| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09936962B2 |
Patient specific glenoid guide
A patient-specific guide tool for guiding an object toward a glenoid face of a scapula of a patient for implantation of a shoulder prosthetic device is disclosed. The guide tool includes a guide portion that includes a guide surface. The guide surface is configured to guide movement of the object toward the glenoid face. Furthermore, the guide tool includes a patient-specific portion that is operably coupled to the glenoid portion. The patient-specific portion includes at least one patient-specific surface that is three-dimensionally contoured and that is configured to nest and closely conform to a corresponding surface of the scapula to thereby position the guide surface at a predetermined position relative to the glenoid face. |
| US09936960B2 |
Detachable orthopaedic reamer handle
An orthopedic reamer includes a drive train having a drive shaft, a reamer head connector driven by the drive shaft and a locking structure surrounding at least a portion of the drive shaft; and a handle assembly configured to detachably connect to the locking structure. The handle assembly includes a grip; a connecting structure connected to the grip that is configured to slide over the locking structure; a bridge connecting the grip to the connecting structure; a stop having a first interface feature connected to the bridge between the grip and the connecting structure; and a knob assembly at least partly surrounding the bridge having a second interface feature that is mateable to the first interface feature. The knob assembly is configured to prevent detachment of the handle assembly from the locking structure unless the second interface feature is mated with the first interface feature. |
| US09936959B2 |
Hemostatic device
A hemostatic device includes a flexible band adapted to be wrapped around a patient's limb at a site on the limb where bleeding is to be stopped, a portion for securing the band in a wrapped state to the limb, a curved plate which is made of a material more rigid than the band and at least a portion of which is curved toward the inner peripheral side thereof, a main balloon which is provided on the inner peripheral side of the curved plate and which inflates when a fluid is introduced therein, and a pressing member which is provided between the curved plate and the main balloon so that at least a portion thereof overlaps with the balloon and which is adapted for pressing against the balloon. The device provides an excellent hemostatic effect and prevents numbness and poor circulation in areas peripheral to the site of attachment. |
| US09936957B2 |
Micro-coil assembly
Disclosed is a micro-coil assembly including a micro-coil unit which is inserted into an aneurysm or other vascular malformation of a patient and prevents inflow of blood by inducing thrombus, a coil pusher unit which is arranged adjacent to the micro-coil unit and delivers the micro-coil unit to the aneurysm or other vascular malformation of the patient, a tensile wire which is relatively movably arranged in the coil pusher unit, a tie which connects the micro-coil unit and the tensile wire, and a tie cutting unit which is arranged adjacent to the coil pusher unit such that at least a part of the tie cutting unit is movable between a setting position for maintaining the tie in a tied state and a cutting position for cutting the tie, and cuts the tie when moved to the cutting position. |
| US09936956B2 |
Devices and methods for left atrial appendage closure
Surgical and percutaneous devices for closing tissue, for example, the left atrial appendage, may have an elongate body with a stiffened proximal portion, a flexible middle portion, a distal portion, a closure element with a loop having a continuous aperture therethrough, and a suture loop. The closure devices may have a malleable member attached to the elongate body that may be configured to retain a curve after a force is applied to the malleable member. System and methods for closing the left atrial appendage may utilize a closure device and a curved guide device, and the closure device and curved guide device may be self-orienting. |
| US09936954B2 |
Devices and methods for sealing staples in tissue
Devices and methods for sealing staples in tissue using a plurality of adjunct segments are described herein. In one embodiment, an end effector for a surgical instrument is described that can include first and second jaws, where the first jaw has a cartridge body removably attached thereto and the cartridge body has a plurality of staple cavities configured to seat staples therein. The second jaw can have an anvil with a plurality of staple forming openings formed therein, and at least one of the first and second jaws can be movable relative to the other jaw. The end effector can also include a plurality of sealing adjunct segments coupled to one another and at least one of the first and second jaws such that a staple ejected from the cartridge body passes through one of the plurality of sealing adjunct segments and tissue disposed between the first and second jaws. |
| US09936953B2 |
End effectors, surgical stapling devices, and methods of using same
An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure includes an anvil and a cartridge. The ends of the cartridge are coupled to the ends of the anvil. Each of the anvil and the cartridge is insertable through a trocar. The end effector is operable from outside the patient. A stapling device includes the end effector coupled to a manipulator via a shaft. The manipulator is accessible to the surgeon. The surgeon uses a clamping mechanism to selectively move the anvil and the cartridge to clamp the anatomical structure. A flexible member extends through the shaft and is coupled to at least one of the anvil and the cartridge and to the clamping mechanism. Operating the clamping mechanism withdraws the flexible member (46) from the end effector and clamps the anatomical structure between the anvil and the cartridge. |
| US09936952B2 |
Introducer assembly for a surgical fastener applying apparatus
An introducer assembly can be releasably coupled to a surgical instrument and includes a collar, a tip, and an elongated body portion disposed between the collar and the tip. The tip may be configured to releasably engage a dissecting device. The collar may releasably couple the introducer assembly to a shaft of a surgical fastener applying apparatus. The tip may have an opening to receive a distalmost end of an end effector of a surgical fastener applying apparatus. |
| US09936951B2 |
Interchangeable tip reload
A surgical device including an end effector that is configured and adapted to receive an interchangeable tip is disclosed. Also disclosed are several interchangeable tips that are configured and adapted for different surgical procedures. The interchangeable tips facilitate the performance of different surgical procedures while using the same device. |
| US09936948B2 |
Systems and methods for increased operating room efficiency
Systems, devices and methods to improve safety and efficiency in an operating room comprise providing a suture package that holds new suture needles and needle receptacles for storing used needles. The devices can be safely worn for the surgeon to self-dispense new suture needles in the near surgical field and to secure the used needles into a needle trap or a needle retainer located on his extremity, on his operative instruments or on the surgical drapes. The device may provide automated and/or simplified needle counting both during use and after removal from the surgical field. The device may be configured for ergonomic and efficient use so as to minimize the actions and motions of the surgeon to dispense and secure the needle. |
| US09936947B2 |
Systems for deploying knotless suture anchoring clamps
Suture locking clamps for securing prostheses such as heart valves or annuloplasty rings with sutures and without knots improve the ease of implantation. The clamps have opposed clamp halves separated by a slot opening to one side and surrounded by a biasing member such as one or more C-clip springs. Sutures pass laterally into the slot which is held open by a retention member positioned between the clamp halves. The locking clamp slides along the sutures into position, the tension of the sutures is adjusted, and the retention member removed to allow the biasing member to clamp the sutures between the clamp halves. A delivery tool used to deliver and deploy the locking clamps contains a number of clamps within a delivery tube in a stack and bonded together for safety and a common retention member. The tool has a longitudinal channel on one side for entry of sutures. |
| US09936943B1 |
Suture passing surgical device with atraumatic grasper preventing accidental perforations
A suture passing device includes a grasping mechanism and cannula having a sharp edge on a distal end. The grasper mechanism includes a hollow shaft slidably disposed within the cannula, with a first jaw fixedly secured thereto, and a second jaw pivotally coupled thereto, to pivot between a closed position wherein the second jaw engages the first jaw, and an open position. The slidable shaft permits the jaws to occupy a retracted position within the cannula, and an extended position. A plunger is slidably disposed within the hollow shaft, and pivotally coupled to the second jaw. A first handle is secured to the shaft, while a second handle is secured to the plunger, for jaw engagement/disengagement. The device also include means for locking sliding travel of the shaft relative to the cannula, after a full cycle of the slidable travel of the jaws between the extended and retracted positions has occurred. |
| US09936939B2 |
Tissue repair devices
The present disclosure relates to an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly includes an anchor defining a cavity and an opening to the cavity; and a headless insertion member configured for arrangement within the anchor cavity, the insertion member including a body having a threaded proximal portion, a non-threaded distal portion, and a cannulation extending a partial length of the insertion member. Other anchor assemblies, anchors, and delivery devices are also disclosed. |
| US09936938B2 |
Balloon with shape control for spinal procedures
In intervertebral operative spinal procedures, using separate or pre-attached spreader blocks to control the directional growth of a distracting balloon. |
| US09936936B2 |
Method and system for PDA-based ultrasound
A method and system are disclosed for a compact, inexpensive ultrasound system using an off-the-shelf personal digital assistant (PDA) device interfacing to a hand-held probe assembly through a standard digital interface. The hand-held probe assembly comprises a detachable transducer head attached to a beamforming module that performs digital beamforming. The PDA runs Windows applications and displays menus and images to a user. The PDA also runs ultrasound data processing software to support a plurality of imaging modes. An internal battery is provided in the PDA to power the system. The transducer head is detachable from the beamforming module. |
| US09936926B2 |
System and method of small field of view X-ray imaging
A system and method of X-ray imaging includes an X-ray emitter that projects X-rays. An X-ray receiver receives X-rays from the X-ray emitter to produce a plurality of projection images. A filter with at least one filter leaf absorbs at least a portion of the X-rays from the X-ray emitter to define a limited field of view within a full field of view, wherein the X-rays are attenuated in at least one attenuated portion of the full field of view. A processor reconstructs a three dimensional image based upon the projection images of the full field of view. The limited field view is located within the reconstructed three dimensional image. At least one corrective parameter is determined from the reconstructed three dimensional image. A three dimensional image is reconstructed based upon the limited field of view and the at least one corrective parameter. |
| US09936924B2 |
Task-based source-detector trajectories for tomographic imaging
An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method for applying task-based performance predictors (measures of noise, spatial resolution, and detectability index) based on numerical observer models and approximations to the local noise and spatial resolution properties of the CBCT reconstruction process (e.g., penalized-likelihood iterative reconstruction). These predictions are then used to identify projections views (i.e., points that will constitute the scan trajectory) that maximize task performance, beginning with the projection view that maximizes detectability, proceeding to the next-best view, and continuing in an (arbitrarily constrained) orbit that can be physically realized on advanced robotic C-arm platforms. The performance of CBCT reconstructions arising from a task-based trajectory is superior to simple and complex orbits by virtue of improved spatial resolution and noise characteristics (relative to the specified imaging task) associated with the projection views constituting the customized scan orbit. |
| US09936920B2 |
Device and method to improve dependability of physiological parameter measurements
Self measurements of physiological parameters such as blood pressure are prone to errors and artifacts since they are often not done according to established and standardized protocols i.e., such that predetermined conditions for a reliable measurement are not met. To determine whether the predetermined conditions for a reliable measurement are met one or more physiological and environmental sensors are used to determine a measurement context. The obtained sensor data is compared with predetermined thresholds to determine whether the context allows a reliable self test. In case the predetermined conditions are not met based on the obtained sensor data instructions are given to guide the subject that wants to do a self test. |
| US09936918B2 |
Insulation of micro structures
A method of providing a metal coating on a substrate (10), and electrically insulating sections/parts of the metal coated substrate from each other. A substrate is provided with an insulating material in the substrate, the insulating first material extending through the thickness of the substrate and protruding above one surface of the substrate. It forms an enclosed section/portion (14) of the substrate. A protective structure (15) is provided on the insulating material such that it covers the entire circumference thereof. The insulating material is selectively etched to create an under-etch (18) under the protective structure. Finally conductive material (19) is deposited to provide a metal coating over the substrate, whereby the under-etch will provide a disruption in the deposited metal coating, thereby electrically insulating the enclosed section from the surrounding substrate. |
| US09936912B2 |
Device for measuring a cycling cadence
The present invention relates to a device (100) for measuring a cycling cadence, a method (500) of operating a device (100) for measuring a cycling cadence, and a cycling cadence computer program. The device (100) comprises a motion sensor (such as, e.g., an accelerometer) for detecting a movement of the device (100) and for generating a motion signal (x, y, z) corresponding to the movement; a cadence determination unit (300) for determining cycling cadence based on the motion signal (x, y, z). The device (100) can be worn on the cyclist's wrist or arm (110). The motion sensor in the device is able to pick up the tiny movements of the arm or wrist that correspond to the cadence. Optionally, an algorithm is applied that can derive the cadence from a noisy signal. |
| US09936909B2 |
Zwitterion surface modifications for continuous sensors
Devices are provided for measurement of an analyte concentration, e.g., glucose in a host. The device can include a sensor configured to generate a signal associated with a concentration of an analyte; and a sensing membrane located over the sensor. The sensing membrane comprises a diffusion resistance domain configured to control a flux of the analyte therethrough. The diffusion resistance domain comprises one or more zwitterionic compounds and a base polymer comprising both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. |
| US09936908B1 |
In vivo analyte detection system
A light source emits light into a first portion of a living body. Functionalized particles within the body are configured to specifically bind to a target analyte, and upon receiving the emitted light, undergo a reaction that separates a detectable label from the functionalized particle. A sensor device is configured to detect a response signal from a second portion of the living body that is indicative of an abundance of the detectable label in the second portion. A control system uses the sensor device to obtain sensor data indicative of the response signal from the second portion of the living body detected by the sensor device during a measurement interval, and determines a presence or absence of the target analyte within the first portion of the living body based in part on the obtained data. |
| US09936906B2 |
System and methods for managing blood loss of a patient
One variation of the method for managing blood loss of a patient includes: receiving an image of a physical sample; extracting a feature from an area of the image corresponding to the physical sample; estimating a blood volume indicator of the physical sample according to the extracted feature; estimating a patient blood loss based on the blood volume indicator; estimating a euvolemic patient hematocrit based on an estimated patient blood volume and the estimated patient blood loss; receiving a measured patient hematocrit; and generating a volemic status indicator based on a comparison between the measured patient hematocrit and the estimated euvolemic patient hematocrit. |
| US09936904B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated measurement of chiral analyte concentration
Perioperative patient blood glucose concentrations are determined by imposing patient effluent ultrafiltrate through a sample cell incorporated in an automated polarimeter. The device includes an optical platform, fluid handling subassembly, controlling electronics, and integration software. A stable collimated light source of known intensity and distinct specified wavelength is passed through an optical platform including a polarizer, retarder, bandpass filters, sample flow cell, analyzer and detector. The angular rotation of the transmitted light resulting from the glucose contained in patient ultrafiltrate collected in the sample flow cell is recorded and provides a measure of the glucose concentration. |
| US09936903B2 |
Detection of contamination at sensor contacts
Embodiments herein provide detection of contamination at one or more contacts of a sensor system. The sensor system includes a sensor assembly and an electronics assembly communicatively coupled together by one or more contacts. The sensor assembly passes a sensor signal to the electronics assembly for further processing. The electronics assembly includes a detection contact for detecting contamination on or near one or more contacts of the sensor assembly and/or the electronics assembly. A switch selectively couples the detection contact to a bias voltage during a measurement mode and to a reference voltage during a detection mode, the reference voltage being different from the bias voltage. A method of contamination detection includes switching the electronics assembly between the measurement mode and the detection mode, and monitoring for a change in the output signal received by the electronics assembly. |
| US09936897B2 |
Breath end-tidal gas monitor
An improved apparatus and method for capturing and analyzing the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. The CO2 level of air drawn into the system (10) is monitored to distinguish inhalation and exhalation of breath. Upon detection of a decrease in the CO2 level in the air drawn into the system (10), indicating a transition between exhalation and inhalation a pair of flow selector valves (26, 28) are operated to capture the end-tidal volume of air drawn into the system (10) immediately prior to the detection of the decrease in the CO2 level. Incoming air is diverted around the captured volume of air, and the CO2 levels are continually monitored to ensure that the captured volume of air corresponds to the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. Once the captured volume of air is positively identified as the end-tidal portion of an exhalation, the captured volume is routed through a gas analyzer (44) for analysis of one or more predetermined gas levels. |
| US09936893B2 |
Device for detecting electric potentials
A device for detecting electric potentials includes a plurality of measuring inputs (9) for connecting to measuring electrodes (11), which can be placed on the body of a patient (3), a plurality of measuring amplifiers (Op1, . . . , OpN), and a potential output (27) for connecting to an additional electrode (31), which can be placed on the body of the patient (3), to which a preset voltage can be applied. A summing unit (17) sends a signal, which is an indicator of the mean value of the signals sent by the measuring amplifiers (Op1, . . . , OpN). A current-measuring device (29) sends a current signal, which is proportional to the current flowing through the potential output. An analyzing unit (35) is connected to receive a potential output voltage signal, the summing unit output (19) signal and the current-measuring device signal. The analyzing unit is configured to generate an impedance signal from the fed signals. |
| US09936890B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting a threshold during atrial arrhythmia episode detection in an implantable medical device
An implantable medical device and method for determining an atrial arrhythmia event that includes a cardiac sensing device comprising a housing having circuitry positioned therein, a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the circuitry to sense a cardiac signal, and a processor configured to generate an initial detection of an atrial arrhythmia event in response to an atrial arrhythmia threshold, determine whether a P-wave occurs during the initial detection, determine an adaptive threshold in response to the P-wave being detected, adjust the atrial arrhythmia threshold in response to the adaptive threshold, and generate a subsequent initial detection of an atrial arrhythmia event using the adjusted atrial arrhythmia threshold. |
| US09936889B2 |
Apparatus and method of controlling threshold for detecting peaks of physiological signals
A method of controlling a threshold for detecting peaks of physiological signals includes: obtaining a physiological signal measured from a person being examined; determining whether a peak of the physiological signals is detected based on a result of comparing the physiological signals with a threshold; and controlling the threshold based on a minimum threshold and either the threshold or a feature value of the detected peak based on a result of the determining. When a threshold for detecting peaks of physiological signals is controlled, even if an interval between the peaks is irregular or there is a large difference in values of the peaks, the peaks can be accurately detected. |
| US09936882B2 |
Blood pressure monitor coordinated with a cardiovascular health condition monitoring module
A blood pressure monitor equipped with a cardiovascular health condition monitoring module includes: a blood pressure measurement device measuring a user's blood pressure signal; a host including a blood pressure monitor microprocessor that processes blood pressure correlated signal; a control panel equipped to the host and configured to control blood pressure measured by the blood pressure monitor and heart rhythm analysis; a first display device displaying blood pressure result; and a second display device displaying heart rhythm analysis from the cardiovascular health condition monitoring module. |
| US09936879B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for adaptive image acquisition
A method of adaptive image acquisition includes obtaining a guide image of patient tissue; receiving an intraoperative image of a portion of the patient tissue from an imaging instrument; and storing the intraoperative image. The method includes comparing the intraoperative image with the guide image to identify at least one region of the guide image matching the intraoperative image; and determining whether the at least one region identified meets at least one accuracy criterion. When the at least one region meets the at least one accuracy criterion, the guide image is rendered with an indication of the at least one region on a display. When the at least one region does not meet the at least one accuracy criterion, the method includes receiving and storing a further intraoperative image; combining the further intraoperative image with the intraoperative image; and repeating the comparing and determining. |
| US09936871B2 |
Non-sliding and non-sutured contact lens system for ophthalmic procedures
A non-sliding, non-sutured hands-free contact lens assembly for ophthalmic procedures utilizes a number of microstructures strategically placed on the bottom of either the contact lens or the bottom of a contact lens holder ring. After the contact lens, or the contact lens assembled with the contact lens holder ring, is placed on the cornea of the eye and centered, a surgeon applies downward pressure either on the contact lens itself or on the lens holder ring. This secures the lens assembly to the cornea due to increased friction between the microstructures and the tissues of the eye when the microstructures penetrate through the tear film and, optionally, viscous solution film and into the contact with superficial layer of cornea or other parts of the eye, thus temporarily anchoring the contact lens, or lens holder, to the desired surgical site. |
| US09936869B2 |
Ocular fundus camera system and methodology
An ocular fundus camera system and an associated methodology. The system includes (a) an image sensor disposed along a fundus-image reflection path adjacent that path's downstream end, and in optical communication with light carried in this path, (b) an aperture centered on the reflection path's long axis, operatively associated with, and stationary with respect to, the sensor at a location which is upstream from the sensor, and (c), for accomplishing (1) precision fundus-image focusing on the sensor, and additionally (2) autorefraction, optical, light-content shifting structure, operable selectively for producing, within that portion of the reflection path which is disposed downstream from the shifting structure, relative trans-axial displacement solely of any non-collimated light carried in that portion of the main path which is disposed upstream from the shifting structure. |
| US09936868B2 |
Systems and methods for obtaining low-angle circumferential optical access to the eye
A system for obtaining low-angle circumferential optical access to an eye of a subject. The system includes a light source to generate a beam of light; a beam steering mechanism to steer the beam of light a focusing lens to focus the beam of light; and a contact lens to direct the beam of light into the eye of the subject, the contact lens including a tapered reflective surface to direct the beam of light into the eye of the subject. |
| US09936860B2 |
Bending apparatus
A bending apparatus includes: a bending portion; an operation element erected vertically from an operation portion having a longitudinal axis and has a shaft portion in which a tilt direction and tilt angle are changeable; a pulling member having one end connected to the bending portion; a pulley on which a rotary body around which the pulling member is wound is arranged; a motor that generates a driving force that rotates the pulley to pull the pulling member wound around the rotary body in a winding direction; a hanging frame that extends in a diameter direction of the shaft portion, and includes an attachment portion to which the other end of the pulling member is attached; and an attachment path setting member provided inside the operation portion, which changes a path of the pulling to the longitudinal axis direction and guides the pulling member to the attachment portion. |
| US09936859B2 |
Medical system
A medical system includes an endoscope apparatus including a plurality of insertion portions and a main unit supporting them; a sheath unit attachable to a biological subject and having a through-hole through which the insertion portions can be passed; a monitor; barcodes from which the insertion portions issue identification information; an identification-signal generating unit that acquires the identification information from the barcodes and outputs this to the main unit every time the insertion portions pass through the through-hole; wherein the main unit includes an image selector that displays, on the monitor, an image acquired by the insertion portion identified by the main unit as having being have passed through the sheath unit on the basis of the identification information from the identification-signal generating unit. |
| US09936856B1 |
Wine glass drying rack
Systems and methods of using a wine glass drying assembly. The wine glass drying rack assembly includes a tray with a bottom, sides, and a vertical lock. The wine glass drying rack assembly further includes a support with a locking element, stems and a top extending between the stems, where the support is coupled to the vertical lock via the locking element and where the support is rotatable about the vertical lock of the tray. The wine glass assembly also includes a rack with two wine glass supports, where the two wine glass supports define a slot for receiving wine glasses, where the rack is coupled to the top of the support via loops and where the rack is rotatable about the top of the support. |
| US09936852B2 |
Method for filling a wash tub of a dishwasher with water
A method for filling a wash tub (12) of a dishwasher (10) with water, wherein the wash tub (12) comprises a water-collecting sump pot (16) that is fixed to an opening in its bottom and said method forms part of a program cycle for the operation of the dishwasher, said method comprising the subsequent steps of: (i) opening a water inlet (13) of the dishwasher and executing a static filling of the wash tub wherein a circulation pump of the dishwasher is kept deactivated, (ii) detecting a predetermined lower water level (22) inside the sump pot (16), and (iii) starting to measure the time for the static filling when said lower water level (22) is detected. |
| US09936840B2 |
Vented refill units and dispensers having vented refill units
Exemplary embodiments of vented refill units and dispensers having vented refill units are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes a non-collapsing inverted container. The container has a neck located at the bottom of the container. A pump is secured to the neck. The pump has a housing that has a cylindrical outside surface. In addition, the housing has an attachment mechanism for attaching the pump to a venting insert. The venting insert has a cylindrical inside surface and a cylindrical outside surface. At least a portion of the venting insert is located within the neck. An air passage is located between the pump housing and the cylindrical inside surface of the venting insert. One or more apertures are located through the venting insert. A one-way air inlet valve is located proximate the one or more apertures. |
| US09936839B1 |
Bilaterally collapsible bathing receptacle
A bilaterally collapsible bathing receptacle, includes a contiguous expanse of a resilient plastic material having a first concavely curved surface and an opposing convexly curved surface; and a first hinge extending from a first end to an opposing second end of the expanse, wherein the first hinge longitudinally bisects the expanse and defines opposing longitudinal bilateral halves thereof, and the expanse is configured to assume an open, bowl-like configuration in a relaxed state, and when inwardly compressed laterally, flexes along the first hinge and places the respective first surfaces of the opposing bilateral halves into confrontation with one another. The expanse may possess a generally uniform thickness throughout excepting the first hinge. The first surface of the expanse may be less concavely curved at a central region aligned with the first hinge than at a lateral region lying outwardly relative to the central region. |
| US09936838B2 |
Countertop device having retention feature
A countertop device and related methods of use in food preparation for rotatably coupling a kitchen utensil to an anchored retention member. The countertop device can include a kitchen utensil having a manipulation end and a retaining end. The retention member can have a retention body defining a suction cup on a mounting surface. The retention member can be anchored to a flat surface using the suction cup. A retaining ball and socket mount can be utilized to rotatably attach the kitchen utensil to the retention member. The kitchen utensil can include a manipulation member and a mounting member capable of positioning a food item there between. |
| US09936836B2 |
Beverage preparation machine
The present invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) comprising: a reservoir (2) for a fluid, a brewing head (3) adapted to receive at least one ingredient capsule (100) comprising at least one beverage preparation ingredient (104), a pump (6) for pumping a predetermined volume of said fluid from said reservoir (2) to said brewing head (3), such that said fluid can be injected into said capsule (100), when said capsule (100) is received by said brewing head (3), to mix with said ingredient (104) under pressure and produce a predetermined volume of beverage, wherein the reservoir (2), the pump (6), and an inserted ingredient capsule (100) in use are in fluidic communication and form a fluid system (800), and wherein the beverage preparation machine (1) further comprises a pressure sensor (301; 302; 303; 304) adapted to measure internal pressure (P) within an ingredient capsule (100) inserted inside said brewing head (3), and a locking mechanism (401) adapted to prevent disconnection of the inserted ingredient capsule (100) from the fluid system (800) if the measured internal pressure (P) exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure value (Pt). |
| US09936835B2 |
Coffee maker and coffee brewing method based on color
A coffee maker and a method of brewing coffee are disclosed. The coffee maker includes a first roaster fitted, a second roaster fitted, and a funnel detachably attached to the first roaster providing a passage for a first amount and a second amount of coffee beans. Further, a grinder including a discharge door and a blade is detachably attached to a bottom of the funnel, a brewing container detachably attached to the bottom of the grinder. A color panel is included with a plurality of buttons, each of the plurality of the buttons corresponds to a color of a coffee desired after brewing, and a coffee-color controller configured to control the first temperature and the second temperature of the first roaster and the second roaster, respectively, based on the color of the coffee selected from the color panel. |
| US09936830B2 |
Sealing pitcher assembly
A pitcher is provided having a container body and a lid sealing assembly. The container body has a liquid retaining cavity. A pour aperture is fluidly associated with the cavity to allow liquid to be poured from the pitcher. The lid sealing assembly is removably connected to the container body. The lid sealing assembly has an actuation assembly having a push-button actuated actuator that operates a seal member. The actuator is moveable between a normal position and a use position. The seal member is positioned outside the cavity and adjacent the pour aperture. The seal member seals the pour aperture when the actuator is in the normal position and the seal member is moved from the pour aperture to open the pour aperture when the actuator is in the use position. When the seal member is moved from the pour aperture liquid can be poured from the pitcher. |
| US09936822B2 |
Garnish dispenser
A self-replenishing garnish dispenser comprising a carrier base and a plurality of separate bins receivable in the carrier base, the carrier base having a horizontally elongated channel for receiving and aligning bins side-by-side, each bin having walls forming a J-shaped space open at an upper end and a mid-height open end, the bin space being adapted to temporarily store condiments or garnish pieces received at the open upper end and dispensed at the mid-height end. |
| US09936821B2 |
Collapsible breathable mattress
A support surface assembly comprising four corner elements; at least four elongated rigid frame sections; a first air permeable layer suspended between the at least four elongated rigid frame sections; and a second air permeable layer suspended between the at least four elongated rigid frame sections; wherein the four corner elements include at least one lock element, the lock element having a first position that engages at least one elongated frame section and prevents relative movement between the four elongated rigid frame sections; the lock element having a second position that permits relative movement between the four elongated rigid frame sections. |
| US09936819B2 |
Foldable play enclosures
An enclosure that lies flat when side panels are lowered for storage. The enclosure can have play elements for small animals or infants. |
| US09936812B2 |
Leg support assembly
A leg support assembly includes a lower frame including a pair of arms orientated parallel to each other. A pad is attached to the arms. An upper frame has an open end and an open central area. The open end is directed towards the pad. A plane of the upper frame is orientated parallel to a plane of the lower frame. A flexible material is attached to the upper frame and extends across the open central area. The flexible material supports an elevated leg of a person. A plurality of supports is attached to and extends between the upper and lower frames and retains the upper frame vertically above the lower frame. The plurality of supports is hingedly coupled to the lower and upper frames to allow lowering or raising of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. |
