations is executed. The message is sent to the at least one intended recipient in response to successful execution of the at least one of the retrieved verification operations. |
| US09894497B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing memo while performing audio communication in mobile terminal
A method of processing a memo while performing communication in a terminal includes: performing the communication; activating a touch memo input mode in response to a predetermined event occurring; displaying a touch memo on a display device in a communication state and performing a communication service, in response to receiving an input of the touch memo; and transmitting the touch memo to a communicating subscriber and maintaining the communication state after a request for transmission of the touch memo is input. |
| US09894495B2 |
Beacon content propagation
Systems and methods for transmitting beacon messages are described. A beacon message is transmitted from a first beacon device and broadcast to an area within a transmission range of the first beacon device. A mobile device receives and stores the message. When the mobile device is out of the range of the first beacon device and within the range of a second beacon device, the message is transmitted to the second beacon device and broadcast by the second beacon device. |
| US09894493B2 |
Telematics provisioning method
A telematics provisioning method is executed by a telematics multimedia system (TMS) center and a telematics unit (TMU), and the TMU is provided in a vehicle to communicate with the TMS center. The method includes executing multicast provisioning; operating a provisioning scheduler to form a provisioning schedule; transmitting a short message service (SMS) from the TMS center to the TMU after the provisioning scheduler operates; identifying whether the TMU executes provisioning based on the provisioning schedule of the SMS; if the TMU does not execute provisioning based on the provisioning schedule of the SMS, reforming, by the TMS center, the provisioning schedule; requesting, by the TMU that receives the SMS from the TMS center, provisioning to the TMS center according to reservation information of the SMS; and executing predetermined provisioning when the TMS center receives the provisioning requested from the TMU. |
| US09894491B2 |
Context-based wireless network link access prioritization system
A vehicle wireless network access system includes a wireless connection switch disposed within a vehicle and configured to, in response to receiving a data transfer request, establish a wireless connection with one of a plurality of network links according to a prioritization of the network links that is based on a speed of the vehicle and an expected path of travel of the vehicle relative to the network links. |
| US09894490B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting indoor context information
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for determining indoor context information relating to a location of a mobile device. Indoor context information may be utilized by a mobile device or a network element to obtain an estimate of a location of the mobile device within an indoor environment. |
| US09894489B2 |
System and method for situational proximity observation alerting privileged recipients
Provided is a system and method for a situational proximity observation by a Mobile data processing System (MS) using one or more automated senses of the MS, for example as directed by a user of the MS, to cause an alert to be delivered to one or more other Mobile data processing Systems (MSs) for notifying those other users of the MSs that they are potentially involved in, or affected by, the sensing carried out by the MS making the observation. Specifically, a Situational Proximity Observation Device Reporter (SPODR) senses or captures its environment within its proximity and a TRaveling Observation Device Recipient (TRODR) can be notified when the SPODR may have sensed or captured data relevant to the TRODR. There is a variety of events and conditions under which the alert is provided, including in accordance with a variety of privileges configured between users. |
| US09894484B1 |
Geohash-related location predictions
Embodiments provide techniques, including systems and methods, for determining an estimated target pickup location for a corresponding transport request at a particular location, such as associated with a particular geohash. A requestor may send a request that is associated with a location that does not reflect the requestor's intent regarding where they would like to be met by the provider (i.e., “picked up”). GPS inaccuracies may cause the request location to inaccurately indicate where the requestor will be; for example, the request location may be inside a building while the requestor is waiting on a curb around a far side of the building. The target pickup location allows for a requestor and a provider to meet more efficiently, reducing delay for the provider and improving the efficiency of the system by preventing provider system resources from being taken from other service areas and decreasing provider downtime upon matching. |
| US09894482B2 |
Wireless device location services
A system for determining location information for a wireless device is described. The system includes a UE, a LE and multiple LMUs. The LE sends, to the LMUs, reception instructions with characteristics of the signal transmission from the UE and each LMU receives, from the LE, the reception instructions. The UE sends a signal transmission. Each LMU receives the transmitted signal from the UE, determines locating information based at least in part of the received signal and sends the locating information to the LE. The LE receives the locating information regarding the transmitted signal and determines a location of the UE based at least in part on the received locating information. Methods, apparatus and computer readable media are also described. |
| US09894481B2 |
Location-transmitting device for determining location of a wireless communication device
In a wireless communication device, an example method of transmitting location data for a location of the wireless communication device includes using a short-range radio communication protocol to receive, without prior interrogation, radio signals from any nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device, detecting the location data in a radio signal from a nearby autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device, wherein the radio signal is the strongest radio signal that includes location data, measuring a received signal level of the radio signal from the autonomously transmitting radio-transmitting device, and transmitting the location data and the received signal level of the radio signal to a third party. |
| US09894478B1 |
Dynamic geo-fence size adjustment
In one embodiment, a method for dynamically adjusting a location based geo-fence based on current or predicted weather is provided. The method includes determining a target number of users to be reached for an area using a geo-fence and receiving an indication of a predicted meteorological event for the area covered by the geo-fence. The method further includes generating a predicted number of users that will trigger the geo-fence based on: a desired location, a current size, and a predicted effect the predicted meteorological event will have on the number users that trigger the geo-fence. The method further includes, responsive to the predicted number of users being below a threshold, increasing the size of the geo-fence such that the predicted number of users at least meets the threshold and sending a notification to a given user of the number of users in response to the given user triggering the geo-fence. |
| US09894471B1 |
Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with power harvesting power sources for processing biometric identified functions
Devices, systems, and method are provided for wireless coded communication (WCC) devices, which are configured for wireless communication with other devices, e.g., over a network. A WCC device is a type of internet of things (IOT) device that can sense data, process data, send data, respond to data requests and exchange data with other WCC device, a network device, a user device, and/or systems over the internet. In some configurations, a WCC device may include a power source that enables usage of low power, e.g., to send data that is sensed, request data and/or communicate data wirelessly. WCC devices maybe function as standalone devices or may be integrated into other devices. In some configurations, a WCC device may include power harvesting circuitry, including power harvesting user controls. A WCC device may be pre-configured or coded to report occurrence of an event, log an event, log state, cause an action, send a message or request data from one or more end nodes. In some configurations, the devices enable communication over a wireless network, which enables access to the Internet and further enables cloud processing on data received or processing for data returned or communicated. |
| US09894467B2 |
Method and apparatus for starting or stopping device-to-device operation in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for starting or stopping a device-to-device (D2D) operation in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) supporting proximity services (ProSe) receives system information which indicates starting or stopping a D2D operation from a network, and starts or stops the D2D operation according to the system information. The system information may include a D2D start/end time which indicates when the D2D operation is started or stopped. |
| US09894464B2 |
Conveyance of application communication patterns from an external application server to a 3rd generation partnership project system
A machine type communication interworking function (MTC-IWF) is configured to receive from a service capability exposure function (SCEF), services capability server (SCS), or a third-party application server (AS), application communication pattern information defined by an MTC application and representing characteristics of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications expected from a user equipment (UE) machine type communication (MTC) device. The MTC-IWF being configured to communicate the information to a mobility management entity (MME) that thereby provides core network (CN) originated assistance to an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network node B (eNB). Disclosed are embodiments for providing the information in the form of Diameter-based messages communicated through Tsp, T5, and other interfaces, or through an application programming interface (API) exposed by the SCEF, SCS, or MTC-IWF. |
| US09894463B2 |
Managing operation of a telematic system
A terminal system may be connected to a communication network and multiple network access devices (NADs). The terminal system may include a computer system and a database. The computer system may read information from the database regarding associations between the NADs and media and applications to be run on the computer system and/or the NADs. Based on the read information the computer system can control access of: a) at least one of the NADs to a media and/or b) at least one of the applications to a media and/or c) at least one of the applications to at least one of the NADs. The information can include provider rules for associations between providers and NADs for providers providing services via the communication network and/or constraints on associations between NADs and applications. |
| US09894462B2 |
Integrated approach for visual dialing
A business can register a finite state machine with a server. This finite state machine can express a tree structure of menus. The registration can cause the finite state machine to be mapped to the business's telephone number on the server. A mobile device can receive user input that manifests the intent to make a telephone call. In response to receiving the user input, the mobile device can determine that the telephone number that the user intends to call is mapped to a business's registered finite state machine on the server. The mobile device can then cause menus of selectable options, indicated in the business's registered finite state machine, to be displayed to the user in an interactive manner instead of placing the telephone call that the user intended to make. |
| US09894456B2 |
Context-based audio tuning
A system and method is provided for selecting an audio tuning profile to apply to audio signals to generate a sound field acoustically optimized at least at one listening position in a listening environment, such as a vehicle passenger compartment. Each audio tuning profile may include a number of audio settings to be applied to an audio signal at one or more audio loudspeaker channels. The audio tuning profile may be selected based on the content or the source of the audio data signals. Thus, audio tuning may be based on the context of the audio. |
| US09894454B2 |
Multi-channel audio capture in an apparatus with changeable microphone configurations
An apparatus comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: provide an audio capture event wherein one or more microphone configurations are configured to provide one or more audio signals based on at least one acoustic signal from at least one acoustic source, at least one of the one or more microphone configurations being defined by a first position of a first microphone configuration on a first portion and a second position of a second microphone configuration on a second portion, the second portion being movable relative to the first portion. |
| US09894453B2 |
Absolute sensitivity of a MEMS microphone with capacitive and piezoelectric electrodes
Microphone systems and methods of determining absolute sensitivities of a MEMS microphone. The microphone system includes a speaker, a MEMS microphone, and a controller. The speaker is configured to generate an acoustic pressure. The MEMS microphone includes a capacitive electrode, a piezoelectric electrode, and a backplate. The capacitive electrode is configured to generate a first capacitive response based on the acoustic pressure and generate a first mechanical pressure based on a capacitive control signal. The piezoelectric electrode is coupled to the capacitive electrode. The piezoelectric electrode is configured to generate a first piezoelectric response signal based on the acoustic pressure and generate a second piezoelectric response signal based on the first mechanical pressure. The controller is configured to generate the capacitive control signal and determine an absolute sensitivity of the capacitive electrode based on the first capacitive response, the first piezoelectric response signal, and the second piezoelectric response signal. |
| US09894451B2 |
Multi-zone media system and method for providing multi-zone media
A multi-zone media system and method for providing multi-zone media. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a system and method that flexibly presents media content (e.g., audio content) to a user as the user moves throughout a premises. |
| US09894448B2 |
Hearing aid comprising a flexible connection member
A hearing aid device configured to be inserted into the ear canal of a hearing aid user. The hearing aid includes a receiver, a hearing instrument body, and a connection member extending between the hearing instrument body and the receiver. The connection member is a permanent part of the hearing aid device and the connection member has a stiffness that allows the receiver to be inserted into the ear canal by moving the hearing instrument body towards the eardrum. The connection member achieves a first stiffness sufficiently large to insert the hearing aid device into the ear canal and achieves a second significantly reduced stiffness which makes the hearing aid device comfortable to wear for the user. |
| US09894446B2 |
Customization of adaptive directionality for hearing aids using a portable device
A hearing assistance system provides a hearing-aid wearer with one or more hearing aids and a portable device allowing for a wearer-driven directionality customization of the one or more hearing aids. The wearer indicates the locations of sound(s) of interest and/or noise source(s) using the portable device. The one or more hearing aids adjust the directionality of sound reception based on these wearer-indicated locations. |
| US09894441B2 |
Method and apparatus for customizing audio signal processing for a user
A method and an apparatus for customizing audio data processing are provided. The method includes receiving audio data through a wireless communication channel from an external device; decoding the received audio data; reducing noise of the decoded audio data; identifying hearing characteristics of a user by testing hearing abilities of the user at a plurality of frequency bands; adjusting a dynamic range of each of the plurality of frequency bands based on the hearing characteristics; processing the noise-reduced audio data based on the adjusted dynamic range of each of the plurality of frequency bands; and outputting the processed audio data. |
| US09894438B2 |
Acoustic processor having low latency
An audio system having low latency includes a digital audio processor as well as sensor inputs coupled to the processor. The sensor inputs may be microphone inputs. The audio processor operates at the same frequency as the sensor inputs, which is typically much higher than an audio signal provided to the audio processor. In some aspects the audio processor operates as a noise cancellation processor and does not include an audio input. |
| US09894437B2 |
Microphone assembly with pulse density modulated signal
The disclosure relates to a microphone assembly comprising a multibit analog-to-digital converter configured to receive, sample, and quantize a microphone signal to generate N-bit digital microphone samples representative of the microphone signal at a first sampling frequency. The microphone assembly also comprises a first digital-to-digital converter configured to receive, quantize, and noise-shape the N-bit digital microphone samples to generate a corresponding M-bit Pulse Density Modulated (PDM) signal, wherein N and M are positive integers, and N>M. The microphone assembly may comprise a SoundWire compliant data interface configured to repeatedly receive samples of the M-bit PDM signal and write bits of the M-bit PDM signal to a SoundWire data frame. |
| US09894435B2 |
Method and arrangement for detecting acoustic and optical information as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for detecting acoustic and optical information as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can in particular be used to generate three-dimensional sound maps. The sound maps can be visualized and provided with information about acoustic sources, sound power and emitter characteristics.For this purpose, it is proposed to use for the detection of acoustic and optical information at least one microphone array and at least one device for detecting optical geometry data, wherein the at least one microphone array and the at least one device for detecting optical geometry data are arranged in a defined positional relationship. Acoustic information emitted from an object and the geometry of the object are detected by moving the at least one microphone array, the at least one device for detecting optical geometry data and the object relative to each other. |
| US09894432B2 |
Modular acoustic horns and horn arrays
A modular horn type loudspeaker and a modular horn array formed of modular loudspeakers. An acoustic horn includes a first acoustic module. The first acoustic module includes a first acoustic driver and a first acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the first acoustic driver. The first acoustic duct has a first opening through which acoustic energy is radiated. The first acoustic duct is characterized by a first centerline. A second acoustic module includes a second acoustic driver and a second acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the acoustic driver. The second acoustic duct has a second opening through which acoustic energy is radiated. The second acoustic duct is characterized by a second centerline. |
| US09894431B2 |
Microphone rubber boot
A multi-sided microphone boot having a front side, a back side, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a bottom side. The front side can have a sound tube extending from at least an internal microphone receiving compartment to an external surface of the front side. The back side can form a microphone opening extending from the internal microphone receiving compartment to at least an external surface of the back side. The first lateral side can include at least one protrusion extending from an external surface of the first lateral side. The second lateral side can include at least one protrusion extending from an external surface of the second lateral side. The protrusions can assist in reducing the contact area and/or the number of contacts between the microphone boot and a microphone receiving compartment within a telecommunication device. |
| US09894426B2 |
Advanced fiber node
Circuitry of a hybrid fiber-coaxial network may comprise a first transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an optical link, a second transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an electrical link, a first processing path, a second processing path, and a switching circuit. In a first configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the first processing path. In a second configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the second processing path. The first transceiver may comprise a passive optical network (PON) transceiver and the second transceiver may comprise a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver. The switching circuit may be configured based on the type of headend to which the circuitry is connected. |
| US09894425B2 |
Wireless sensor reader
A wireless sensor reader is provided to interface with a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor reader transmits an excitation pulse to cause the wireless sensor to generate a ring signal. The wireless sensor reader receives and amplifies the ring signal and sends the signal to a phase-locked loop. A voltage-controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop locks onto the ring signal frequency and generates a count signal at a frequency related to the ring signal frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is placed into a hold mode where the control voltage is maintained constant to allow the count signal frequency to be determined. The reader uses an ambient reading or other information to select a subset of the possible ring signal frequencies, and tunes or adjusts its circuits and algorithms to focus on that subset. |
| US09894417B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
Items of video content offered for viewing on a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a digital TV service provider are each assigned a respective title and hierarchical address corresponding to hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories within which the title for the video content is to be categorized. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. The EPG dynamically adjust its display listings of each level of categories, subcategories, and titles in order to minimize the number of remote control keypresses needed for a viewer to navigate to a title of interest. In one basic form, the EPG display is reordered by listing more frequently visited categories or subcategories first, and other less frequently visited categories or subcategories lower on the listing or out-of-sight on another page of the display. |
| US09894414B2 |
Methods and systems for presenting content to a user based on the movement of the user
Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that selects media content for consumption by a user while the user is moving from one location to another. For example, the media guidance application may present advertisements or recommend content to a user that is contextually relevant to the destination of the user. Additionally or alternatively, the advertisements or recommended content may be selected based on the potential destinations of the user, how quickly a user is traveling, a direction the user is traveling, etc. |
| US09894410B2 |
Integrated satellite-TV broadband wireless system
Systems and methods for combining a satellite broadcast system with a wireless system are described. The system comprises a satellite receive antenna and a wireless system device coupled thereto, the wireless system device comprising a wireless network antenna, a wireless radio system coupled to the antenna, a networking bridge coupled to the radio system, and a coaxial networking bridge for coupling a satellite signal on the satellite broadcast system with a wireless signal on the wireless network, wherein the coaxial network bridge enables a device to receive the satellite signal and the wireless signal. |
| US09894409B2 |
User interface based on device-state information
A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display (such as a cellular telephone) provides a wireless remote control for an entertainment device (such as a consumer-electronic device). Based on device-state information that specifies a current state of the entertainment device (which is determined by an audio/video (A/V) hub that communicates with the entertainment device) and one or more related states of the entertainment device, the A/V hub may generate user-interface information that specifies a user interface that includes one or more virtual command icons. Note that the one or more related states are related to the current state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Then, the A/V hub provides the user interface to the portable electronic device. In this way, the A/V hub device dynamically adapts the user interface. |
| US09894399B2 |
Systems and methods to determine media effectiveness