| US09936810B2 |
Rocking chair
The present invention relates to a rocking chair, which comprises a chair framework and a chair cover installed on the framework, wherein arc-shaped bottom pipes, a back pipe, a seat frame pipe, front foot pipes, rear foot pipes, armrest pipes, armrest supporting pipes and connecting pipes are arranged on the framework; the back ends of the armrest pipes are rotatably connected with the middle part of the back pipe; the front ends of the armrest pipes are rotatably connected with the armrest supporting pipes; seat frame connecting pieces are fixedly arranged on the lower end of the back pipe which is rotatably connected with the rear part of the seat frame pipe and rotatably connected with the upper parts of the rear foot pipes through the seat frame connecting pieces; the lower parts of the rear foot pipes are rotatably connected with the rear parts of the arc-shaped bottom pipes; one end of the connecting pipe is rotatably connected with the rear foot pipes; the other end is rotatably connected with armrest fixing pieces and the front end of the seat frame pipe; one end of the front foot pipes is rotatably connected with the front parts of the arc-shaped bottom pipes; the other end is rotatably connected with the seat frame pipe through the armrest fixing pieces; the upper ends of the armrest supporting pipes are rotatably connected with the armrest pipes; the other end is rotatably connected with the armrest fixing pieces; a safety lock is positioned at the armrest supporting pipes and the armrest fixing pieces for locking the rotating freedom between the armrest supporting pipes and the armrest fixing pieces; and the front foot pipes and the rear foot pipes are rotatably connected with the arc-shaped bottom pipes directly for determining the rigidity and the stability of a bracket. |
| US09936807B2 |
Support rack and methods of making and use
A rack support and method of use. The support rack can include a plurality of support slats mounted to a support base. The support slats cooperatively provide a plurality of article mounting channels, and article mounts can be slidably mounted in the channels in order to provide a variety of orientations of the article mounts with respect to the support base. In one embodiment, the support channels are T-shaped, and the article mounts have T-shaped mounting ends that may slidably mount with the T-shaped support channels. Other support channel and mounting end shapes may be used. In some embodiments, the rack support may be used to store articles on a wall with increased article density, economy, reliability, safety, and/or usability. |
| US09936798B2 |
Tooth brush and flossing aid combination
An oral hygiene device adapted for use in the oral cavity comprises a toothbrush at one end and a flossing device at the opposite end. The flossing device comprises first and second arms and first and second floss-anchoring buttons. Each arm has a floss-receiving slot defined in a distal end. The first floss-anchoring button projects from the first arm and the second floss-anchoring button projects from the second arm. Each floss-anchoring button has two or more floss-receiving channels defined in a peripheral wall thereof. |
| US09936794B2 |
Portable wrench holder
A wrench holder for holding and carrying a set of wrenches, each wrench having an elongated handle and an open jaw extending from the handle, comprises a frame having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. There is a spring coiled about the first side of the frame. The spring has coils which receive the handles of the wrenches. The second side of the frame engages the open jaws of the wrenches when the handles of the wrenches are received between the coils of the spring to restrict outward rotation of the wrenches relative to the wrench holder. |
| US09936793B2 |
Signal cable lanyard
A lanyard comprises a signal cable, a first fastener, a second fastener and third fastener. The signal cable comprises a first end, a second end, a center portion, a first portion, and a second portion. The first portion is between the center portion and the first end. The second portion is between the center portion and the second end. A first signal connector is at the first end of the signal cable. The second signal connector at the second end of the signal cable. The first fastener is configured to constrain the first portion. The second fastener is configured to constrain the second portion. The third fastener is configured to hold an independent article and connect with the first fastener and the second fastener. |
| US09936792B2 |
Facial lift
A facial lift device to be placed behind the lips and above the gums disposed alongside the buccal and facial surface of a living human maxilla or a human mandible no further than the most posterior tooth of one side to the most posterior tooth of the opposite side of said maxilla or mandible. The facial device embodies an outward lifting force when placed within the human mouth under the lips and alongside the anterior vestibule centered on the frenulum, such that when said facial lift device is forced behind the maxilla or mandible lips, the facial lift will forcibly lift out the dermal layer reducing and removing lower facial wrinkles within the perioral region. |
| US09936789B2 |
Diffuser
A diffuser includes an air inlet for receiving an airflow from a hair dryer, an external grille having a plurality of air outlets for emitting at least part of the airflow from the diffuser, and an internal grille located between the air inlet and the external grille. |
| US09936776B2 |
Collapsible retaining structure for body piercing jewelry
Flexible retaining structures for body jewelry and method for their use. |
| US09936773B2 |
Molded hook and loop fastener and method of manufacturing cushion body
There is provided a molded hook and loop fastener having at least one hook and loop fastener member which includes a flat plate-shaped base material and a plurality of engaging elements erected on a first surface of the base material in a center region in a width direction thereof, and configured to be integrated with a cushion body upon foaming of the cushion body. A flexible sheet-shaped resin material infiltration-blocking member is fixed to right and left side edge portions of the first surface of the base material and arranged along a longitudinal direction. Right and left support members are erected on the inside of fixation portions of the resin material infiltration-blocking member with respect to the base material, to support the resin material infiltration-blocking member. An upper end of the resin material infiltration-blocking member is configured to protrude above an upper end location of the support members. |
| US09936759B2 |
Footwear and foot support member configured to allow relative heel/forefoot motion
A shoe can include support members for a plantar surface of a foot that include: (a) a heel support plate; (b) a forefoot support plate; (c) a heel securing strap component for securely engaging a heel supporting component with a wearer's heel; and (d) a unidirectional hinge, wherein the hinge allows the heel support plate to rotate internally with respect to the forefoot support plate and limit the heel support plate from rotating externally with respect to the forefoot support plate. The support member allows the shoe to twist and move with the foot, allowing the ankle to remain neutral, rather than the shoe fighting the foot's natural motion. The unidirectional nature of the hinge plate also prevents the shoe from rotating externally beyond a predetermined limit point. |
| US09936758B2 |
Article of footwear having a textile upper
An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction with varying stitch configurations. The upper may also incorporate non-textile elements, including non-textile elements on the lateral side and in the heel region. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element. |
| US09936756B1 |
Concussion sensing system with cloud-based prediction model update
A system to monitor hit impact force and to predict the likelihood of a concussion which includes a wearable device with an impact sensor and an application processor for prediction, a smartphone mobile application, a cloud-based data storage system, and an algorithm improvement system. The wearable device is mounted to the player's helmet or other locations where the impact force to the head is measured and a prediction algorithm is used to predict the potential risk of concussion. The wearable device wirelessly communicates with a smartphone, where data is viewed and associated information is managed. The impact force data and all related information are also automatically uploaded from the smartphone to a cloud-based database for storage. An algorithm improvement system will periodically analyze the data in order to build a better prediction model between impact force measured and the concussion diagnosed. Once a better prediction algorithm for such model is identified, such algorithm will be sent to the smartphone and hence downloaded to each athlete's wearable device automatically for a better prediction of concussion risk. |
| US09936753B2 |
Decorative mask
A decorative mask is used as face covering in masquerade, comprising an inverted U-shaped headband with resilient and holding function configured to wear around a user's head; a covering piece positioned on and connected with the headband by a connector; said covering piece defined as a mask; the connector including a first end arranged in one end thereof and connected in a center of a bottom end of the headband; a second end arranged in the other end thereof and connected in a center of a top end of the covering piece; and an resilient part integrally connected between the first end and the second end; the covering piece tended to return to its original position by the connector after opening it, thereby wearing securely, quickly reducing its volume, and compacting for easy storage. |
| US09936752B2 |
Clothing personalization technologies
A personalization attachment mechanism is disclosed herein. The personalization attachment mechanism, in some examples, includes an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer is configured to be shown and worn on the outside of clothing, bags, apparel, and other accessories. The outer layer can include indicia, markings, designs, decorations and the like. The outer layer is removably attachable to the inner layer. The inner is configured to be worn on the inside of clothing, bags, apparel, and other accessories. |
| US09936745B2 |
Composite garment wearable in a multitude of outfit variations
A composite garment includes a skirt, being a loose piece of material of a bell-shaped longitudinal configuration fitting around the body of a wearer from the waist downward to proximate the knees, and a bodice, being a tubular-shaped piece of material of an hour-glass longitudinal configuration fitting around the body from below the hips upward to the arm pits. Button holes are spaced apart in one of front and back portions of a hem of the skirt. Buttons are spaced apart on the other of front and back portions of the skirt hem so as to allow fitting some buttons through some button holes and thereby closing of the skirt at the hem either between the wearer's legs so as to convert the skirt into either trousers or along the wearer's shoulders and arms so as to convert the skirt into blouse. |
| US09936739B2 |
Multi-panel support foundation garment
A multi-panel support foundation garment includes a front panel, a rear panel, a left side panel, and a right side panel. The front panel is constructed of a first piece of non-stretch fabric having a larger degree of mechanical ease in a first direction than a second direction, the rear panel is constructed of a second piece of non-stretch fabric having a larger degree of mechanical ease in the first direction than the second direction, the left side panel is constructed of a first piece of stretch fabric having a larger degree of elastic stretch in the first direction than the second direction, and the right side panel constructed of a second piece of stretch fabric having a larger degree of elastic stretch in the first direction than the second direction. |
| US09936736B2 |
Battery system for electronic vapor communication device
A system, method, and device comprising a hybrid electronic communication vapor device comprising an electronic communication device and an electronic vapor device wherein the electronic vapor device is powered by at least one of battery, charging, and power system. |
| US09936733B2 |
Accessory configured to charge an aerosol delivery device and related method
An aerosol delivery device accessory is disclosed. The accessory may include a housing defining a cavity. An electrical power source and a connector may be engaged with a drawer assembly. The drawer assembly may be moveable with respect to the housing between extended and retracted configurations. In the extended configuration an aerosol delivery device may be engaged with the connector. In the retracted configuration the aerosol delivery device may be protected by the housing and recharged by the electrical power source. The drawer assembly may include a storage compartment configured to receive cartridges for the aerosol delivery device. Further, a slider may engage and move a cartridge between recessed and extended positions to store and provide access thereto. A related assembly method is also provided. |
| US09936726B2 |
Food-grade encapsulate and process for the production thereof
A food-grade encapsulate which comprises gelled proteins associated with a micronutrient, preferably a dietary mineral, as well as a process for producing the encapsulates are disclosed, with low micronutrient leakage during storage. |
| US09936725B2 |
Method, metering device and metering valve for the aseptic measured delivery of a liquid additive into a forced flow of a base product
A metering device with a product conduit section, through which a base product forcibly flows, with at least one storage container for an additive, which is connected with an associated metering point respectively via a removal conduit, which is arranged on or respectively in the product conduit section, with a mechanism for forcibly conveying the additive, with quantity-based capturing of the base product and of the additive, with sterile steam and with a control device assigned to the metering device. The metering point is provided within a metering valve, which forms a product chamber, into which the product conduit section opens and from which it exits, an initial chamber and a partial chamber as well as a receiver of an end section and of a terminal side. |
| US09936724B2 |
Sweetener compositions
The use of 3-phenyl-1-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)propan-1-one in an edible composition for suppressing, eliminating or reducing undesirable off-tastes. |
| US09936721B2 |
Drink stabilizer composition and stabilized drink compositions
Provided is a composition containing an admixture of xanthan gum and konjac mannan in a specific weight ratio that is useful for making a stable aqueous hydrocolloid. Also provided is a stabilized drink composition containing an admixture of a specific weight ratio of xanthan gum to konjac mannan, protein solids, water and optionally a salt. Also provided is a method for stabilizing aqueous colloid suspensions. Also provided is a method for stabilizing drink compositions. |
| US09936720B2 |
High fat poured feed block
Methods form high fat feed blocks having a total fat content of about 7 wt % to 33 wt %. The blocks are formed by blending a pourable composition having a viscosity of at least 1000 cP at 57° C. with high fat pellets having total fat content of at least 40 wt % based on pellet weight, where the pellets include at least one fat having a melt temperature of greater than 60° C. Also disclosed are feed blocks formed by the methods. |
| US09936719B2 |
Semi-solid animal feed blocks and method of making and using same
A semi-solid animal feed block is provided to an animal as a feed supplement or as a complete feed. The feed block is formed of a liquid binder containing denatured wheat flour protein and sugar, and a nutrient mixture of at least one animal feed component. The denatured protein and the sugar bind the nutrient mixture to form the semi-solid animal feed block as a single mass. The nutrients may be formulated to promote digestive tract development of a recently weaned livestock animal, such as a piglet. |
| US09936716B2 |
Physical method for maintaining freshness of vegetables and fruits via technology of optical signal and optical signal generator
A physical method for maintaining the freshness of vegetables and fruits via the technology of the optical signal and optical signal generator are disclosed. By adopting the computer programmable pulsed scanning signal generator, it controls the light-emitting device mounted with red, green and blue light sources group to generate optical signal with pulsed or pulsed periodical scanning combined spectrum. The optical signal irradiates the fresh-cut fruits and vegetables preserved in the storage assembly at room temperature or at controlled temperature and humidity. By regulating the optical signal with periodical pulsed spectrum or pulsed scanning spectrum or periodical pulsed scanning combined spectrum, the irradiated vegetables and fruits obtain photon energy needed in light reactions of photosynthesis from the lighting environment of artificial optical signal which is in bright and dark periodic variation. The metabolism of the cellular tissue is recovered and maintained, and the growth inertia is kept at slow speed. It effectively prolongs the freshness state of vegetables and fruits which are preserved in the storage assembly. |
| US09936712B2 |
Antimicrobial-antibiofilm compositions and methods of use thereof
Compositions comprising chelating agents, metal ion salts, gelling agents or a buffer, antimicrobials, antibiofilm agents and a pH adjuster or a buffer for the prevention and treatment of wound infections and food-borne diseases involving bacterial biofilms are disclosed. The anti-infective properties of a composition include reduction or killing of anaerobic/aerobic/facultative gram-negative and gram-positive wound infection associated bacteria occurring in polymicrobial biofilms. The composition may be in the form of lotion, cream, ointment, dressing, bandage, rinse, soak, gel, spray, or other suitable forms, including certain devices. Additionally, the invention offers an efficient method of delivering the formulated composition containing one or two chelating agents or chelating agents alone or in combination with a metal ion salt using either a nanoparticle or other efficient delivery systems. |
| US09936704B2 |
Antimicrobial colloidal silver products and method of making same
Gelatinous materials combined with the Colloidal Silver additive to formulate an antimicrobial product having cushioning properties. Embodiments of the present invention can include gelatinous materials selected from a group consisting of thermosetting polymer, Styrene-Ethylene-Butadiene-Styrene polymer (SEBS), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), and Polyurethane (PU) gelatin with and without a raised geometry on an outer surface. |
| US09936702B2 |
Suspension concentrate composition comprising isothiazoline insecticide and activated charcoal
Subject matter of the present invention is a suspension concentrate composition comprising an a) isothiazoline insecticide and b) activated charcoal, wherein the composition is substantially free of a non-polar solvent. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of said composition; a suspension obtainable by mixing water, an isothiazoline insecticide and activated charcoal; and to a method for controlling undesired attack by insects or mites, where the suspension concentrate composition or the suspension is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or on the crop plants to be protected from the respective pests. |
| US09936693B2 |
Efficacy-enhancing agent composition for amino acid-based agrochemicals
The present invention is an efficacy-enhancing agent composition for amino acid-based agrochemicals, which contains 3 kinds of specific quaternary ammonium salts having an ester group in a specific mass ratio. |
| US09936689B2 |
Methods and devices for preserving tissues
Methods and apparatus for preserving detached tissues, especially digits and limbs, which are detached as a result of traumatic amputation. By using the methods and apparatus, detached tissues can be preserved for greater lengths of time and are ultimately in a better condition for replantation surgery. |
| US09936687B1 |
Deer scent stake
Devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for providing deer scent stakes with removable caps to access reusable cylinders that can hold scented balls that can replenished with deer scents. The stakes can be placed at pre-determined distances in order to be used as yardage type markers for hunters to estimate the shooting distance to the deer target that approaches the stake(s). |
| US09936686B2 |
Method and apparatus for the management of a soil pest
A method and apparatus for the management of a soil pest is disclosed and which includes a source of high voltage electricity; at least one capacitor for storing the high voltage electricity; a multiplicity of electrodes inserted into a soil location having a soil pest to be managed, and an electrical switch which is controllably opened and closed so as to form a pulse of electricity which is passed through the soil location and between the electrodes so as to effect the management of the soil pest. |
| US09936685B2 |
Hooded field crop spray apparatus for spraying crops
An apparatus comprises an upper air guide hood and a lower air guide hood spaced from each other. Spray nozzles are arranged between these two air guide hoods. The air guide hoods hang above or just in the tops of the crops. During the migration of the apparatus the crop is as it were torn open by the wind and/or by contact with the apparatus, so that the spray liquid is distributed among the crop. |
| US09936684B2 |
Furniture piece with insect control barrier and method relating thereto
A furniture piece including an insect control barrier comprising a plurality of insecticide strips is provided. The insecticide strips are strategically located on the furniture piece to intersect travel paths from a support surface to prime harborage or feeding locations on the furniture piece. |
| US09936682B1 |
Go anywhere fishing reel line loader
A device for loading a fishing reel with line from a line supply spool by a single person. This device has a base with two side walls with corresponding holes, a plastic bendable tension rod, and suction cups attached to the bottom of the base. The tension rod produces downward pressure on supply spool when threaded through side wall hole, then through center hole of supply spool, then through corresponding through hole on the other side wall, holding it in place. The tension rod when in place as above also produces tension on fishing line which can be loaded to reel by attaching line to reel through rod guides and turning reel crank. The suction cups attached to base allow line loader to be used by one person anywhere you have a non-porous surface. |
| US09936681B2 |
Fishing lure system and kit having replaceable features and construction
A flexible fishing lure is provided that includes a outer shape having a transverse opening for receiving a plurality of alternatively formed lure fin members allowing a user to change the action of a lure by fin selection without replacing the lure. Multiple internal channels within the lure are adaptively provided for receiving a variety of scent sticks, sound generators, light generators, flavor generating means. Flow internal channels extend from a front opening to gill openings allowing a water flow along an inserted scent or flavor stick member to pass through the lure body and exit proximate fin, nair, belly, or other locations simulating an injured or wounded fish leaking bodily fluids or blood. Other features to simulate wounded features. Replacement fins and weighting constructions allow a user to tailor a weight and action enabling a circling or injured motion during retrieval. The lure includes a flexible holographic-type attractive film and physical shape having a level-maintaining physical shape. |
| US09936680B2 |
Method and system for remote monitoring, care and maintenance of animals
A system for remote care of an animal includes a robotic animal caregiver that includes a housing, a wireless data communication system disposed within the housing and wirelessly communicatively coupled with an external data communications system, and a microprocessor in communication with the wireless data communication system disposed within the housing. The system further includes a smart collar to be worn by the animal operable to determine a geo-location information of the animal and communicate with the microprocessor. |
| US09936679B2 |
Pet leash accessory assembly
A pet leash accessory assembly may be utilized with a variety of off-the-shelf accessories including, but not limited to, flashlights, pet waste bags and personal attack deterrents. The pet leash accessory assembly allows an off-the-shelf accessory to be attached at different locations on the lease, for example attached to the leash handle or strap, and to be attached to many different types of leashes, for example, flat, thin leashes and round, rope-like leashes. |
| US09936675B2 |
Method of promoting efficient water drinking by animals
A method of promoting efficient water drinking by animals uses any one of a number of container embodiments. A first embodiment of container contemplates five sub-chambers separated from one another by parallel partitions, with each partition having a small weep hole near its bottom to equalize water level in each sub-chamber. Each sub-chamber has an elongated length dimension and a width that is relatively narrow and designed to approximate the width of an animal's tongue. When an animal is drinking water from one of the sub-chambers of this embodiment, as the tongue is lapping, the sides of the tongue are close to the inner walls of the sub-chamber, thereby precluding some of the water resting on the tongue from falling off the tongue as the water is lifted into the animal's mouth. In this way, the efficiency of drinking using the lapping technique is enhanced. In a further embodiment, a second sub-chamber provides a reservoir for replenishing the first sub-chamber as it drains down through a small weep hole near the bottom of a common wall between the sub-chambers. The second sub-chamber may be designed to receive an inverted bottle filled with water so that continuous replenishment of the drinking sub-chamber through a weep hole connecting the supply sub-chamber may be accomplished. |
| US09936673B2 |
Locking device for a livestock head gate
An improved locking device is provided for one a livestock head gate in which two doors rollingly engaged on an overhead guide shaft for roving movement of said two doors toward one another into a closed position bracing a livestock animal between said doors and away from one another into an open position releasing said livestock animal. Primary and secondary shaft-receiving and locking members have respective first and second through-holes therein for receipt of the overhead guide shaft. A spring-receipt member is fixed to the primary shaft-receiving member for cooperation with a spring that tilts the primary shaft-receiving member into a locking position. The secondary movable locking member is retained beside the primary member in a manner enabling both tilting therewith and displacement relative thereto so as to bite onto the shaft at the perimeter of the second through-hole in the locking position. |
| US09936663B1 |
Maize hybrid X13K484
A novel maize variety designated X13K484 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 X13K484 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13K484 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13K484, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13K484. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13K484. |
| US09936661B1 |
Maize inbred PH2R72
A novel maize variety designated PH2R72 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH2R72 with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2R72 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH2R72 or a locus conversion of PH2R72 with another maize variety. |
| US09936655B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH977140
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH977140. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH977140, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH977140 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH977140. |
| US09936654B2 |
Dendrobium in vitro crossbreeding method
The invention discloses a Dendrobium in vitro crossbreeding method. The method can be used to greatly shorten the maturation period of fruits, to enable a hybrid to bloom in vitro in a short period so as to observe flower shapes and colors, and to cultivate a novel variety, thus accelerating Dendrobium breeding, the first such report internationally. Since in vitro Dendrobium blooms annually, it enables crossbreeding of varieties having different inflorescences in nature. In addition, the medium used at each stage of the invention utilizes Hyponex which has a unique composition and costs little, thus allowing for a high blossoming rate and rapid fruit development. Also, only simple plant tissue culture equipment is required for implementing the invention, thus the entire breeding method is simple and low cost, and provides conditions for cultivating of high-quality Dendrobium varieties. |
| US09936650B2 |
Secure and externally controllable growing enclosure
A securable enclosure for growing controlled plants including walls forming an environmentally isolated interior and securable entrance to prevent unauthorized access. An environmental control system regulates environmental conditions in the enclosure's interior in order to control levels of potential contaminants such as dust, mold, pollen, insects and chemical pollutants. A control unit is positioned on the exterior of the enclosure allows control of the environmental conditions without the need for physical access to the interior. |
| US09936648B2 |
Packing element particularly for cut flowers and potted plants
A packing element having a trapezoidal front panel (1) and trapezoidal rear panel (2), wherein the front panel (1) and the rear panel (2) each have a first pair of two opposite, parallel base edges (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b), and a second pair of nonparallel side edges (1c, 2c) bridging ends of the two base edges (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b), and wherein the front panel (2) and the rear panel (1) are connected to each other at their side edges, preferably in the edge region of their overlapping side edges (1c) such that an inner edge face of the front panel (2) facing the rear panel (1) is glued to an inner edge face of the rear panel (1) facing the front panel (2) and a space for receiving an article, preferably a conical article, preferably a flower pot or a flower bouquet, can be formed between the front panel (2) and the rear panel (1) by moving the panels away from each other, thereby forming an opening at least between the long base edges at the top, characterized in that a grab formation (4), particularly a strap (4) that can be gripped by hand, is provided on the front panel (1) above a tear line (3) provided in the front panel (1) between the side edges (1c, 2c), preferably running parallel to the base edges (1a, 1b) of the front panel (1) so that an upper region (1d) of the front panel (1) above the tear line (3) can be separated from a lower region (1e) of the front panel (1) below the tear line (3). |
| US09936647B2 |
Automated trimming apparatus and method
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for trimming product in a mobile unit. |
| US09936644B2 |
Round baler with apparatus for guiding a pressing belt
A round baler is provided with a bale-forming chamber that is surrounded by a pressing apparatus in the form of a single pressing belt or several pressing belts arranged one next to the other, wherein the pressing apparatus contacts a roller that can be driven and freely co-rotating rollers, of which at least one pre-tensioned roller is loaded by pre-tensioning apparatus in the sense of tightening the pressing apparatus such that it pre-tensions the pre-tensioned roller more strongly the farther this roller moves in a direction for loosening the pressing apparatus. The two ends of the pre-tensioned roller are each pre-tensioned by the pre-tensioning apparatus and can move independently of each other. |
| US09936643B1 |
Helical auger flight assemblies and thresher formed therewith
A helical auger flight has an inner edge, an outer edge, an inner face, an outer face, and a leading extremity that includes a prominence and a leading edge that extends from the outer edge to the prominence. The prominence extends outward from the leading edge of the leading extremity to an outer end having an upturned jut. A wear plate is releasably connected to the inner face of the helical auger flight. The wear plate extends from the outer edge of the helical auger flight to the prominence. A front extremity of the wear plate extends forwardly of the leading edge of the helical auger flight so as to be in a shielding relationship with respect to the leading edge of the helical auger flight, and a nose of the front extremity of the wear plated is seated in direct contact against a contact surface of the jut. |
| US09936632B2 |
Agricultural dry chemical tube and delivery system
A dry chemical delivery tube and its surrounding nutrient applicator system are located in a narrow space in a soil working implement in an agricultural setting. Between an inlet end and an outlet end, the chemical delivery tube transitions from a circular cross section to an oval cross section. In one embodiment, the soil working implement includes soil opening/closing disks and liquid or gaseous delivery tubes that closely surround the chemical delivery tube. |
| US09936631B1 |
Device and method for detecting and reporting seed placement
A seeding machine includes a main frame and a row unit coupled to the main frame. The row unit has a row unit frame and a seed firmer coupled to the row unit frame. The seeding machine also includes a seed detection sensor coupled to the seed firmer. The seed detection sensor is configured to detect seed position within an open furrow. |
| US09936630B2 |
Mounting assembly for an agricultural product conveying system
A mounting assembly for an agricultural product conveying system includes a mount having a seed tube mounting feature and a biasing member mounting feature. The mounting assembly also includes a biasing member configured to support a powered agricultural product conveyor. The seed tube mounting feature is configured to engage a corresponding mounting feature of a seed tube to support the seed tube on the mount, and the biasing member mounting feature is configured to engage a corresponding mounting feature of the biasing member to support the biasing member on the mount. |
| US09936629B2 |
Sectioned metering system and method
A sectioned metering system and method is provided. One metering system for distributing an agricultural product in a field includes a drive input and a rotary shaft assembly coupled to the drive input and configured to be driven in rotation by the drive input. The metering system also includes a first metering section driven by the rotary shaft assembly and at least two additional metering sections. Each additional metering section is selectively engageable to drive the respective additional metering section by the rotary shaft assembly. Each additional metering section is also selectively disengageable to interrupt driving of the respective additional metering section by the rotary shaft assembly while the first metering section remains driven. |
| US09936627B2 |
Air seed meter with internal drive
A seed metering system, for use on a row crop planter, selects individual seeds from a seed reservoir and dispenses the seeds singularly at a controlled rate. A direct drive seed metering system includes a seed disc having a plurality of suction apertures with a recessed pocket adjacent to an aperture. The recessed pockets act to agitate seeds in the seed reservoir and to direct seed flow towards the apertures. A seed path relief system provides for allowing the placement of the seeds such that they are released from an outer edge of the seed disc. An adjustable seed singulator is mounted adjacent to the face of the seed disc where inner and outer blades are adjusted radially to compensate for the singulation of various seed sizes and shapes. The seed disc is driven via engagement of an internal gear with the external gear of an independent drive motor. |
| US09936626B2 |
System and method for independent calibration of meter rollers
An agricultural product distribution system includes first and second product meters configured to meter first and second amounts of agricultural product from a product tank over first and second periods of time, respectively. The system also includes first and second motors coupled to the first and second product meters, respectively, and configured to turn the first and second product meters a first number of turns and a second number of turns, respectively, over the first and second periods of time to meter the first and second amounts of agricultural product. Further, the system includes a controller configured to receive inputs indicative of the first amount of agricultural product, the first number of turns, the second amount of agricultural product, and the second number of turns and to compare the signals to determine first and second calibration rate of the first and second product meters. |
| US09936625B2 |
Multiple seed-type planting system with seed delivery speed control
A system for planting multiple types of seed and automatically switching between the varieties during planting in a single planting pass of a planting session of row-crop planting of an agricultural field while controlling seed delivery speed to mitigate seed bounce and/or provide desired seed spacing distances. The system may include a bulk storage system, an on-row storage system, and a charging system that selectively delivers seeds of different varieties from the bulk storage system to the on-row storage system and a seed delivery speed control system that regulates seed delivery speed. |
| US09936624B2 |
Lift assist system for agricultural tools
A lift assist system to assist an tool including a toolbar; a pair of casters affixed to the articulated arms to provide support on a ground surface; and articulated arms constructed to be articulated from a work position, wherein the tool is in contact with the ground surface to a transport position wherein the tool is not in contact with the ground surface. The articulated arms includes a limiter rotatably affixed to the support bars, and an adjuster that connects the limiter, wherein the limiter regulates the articulated arms and maintains the gauge wheel pivot axis in a near vertical position, and the adjuster maintains a precise positioning relationship of the articulated arms. |
| US09936621B2 |
Cultivator
A cultivator can have a frame with a tow assembly so that the cultivator can be towed by a tractor. A cultivating assembly can be pivotally attached to the rear of the frame. The cultivating assembly can have a plurality of discs that engage and penetrate the soil beneath the cultivating assembly. The cultivating assembly can have a center section pivotally connected to the rear end of the frame, a first wing section pivotally connected to one side of the center section, a second wing pivotally connected to the other side of center section where all the sections have discs connected to them. A pair of ground wheels can be connected to the center section so that the ground wheels are positioned in front of the cultivating assembly when it is being used to cultivate a field. |
| US09943020B2 |
Component mounting apparatus and component mounting method
A component mounting apparatus includes transport mechanisms that transport boards, component supply sections, mounting heads, and a control unit that controls them based on mounting data. Each transport mechanism includes an upstream side operation area and a downstream side operation area. When the mounting data corresponds to an independent mounting mode in which each of the mounting heads is used to mount a component only onto a board on a corresponding mechanism, the control unit performs a control so that the upstream side operation area is used as a mounting area. When the mounting data corresponds to an alternating mounting mode in which both mounting heads are used to mount the components sequentially onto a board that is first carried into the downstream side operation area, the control unit performs a control so that the upstream side operation area is used as a standby area. |
| US09943019B2 |
Method of providing a variable stiffness chassis for ultrathin device
A method for providing a chassis is described. A chassis base that includes at least ninety-five weight percent of a first metal element that is one of Aluminum or Magnesium is provided. The chassis base is doped at an edge section, which extends around the circumference and that is located adjacent a center portion of the chassis base, with at least five weight percent of at least one second metal element that is selected from the group including Lithium, Titanium, Tungsten, Chromium, Hafnium, Lanthanum, and Ytterbium, such that the center portion is not doped with the at least one second metal element. The chassis base is heat treated such that the center portion includes at least ninety-five weight percent of the first metal element and the edge portion of the chassis base includes at least five weight percent of the at least one second metal element. |
| US09943018B2 |
Electromagnetic shield structure for electronic device
An electronic device is provided that includes a PCB including a first surface, a second surface, and a side surface; an electronic component arranged on the first surface, adjacent to a portion of the side surface; a shield structure including a cap that covers the electronic component and a sidewall extending from a periphery of the cap toward the first surface of the PCB, wherein the sidewall extends in a first direction that is non-parallel to the first surface of the PCB; a first conductive structure that is formed on a portion of the side surface of the PCB; and a second conductive structure that is formed on a portion of the first surface to be connected to the first conductive structure. The sidewall contacts with the first surface of the PCB and overlaps with the second conductive structure, when viewed from above the first surface of the PCB. |
| US09943016B2 |
Cooling structure
A cooling structure for a heat-producing power magnetics device having at least two faces, includes a first cold plate having a first coolant passage and conductively coupled with at least the first face of the magnetics device and wherein at least a portion of heat generated by the power magnetics device is removed from the device by way of thermal conduction to the first coolant passage, and a coolant reservoir fluidly coupled with the first and second coolant passages. |
| US09943015B2 |
Assembly structure of high-power semiconductors and heat sink
An assembly structure of high-power semiconductors and heat sink includes a high-power semiconductor module and a heat sink. The high-power semiconductor module includes a printed circuit board, and high-power semiconductor components provided on the surfaces of the printed circuit board. The heat sink includes at least two primary heat-dissipating fins. The high-power semiconductor module is disposed between two adjacent primary heat-dissipating fins. A plurality of gap-filling layers are provided between the high-power semiconductor module and the primary heat-dissipating fins, and the gap-filling layers are tightly fitted on surfaces of the primary heat-dissipating fins. |
| US09943011B2 |
Cooling control for data centers with cold aisle containment systems
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of data center cooling and energy management. In an embodiment of the present invention, multiple PODs within a data center are controlled by a controller via active dampers. |
| US09943010B2 |
Electronic unit
Air in a thermally insulated space, which has been expanded by heat resulting from heating treatment for curing a thermosetting potting material, is prevented from entering the potting material. A casing has a partition wall that partitions an opening into a heat-generating-electronic-component placement section, where a heat generating electronic component is placed, and an adjacent section that is adjacent to the heat-generating-electronic-component placement section, when a heat releasing member is fixed to the opening. The heat-generating-electronic-component placement section is filled with a thermosetting potting material for moisture prevention up to a height which allows at least the heat generating electronic component to be buried in the potting material. The adjacent section has in the casing a communicating portion that communicates with a position which is apart from the heat-generating-electronic-component placement section filled with the potting material. |
| US09943007B2 |
Power converter for railroad vehicle
A power converter for a railroad vehicle includes an air guide duct that takes air from a lateral side of one of a first heat radiating fin and a second heat radiating fin, guides the taken air to a region between the first heat radiating fin and the second heat radiating fin, and then guides the taken air to an end of the other of the first heat radiating fin and the second heat radiating fin in a running direction when the railroad vehicle is running. |
| US09943001B2 |
Switch box
Provided is a switch box comprising: a first circuit board; a pair of bus bars provided to the first circuit board; and a first switch portion that is provided to the first circuit board and that opens and closes a circuit between the bus bars. A second circuit board can be attached to and detached from the first circuit board, and the second circuit board comprises: one bus bar; and a second switch portion that opens and closes a circuit between the one bus bar and the bus bar of the first circuit board. |
| US09943000B2 |
Power module and point-of-load (POL) power module
The present invention relates to a power module and a POL power module. The power module comprises an inductor and a main board; the inductor is disposed on the main board and includes an upper magnetic core, a PCB winding board, pins and a lower magnetic core; the PCB winding board is disposed between the upper magnetic core and the lower magnetic core; first ends of the pins are connected to the PCB winding board; and a second end, opposite to the first end, of at least one pin is extended and exceeds the bottom surface of the lower magnetic core, and is connected to the main board, so that a receiving space is formed between the bottom surface of the lower magnetic core and an upper surface of the main board. The power module of the application can provide at least two low-power independent outputs and can also provide high-power outputs in in-phase or interleaved parallel connection. Moreover, due to the new decoupled integrated floating inductor design, the objectives of miniaturization and high power density of the power module can be achieved, and the optimal layout of other electronic components can be conveniently realized. |
| US09942995B2 |
Method for producing a metal core substrate having improved edge insulating properties
A metal core substrate is obtained as a result of outline shaping performed on a substrate including a core plate and an insulating layer provided on each of two surfaces of the core plate. An outer circumferential edge of the metal core substrate has an insulating structural portion, which includes an end surface of the core plate that is retracted from an end surface of the outer circumferential edge of the metal core substrate and an insulating covering portion covers the end surface of the core plate. Separation portions to be filled with the resin and coupling portions which are to be removed before outline shaping are formed at outline shaping positions of the core plate. At the time of outline shaping, only the resin is present at the outline shaping positions. |
| US09942991B2 |
Method for manufacturing an integrated circuit package
This disclosure relates to integrated circuit (IC) packages and methods of manufacturing the same. In one method, a printed circuit board is provided with semiconductor die. The semiconductor die includes a Back-End-of-Line (BEOL) region, a Front-End-of-Line (FEOL) region, and a semiconductor handle such that the BEOL region, the FEOL region, and the semiconductor handle are stacked. A first polymer layer is provided over the printed circuit board so as to cover the semiconductor die. The semiconductor handle of the semiconductor die is exposed through the first polymer layer and removed. A second polymer layer is then provided so that the BEOL region, the FEOL region, and at least a portion of the second polymer layer are stacked. The second polymer layer may be provided to have high thermal conductivity and electric isolation properties thereby providing advantageous package characteristics. |
| US09942989B2 |
Insulation film and method for making insulation film
The present invention provides an insulation film and a method for making the insulation film, comprising a film upper layer and a film lower layer, wherein both of the film upper layer and film lower layer are made of a heat conduction plastics material, the heat conduction plastics material contains a heat conduction additive; and a film intermediate layer located between the film upper layer and the film lower layer. The film intermediate layer is made of a heat conduction plastics material, and the heat conduction plastics material contains a conductive additive An upper surface of the film intermediate layer is bound together with a lower surface of the film upper layer, and a lower surface of the film intermediate layer is bound together with an upper surface of the film lower layer. |
| US09942979B2 |
Flexible printed circuit board
A flexible printed circuit board (PCB) has stretchability and durability. The flexible PCB includes: a first polymer substrate having flexibility, stretchability, or elasticity; a second polymer substrate having flexibility, stretchability, or elasticity; a conductive track disposed between the first and second polymer substrates and including metal nanowires; and a cured silane coupling agent which bonds the conductive track to at least one of the first and second polymer substrates. |
| US09942978B2 |
Flexible display device and method of manufacturing the same
A flexible display device includes a display panel configured to display images, a first substrate having a plurality of pixels disposed therein, and a second substrate coupled to the first substrate. The first substrate includes a display area, a bent part extending from the display area, and a pad part extending from the bent part. The flexible display device further includes a panel driver coupled to the pad part of the first substrate and configured to supply signals to the plurality of pixels on the display panel for displaying images. The first substrate further includes a first surface and a second surface, and the second substrate includes a third surface and a fourth surface. The first surface of the first substrate faces the fourth surface of the second substrate. The first substrate is curved at the bent part of the first substrate such that the pad part of the first substrate and the panel driver are disposed below the display area. |
| US09942975B2 |
Scalable thermal solution for high frequency panel array applications or other applications
An apparatus includes a printed circuit board (PCB) including a surface that has a layer of circuitry. The apparatus also includes a heat sink configured to receive heat from the PCB. The apparatus further includes a thermally-conductive post configured to remove the heat from the PCB to the heat sink via thermal conduction through a thermal path. The thermal path is substantially orthogonal to the surface of the PCB. The post includes an end configured to physically couple to the layer of circuitry. |
| US09942972B2 |
Radiographic image capturing apparatus and method for supplying electric power thereto
A radiographic image capturing apparatus includes a mobile cart unit, a plurality of devices used for capturing a radiographic image, and an electric power supply activator enabling supply of electric power between the devices, based on an instruction of permission to supply electric power. |
| US09942964B2 |
Constant current regulator for airfield ground lighting
A constant current regulator for airfield ground lighting is described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include a power converter configured to receive a signal from an alternating current (AC) mains, where the power converter includes a number of bi-directional switches, a transformer configured to isolate the AC signal from an airfield ground lighting circuit, and a rectifier configured to convert the signal from the AC mains from AC to direct current (DC), an inverter configured to convert the DC signal from the power converter and convert the DC to AC, an output filter configured to receive the AC signal from the inverter and send the AC signal to the airfield ground lighting circuit, and a controller configured to switch the number of bi-directional switches of the power converter to allow an input voltage and current of the signal from the AC mains to be in phase. |
| US09942958B2 |
Systems and methods for altering and coordinating illumination characteristics
A method of controlling illumination, including transmitting location information from a communication device to a computer; receiving illumination data with the communication device, where the illumination data is generated by the computer based at least in part on the location information; and transmitting an illumination signal from the communication device to a wearable accessory containing at least one light source, where the illumination signal is based at least in part on the received illumination data and is operable to actuate the at least one light source. |
| US09942956B1 |
Boost converter design with 100%-pass mode for WLED backlight and camera flash applications
Embodiments of the invention improve efficiency and address the stability issues that arise when a boost converter is used for both backlight WLEDs and camera flash applications, which require increased voltage or output voltage less than input voltage. In prior solutions, boost converters may suffer poor efficiency when operating in a fixed high output voltage mode or may lose stability by not properly regulating their output when operating in a step-down voltage mode. To improve efficiency of the boost converter, the present invention uses a 100%-pass mode topology when the battery voltage is high enough to support the diode voltage required for the backlight WLEDs or the camera flash. On the other hand, when the battery voltage drops below the required voltage, then the converter switches automatically to boost mode to generate a sufficient output voltage to drive the diodes to the required current level. |
| US09942953B2 |
Power supply device serving as DC power supply, and lighting fixture
The power supply device includes a converter including a pair of input terminals, a pair of output terminals, a transformer, a capacitor, and a switching device, and a controller for controlling the switching device. The capacitor is electrically connected between the pair of input terminals. The converter further includes a reverse flow preventer for preventing a current from flowing through a closed circuit including the capacitor, a primary winding of the transformer, and the switching device, in an opposite direction to a direction of a discharging current from the capacitor. |
| US09942948B2 |
Method of controlling a heated portion of a windshield
A method of preventing a windshield wiper from freezing to a windshield of a vehicle is provided. The method broadly includes the steps of: (a) monitoring a state of the windshield wiper; (b) initiating a timer when the state of the windshield wiper changes from an off state to an on state; sensing an ambient temperature of the vehicle a first period of time after initiation of the timer if the windshield wiper remains in the on state; and (c) warming a portion of the windshield where the windshield wiper resides in the off state if the sensed ambient temperature of the vehicle is near or below zero degrees Celsius. |
| US09942945B2 |
Overcurrent protection assemblies for appliances
An overcurrent protection assembly for an appliance includes a cabinet configured to house the appliance, the cabinet including a body and a door, the door movable between an open position and a closed position. The overcurrent protection assembly further includes an overcurrent protection circuit, the overcurrent protection circuit including a switch and a current limiter. The switch is alternatable between an engaged position when the door is in the open position and a disengaged position when the door is in the closed position. The current limiter is in electrical communication with the switch when the switch is in the disengaged position and not in electrical communication with the switch when the switch is in the engaged position. Electricity flowing through the overcurrent protection circuit to the appliance flows at a high current level when the switch is in the engaged position and at a low current level when the switch is in the disengaged position. |
| US09942943B2 |
Method and apparatus for triggering uplink data in wireless LAN
A method and an apparatus for triggering uplink data in a wireless LAN are disclosed. A method for receiving uplink data in a wireless LAN may comprise: a step in which an access point (AP) transmits a trigger frame for random connection; and a step in which the AP receives at least one buffer status report frame from at least one STA on a random connection transmission opportunity (TXOP) which is set on the basis of the trigger frame for random connection, wherein the random connection TXOP is allocated for a channel access attempt for transmitting the buffer status report frame of each of a plurality of non-specific STAs, and each of the at least one STA may be an STA which succeeds in the channel access among the plurality of non-specific STAs. |
| US09942941B2 |
Method for controlling connected mode DRX operations
A method in a UE comprises monitoring a downlink control channel during a duration of at least a first timer, and receiving an indication of a downlink or uplink transmission for the UE. The method comprises after receiving the indication of the downlink or uplink transmission for the UE, stopping monitoring the first timer, wherein after the first timer is stopped the UE does not need to monitor the downlink control channel. The method comprises performing an uplink transmission associated with the indicated downlink or uplink transmission for the UE. The method comprises starting a second timer after receiving the indication for the downlink or uplink transmission for the UE, the duration of the second timer comprising an offset period, and, when the second timer expires, starting a third timer. The UE monitors the downlink control channel for the duration of the third timer. |
| US09942935B2 |
System and method for providing a wireless failover of a management connection in a server rack of a data center
A server rack includes a first component including a host processor to provide a hosted environment and a first management system to provide a managed environment separate from the hosted environment, to establish a first wireless connection to a mobile device, to process a first management request from the mobile device in the managed environment, and to detect that the first wireless connection has unexpectedly terminated, and a second component including a second management system to receive an indication from the first management controller that the first wireless connection was unexpectedly terminated, to establish a second wireless connection to the mobile device in response to the indication, to receive a second management request from the mobile device, and to send the second management request to the first management system. The first management system being further to process the second management request in the managed environment. |
| US09942933B2 |
Mobile communication system and user terminal
At least one processor and at least one memory coupled thereto associated with a first user terminal (UT) perform processes of previously storing pre-configuration information not derived from a base station, designating an area of resources for transmitting control information, determining a plurality of first radio resources within the area of resources for transmitting control information from the first UT to a second UT in a case that the first UT is out of coverage of the base station, and directly transmitting to the second UT the control information in each of the plurality of first radio resources by Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, each resource indicating a same at least one subframe of second radio resources to be used for transmitting data by the D2D communication. A second UT includes least one processor and at least one memory coupled thereto receives the control information from the first UT via D2D communication. |
| US09942929B2 |
Radio communication device, radio communication system, radio communication method, and program
There is provided a radio communication device including a reception unit which receives information indicating a connection state or a communication capability of another radio communication device which the radio communication device attempts to connect to, and a selection unit which selects, depending on the information received by the reception unit, which communication is to be performed from among first communication in which a direct connection to such other radio communication device is established and direct communication with such other radio communication device is performed, second communication in which a connection to such other radio communication device via a base station is established and direct communication with such other radio communication device is performed, and third communication in which a connection to such other radio communication device via the base station is established and indirect communication with such other radio communication device via the base station is performed. |
| US09942925B2 |
Station contention behavior in uplink multiple user protocols
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to station backoff behavior in uplink (UL) multiple user (MU) operations. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for wireless communications. The apparatus generally includes a processing system configured to generate an unsolicited single user (SU) frame for transmission to an access point (AP) while the apparatus is configured to communicate with the AP via MU transmissions and a transmit interface configured to output the unsolicited SU frame for transmission. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide another apparatus for wireless communications. The apparatus generally includes a processing system configured to contend for access to a medium by generating a first frame to trigger MU transmissions from a plurality of apparatuses and a transmit interface configured to output the first frame for transmission. |
| US09942919B2 |
First communication device, second communication device and methods therein, for determining one or more parameters for transmitting on an uplink control channel
Method performed by a first communication device (101) operating in a wireless communications network (100). The first communication device (101) determines (1101) one or more parameters for transmitting on an uplink control channel in an unlicensed band to a second communication device (102). The second communication device (102) operates in the wireless communications network (100). The one or more parameters comprise an indication of a duration of a channel sensing period. The first communication device (101) then transmits (1102) on the uplink control channel to the second communication device (102), by applying the determined one or more parameters. According to a method performed by the second communication device (102) operating in the wireless communications network (100), the second communication device (102) determines (1301) the one or more parameters. The second communication device (102) then initiates transmitting (1302) the determined one or more parameters to the first communication device (101). |
| US09942918B2 |
Method and apparatus for video aware hybrid automatic repeat request
HARQ parameters (e.g., maximum HARQ retransmission values) may be adapted. Cross-layer control and/or logical channel control may be used to select a maximum number of HARQ retransmissions, for example based on packet priority and/or QCI values. Respective priorities of video packets may be used to select one of a plurality of logical channels associated with a video application that may be established at a source wireless hop and/or a destination wireless hop. The logical channels have different HARQ characteristics. Different maximum HARQ retransmission values may be determined for select logical channels, for example such that packets of different priorities may be transmitted over different logical channels. One or more of the channels may be associated with one or more transmission queues that may have different priority designations. Video packets may be reordered (e.g., with respect to transmission order) within the transmission queues, for example in accordance with respective HARQ parameters. |
| US09942917B2 |
Allocating resources for a device-to-device transmission
A method for allocating resources for device-to-device transmission between two or more user equipment (UEs) includes transmitting, from a first UE to a second UE, a resource allocation configuration for device-to-device communications. A resource request for a device-to-device transmission is received from the second UE. In response to the resource request, a resource for the device-to-device transmission is selected at the first UE. A resource grant is transmitted to the second UE. The resource grant identifies the selected resource. A device-to-device transmission is received from the second UE over the selected resource. |
| US09942916B2 |
Uplink control information transmission method and device
Disclosed are an uplink control information transmission method and device for addressing a lack of a solution that a terminal provides feedback of downlink carriers scheduled by different base stations in a dual-connectivity scenario. The method in an embodiment of the present application comprises: a terminal receives data over a first carrier and a second carrier, the data over the first carrier being scheduled by a first base station and the data over the second carrier being scheduled by a second base station; the terminal generates first uplink control information for the first carrier, and/or the terminal generates second uplink control information for the second carrier; the terminal transmits the generated uplink control information over one uplink carrier according to a TA value and a reference carrier, the uplink control information comprising at least one of the first uplink control information and the second uplink control information. Therefore, the terminal can simply transmit over one uplink carrier the uplink control information corresponding to the downlink carriers scheduled by different base stations scheduling data for the terminal. |
| US09942913B2 |
Satellite network service sharing
Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing network access services to mobile users via multi-user network access terminals over a multi-beam satellite system. Quality-of-service (QoS) is controlled for the mobile devices at a per-user level according to user-specific traffic policies Mobile users may be provisioned on the satellite system according to a set of traffic policies based on their service level agreement (SLA). System resources of the satellite may be allocated to mobile users based on the demand of each mobile user and the set of traffic polices associated with each mobile user, regardless of which multi-user network access terminal is used to access the system. Dynamic multiplexing of traffic from fixed terminals and mobile users on the same satellite beam can take advantage of statistical multiplexing of large numbers of users and on different usage patterns between fixed terminals and mobile users. |
| US09942912B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless communication on multiple spectrum bands
A method and apparatus for simultaneously communicating on at least two carrier frequencies, of which at least one carrier frequency is a licensed band and at least one carrier frequency is an unlicensed band, includes broadcasting an operating status of the unlicensed band to a receiver device, collecting feedback data regarding channel conditions from the receiver device for both the licensed band and unlicensed band, determining, when a bandwidth request is received from the receiver device, whether to use the unlicensed band based on the channel conditions, transmitting an unlicensed band scheduling indication to the receiver device, and communicating with the receiver device using both the licensed band and the unlicensed band according to the transmitted unlicensed band scheduling indication. |
| US09942909B2 |
System and method for connection rehoming
A method for connection rehoming by a user equipment includes attaching to a first network attachment point (AP) and establishing a first connection to a first packet data network (PDN) interface, and moving from the first network AP to a second network AP. The method includes discovering a first cost associated with the first connection is high, and rehoming the first connection, thereby establishing a second connection coupling the UE to a second network AP and to a second PDN interface, wherein a second cost associated with the second connection is low. |
| US09942908B2 |
Resource sharing among multiple service providers in a wireless network cloud
Techniques for resource sharing among wireless service providers in a wireless network cloud (WNC) are provided. In one aspect, a method for spectrum sharing in a WNC that hosts multiple wireless service providers is provided. The method includes the following steps. A spectrum usage is predicted for each of the wireless service providers during a given future time-window. An excess amount of spectrum, if any, each of the wireless service providers will have during the given time-window is determined. The excess amount of spectrum is allocated from the wireless service providers having the excess amount of spectrum to those of the wireless service providers having a spectrum usage that will exceed an allocated spectrum capacity during the given time-window. |
| US09942903B2 |
Peer-to-peer sharing of network resources
A first mobile device receives, from each of a plurality of other mobile devices, information related to the availability of at least one network resource provided by at least a first network offered for sharing by the respective other mobile device. The first mobile device also receives a request from a second mobile device to access the network resource provided by the first network shared by at least one of the plurality of other mobile devices. The first mobile device selects at least one of the other mobile devices to share the network resource provided by the first network with the second mobile device. The first mobile device communicates to the second mobile device peer-to-peer network connection information of the selected at least one of the other mobile devices. |
| US09942896B2 |
Allocating resources of an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band among multiple operator networks for carrier aggregation
A base station may allocate resources of an unlicensed radio frequency (RF) spectrum band among multiple operator networks, associated with different network operators, that use different licensed RF spectrum bands. The base station may receive downlink traffic destined for a user equipment. The base station may identify an operator network, of the multiple operator networks, associated with the user equipment. The base station may provide the downlink traffic to the user equipment using one or more unlicensed RF channels of the unlicensed RF spectrum band based on identifying the operator network and based on allocating the resources of the unlicensed RF spectrum band among the multiple operator networks. |
| US09942893B1 |
Systems and methods for allocating physical resources in a communication system
In systems and methods for allocating physical resources in a communication system, a common periodicity of two or more allocations for a communication between a wireless device and an access node is determined. A permissible division of a data unit in at least two transmission time intervals in a single carrier within one of the two or more allocations is also determined. |
| US09942892B2 |
Self-optimizing mobile satellite systems
Systems, methods, and apparatus for self-optimizing Mobile Satellite System (MSS) resources are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves determining, with at least one processor, a communication demand for at least one cell in a MSS network. The method further involves determining, with at least one processor, whether the communication demand for at least one cell exceeds the capacity threshold for at least one cell. Further, the method involves reallocating, with at least one processor, when the communication demand for at least one cell exceeds the capacity threshold for at least one cell, at least a portion of the MSS resources such that at least one cell is able to meet the communication demand. |
| US09942886B1 |
Variable physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signaling and transmission
Wireless communications systems and methods related to transmitting uplink control information. A first wireless communication device receives a transmission configuration indicating first beam information and second beam information. The first beam information and the second beam information are different. The first wireless communication device transmits a first uplink control signal based on the first beam information. The first wireless communication device transmits a second uplink control signal based on the second beam information. The first uplink control signal and the second uplink control signal represent the same control information. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described. |
| US09942884B2 |
Efficient uplink data indication techniques for MIMO-OFDMA transmission in WLAN
Uplink data indication transmission(s) are received over a subband and over OFDM symbol(s) from STA(s) in a wireless communication system. The received uplink data indication transmission(s) are decoded to determine a unique codeword for each of the STA(s). From the determined unique codewords and using a mapping between station IDs and codewords in a codebook, a unique station ID is determined for each of the STA(s). For STA(s) determined to have sent the uplink data indication, other operations are performed to prepare for subsequent reception of uplink data from the STA(s) determined to have sent the uplink data indication. |
| US09942882B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication method, base station, mobile station, base station control method, mobile station control method, and control program
To alleviate interference by a transmission signal on the uplink and downlink of a femto base station to a transmission signal on the uplink and downlink of a macro base station and/or a micro base station. A mobile station 9-2 and a femto base station 5-1 located within a macrocell 6 and a microcell 7 receive the HCS priority level of the macrocell 6 and the microcell 7 from a macro base station 3 or a micro base station 4. The mobile station 9-2 selects the microcell 7 having a higher HCS priority level, and performs communication by using a radio frequency RF3. Meanwhile, the femto base station 5-1 communicates with a mobile station by using a radio frequency RF1 used in the macrocell 6 having a lower HCS priority level. |