Example systems and methods to determine media effectiveness are disclosed. An example system includes a synchronizer to time shift first neuro-response data gathered from an audience member exposed to media a first amount to align the first neuro-response data with second neuro-response data simultaneously gathered from the audience member to form aligned data, the first neuro-response data representing a first response to a first sensory component of the media and the second neuro-response data representing a second response to a second sensory component of media. The synchronizer is to time shift the second neuro-response data a second amount. The first amount is based on a first cognitive delay of a brain of the audience member and the second amount is based on a second cognitive delay of the brain. The example system includes an analyzer to determine an effectiveness of the media based on the aligned data. |
| US09894395B2 |
Broadcast synchronization
A first media server delivers content for broadcast via a first media channel, and a second media server delivers media content for broadcast via a second media channel. The first media server operates in a synchronized mode, under control of the second media server during some periods of time, and during other periods of time operates in an independent mode. When operating in the synchronized mode, content delivered by the first and second media servers can be synchronized, so that the timing of spot blocks played on the two servers generally coincides. When the first server operates in the independent mode, the timing of spot blocks and other content broadcast on the first media channel are not synchronized under control of the second media server. |
| US09894394B2 |
Method and system for supporting random access of MPEG data
Provided is a method of supporting a random access of MPEG data, the method including: obtaining at least one access unit including media data coded through processing including an encapsulation and a packetization; generating at least one media processing unit (MPU) by grouping at least one access unit; determining an initialization flag indicating whether the at least one access unit includes all of data required for initialization of a decoding process, in the at least one MPU; and inserting the initialization flag into a header of the at least one MPU. |
| US09894393B2 |
Video encoding for reduced streaming latency
A client device requests a streaming video from a storage device, which encodes the video's frame in communication packets according to an encoding protocol for transmission to the client. The client device decodes the communication packets to obtain frame segments and a frame marking header indicating a boundary of the video frame relative to other video frames in the video. The communication packets may also include other segment headers indicating a relative ordering of corresponding frame segments. The client device determines, based on the frame marking header, whether a sufficient number of communication packets have been received to render a video frame. In response to determining that the sufficient number of communication packets has been received, the client device assembles the video frame from the frame segments corresponding to the video frame and presents at least a portion of the video by rendering the assembled video frame. |
| US09894392B2 |
Distribution device, reproduction device, data structure, distribution method, control program, and recording medium
A distribution server (1) according to the present invention acquires composition information (17) including information specifying each of a plurality of components included in acquired content and information indicating a reproduction mode of the components, and includes a composition information generation unit (15) rewriting a part of the information included in the composition information (17) in a reference format to generate main composition information and to generate sub-composition information including the information referred to with the main composition information and a distribution control unit (16) distributing the main composition information and the sub-composition information generated by the composition information generation unit (15). Thus, the composition information can be distributed with high efficiency without using on-demand distribution. |
| US09894391B2 |
Distribution management apparatus, distribution method, and program
A distribution management apparatus includes a generator configured to generate still-picture data from content data, a converter configured to convert the still-picture data into video data, and a distributer configured to distribute the video data to each of a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal, which are capable of playing back and displaying the video data. When first operation data indicating an operation of zooming into a partial region of the video data being played back and displayed on the first communication terminal is transmitted, the converter generates video data representing a partial region, which depends on display/playback capabilities of the second communication terminal, of the video data being played back and displayed on the first communication terminal, and the distributer distributes the video data representing the partial region generated by the converter to the second communication terminal. |
| US09894386B2 |
Transform method based on block information, and apparatus using said method
Disclosed are a transform method based on block information and an apparatus using the method. An image-decoding method comprises: a step of taking information on a block as an input; and a transform method determination step of determining an inverse transform method for the block on the basis of whether or not the prediction mode of the block is an intra-prediction mode, whether or not the size of the block satisfies a predetermined condition, and whether or not the block is a block for a luminance sample. Accordingly, encoding efficiency can be improved by using an appropriate transform method on the basis of the information on a prediction block and an intra-prediction mode. |
| US09894385B2 |
Video signal processing method and device
The present invention relates to a video signal processing method and device and is capable of acquiring differential depth index information on the basis of a predetermined binarization method, acquiring a differential depth value by using the differential depth index information, acquiring the depth value of a current depth block by using the differential depth value, and decoding the current depth block by using the depth value of the current depth block. The present invention can increase encoding efficiency. |
| US09894378B2 |
Moving picture encoding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, moving picture encoding method, moving picture decoding method, moving picture encoding program, and moving picture decoding program
An object of the present invention is to increase efficiency of information compression in coding and decoding. A moving picture encoding apparatus 10 of the present invention has a motion vector predicting part for performing, based on a temporal relation among adjacent reference frame images 703a, 703b, 703c referred to for detecting motion vectors of adjacent blocks adjacent to a coding target block, a target reference frame image 702 referred to for detecting a motion vector of the target block, and a target frame image 701 being the frame image of the coding target, or based on time information thereof, a correction of scaling the motion vectors 751a, 751b, 751c of the adjacent blocks on the basis of the target reference frame image 702; and a determination of an optimum predicted motion vector based on the motion vectors of the adjacent blocks; and thereby predicting the optimum predicted motion vector after the correction. |
| US09894377B2 |
Method for predicting disparity vector for interlayer video decoding and encoding apparatus and method
An interlayer video decoding method and apparatus and an interlayer video encoding method and apparatus are provided. The decoding method includes: reconstructing, based on encoding information obtained from a bitstream, a first layer image and a first layer depth map; determining whether a disparity vector is predictable using peripheral blocks of a second layer current block; and when the disparity vector is not predictable using the peripheral blocks, determining a disparity vector of the second layer current block using a default disparity vector and the reconstructed first layer depth map. |
| US09894371B2 |
Video decoder memory bandwidth compression
A method, system and computer program for decompressing video data, storing the compressed video data in such a way that random access is possible and the data can be mapped efficiently into existing memory systems and interface protocols. The compression is accomplished via lossless compression using an algorithm optimized for video data. Due to the compressed format, data transmission consumes less bandwidth than using uncompressed data and prevents degradation in the decoded video. |
| US09894368B2 |
Coding of significance maps and transform coefficient blocks
A higher coding efficiency for coding a significance map indicating positions of significant transform coefficients within a transform coefficient block is achieved by the scan order by which the sequentially extracted syntax elements indicating, for associated positions within the transform coefficient block, as to whether at the respective position a significant or insignificant transform coefficient is situated, are sequentially associated to the positions of the transform coefficient block, among the positions of the transform coefficient block depends on the positions of the significant transform coefficients indicated by previously associated syntax elements. Alternatively, the first-type elements may be context-adaptively entropy decoded using contexts which are individually selected for each of the syntax elements dependent on a number of significant transform coefficients in a neighborhood of the respective syntax element, indicated as being significant by any of the preceding syntax elements. |
| US09894360B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and program
An image processing system, method and device for processing an image signal. The image processing system, method and device receive an operating mode signal indicative of a determined operating mode associated with resource efficiency, and control a depth of block division for a block setting process based on the determined operating mode indicated by the operating mode signal. |
| US09894359B2 |
Illumination compensation device, LM prediction device, image decoding device, image coding device
By either subsampling neighbor pixels and deriving an illumination variation parameter, or deriving one normalization shift value of two normalization shift values for normalizing parameters which are used when deriving the illumination variation parameter, with a dependency on the other normalization shift value, an amount of calculation for illumination compensation is reduced. |
| US09894356B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video and method and apparatus for decoding video by considering skip and split order
A method of encoding a video includes: splitting a picture into a maximum coding unit; for the maximum coding unit, determining coding units having a tree structure including coding units of coded depths and determining encoding modes for the coding units of the coded depths by performing encoding based on coding units according to depths, the coding units according to depths obtained by hierarchically splitting the maximum coding unit as a depth deepens; and outputting information about a maximum coding unit size and, for the maximum coding unit, information indicating an order of split information and skip mode information which is selectively determined for the coding units according to depths, information about the encoding modes for the coding units of the coded depths including the split information and the skip mode information which are arranged according to the order, and encoded video data. |
| US09894352B2 |
Moving picture coding method, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding method, moving picture decoding apparatus, and moving picture coding and decoding apparatus
Provided is a moving picture coding method for performing arithmetic coding on a quantization parameter to be used in quantizing a current block that is to be coded and is included in a current picture to be coded, the quantization parameter including a parameter indicating a sign and a parameter indicating an absolute value, the method including: binarizing the parameter indicating the absolute value without requiring information on a maximum value of the absolute value; binarizing the parameter indicating the sign without requiring information on a maximum value of the sign; and performing bypass arithmetic coding, using a fixed probability, sequentially on (i) a latter half of the binarized parameter indicating the absolute value and (ii) the binarized parameter indicating the sign. |
| US09894351B2 |
Assessing packet loss visibility in video
The invention presents a new NR-H method for assessment of packet loss visibility measure for a video sequence, where the measure is indicative of the effect on the perceptual quality of the video. Packet loss can occur as a result of the video being transmitted over an imperfect network. The invention combines dynamic modelling of temporal and spatial properties of the decoded pictures with bitstream information revealing location, extent and propagation of any errors. Analysis is performed on blocks of pixels, and preferably the macroblocks defined in the particular video encoding scheme. Knowledge of the error extent from the bitstream information is used to target spatial analysis around the specific error locations. Perceptual impact is estimated by utilizing spatio-temporal modelling to predict the properties of a missing block, and comparing those predictions with the actual properties of the missing block. |
| US09894349B2 |
3D display method for displaying 3D images and display device
A 3D display method and a display device. The method includes: step a: driving first sub-pixels of odd numbered rows of pixels to display a first left eye image, driving first sub-pixels of even numbered rows of pixels to display a first right eye image, driving second sub-pixels of the odd numbered rows of pixels to display a black image, and driving second sub-pixels of the even numbered rows to display a black image; and step b: driving second sub-pixels of the odd numbered rows of pixels to display a second left eye image, driving second sub-pixels of even numbered rows of pixels to display a second right eye image, driving first sub-pixels of the odd numbered rows of pixels to display a black image, and driving first sub-pixels of the even numbered rows to display a black image. |
| US09894345B2 |
Stereoscopic camera system with multiple configurations
A stereoscopic 3D camera system includes a first camera, which has a first optical axis, and a second camera, which has a second optical axis; a beam splitter; and a mirror. The camera system is arranged to be re-configurable between a first configuration, in which the first optical axis is incident on the beam splitter, and a second configuration, in which the first optical axis is incident on the mirror. |
| US09894342B2 |
Flicker-free remoting support for server-rendered stereoscopic imaging
A system includes a memory, one or more processors, a guest virtual machine, a hypervisor, and a client. The hypervisor receives, from the client, a first notification of stereoscopic capability. The hypervisor sends, to the guest virtual machine, a second notification of stereoscopic capability. The hypervisor receives, from the guest virtual machine, a plurality of frames included in a single composite frame. The hypervisor sends the plurality of frames to the client. The client receives the plurality of frames and identifies each one of the plurality of frames as a part of the single composite frame. The client stores the plurality of frames until each one of the frames included in the single composite frame have been received and identified. The client synchronizes with a display device to present the single composite frame. |
| US09894338B2 |
System for distributing and controlling color reproduction at multiple sites
In a color imaging system, multiple rendering devices are provided at different nodes along a network. Each rendering device has a color measurement instrument for calibrating the color presented by the rendering device. A rendering device may be a printer in which the measuring of color samples on a sheet rendered by the printer is provided by a sensor coupled to a transport mechanism which moves the sensor and sheet relative to each other, where the sensor provides light from the samples to a spectrograph. A rendering device may also be a display having a member supporting a color measuring instrument for receiving light from an area of the screen. The color measuring instruments provide for non-contact measurements of color samples rendered on a display or a sheet, and are self-calibrating by the use of calibration references. |
| US09894336B2 |
Color imaging using a monochromatic digital camera
Monochromatic cameras and methods for using such cameras to obtain a still or video color image of an object or scene. The image sensor of such cameras is clear, without a color filter array. A diffused-dispersed and optionally randomized image of the object or scene obtained at the image sensor is processed directly into a number R |
| US09894335B2 |
Image display device and control method thereof
An image display device includes: an RGB laser diode configured to output laser light; a horizontal scanner configured to reflect the laser light and perform a reciprocating operation in a horizontal direction; a scanning detection unit configured to detect a forward or reverse operation range and a reciprocating operation range in each line in the horizontal direction; a drawing position control unit configured to determine an image display position in each line based on a difference between the detected operation ranges and a reference value; and a laser driver configured to drive the RGB laser diode based on image data at a timing corresponding to the determined image display position. |
| US09894334B2 |
Signal processing circuit, circuit substrate, and projector
An image processing circuit includes a front stage signal processing circuit that performs processing of input data and outputs the data and a rear stage signal processing circuit that performs processing which is to be performed on the data obtained after processing of the input data performed by the front stage signal processing circuit and outputs the data. The image processing circuit is configured to be switchable to one state of a first state that performs processing of the input data using the front stage signal processing circuit, subsequently performs processing of the data using the rear stage signal processing circuit, and outputs the data, a second state that performs processing of the input data using the front stage signal processing circuit and outputs the data, and a third state that performs processing of the input data using the rear stage signal processing circuit and outputs the data. |
| US09894328B2 |
Wireless entrance communication device
A device for communicating including a housing including a camera, a microphone, a speaker, a button, a battery, a sensor, non-volatile memory, a processor, and a wireless communications module, wherein the non-volatile memory stores code operable by the processor for switching the processor from low-power mode to active mode in response to an activation trigger, receiving, from the one of the microphone and the camera, outbound audio and video signals, then sending a signal to a server via the wireless communications module during active mode, the signal including one or more of an alert signal, a signal based on the outbound audio signal, and a signal based on the outbound video signal, receiving from the server an inbound audio signal and outputting a signal based on the inbound audio signal via the speaker, and switching the processor from active mode to low-power mode in response to a deactivation trigger. |
| US09894324B2 |
Method and system for modifying compressive sensing block sizes for video monitoring using distance information
A method and a system for using compression sensing to provide low data rate transmission and low computational complexity to determine anomalies in video data obtained by a video camera or other motion detection device. The video data is divided into varying sized video blocks based on an anticipated size of objects of interest within the video, and based on a distance between a video camera and the objects of interest. Features are extracted from the video data of each block to detect anomalies if a feature vector is outside of an “allowed range.” By utilizing varying sized video blocks, anomalies are more effectively and efficiently detected in the video data. |
| US09894322B1 |
Video conference system, server and terminal equipment
The present invention provides a video conference system. The video conference system includes a plurality of terminal equipment and a server. Each of the terminal equipment estimates and transmits real-time bandwidth and conference requirements to the server. A multipoint control unit of the server includes a multipoint controller and a multipoint processor. The multipoint controller determines, according to the real-time bandwidth and the conference requirements, a transfer rule and an allocation scheme corresponding to each of the terminal equipment. The multipoint processor receives the transfer rule and voice data stream or video data stream from the terminal equipment. The server transmits each of the allocation schemes to the corresponding terminal equipment. When any of the terminal equipment transmits new real-time bandwidth or new conference requirements to the server, the multipoint controller determines the transfer rule and the allocation schemes once again. |
| US09894320B2 |
Information processing apparatus and image processing system
An information processing apparatus for transmitting image data to an information terminal, the information processing apparatus being capable of performing communication with the information terminal via a network is disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine persons from the image data captured by an imaging unit; a speaker estimating unit configured to estimate a speaker among the persons captured in the image data; a measurement unit configured to measure a speech time of the speaker estimated by the speaker estimating unit; an acquisition unit configured to obtain from the image data, based on the speech time measured by the measurement unit, a speaker image including the speaker that continuously speaks for a certain duration; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the speaker image obtained by the acquisition unit to the information terminal. |
| US09894318B1 |
Method for output control of videos from multiple available sources and user terminal using the same
A method for control of video output applied to multiple available video sources, the method being executed by a user terminal having a touch-sensitive display which comprises a plurality of sub-regions for displaying contents from multi-channel video sources. The sub-regions comprise at least a first sub-region and a second sub-region. A touch operation on the touch-sensitive display is detected and includes a sliding operation. Contents of the first sub-region and contents of the second sub-region are exchanged according to start position and end position of the sliding operation. Users are able to control the output layouts of the contents from the multi-channel video sources by operating the user terminal according to individual needs. |
| US09894315B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, image processing apparatus and method, image processing system, and control method for image capturing apparatus
An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor configured to sense an image and output image data; an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the image data; an output unit configured to output the processed image data to an external image processing apparatus; an input unit configured to input first processing information used in image processing performed by the external image processing apparatus on the image data; and a recording unit configured to record the first processing information, second processing information used for converting image data into standard image data, and at least one of the image data processed by the image processing unit and the unprocessed image data, in association with the stated image data. |
| US09894314B2 |
Encoding, distributing and displaying video data containing customized video content versions
Methods and apparatus for distributing video data provide video data containing two or more different versions of video content. The different versions may be optimized for display on different displays and/or for viewing under different ambient conditions. Video data optimized for display on a particular display under particular ambient conditions may be obtained by one or more of selecting one of the versions of video content and combining two or more of the versions of the video content. |
| US09894305B2 |
Backside illumination image sensor, manufacturing method thereof and image-capturing device
An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring. |
| US09894303B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device includes: a first unit pixel cell including a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, a first photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first photoelectric conversion layer generating first signal charge, and a first signal detection circuit connected to the first electrode, the first signal detection circuit detecting the first signal charge; and a voltage supply circuit. The voltage supply circuit supplies a first voltage to the second electrode during a first period when the first unit pixel cell accumulates the first signal charge. The voltage supply circuit supplies a second voltage to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode during a second period other than the first period, the second period including a first moment at which a difference in potential between the first electrode and the second electrode is zero. |