| US09942878B2 |
Transport format combination selection in a wireless transmit/receive unit
A method and apparatus for selecting a TFC in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is disclosed. The WTRU estimates a transmit power for each of a plurality of available transport format combinations (TFCs). A TFC is selected for an uplink dedicated channel and a TFC is selected for an enhanced uplink (EU) channel. The TFC for the dedicated channel is selected first and independently of the TFC selection of the EU channel. The TFC for the EU channel is selected within a remaining WTRU transmit power after the TFC selection for the dedicated channel. |
| US09942873B2 |
Concurrent data communication and voice call monitoring using dual SIM
Performing concurrent data communication and voice call monitoring using a single cellular radio. According to some embodiments, the UE may perform data communication, via the radio, using a first RAT, supported by a first SIM. The UE may also perform paging functions for a voice communication, via the radio, using a second RAT, supported by a second SIM. In some scenarios, the first and second RATs are the same. The data communication and the paging functions may be performed concurrently using shared physical layer resources. For example, the shared physical layer resources may comprise a shared software defined radio (SDR) configured to demodulate and/or decode signals of the data communication and the paging function. As another example, the shared physical layer resources may comprise a shared Rake receiver configured to demodulate signals of the data communication and the paging function. |
| US09942866B2 |
Method for determining and recovering from loss of synchronization, communication units and integrated circuits therefor
A method of recovery from a time-synchronization loss in a communication unit between a first processor supporting physical layer communications and a second processor supporting layer-2 communications is described. The method comprises: detecting, by the first processor, that a loss of sync has occurred between the first and second processors; in response to said detecting, stopping sending subsequent physical layer messages from the first processor to the second processor, for example to allow the second processor to consume any old pending messages; re-starting a messaging process by the first processor by sending at least one new message to the second processor with updated System Frame Number, SFN, and Sub-Frame, SF, counter value; and receiving at the first processor at least one subsequent response message from the second processor acknowledging receipt of at least one new message with an indication of the received and updated SFN and SF counter value of that message thereby confirming synchronization being restored. |
| US09942863B2 |
Method of searching code sequence in mobile communication system
A method for transmitting a signal for cell searching in a mobile communication system having a multi-cell environment includes transmitting the signal to one or more receiving party devices within a cell, wherein the signal is used for a synchronization of the one or more receiving party devices within the cell, the signal is defined by a combination of a first code sequence derived from a first index and a second code sequence derived from a second index, and an identity of the cell is used for defining the combination of the first code sequence and the second code sequence. |
| US09942860B2 |
Wireless device and power control method
The present disclosure provides a power control method and a wireless device, in a cluster comprised of wireless devices including a first wireless device and a second wireless device, comprising: receiving power control information including a second data channel transmission power, from the second wireless device; determining a first data channel transmission power based on the second data channel transmission power; and controlling data channel transmission power of the first wireless device according to the first data channel transmission power; wherein, the first data channel transmission power is a power allowing the first wireless device to reach all wireless devices in the cluster, and the second data channel transmission power is a power allowing the second wireless device to reach all wireless devices in the cluster. |
| US09942858B1 |
Method for link adaptation and power amplifier voltage control and system therefor
A method includes determining a quality indicator designating a quality of packet reception at a wireless local area network transceiver. A Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) index value is selected based on the quality indicator. A supply voltage provided to a radio frequency power amplifier is determined based on the quality indicator. |
| US09942855B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for managing power thereof
A method for managing power in a mobile terminal is provided. The method includes determining whether residual power indicative of residual battery power of the mobile terminal is less than or equal to predetermined reference power, if a power management mode is run; generating guide data to be provided to a user based on the residual power, if the residual power is less than or equal to the reference power; and displaying the guide data. |
| US09942854B2 |
Adaptive sleep delay
An example computer-implemented method includes determining, by an electronic device, that the electronic device has not received a user activity for an interval of time. The method also includes determining, by the electronic device, a contextual state of the electronic device, and adapting, by the electronic device, a sleep delay value based on the determined contextual state of the electronic device. The method also includes determining that the interval of time has exceeded the sleep delay value, and responsive to determining that the interval of time has exceeded the sleep delay value, transitioning, by the electronic device, from a first power state to a second power state, where the first power state is higher or lower than the second power state. |
| US09942853B2 |
Data bundling and fast dormancy based upon intelligent application learning
Data bundling and fast dormancy controls are provided based on application monitoring and classification. Moreover, a balance is enabled between saving battery power of a user equipment (UE) and reducing signaling and processing load in a radio resource controller (RRC). For instance, a system can observe data flow related behavior of applications on the UE. On receiving a first data flow request, an arrival time of a next data flow request is predicted based on an analysis of the behavior, and the system determines whether the two data flows can be bundled together and transmitted over a single connection. Additionally, on completion of the first data flow, the arrival time of the next data flow request is predicted based on the analysis, and the system determines whether a fast dormancy timer can be disabled to transmit the next data flow over the current connection. |
| US09942852B2 |
Power saving based on distributed enhanced machine type communications (eMTC) functions
Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications and, more specifically, to power savings based on distributed enhanced machine type communication (eMTC) functions, for example, between an applications processor and a modem of an eMTC device. An example method generally includes entering a power saving mode (PSM), wherein entering the PSM includes performing a first power collapse of an applications processor of the wireless node and a modem of the wireless node into a low power state; exiting the PSM at expiry of a wake-up timer, wherein exiting the PSM includes waking up the applications processor and the modem from the low power state to an active power state; and in response to exiting the PSM, performing a second power collapse of the applications processor into the low power state while the modem operates in the active power state. |
| US09942850B2 |
Techniques for managing idle state activity in mobile devices
An apparatus may comprise a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver and a message aggregation module arranged to intercept multiple messages from one or more mobile data applications during an idle mode of a device, one or more of the multiple messages operable to trigger a transition of the device from the idle mode to a connected mode by causing a radio resource control message to be sent from the device to a radio access network, the message aggregation module to store the multiple messages in a buffer associated with the one or more mobile data applications in order to maintain the device in the idle mode, and schedule for transmission by the RF transceiver the stored messages at a defined time instance based on a delay tolerance for the one or more mobile data applications when the device is in the connected mode. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US09942849B1 |
Bluetooth# low-energy scanning and ranging
A first device may communicate via a first wireless interface (WI) and a second WI, with the second WI operating at a relatively higher power level than the first WI. The first device may receive a scan notification corresponding to wireless scanning performed by a second device. The first device may subsequently perform wireless scanning using the second WI in response to the scan notification indicating that the first device is within effective communication range of a third device. The first device may receive the scan notification over a wireless connection established between the first device and the second device using the first WI. The first device may transmit filter information to the second device, the filter information indicating when, and for which scans the first device is to receive scan notifications. The first device may also activate the second WI and use the second WI to perform ranging and/or control operations associated with the third device. |
| US09942848B2 |
Bi-directional communications in a wearable monitor
A technique for arbitrating conflicting usage of a communications channel of a wearable communications device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method includes transmitting a voice signal from a microphone to a portable device using a first communications channel in a first mode of operating a system. The method includes transmitting a monitor signal to the portable device using the first communications channel for a predetermined period of time in response to detection of a beacon signal initiated by an application executing on the portable device. The first and second signals may be ultrasonic signals received over the first communications channel and may have the same frequency and different phases. The beacon signal may be detected based on the first and second signals. The first communications channel may include an audio jack of the portable device. |
| US09942840B2 |
Networked security system
A method of communicating between a wireless security device and a security server through an access point includes estimating a link latency between a time of transmission of a message from the wireless security device and a time at which a response is received from the security server. A polling mode is enabled in which the access point will hold messages received by the access point that are directed to the wireless security device while the device is in a sleep state, without discarding the messages for a threshold period of time. The wireless security device may be placed in a sleep state and woken after a wake time determined based on the estimated link latency, and receives any messages received by the access point during the sleep state. |
| US09942837B2 |
Apparatus and method for a dynamic scan interval for a wireless device
An apparatus and method are described for adjusting a scan interval or scan width of a BTLE device. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: placing a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) device of an IoT device into a low power or sleep state; waking the BTLE device from the low power or sleep state in response to a specified schedule or set of conditions; attempting to establish a connection between the BTLE device and a BTLE device of an IoT hub using a first scan width and/or scan interval; dynamically adjusting the first scan width and/or scan interval to a second scan width and/or scan interval, respectively, based on a randomly-selected value if a connection is not established after a specified time period; and reattempting to establish a connection between the BTLE device of the IoT device and the BTLE device of the IoT hub using the second scan width and/or scan interval. |
| US09942832B2 |
Wireless LAN system and wireless communication device
A wireless terminal transmits a probe request message to a non-connected base station by changing the communication frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency used by the non-connected base station. The non-connected base station wirelessly sends a probe response message to the wireless terminal using the second frequency. The non-connected base station sends a probe redundant message to a connected base station by wire through a wired LAN. The connected base station wirelessly sends a probe redundant response message to the wireless terminal using the first frequency. |
| US09942831B2 |
Node and method for handling information centric networking based communications
A base station and wireless device, as well as corresponding methods, for Information Centric Networking (ICN) based communications with radio bearers, to provide a means for using ICN bearers in parallel with standard Packet Data Network (PDN) bearers. |
| US09942830B2 |
Session setup in an energy-efficient cellular wireless telecommunications system
The present invention provides a random access procedure for establishment of a data connection between a terminal and a SA-cell in an energy-efficient network, such as e.g. a BCG2 network, wherein the total session setup time is shortened. An information request message (IRM) transmission from the mobile terminal is used for selecting the SA-cell that will serve the mobile terminal (i.e. set-up a data session with this SA-cell) and is simultaneously used for performing a ‘contention-free-like’ random-access procedure towards all candidate SA-cells. In this way performing a RACHSA procedure after selecting a SA cell becomes unnecessary, the random access time is shortened and the uplink resources (at the selected SA-cell) and the uplink transmissions from the terminal are more effectively used. |
| US09942826B2 |
Apparatus and method for communication path recovery with adaptive channel bandwidth in wireless mesh network
A mesh network relaying device includes at least a first radio, a second radio, and a third radio. During normal operation, the device communicates with other network nodes via the first and second radios, the radios operating at the best available bandwidth. When the device identifies a communication link failure in one of the first and second radios, the device activates the third radio and operates the first, second, and/or third radios at narrower bandwidths. When the communication link failure is resolved, the device deactivates the third radio, and resumes communication via the first and second radios at wider bandwidth. |
| US09942824B2 |
System and method for implementing mesh network communications using a mesh network protocol
A process for routing data frames from a first node to a second node within a network is provided. The process includes: a tree routing sub-process, a source routing sub-process, a temporary routing sub-process and a mesh routing sub-process, wherein the particular sub-process for routing a data frame from the first node the second nodes is selected in accordance with the following logic executed on a processor: if the data frame has a source route header the source routing sub-process is selected; if there is an entry for the target address in a temporary routing table, the temporary routing sub-process is selected; if the second node is a coordinator node, the tree routing sub-process is selected; if the second node is not a coordinator node, the mesh routing sub-process is selected. |
| US09942818B2 |
Method and apparatus at the physical and link layer for mobile communications
In a cellular telecommunications network, a mobile communication system to offload data traffic from base stations to small-node devices, includes a radio base station, a plurality of small-node devices, a macro-base-station-to-the-small-node-device (BS2D) communication section configured to receive a first control-plane message from the radio base station over a BS2D communication link, a small-node-device-to-user-equipment (D2UE) communication section configured to transmit user-plane data to a user equipment over a wireless D2UE communication link established responsive to the first control-plane message, and a center small-node device. The center small-node device includes a buffer section, a backhaul communication section configured to receive the user-plane traffic data from a server over a backhaul link, and is configured to manage D2UE connections between the plurality of small-node devices and the mobile station, buffer data to be transmitted in downlink and uplink for the plurality of small-node devices, and conduct a link adaptation for the D2UE connections. |
| US09942817B1 |
Mobile user system beam and satellite handoff
Radios configured to operate in a satellite-based mobile user system and methods configured to support seamless beam and satellite handoff of such radios are disclosed. A radio may include a receiver, a transmitter, and one or more receiver-exciter in communication with the receiver and the transmitter. The receiver-exciter may include a bi-directional path configured to support radio communications and a receive-only path configured to receive signals on all frequencies utilized by a mobile user system. The radio may further include one or more waveform processor in communication with the receiver-exciter. The waveform processor may be configured to: digitize signals received on all frequencies utilized by the mobile user system; separate the signals into multiple channels; estimate quality measurements for the multiple channels; select a channel from the multiple channels based on the quality measurements; and establish a connection with the mobile user system using the selected channel. |
| US09942815B1 |
Method and apparatus for location determination of a base station at a client device
In some scenarios it may be useful for a client terminal to know the location of one or more base stations in a wireless communication network. While a network may know its location accurately, it may not provide that information to a client terminal. Furthermore, the location information for a base station may be required before a client terminal can communicate with a particular base station. Location determination is a commonly available and used capability in many client terminals in a wireless communication network for finding the client terminal's own location. A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable a client terminal that is capable of determining its own location to be able to determine the location of any base station in a wireless communication network. A client terminal may use the base station location information for improved performance, improved user experience, and reduced power consumption. |
| US09942814B1 |
Systems and methods for selecting an access node and/or cell sector for handover of a wireless device
Systems and methods are described for performing handover of a wireless device to a target Access Node (AN) sector. Beam-form capable sectors of one or more target ANs may be selected from a pool of candidate sectors. At least one of the selected sectors may be prioritized (e.g., over the other sectors) based on an open beam-form seat. Handover of the wireless device from a first AN to the prioritized sector may be performed. |
| US09942812B2 |
Methods and systems for dynamic coordinated multi point link maintenance
This disclosure relates generally to improving wireless data rates, and more particularly to methods and systems for dynamic CoMP-link maintenance. In one embodiment, a system may identify a default coordinated multipoint set of neighboring base stations for a user equipment associated with a serving base station. The system may detect at least one of: a change in a data rate requirement for the user equipment, and a stale coordinated multipoint link for the user equipment to one of the neighboring stations in the default coordinated multipoint set. The system may also determine, after detecting at least one of the change in the data rate requirement and the stale coordinated multipoint link, whether to perform at least one coordinated multipoint link maintenance procedure, including at least one of: a coordinated multipoint link handover, a coordinated multipoint link replacement, a coordinated multipoint link consolidation, or a coordinated multipoint scheme modification. |
| US09942810B2 |
Connection setup for heterogeneous cellular communication networks
A connection setup method of a wireless communication device adapted to be operated in a heterogeneous cellular communication network is disclosed. The heterogeneous cellular communication network comprises at least a first cell and a second cell, respectively associated with a first cell layer and a second cell layer of the heterogeneous cellular communication network. The wireless communication device is adapted to use a serving cell associated with the first cell layer or the second cell layer when the wireless communication device is in an active mode, and to use a camping cell associated with the first cell layer when the wireless communication device is in an idle mode. The method comprises detecting, when the wireless communication device is in the active mode and uses the second cell as the serving cell, that the serving cell is associated with the second cell layer. In response to detecting an upcoming transfer to the idle mode, the method comprises storing connection setup parameters of the second cell and transferring to the idle mode, wherein transferring comprises selecting the first cell as the camping cell. The method also comprises, when the wireless communication device is in the idle mode, detecting an upcoming transfer to the active mode and transferring to the active mode, wherein transferring comprises setting up a connection to a cell of the heterogeneous cellular communication network based on the stored connection setup parameters of the second cell. Corresponding computer program product, arrangement and wireless communication device are also disclosed. |
| US09942807B2 |
Extend long term evolution connected state coverage
A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium having instructions to detect a triggering event that invokes a T311 timer, while the device is in a radio resource control (RRC) connected state; and invoke an extended cell selection procedure that does not use an S criterion value as a basis to select a candidate cell to re-establish an RRC connection, based on a detection of the triggering event. |
| US09942802B2 |
Common configuration-based operating method in wireless communication system and apparatus supporting same
Provided is an operation method carried out by user equipment in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: receiving from a serving cell, common configuration information including at least one common configuration; the user equipment determining the validity of the common configuration with respect to a different cell; and operating by applying valid common configuration to the different cell, when the common configuration valid for the different cell exists from among the at least one common configuration. The common configuration includes configuration information commonly applied to at least one different cell within coverage of the serving cell. |
| US09942801B2 |
Techniques for reserving a channel of a radio frequency spectrum
Techniques are described for wireless communication. A first method includes contending for access to a first channel of a radio frequency spectrum, and transmitting, upon winning contention for access to the first channel, a first channel reservation indication. The contending may be performed by a first node operating according to a first radio access technology. The first channel reservation indication may be understood by a second node operating according to a second radio access technology. |
| US09942800B2 |
Load balancing in a wireless network with multiple access points
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for load balancing network traffic in a wireless network. In one aspect, an access point may determine a plurality of client devices that are associated with an overloaded channel of the wireless network. The access point may identify a first client device of the plurality of client devices based, at least in part, on an airtime consumed on the overloaded channel. The access point may determine one or more alternate paths between the access point and the first client device. The access point may forecast airtime to be used by the first client device on channels of the one or more alternate paths, and steer wireless network traffic of the first client device to a first alternate path of the one or more alternate paths based, at least in part, on the forecasted airtime. |
| US09942796B2 |
Quality of service for device assisted services
A wireless end-user device contains a processor configured to maintain a quality of service (QoS) activity map that is based on at least two criteria: a device application associated with a given wireless network service usage activity, and a wireless network type for a current selected wireless network, where the types include a home wireless network type and a roaming wireless network type. The processor determines an application associated with the given wireless network service usage activity, and then determines an applicable QoS policy from the associated application and an indication of the current wireless network type. The processor applies the applicable QoS policy to the service usage activity. |
| US09942794B2 |
Prevention of bandwidth abuse of a communications system
A user of a communications network is prevented from consuming an excessive amount of channel bandwidth by restricting use of the channel in accordance with the type of data being downloaded to the user. The user is provided an initial number of credits. As the user consumes the credits, the data being downloaded is checked to determine if is permissible or non-permissible. Non-permissible data includes file-sharing files and movie downloads if user subscription does not permit such activity. If the data is permissible, the user is provided another allotment of credits equal to the initial allotment. If the data is non-permissible, the user is provided an allotment of credits less than the initial allotment. Various restriction policies also can be applied, such as levying additional fees and/or terminating the user's access to the channel. Also, incentives can be provided to entice the user curb the misuse. |
| US09942788B1 |
Systems and methods for determining operational status of functional components of a wireless signal transmission environment
For determining operational status of components of a wireless signal transmission environment, a signal is received from a client power receiver (CPR), and at least one waveform characteristic value of the signal is calculated. Based on the determined waveform characteristic value(s), a current transceiver system operational status is computed for the CPR at a current location. The determined current transceiver system operational status is compared with a prior-stored last known good transceiver system operational status for the CPR at the current location, and it is determined if, as a result of the comparing, the current transceiver system operational status matches the prior-stored last known good transceiver system operational status for the CPR at the current location. Determining a presence or an absence of the match facilitates identifying one of a presence and an absence of: functional problem(s) in: at least one of the transceiver system and the CPR. |
| US09942785B2 |
Method, system, and device for transmitting preamble signal and for signal measurement
A method, system, and device for transmitting a preamble signal and for signal measurement, for use in solving the problem found in the prior art that the transmission power of each antenna unit is greatly reduced as a result that each antenna unit transmits one preamble signal and that the complexity of a user equipment is increased when the antenna units are of a great number. The method of embodiments of the present disclosure comprises: a network side device transmits to the user equipment determined CSI feedback configurations, where one CSI feedback configuration corresponds to one CSI-RS resource, and the preamble signal corresponding to each port of the one CSI-RS resource is transmitted via one set of antenna unit corresponding to the port. Employment of the solution of the embodiments of the present disclosure increases the transmission power of the antenna units, allows the user equipment to correctly perform signal measurement, increases the performance of data transmission, and reduces the complexity of the user equipment when the antenna units are of a great number. |
| US09942782B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting mobile station disconnected from a base station in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus support a Mobile Station (MS) located in a collapsed cell area to be disconnected from a Base Station (BS) in a wireless communication system. A method of an MS for supporting an disconnected MS disconnected from a BS in a wireless communication system includes receiving a rescue signal from the disconnected MS; collecting information to determine a support MS for the disconnected MS; and transmitting the collected information to a serving BS. |
| US09942776B2 |
Mesh network adjustment
Methods, apparatuses, and systems relating to narrow beam communications and wireless networking are disclosed. Exemplary methods for wireless networking and communications may include identifying a geographic area, receiving location data relating to the geographic area, receiving network performance data, analyzing the location data and the network performance data, identifying a first access point in the geographic area based at least in part on the analyzing, and adjusting a narrow beam communication device a predetermined amount relating to the first access point based at least in part on the analyzing. |
| US09942773B2 |
Communication control apparatus, communication control method, program, and communication system
A communication control apparatus, method, and system that acquire information about channels, among frequency channels assigned to a primary system, available to a secondary system of a plurality of second system, generate a list of channels, among a plurality of available channels, recommended for a secondary usage node operating the secondary system, and notify the secondary usage node of the generated list of channels to allow the secondary usage node to select a channel for secondary usage. |
| US09942772B2 |
Node and method for dynamic synchronization of communications for a wireless device
Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a wireless device and base station, and corresponding method therein, for dynamic synchronization of communications for the wireless device. The wireless device is configured to receive communications on first and second carriers, and wherein the first carrier is configured for synchronous communications and the second carrier is configured for shared communications. The dynamic synchronization is of communications on the second carrier to a predefined frame structure on a first carrier. |
| US09942761B1 |
User access verification
Embodiments are directed to a method of providing access verification for a system that includes activating a security control device, which is in communications with a host device. The method also includes having the security control device receiving a verification signal coming from outside the system while being locally-based, and comparing the verification signal to a table of stored criteria values. The device then chooses a response based on that comparison and sends an access determination signal based on the response. |
| US09942759B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus may receive a first specific signal including a specific wireless identifier from an external apparatus; determine whether the specific wireless identifier is a first wireless identifier; in a case where it is determined that the specific wireless identifier is the first wireless identifier, shift an operating state of the communication apparatus to one state of a first parent state and a child state, and form the first wireless network to which both the communication apparatus and the external apparatus belong. In a case where it is determined that the specific wireless identifier is not the first wireless identifier, the communication apparatus is maintained in a first non-belonging state. The communication apparatus may receive specific wireless setting information from the external apparatus by using the first wireless network; and belong to the specific wireless network by using the specific wireless setting information. |
| US09942758B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing radio communication with an object in a local environment
A method and apparatus for providing radio communication with an electronic object in a local environment are disclosed. For example the method receives via a mobile endpoint device of a user at least one first digital certificate associated with the local environment from a trusted source, and a second digital certificate from the electronic device deployed in the local environment via a wireless connection. The method then authenticates the electronic device using the at least one first digital certificate and the second digital certificate. |
| US09942752B1 |
Method and system for detecting phishing calls using one-time password
A method for phishing detection, performed by a mobile device, is provided. The method includes receiving a first OTP (one-time password), from a remote caller purporting to be from a trusted organization, into the mobile device. The method includes generating a second OTP, using an OTP generation system provided by the trusted organization, and comparing, in the mobile device, the first OTP and the second OTP, wherein the first OTP matching the second OTP indicates legitimacy of the remote caller, and the first OTP mismatching the second OTP indicates illegitimacy of the remote caller. A mobile device and a computer readable media are also provided. |
| US09942747B2 |
Dynamic utilization of services by a temporary device
A system for dynamically providing or utilizing services and applications on a temporary or new device is provided. A user can send a message with a secure code that is forwarded to a home network associated with the user. The home network can initiate transferring data from an application repository on the home network to the visited network which can then install the application through over the air programming. Once installed on the device, the application can send authentication information including the subscriber identity module (SIM) information to a virtual SIM database on the visiting carrier or home carrier networks to enable the application and services on the device. |
| US09942746B2 |
Including a packet-switched parameter in a message
A user equipment (UE) is capable of communicating in multiple networks including a first network and a second network. The UE sends a message to the second network to activate a data connection in the second network or to register the UE in the second network. The UE includes in the message a value of a packet-switched information element that the UE has determined is to be used as opposed to a different value of the packet-switched information element that was included in a message sent by the UE to the first network to activate a data connection in the first network or to register the UE in the first network. |
| US09942742B2 |
Signal transmission for proximity-based services wireless communications
A technique may include transmitting, by a user device in a proximity-based services wireless network via a first time-frequency resource identified by a first logical time index within N logical time resources and a first logical frequency index in the range from 0 to M−1, a first occurrence of a signal for the user device during a transmission period; determining a time index adjustment associated with the first logical frequency index; determining, by the user device, a second logical time index of a second time-frequency resource for transmitting from the user device a second occurrence of the signal within the transmission period, the second logical time index being determined based on the first logical time index and the time index adjustment associated with the first logical frequency index; and transmitting, by the user device via the second time-frequency resource, a second occurrence of the signal during the transmission period. |
| US09942741B2 |
Incident monitoring and response system
An incident monitoring and response system may include observer communication devices that are located in an area where an incident is occurring within a monitored region. A monitoring station sends an incident mode message to observer communication devices within the area. Upon receiving the incident mode message, the observer communication devices enter an incident mode in which the functionality of the device is limited. This limited functionality includes limiting the types of communications that an observer may engage in and the types of applications that can be accessed. |
| US09942739B2 |
Method and system for emergency call management