| US09894301B2 |
CMOS image sensors with photogate structures and sensing transistors, operation methods thereof, and image processing systems including the same
ACMOS image sensor includes a pixel array having a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes: a photogate structure configured to be controlled based on a first gate voltage; and a sensing transistor including a charge pocket region formed in a substrate region, the sensing transistor being configured to be controlled based on a second gate voltage. Based on the first gate voltage, the photogate structure is configured to integrate charges generated in response to light incident on the substrate region. The sensing transistor is configured to adjust at least one of a threshold voltage of the sensing transistor and a current flow in the sensing transistor according to charges transferred from the photogate structure to the charge pocket region based on a difference between the first gate voltage and the second gate voltage. |
| US09894300B2 |
Image sensing device for measuring temperature without temperature sensor and method for driving the same
An image sensing device may include a temperature estimation block suitable for generating a temperature code signal based on a temperature table in response to a digital code signal corresponding to a pixel signal, and a calibration block suitable for removing noise reflected in the pixel signal at current temperature in response to the temperature code signal. |
| US09894296B1 |
Image sensor having combined responses from linear and logarithmic pixel circuits
A method of processing an image includes receiving pixel data from a pixel array, the pixel data including a plurality of linear pixel responses from a corresponding plurality of linear pixel circuits of the pixel array and a plurality of logarithmic pixel responses from a corresponding plurality of logarithmic pixel circuits; determining whether a linear or logarithmic pixel response is clipped; calculating a plurality of directionally-interpolated output pixel values for corresponding ones of the plurality of linear pixel circuits and the plurality of logarithmic pixel circuits; in a case where the linear or logarithmic pixel response is clipped, using a corresponding directionally—interpolated output pixel value as an output pixel value; in a case where the linear or logarithmic pixel response is not clipped, using the linear pixel response or the logarithmic pixel response as the output pixel value; and constructing an output image using a plurality of the output pixel values. |
| US09894295B2 |
Imaging device and imaging system
An imaging device includes pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit, a holding unit that holds charge, and an amplifier unit. The pixels include a first group outputting a signal based on charge generated during a first exposure period, and a second group outputting a signal based on charge generated during a second exposure period longer than the first exposure period. The pixel belonging to the second group includes in the second exposure period a first period during which the charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit is accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit, and the charge held by the holding unit is transferred to the amplifier unit, and a second period during which the charge generated during the first period is held in the holding unit, and the charge generated after the first period is held by one of the photoelectric conversion unit and the holding unit. |
| US09894294B2 |
Automatic region of interest function for image sensors
The present invention relates to reading-out sensor array pixels. In particular, the present invention provides an approach according to which only a region of interest with arbitrary geometry may be read out from the sensor array, thus leading to substantial time savings. In order to achieve this, a circuitry is provided for automatic determining of a ROI and reading out the ROI from the sensor array. The circuitry includes a fast reading-out circuitry which is less precise but faster than the accurate reading-out circuitry for reading-out the pixels of the sensor array. The fast reading-out circuitry reads out the pixels with low-level precision and determines by the processing of the fast read-out pixels the ROI which is then provided to an in-pixel ROI programming circuit for storing the ROI identification and by means thereof to the accurate reading-out circuit which then reads out only the pixels determined to belong to the ROI. The accurate read-out circuit is slower than the fast read-out circuit. |
| US09894292B2 |
Infrared detector with increased image resolution and method for use thereof
Apparatus for increasing resolution of cryogenically cooled vacuum-sealed infrared imaging detector. A two-dimensional detector array of photosensitive pixels is successively exposed to an image scene, acquiring multiple imaging samples. A masking filter, disposed between the detector array and image scene focal plane, is maintained at a fixed position with respect to the detector array, and reduces the region of pixels collecting incident radiation for each imaging sample such that only a portion of each pixel area of the image scene is imaged onto the corresponding detector array pixel. Shifting means successively shifts the optical path of the image scene relative to the masking filter, by a shifting increment or fill-factor reduction amount equal to a fraction of the array pixel width, to image different sub-pixel regions in each imaging sample. A processor reconstructs an image frame having a resolution greater than the intrinsic detector resolution by the fill-factor reduction amount. |
| US09894291B2 |
Still image provision device
A moving image acquiring part acquires a moving image. A still image accumulating part stores still images. An image processing part calculates gains obtained by previously storing based on the costs of extraction of still images from a moving image, and extracts some still images with higher gains from among the still images composing the moving image and stores into the still image accumulating part. A request processing part retrieves a still image requested by a request source from the still image accumulating part and transmits to the request source and, when the still image requested by the request source is not stored in the still image accumulating part, extracts the still image requested by the request source from the moving image acquired by the moving image acquiring part and transmits to the request source. |
| US09894287B2 |
Method and apparatus for acquiring a high dynamic image using multiple cameras
The present invention discloses a terminal. The terminal includes: a first camera, a second camera, a processor, the processor is connected to both the first camera and the second camera, the first camera and the second camera are located on a same side of the terminal, the first camera is configured to acquire an image in a first region; the processor is configured to: analyze the image acquired by the first camera, determine, according to an analysis result, exposure used when the second camera acquires an image in a second region; the second camera acquires the image in the second region according to the exposure that is determined by the processor and is used when the second camera acquires the image in the second region; the processor is configured to synthesize the images into a high dynamic image. |
| US09894282B2 |
Zoom related methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for performing zoom in and zoom out operations are described using multiple optical chains in a camera device. At least one optical chain in the camera device includes a moveable light redirection device, said light redirection device being one of a substantially plane mirror or a prism. Different zoom focal length settings correspond to different scene capture areas for the optical chain with the moveable light redirection device. Overlap between scene areas captured by different optical chains increases during zoom in and decreases during zoom out. Images captured by different optical chains are combined and/or cropped to generate a composite image corresponding to a zoom focal length setting. |
| US09894279B2 |
Handheld triaxial holder with a control stick
A handheld triaxial holder with a control stick comprises a handheld part, a fixing device, three motors orthogonally arranged in space, a control stick which is attached to the handheld part and provided with a navigation key of the control stick and a function button. The motor is provided with a slip ring inside its hollow bearing, so that the control line passing through it would not rotate along with it and three motors may freely rotate 360 degrees. The handheld triaxial holder with a control stick has a small size to carry, and is applicable for small shooting equipment. The motors are capable of rotating 360 degrees and facilitate multi-angle shooting. The handheld triaxial holder is provided with a control stick for controlling its rotation movement, and has a good effect on quickly stabilizing shooting equipment during moving shooting. It may also output videos and charge the shooting equipment. |
| US09894278B2 |
Stabilizer applicable for moving shooting
A stabilizer applicable for moving shooting, comprising: an X-axis motor, a Y-axis motor and a Z-axis motor which are orthogonally arranged in space, wherein the X-axis motor controls pitching movement, the Y-axis motor controls rolling movement, and the Z-axis motor controls the movement about yaw axis, wherein a rotating shaft of the Z-axis motor is connected with a stator of the Y-axis motor, and a rotor of the Y-axis motor is connected with a stator of the X-axis motor; and a fixing support arranged on a rotating shaft of the X-axis motor and connected with the rotating shaft of the X-axis motor via a pose estimator, and a Bluetooth module connected with a Z-axis control circuit by serial communication are also provided. The stabilizer is easy to install and may be controlled by a remote or via app, allowing sport fans to shoot during motion. |
| US09894277B2 |
Imaging device, announcing method, and recording medium for indicating whether or not a main subject is only within a first area of an image
An imaging device sets a first area and a second area other than the first area on a captured image; sets a main subject based on the captured image or another image; periodically detects the position of the main subject on the captured image; and performs control depending on a detection result so that it is indicated that the main subject exists only in the first area when the main subject does not exist in the second area, and it is indicated that the main subject does not exist only in the first area when the main subject exists in the second area. |
| US09894276B2 |
System and method for supporting three-dimensional display in first person view (FPV)
System and method can support three-dimensional display. The system can receive a plurality of image frames, which are captured by an imaging device on a movable object. Furthermore, the system can obtain state information of the imaging device on the movable object, and use the state information to configure a pair of image frames based on the plurality of image frames for supporting a three-dimensional first person view (FPV). Additionally, an image frame selected from the plurality of image frames can be used for a first image frame in the pair of image frames. |
| US09894274B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus, methods of controlling the same, and computer-readable storage medium to increase success rates in panoramic photography
Digital photographing apparatus, methods of controlling the same, and computer-readable storage medium to increase success rates in panoramic photography are disclosed. A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus is provided that includes initiating panoramic photography, and providing a capture guide when an image is captured during the panoramic photography. |
| US09894269B2 |
Method and apparatus for background subtraction using focus differences
First and second images are captured at first and second focal lengths, the second focal length being longer than the first focal length. Element sets are defined with a first element of the first image and a corresponding second element of the second image. Element sets are identified as background if the second element thereof is more in-focus than or as in-focus as the first element. Background elements are subtracted from further analysis. Comparisons are based on relative focus, e.g. whether image elements are more or less in-focus. Measurement of absolute focus is not necessary, nor is measurement of absolute focus change; images need not be in-focus. More than two images, multiple element sets, and/or multiple categories and relative focus relationships also may be used. |
| US09894268B2 |
Electronic apparatus and recording control method of electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a first camera and a second camera each configured to be able to image a video, a lens covering the second camera, at least one processor configured to control recordings of the videos captured by the first camera and the second camera, and a display screen configured to display the videos captured by the first camera and the second camera. The at least one processor is configured to detect, on the basis of an image data captured by the second camera, whether at least part of the lens is covered with an obstruction that blocks imaging during the recording of the video captured by the second camera, and control so as to switch the recording of the video captured by the second camera to the recording of the video captured by the first camera in a case where the at least part of the lens is covered with the obstruction. |
| US09894264B2 |
Imaging apparatus with display and image display apparatus
A digital camera is provided with a vertically long camera body having an approximately rectangular solid shape. An LCD panel provided in a rear surface of the camera body is arranged such that longitudinal directions of the display screen and the camera body correspond to each other. The digital camera is operated through a touch panel provided in a lower portion of the display screen. In a taking mode, an image is displayed in a small size on an upper portion of the display screen. In reproducing, the camera body is rotated sideways by 90 degree. In a reproducing mode, display posture of the image is also rotated by 90 degree, and the image is displayed in a large size on the entire display screen. |
| US09894263B2 |
Handheld magnifier camera with variable focus distance
Disclosed is a magnifier for use by blind or low vision users. The magnifier includes a camera, such as a CMOS image sensor, that displays enlarged images upon a screen for easy viewing. The magnifier further includes a handle that is pivotally interconnected to a housing to allow for handheld use in a variety of different configurations. |
| US09894262B2 |
Display control apparatus to enable a user to check a captured image after image processing
There is provided a display control apparatus including: a display control unit configured to cause a display apparatus to display a live preview image generated based on image data obtained through an image sensor, and one or more processed images generated using respective image processing conditions based on one of the image data which has been obtained at some time point; and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a predetermined user operation has been recognized. If it is determined that the predetermined user operation has been recognized, the display control unit updates the one or more processed images to be displayed. |
| US09894261B2 |
Systems and methods for presenting digital video management system information via a user-customizable hierarchical tree interface
Described herein are systems and methods for presenting DVM system information. In overview, a hierarchical tree structure is used to display DVM system elements (such as cameras). The tree structure is defined by a plurality of nodes arranged in hierarchical levels. Each level in the tree structure corresponds to an element characteristic. The nodes for each level correspond to element characteristic values. For example, one level might correspond to “camera status”, and the nodes at that level each define camera status values (e.g. operational or non-operational). A tree customization module allows a user to customize the tree structure by designating element characteristics for levels in the tree structure. |
| US09894257B2 |
Light source module with adjustable diffusion
A light source module includes an array of illumination elements and a light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and in response adjust the amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. A light source module may include a segmented light diffusing material where each segment is associated with an illumination element. And individual segments may have light diffusing properties that are different than other segments of the light diffusing material. Some illumination elements may emit light of a different color spectrum than other illumination elements, and a light diffusing material may scatter the different colored light to illuminate a scene with combinations of light of different colors. A light source module may be embedded in a mobile computing device. |
| US09894256B2 |
Illuminator for an image acquisition system
An illuminator includes: a body with an opening, for receiving optical means; illuminating means arranged around the opening in a frontal face of this body and commandable to illuminate a space in front of the frontal face, electronic control means of the illuminator; heat dissipating means; connecting means for removably fixing the illuminator at least to the optical apparatus. The body of the illuminator includes a rear face opposite the frontal face which includes a plurality of distinct functional case elements positioned around the opening for receiving at least the electronic control means and/or which defines the heat dissipating means and/or the connecting means, in such a manner as to enable an operator, when the optical apparatus is associated with the illuminator, to access the optical means to dismantle the optical means from the apparatus and/or adjust optical adjusting means of the optical means. |
| US09894252B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image pickup apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium for reducing noise of an image obtained by combining parallax images
An image processing apparatus capable of generating a plurality of output images having different focus positions by reconstructing an input image, includes a storage unit storing image pickup condition information, and an image processing unit generating the output image from the input image using the image pickup condition information, and the image processing unit obtains the input image that is information of an object space viewed from a plurality of viewpoints that is obtained via an imaging optical system and an image pickup element having a plurality of pixels, calculates an average pixel value of a pixel group of the input image of the same region, and substitutes each pixel value of the pixel group by the average pixel value, and performs combination such that the pixels substituted by the average pixel value are shifted from each other to generate the output image. |
| US09894235B2 |
Auto document feeder to finisher path
A multifunctional printer comprising a printer section, an auto-document feeder, a scanner section, and a finisher, wherein a finisher path leads from the auto-document feeder into the printer section and converges with a print path into a shared finisher path leading to the finisher, such that documents scanned with the auto-document feeder can be conveyed to the finisher such that it can perform a finishing operation on the documents. |
| US09894232B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a light emitting element, a luminance calculating unit, a light amount setting unit, and a storing unit. The light amount setting unit, in each line period, causes the light emitting element to emit a light with gradually changing a reference light amount from a reference light amount set as a default value from among a plurality of reference light amounts stored in the storing unit, identifies a reference light amount so that the luminance calculated by the luminance calculating unit is within a predetermined range, sets the identified reference light amount as a default value for the next line period, and causes the storing unit to store that reference light amount. |
| US09894224B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for displaying template in image forming apparatus
According to an image forming apparatus of one embodiment, a business-type-based word database classifies and stores words for each business type. A business-type-based template database stores business-type-based templates in which plural icons to respectively invoke plural functions previously set for each business type are grouped. A word extraction unit extracts a word by analyzing character information included in print data. A coincidence number count unit compares the extracted word with the words stored in the business-type-based word database, and counts a coincidence number in a comparison result for each business type. A business type determination unit determines a business type of a user transmitting the print data based on the coincidence number. A template acquisition unit acquires a template relating to the determined business type of the user from the business-type-based template database. A display unit displays the acquired template on a screen. |
| US09894220B2 |
Image display apparatus having image-related information displaying function
A display system has a (1) camera that includes a lens and outputs an image data; (2) a first display that includes a first display screen on which (i) a first image, based on the image data output by the camera, containing a part of a person is displayed and (ii) information indicating a position where the camera has output the image data is displayed; and (3) a second display that includes (i) a receiver which receives the image data transmitted from the camera and (ii) a second display screen that displays a second image based on the image data. The second display can be carried by the person while receiving the image data. |
| US09894214B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling subscriber lines to join DSL vectoring system, and DSL vectoring system
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for enabling subscriber lines to join a DSL vectoring system the DSL vectoring system and can shorten overall joining time of subscriber lines in a DSL system. The method includes grouping subscriber lines into at least two groups according to time when the subscriber lines request to go online, where the at least two groups of subscriber lines that are obtained after the grouping include a first group of subscriber lines and a second group of subscriber lines; starting a joining process for all the subscriber lines in the first group of subscriber lines; and during the joining process of the first group of subscriber lines, putting all the subscriber lines in the second group of subscriber lines into a joining process. |
| US09894213B2 |
Acoustic echo cancellation for audio system with bring your own devices (BYOD)
A controller for the conference session generates a speaker signal for speakers in a conference room. The controller correlates the speaker signal with network timing information and generates speaker timing information. The controller transmits the correlated speaker signal and timing information to a mobile device participating in the conference session. The mobile device generates an echo cancelled microphone signal from a microphone of the mobile device, and transmits the echo cancelled signal back to the controller. The controller also receives array microphone signals associated with an array of microphones at known positions in the room. The controller estimates a relative location of the mobile device within the conference room. The controller dynamically selects as audio output corresponding to the mobile device location either the echo cancelled microphone signal from the mobile device or an echo cancelled array microphone signal associated with the relative location of the mobile device. |
| US09894207B2 |
Stage-wise analysis of text-based interactions
The stages of an interaction between a potential customer (the user) and a sales representative (the agent) during a sales interaction are identified to understand the interaction factors that drive sales and, by doing so, to serve the customer better and thus increase sales. Initially, a user makes contact with an agent via a communications network. During the interaction, a dropping point is reached, i.e. the point in the interaction at which either the user or the agent ends the interaction. The dropping point and other interaction factors is analyzed. Based upon such analysis, various recommendations are made to the agents to improve the user's sales experience. |
| US09894206B2 |
On-topic monitor
Contact centers comprise agents, human and automated, interacting with customers over a network to accomplish an objective for the interaction. While a blunt, factual exchange may appear to be the most expeditious means to accomplish the objective, often this is not the case. Humans often respond better when the interaction comprises a mix of progress (e.g., portions of the interaction directed towards the objective) and banter (e.g., portions of the interaction not directed to the progress). Determining the mix may be provided by analyzing historic interactions and their success. A current interaction may be analyzed and when the mix is outside an acceptable range and an automated agent may be configured to alter the mix accordingly or, when the agent is a human, signal the agent to make the alteration. Success may be continually monitored and the target mix adjusted based on subsequent interactions. |
| US09894204B1 |
Pacing outbound communications that generate inbound communications
Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for pacing outbound communications that generate inbound communications. A number of outbound communications is set to be sent during a first time period and a number of inbound communications expected to be received as a result of sending the outbound communications is determined based on historical data along with a second time period during which the inbound communications are expected to be received. Accordingly, a present capacity is determined during the first time period with respect to one or more resources that are to be used during the second time period to handle the number of inbound communications expected to be received. A determination is made as to whether the present capacity is at an acceptable level and if so, then the outbound communications are sent. |
| US09894201B1 |
Ongoing text analysis to self-regulate network node allocations and contact center adjustments
Contact center agents are often presented work items utilizing voice, video, and text. Text messages are often processed concurrently with other text or non-text messages. In order to avoid over or under utilizing agents, contact centers may determine an initial complexity for a work item and route the work item to an agent having the skills and capacity to accommodate the initial complexity. However, the initial complexity may differ from an observed complexity as the agent processes the work item. Accordingly, systems and methods are provided to monitor ongoing text message complexity and route subsequent work items to agents based on an observed complexity provided, at least in part, by the complexity of text-based work item current being processed, and the agents capacity to process the subsequent work item. |
| US09894196B2 |
Category-based fence
Techniques of category-based fence are described. A category-based fence can correspond to a group of signal sources instead of a point location fixed to latitude and longitude coordinates. The group of signal sources can represent a category of entities, e.g., a particular business chain. The signal sources can be distributed to multiple discrete locations. A category-based fence associated with the group, accordingly, can correspond to multiple locations instead of a single point location and a radius. Each signal source in the group can be associated with a category identifier unique to the group and uniform among signal sources in the group. The category identifier can be programmed into each signal source. A mobile device can enter the category-based fence by entering any of the discrete locations when the mobile device detects the signal identifier. The mobile device can then execute an application program associated with the category-based fence. |
| US09894193B2 |
Electronic device and voice controlling method
A method of controlling an electronic device by voice of user includes establishing a central control tree for the electronic device. User voice is obtained and deciphered and is recognized if content of voice is in accordance with textual commands stored in device. Device may also speak to user offering options that user may vocally select an confirm. Execution of operations to the electronic device is controlled according to the central control tree based upon the recognized voice content. |
| US09894190B2 |
Activating carrier aggregation based on application layer information
A device may identify application layer information for content to be provided to a user device. The device may determine, for the user device, a priority for activating carrier aggregation based on the application layer information. The device may activate carrier aggregation for the user device based on the priority for activating carrier aggregation. The device may provide the content to the user device using carrier aggregation based on activating carrier aggregation for the user device. |
| US09894188B2 |
Packet data restoration for flow-based forwarding element
Some embodiments provide a method for preserving temporary storage values of a packet processed by a managed forwarding element (MFE. While processing a packet at the MFE, the method identifies that the packet is to be recirculated as a new packet for the MFE. A set of packet field values used for processing the packet by the MFE are associated with the packet. The method stores the set of packet field values with an identifier value. The method recirculates the packet with the identifier value attached to the packet. Upon receiving the recirculated packet, the method uses the identifier value to restore the set of packet field values for the recirculated packet. |
| US09894183B2 |
Device and method for controlling remote procedure call
Controlling a remote procedure call from a client computer to a server computer, the client computer extracts a periodic remote procedure call from among a plurality of remote procedure calls from the client computer and extracts a non-periodic remote procedure call from among the plurality of remote procedure calls from the client computer. The client computer identifies a first information associated with the extracted periodic remote procedure call that is an item whose value is determined to represent data targeted by the periodic remote procedure call. The client computer identifies a second information associated with the extracted non-periodic remote procedure call that is a targeted data value of the item, and sets a priority level, used to select for execution the periodic procedure call, based on the first information and the second information. |
| US09894180B2 |
Device, device management apparatus, relay apparatus, and terminal apparatus that are connected with content centric network, and communication method
A device is provided that is connected with a content centric network. The device includes a request reception unit that receives a request packet that requests data that are generated by the device. The device also includes a data transmission unit that transmits the requested data to a CCN network in a case where the data that are requested by the request packet, which is received by the request reception unit, are present in the device. The device further includes a negative acknowledgement unit that transmits a packet that indicates a negative acknowledgement, which includes information about a generation time as a time when the requested data are generated to the CCN network, in a case where the data that are requested by the request packet that is received by the request reception unit are absent in the device. |
| US09894176B2 |
Centralized selection of peers as media data sources in a dispersed peer network
A multi-source peer content distribution system transfers content files from multiple, distributed peer computers to any requesting computer. The content distribution network coordinates file transfers through a mediation system including a content catalog and a host broker system. The content catalog contains an identification of each content file, the segmented subunits of each file, and the peer caches to which the subunits have been distributed. The host broker system receives content file requests issued over a network from requesting computers. In response, manifest files identifying the request corresponding content subunits and distributed cache locations are returned. The requesting computers can then retrieve and assemble the corresponding content subunits from the peer computers to obtain the requested content file. |
| US09894174B2 |
Finding and consuming web subscriptions in a web browser
A content syndication platform, such as a web content syndication platform, manages, organizes and makes available for consumption content that is acquired from the Internet. In at least some embodiments, the platform can acquire and organize web content, and make such content available for consumption by many different types of applications. These applications may or may not necessarily understand the particular syndication format. An application program interface (API) exposes an object model which allows applications and users to easily accomplish many different tasks such as creating, reading, updating, deleting feeds and the like. Further, in at least some embodiments, a user can subscribe to a particular web feed, be provided with a user interface that contains distinct indicia to identify new feeds, and can efficiently consume or read RSS feeds using both an RSS reader and a web browser. |
| US09894169B2 |
System and method for displaying contextual activity streams
A method and system for generating contextual activity streams are provided. The method comprises receiving unstructured data collected by an agent operable on a client node from a plurality of data sources, wherein the collected unstructured data is of a user of the client node; analyzing the collected unstructured data to identify at least one tag in the collected unstructured data; determining a context of the collected unstructured data based in part on the at least one identified tag; creating a contextual activity stream; inserting contextual data items gathered from a plurality of social networks into the created contextual activity stream, wherein the contextual data items are data items shared by connections of the user and have a substantially similar context to the determined context; and causing a display of contextual data items in the contextual activity stream over the client node. |
| US09894167B2 |
Personally attended service notification based on temporal and spatial proximity
A computer system may notify a user about personally attended services satisfying temporal-spatial criteria. The computer system may use a user location and/or information on already scheduled events to determine whether a personally attended service satisfies the temporal-spatial criteria. Travel time may be determined and included when determining whether the personally attended service conflicts with an already scheduled event. The temporal-spatial criteria may also include availability of the personally attended service. A user profile and/or third party information may be used to determine if a user is available and/or would be receptive to a personally attended service. The user profile may be generated from third party information, such as contained in an online social network, and/or learned. The user may be able to reserve the personally attended service through the computer system. |
| US09894164B2 |
Computing system with control mechanism and method of operation thereof
An computing system includes: a communication unit configured to receive a discovery request, including a client presence factor, having a scan pattern for discovering a target device; a control unit, coupled to the communication unit, configured to: determine a target device coordinate based on the discovery request for identifying a client device relative to the target device, determine a device connectivity based on the target device coordinate, the client presence factor, or a combination thereof for establishing a backhaul communication between the client device and the target device, and a user interface, coupled to the control unit, configured to present a device information based on a trust level for displaying the device information of the client device having the device connectivity of connected with the target device. |
| US09894161B2 |
Method and CPE for promoting portal website based on MAC address
A method and CPE for promoting a portal website base on an MAC address are provided. The method includes: after a WAN connection is established successfully, CPE query a pre-established address association table; when a corresponding MAC address terminal in the address association table is connected with the CPE, the CPE set a portal website redirection rule to the IP address of the corresponding MAC address terminal; and when the terminal accesses an external network, the CPE promote the portal website according to the set portal website redirection rule. The present invention can realize the promotion of a portal website at selectable intervals, and improve the promotion frequency and flexibility of the portal website. |
| US09894154B2 |
Data synchronization methods and systems
Aspects described herein are directed towards receiving records from various devices, processing and storing the records, and retrieving records in response to requests for the records. The records may originate from different devices and be stored in a central location. Retrieval of the records may be from the central location in response to requests from independent devices. Additional aspects include using one or more records requesting clients at a device depending on network conditions experienced by the device and adjusting the number of active requesting clients based on network conditions and storage conditions of the device. |
| US09894152B2 |
Consolidation and monitoring of consumed content
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the generation of an interface showing content being consumed by a group of devices. A central device may gather secondary streams of content consumed by each device within the group of devices, and the secondary streams may be used to generate an interface comprising thumbnails showing content consumed by the device associated with the respective thumbnail. Secondary streams of content may be generated at the central device or may be retrieved by the central device from a client device serviced by the central device. |
| US09894146B2 |
Dynamic lighting system
A dynamic lighting system may comprise a base node having a broadcast range, a plurality of lights being operatively associated with a set of basic nodes, and a network brain configured to communicate with the base node and store a node list with the unique identifiers for the set of basic nodes. The set of basic nodes may include local nodes in the broadcast range and remote nodes beyond the broadcast range. The network brain may be configured to send a broadcast message that is communicated to local nodes within the broadcast range and remote nodes beyond the broadcast range. |
| US09894145B2 |
Method and system for filtering movements between virtual environments
In response to a teleport request, teleport destination characteristics are determined and compared against preferences, characteristics and restrictions of an avatar as indicated by metadata or tags to determine if the teleport destination is suitable for teleportation of that avatar. If the destination is found unsuitable, a search is conducted, preferably based on unmatched metadata of the avatar or the destination to suggest or directly substitute a suitable teleportation destination. Metadata for the avatar and the destination can include metadata which is dynamic (such as destination occupancy or processing capacity) adaptively developed or based on current or historical usage and virtual universe system status. |
| US09894144B2 |
Application level mirroring in distributed overlay virtual networks
Systems and methods for managing mirroring communication between virtual network clients in a distributed overlay virtual network are provided. The method comprises utilization of controlled overlay virtualization infrastructure to facilitate communication between mirrored network clients. The system comprises a source mirrored network client hosted on a first physical port, a target mirrored network client hosted on a second physical port, a first overlay termination point, a second overlay termination point and a network controller. For a set of mirrored network clients, a logical mirror virtual network address is reserved. The controller is extended to contain mapping between the logical mirror network address and a set of virtual network addresses of mirrored clients. The network controller translates the logical mirror virtual network address to a set of destination virtual network addresses of mirrored clients and allows the modified packets to be sent to a set of second virtual network clients. |
| US09894142B2 |
Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing a plurality of application services via a customized private network connection
A plurality of application services are provided to subscriber devices in a cloud computing network. A plurality of requests for application services are received from a subscriber device via a customized private network connection assigned to the subscriber device, and the requests for application services are aggregated with requests for application services from other subscriber devices. The requests are transmitted to application servers within the cloud computing network hosting applications for performing the application services. The subscriber device is provided with the requested plurality of application services via the customized private network connection. |
| US09894139B2 |
Asynchronous data protocol
A method of asynchronously transferring a plurality of files between client and host devices is provided. The method includes transmitting to a client device a plurality of identifiers for files and transferring between the host and client devices a data frame that includes an identifier and at least a portion of the corresponding file. Each identifier corresponds to a different one of the files to be transferred. The method also includes repeating the data frame transfers until the plurality of files has been transferred. |
| US09894132B2 |
Data storage method and system of portable terminal
A data storage method and system of the portable terminal for storing data efficiently through a synchronization service are provided. The data storage method of a portable terminal includes determining whether a residual storage space of a data storage region of the portable terminal is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, performing, when the residual storage space is equal to or less than the threshold value, a packet data protocol context activation procedure, determining whether a new data save command is detected, storing, when the new data save command is detected, the new data in the residual storage space, and increasing the residual storage space to be equal to or greater than the threshold value by at least one of deleting synchronization-complete data among synchronization-enabled data stored in the portable terminal and transferring synchronization-incomplete data to a predetermined synchronization service server. |
| US09894130B2 |
Video quality enhancement
Technology for supporting dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (DASH) is disclosed. A quality metric may be determined, at a network device, for each of a plurality of media content segments in a defined representation that are described in a media presentation description (MPD) file. Media content segments may be identified in the defined representation in which the determined quality metric is below a selected threshold. The identified media content segments may be replaced with corresponding media content segments from a different representation that are described in the MPD file to form a modified MPD file, wherein the quality metric for the corresponding media content segments is greater than the selected threshold in order to provide a substantially constant quality playback of the media content segments in the defined representation. |
| US09894129B2 |
Digital living network alliance device for sharing multiple home media content and method therefor
A DLNA device for sharing multiple home media content comprises a display unit, an input unit, a communicator, a controller and a data storage unit. The display unit is configured to display a user interface for implementing at least one individual DLNA service scenario. The input unit is configured to receive a DLNA service scenario selection information including server selection information, content selection information and player selection information through the user interface. The communicator configured to communicate with a DLNA network. The controller is configured to perform the at least one individual DLNA service scenario based on the DLNA service scenario selection information received through the input unit. The data storage unit configured to store scenario selection information, uniform resource identifier (URI) information of a content and playback state information corresponding to each individual DLNA service scenario. |
| US09894124B2 |
Rapid startup with dynamic reservation capabilities for network communication systems
A network communication system may include talkers, listeners, and bridges configured to begin communication of a data stream without first establishing a reservation for the communication. Thereafter, a reservation protocol may be used to confirm the communication, and tear down the communication if the communication is not confirmed or when the communication is complete. |
| US09894119B2 |
Configurable metadata-based automation and content classification architecture for cloud-based collaboration platforms
Scalable architectures, systems, and services are provided herein for generating jobs by applying user-specified metadata rules to metadata events. More specifically, the scalable architecture described herein uses metadata to drive automations and/or polices in a cloud-based environment. In one embodiment, the architecture integrates a metadata service with an event-based automation engine to automatically trigger polices and/or automations based on metadata and/or changes in metadata changes. The metadata service can include customizable and/or pre-build metadata templates which can be used to automatically apply a metadata framework (e.g., particular fields) to files based on, for example, the upload or placement of a particular file in a particular folder. The architecture also provides for advanced metadata searching and data classification. |
| US09894118B2 |
Dynamic profile sharing using expiring tokens
Access to a user profile of a user device at a location may be provided to a destination device upon detecting that the location is within a proximity of a destination location. An expiring token may be generated, associated with the user profile, and communicated to the second device. Access to the user profile provided to the destination device may be terminated upon an expiration of the expiring token. |
| US09894113B2 |
Method and device for suggesting applications
A method for suggesting applications applied by a terminal compatible with its operating system, is disclosed. One aspect of the method includes receiving a link for accessing the downloading of the application and restoring a message suggesting to the user the downloading; The method further includes determining at least one data structure including identifiers; selecting at least one identifier; generating from the identifier a domain name including an indication of the operating system; and sending the domain name to a server capable of providing a corresponding link for accessing the domain name. Lastly, the access link is received in response to said sending step. A system and device for implementing the method are also disclosed. |
| US09894111B2 |
System and method for data transfer between terminals in voice communication under voice over internet protocol (VoIP)
The present invention relates to a system and method for sharing and controlling various contents in a voice call. A contents sharing system includes a soft switch and a contents share server. The soft switch receives a voice call from a VoIP terminal to set establishment and cancellation on a voice call session, receives a contents sharing request call, and transmits the same to the contents share server. The contents share server in cooperation with the soft switch receives the contents request call and processes establishment and cancellation on a data session for contents sharing between the callers. Accordingly, improved calling is provided by sharing various contents between the callers in a voice calling and thereby overcoming the problem of communication only available for voice. |
| US09894110B2 |
Method, and related apparatus for recovering called service of terminal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, a related apparatus, and a system for recovering a called service of a terminal. The method includes: when a called request of a user terminal is received, querying an initial proxy-call session control function (P-CSCF) entity with which the user terminal currently registers; if it is detected that the initial P-CSCF is faulty, selecting an available P-CSCF and sending, to the available P-CSCF, a notification message that carries a redundancy identifier, where the redundancy identifier is used to instruct the available P-CSCF to trigger the user terminal to re-register with the P-CSCF; and when a registration complete message sent by the P-CSCF with which the user terminal re-registers is received, delivering the called request to the re-registered P-CSCF to bear a called service of the user terminal. |
| US09894109B2 |
Lawful intercept in an internet protocol-based telephony system
Messages sent from an initiating device to a called device to establish a telephonic communication session between the initiating device and the called device are received at a network device. One of a first network or a second network is selected to establish a first communication path of the telephonic communication session. The first network comprises an Internet Protocol network to which the initiating device and the called device are connected, and the second network comprises a public switched telephone network. Messages are sent to the called device via the one of the first network or the second network to establish the first communication path. A second communication path is established between the initiating device and the called device through another of the first network or the second network. At least a subset of data also being sent over the first communication path is sent via the second communication path. |
| US09894108B2 |
Synchronization based on device presence