A system and method for generating and transmitting emergency messages and for maintaining real-time emergency communications sessions between users and emergency dispatch centers. A system receives data transmitted from a user device and constructs an emergency message related to a specific type of emergency scenario as well as the location, meta-data and background information of the user. The generated emergency message is transmitted via a communications network and delivered to an appropriate emergency dispatch center. The method enables the user to deliver a detailed request for help regardless of his or her location or, in another instance, delivers the basic emergency response related information for the user. The generated emergency message is universally compatible with emergency communications center infrastructure so long as the communications centers possess basic voice call equipment. |
| US09942737B2 |
Multimedia emergency services
A mechanism is provided for remotely controlling one or more monitoring devices in a user's household in the event of emergency so as to more productively monitor the emergency situation on a real-time basis. The monitoring devices may include a number of multimedia instruments such as a telephone with an answering machine, a computer with a built-in digital camera, a video recording device, a cellular phone with an integrated digital camera, etc. An emergency service provider may remotely activate the monitoring devices in the user's vicinity upon receiving an emergency help request from the user, and receive the information sent by the monitoring devices to enable the service personnel to plan appropriate response to the emergency at hand. Such an arrangement allows for better monitoring of the user's vicinity in an emergency situation without the need for prolonged user participation in narrating or describing the emergency situation. |
| US09942736B1 |
Methods and systems for personalized information content and delivery
Methods and systems described in this disclosure are directed creating a profile for a user that includes information content rules and information delivery rules. Upon detecting a triggering event, a personalized set of information is created for the user based on the information content rules. The information is delivered to the user according to the information delivery rules. |
| US09942735B2 |
Messaging format conversion for a cellular network
A network device may receive, from a sending device, a message in a first messaging format en route to user equipment. The first messaging format may correspond to one of a 3GPP cellular network standard or a 3GPP2 cellular network standard. The network device may determine whether the user equipment is associated with the first messaging format or with a second messaging format. The second messaging format may correspond to one of the 3GPP cellular network standard or the 3GPP2 cellular network standard. The first messaging format and the second messaging format may be associated with different cellular network standards. The device may selectively provide the message in the first messaging format or the second messaging format based on whether the user equipment is associated with the first messaging format or the second messaging format. The device may transmit an acknowledgment message based on the first messaging format. |
| US09942734B1 |
SMS check in and check out
Providing SMS check in and check out, comprising receiving an SMS mobile originated entrance communication from at least one user, authenticating the SMS mobile originated entrance communication, determining at least one location of the authenticated SMS mobile originated entrance communication and authorizing the at least one user to enter the at least one location. |
| US09942728B2 |
Device and method of determining a group owner in a wireless network
An electronic device includes a communication interface configured to transmit and receive data on a wireless network. The electronic device includes circuitry configured to detect, when the communication interface is connected to the wireless network, a configuration change in the wireless network. The circuitry is configured to determine, based on a signal strength indication corresponding to the electronic device and a signal strength indication corresponding to one or more external devices connected to the wireless network, which of the devices connected to the wireless network is a group owner of the wireless network. The circuitry is configured to control communication on the wireless network by maintaining or changing the group owner based on the group owner determination result. |
| US09942725B2 |
Alert system capable of indicating the nature of an object, person, or pet
An alert system having a first wireless tag; and a control device capable of being in communication with the first wireless tag, wherein when the control device receives a signal from the wireless tag it is an indication of no event, and when the control device does not receive a signal from the wireless tag it is an indication of an even, thus the control device sends a notification to the user. |
| US09942723B2 |
Location and direction system for buildings
A tracking system for locating individuals and equipment as well as providing directions within a building includes a plurality of transmitters that are positioned and associated with specific locations within the building. The location of the transmitters is stored in a database of a controller. An individual is provided with a receiver that detects signals sent by the transmitters. Each receiver has an identification code associated with the individual that is stored within the controller's database. The receiver forwards detected information on to the controller and based upon the information, the controller displays an icon associated with the receiver on a grid of the building that shows the location of the individual within the building. |
| US09942721B2 |
Aerial profiling of communication networks
The use of semi-autonomous vehicles (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles) as a means to profile an airspace for prospective service, determine the characteristics of a radio-based problem, and temporarily host a service in response to emergency, unexpected outages, or other things are discussed herein. Functionalities of the solution may include probing and profiling, line-of-sight verification, and problem determination. |
| US09942718B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for use in providing location parameters to mobile applications
Techniques are provided that may be implemented in a mobile device to provide one or more location parameters to one or more mobile processes (e.g., applications) provided and/or otherwise supported, at least in part, by the mobile device. For example, a mobile device may be configured to monitor one or more processes hosted on a first processor, and initiate a communication on a bus connecting the first processor to a positioning engine external to the first processor to obtain at least one updated location parameter in response to detection of activity of at least one of the one or more processes. In certain instances, the updated location parameter(s) may have been previously determined by the positioning engine. |
| US09942716B2 |
Handoff between access points for a mobile electronic device based on mobility state
A mobile phone (mobile electronic device) includes an acceleration sensor that detects an acceleration, a communication module that performs communication, and a controller. When the number of steps based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor has reached a first step count during an ON-state of the communication function of the communication module, the mobile phone shifts from a stop state to a walking state. The controller maintains the ON-state of the communication function of the communication module when the mobile phone shifts from the stop state to the walking state. The controller turns OFF the communication function of the communication module when the number of steps based on the acceleration has reached a second step count larger than the first step count. |
| US09942715B2 |
Methods and systems for regulating operation of one or more functions of a mobile application
Various embodiments include a method for regulating operation of mobile applications executing on a nomadic device. Signals for determining a speed of travel may be received at the nomadic device. The speed may be determined based on the one or more signals. If the determined speed exceeds a speed threshold, a speed restriction flag may be set and one or more functions of the mobile applications may be restricted. If, after setting the speed restriction flag, a speed cannot be determined, the application functions may be continually restricted until a speed can be determined. |
| US09942714B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting a positioning scheme, method and apparatus for controlling a positioning scheme to be selected
The present invention provides a method and device for transmission on unlicensed spectrum in a UE and a base station. In view of the problem of DFS constraints and PHICH resource waste that is caused by communication of an uplink synchronous HARQ on unlicensed spectrum, in the present invention, logical information is configured so that PUSCHs transmitted through different sub-frames on different physical carriers form one logical carrier, and PHICH resources are reserved for the logical carrier. As an embodiment, downlink signaling is sent in a sub-frame for sending a PHICH so as to indicate transmission bandwidth for data retransmission. The solution provided in the present invention saves PHICH resources and eliminates the constraints on the DFS by the synchronous HARQ. Besides, the present invention reuses the CA scheme in the existing LTE as much as possible, and has high compatibility. |
| US09942713B1 |
Tracking large numbers of wireless terminals while regulating location requests
An apparatus and method for tracking a large number of wireless terminals being used by wireless subscribers in a wireless network and for estimating the location of the terminals at each instant. Some embodiments of the present invention use a coordinated smoothing over time of when location requests should be issued to a location engine, for the large number of subscribers. The smoothing can be used in conjunction with a throttling of location requests, such as when the maximum rate of location request transactions that is supported by the wireless network is exceeded. |
| US09942711B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining co-location of services using a device that generates an audio signal
Methods and apparatus are provided for generating an audio signature. An audio signal generator generates an audio signal. A speaker responsive to the audio signal generator outputs the generated audio signal. A probe including a microphone samples the generated audio signal detected by the microphone. An audio signature generator is connected to the probe and generates an audio signature from the sampled audio signal detected by the microphone. The audio signature generator generates the audio signature without requiring detection of any additional audio signal. A transmitter connected to the audio signature generator transmits the audio signature to a communications channel. |
| US09942709B2 |
Device for estimating location and method for estimating location by using downlink access point
Provided are a device and a method for estimating a position using a downlink access point enabling efficient indoor position measurement at a relatively low cost. The device for estimating a position using a downlink access point includes: a plurality of downlink access points 100 installed at specific positions; and one or more user terminal 200 displaying its current position, wherein the plurality of downlink access points 100 wirelessly transmit different address codes, and the user terminal 200 estimates a position corresponding to the received address code to be its current position in the case in which it is within a wireless transmission range of the downlink access point 100. |
| US09942708B2 |
Method and device of tracking an individual
A device and method to track individuals. The device has a processing unit, and a memory containing instructions executable by the processing unit. The device receives a location with which at least one individual is to be associated, receives an indication of a geographical area in which the individual is allowed to move with respect to the location, and registers a first event in a database at a first time in response to a message received indicating that the individual is within the indicated geographical area. Further, the device tracks, in response to registering the first event, a geographical position of a mobile terminal of the individual, and registers a second event in the database at a second instant of time based on the tracked geographical position of the mobile terminal indicating that the individual no longer is within the indicated geographical area. |
| US09942707B2 |
Cognitive geofencing
A computing device and method is usable to determine a cognitive geofence according to a plurality of data points. The computing device may analyze the plurality of data points to determine a cognitive dimension associated with each of the data points and a location associated with each of the data points. The computing device may determine the cognitive geofence based at least in part on the determined cognitive dimension and the determined location associated with at least some of the plurality of data points. After determining the cognitive geofence, the computing device may transmit the determined cognitive geofence to a terminal device. |
| US09942705B1 |
Location sharing group for services provision
A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel. |
| US09942701B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting objects and navigation
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a mobile device determines a current position and direction; detects objects within an area including the current position; collects first data regarding the objects; buffers the first data; and transmits the first data to a remote system responsive to the mobile device reaching a boundary of the area. The method also comprises obtaining a map of the area from the remote device; the map includes information based on second data previously collected regarding objects in the area, the second data includes a position indicator and a direction indicator for each of the second objects indexed by the current position, and the remote device aggregates the first data and the second data to generate an updated map of the area. Navigation instructions are generated based on the current position and the map, Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09942700B2 |
Wireless device and methods for use in a paging network
A wireless device includes a user interface that generates a pairing signal in response to an indication from a user to pair the wireless device to at least one remote device and generates a first location request signal in response to a second indication from a user to locate the at least one remote device. A short-range wireless transceiver communicates RF signals to pair the wireless device to the at least one remote device and that transmits a first RF paging signal to the at least one remote device in response to the location request signal. |
| US09942699B2 |
Methods and systems for user equipment positioning using intercell interference coordination
Methods, devices and systems for determining positions of user equipments (UEs) based on uplink position signals are described. Cooperating base stations measure received positioning signals and report measurements to serving base stations. Cooperating base stations can also adapt resource allocation to mitigate interference on the uplink to positioning signals. Cooperation between base stations can be coordinated via inter-base station links, e.g., X2 interfaces in LTE systems. |
| US09942696B2 |
Communicating event data from an event device to an action device
A hub device receives a first event message from an event device that describes an event on the event device. The hub device converts the first event message to a second event message that is understandable to the action device that is communicatively coupled with the hub device through a communication protocol and divides the second event message into multiple chunks, each of which having a size within a data value update limit of the communication protocol. The action device is subscribed to receive updates from the hub device. The hub device transmits each respective one of the chunks over the communication protocol to the action device to allow the action device to take one or more actions in response to the second event message. |
| US09942693B2 |
Sensor deployment mechanism at a monitored location
A universal sensor interface enables selective coupling of one or more sensor module units to a wireless node. Each sensor module unit can contain a suite of sensors selected for a particular sensor application at a monitored location. Reconfiguration of the wireless sensor network can occur seamlessly through the plug-and-play connectivity between the sensor module units and the wireless node. |
| US09942691B2 |
System configurations to determine user data associated with mobile applications
Various systems, mediums, and methods may determine one or more configurations associated with a provider application. For example, a mobile system may determine a request to install a provider application, possibly based on one or more user inputs received by the mobile system. The mobile system may determine other applications installed on the mobile system. The mobile system may determine one or more configurations of the provider application based on the other applications installed. As such, the mobile system may install the provider application to the mobile system based on the one or more configurations determined. |
| US09942686B1 |
Spatial audio rendering for beamforming loudspeaker array
A process for reproducing sound using a loudspeaker array that is housed in a loudspeaker cabinet includes the selection of a number of sound rendering modes and changing the selected sound rendering mode based on changes in one or both of sensor data and a user interface selection. The sound rendering modes include a number of mid-side modes and at least one direct-ambient mode. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US09942683B2 |
Sound propagation and perception for autonomous agents in dynamic environments
Methods and systems for sound propagation and perception for autonomous agents in dynamic environments are described. Adaptive discretization of continuous sound signals allows one to obtain a minimal, yet sufficient sound packet representation (SPR) for human-like perception, and a hierarchical clustering scheme to facilitate approximate perception. Planar sound propagation of discretized sound signals exhibit acoustic properties such as attenuation, reflection, refraction, and diffraction, as well as multiple convoluted sound signals. Agent-based sound perceptions using hierarchical clustering analysis that accommodates natural sound degradation due to audio distortion facilitate approximate human-like perception. |
| US09942682B2 |
Implementation method and device of multi-bit modulation-based digital speaker system
The present invention discloses an implementation method and a device of a multi-bit Δ-Σ modulation-based digital speaker system. The method comprises, 1) digital format converting; 2) oversampling interpolation filtering; 3) multi-bit Δ-Σ modulating; 4) thermometer coding; 5) multi-channel mismatch shaping; 6) coding format converting; 7) multi-channel digital power-amplifying; 8) driving a speaker array or a multiple voice coil speaker to sound. The device comprises: a digital input interface, an oversampling interpolation filter, a multi-bit Δ-Σ modulator, a thermometer coder, a multi-channel mismatch shaper, a coding format converter, a multi-channel digital power-amplifier, and a speaker array or a multiple voice coil speaker; each portion being connected in proper order. The present invention can achieve a high-power output under a low-voltage power supply, save power consumption, implement a single-chip integration of a multi-channel reproducing system, reduce the volume and weight of the system and the implementing cost, and improve the quality of the reproduced sound. |
| US09942681B2 |
Appliance for receiving and reading audio signals and live sound system
An appliance for receiving and reading audio signals, includes a receiver of high-frequency electromagnetic waves designed to capture radio broadcast signals including a plurality of audio tracks; a wireless communication interface, separate from the receiver and designed to receive at least one regulating parameter to be applied to at least one audio track of the captured signal; and a digital signal processor designed to apply the regulating parameter to the audio track and produce a mixed signal. |
| US09942680B1 |
Transducer assembly
A diaphragm for a loudspeaker may include a conductive coupler, a voice coil having a voice coil lead, where the voice coil lead is positioned in conductive contact with the conductive coupler, and a terminal lead, where the terminal lead is positioned in conductive contact with the conductive coupler, and where the voice coil lead and the terminal lead are attached to the conductive coupler. |
| US09942678B1 |
Audio playback settings for voice interaction
Example techniques relate to voice interaction in an environment with a media playback system that is playing back audio content. In an example implementation, while playing back first audio in a given environment at a given loudness: a playback device (a) detects that an event is anticipated in the given environment, the event involving playback of second audio and (b) determines a loudness of background noise in the given environment, the background noise comprising ambient noise in the given environment. The playback device ducks the first audio in proportion to a difference between the given loudness of the first audio and the determined loudness of the background noise and plays back the ducked first audio concurrently with the second audio. |
| US09942673B2 |
Method and arrangement for fitting a hearing system
The method for adjusting a hearing system (2) to the preferences of a user (3) of the hearing system comprises a) playing an audio sequence to said user (3); wherein the audio sequence comprises a first sound object representative of a first real-life sound source and a second sound object representative of a second real-life sound source; b) receiving an input (R) in response to step a); c) adjusting at least one audio processing parameter (P) of said hearing system (2) in dependence of said input (R). Preferably, the method further comprises d) providing the user (3) synchronously with step a) with a visualization of a scene to which said audio sequence belongs; and providing a user input (U) which is indicative of a sound source or of a sound object or of an instant in or a portion of the audio sequence; and automatically selecting an audio processing parameter (P) of the hearing system (2) in dependence of the user input (U) and offering the selected audio processing parameter (P) for adjusting. |
| US09942669B2 |
Hearing device for binaural supply and method for its operation
A binaural hearing device has first and second hearing aids and a control device. Each hearing aid has a communication unit, an audio receiver and an earphone. The communication units are configured for reciprocal data transmission by inductive coupling. The audio receivers receive and process stereophonic audio data. The control device switches one of the hearing aids to an inactive audio reception state and the other to an active audio reception state, swaps the audio reception states of the hearing aids within an operating period based on a signal strength of the audio signal of one hearing aid at a time, and drives the hearing aid with the active audio reception state to transmit audio data to the hearing aid with the inactive audio reception state via the communication units. |
| US09942666B2 |
Condenser microphone unit, condenser microphone, and method of manufacturing condenser microphone
A condenser microphone is provided that can ensure the fixation of an electroacoustic transducer inside a unit case and the grounding of the electroacoustic transducer, regardless of variations in manufacture of the unit case and a circuit board. A condenser microphone unit includes an electroacoustic transducer and a unit case accommodating the electroacoustic transducer. The unit case includes at least one protrusion that is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the unit case. The electroacoustic transducer is fixed inside the unit case with the protrusion. |
| US09942664B2 |
Speaker
A speaker includes a frame having an accommodation space; a magnetic circuit system accommodated in the accommodation space; and a vibration system accommodated in the accommodation space for generating sound. The vibration system includes a diaphragm and a voice coil. The diaphragm includes a first part fixed with the frame and a second part arranged between the first part and the frame. One end of the second part is connected with the first part. The accommodation space is divided by the second part into a first accommodation space for accommodating the magnetic circuit system and a second accommodation space for accommodating the voice coil. |
| US09942661B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling portable audio devices
Embodiments of the disclosure may provide an apparatus and method of controlling and altering the acoustic output of audio devices that are used in conjunction with a computing device. In some embodiments, the apparatus and methods include a wireless speaker communication method and computing device software application that are configured to work together to more easily setup and deliver audio information from an audio source to one or more portable audio speakers. |
| US09942657B2 |
Loudspeaker protection
This application relates to methods and apparatus for loudspeaker protection. A loudspeaker protection system (100) receives a digital audio signal comprising a plurality of samples at an input node (IN). A delay block (15) delays the digital audio signal and a gain block (14) applies a controlled gain to the delayed digital audio signal. An excursion predictor (12) is configured to receive a version of the audio signal from the signal path upstream of the delay block and determine a predicted excursion for a loudspeaker based on the audio signal. A gain controller (23) controls a gain setting (g) of the gain block in response to the predicted excursion and a first loudspeaker impulse response model and a predetermined excursion limit. The gain controller (23) is configured to determine at least one gain setting {ga gi} to be applied to a set of samples {Va . . . Vi} of the audio signal delayed by the delay block where the set of samples of the audio signal corresponds to a time-span which is less than an impulse response settling time of the loudspeaker. |
| US09942653B2 |
Narrow-angle directional microphone
A narrow-angle directional microphone includes: a microphone case; an acoustic tube fit in the microphone case with a gap between the acoustic tube and the microphone case; a microphone element arranged at one end side of the acoustic tube with a clearance that allows a front acoustic terminal and a rear acoustic terminal to communicate into each other between the microphone element and the microphone case; and an acoustic resistance body having elasticity positioned over between the one end side of the acoustic tube and the microphone element to block a passage between the front acoustic terminal and the rear acoustic terminal, whereby adjustments of a degree of compression of the acoustic resistance body are achieved by changes to an interval between the acoustic tube and the microphone element. |
| US09942652B2 |
Terminal device and information output method
A terminal device includes a detection unit that detects sound, and an output unit that outputs information regarding a position of the detection unit relative to a target apparatus which is a target to detect the sound by the detection unit. |
| US09942641B2 |
Mounting system, device and method for audio components
An ear mount that is used to support one or more audio components proximate to a user's ear or head is disclosed. The ear mount can include one or more wire grooves to secure wires and/or the one or more audio components. The ear mount can be malleable so its shape can be customized for a given user. The ear mount can also be length alterable for customization of its size as well as placement of audio components. The ear mount also facilitates rapid setup and/or alteration for individual users whereby different audio components and/or their placement can be customized. The ear mount can also be colored or camouflaged to match the user's skin or clothing. |
| US09942635B1 |
Audio device with movable display
An audio device is described which comprises a housing holding electronic components and having a face being substantially covered by a layer of transparent material. The audio device has a display comprising a layer of display material supported under at least part of the layer of transparent material; and at least one display actuating element in the housing configured to flex the display and the layer of transparent material to generate sound waves. There is at least one air cavity formed between the layer of display material and the housing; and an entrance formed in the layer of transparent material to allow air to pass between the air cavity and an exterior of the device. |
| US09942632B2 |
Photonic radiofrequency signal cross-connect and frequency conversion device and space-borne telecommunications payload comprising such a device
A photonic radiofrequency signal cross-connect and frequency conversion device comprises: electronic/optical converters, for transferring radiofrequency input signals to optical carriers; optical combiners for grouping together in one and the same optical path several optical signals generated by the electronic/optical converters; electro-optical modulators for mixing the optical signals being propagated in a same optical path with a respective radiofrequency carrier; optical splitters for splitting the optical signals at the output of the modulators; optical combiners for grouping together the optical signals deriving from different optical paths; and optical/electronic converters, associated with these optical combiners. A space-borne telecommunications payload comprising such a photonic device is also provided. |
| US09942630B1 |
Identifying devices using power data and network data
Devices in a building may be identified using a combination of power monitoring and network monitoring. Power monitoring may be performed by obtaining a power monitoring signal and processing the power monitoring signal with models to determine information about one or more devices in the building. Network monitoring may be performed by receiving information about network packets transmitted by devices in the building and processing the information about the network packets to determine information about one or more devices in the building. For some devices and some implementations, information about a device may be determined by using both power monitoring and network monitoring. The information about a device may include, for example, a type (e.g., a dishwasher), make, or version of a device. |
| US09942629B2 |
Methods of sensing parameters
Methods of sensing parameters are provided in which an event is detected using one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors of a sensor probe. The event corresponds to a change in a sensed parameter. The detection and associated measurement data is stored in an internal digital storage of the MEMS sensor and an interrupt is transmitted to an upstream device including an identifier of the sensor probe. An interrogation is received from an upstream device responsive to transmitting the interrupt and, responsive to being interrogated by the upstream device, at least the stored detection and associated data are transmitted to the upstream device. |
| US09942628B2 |
Wearable technology based apparatus and method for accelerated enrollment of parallel wireless sensors into their own network
A method and apparatus, the method includes a security system transmitting a beacon, a portable wireless setup device in a geographic location proximate a wireless access point of the security system reading at least a unique identifier of the security system, relocating the setup device to a geographic location proximate one of the plurality of wireless sensors and activating the one wireless sensor, the activated sensor reading the unique identifier of the security system from the setup device and the activated sensor automatically registering with the security system through the access point based upon the unique identifier read from the portable setup device. |
| US09942625B2 |
System and method for storing one or more removable sensor modules at an electronic device
Various disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for providing sensor functionality to a wireless electronic device. The wireless electronic device comprises a sensor module disposed within and removably coupled to the wireless electronic device. The sensor module includes a sensor module electrical interface. The wireless electronic device includes a first interface configured to receive the sensor module, and a second interface disposed within the wireless electronic device configured to electrically connect to the sensor module electrical interface when the sensor module is connected to the wireless electronic device. |
| US09942620B2 |
Device and method for remotely controlling the rendering of multimedia content
A method and device for controlling the rendering of digital content that is progressively downloaded on a content server in a wide-area communication network. The content can be accessed via at least one service gateway, and can be downloaded in order to be rendered on at least one rendering device that can communicate with the service gateway and that is equipped with a native remote control device. The method includes: reception, from the rendering device, of a datum relating to a command selected on the native remote control device; generation of a request for the progressive download of digital content associated with the selected command, based on the datum received; transmission of the progressive download request to the content server via the service gateway. |
| US09942619B2 |
Content supply device, content supply method, program, and content supply system
The present disclosure relates to a content supply device, a content supply method, a program, and a content supply system, which are capable of extending the DASH and seamlessly switching reception and reproduction of unicast transmission, multicast transmission, or broadcast transmission. A content supply device includes a HTTP transmitting unit that unicast-transmits a segment file of streaming data according to HTTP, an RTP transmitting unit that stores the segment file in an RTP packet without change, and transmits the RTP packet through at least one of multicasting and broadcasting according to RTP, and a metafile generating unit that generates a metafile in which a temporal correspondence relation between the segment file transmitted according to the HTTP and the segment file transmitted according to the RTP is described, and supplies the metafile to a reception side. The present disclosure can be applied to a system that delivers content in a streaming manner. |
| US09942616B2 |
Multimodal portable communication interface for accessing video content
A portable communication device has a touch screen display that receives tactile input and a microphone that receives audio input. The portable communication device initiates a query for media based at least in part on tactile input and audio input. The touch screen display is a multi-touch screen. The portable communication device sends an initiated query and receives a text response indicative of a speech to text conversion of the query. The portable communication device then displays video in response to tactile input and audio input. |
| US09942602B2 |
Watermark detection and metadata delivery associated with a primary content
Methods, devices, systems and computer program products enable enhances delivery and use of metadata that is associated a primary multimedia content. Watermarks that are detected by a watermark extractor produce an indication as to a state of the watermark detector as being in one of a an unmarked content state, a marked content state or a gap state, and cause the watermark extractor to transition from one state to another state based on event that are recognized based a failure or a success in detecting watermarks, an indication of low content activity and a previous state of the watermark extractor. The events and states associated with the watermark extractor further allows retrieval of new metadata associated with the primary content, use of an existing metadata in a modified manner or a change in presentation of a secondary content that is associated with the primary content. |
| US09942601B2 |
Storing non-real time content
A method is provided for a reception apparatus to store non-real-time (NRT) content. The method includes receiving, by the reception apparatus, the NRT content included in a digital television broadcast signal broadcast from a content source. The received NRT content, included in the digital television broadcast signal broadcast from the content source, is stored in a memory of the reception apparatus. The reception apparatus outputs the NRT content stored in the memory for presentation to a user. The reception apparatus receives a request to store the NRT content in an external device and, in response, sends an instruction via a communication network to store the NRT content in the external device. |
| US09942592B2 |
Video display device, terminal device, and method thereof
A video display apparatus pairs with a first terminal device. The video display apparatus receives an audio-visual content, and displays the audio-visual content. The video display apparatus acquires enhanced service information on an available enhanced service for the audio-visual content, and notifies an occurrence of the available enhanced service to the first terminal device. |