The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate initiation of an automatic synchronization operation based upon presence information in connection with a wireless communications network. For example, when certain mobile devices register with a particular network entity (e.g., a femtocell) that services a particular target location (e.g., place of residence), then such registration can be leveraged to indicate presence at the target location. Accordingly, synchronization between the mobile device and other devices can be automatically initiated, without requiring input or effort by a user, or even that the user remembers to perform the synchronization operation. Moreover, the synchronization operation can be wireless, so connection cables need not be maintained or employed. |
| US09894106B2 |
Method for managing fixed and mobile terminals in an environment comprising a mobile network including IMS network and a company network
A method of managing fixed and mobile terminals in an environment comprising a mobile network including an IMS network, and an enterprise network including IP-PBX equipment, the method consisting in particular in: determining (S30) the mobile terminals of the mobile network that are registered with the IMS network and the enterprise terminals that are registered with the IP-PBX equipment of the enterprise network; while a multimedia communications session involving any terminal that is determined as being registered with the IMS network or with the IP-PBX equipment as the case may be, is being initialized via the IMS network, obtaining (S32) the capabilities of said terminal; and updating (S31, S33) a database with information identifying the mobile terminals of the mobile network that are registered with the IMS network and the enterprise terminals that are registered with the IP-PBX equipment, and with information representative of the capabilities that have been obtained for each identified terminal. |
| US09894104B2 |
Systems and methods for providing context to SIP messages
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for providing context through a scripting-type programming language to data included in a SIP message. The method includes defining one or more contexts through a scripting-type computer programming language. The one or more contexts reference a particular pre-defined portion of a SIP message and are provided by the scripting-type computer programming language. A series of SIP messages may then be received, where each SIP message in the series belongs to the same SIP message flow. After a particular SIP message in the series is received, the message is parsed to identify whether it includes any portion of data that can be referenced via one or more contexts. Any particular portion of data that can be referenced via a context is associated with a respective context such that the respective portion of data can be referenced by the context. |
| US09894103B2 |
Performing source network address translation based on remote device management attributes
Some embodiments provide novel methods for processing remote-device data messages in a network based on data-message attributes from a remote device management (RDM) system. For instance, the method of some embodiments identifies a set of RDM attributes associated with a data message, and then performs one or more service operations based on identified RDM attribute set. |
| US09894102B2 |
System and method for priority-based rule generation with consistency check and policy enforcement
A network node receives rules from a plurality of different domain entities. Each domain entity has a different priority level, and each rule defines an action to be performed be a device in response to a predetermined event. The network node prioritizes the rules based on the priority levels of their respective domain entities, checks for conflicts between the prioritized rules, and generates a policy based on the prioritized rules. |
| US09894101B2 |
Autonomous and adaptive methods and system for secure, policy-based control of remote and locally controlled computing devices
An autonomous and adaptive method and system for secure, policy-based control of remote and locally controlled computing devices. The invention uses a policy-based access control mechanism to achieve adaptive and dynamic behavior modification based on the context of the local operating environment of the computing device. The modification system assesses the desirability of actions or outcomes as determined by the policy rules and modifies them accordingly, thus altering the behavior of the computing device. The system can utilize a machine learning technique, pattern matching and heuristic evaluation. When applied to the control of robotic and autonomous devices, the system allows the robot to offload adjudication to a remote system and also facilitates cooperative behaviors between robots operating in dynamic environments. |
| US09894099B1 |
Automatically configuring mobile devices and applying policy based on device state
Techniques for network-based security for mobile devices based on device state are disclosed. In some embodiments, automatically configuring mobile devices and applying policies based on a Host Information Profile (HIP) report includes receiving a Host Information Profile (HIP) report for a mobile device; performing a policy match based on the HIP report for the mobile device; and performing an action based on the policy match based on the HIP report for the mobile device. |
| US09894094B2 |
Method, server, and system for automatically rating reputation of a web site
The present disclosure discloses a method, server, and system for automatically rating the reputation of a web site, wherein the method comprises: when a web address of the web site is triggered and intercepted, detecting whether the web address of the web site is a malicious web address or a non-malicious web address; making statistics of the number of malicious and non-malicious visits to the web addresses under the web site during a predefined time period and saving the statistics to a database; and reading records from the database and calculating an average reputation of the web site by weighting the statistics of visiting the web site during the predefined time period and history statistics. The present disclosure is able to mark the reputation of a web site in time and efficiently, thus improving the security of using the network. |
| US09894092B2 |
Systems and methods for performing or creating simulated phishing attacks and phishing attack campaigns
A method for establishing a campaign for a simulated phishing attack includes receiving, via a campaign manager, specification of a plurality of parameters for a campaign including at least an identifier of a campaign and identification of users to which to send the campaign, establishing, via the campaign manager, a type of exploit for the campaign and one or more types of data to collect via the type of exploit, storing, by the campaign manager, the campaign comprising the plurality of parameters, and identifying, by a simulation server, the campaign stored in the database to create a simulated phishing email, to be sent to email accounts of the users, using the plurality of parameters of the campaign, wherein the simulated phishing email is to be created to have a link to a landing page comprising the type of exploit and configured to collect the one or more types of data. |
| US09894089B2 |
Emoji frequency detection and deep link frequency
Systems and methods are disclosed for generating term frequencies of known terms based on crowdsourced differentially private sketches of the known terms. An asset catalog can be updated with new frequency counts for known terms based on the crowdsourced differentially private sketches. Known terms can have a classification. A client device can maintain a privacy budget for each classification of known terms. Classifications can include emojis, deep links, locations, finance terms, and health terms, etc. A privacy budget ensures that a client does not transmit too much information to a term frequency server, thereby compromising the privacy of the client device. |
| US09894088B2 |
Data mining to identify malicious activity
Systems and methods may determine suspicious network traffic. A monitoring system comprising a processor in communication with a network may monitor network traffic to or from an asset associated with the network. The monitoring system may assess the network traffic to determine a source and/or destination for the network traffic anchor content of the network traffic. The monitoring system may determine whether the network traffic is suspicious network traffic based on the assessed source and/or destination and/or content. When the network traffic is determined to be suspicious network traffic, the monitoring system may capture metadata associated with the suspicious network traffic and store the metadata in a database in communication with the processor. When the network traffic is not determined to be suspicious network traffic, the monitoring system may disregard metadata associated with the network traffic. |
| US09894079B2 |
Data loss prevention for mobile computing devices
System calls to a kernel of a mobile computing device are monitored. A particular system call is intercepted relating to input/output (I/O) functionality of the mobile computing device. A data loss prevention (DLP) policy is identified that is applicable to the particular system call. An action is performed on the particular system call based at least in part on the DLP policy. |
| US09894078B2 |
Location-based regulation of access
Generally, access to content may be regulated by receiving a content request initiated at a jukebox for access to a content selection, identifying a jukebox location corresponding to a location of the jukebox, determining a permissible location for rendering the content selection, relating the jukebox location to the permissible location, and enabling the content request when the permissible location supports access to the content selection from the jukebox location. |
| US09894076B2 |
Data protection and sharing
In an approach to data protection and sharing, a computer retrieves social network data of a first user, and obtains a relationship grade between the first user and a second user, and a level associated with the personal data of the first user. Then it is determined whether the second user qualifies to access the personal data of the first user, based, at least in part, on the relationship grade and the level associated with the personal data. If it is determined that the second user qualifies to access the personal data of the first user, the second user is permitted to access the personal data. |
| US09894066B2 |
Wireless firmware updates
Disclosed are methods and devices for securely updating firmware of locking devices. One method includes receiving a lock identifier from a locking device; determining that the lock identifier is associated with a user profile by comparing the lock identifier to a set of lock identifiers; receiving a firmware update packet from a server, wherein the firmware packet is encrypted by a lock key; transmitting the firmware update packet to the lock; decrypting the firmware update using the lock key; validating the encrypted firmware update; and installing the firmware update. |
| US09894063B2 |
Anonymizing biometric data for use in a security system
An anonymized biometric representation of a target individual is used in a computer based security system. A detailed input biometric signal associated with a target individual is obtained. A weakened biometric representation of the detailed biometric signal is constructed such that the weakened biometric representation is designed to identify a plurality of individuals including the target individual. The target individual is enrolled in a data store associated with the computer based security system wherein the weakened biometric representation is included in a record for the target individual.In another aspect of the invention, a detailed input biometric signal from a screening candidate individual is obtained. The detailed biometric signal of the screening candidate is matched against the weakened biometric representation included in the record for the target individual. |
| US09894062B2 |
Object management for external off-host authentication processing systems
Systems and methods for providing object management for external off-host authentication processing systems are described. In some embodiments, a method may include: identifying, by an Information Handling System (IHS), raw data to be stored within an object in an off-host memory of an external off-host authentication processing system coupled to the IHS, wherein the external off-host authentication processing system provides a hardware environment segregated from the IHS; collecting authentication data from a user by prompting the user; generating a system identification (ID) that uniquely characterizes the IHS without prompting the user; and storing the authentication data, the system ID, and the raw data as part of the object in the off-host memory. |
| US09894060B2 |
Machine-to-machine device and smartcard for use in the device
There is provided a method device for facilitating remote access capability. An exemplary device comprises a connection module for connecting the device to a remote location. The exemplary device also comprises a smartcard comprising a secure identification and/or authentication component. The exemplary device additionally comprises a control module, at least part of which is comprised in the smartcard, interfacing with the connection module and with a component of the device, the control module being adapted to access the component in conjunction with a communication between the control module and the remote location via the connection module. |
| US09894056B2 |
Segmented secret-key storage system, segment storage apparatus, segmented secret-key storage method
The risk of leakage of secret information caused by leakage of a secret key is reduced. A segmented secret-key storage system segments a secret key SK into segments that can be combined at the time of decryption or at the time of generation of a signature and records the secret-key segments sk1, . . . , skN in segment storage apparatuses. The secret-key segments are changed, periodically or under a predetermined condition, to another set of secret-key segments that satisfies a condition for combination. In the segmented secret-key storage system, the secret key SK is not revealed unless the secret-key segments are stolen from all the segment storage apparatuses in an interval between changes made to the secret-key segments. Accordingly, the risk of leakage can be greatly reduced in comparison with the risk of leakage of the secret key from a single apparatus. |
| US09894054B2 |
Secure method for MTC device triggering
Upon receiving a triggering message from a MTC server (20), a network (10) verifies if the MTC server (20) is authorized to trigger a target MTC device (30) and also if the MTC device (30) is authorized to respond the triggering message, by comparing an MTC device ID and MTC server ID (and optionally information on subscription) which are include in the triggering message with authorized ones. Upon succeeding in the verification, the network (10) checks a trigger type included in the triggering message to verify if the triggering message is authorized to be sent to the MTC device (30). Upon succeeding in the check, the network (10) forwards the triggering message to the MTC device (30). The network (10) also validates a response from the MTC device (30), by checking whether the MTC device (30) is allowed to communicate with the addressed MTC server (20). |
| US09894052B2 |
Location service for user authentication
A method and apparatus for location authentication of the user are disclosed. In the method and apparatus, the location of the user is authenticated if one or more conditions for geographic proximity associated with two or more devices of the user are satisfied. Upon the location of the user being authenticated, the user may be granted access to a service. |
| US09894051B2 |
Extending shrouding capability of hosting system
Technical solutions are described for extending shrouding capability of a virtual server hosting system. An example method includes receiving a request to deploy a shrouded virtual server using a predetermined set of hardware components, and using a shrouded mode. The method also includes adding a guest server to the hosting system, the guest server including the predetermined set of hardware components. The method also includes deploying a preconfigured hypervisor on the guest server, where the preconfigured hypervisor is deployed in an immutable mode that disables changes to security settings of the preconfigured hypervisor. The method also includes deploying, by the preconfigured hypervisor, a preconfigured boot image as an instance of the virtual server on the preconfigured hypervisor. The method also includes sending an identifier of the virtual server for receipt by the client device. |
| US09894050B1 |
Server based settings for client software with asymmetric signing
In one general aspect, a method can include receiving, by an application running on a computing device, an indication that a user of the computing device has been authenticated, and receiving a selection of a settings page, the settings page associated with the application and the user. The method can further include requesting the settings page for display on a display device included in the computing device, and receiving the settings page including a value for a preference for a setting included on the settings page, the value for the preference being signed by a private key associated with the user. The method can further include validating, by the application, the value for the preference using a public key associated with the application, and based on the validation, displaying, by the display device, the settings page including an indication of the value of the preference for the setting. |
| US09894049B2 |
Network aggregator
A device, system and method for aggregating resources, services or data across a network in which data and services from various source networks can be converted into an internal, aggregatable form (or vice versa) that can be sent to relevant properties or systems on request or through scheduling. The framework of the device, system and method permits scalability and potentially support any number of users, applications and services. |
| US09894046B2 |
Handling expired passwords
A method of operating a server comprises receiving an authorization request comprising a password, accessing an expiry date for the password, transmitting a response comprising the expiry date, ascertaining whether the password has expired, and receiving a new password, if the password has expired. Optionally, the transmitted response further comprises a date representing the last use of the password and/or an integer value representing a retry parameter. |
| US09894045B1 |
Determining application reputation based on deviations in security rating scores
The present disclosure relates to detecting security risks from application packages signed using a key based on differences detected between application packages. An example method generally includes calculating a difference score for a first application package signed using the key. The difference score may be based on differences detected between content of the first application package and content of one or more second application packages signed using the key. A computing system calculates an average difference score from the individual difference scores. Upon determining that the difference score for a specific application package of the second application packages exceeds the average difference score by a threshold amount, the computing system sets a reputation associated with the specific application package to an unknown reputation and generates an alert indicating that the specific application package is a potential security risk. |
| US09894041B2 |
Secure domain name resolution in computer networks
Various techniques for improving privacy and security of domain name systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting, from a client device, a DNS query containing a domain name to a caching server for resolving the domain name. The domain name includes a first part having an encrypted request and a second part having an unencrypted network resource identifier. The method also includes receiving, at the client device, a DNS response from the caching server in response to the transmitted DNS query. The received DNS response containing an encrypted reply to the encrypted request in the first part of the domain name associated with the DNS query. |
| US09894039B2 |
Signed ephemeral email addresses
Architecture for generating a temporary account (e.g., an email address) with a user-supplied friendly name and a secret used to the sign the temporary account. For example, when a user wishes to create a temporary email address to use with an online organization, a friendly name is provided and the system generates a temporary email address including the friendly name. A signing component signs the temporary email address with a secret. One or more of these secrets can be provisioned prior to the user's creation of a friendly name, which eliminates propagation delay. During use, only incoming email messages having the temporary email address signed with the secret are validated. When the user revokes the temporary email address, the secret is revoked and the revocation is propagated to network gateways, rejecting any email sent to that address. |
| US09894031B2 |
Source-aware technique for facilitating LISP host mobility
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes detecting by a first network element at a first data center site a local connection of an endpoint identifier (“EID”), in which the EID was previously locally connected to a second network element at a second data center site and notifying a mapping server of the local connection of the EID to the first network element. The method further includes receiving from the mapping server identifying information for the second network element and communicating with the second network element using the identifying information to obtain service information for traffic associated with the EID. The method may also include applying a service identified by the service information to outgoing traffic from the EID as well as applying a service identified by the service information to incoming traffic for the EID. |
| US09894029B1 |
Network-based content discovery using messages of a messaging platform
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for identifying relevant content from a messaging platform. The method can include: identifying a context account; identifying a set of initial accounts of the messaging platform; selecting a set of relevant accounts from among the set of initial accounts; selecting a set of messages authored by the set of relevant accounts based at least on a recency of each of the set of messages; and providing the set of messages in response to a request. |
| US09894020B2 |
Delivery of email messages with repetitive attachments
A method, server and system for the delivery of email messages with repetitive attachments. In one example embodiment, the method comprises determining a unique identifier for a content item that is referenced in an email message; determining, in dependence on the unique identifier, if an attachment corresponding to the content item is present in an attachment cache, and if a corresponding attachment is not present in the attachment cache then processing the content item to create the attachment and storing the attachment in the attachment cache identified by the unique identifier, and if the corresponding attachment is present in the attachment cache, then retrieving the corresponding attachment from the attachment cache; and sending the corresponding attachment to the mobile communications device. |
| US09894018B2 |
Electronic messaging using reply telephone numbers
A graphical user interface on a display device of a computer enables communications using a computer service. The graphical user interface includes a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user. The graphical user interface also includes a mobile device identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients and a user account identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients. At least one of the listed potential recipients includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit for data delivery to the potential message recipient using the computer service. |
| US09894012B2 |
Method and system to improve network connection locality on multicore systems
A method including selecting a prospective local port from a plurality of available local ports for a computing environment; determining a hash value based on the prospective local port, the hash value being further determined based on a hash value determination method of a network interface of the computing environment; determining whether the hash value results in incoming traffic being delivered to a selected one of a plurality of cores of the computing environment; and sending data relating to an application executed by the selected core over the network interface using the prospective local port, if the hash value results in incoming traffic being delivered to the selected core. |
| US09894011B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for bandwidth conservation
Aspects of bandwidth conservation include monitoring, via a processor over a period of time, program state information for content streamed to an electronic device, and accumulating, in a memory device via the processor, inputs received over the period of time from a user of the electronic device. Each of the inputs is correlated to the program state information based on a location in the content at which the corresponding input occurred. Aspects further include identifying patterns of user behavior based on collective correlations between the inputs and the program state information, determining from the patterns a presence or absence of the user at the electronic device with respect to currently streamed content when no inputs are received by the user, and performing a bandwidth control operation with respect to the currently streamed content based on the determined presence or absence of the user. |
| US09894010B2 |
Management of heterogeneous client device groups
Various implementations disclosed herein enable client devices to share a network resource in order to produce more evenly distributed perceptual playback quality levels within each subscription tier. Sharing of a network resource is facilitated by providing client devices with one or more QoE distribution indicator values, which enables client device participation in the allocation of the network resource. In some implementations, a client device method includes determining a local QoE level value, and then modifying a representation selection of media content data based on the local QoE and one or more QoE distribution indicator values. The local QoE level value characterizes perceptual playback quality of media content data received by the client device using the shared network resource. The QoE distribution indicator values characterize at least in part the relative QoE values associated with a plurality of client devices sharing the shared network resource with the client device. |
| US09894009B2 |
Client device and host device subscriptions
A client computing device establishes a plurality of subscriptions to store published data from data sources of the client device in a subscription buffer. In response to receiving, from a remote subscription dispatcher of a host computing device, a read request for data published by data sources of the client computing device, one or more data packets including published data stored in the subscription buffer are sent to the host computing device. |
| US09894007B2 |
Packet transfer processing apparatus and method
A write preference determination unit (30A) compares a reception rate of packets received from the lines of a first network (NW1) with a reception rate threshold for write preference determination, and in a case where the reception rate exceeds the reception rate threshold, determines that preference of a write operation is necessary. A write preference control unit (30B) increases, out of a total access bandwidth of a packet buffer (BUF), a write bandwidth for a packet write operation to the packet buffer (BUF) as compared to a read bandwidth for a packet read operation from the packet buffer (BUF) in a case where the write preference determination unit (30A) determines that the preference is necessary, thereby preferentially executing the packet write operation to the packet buffer. This suppresses occurrence of linked discard of reception packets caused by a shortage of the write bandwidth. |
| US09894004B2 |
Switch device, information processing system, and method for controlling switch device
A switch device includes a retaining unit, a switching processing unit, an identifying unit, and a rewriting unit. The retaining unit retains a flow table that maps each flow to a flag indicating whether the amount of transmitted data is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold. The switching processing unit stores a data packet received by a receiving buffer in one of a plurality of output queues provided for respective transmission ports based on the destination. The identifying unit identifies data packets included in a flow in which the amount of data is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold, from the data packets received by the receiving buffer. The rewriting unit refers to congestion notification information included in each of the identified data packets, and rewrites information indicating congestion to information indicating no congestion when the congestion notification information includes the information indicating congestion. |
| US09894001B2 |
I/O circuit and data transmission control method
An I/O circuit includes buffers, a storage module, accumulators, timers, and an arbiter. Each buffer corresponds to a respective virtual channel. Each buffer corresponds to a respective token bucket, and outputs a normal transmission request according to the amount of tokens and an accumulating signal. The storage module stores a lookup table including a plurality of weightings. Each accumulator corresponds to a respective buffer, accumulates a data volume according to the corresponding weighting, and outputs the accumulating signal. Each timer corresponds to a respective buffer, times waiting period after the corresponding buffer outputs the normal transmission request, and outputs a time-out transmission request when the waiting period exceeds a predetermined period. The arbiter receives the time-out transmission requests and the normal transmission requests, and selects one of the buffers from all of the time-out transmission requests and the normal transmission requests. |
| US09893999B2 |
Multiple datastreams processing by fragment-based timeslicing
Systems and methods for multi-channel signal processing by virtue of packet-based time-slicing with single processing core logic. The processing core logic is configured to receive data streams from the multiple communication channels at a data processing unit, and process data fragments of the data streams in a time-sliced manner. The processing core logic can switch from processing a first data fragment of a first data stream to processing a first data fragment of a second data stream at an end of a time slice, wherein the time slice is determined by a fragment boundary associated with the data fragment of the first data stream. |
| US09893997B2 |
System and method for creating session entry
A system for creating a session entry and forwarding an IP packet includes memories that store session and session template tables, and first and second processors in communication with the memories. When the first processor receives the IP packet, it determines whether the session table includes a session entry corresponding to the IP packet. If the session table does not include the session entry, the first processor determines whether the session template table includes a session template entry corresponding to the IP packet. The first processor generates the session entry using the session template entry and the IP packet. If the session template table does not include the session template entry, the first processor forwards the IP packet to the second processor, which generates the session template entry and the session entry. |
| US09893994B2 |
Methods and apparatus to route control packets based on address partitioning
Disclosed example routing methods include accessing a control packet originating from a first internal router, translating the destination address of the control packet from a first value to a second value, and identifying a first one of a plurality of outgoing interfaces of a meta-router based on the second value of the destination address, the outgoing interfaces of the meta-router in communication with respective incoming interfaces of a splitter. Disclosed example methods also include forwarding the control packet to the first one of the outgoing interfaces of the meta-router after translating the destination address of the control packet from the second value back to the first value, and routing the control packet from the splitter to an external router based on which one of the incoming interfaces of the splitter receives the control packet from the meta-router. |
| US09893988B2 |
Address resolution using multiple designated instances of a logical router
A logical routing element (LRE) having multiple designated instances for routing packets from physical hosts (PH) to a logical network is provided. A PH in a network segment with multiple designated instances can choose among the multiple designated instances for sending network traffic to other network nodes in the logical network according to a load balancing algorithm. Each logical interface (LIF) of an LRE is defined to be addressable by multiple identifiers or addresses, and each LIF identifier or address is assigned to a different designated instance. |
| US09893987B2 |
Virtual stacking of switches
In one embodiment, a method includes sending a switch discovery signal to one or more of a plurality of switches, receiving a reply to the switch discovery signal from the one or more of the plurality of switches, each reply comprising a switch identifier (ID) and a quantity of ports, receiving configuration information identifying at least one virtual stack to create, determining a virtual topology for the at least one virtual stack based on the configuration information, creating a first virtual stack of the at least one virtual stack by assigning at least one switch port of a source switch to the first virtual stack of the at least one virtual stack in accordance with the configuration information, and storing the virtual topology in a mapping table local to a computer comprising the first computer processor. |
| US09893985B2 |
Utilizing remote storage for network formation in IoT networks
In one embodiment, a device that is protected against a power outage event in a network receives metrics used by a first node in the network to select a routing link to a second node in the network. The device stores the metrics used by the first node to select the routing link to the second node. The device selects a set of one or more of the metrics to provide to the first node during network formation after a power outage event in the network. The device provides the selected set of one or more of the metrics to the first node, wherein the first node uses the provided set to reestablish connectivity to the network. |
| US09893983B2 |
Network virtualization operations using a scalable statistics collection framework
Some embodiments provide a scalable framework to retrieve statistics relating different aggregated entities. In some embodiments, the aggregated entity is a pair of ports. The pair of ports can be physical ports of one or more physical forwarding elements. The pair of ports can be logical ports of one or more logical forwarding elements. In some embodiments, the aggregated entity is a machine or a group of machines. In some embodiments, the aggregated entity is an access control list (ACL). |
| US09893979B2 |
Network topology discovery by resolving loops
Previously available network management systems fail to adequately enable discovery of a network topology that includes both compliant and non-compliant networking devices. By contrast, and to that end, various implementations disclosed herein include systems, methods and apparatuses that determine whether or not a loop exists within uplink metadata associated with first and second compliant devices, wherein the loop in the uplink metadata is characterized by pointers provided to indicate that the first and second compliant devices operate to send externally addressed traffic to one another contrary to the operation of the first and second compliant devices within a network; and resolve the loop by adding a non-compliant device to topology-link map data associated with the first and second compliant devices in response to determining the existence of the loop, wherein the topology-link map data archives accessible information about the topology of the network based at least on the uplink metadata. |
| US09893973B2 |
Real-time, low memory estimation of unique client computers communicating with a server computer
Computer systems and methods for estimating the number of client computers actively coupled to a server computer system in real-time are discussed herein. Specifically, systems and methods are discussed for a server computer system receiving heartbeat messages from a plurality of client computers and generating an estimate of the number of client computers actively coupled to the server computer system in real-time without locks, such as a database table lock. A heartbeat message from a client computer need not include a client or user identifier. In an embodiment, the memory footprint/overhead is O(l), and may be a single whole number greater than zero, such as a 64-bit unsigned integer. Systems and methods are also discussed herein to calculate and reduce the expected error of the estimated number of active clients. |
| US09893971B1 |
Variable timeouts for network device management queries
An example device includes a control unit that provides an execution environment for a network management application and a network interface. The network management application generates a request message based at least in part on a predicted amount of time required for the device to receive a response to a request message, wherein the predicted amount of time is based at least in part on object identifier processing time information, and wherein the predicted amount of time satisfies a timeout threshold. The network interface sends the request message and receives the response message. The network management application determines an amount of time that elapsed between when the device sent the request message and received the response message, and, responsive to determining that the amount of time that elapsed does not satisfy the timeout threshold, updates at least one of the object identifier processing time information and the timeout. |
| US09893967B1 |
Measuring network efficiency
Described is a graph measure that generalizes average path length for measuring network efficiency. A reachability measure for a graph representing a network is determined. The reachability measure is a generalized measurement related to an average path length of the graph which provides a measure of a number of short paths in the graph. The reachability measure is applied to an existing network infrastructure to provide a metric for the efficiency of the existing network infrastructure. The existing network infrastructure can then be improved based on the reachability measure. |
| US09893961B2 |
Applications and services as a bundle
A system and method are provided for managing bundles of applications and services over a network between a server system and client computers. Related applications and services are bundled together in one package so that a user is able to quickly and easily configure a computer to perform a specified task. By combining both the applications and the services in one bundle, users no longer have to search the Internet for necessary components. Furthermore, additional features that allow portability of the bundled applications and services in addition to diagnostic monitoring are included. |
| US09893959B1 |
Resource modeling language to specify and control the placement of resources in a cloud environment
System and method for modeling resource requirements using a resource modeling language to specify and control the placement of resources in a cloud environment are disclosed. Modeling the resource requirements provides control over placement of resources when resiliency, latency and/or other requirements are imposed. In some embodiments, the resource modeling language enables a client to specify number, type and specification of resources as well as set of relationships among the resources. In various embodiments, the system receives via a user interface resource modeling information including specification of one or more resources and a set of rules for placement of the one or more resources in a cloud environment. The system then creates a model based on the resource modeling information, which is stored in a datastore. In response to a request, the system places an order with a cloud controller to instantiate the model in the cloud environment. |
| US09893955B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for identity and access management
Methods of managing access to systems of an organization are provided. The methods include creating a unique identifier for a user, the unique identifier having an associated user profile for the user and being stored with the associated user profile in an identifier repository associated with the organization; requesting at least one account for the user on at least one system of the organization responsive to the creation of the unique identifier for the user, wherein the at least one account is defined based on the user profile of the user associated with the unique identifier; and generating the at least one account for the user on the at least one system of the organization responsive to the request. Related systems and computer program products are also provided herein. |
| US09893954B2 |
Method and apparatus for tuning CAN communication model
A method of tuning a controller area network (CAN) communication model includes: measuring a CAN signal waveform, dividing the CAN signal waveform into a steady period and a dynamic period, determining a parameter for the steady period, determining a parameter for the dynamic period, modeling a CAN line using the parameter for the steady period and the parameter for the dynamic period, and performing error analysis on the CAN line. |
| US09893953B1 |
Using application aware templates
A method is used in using application aware templates for configuring data storage systems. An application aware template is received for configuring a data storage system. The application aware template includes a set of configuration preferences based on best practices for an application. The data storage system is configured based on the set of configuration preferences of the application aware template. |
| US09893951B1 |
Scheduled network layer programming within a multi-topology computer network
In general, techniques are described for dynamically scheduling and establishing paths in a multi-layer, multi-topology network to provide dynamic network resource allocation and support packet flow steering along paths prescribed at any layer or combination of layers of the network. In one example, a multi-topology path computation element (PCE) accepts requests from client applications for dedicated paths. The PCE receives topology information from network devices and attempts to identify paths through a layer or combination of layers of the network that can be established at the requested time in view of the specifications requested for the dedicated paths and the anticipated bandwidth/capacity available in the network. The PCE schedules the identified paths through the one or more layers of the network to carry traffic for the requested paths. At the scheduled times, the PCE programs path forwarding information into network nodes to establish the scheduled paths. |
| US09893950B2 |
Switch-connected HyperX network
A network system includes a plurality of sub-network planes and global switches. The sub-network planes have a same network topology as each other. Each of the sub-network planes includes edge switches. Each of the edge switches has N ports. Each of the global switches is configured to connect a group of edge switches at a same location in the sub-network planes. In each of the sub-network planes, some of the N ports of each of the edge switches are connected to end nodes, and others of the N ports are connected to other edge switches in the same sub-network plane, other of the N ports are connected to at least one of the global switches. |
| US09893948B2 |
Network management using hierarchical and multi-scenario graphs
A method, system, and computer program product to manage a network comprising a plurality of interconnected components are described. The method includes obtaining a set of all the components that are part of the network over time, and identifying one or more repeating patterns of components among the set of all the components as corresponding lower-level definitions to generate a hierarchical set of all the components. The method also includes obtaining time-varying information regarding topology and operational values within the network, and creating a representation of the network at a set of times based on the hierarchical set of all the components and the time-varying information. |
| US09893933B2 |
Configuration of channel estimation related parameters
A method and apparatus are provided. Channel estimation related parameters of a network entity of a communication system are configured based on a current configuration of the communication system. The channel estimation related parameters are parameters associated with the estimation of channel information of a channel between the network entity and a further network entity. |
| US09893932B2 |
Method and apparatus for pilot configuration in a mobile communications network
Method and apparatus for pilot configuration in a mobile communications network There is provided a method of operating a central scheduler node in a mobile communications network when one or more mobile devices are located in the coverage area of a first base station and a second base station, the first base station and the second base station having a shared cell identity, the method comprising determining (101) the number of mobile devices that may benefit from a distributed multiple input/multiple output, D-MIMO, mode in which data is transmitted to a mobile device by the first base station and the second base station; and if the number of mobile devices that may benefit from a D-MIMO mode exceeds a threshold, causing (103, 107, 109) said mobile devices, the first base station and the second base station to be configured to operate in the D-MIMO mode. |
| US09893928B2 |
Method and apparatus for peak to average power ratio reduction
One of the embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a method for PARP reduction. The method comprises iteratively adjusting, based on a computed peak power value for a combined transmission signal including respective components of a plurality of frequency resource units, a phase rotation vector which is applied to said respective components of said plurality of frequency resource units to perform phase rotation on said respective components of said plurality of frequency resource units, until a newly-computed peak power value dependent upon the adjusted phase rotation vector is lower than or equal to a pre-defined peak power threshold or an iteration number reaches a pre-defined maximum value; performing phase rotation on said respective components of said plurality of frequency resource units by applying the adjusted phase rotation vector; and transmitting the combined transmission signal of said respective components of said plurality of frequency resource units phase-rotated by said adjusted phase rotation vector. The present disclosure also relates to corresponding transmitter. |
| US09893924B2 |
Module for a radio receiver
The disclosure relates to a module for a radio receiver. The module comprises an input terminal; an output terminal; a main signal path for communicating in-phase and quadrature signals between the input terminal and the output terminal; and a second signal path. The second signal path is connected in parallel with the main signal path and is configured to: extract in-phase and quadrature signals from the main signal path; filter the extracted in-phase and quadrature signals; detect an error in the filtered, extracted in-phase and quadrature signals; and apply a correction to in-phase and quadrature signals on the main signal path based on the error. |
| US09893921B2 |
Systems and methods for a multicarrier modulation system with a variable margin
A multicarrier modem has a plurality of carriers over which data is transmitted. By assigning, foe example, one or more different margins to the individual carriers the data rate and impairment immunity can be increased. |
| US09893919B2 |
Transmission and reception method and apparatus for reducing peak to average power ratio in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system
A transmission and reception method and apparatus for reducing a PAPR in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system are provided. A transmission method includes performing constellation rotation with respect to L input data symbols, performing L-point DFT spreading and circular extension on the constellation-rotated L data symbols to be K symbols, performing frequency domain (FD) windowing processing by multiplying the K circular-extended data symbols by a circular filter coefficient, and transmitting the processed data symbols. |
| US09893917B2 |
Methods and apparatus for communicating control information
In a first mode of dedicated control channel (DCCH) operation, a wireless terminal is allocated more segments than in a second mode. The wireless terminal uses different information bit to modulation symbol mapping in the different modes. On a per DCCH segment basis, the same number of modulation symbols are communicated in either mode but more information bits are conveyed in the second mode. Information bits for a DCCH segment are partitioned into two subsets. The two subsets are used to generate another set, each of the two subsets and the another set are input to the same mapping function to generate three equal size sets of modulation symbols which are transmitted via the DCCH segment. Uplink tone hopping is used such that one of the equal size sets of modulation symbols for the DCCH segment uses the same tone but a different set uses a different tone. |
| US09893912B1 |
Equalizer adjustment method, adaptive equalizer and memory storage device
An exemplary embodiment provides an equalizer adjustment method. The method includes: performing a handshake operation to establish a connection with a host system by a memory storage device; in the handshake operation, receiving a first signal from the host system and performing a first modulation on the first signal by the adaptive equalizer; after the handshake operation is ended, receiving a second signal from the host system and performing a second modulation on the second signal according to a modulation result of the first modulation by the adaptive equalizer to compensate the second signal; and adjusting the adaptive equalizer according to a modulation result of the second modulation. |
| US09893902B2 |
Muting participants in a communication session
Techniques for muting participants in a communication session are described. A communication session, such as a teleconference or a video conference, may be established between a plurality of participants using devices. Each participant engaged in the communication session may be authorized to mute or un-mute other participants. Information related to the communication session may be provided to some of the participants, including but are not limited to, indications of when a participant is muted or unmuted, indications of which participant initiated a muting or un-muting, indications of volume of a participant, or indications of types of sounds in a communication session. Social controls, utilized through transparency (e.g., providing identifying indications), may reduce the chance of misuse of the muting functionality. |