| US09942590B2 |
Program storage, retrieval and management based on segmentation messages
Segmentation messages indicative of locations of upcoming events, such as the start and end of programs and program portions, and/or rights related to the programs and program portions, are used by cable systems and the like to store programs and program portions for later retrieval and transmission to customers on request. Storage, retrieval and management of programming is thereby facilitated. Methods and systems are disclosed. |
| US09942589B2 |
System and method for scheduling clips
An example method involves: accessing a first list that includes ordered clip identifiers C1 . . . Cn separated at least into a first block of clip identifiers C1 . . . Cj and a second block of clip identifiers Cj+1 . . . Ck; accessing a second list that includes ordered player identifiers P1 . . . Px; assigning to each clip identifier C1 . . . Cj in order a respective one of the player identifiers P1 . . . Px selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with one of the player identifiers P1 . . . Px; assigning to each clip identifier Cj+1 . . . Ck in order a respective one of the player identifiers P1 . . . Px selected in an ordered and looping fashion starting with the player identifier P1; and traversing the clip identifiers C1 . . . Ck, and for each traversed clip identifier, causing a player identified by the one of the player identifiers P1 . . . Px assigned to the traversed clip identifier to load a clip identified by the traversed clip identifier. |
| US09942588B2 |
System for monetizing resources accessible to a mobile device server
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operating in a mobile device server. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can include computer instructions to execute a web server application in the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable cause the mobile device server to detect a media resource center while roaming in a communication zone of the media resource center, transmit a pairing key to the media resource center, and receive from the media resource center authorization to pair with one or more resources selected by the media resource center according to the pairing key. In one embodiment a billing system can be operable to determine whether to apply a monetary charge to a subscriber account based on the pairing key. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09942586B2 |
Method and apparatus for hardware-enforced, always-on insertion of a watermark in a video processing path
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for inserting a watermark in a media program is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises the steps of receiving data comprising the media program in the receiver disposed at a subscriber station, generating a watermark, the watermark generated at least in part according to a secure data processor-unique identifier irreversibly stored in the secure data processor, processing the received data to reproduce the media program, and inserting portions of the generated watermark in the reproduced media program at locations determined at least in part according to the secure data processor-unique identifier to produce a watermarked media program provided for display. |
| US09942577B1 |
Dynamic objects caching for media content playback
Techniques are described for caching dynamic objects for media content playback. A media server can provide a cache key representing a set of instructions used to select a subset of manifest data. The cache key can be provided to a viewer device, which can then contact a content delivery network (CDN) for a dynamic manifest file corresponding to the cache key. The CDN can contact the media server to have the dynamic manifest file generated using the cache key if it is not in its cache. |
| US09942575B1 |
Assigning videos to single-stream and multi-stream decoders
A method for assigning videos to multi-stream and single-stream decoders is disclosed. The method determines a ranking of each of a plurality of videos. The method further identifies a type of each video for at least part of the plurality of videos. The method also determines a configuration of a plurality of hardware decoders to decode a subset of the plurality of videos for simultaneous presentation on a screen of a user device. The configuration may define a mode of each of the plurality of decoders. The method further assigns the subset of videos to the plurality of hardware decoders for decoding according to the configuration. |
| US09942571B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding of sample adaptive offset information
A method and apparatus for sharing context among different SAO syntax elements for a video coder are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention apply CABAC coding to multiple SAO syntax elements according to a joint context model, wherein the multiple SAO syntax elements share the joint context. The multiple SAO syntax elements may correspond to SAO merge left flag and SAO merge up flag. The multiple SAO syntax elements may correspond to SAO merge left flags or merge up flags associated with different color components. The joint context model can be derived based on joint statistics of the multiple SAO syntax elements. Embodiments of the present invention code the SAO type index using truncated unary binarization, using CABAC with only one context, or using CABAC with context mode for the first bin associated with the SAO type index and with bypass mode for any remaining bin. |
| US09942569B2 |
Image encoding apparatus and control method of the same
An encoding apparatus includes a transformer which performs wavelet transform on image data to generate coefficients of subbands, and a predictive encoder which performs predictive coding on the coefficients. The predictive encoder includes a symbol generator which generates a symbol as an encoding target from a predictive error, an encoder which performs entropy coding on the generated symbol using a parameter determined in a process of encoding an immediately preceding coefficient of the coefficient of interest, an estimation unit which estimates a tentative symbol corresponding to a succeeding coefficient to be encoded next to the coefficient of interest, and a determination unit which determines a parameter for the succeeding coefficient from a code length obtained when assuming that the tentative symbol estimated by the estimation unit is obtained by encoding a parameter used when encoding the symbol of the coefficient of interest. |
| US09942561B2 |
Moving picture coding apparatus and moving picture decoding apparatus
A video encoder (70) for coding moving pictures comprising a buffer (16c) with a plurality of memory areas capable of storing frames composed of top fields and bottom fields, a motion estimation unit (19) operable to code, field by field, inputted pictures performing moving estimation and moving compensation by referring, field by field, to the picture data stored in a memory area, a motion compensation unit (16d), a subtractor (11), a transformation unit (13) and a quantization unit (14), a memory management unit (71) operable to manage, frame by frame, a plurality of memory areas, an inverse quantization unit (16a) and inverse discrete cosine transform unit (16b) operable to decode picture data in coded fields and store the picture data in the decoded field in any of the plurality of memory areas under the management by the memory management unit (71). |
| US09942560B2 |
Encoding screen capture data
An input of an encoder receives moving image data comprising a sequence of frames to be encoded, each frame comprising a plurality of blocks in two dimensions with each block comprising a plurality of pixels in those two dimensions. A motion prediction module performs encoding by, for at least part of each of a plurality of said frames, coding each block relative to a respective reference portion of another frame of the sequence, with the respective reference portion being offset from the block by a respective motion vector. According to the present disclosure, the moving image data of this plurality of frames comprises a screen capture stream, and the motion prediction module is configured to restrict each of the motion vectors of the screen capture stream to an integer number of pixels in at least one of said dimensions. |
| US09942559B2 |
Implicit signaling of scalability dimension identifier information in a parameter set
A system for decoding a video bitstream includes receiving a frame of the video that includes at least one slice and at least one tile and where each of the at least one slice and the at least one tile are not all aligned with one another. |
| US09942557B2 |
Method and system of video encoding optimization
A computerized method and system of segment-based video encoding optimization, the method comprising obtaining a set of input segments constituting an input video stream; selecting one or more input segments in accordance with a selection criterion to be one or more representative segments; determining an encoding instruction and obtaining one or more encoded representative segments encoded from the representative segments in accordance with the encoding instruction and using a quality-driven video encoding scheme; determining, based on the encoded representative segments, an encoding configuration, and obtaining one or more encoded input segments encoded from at least a sub-set of the input segments using the encoding configuration; determining an evaluation instruction used to evaluate quality for each encoded input segment; and generating an output video stream, by selecting, for each input segment, a corresponding output segment from a group comprising at least one of the following candidate segments: the input segment, an encoded representative segment, and an encoded input segment. |
| US09942556B2 |
Altering streaming video encoding based on user attention
Disclosed are various embodiments for adjusting the encoding of a video signal into a video stream based on user attention. A temporary lapse of attention by a user is predicted. The encoding of the video signal into the video stream is adjusted from an initial state to a conservation state in response to predicting the temporary lapse of attention by the user. The conservation state is configured to conserve one or more resources used for the video stream relative to the initial state. |
| US09942548B2 |
Entropy coding transform partitioning information
Entropy coding of transform partitioning information may include decoding a current block by determining a probability for entropy decoding a transform partitioning flag based on a transform block size of an adjacent block that is available for decoding, entropy decoding the transform partitioning flag for the current block using the probability, generating a reconstructed block based on the current block by, on a condition that the transform partitioning flag indicates that transform partitioning is omitted for the current block, inverse transforming the current block using a current block size inverse transform, and, on a condition that the transform partitioning flag indicates transform partitioning for the current block, identifying sub-blocks from the current block, wherein each sub-block from the sub-blocks has a sub-block size smaller than the current block size, inverse transforming the sub-blocks using sub-block size inverse transforms, and generating the reconstructed block based on the residual block. |
| US09942546B2 |
POC value design for multi-layer video coding
In an example, a method of decoding video data includes decoding data that indicates a picture order count (POC) reset for a POC value of a first picture of a first received layer of multi-layer video data, where the first picture is included in an access unit. The method also includes, based on the data that indicates the POC reset for the POC value of the first picture and prior to decoding the first picture, outputting all pictures stored in a decoded picture buffer (DPB) that precede the first picture in coding order and that are not included in the access unit. |
| US09942544B2 |
Method and device for deriving a set of enabled coding modes
A method for deriving a set of enabled coding modes relative to the encoding of an image or image portion which forms part of an image sequence. The method comprises: obtaining information associated with coding modes of one or more previously encoded images of the sequence, and selectively enabling for the current image or image portion, coding modes based on said obtained information. |
| US09942540B2 |
Method and a device for creating images
A method is provided for creating at least one image of a graphics scene that is to be played back on a screen. The graphics scene is made up of graphics objects. The position of a user is known. A graphics object is created in at least one image while taking account of the position of the user. A terminal is provided, which includes including an image-creator for creating at least one image of a graphics scene that is to be played back on a screen of a user occupying a position relative to the screen, the scene including at least one graphics object. |
| US09942537B2 |
Image processing device, imaging apparatus, and computer-readable medium having stored thereon an image processing program
An image processing device including means for: inputting two parallax images composed of images of first and second viewpoint directions; generating first and second smoothed images by applying, respectively to the images of the first and second viewpoint directions, a smoothing filter in a direction joining the first and second viewpoints; generating a reference image formed by a value based on a product of values of the first and second smoothed images; generating gain distribution data by dividing a value of the reference image by the value of the first smoothed image; performing gain correction of each pixel on the image of the first viewpoint direction, based on the gain distribution data; and outputting the gain corrected image of the first viewpoint direction as a parallax image, the smoothing filter having a filter diameter approximately equal to a parallax amount between the images of the first and second viewpoint directions. |
| US09942536B2 |
Autostereoscopic display device
A stacked display has the different color layers (20r), (20g), (20b) ordered with respect to the wavelength-dependency of the lens focus so that there is better focus of the colors on the display layers that modulate those colors. The optical system (30), (32) can be designed to have a wavelength-dependent focus that matches the position of each of the light modulating layers. |
| US09942534B2 |
Image processing system and microscope system including the same
An image processing system includes an acquisition unit, a candidate value estimation unit, a cutoff frequency acquisition unit and a candidate value modification unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire an image of a sample taken via an optical system. The candidate value estimation unit is configured to estimate a candidate value of a 3D shape of the sample based on the image. The cutoff frequency acquisition unit is configured to acquire a cutoff frequency of the optical system based on information of the optical system. The candidate value modification unit is configured to perform at least one of data correction and data interpolation for the candidate value based on the cutoff frequency and calculate a modified candidate value. |
| US09942533B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating multi-channel video
An approach is provided for generating multi-channel video. A media platform segments a plurality of media items into one or more media segments based on a plurality of viewpoints of at least one event. The media platform then generates a plurality of media channels for respective one or more plurality of viewpoints. The plurality of media channels compiles the one or more media segments that depict the respective one or more of the plurality of viewpoints. The media platform then compiles the plurality of media channels into a multi-channel media item. |
| US09942532B2 |
Eye-fatigue reduction system for head-mounted displays
Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for reducing eye-fatigue for users of binocular head-mounted displays. Aspects include displaying a content item by a display device of the binocular head-mounted display and calculating an estimated eye-fatigue of the user of the binocular head-mounted display. Based on a determination that the estimated eye-fatigue of the user exceeds a threshold level, aspects also include modifying the content item, by the processor, to encourage the user to take an eye-fatigue reduction action and displaying the modified content item by the display device of the binocular head-mounted display. |
| US09942531B2 |
Device and method for automatic color calibration in a laser scanning apparatus
A color calibration device for a laser scanning apparatus includes a compensation unit configured to electronically compensate for positional errors of the three-color laser source. The compensation unit includes an emitted light detector configured to measure a power of an emitted light beam. A calibration unit coupled to the emitted light detector has a controller configured to generate a quantity correction value for the three-color laser source. A laser source control element is configured to generate a control quantity for the three-color laser source, based on the quantity correction value. A dominant color detector is configured to detect any dominant color in the light beam being projected and actuate the controller for the dominant color. |
| US09942527B2 |
Imaging systems with clear filter pixels
An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels arranged in color filter unit cells each having one red image pixel that generates red image signals, one blue image pixel that generate blue image signals, and two clear image sensor pixels that generate white image signals. The image sensor may be coupled to processing circuitry that performs filtering operations on the red, blue, and white image signals to increase noise correlations in the image signals that reduce noise amplification when applying a color correction matrix to the image signals. The processing circuitry may extract a green image signal from the white image signal. The processing circuitry may compute a scaling value that includes a linear combination of the red, blue, white and green image signals. The scaling value may be applied to the red, blue, and green image signals to produce corrected image signals having improved image quality. |
| US09942525B2 |
Integrated video camera module
This application discloses a camera module that incorporates a camera portion, a wireless antenna, a wireless transceiver and one or more infrared light emitting diodes (IR LEDs). The camera portion is configured to capture video data. The wireless transceiver is coupled to the wireless antenna and configured to communicate in a local wireless network. The wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the video data captured by the camera portion to a client device via a remote server. The client device is remote from the camera module, and the remote server is remote from the camera module and the client device. The IR LEDs are configured to illuminate a field of view with infrared light. In some implementations, the wireless transceiver is further configured to communicate the video data captured by the camera portion while the one or more IR LEDs illuminate the field of view with infrared light. |
| US09942524B2 |
Device and method for detecting the position of an object in a machine tool
A device for detecting the position of an object in a machine tool includes a camera configured to provide an image of the object and an object carrier to which the object is connected and whose position within the machine tool is known. A first processing unit is configured to identify a position of the object relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object which are obtained from the image. A second processing unit is configured to identify a position of the object carrier relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object carrier which are obtained from the image. A third processing unit is configured to determine a position of the object relative to the object carrier from the identified positions of the object and the object carrier relative to the camera. |
| US09942523B1 |
Inferred activity based conference enhancement method and system
A method and system for optimizing conference session activities within a conference space, the system comprising at least a first sensor for sensing session characteristics and a processor receiving the sensed session characteristics and identifying a conference paradigm based on the sensed session characteristics, identifying an action sequence to perform as a function of the conference paradigm and performing the action sequence, wherein the action sequence results in automatic presentation of at least some information to at least a subset of conferees within the conference space. |
| US09942522B2 |
In-vehicle camera system
A camera system for a vehicle may include a control interface configured to receive an input from a driver and generate a signal, and at least one camera configured to capture video of an interior of the vehicle. The camera system may also include a display configured to output video to the driver, and a controller in communication with the control interface, the camera, and the display. The controller may be configured to receive the signal from the control interface, actuate the at least one camera to capture video based on the signal, and output the video to the display based on the signal. |
| US09942514B1 |
Video call power optimization
The disclosure generally relates to optimizing power consumption while one or more users are inactive during a video call. More particularly, according to various aspects, a current camera view may be captured at a first user equipment (UE) during a video call with at least a second UE. In response to the first UE determining that a user associated with the first UE is inactive on a camera at the first UE (e.g., when no faces are visible in the current camera view), the first UE may reduce uplink transmissions that are allocated to video content corresponding to the current camera view while the user associated with the first UE is inactive on the camera. |
| US09942513B1 |
Automated configuration of behavior of a telepresence system based on spatial detection of telepresence components
A system that automatically configures the behavior of the display devices of a video conference endpoint. The controller may detect, at a microphone array having a predetermined physical relationship with respect to a camera, audio emitted from one or more loudspeakers, each loudspeaker having a predetermined physical relationship with respect to at least one of one or more display devices in a conference room. The controller may then generate data representing a spatial relationship between the one or more display devices and the camera based on the detected audio. Finally, the controller may assign video sources received by the endpoint to each of the one or more display devices based on the data representing the spatial relationship and the content of each received video source, and may also assign outputs from multiple video cameras to an outgoing video stream based on the on the data representing the spatial relationship. |
| US09942512B2 |
Display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus displaying an image based on an image signal received from a source device is provided. The display apparatus includes a display, a display port interface to connect to the source device, a user input interface configured to receive a mode select command indicating one of a plurality of modes divided according to a vertical frequency ranges where the image is displayed, a first memory configured to store Display Port Configuration Data, a second memory configured to store Extended Display Identification Data, and a processor configured to transmit the EDID to the source device. In response to a mode select command being input, the processor controls vertical frequency information corresponding to a mode selected according to the mode select command to be stored in the DPCD and the DPCD storing the vertical frequency information instead of the EDID to the source device through the interface to be transmitted. |
| US09942511B2 |
Preservation/degradation of video/audio aspects of a data stream
In one aspect, a method related to data management. In addition, other method, system, and program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and/or text forming a part of the present application. |
| US09942510B2 |
Method and device for processing input image data
The invention provides a method for processing input image data by an image processing device, to reach a desired visual effect within an output image, wherein input image data are stored within an input memory device and the input image data are transferred based on data of a lookup table into respective output image data stored within an output memory device, the lookup table being generated based on at least one data remapping function to reach the desired visual effect, wherein further the entries within the lookup table are arranged in such a way that when processing the lookup table the input memory device is addressed in a sequential reading order; a computer readable medium having stored thereon program code to carry out the inventive method as well as an image processing device to carry out the method. |
| US09942503B2 |
Image sensors having high-efficiency charge storage capabilities
An image pixel may include a photodiode, storage node, floating diffusion, and capacitor. A first transistor may be coupled between the photodiode and the storage node. A second transistor may be coupled between the storage node and the floating diffusion. A third transistor may be coupled between the capacitor and the floating diffusion. A potential barrier may be formed between the storage node and the capacitor. The potential barrier may exhibit a potential that is between the potential of the photodiode and the potential of the charge storage node. The potential barrier may transfer an overflow portion of image charge from the storage node to the capacitor. The third transistor may transfer the overflow charge from the capacitor to the floating diffusion. The capacitor may shield the storage node from image light or may reflect at least some of the image light towards the photodiode. |
| US09942500B2 |
Image sensor and imaging device
An image sensor comprising a plurality of imaging pixels, a plurality of focus detecting pixels in which opening positions of light receiving sections are shifted from those of the imaging pixels, and a plurality of color filters arranged corresponding to the imaging pixels and the focus detecting pixels, wherein first focus detecting pixels in which opening positions are shifted in a first direction are arranged at positions corresponding to first color filters of the imaging pixels, and second focus detecting pixels in which opening positions are shifted in the first direction and which have opening ratios different from those of the first focus detecting pixels are arranged at positions corresponding to the first color filters. |
| US09942499B2 |
Solid-state image taking device with uniform noise distribution
A solid-state image taking device including a pixel section and a scan driving section wherein on each pixel column included in the pixel area determined in advance to serve as a pixel column having the unit pixels laid out in the scan direction, the opto-electric conversion section and the electric-charge holding section are laid out alternately and repeatedly, and on each of the pixel columns in the pixel area determined in advance, two the electric-charge holding sections of two adjacent ones of the unit pixels are laid out disproportionately toward one side of the scan direction with respect to the optical-path limiting section or the opto-electric conversion section. |
| US09942491B2 |
Imaging device including two substrates
An imaging device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a plurality of connection nodes which electrically connect the first and second substrates, a pixel section arranged on the first substrate and including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, the plurality of pixels outputting pixel signals according to incident light, a row signal generation circuit arranged on the first substrate or the second substrate and configured to generate row selection signals, a column signal generation circuit arranged on the first substrate and configured to generate column-scanning signals, a block of column-scanning circuits arranged on the first substrate and which sequentially outputs the pixel signals output to every row from the pixels by scanning the columns according to the column-scanning signals, to every column, and a signal-processing circuit arranged on the second substrate and configured to process the pixel signals output from the block of column-scanning circuits. |
| US09942486B2 |
Identifying dominant and non-dominant images in a burst mode capture
For cameras that capture several images in a burst mode, some embodiments of the invention provide a method that presents one or more of the captured images differently than the remaining captured images. The method identifies at least one captured image as dominant image and at least another captured image as a non-dominant image. The method then displays each dominant image different from each non-dominant image in a concurrent presentation of the images captured during the burst mode. The dominant images may appear larger than non-dominant images, and/or appear with a marking that indicates that the images are dominant. |
| US09942482B2 |
Image sensor with transfer gate control signal lines
There is provided an image sensor including at least three pixel transfer control signal lines, on a per line basis, configured to control exposure start and end timings of a pixel in order for exposure timings of a plurality of the pixels constituting one line in a specific direction to have at least three patterns. |
| US09942481B2 |
Systems and methods for iterative adjustment of video-capture settings based on identified persona
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for iterative adjustment of video-capture settings based on identified persona. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving video frames that are being captured by a video camera of an ongoing scene. The method also includes identifying a persona in one or more of the received frames at least in part by identifying, in each such frame, a set of pixels classified as being representative of the persona. The method also includes selecting, based collectively on the brightness values of the pixels in the identified set, a respective adjustment command for one or more adjustable video-capture settings of the camera, as well as outputting the selected commands to the camera for use in continuing to capture video data representative of the ongoing scene. |
| US09942478B2 |
Image stabilization apparatus and image pickup apparatus applied with image stabilization apparatus
An image stabilization apparatus includes a moving member configured to be movable within a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of an image pickup optical system, a stationary member configured to movably support the moving member within the plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the image pickup optical system, and a plurality of drive units configured to drive the moving member so as to move within the plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the image pickup optical system with respect to the stationary member, in which a first drive unit of the plurality of drive units is arranged on a first surface side of the moving member and a second drive unit of the plurality of drive units is arranged on a second surface side of the moving member. |
| US09942477B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus comprises: a dividing unit that divides two frame images into a plurality of divided areas; a determination unit that determines a representative point for each of the divided areas in one of the two frame images; a setting unit that, for each of the two frame images, sets image portions for detecting movement between the two frame images, based on the representative points; and a detection unit that detects movement between the two frame images based on correlation values of image signals in the set image portions, wherein for each of the divided areas, the determination unit determines a feature point of the divided area or a predetermined fixed point as the representative point of the divided area in accordance with a position of the divided area in the one frame image. |
| US09942476B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and image capturing method
A panoramic image is to be easily generated.A driver 12 displaces at least one of a lens unit 11a and an image capturing element 21 with respect to an optical axis. A control unit 50 displaces, using the driver 12, at least one of the lens unit 11a and the image capturing element 21 in accordance with a motion of an image capturing apparatus 10. When generating a plurality of captured images while shifting an image capturing direction in order to generate a panoramic image from the plurality of captured images, the control unit 50 changes a position of the lens unit 11a and/or the image capturing element 21, the position being a position at the start of exposure of each of the captured images, in a direction set according to a direction in which the image capturing direction shifts, thereby performing correction of deviation caused by a motion of the image capturing apparatus. |
| US09942475B2 |
Real cross traffic—quick looks
System and method of performing various transformations between an omnidirectional image model and a rectilinear image model for use in vehicle imaging systems. In particular, a panel transform system and method for transforming an omnidirectional image from an omnidirectional camera positioned on a vehicle to a rectilinear image. The rectilinear image is then displayed to the driver for use while performing vehicle maneuvers. The panel transform system and method also provide a rectilinear image model based on the omnidirectional camera for use with existing rectilinear imaging processing systems. The rectilinear image model is determined based on a variable set of input parameters that are defined by both automatic and manual system inputs such as a steering wheel angle sensor and a user interface. |
| US09942474B2 |
Systems and methods for performing high speed video capture and depth estimation using array cameras
High speed video capture and depth estimation using array cameras is disclosed. Real world scenes typically include objects located at different distances from a camera. Therefore, estimating depth during video capture by an array camera can result in smoother rendering of video from image data captured of real world scenes. One embodiment of the invention includes cameras that capture images from different viewpoints, and an image processing pipeline application that obtains images from groups of cameras, where each group of cameras starts capturing image data at a staggered start time relative to the other groups of cameras. The application then selects a reference viewpoint and determines scene-dependent geometric corrections that shift pixels captured from an alternate viewpoint to the reference viewpoint by performing disparity searches to identify the disparity at which pixels from the different viewpoints are most similar. The corrections can then be used to render frames of video. |
| US09942473B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for capture of expected data in visual media
An apparatus for providing guidance for image capture includes a recognition module that recognizes data objects in data available to an image capture device. At least a portion of the data includes characters. The apparatus includes a context module that determines a context associated with a first image available from the image capture device. The context includes one or more expected data objects, where the first image includes at least a portion of the recognized data objects. The apparatus includes a data module that compares the expected data objects for the determined context, with the recognized data objects from the first image to identify missing expected data objects not found in the first image. The apparatus includes a guidance module that, in response to identified missing data, provides guidance for capturing a second image expected to include the missing expected data objects. |
| US09942472B2 |
Method and system for real-time image subjective social contentment maximization
A photographing method including: displaying, at an image acquisition device, a scene that includes a first person; displaying, at the image acquisition device, a first score in the scene, wherein the first score is indicative of the first person's contentment with the way he or she looks in the scene; and acquiring, at the image acquisition device, a photograph of the scene when the first score is equal to or greater than a threshold value. |
| US09942471B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes: an expectation condition information acquisition section; a requisite condition information acquisition section; a photographing apparatus state information acquisition section; an object state information acquisition section; and a photographing apparatus selection section as defined herein, the requisite condition requires that the plurality of objects are not overlapped with each other, and the photographing apparatus selection section has: an expectation condition determination section that carries out expectation condition determination processing to determine whether a photographic image captured by each of the plurality of photographing apparatuses satisfies at least one of the plurality of expectation conditions or not; and a requisite condition determination section that carries out requisite condition determination processing to determine whether or not a photographic image that has been determined to satisfy at least one of the plurality of expectation conditions by the expectation condition determination section satisfies the requisite condition. |