| US09893900B2 |
Intelligent illumination system, network apparatus and operating method thereof
A network apparatus coupled to a plurality of nodes. The nodes are clustered into a plurality of groups. The network apparatus includes a storage component and a controller. The storage component is configured to store a plurality of group numbers corresponding to the groups and a plurality of node numbers corresponding to the nodes. The controller is configured to transmit a broadcast packet to all of the nodes. The broadcast packet includes a local network broadcast message. The local network broadcast message includes operating information. The local network broadcast message corresponds to at least one of the group numbers and the node numbers. Each of the nodes determines whether to dismiss the operating information of the broadcast packet according to the local network broadcast message of the broadcast packet. |
| US09893891B2 |
Identity verification using key pairs
User identity is verified as a user migrates among different devices. When the user migrates from a device to a different device, key pairs may be generated. If the key pairs validate, the user may be verified to the different device. |
| US09893890B2 |
Encryption and decryption of visible codes for real time augmented reality views
A method of decrypting an encrypted message. The method comprises storing a wearer decryption code in a memory of a wearable mobile device having a head-worn augmented display which generates an augmented reality view for a wearer of the wearable mobile device, capturing using the wearable mobile device a video sequence including at least one frame imaging a visible code using an image sensor of the wearable mobile device, processing the video sequence to identify the visible code, decrypting the visible code using the wearer decryption code to create an decrypted content, and presenting the decrypted content on top of at least some of the visible code in the augmented reality view. |
| US09893888B2 |
Utilizing data reduction in steganographic and cryptographic systems
The present invention relates to methods for protecting a data signal using the following techniques: applying a data reduction technique to reduce the data signal into a reduced data signal; subtracting the reduced data signal from the data signal to produce a remainder signal; embedding a first watermark into the reduced data signal to produce a watermarked, reduced data signal; and adding the watermarked, reduced data signal to the remainder signal to produce an output signal. A second watermark may be embedded into the remainder signal before the final addition step. Further, cryptographic techniques may be used to encrypt the reduced data signals and to encrypt the remainder signals before the final addition step. |
| US09893884B2 |
Communication device, communication system, and communication method
According to an embodiment, a communication device is connected to another communication device through an optical communication path to generate an identical cryptographic key shared among the communication devices. The communication device includes a key sharing unit, a key distilling unit, a measuring unit, and a varying unit. The key sharing unit is configured to generate a shared bit string through quantum key distribution with the another communication device. The key distilling unit is configured to generate the cryptographic key from the shared bit string by a key distillation process. The measuring unit is configured to measure an error rate occurring in a photon string transmitted and received via a photon communication channel. The varying unit is configured to vary, based on the error rate, a communication function by applying a limitation on the optical data communication of an optical data communication channel or by releasing the limitation. |
| US09893878B1 |
On-chip jitter measurement for clock circuits
Embodiments include systems and methods for on-chip random jitter (RJ) measurement in a clocking circuit (e.g., in a phase-locked loop of a serializer/deserializer circuit). Some embodiments determine a reference delay code sweep window to capture at least a candidate RJ range of a feedback clock signal, the reference delay code sweep window comprising a sequence of reference delay codes. A distribution of one-scores can be computed over the reference delay code sweep window, so that the distribution indicates a relatively likelihood, for each reference delay code, of obtaining a ‘1’ sample when sampling the feedback clock signal according to the delayed clock signal (delayed by an amount according to the reference delay code). The distribution can be transformed into a time domain by computing code offset times for the reference delay codes. A RJ output can be computed as a function of the distribution in the time domain. |
| US09893875B2 |
Phase continuity technique for frequency synthesis
A phase discontinuity mitigation implementation within a phased lock loop (PLL) improves throughput of a radio access technology. The throughput is improved by maintaining a phase of the PLL while powering off some devices of the PLL, such as a local oscillator (LO) frequency divider. In one instance, when the PLL is powered down, one or more portions of a delta sigma modulator for the PLL are clocked with a reference clock for the PLL. This implementation maintains phase continuity when the first phase lock loop turns back on. |
| US09893874B2 |
Fabric multipathing based on dynamic latency-based calculations
In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions being executable by a processor to cause the processor to determine a lowest latency LAG port for each LAG in any path of a plurality of paths connecting a first device with a second device, and discover a configuration of a network fabric connecting the first device to the second device after determining the lowest latency LAG port for each LAG therein. The network fabric includes a plurality of devices interconnected with LAGs. Moreover, the embodied program instructions are executable by the processor to perform clock synchronization for each path of the plurality of paths and determine a latency for each path of the plurality of paths based on the clock synchronization and the lowest latency LAG port for each LAG included in the plurality of paths. |
| US09893859B2 |
Transmission of sounding reference signal and scheduling request in single carrier systems
A transmission of information from a secondary to a primary node occurs in a plurality of transmission instances which are logical time durations. A secondary node receives an allocation of periodic transmission instances for a scheduling request indicator (SRI) and an allocation if periodic transmission instances for a sounding reference signal (SRS). In a particular transmission instance allocated for the transmission of both SRS and SRI, the secondary node transmits the SRI without transmitting the SRS if the SRI indicates a pending scheduling request; otherwise, the secondary node transmits the SRS without transmitting the SRI. |
| US09893856B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving data in wireless communication system supporting cooperative transmission
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. A method for receiving data by a user equipment (UE) in a cooperative multi-point (CoMP) wireless communication system includes receiving information indicating a transmission base station (BS) that actually transmits data among a plurality of BSs that participate in CoMP, receiving information about zero-power channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) of each of the plural BSs, and assuming that data is not mapped to a resource element of zero-power CSI-RS corresponding to the transmission BS and receiving the data through a physical downlink control channel (PDSCH). |
| US09893849B2 |
Communication apparatus and control information receiving method
In a base station, a control unit and a data size regulation unit control the data size of downstream assignment control data and upstream assignment control data in the PDCCH signal based on the communication format used between the base station and a terminal, the number of base station antennas (M) (nonnegative number), the number of terminal antennas (N) (nonnegative number), the bandwidth of the downstream band, and the bandwidth of the upstream band. Specifically, the control unit determines it is unnecessary to adjust the aforementioned data size when the selected communication format is first established between multiple antennas and when where there are multiple for one of M and N and only one for the other. The quality of downstream assignment control data is prevented from degrading, while preventing the number of blind determinations from increasing on the receiving side of the downstream control channel signal. |
| US09893847B1 |
Wireless communication device and digital self-interference estimation method thereof
A wireless communication device and a digital self-interference estimation method thereof are provided. The wireless communication device, at respective timings, receives a plurality of self-interference signals and generates a plurality of ideal transmitting signals. The wireless communication device calculates a signal adjusting vector based on the self-interference signals and the ideal transmitting signals at different timings. The wireless communication device generates a main ideal transmitting signal at a main timing, and calculates, based on the signal adjusting vector, a main self-interference signal corresponding to the main timing according to the received self-interference and the main ideal transmitting signal. |
| US09893846B2 |
Method and apparatus for hybrid automatic retransmit request (HARQ) feedback in wireless communication system
The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). A base station and method thereof are provided for hybrid automatic retransmit request (HARQ) feedback in a wireless communication system. A method includes generating transmission beam information for transmitting hybrid automatic retransmit request (HARQ) feedback information for an uplink data packet received from a terminal; scheduling a HARQ feedback channel in a downlink subframe, based on the transmission beam information; and transmitting the HARQ feedback information, based on the HARQ feedback channel. |
| US09893845B2 |
Method for transmitting uplink response signals, base station, mobile station and communication system
A user equipment (UE), including: a receiver configured to receive downlink data transmitted by a base station via downlink component carriers including a secondary component carrier; and a circuit configured to select uplink resources from available resources for transmitting response signals obtained by decoding the received downlink data and select corresponding modulation symbols by using a mapping relation between a state of the response signals and the selected resources and the modulation symbols according to the state of the response signals; wherein the available resources include resources corresponding to a primary component carrier and resources allocated to the secondary component carrier by the base station; and, wherein the mapping relation includes cases in which the resource corresponding to the response signal that is NACK/DTX is not selected; where NACK represents Negative Acknowledgement, and DTX represents Discontinuous Transmission; and when the response signals are all DTX, no resource is selected. |
| US09893842B2 |
Symbol detection technique
A technique of processing an Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) transmission is disclosed. As to a method aspect of the technique, the method comprises the steps of requesting a retransmission of a transport block; receiving the retransmission of the transport block; and detecting modulation symbols. The retransmission is requested in response to an error-detecting code indicating an error in the transport block as received in at least one previous transmission. The modulation symbols are detected based on at least a part of the received retransmission and information from the at least one previous transmission. At least in some embodiments, a detection rate is thus improved. |
| US09893840B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof are disclosed. The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, the apparatus comprises an input formatter for input formatting each data stream divided into a plurality of data transmission path, a generator for generating each of first signaling data and second signaling data, wherein the first signaling data and the second signaling data are processed respectively, wherein the first signaling data includes first information for the second signaling data and the second signaling data includes second information for at least one the data transmission path, wherein the second signaling data includes a static data and a dynamic data, an encoder for encoding, wherein the encoder processing: first encoding service data corresponding to each of the plurality of data transmission path, wherein each of the data transmission path carries at least one service component, second encoding the first signaling data and third encoding the second signaling data, a frame builder for building signal frames, wherein each of signal frames includes the encoded service data and the encoded first signaling data and the encoded second signaling data, a modulator for modulating the signal frames by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) scheme and a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast signals carrying the modulated signal frames. |
| US09893839B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing error detection in coordination with a radio link layer
An approach includes detecting failure of an error detection scheme relating to transmission of data units of a transport block. A negative acknowledgement message is generated in response to the detection of the failure. The negative acknowledgement message is forwarded to a radio link controller for discarding one or more of the data units. |
| US09893836B2 |
System and method for achieving accelerated throughput
Systems and methods for transporting data between two endpoints over an encoded channel are disclosed. Data transmission units (data units) from the source network are received at an encoding component logically located between the endpoints. These first data units are subdivided into second data units and are transmitted to the destination network over the transport network. Also transmitted are encoded or extra second data units that allow the original first data units to be recreated even if some of the second data units are lost. These encoded second data units may be merely copies of the second data units transmitted, parity second data units, or second data units which have been encoded using erasure correcting coding. At the receiving endpoint, the second data units are received and are used to recreate the original first data units. |
| US09893832B2 |
Transfer apparatus and transfer method
An Add Drop Multiplexer (ADM) includes a separating unit that extracts, from an ODU4 storing therein a plurality of HO-ODUs each of which stores therein at least one LO-ODU, first MSI values which correspond to the HO-ODUs and each of which identifies a different one of the LO-ODUs for each LO-ODU. The ADM includes a converting unit that converts the first MSI values which correspond to the HO-ODUs and each of which identifies a different one of the LO-ODUs, into second MSI values which correspond to the ODU4 and each of which identifies a different one of the LO-ODUs. The ADM includes an ODU processing unit that extracts the LO-ODUs from the ODU4, on the basis of the second MSI values resulting from the conversion by the converting unit. |
| US09893829B2 |
Method of performing measurement
The present disclosure provides a method of performing a measurement. The method of performing a measurement may include the steps of: continuing a measurement on received signal strength indication (RSSI) for sections corresponding to the multiple of an almost blank subframe (ABS) pattern when a measurement subframe pattern representing a subframe to be measured with respect to a serving cell to which enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC) is applied is not received; averaging measurement results for the sections corresponding to the multiple of the ABS; and transmitting the average of the measurement results to the serving cell. |
| US09893828B2 |
Signal power/quality measurement from digital RF/IF interface
A signal power tester in provided. The signal power tester includes at least one interface to communicatively couple the signal power tester unit to a front-haul communication link used for communicating front-haul data to a remote radio head (RRH) having one or more antenna ports. The signal power tester further comprises a programmable processor, coupled to the interface, configured to execute software, wherein the software is operable to cause the signal power tester to do the following: determine a representative segment indicative of a noise floor of a communication signal; determine whether the representative segment meets selected criterion; determine a translation factor for the representative segment; and measure power of the communication signal based on applying the translation factor. |
| US09893824B2 |
Packet transmission/reception method and apparatus in wireless communication system
A method for simultaneously transmitting packets to one or more users in a wireless communication system includes: generating the packets which include length information and are to be transmitted to the one or more users; and simultaneously transmitting the generated packets to the one or more users. The length information includes information representing a unit of the length information and information representing lengths of the packets according to the unit. |
| US09893819B1 |
Determining far field error vector magnitude (EVM) of a device under test over the air (OTA)
A method determines far field EVM of a DUT using over-the-air (OTA) testing, the DUT having a transmitter/receiver and an antenna that are integrated together such that there is no connection port for interfacing a test system for directly measuring the EVM. Modulated RF signals transmitted by the DUT propagate OTA via the antenna. The method includes performing a near field scan of a bounded radiation surface, which includes measurement points at which waveforms of a repeatedly transmitted modulated RF signal are measured; downconverting the waveforms to intermediate frequency (IF), and digitizing the IF waveforms; synthesizing digital waveforms corresponding to the IF waveforms; accounting for corresponding RF propagation in the far field for the digital waveforms; providing a modulated digital IF waveform using the digital waveforms for which RF propagation has been accounted; and calculating EVM of the DUT in the far field using the modulated digital IF waveform. |
| US09893817B2 |
Programmable integrated circuit (IC) containing an integrated optical transducer for programming the IC, and a related IC programming system and method
A programmable integrated circuit (IC) comprising a single body of semiconductor is disclosed. The IC comprises at least one optical transducer as an integral part of the programmable integrated circuit on the same body of semiconductor, the optical transducer being operable to receive an optical input indicative of programming instructions and at least one storage element communicatively coupled to the optical transducer and being operable to store thereon the programming instructions or an adaptation thereof. The programming instructions received via the optical input are configured to direct the operation of the IC. |
| US09893810B2 |
Receiver optical module
There is provided a receiver optical module including a photodetector having a plurality of channels, a capacitor disposing block formed on an upper portion of the photodetector, a plurality of capacitors formed on the capacitor disposing block, and an electrical wiring configured to connect the plurality of capacitors to electrodes of a plurality of channels of the photodetector, wherein the plurality of capacitors are formed on the capacitor disposing block such that distance between the capacitors and the electrodes of the corresponding channels are the same. Distortion and loss of signal characteristics of high frequency can be reduced and quality of a signal can be enhanced. |
| US09893809B2 |
Apparatus and method for visible light communication using electrically switchable glass
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for visible light communication using electrically switchable glass. The apparatus for visible light communication using the electrically switchable glass includes a reception unit for receiving a data signal, a control unit for generating current and voltage corresponding to the data signal and controlling the transmittance of the electrically switchable glass based on the current and the voltage, and a transmission unit for adjusting the brightness of visible light that passes through the glass based on the transmittance and performing visible light communication using the visible light that has passed through the glass. |
| US09893807B2 |
Method of providing data using visible light communication (VLC) and VLC system therefor
A method of providing data using visible light communication (VLC) and a VLC system therefor is provided, the method for easy utilization, in a user terminal, of information provided by a lighting apparatus based on a position at which the lighting apparatus is provided. |
| US09893804B1 |
Credit based approach to optimizing optical transmission
Methods and systems may implement a credit based approach for optimizing optical transmission and calculating optical paths in optical networks. |
| US09893801B2 |
Method and device for transmitting ACK/NACK in TDD-based wireless communication system
A method is provided for transmitting an acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) in a wireless communication system based on Time Division Duplex (TDD) in which M downlink subframe(s) are associated with an uplink subframe, where M is equal to or greater than one (1). A user equipment, configured with a plurality of serving cells, receives at least one downlink transport block in the M downlink subframe(s), and determines an ACK/NACK response for the at least one downlink transport block by using one of a plurality of pre-defined mapping rules. Each of the plurality of pre-defined mapping rules is set to define a mapping relation between M ACK/NACK state(s) for each of the plurality of serving cells and the ACK/NACK response based on M. The user equipment transmits the ACK/NACK response. |
| US09893796B2 |
Mobile communications device and system
A mobile device (7) configured to provide relay capabilities in a communications system (1) by communicating network-level mobile device relaying capabilities and radio-level mobile device relaying capabilities from the mobile device (7) to a communications node (3) of the communications system (1) so that the mobile device (7) can relay communications between the communications node (3) and another mobile device (2). User subscription information related to relaying is also disclosed. |
| US09893793B2 |
Multi-antenna system
A multi-antenna system is provided. The multi-antenna system includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a tunable circuit, and a frequency-divisional circuit. The first antenna is utilized to implement signals of a first frequency band. The second antenna is utilized to implement signals of a second frequency band. The second antenna is different from the first antenna, and frequencies of the second frequency band are greater than frequencies of the first frequency band. The tunable circuit is utilized to switch the signals of the first frequency band. The frequency-divisional circuit is utilized to suppress harmonics caused by the tunable circuit. |
| US09893790B2 |
Preamble and payload for high efficiency (HE) transmission
In wireless communications, an access point may send a trigger frame to multiple stations. The trigger frame's payload may include a first content and a second content, where the first content is associated with a legacy signal field of an uplink frame, and the second content is associated with a non-legacy signal field of the uplink frame. In response to the trigger frame, one or more stations may generate the uplink frame(s) based on the trigger frame and transmit the uplink frame(s) to the access point. The uplink frame(s) may include a legacy signal field and a non-legacy signal field. The legacy field may include a length of the uplink frame(s) that is based on the first content. The non-legacy signal field may include a remaining transmission opportunity (TXOP) duration that is generated based on the second content. Other methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09893789B2 |
Method of transmitting a reference signal in a wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method of transmitting a reference signal for a hybrid beamforming in a base station of a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include selecting first subset elements arrayed in a first direction from a plurality of antenna elements included in a 2D array antenna of the base station and transmitting a first reference signal through a reference beam formed by the first subset elements, wherein a first cross-section for the first direction of the reference beam corresponds to a directional beam and wherein a second cross-section for a second direction crossing the first direction of the reference beam corresponds to an omni-directional beam. |
| US09893784B2 |
LTF design for WLAN system
In an example of wireless multi-user communication, a station may generate a frame and provide the frame for transmission to multiple stations. The frame may include a long training field (LTF) portion and a data portion. The LTF portion and the data portion may be associated with a plurality of tones. Each group of the plurality of tones in the data portion may be associated with a respective steering matrix. Each group of the plurality of tones in the data portion may include two or more tones of the plurality of tones. One or more of the multiple stations may receive the frame and process the frame. Other methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09893783B2 |
Method, mobile station and base station for transmitting data in mobile communication system
Data in a mobile communications system is transmitted on at least one channel between at least one base station with multiple antennas and at least one user equipment. A base station applies precoding to the data based on a set of predefined codebooks. A first tracking mode with a first codebook from the set of predefined codebooks is used for the precoding, and at least a second tracking mode with at least a second codebook from the set of predefined codebooks is used for the precoding. The base station switches between the first tracking mode and the second tracking mode depending on at least one condition of the channel. |
| US09893782B2 |
Data processing apparatus and data processing method
A data processing apparatus and a data processing method are provided. The method includes inputting q data streams, where each data stream includes Msymb complex-valued modulation symbols of one code word, and q and Msymb are integers greater than or equal to 1. The method also includes determining an l×l matrix used by the Msymb complex-valued modulation symbols included in each data stream, where the l×l matrix is one of an l×l identity matrix and a circulant matrix of the l×l identity matrix, and l is a quantity of transport layers. Additionally, the method includes performing, by using the determined l×l matrix, layer permutation mapping on the Msymb complex-valued modulation symbols included in each data stream. |
| US09893777B2 |
Method and apparatus for precoding channel state information reference signal
A method for operating a base station includes allocating at least one respective CSI-RS port to each of a plurality of user equipments (UEs), precoding the at least one respective CSI-RS port with a first respective precoding matrix for each of the plurality of UEs, transmitting the at least one respective CSI-RS port precoded with the first respective precoding matrix through a channel to each of the plurality of UEs, receiving an index of a second respective precoding matrix from each of the plurality of UEs, wherein the second respective precoding matrix is determined according to the at least respective one CSI-RS port precoded with the first precoding matrix as received through the channel by each of the plurality of UEs, and precoding respective transmission data with the first respective precoding matrix and the second respective precoding matrix to each of the plurality of UEs. |
| US09893776B2 |
Receiving method and receiving apparatus
All data symbols used in data transmission of a modulated signal are precoded by switching between precoding matrices so that the precoding matrix used to precode each data symbol and the precoding matrices used to precode data symbols that are adjacent to the data symbol along the frequency axis and the time axis all differ. A modulated signal with such data symbols arranged therein is transmitted. |
| US09893762B2 |
Method and arrangement in a DSL vectoring system
Vector Control Entity and method therein for Disorderly Leaving Events, DLEs, causing Sudden Termination Change in a DSL system. The method comprises, when a DLE occurs on a line m in a vectored group of DSL lines, and the transmission on line m is, at least partly, continued: obtaining at least one error sample from CPEs connected to other lines in the vectored group of DSL lines, and calculating an estimate of the channel coefficients, H′, changed due to the DLE. The estimate is calculated based on the at least one error sample, and thus a channel estimate is provided. The method further comprises modifying a downstream precoder, based on the channel estimate, such that retraining of the other lines in the vectored group due to the DLE is avoided. The estimate of the channel coefficients is calculated based on the model H′=H+CΛH. |
| US09893761B2 |
Signal routing with reduced crosstalk
Generally, this disclosure provides systems and devices for reduction of crosstalk between routed signals. A system may include a first pair of signal lines and a second pair of signal lines and each of the pairs of signal lines include a positive signal line and a negative signal line to transmit a differential signal. The system may also include an alternating current coupling capacitor (AC cap) associated with each of the positive signal lines and each of the negative signal lines. The system may further include a routing crossover of the positive signal line and the negative signal line of the second pair of signal lines, to decrease signal crosstalk between the first and second pairs of signal lines. The routing crossover may include at least one of the AC caps. |
| US09893759B1 |
Wireless relay antenna isolation
A wireless relay mitigates Radio Frequency (RF) interference. A receive antenna receives RF signals over a receive frequency band. An RF receiver processes the received signals to detect and transfer RF interference levels. The processing circuitry transfers control data to a tunable RF isolator that indicates the size of a guard band between the receive frequency band and a transmit frequency band. The guard band size is selected based on the RF interference levels for the receive frequency band at the receive antenna. The tunable RF isolator attenuates RF frequencies in the tunable guard band from corresponding RF transmit signals. A transmit antenna transfers the RF transmit signals over the transmit frequency band. |
| US09893757B2 |
Pulse-shaping LDO provides first and second slew-rate increases in amplitude
One example includes an amplifier system. The amplifier system includes an input stage configured to receive an input pulse signal and to generate a reference voltage pulse based on the input pulse signal. The amplifier system also includes an amplifier stage that receives at least one power voltage and is configured to amplify the reference voltage pulse and to provide pulse-shaping of the amplified reference voltage pulse based on a change of amplitude of the at least one power voltage resulting from an amplitude of the reference voltage pulse. |
| US09893755B2 |
Tunable antenna systems
An electronic device has wireless communications circuitry including an adjustable antenna system coupled to a radio-frequency transceiver. The adjustable antenna system may include one or more adjustable electrical components that are controlled by storage and processing circuitry in the electronic device. The adjustable electrical components may include switches and components that can be adjusted between numerous different states. The adjustable electrical components may be coupled between antenna system components such as transmission line elements, matching network elements, antenna elements and antenna feeds. By adjusting the adjustable electrical components, the storage and processing circuitry can tune the adjustable antenna system to ensure that the adjustable antenna system covers communications bands of interest. |
| US09893751B2 |
Antenna circuit, communication device, and communication method for improving reception signal quality
An antenna circuit which includes, a resonant circuit which is configured by at least first and second capacitors, and antenna coils; a transmitter-receiver circuit which has a transmission terminal and a reception terminal; and an adjustment circuit which adjusts an impedance between the resonant circuit and the transmitter-receiver circuit, in which a combination of capacitances of the first and second capacitors is set in a predetermined range of a composite capacitance of the first and second capacitors, and a signal from a terminal which is provided between the first and second capacitors is input to the reception terminal. |
| US09893750B2 |
Tunable transmit cancellation in acoustic receiver filters
RF filtering circuitry includes a first input/output node, a second input/output node, a common node, first filtering circuitry, second filtering circuitry, and transmit signal cancellation circuitry. The first filtering circuitry is coupled between the first input/output node and the common node, and is configured to pass RF transmit signals within one or more transmit signal frequency bands while attenuating signals outside the one or more transmit signal frequency bands. The second filtering circuitry is coupled between the second input/output node and the common node, and is configured to pass RF receive signals within one or more receive signal frequency bands while attenuating signals outside the one or more receive signal frequency bands. The transmit signal cancellation circuitry is coupled between the common node and the second input/output node and is configured to generate a transmit cancellation signal from the RF transmit signals. |
| US09893749B2 |
Receiver architecture with analog complex filter for OFDMA reception
Methods and devices are provided for processing a received communication signal by a UE using an analog complex filter and using a single analog-to-digital converter (ADC). A control channel of the communication signal may be decoded to determine the frequency range in which a payload channel is located. The UE may then demodulate only the frequency range containing the payload channel. A complex representation of the received payload channel may be provided to the analog complex filter, with the payload channel shifted to a non-zero frequency IF. The analog complex filter may attenuate any portion of the complex representation that falls near −IF. The UE may then convert only one component path of the filtered complex representation to a digital signal. A complex representation of the digital signal may then be generated, with the payload channel shifted to DC. |
| US09893744B1 |
Modification of default priorities for communications in overlapping frequencies
Techniques for harmonizing wireless communications performed by a computing device which communicates using varying wireless communication standards are described herein. For instance, a computing device may include multiple chipsets with associated antennas that are configured to perform wireless communications using separate wireless standards which operate at overlapping frequencies. To avoid performance degradation experienced in simultaneous use cases with communications operating at overlapping frequencies, the multiple chipsets may be configured with logic to determine which communications are prioritized when multiple chipsets attempt to communicate simultaneously. The multiple chipsets may be communicatively coupled to coordinate their communications by prioritizing certain types of communications over other types of communications to avoid simultaneous communications in overlapping frequencies. In this way, multiple chipsets that communicate using different standards at overlapping frequencies may avoid performance issues experienced in simultaneous use cases, while performing the communications which are of a highest priority level. |
| US09893740B1 |
Methods and apparatus for an analog-to-digital converter
Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC may convert an analog signal to a digital signal utilizing a two-phase conversion process to convert the signal into coarse bits and fine bits. The ADC may generate a time-residue signal and utilize the time-residue signal to determine the fine bits. |
| US09893739B2 |
Analogue to digital converter
A SAR ADC is disclosed. The SAR ADC includes a plurality of SAR-capacitors. For each of the SAR-capacitors, a sampling-switching-block is configured to connect a first plate of the associated SAR-capacitor to either: v-ref-low, v-ref-high or an input-voltage. The SAR ADC also includes an offset-capacitor and an offset-switching-block configured to connect a first plate of the offset-capacitor to either: v-ref-low, or v-ref-high. The SAR ADC further includes a SAR machine configured to provide signals to the sampling-switching-blocks and the offset-switching-block in order to define a calibration-sampling-mode-of-operation, a calibration-conversion-mode-of-operation, a sampling-mode-of-operation and a conversion-mode-of-operation. A code converter is also includes and is configured to subtract the offset-value from the raw-digital-word in order to provide a digital-output-signal. |
| US09893738B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter and communication device including the same
An analog-to-digital converter includes a sample hold circuit configured to receive an analog input signal based on an operating mode, the operating mode being one of at least two modes including a sample mode and a hold mode. The sample hold circuit includes a first transistor including a control terminal and a first terminal, the first transistor configured to receive a control signal via the control terminal and receive the analog input signal via the first terminal. The analog-to-digital converter further includes a bootstrap switch operationally connected to the control terminal and the first terminal of the first transistor, the bootstrap switch configured to form a first current path from a power source based on the analog input signal and a boosted voltage of the control terminal of the first transistor in the sample mode, the control terminal bing along the first current path in the sample mode. |
| US09893736B2 |
Analog to digital conversion device, illuminance sensor device, and electronic apparatus comprising the illuminance sensor device
An analog to digital conversion device has a plurality of, two, for example, analog to digital converters, and a reference charge quantity interchange section arranged and configured to interchange, among the plurality of analog to digital converters, reference quantities of electric charge (e.g., reference currents or reference capacitances) to be used therein during an analog to digital conversion period. |
| US09893732B1 |
Techniques for bypassing defects in rows of circuits
An integrated circuit includes rows of circuits. A first region of the integrated circuit includes a first portion of each of the rows of circuits, and a second region of the integrated circuit includes a second portion of each of the rows of circuits. The integrated circuit shifts functions for a first subset of the rows of circuits to a second subset of the rows of circuits in the first region based on a first defect in a first one of the rows of circuits in the first region. The integrated circuit shifts functions for a third subset of the rows of circuits to a fourth subset of the rows of circuits in the second region based on a second defect in a second one of the rows of circuits in the second region. |
| US09893730B1 |
Three rail level shifter
A level shifter generates at least three separate voltage rails. The level shifter features two cross-coupled devices coupled together in parallel by a capacitor. A first stage includes a PMOS cross-coupled device in series with a PMOS cascode circuit that generates an upper voltage rail. A second stage includes a NMOS cross-coupled device in series with a NMOS cascode circuit that generates a lower rail. A third stage includes the PMOS cascode circuit and the NMOS cascode circuit that together are configured to generate a third voltage rail. |
| US09893729B2 |
Level shifter of driving circuit
A level shifter applied to a driving circuit of a display is disclosed. The level shifter at least includes a first stage of level shifting unit, a second stage of level shifting unit, and two third stage of level shifting units belonging to different power domains and used to perform boost conversion of voltage signals in different power domains. The first stage of level shifting unit includes eight transistors. The second stage of level shifting unit includes four transistors. The two third stage of level shifting units both include six transistors and two output terminals. The level shifter of the driving circuit in this invention makes the output terminals of the two third stage of level shifting units belonging to different power domains to synchronously output the voltage-shifted voltage signals. |
| US09893724B2 |
Isolated output switching circuit
A semiconductor device includes an output switching device having an input node, an output node, and a control input node. The control input node enables an input voltage applied to the input node to be switched to the output node. A gate pull-down circuit controls the control input node of the output switching device in response to at least one control signal. The gate pull-down circuit activates the output switching device by raising the voltage level of the control input node above the voltage level of the output node and deactivates the output switching device by clamping the control input node to the voltage level of the output node. A gate pull-up circuit receives an enable signal and generates the at least one control signal to the gate pull-down circuit in response to the enable signal. |
| US09893718B1 |
Transmission driver impedance calibration circuit
A transmission driver impedance calibration circuit and method. A circuit is disclosed that includes: a controller for controlling a set of switches; a comparator having an output that is coupled to the controller; and a first comparator input coupled to: a first selectable node coupled between a first p-type adjustable resistor segment (PSEG) and an external resistor; and a second selectable node coupled between a pair of internal resistors; and a second comparator input coupled to: a third selectable node coupled between a second PSEG and a tcoil resistor, the tcoil resistor being further coupled in series to a n-type adjustable resistor segment (NSEG); and a fourth selectable node coupled between the tcoil resistor and the NSEG. |
| US09893715B2 |
Adaptive self-tunable antenna system and method
Adaptive self-tunable antenna systems and methods are provided including a closed-loop system for sensing near-field RF signals of transmitted RF signals and tuning an antenna or switching between multiple antennas, so that the strength of the transmitted RF signals is maximized. A sensing antenna detects the near-field RF signal, which is filtered and converted to an RF strength control signal that can be used to generate an antenna tuning control signal. An antenna tuner uses the antenna tuning control signal to keep the antenna in resonance by dynamically changing the electrical length of the antenna or switching between multiple antennas to maximize the strength of the radiated RF signal. Such antennas may be less prone to detuning due to interaction with human bodies or other objects. Dynamically matching the antennas to an RF power amplifier and low noise amplifier can improve stability, power efficiency, gain, noise figure, and receiver sensitivity. |
| US09893714B2 |
Configurable FIR filter with segmented cells
A FIR filter includes segment cells, each of which is configurable as an interpolation filter, a decimation filter, a symmetric filter, or an asymmetric filter. Two or more of the segment cells are configurable to be cascaded to form an interpolation filter, a decimation filter, a symmetric filter, an asymmetric filter, a complex symmetric filter, or a complex asymmetric filter. The FIR filter includes registers corresponding to the segment cells for storing coefficient values of the corresponding segment cells. The FIR filter further includes control circuits corresponding to the segment cells for generating control signals. |
| US09893713B2 |
Wide bandwidth muliplexer based on LC and acoustic resonator circuits for performing carrier aggregation
A wide bandwidth multiplexer (MUX) is provided that performs carrier aggregation. The MUX combines at least a first LC filter that acts as a low band filter, at least a first composite filter that acts as a middle band filter, and at least one other LC or composite filter that acts as a high band filter. The wide bandwidth MUX has low insertion loss and provides sufficient attenuation at adjacent edges of adjacent pass bands to prevent overlap between adjacent pass bands. |
| US09893711B2 |
Piezoelectric device
A piezoelectric device is provided with a rectangular crystal piece having driving electrodes on front and back main faces thereof, and a base member having two electrode pads near one short side of the crystal piece. The crystal piece is supported on the base member by two support portions near one short side thereof, and by an auxiliary support portion on the other short side thereof. A position of the auxiliary support portion relative to the other short side, where L is a distance between two short sides, and H is a distance from the other short side to a peripheral edge of the auxiliary support portion nearest to the other short side, is set to a position at which the distance H stays in a range of distances in which a maximum tensile stress acting on the auxiliary support portion and a maximum von Mises stress of the crystal piece are within predetermined ranges. |
| US09893707B2 |
Circuits, devices and methods related to quadrant phase shifters
Circuits, devices and methods are disclosed, including a phase shifter configured to provide a bypass state, a single first-handed quarter-wave state, a double first-handed quarter-wave state, or a single second-handed quarter-wave state utilizing two or less inductors. In some implementations, a phase shifter is disclosed to provide a first node and a second node, a first switchable path having a first inductance and a second inductance arranged in series between the first and second nodes, a capacitive grounding path implemented on each side of each of the first and second inductances, at least one of the capacitive grounding paths configured as a switchable capacitive grounding path, and a reconfiguring circuit assembly configured to allow the phase shifter to provide a plurality of quadrant phase shifts utilizing the first and second inductances and the at least one switchable capacitive grounding path. |
| US09893702B2 |
Notch filter with differential split inductor
A notch filter including an inductor-capacitor tuning circuit is disclosed. The inductor-capacitor tuning circuit may determine a frequency response of the notch filter in accordance with an associated resonant frequency. In some exemplary embodiments, the inductor-capacitor circuit may include a differential inductor divided at a symmetry point and a variable capacitor coupled to the differential inductor at the symmetry point. |
| US09893700B2 |
Local area network filtering circuit
A LAN filtering circuit is discloses. The LAN filtering circuit includes an isolation transformer and a common-mode chock. The isolation transformer includes a first winding and a second winding coupling to each other. The first winding has a first tap, a second tap, and a center tap. A distance between the first tap and the second tap is not only larger than a distance between the first tap and the center tap but also larger than a distance between the second tap and the center tap. The common-mode chock includes a first input port, a second input port, and an input port arranged in a sequence order, the first tap is electrically connected to the first input port, the second tap is electrically connected to the second input port, and the center tap is electrically connected to the input port. |
| US09893696B2 |
Loudness matching
An example method may involve a device determining a first loudness representation for a playback device based on a first equalization setting applied to a representation of average music. The device may also determine a second loudness representation for the playback device, based on a second equalization setting applied to the representation of average music. The device may also determine a loudness adjustment factor based on the first and second loudness representations, and then causing the playback device to play back media based on the second equalization setting and the determined loudness adjustment factor. |
| US09893693B2 |
Gain control method for a broadband inductorless low noise amplifier
A mobile device comprising an antenna, a receiver coupled to the antenna, and a transmitter coupled to the antenna, wherein the receiver, the transmitter, or both comprise a low noise amplifier comprising an adjustable gain and a variable impedance controller, and wherein the low noise amplifier is configured to sink current and to adjust a shunt resistance substantially simultaneously. Included is a method comprising receiving an electrical signal, substantially simultaneously adjusting an input impedance and a gain factor, amplifying the electrical signal, thereby producing an amplified signal, and outputting the amplified signal. |
| US09893691B2 |
Impedance converter and condenser microphone
In an impedance converter using an electron tube as an active element, output impedance can be made sufficiently low, and the number of circuit elements therefor is decreased and a circuit configuration therefor is made simple. Provided is an impedance converter having an electron tube cathode-follower connected. The impedance converter includes a bias diode that provides a bias voltage to a cathode of the electron tube, high resistance elements that provide a voltage of the bias diode to a grid of the electron tube, a load circuit connected to the electron tube, and a complementary emitter output circuit including two transistors, respective bases of which are connected to one end and the other end of the bias diode. |
| US09893689B2 |
System and method for a multistage operational amplifier
According to an embodiment, an operational amplifier includes a first amplifier stage coupled between an input node and an intermediate node, a second amplifier stage coupled between the intermediate node and an output node, a compensation capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the intermediate node and a second terminal, and a compensation amplifier coupled between the output node and the second terminal. The compensation amplifier has a positive gain greater than one. |