| US09942470B2 |
Detecting facial expressions in digital images
A method and system for detecting facial expressions in digital images and applications therefore are disclosed. Analysis of a digital image determines whether or not a smile and/or blink is present on a person's face. Face recognition, and/or a pose or illumination condition determination, permits application of a specific, relatively small classifier cascade. |
| US09942468B2 |
Optimal camera selection in array of monitoring cameras
Technologies are generally described for automatically optimizing an efficiency of camera placement, numbers, and resolution in multi-camera monitoring and surveillance applications. In some examples, a fraction of a total area may be monitored at a higher resolution than the rest. Employing techniques such as combinatorial state Viterbi technique or combinatorial state trellis technique, a minimum number of cameras that provide the coverage at the needed resolution may be selected. Similarly, a number of points may be covered with at least a predefined number of cameras. For example, a subject of interest may be tracked in a public area, where specific camera(s) may be used to image the subject's face at a higher resolution than the background. |
| US09942467B2 |
Electronic device and method for adjusting camera exposure
An apparatus and method for adjusting camera exposure are disclosed. The apparatus includes an electronic device The electronic device includes a camera, a display, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a first user input for selecting a first area of a preview image from a first screen for displaying the preview image, to identify an exposure state of the selected first area responding to the first user input, to provide a second screen for displaying a portion of the preview image corresponding to the first area if the exposure state of the selected first area is an over-exposure state, to receive a second user input for selecting a second area of the preview image from the second screen, and to adjust an exposure of the preview image based on the exposure state responding to the second user input. |
| US09942466B2 |
Transparent lens element in convertible base for camera capture pass-through
A convertible computer includes a transparent optical element in the keyboard base that provides light pass-through for the camera but does not interfere with the user's experience. The transparent optical element may include a transparent glass or plastic element that maintains the imaging specifications of the rear-facing camera. In some implementations, the transparent optical element can maintain the f-number of the optical system that includes the camera and the transparent optical element and may not affect image quality of images captured by the camera. In some arrangements, the transparent optical element can include an optical system that can increase the light-gathering ability of the camera (e.g., decreases f-number), effectively converting the camera lens into a macro lens. In other arrangements, the transparent optical element can include an optical system that can improve the imaging of distant objects (e.g., increases f-number), effectively converting the camera lens into a telephoto lens. |
| US09942463B2 |
Camera device without image displaying function
A camera device without an image displaying function which is adapted to assemble with a portable electronic device with a vision displaying module is disclosed in the present invention. The camera device is electrically connected to the portable electronic device via wire/wireless connection. The camera device includes a base, a lens module and at least one touch navigation module. The base includes a surrounding component whereinside the lens module is disposed. The lens module includes a lens assembly and a digital processing unit. The touch navigation module is disposed on an outer surface of the surrounding component and electrically connected to the lens module. The touch navigation module detects an input command to trigger the lens assembly to capture an image, or controls parameters of an adjustable mode of the lens assembly via the digital processing unit. |
| US09942462B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling auto focus of camera module
Apparatus and method for controlling auto focus of a camera module. A controller is configured to provide a signal comprising first frequency signal and second frequency signal to a moving coil, a fixed coil receiving the variable current or the variable voltage through the second frequency signal, calculate a focus position value based on the received variable current or the variable voltage and an image signal, and control a lens unit to move according to the calculated focus position value. The controller is further configured to receive the second frequency signal only during a specific time slot in order for the second frequency signal to not include noise due to OIS signal and apply the OIS signal to an OIS coil during the rest of a time slot of the second frequency signal. |
| US09942461B2 |
Auto-focus image sensor and digital image processing device including the same
The inventive concepts provide an auto-focus image sensor and a digital image processing device including the same. The auto-focus image sensor includes a substrate including at least one first pixel used for detecting a phase difference and at least one second pixel used for detecting an image, a deep device isolation portion disposed in the substrate to isolate the first pixel from the second pixel, and a light shielding pattern disposed on the substrate of at least the first pixel. The amount of light incident on the first pixel is smaller than the amount of light incident on the second pixel by the light shielding pattern. |
| US09942459B2 |
Method and system for image quality learning with solid state image sensors
The present disclosure relates to solid state image sensors in digital imaging systems, more particularly to an image quality learning method and system for solid state image sensors. One of the advantages of the method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is to allow the implementation of a digital machine vision system with a faster convergence of an Image Quality algorithm, which results in a shorter delay for the user. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method is performed as a recursive algorithm which tends to converge to an Image Quality setting satisfying image quality criteria. |
| US09942458B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, control apparatus, and control method for distributing captured images to a terminal via a network
An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes image pickup means; holding means for holding a coordinate system used to represent an image capturing direction of the image pickup means or a region in an image capturing range of the image pickup means; reception means for receiving a first command for rotating a captured image obtained by the image pickup means or a captured image cut out from the region in the image capturing range by a certain angle, a second command for rotating the coordinate system held in the holding means about the origin by the certain angle, and specification information for specifying the image capturing direction in the coordinate system; and change control means for executing control to change the image capturing direction of the image pickup means to the image capturing direction specified by the specification information. |
| US09942456B2 |
Information processing to automatically specify and control a device
There is provided an information processing device including an acquisition unit configured to acquire operation state information of connected imaging devices, and an operation instruction unit configured to give an operation instruction to the imaging device specified based on the operation state information of the imaging devices acquired by the acquisition unit. |
| US09942455B2 |
Timing system and method with integrated participant event image capture management services
An automated system and method for managing a participant's participation in an event having a participant event management system (PEMS), a participant proximity detector, an image capture system and a timing system. The participant event management system (PEMS) receives a request for capturing an image of the participant during the event. The participant proximity detector detects the proximity of the participant to a detection point and receives the participant number. The image capture system receives an instruction for capturing an image of the participant, receives an indication that the participant has been detected, and captures an image of the participant. The timing system receives the preorder request from the PEMS, determines a time of passing of the detection point of the participant, associates the participant event number with the participant identifier number, generates the instruction for capturing the image of the participant, and receives the transmitted captured image. |
| US09942448B2 |
Display control apparatus and method for controlling the same
A display control apparatus includes one or more processors, a conversion unit configured to convert a color of the image based on a predetermined condition, and a display control unit configured to perform control such that, in a case where a non-color-converted image is displayed in which the color of the non-color-converted image is not converted, a display item is displayed at a superimposed position at which the display item is superimposed on the image, and in a case where a color-converted image is displayed in which the color of the color-converted image is converted, the display item is displayed at a non-superimposed position at which the display item is not superimposed on the color-converted image. |
| US09942443B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes plural communication interfaces, a specifying unit, a network determining unit, and a transmission controller. The plural communication interfaces are individually connected to plural communication networks having different security levels. The specifying unit specifies a destination terminal to which a file stored in a data memory is to be transmitted. The network determining unit determines a communication network, among the plural communication networks, via which the file is to be transmitted to the destination terminal. The transmission controller prohibits transmission of the file to the destination terminal in a case where a security level set to the file is higher than a security level set to the communication network determined by the network determining unit. |
| US09942440B2 |
Image-based field boundary detection and identification
Detection and identification a field's boundaries is performed in a workflow based on processing images of the field captured at different times, relative to a defined seed point. Images are clipped to align with the seed point and a bounding box around the seed point, and a mask is built by extracting edges of the field from the images. The workflow floods an area around the seed point that has pixels of a similar color, using the mask as an initial boundary. The flooded area is compared to threshold parameter values, which are tuned to refine the identified boundary. Flooded areas in multiple images are combined, and a boundary is built based on the combined flooded set. Manual, interactive tuning of floodfill areas allows for a separate boundary detection and identification workflow or for refinement of the automatic boundary detection workflow. |
| US09942434B1 |
Document feeder, image reading device, and image forming apparatus
A document feeder includes a document loading unit loaded with a document thereon and supported to be movable between (i) a loading position where the document can be loaded and (ii) an opened position where a space at a lower side of the document loading unit in a direction of gravity is opened, a separation unit including a feed roller and a separation roller being in pressure contact with the feed roller, the separation unit that separates the document fed from the document loading unit by a nip between the feed roller and the separation roller, and a guide member that guides the document fed from the document loading unit to the nip of the separation unit. When the document loading unit moves to the opened position, the separation roller and the guide member move to be spaced apart from each other. |
| US09942432B2 |
Electrochromic scanning backing material
A scanning device includes a transparent platen which receives a sheet to be scanned. A backing assembly is spaced from the platen by the sheet during scanning. The backing assembly includes a backing plate of a fixed color and an electrochromic layer intermediate the backing plate and the platen. The electrochromic layer has a first state in which the electrochromic layer is opaque and has a different color from the fixed color, and a second state, in which the electrochromic layer is transparent to expose the backing plate through it. A sensor is positioned to acquire an image of the sheet based on light passing through the platen. A controller selectively applies a voltage across the electrochromic layer to change the electrochromic layer between the first and second states. |
| US09942431B2 |
Imaging forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus, and recording medium
An image forming apparatus capable of receiving a raster image from an image processing controller includes: a transmitting unit transmitting device information of the image forming apparatus to an external device via the image processing controller; a determining unit determining whether the image processing controller is in a first power condition or in a second power condition consuming lower power than the first power condition; and a control unit allowing the transmitting unit to transmit the device information to the external device in a case where the determining unit determines that the image processing controller is in the first power condition, and in a case where the determining unit determines that the image processing controller is in the second power condition, restrict the transmitting unit to transmit the device information to the external device until the image processing controller returns to the first power condition from the second power condition. |
| US09942426B2 |
Editing an electronic document on a multipurpose peripheral device
A system comprising a multifunctional peripheral device comprising a processor and a display device, in which the display device presents to a user an electronic document, in which, with an editing module, the multifunctional peripheral device receives input indicating edits to be made to the electronic document, and in which the edits are saved as a separate image. |
| US09942423B2 |
Display of two functions of device used with data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus is configured to: receive a selection of one of a first function and a second function other than the first function; store, if one device is selected, the selected one device in correlation with the first and second functions; and control a device to execute one of the first and second functions when an instruction to execute one of the first and second functions is received. If no device is stored in correlation with the one of the first and second functions, the selected one device executes the one of the first function and the second function. If another device has been stored in correlation with the one of the first and second functions, one of candidate devices executes the one of the first and the second functions. The candidate devices include the selected one device. |
| US09942420B2 |
Image and augmented reality based networks using mobile devices and intelligent electronic glasses
A mobile communication system based on digital content including images and video that may be acquired, processed, and displayed using a plurality of mobile device, smartphones, tablet computers, stationary computers, intelligent electronic glasses, smart glasses, headsets, watches, smart devices, vehicles, and servers. Content may be acquired continuously by input and output devices and displayed in a social network. Images may have associated additional properties including nature of voice, audio, data and other information. This content may be displayed and acted upon in an augmented reality or virtual reality system. The imaged base network system may have the ability to learn and form intelligent association between aspects, people and other entities; between images and the associated data relating to both animate and inanimate entities for intelligent image based communication in a network. Acquired content may be processed for predictive analytics. Individuals may be imaged for targeted and personalized advertising. |
| US09942419B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes a forming unit, a detecting unit, and a creating unit. The forming unit forms a first image and at least one of second and third images on a recording medium. The first image is used to create correction data for gradation correction. The second image is used to detect a streak in a cross direction which is produced in the first image. The cross direction intersects a conveying direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. The third image is used to detect the streak in the conveying direction which is produced in the first image. The detecting unit detects the streak by using at least one of the second and third images. When the detecting unit detects the streak, the creating unit creates the correction data on the basis of a portion other than a region corresponding to the streak in the first image. |
| US09942413B2 |
Multi-network access gateway
Disclosed embodiments include a multi-network gateway system providing one or more third-party telecommunications service providers access to a third-party network interface across an otherwise proprietary access network maintained by a primary telecommunications service provider. Specifically, one embodiment includes an access network provided by a primary telecommunications service provider in communication with a multi-network access gateway. One subset of telecommunications information conveyed across the access network is provided to a customer of the primary telecommunications service provider. Another subset of telecommunications information conveyed across the access network is provided to a third-party network interface and to a third-party network, for the use of the third-party telecommunications service provider. |
| US09942401B2 |
System and method for automated call center operation facilitating agent-caller communication
A system and method for automated call center operation facilitating agent-caller communication are provided. Multiple call sessions with users are simultaneously provided for an agent on a display. One of the call sessions is identified as active and the agent is allowed to communicate with the user of that call session. Speech utterances for each of the remaining call sessions are received from the user participating in that call session. Each received speech utterance is transcribed and displayed with the associated call session while the agent is communicating with the user of the active call. During the call sessions, text messages are received from one or more of the user of the active call and at least one of the users of the remaining call sessions. The text messages are displayed with the associated call sessions while the agent is communicating with the user of the active call session. |
| US09942399B2 |
System and methods for tracking unresolved customer involvement with a service organization and automatically formulating a dynamic service solution
A system for managing customer involvement with a contact center involves one or more monitoring applications executing on one or more computerized servers associated with the contact center, the applications monitoring communications between individual customers and the center; and a rules engine executing on the one or more computerized servers, the rules engine accessible to the monitoring application, the rules engine enabled to generate and implement business rules. Upon detection by one of the monitoring applications of an instance of unsuccessful or incomplete interaction between a customer and the contact center, session data determined during monitoring is used by the rules engine to determine contact center-initiated activity to be implemented to establish new communication with the customer to resolve issues related to the unsuccessful or incomplete interaction. |
| US09942395B2 |
Network-based social telephony firewall
A method receives a call from a device of a caller destined to a device of a subscriber of a communication network. The method connects the call to the device of the subscriber and then receives from the device of the subscriber an indication that the call is an undesirable call. The indication further includes a description of the call. The method then provides a reward to the subscriber when the indication further includes the description of the call. |
| US09942394B2 |
System and method for determining and communicating presence information
A system and method for communicating presence information that can include at a first server of a communication platform, receiving an authorization token of a first client application; verifying at least one permission associated with the authorization token; registering a presence status of the first client application upon verifying the at least one permission of the authorization token; at a second server of the communication platform, accepting an incoming communication request; retrieving communication instructions according to the incoming communication request; identifying an instruction to communicate with a communication destination of the first client application; accessing the presence status resource of the first client application; establishing communication with the first client application according to the accessed presence status resource. |
| US09942391B2 |
Conference access method and apparatus
Provided are a conference access method and a conference access apparatus. The method includes: receiving a call from a calling user, wherein information of a number called by the calling user includes a number of a called user and a number prefix, the called user is a conference member of a conference room, and the number prefix is used for accessing a conference system; and accessing the calling user to the conference room of the conference system. Through the technical solution, the problem that the calling user cannot join the conference due to various reasons in the related arts is solved, the flow of accessing the calling user to the conference room is optimized, the scope of application of the conference access method is expanded, and the efficiency and the success rate of accessing the calling user to the conference room are increased. |
| US09942380B2 |
Data communication in an electronic device
An electronic device and a method for data communication with such an electronic device. The electronic device combines, on the one hand, a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface, including an antenna and a circuit for generating a modulated electromagnetic wave, and on the other hand a user interface including a touch-sensitive display configured to present an object relating to a communication action executable by means of the NFC interface. A control unit connected to the NFC interface and the user interface, is configured to trigger the NFC interface to execute the communication action responsive to simultaneous detection of the presented object being touched and the NFC interface being in communicative connection with a second NFC interface of a second device. |
| US09942378B2 |
Display device and method for implementing incoming notification function with respect to MHL signal source
Disclosed is a display device and a method for implementing an incoming notification function with respect to an MHL signal source. The display device includes: a control module, configured to control, when the display device is in a non MHL signal source pattern, a first MHL interface transfer switch, disposed between a signal decoding processor and an MHL signal source interface of the display device, to be on, and configured to start a background monitoring module electrically connected to the first MHL interface transfer switch, and further configured to display, if an MHL signal source is monitored to be connected, incoming reminder information according to a pre-configured incoming notification information or switch a current signal source pattern of the display device to be the MHL signal source pattern; and the background monitoring module, configured to monitor whether the MHL signal source is connected. |
| US09942376B2 |
Mobile device comprising multiple sensors for controlling functional operations
A mobile device and a control method thereof are provided. The mobile device including a detecting module (1), a determining module (2), a controlling module (3) and a storing module (4). The storing module (4) is configured for pre-storing reference data for a plurality of characteristic parameters, wherein the reference data for each of the characteristic parameters indicate types of substances, respectively; the detecting module (1) is configured for detecting one of the characteristic parameters of a substance in contact with the functional body of the mobile device so as to obtain a detection data for the one of the characteristic parameters; the determining module (2) is configured for comparing the detection data for the one of the characteristic parameters obtained by the detecting module with the reference data for the corresponding characteristic parameters pre-stored in the storing module (4), so as to determine a type of the substance in contact with the functional body of the mobile device; the controlling module (3) is configured for controlling the functional body of the mobile device to activate a corresponding working mode according to the type of the substance determined by the determining module. Thus, not only the mobile device can be protected from accidental damage, but also the user is enabled to enjoy more intelligent services of the mobile device. |
| US09942373B2 |
List generation device, list distribution device, incoming-call-processing device, and program
To increase the accuracy of identification of nuisance calls, a list generation device acquires, as input data, at least one of information included in second history information and an evaluation value stored in a user evaluation database. The list generation device calculates a nuisance level for a telephone numbers of each caller based on a factor determined by the acquired input data. The list generation device compares the calculated nuisance level with threshold to generate shared list including the telephone number of the caller who makes an incoming call identified as a nuisance call. |
| US09942370B2 |
Audio transducer and associated holding device for enhanced acoustic and electromagnetic coupling
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises i) an audio transducer; ii) an audio driver plate having an ear-facing side and a non-ear-facing side; iii) a rigid housing substantially circumferentially surrounding the audio driver plate without substantially covering the ear-facing side and non-ear-facing side of the audio driver plate; iv) a front plate mounted on the ear-facing side of the audio driver plate and spaced apart from the audio driver plate; and v) a fixing gasket affixed to the non-ear-facing side of the audio driver plate. In addition, the front plate is adapted to be compressed against an ear-facing portion of an audio transducer holding device and the fixing gasket adapted to be compressed against a non-ear-facing portion of the audio transducer holding device, whereby the audio transducer is adapted to be held within the audio transducer holding device by compressive force on both the fixing gasket and the front plate. |
| US09942369B2 |
Mobile electronic terminal holder
A mobile electronic terminal holder attached to a substantially quadrangular-tabular mobile electronic terminal having a front face including an input unit for inputting by finger pressing, a back face opposite the front face, and a lateral face between the front face and back face, includes an arm projecting perpendicular to the front face, from a vicinity of the lateral face of the input unit. A tip of the arm extends forward from the front face by approximately the length from between the index and middle fingers to the ball of the thumb. While pressing the input unit with the thumb, the mobile electronic terminal is held by the tip of the arm lodged against the center portion of the palm, the back face being supported by fingers except the thumb, and the mobile electronic terminal and the arm being gripped between the center portion of the palm and the fingers. |
| US09942368B2 |
Projector
The present disclosure describes a projector which has: an image projection portion; an image provision portion that provides a projection image to the image projection portion; a deviation movement detection portion that detects a deviation movement of the image projection portion; and an image process portion that based on detection by the deviation movement detection portion, shifts the image provided by the image provision portion in a direction where the deviation movement is corrected. According to this, even if an image projection function does not include a deviation correction function, it is possible to perform the deviation correction by means of the image process. |
| US09942365B2 |
Separation and isolation of multiple network stacks in a network element
Separating and isolating multiple network stacks in a network element may enable a network element to simultaneously operate within multiple forwarding planes respectively corresponding to the multiple network stacks. In addition to the network stack, other protocols and routing tools may also be instantiated for each desired forwarding plane. The different instantiations of the network stacks may be executed in parallel in respective memory spaces that are distinct and separate. In this manner, each forwarding plane may operate independently on the network element from other forwarding planes. |
| US09942364B2 |
Method for encoding and decoding scheme using time stamp
An encoding device performing an encoding process according to an encoding scheme using a CTS indicating time at which presentation or reproduction is performed, comprising: an encapsulator that generates a media unit in which one or more access units encoded by the encoding scheme are capsulated, and a transmitter that transmits information indicating an absolute time of an access unit included at a top portion of the media unit, in addition to the media unit, wherein the encapsulator adds a CTS relative value to the nth access unit included in the media unit, the CTS relative value being a difference between the CTS of the nth access unit and the DTS of the n+1th access unit. |
| US09942357B2 |
Efficient firmware update in a narrow bandwidth system
An advanced metering infrastructure may be configured for automated meter reading, such as of utility (electric, natural gas, etc.) meters. Within a network, a data collector communicates with, and receives meter data from, a plurality of endpoints. Firmware on the endpoints may be updated by transmission, from the data collector, of a new firmware image. In one example, the data collector sends an announcement of a firmware update to the plurality of endpoints. At a time indicated by the announcement, the data collector multicasts the firmware update a plurality of times. The data collector then receives indications from a plurality of endpoints that did not successfully receive all blocks of the multicast firmware update. In response, the data collector sends missing blocks to the plurality of endpoints according to the indications. |
| US09942356B1 |
Methods and systems for personalizing user experience based on personality traits
An electronic device associated with a media-providing service has one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The electronic device accesses a listening history of a user of the media-providing service. Based at least in part on the listening history of the user, the electronic device assigns a first personality trait of a plurality of personality traits to the user. The electronic device provides personalized content to the user based on the first personality trait. |
| US09942355B2 |
Device context monitoring
Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for monitoring the current context of a computing device. In some implementations, a context daemon can collect context information about the computing device. The context information can include current device hardware state information. The context information can include current software state information. The context can be derived or implied from a combination of hardware state information, software state information, or any other type of state information. For example, the derived context can be a user state (e.g., a user activity, sleeping, running, etc.) derived from or implied by hardware or software state information. |
| US09942353B2 |
Management of connections within a messaging environment based on the statistical analysis of server responsiveness
In one embodiment, a method for managing execution of software operations is provided. The method includes a computer processor determining that a software program executing on a computing device utilizes a server to execute at least one software operation. The method further includes identifying a first server from a plurality of servers that are capable of executing the at least one software operation of the software program based, at least in part, on a responsiveness associated with the first server and responsiveness associated with the plurality of servers. The method further includes executing the at least one software operation of the software program on the identified first server. The method further includes updating the responsiveness of the first server based, at least in part, on one or more responsiveness values attributed to the execution of the at least one software operation of the software program on the first server. |
| US09942346B2 |
Caching mechanism for determining validity of cached data using web application business logic
Systems and methods are provided for a caching mechanism that determines validity of cached data using web application business logic. An example system includes a web container that receives a first request to return one or more generated data located in a data cache, and a web application including one or more data validity arbiters and business logic determining the validity of the one or more generated data. The system may further include a business logic caching mechanism that requests the validity of the one or more generated data from the one or more data validity arbiters, wherein the one or more data validity arbiters utilize the business logic to determine the validity of the one or more generated data. |
| US09942344B2 |
Context configuration
Certain examples described herein relate to configuring a call control context in a media gateway. The media gateway has a set of digital signal processors, each having one or more digital signal processor cores. The cores implement digital signal processor channels that are grouped into digital signal processor contexts. When a request to configure a call control context is received, certain examples described herein are configured to assign a set of digital signal processor contexts to process data streams associated with the call control context. In particular, certain examples described herein couple a first digital signal processor context to at least a second digital signal processor context using at least one digital signal processor channel in each of the first and second digital signal processor contexts. |
| US09942343B2 |
Efficient content streaming utilizing local proxy server implemented on client device
A client device implements a streaming client and a proxy server. The proxy server intercepts one or more playlist requests from the streaming client directed to one or more network servers external to the client device. Responsive to interception of a sliding-window playlist request of a particular type, the proxy server generates a corresponding on-demand playlist request. The intercepted sliding-window playlist request and the corresponding on-demand playlist request are sent from the proxy server to the one or more network servers. The proxy server receives an on-demand playlist from the one or more network servers responsive to the on-demand playlist request, and generates a local copy of the on-demand playlist. A current version of the local copy of the on-demand playlist is subsequently provided by the proxy server to the streaming client responsive to interception in the proxy server of a request from the streaming client for the on-demand playlist. |
| US09942342B2 |
System and method for providing database content on a client device
A system and method for providing content for display from data sources on a client device are provided. The method includes receiving, by a distribution server, a report identifier associated with a report and a request for information, wherein the information is requested based on the report; determining by the distribution server at least a data source, the at least a data source storing at least a portion of the information; requesting access from the integration server to the at least a data source to retrieve the at least a portion of the information; and sending from the distribution server to the client device, the at least a portion of the information, wherein the at least a portion of information is utilized in the report. In an embodiment, the data sources are accessible by an integration server. |
| US09942341B2 |
Application and/or server stability in signaling optimization in a wireless network for traffic utilizing proprietary and non-proprietary protocols
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for signaling optimization in a wireless network utilizing proprietary and non-proprietary protocols. A first connection is established between an application on a mobile device and a local proxy on the mobile device, a second connection is established between the local proxy and a proxy server not located on the mobile device, and a third connection is established between the proxy server and a content server. A byte stream between client and server is communicated between the client and the server via the first, second, and third connections. The mobile device performs signaling optimization to optimize traffic over the second connection. |
| US09942332B2 |
Geolocation safety awareness
A method and/or technique for geolocation safety awareness is provided herein. When a user, having a client device, travels to a location, threats associated with that location may not be known to the user. To determine a safety of the location, the location of a client device may be determined. A search for safety information about the location may be performed, and a threat level may be determined based upon the safety information. When the threat level exceeds a threat threshold, a security operation may be performed. The security operation may comprise presenting a warning notice to the user and/or activating a security timer. |
| US09942325B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting compatible resources in networked storage environments
Methods and systems for a networked storage environment are provided. One method includes storing at a storage device by a processor a data structure with information regarding a plurality of compatible software and hardware components configured to operate in a plurality of configurations as part of a storage solution for using resources at a networked storage environment for storing data, where the data structure stores information regarding relationships between a plurality of storage solutions using certain common hardware and software components; receiving a request for a compatible configuration; searching the data structure by the processor and providing a hint based on any existing relationship between components of the plurality of storage solutions and content of the request; and presenting the compatible configuration for using one or more resources of the networked storage environment. |
| US09942324B2 |
Rebalancing and elastic storage scheme with elastic named distributed circular buffers
A method implemented by a network element (NE) in a network, comprising composing a first network storage entity by mapping a plurality of logical storage units to a plurality of physical storage units in a physical storage system according to a first storage metric associated with the plurality of physical storage units, arranging the plurality of logical storage units sequentially to form a logical circular buffer, and designating a current logical storage unit for writing data and an upcoming logical storage unit for writing data after the current storage unit is fully written, and rebalancing the physical storage system while the physical storage system is actively performing network storage operations by relocating at least one of the logical storage units to a different physical storage unit according to a second storage metric associated with the plurality of physical storage units. |
| US09942319B2 |
Asynchronous download for application offline support
A technique is described providing offline support to business applications. Offline support allows a business application running on a portable electronic device without connectivity to a backend server to operate as though the business application has access to a backend server. The technique receives a sync request for content from the portable electronic device. A sync task is generated from the sync requests and processed to generate a package that contains the desired content. Once the package is generated, the package is stored in a package repository and a download notification is transmitted to the portable electronic device to notify the user that the package is ready. The package can in turn be delivered to the portable electronic device when a download request is received from the portable electronic device. |
| US09942315B2 |
Anonymous peer storage
Techniques are described for anonymous peer storage. In one example, techniques include invoking an action of backing up one or more files utilizing distributed storage for a node Ni in a multi-node network; encrypting the one or more files into a combined encrypted file with a private key required to decrypt the combined encrypted file; splitting the combined encrypted file into Pi portions (P1, P2 . . . Pn) and associating a file identifier Fi to each Pi; anonymously distributing the Pi portions and associated identifier Fi to other nodes Nj and Nk wherein each of j and k is different from i; retaining a look up file containing for the each Pi, the (Nj, Nk) pairs, the Fi, and the private key for future retrieval and decryption; and responsive to receiving an anonymous request containing the Fi by one of the Nj and the Nk, returning the Pi. |
| US09942311B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring content among large clusters of storage devices to achieve a target replication distribution
A content distribution network, including: a content server that stores a set of content items; a plurality of gateways for storing and serving content requests to a subset of the content items, the plurality of gateways being grouped into a plurality of classes of gateways; and a plurality of class trackers corresponding to the plurality of classes; wherein each class tracker manages a placement of content items and an assignment of content requests for its class of gateways; wherein the plurality of class trackers exchange congestion signals among themselves; wherein, for each content item, each class tracker determines a fraction of gateways in its class of gateways that store the content item and a rate of content requests that are forwarded to the content server or other class trackers, based on requests for the content item entering its class and the congestion signals received from other class trackers. |
| US09942309B2 |
Parallel computer system and method for controlling parallel computer system
A parallel computer system includes computing nodes to execute a parallel program for generating computing processes that perform computations and monitoring processes and forming a monitoring hierarchical structure, each monitoring process monitors a monitoring process and a computing process arranged immediately lower than the monitoring process, each of the computing nodes operating as the computing process when the computing process is allocated to the computing node and operating as the monitoring process when the monitoring process is allocated to the computing node. Each of the computing nodes allocated to the monitoring process performs processing that changes the hierarchical structure based on a first target value serving as a target value for the total number of subordinate computing processes of the allocated monitoring process and a second target value serving as a target value for the number of monitoring processes and computing processes arranged immediately lower than the allocated monitoring process. |
| US09942306B2 |
Decentralized cloud workflows
Technologies related to decentralized cloud workflows are generally described. In some examples, client applications may generate workflow packages. The workflow packages may be used to access multiple network services, such that client applications need not communicate with intermediate network services in a network service workflow. A client application may send a workflow package to a first network service in the network service workflow. The first network service may process instructions in the workflow package, store transaction results, and forward the workflow package to a next network service. Each intermediate network service may similarly process instructions, store transaction results, and forward the workflow package. Ultimately a last network service in the network service workflow may send workflow completion information to the client application. |
| US09942303B2 |
Method and system for efficient remote application provision
A method of remotely providing an application includes identifying a visible portion of a first application window on a display of a client. A data stream corresponding only to the visible portion of the first application window is received. The received data stream is provided to the client such that the visible portion of the first application window is able to be presented on the display. |
| US09942302B2 |
Terminal apparatus mountable in vehicle, mobile device for working with the terminal apparatus, and methods for providing service thereof
A mobile device is provided. The mobile device includes: a display; a communicator configured to communicate with a terminal apparatus which displays items classified into a plurality of groups in a form of a list; and when the mobile device is connected with the terminal apparatus for communication, a controller configured to hop over the groups of the items displayed on the terminal apparatus according to a touch manipulation which is performed on a screen of the display. Accordingly, the mobile device can provide various services by being interlocked with the terminal apparatus mounted in a vehicle. |
| US09942300B2 |
Dynamic help pages using linked data
Help page techniques including: (i) sending, by a customer computer, heterogeneous software context data to a central registry over a communication network; (ii) receiving, by the customer computer, from a registry server over the communication network, a set of network address information including at least a first network address information for contacting a first provider server relating to the first software product and a second network address information for contacting a second provider server relating to the second software product; and (iii) linking, by the customer computer, the first and second network address information on a single set of help page(s). |
| US09942299B2 |
System and method for managing multiple variants of an HTTP object
This disclosure is directed to methods and systems for managing variants of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) object. An intermediary, between at least one client and a server, may generate variants of an HTTP object. The HTTP object may be received from the server responsive to a first request for the HTTP object. The variants may include a first variant generated based on a first parameter of a plurality of parameters. The plurality of parameters may be identified based on one or more requests for the HTTP object from the at least one client. The intermediary may store the variants of the HTTP object in a cache. The intermediary may retrieve, responsive to interception of a second request to the server for the HTTP object and based on a determination of the first parameter from the second request, the first variant from the variants stored in the cache. |
| US09942297B2 |
System and methods for facilitating the development and management of creative assets
A system and methods for facilitating the sourcing of content and its management by one or more contributors or collaborators in order to assist in the development of a creative asset. Certain embodiments include one or more media devices for the receipt, review, annotation, editing, and transfer of content to assist in the formation of a creative asset such as but not limited to a motion picture. |
| US09942296B2 |
Optimizing progressive downloading in WLANs (wireless local access networks)
An access point provisions of network resources at a data plane to optimize progressive downloads in WLANs. To do so, link information concerning at least one routing path of the access point is periodically sent to an SDN controller. As needed, download parameters are determined for a file transfer from the access point to a station from a resource external to the communication network. Responsive to the file transfer being a progressive download, one or more OpenFlow rules are received from the SDN controller. The one or more OpenFlow rules determine download parameters for the file transfer to the station based on link conditions visible to the SDN controller from the data plane of the communication network, including at least the access point link information periodically sent to the SDN controller. The file transfer to the station is then executed according to at least the one or more OpenFlow rules. |
| US09942294B1 |
Symmetric and continuous media stream from multiple sources
A data storage device may comprise a network interface configured to couple to a computer network; a memory configured to store at least one of a first, second and third media file, at least two of the first to third media files being configured differently from one another; and a processor coupled to the memory and to the network interface. The processor may be configured to generate a media stream by at least sequentially applying at least one filter to one or more of the first to third media files; sequentially reformatting one or more of the first to third media files such that each or some substantially conforms to a common format; ordering the filtered and/or reformatted media files according to a selectable metric; aggregating the media files together to generate the media stream; and making the media stream accessible to the computer network over the network interface. |
| US09942288B2 |
Device setting apparatus, storage storing device setting program, and method for sharing information among a plurality of device setting apparatuses
A device setting apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a data transmission processor configured to automatically and collectively acquire information used in at least one another device setting apparatus as other-device information from an external storage and an other-device information storage storing the other-device information. The external storage is communicatively connectable to the device setting apparatus via a network. |
| US09942286B2 |
Collaboration platform
One or more embodiments of the invention provide a collaboration platform that permits multiple users to collaborate on multiple copies of a model simultaneously. The collaboration application provides a full set of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) tools for a client to manipulate a model and transmit the results of such manipulations to a server. Both the clients and the server maintain a history of the manipulations results. Once object changes are received by the server from one or more clients, the server distributes the object changes to the remaining clients. Thereafter, the clients modify their local version of the model in accordance with the object changes received from the server. The history maintained by the clients or the server may then be used to undo or redo any of the object changes, or to rebuild a model space in the event of a network failure. |
| US09942283B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-context media control and playback
In response to a request for a media-control operation to be implemented at a second electronic device distinct from a first electronic device, the first electronic device sends a first request to a server system to cause the media-control operation to be implemented at the second electronic device. The server system is distinct from the first electronic device. Also in response to the request for the media-control operation to be implemented at the second electronic device, the first electronic device sends a second request to the second electronic device. The second request is a request to implement the media-control operation at the second electronic device. |
| US09942272B2 |
Handling out of order events
Processing streaming data in accordance with policies that group data by source, enforce a maximum permissible late arrival value for streaming data, a maximum permissible early arrival for data and/or a maximum degree to which data can be out of order and still be compliant with the out of order policy is described. The correct starting point for reading a data stream so as to produce correct output from a given output start time can be enabled using the early arrival policy. Using combinations of policies, output can be generated promptly (with low latency). When input from a given source is not disrupted, output can be generated with low latency. Output can be generated even when the input stops by applying a late arrival policy. |
| US09942269B2 |
Effectively preventing data leakage, spying and eavesdropping through a networked computing device by controlling access to a plurality of its device interfaces
A computer implemented method for detecting, alerting and blocking data leakage, eavesdropping and spyware in one or more networked computing devices includes providing a graphical user interface (GUI) and displaying all available hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device. Next, providing a turn-on switch and a turn-off switch for each displayed hardware device interface in each networked computing device. Next, providing a turn-all-on switch and a turn-all-off switch for all displayed hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device. Next, monitoring status of each available hardware device interface and data traffic across each available hardware device interface. Upon detecting an unauthorized change of status of a specific hardware device interface or unauthorized data traffic across a specific hardware device interface providing a warning signal, turning off the specific hardware device interface by activating the turn-off switch for the specific hardware device interface or the turn-all-off switch. |
| US09942267B1 |
Endpoint segregation to prevent scripting attacks
A secure and efficient technique to prevent cross-site scripting attacks based on segregating the content within a given content page among independent endpoints, or servers, where static content is provided from one endpoint, active content for downloading a filtering component to enforce filtering of content passed to active content methods is provided from a loader endpoint, and active content is provided from an active content endpoint. Together, the different endpoints make up an endpoint segregation system. Further, security features of HTTP/HTML are used to restrict sources from which active content may be executed according to the division of static and active content among the endpoints of the endpoint segregation system. |
| US09942265B2 |
Preventing application-level denial-of-service in a multi-tenant system
Denial-of-service attacks are prevented or mitigated in a cloud compute environment, such as a multi-tenant, collaborative SaaS system. This is achieved by providing a mechanism by which characterization of “legitimate” behavior is defined for accessor classes, preferably along with actions to be taken in the event an accessor exceeds those limits. A set of accessor “usage profiles” are generated. Typically, a profile comprises information, such as a “request time window,” one or more “constraints,” and one or more “actions.” A request time window defines a time period over which request usage is accumulated and over which constraints are applied. A constraint may be of various types (e.g., number of transactions, defined resource usage limits, etc.) to be applied for the usage monitoring An action defines how the system will respond if a particular constraint is triggered. By applying the constraints to accessor requests, over-utilization of compute resources is enabled. |
| US09942263B2 |
Mitigation of anti-sandbox malware techniques
Static analysis is applied to unrecognized software objects in order to identify and address potential anti-sandboxing techniques. Where static analysis suggests the presence of any such corresponding code, the software object may be forwarded to a sandbox for further analysis. In another aspect, multiple types of sandboxes may be provided, with the type being selected according to the type of exploit suggested by the static analysis. |
| US09942255B1 |
Method and system for detecting abusive behavior in hosted services
A hosted service monitoring system detects abuse of a hosted service by monitoring user actions over a period of time. The system will identify an entity, which is a subset of the user actions that share one or more features in common. The system will also identify feature statistics to measure how often the features are associated with the user actions in the entity. The system will project the feature statistics to a vector and use the vector to generate an anomaly score for the entity. The system will determine that the entity is associated with an automated initiator if it generates an anomaly score that exceeds a threshold. Upon determining that the entity that is associated with an automated initiator, the system will cause the hosted service to take an action that will block the automated initiator from accessing the hosted service. |
| US09942247B2 |
Traffic shape obfuscation when using an encrypted network connection
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for obfuscating a traffic pattern associated with a plurality of network traffic within a tunnel connection is provided. The method may include detecting the tunnel connection. The method may also include analyzing a connection environment associated with the detected tunnel connection. The method may then include determining a packet handling technique based on the analyzed connection environment, whereby the packet handling technique provides a way for creating a noise packet that will be discarded by a network stack at a target node or before the target node. The method may include determining a noise strategy based on the determined packet handling technique. The method may also include sending a plurality of noise packets into the tunnel connection based on the determined noise strategy to obfuscate the traffic pattern. |
| US09942244B2 |
Secure service for receiving sensitive information through nested iframes
Methods and systems for receiving sensitive information include receiving a request for entering sensitive information, the request received from a user interface rendered on a client device. The methods and systems rely upon nested iframes, each of which is hosted by a different server. An inner iframe is hosted by a server within a secure zone, such as a digital vault. A middle iframe is hosted within the secure zone and is invoked by an intermediate server. An outer iframe is hosted by a server that provides the user interface. The server that provides the user interface may be hosted by a cloud service provider, for example. Using the nested iframes and the network topology described in the present disclosure, users are able to exchange sensitive information with a server within the secure zone through a user interface provided outside the secure zone. |
| US09942237B2 |
Determining access requirements for online accounts based on characteristics of user devices
According to one embodiment, a system comprises a memory comprising instructions, an interface, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the interface. The processor is configured, when executing the instructions, to determine one or more characteristics of a user device, determine, based on the one or more characteristics of the user device, a risk level associated with the user device, and apply, to the user device, one or more access restrictions for an online account based on the determined risk level. |
| US09942236B2 |
Information processing apparatus, access control method, and communication system
An information processing apparatus includes one or more processors, the processor including a reception unit configured to receive an access request transmitted from a terminal and addressed to a resource accessing of which is managed; an authority judgment unit configured to determine whether the access request has authority to access the resource based on an access token included in the access request and used to access the resource; and an access processing unit configured to permit the accessing of the resource when the authority judgment unit determines that the access request has the authority to access the resource, wherein the authority judgment unit determines whether the access request has the authority to access the resource based on a source apparatus having issued the access token and being included in the access token. |
| US09942234B2 |
Cognitive password entry system
An aspect includes a cognitive password entry system. A processor detects a login attempt targeting a website for a user identifier having a previously stored instance of a password associated with the user identifier. A number of login attempts is monitored since the password was manually entered at the website. The processor determines whether a prompting period has been reached based on the number of login attempts meeting a prompting period threshold. The stored instance of the password is used as an entered password for the login attempt based on determining that the prompting period has not been reached. A cognitive aid prompt is output based on determining that the prompting period has been reached. |
| US09942233B2 |
Identification of patterns in stateful transactions
A system for the identification of patterns in stateful transactions may include a message interceptor, a message pattern processor, a message handler, and a memory. The message interceptor may be operative to intercept messages transmitted by a first device over a network to a recipient. The message interceptor may be operative to intercept the messages before the messages are received by the recipient. The message pattern processor may be operative to add the message to a message pattern and store the message pattern in a memory. The message pattern processor may compare the message pattern to a plurality of exemplary message patterns and identify when the message pattern matches at least one of the exemplary message patterns. The message handler may be operative to determine an action to take with respect to the message based on the at least one matching exemplary message pattern identified by the message pattern processor. |
| US09942229B2 |
Authenticating a limited input device via an authenticated application
A limited input device, such as a camera, is authenticated based on a request received from an authenticated application. The application can request an application server to provide the application with a one-time authorization code. The request includes the device identifier associated with the camera. The server stores an association between the one-time authorization code and the device identifier of the camera, and provides the application with the one-time authorization code. The application provides the camera with the one-time authorization code. The camera transmits a request for an access token to the server, the request for the access token including the one-time authorization code and the device identifier associated with the camera. The server verifies the device identifier associated with the camera with that associated with the one-time authorization code, and upon a positive verification authenticates the camera by providing the camera with the access token. |
| US09942222B1 |
Authentication with wearable device
Described are techniques and systems for providing authentication credentials associated with a user. The user is authenticated using one or more techniques, such as multi-factor authentication using one or more biometric characteristics, biomedical data, passwords, and so forth, to generate authentication data. The authentication data may be used in conjunction with information about a wearable device (“wearable”), such as a wristband. Authentication may be confirmed upon an indication that the wearable has not been removed, tampered with, and so forth. In some implementations the wearable device may store and distribute the authentication credentials to requesting devices so long as the wearable has not been removed, tampered with, and so forth. |
| US09942220B2 |
Preventing unauthorized account access using compromised login credentials
User login information submitted as part of an attempt to log into a computer system is evaluated for unauthorized or illegitimate use based on indicators of suspicious behavior. Example indicators of suspicious behavior include whether the login information is known to have been compromised, whether the login attempt originates from a network source or a physical source that has previously originated an attempt to log in using login information known to have been compromised, and whether multiple login attempts using the login information from multiple users has originated from the source. A suspicion index can be calculated based on the presence of the indicators of suspicious behavior. The system can require enhanced authentication based on the measurement of suspicious behavior. |
| US09942216B2 |
System and method for traversing a NAT device with IPSec AH authentication
A method for routing IP packets with IPSec AH authentication is disclosed. The method includes locating overlay edge routers between private domains and their associated NAT routers. Outbound packets from a source private domain are modified by its overlay edge router to include IPSec AH authorization data computed using IP source and destination addresses that match a packet's final source and destination IP address upon final NAT translation immediately prior to delivery to a host of a destination private domain. |
| US09942214B1 |
Automated agent detection utilizing non-CAPTCHA methods
A computer-facilitated service receives a request, from a user client, to access a site provided by the service. The service may obtain, from the request, identifying information, which may be used to identify prior activity of the user client. This prior activity is used to determine whether the user client is to be provided with an interstitial user interface component, which may be configured to cause the user client to provide additional information about the client and to be successfully completable by an automated agent or other automated process. If an interstitial user interface component is provided, the service may receive, from the user client, this additional information, which may be used to determine whether the user client is using an automated agent to access the site. |
| US09942212B2 |
Communication device and system, data processing method and method for secure data exchange
The present invention relates to a method for processing data in a communication device comprising a host and a security module associated with this host. This method comprises the steps of generating, by the security module, a plurality of initial keys from an initial keys generation function, and of transmitting said plurality of initial keys to said corresponding host. For each initial key received by the host, the method comprises a step of generating a plurality of encryption keys by an extension module of said host, by using an extension function. The method further comprises the steps of receiving the data to be processed by said host and of combining said data to be processed with said encryption keys, in a combination module of said host.The invention further concerns a communication device and a communication system allowing for the implementation of this method, as well as a method allowing the secure exchange of data between two communication devices. |
| US09942209B2 |
Technologies for secure extensible inter-device I/O redirection across a network
Technologies for secure I/O redirection include a provider device, a consumer device, an authentication server, and a messaging server. The provider device and the consumer device establish an authenticated I/O redirect pairing. The authentication server authenticates the consumer device, and, if authenticated, generates a pairing identifier and provides the pairing identifier to the provider device and the consumer device. The redirect pairing is associated with the shared pairing identifier, a shared encryption key, and one or more shared message topics. The provider device and the consumer device subscribe to the messaging server as publisher and/or listener using the shared message topics. The provider device and the consumer device encrypt I/O data using the shared encryption key and encapsulate the encrypted I/O data into messages using the shared message topics. The provider device and the consumer device exchange the messages using the messaging server. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09942208B2 |
Updating stored encrypted data with enhanced security
Technologies described herein provide enhanced security for storing and updating secret data, such as a password. Based on one or more conditions, an existing encryption key or a new encryption key may be used to generate encrypted data at a client computing device. The encrypted data may be communicated from the client computing device to a secret store managed by a first entity for storage of the encrypted data in the secret store. Based on one or more conditions, the new encryption key may be communicated from the client computing device to a key store managed by a second entity for storage of the new encryption key in the key store. |
| US09942205B2 |
Method and system for digital rights management of documents
An improved method and system for digital rights management is described. |
| US09942204B2 |
Secure personal server system and method
A provider computer announces content to the provider computer and establishes a secure connection to a VPN server. Requests for the content are received in one protocol (HTTPS) from the consumer computer and forwarded to the VPN server in a less secure protocol (HTTP) by a protocol conversion proxy, which then forwards the request to the provider computer. A public URL and secure URL may be associated with the same content. The public URL is announced to a consumer computer. A public server receives the public URL and returns the secure URL, which consumer computer uses to establish a secure connection to the provider computer. Upon the secure URL being compromised, a new secure URL is associated with the public URL. The source IP addresses of requests for the public and secure URLs may be compared to determine whether the secure URL is compromised. |
| US09942203B2 |
Enhanced security when sending asynchronous messages
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for increasing security when sending a plurality of messages over a network connection is provided. The method may include determining if the plurality of messages on a staging queue satisfies a batch threshold value. The method may also include determining a security key with a message destination based on determining that the plurality of messages on the staging queue satisfies the batch threshold value. The method may then include encrypting the plurality of messages based on the determined security key. The method may further include sending the encrypted plurality of messages to the message destination over the network connection. |
| US09942202B2 |
Trust status of a communication session
Techniques for trust status of a communication session are described. According to various embodiments, different networks cooperate to facilitate routing of communication sessions between different devices. According to various embodiments, a network involved in routing a communication session ascertains whether an authentication status of a communication session is received, and categorizes a trust status of the communication session accordingly. |
| US09942201B1 |
Context specific keys
A method for operating a network is provided. The method comprises segmenting the network into a plurality of virtual private networks, wherein each virtual private network runs on an underlying physical network; and wherein each virtual private network represents a particular context; and configuring at least some nodes within the network to send and receive traffic based on context. |
| US09942200B1 |
End user authentication using a virtual private network
A user is provisioned for a Web service by supplying a user name and password. A digital certificate and VPN identifier are generated and downloaded to the user's computer. The VPN identifier and user identifier are stored into a database. The user accesses the Web service and establishes a VPN using the certificate and VPN identifier. A user identifier, user name or user password is not required. A gateway computer uses the VPN identifier to access the database previously established during the provisioning session to retrieve the user identifier. Retrieval of the user identifier validates that the computing device is authorized to use the Web service. The gateway computer stores the client IP address and a mapping to the user identifier into a database. A proxy server retrieves the user identifier from the database using the IP address and includes the user identifier in Web traffic for a remote computer. |
| US09942198B2 |
Internet isolation for avoiding internet security threats
A host computer supports a virtual guest system running thereon. The host system has a firewall that prevents it from communicating directly with the Internet, except with predetermined trusted sites. The virtual guest runs on a hypervisor, and the virtual guest comprises primarily a browser program that is allowed to contact the Internet freely via an Internet access connection that is completely separate from the host computer connection, such as a dedicated network termination point with its specific Internet IP address, or by tunneling through the host machine architecture to reach the Internet without exposing the host system. The virtual guest system is separated and completely isolated by an internal firewall from the host, and the guest cannot access any of the resources of the host computer, except that the guest can initiate cut, copy and paste operations that reach the host, and the guest can also request print of documents. The host can transfer files to and from a virtual data storage area accessible by the guest by manual operator action. No other transfer of data except these user initiated actions is permitted. |
| US09942193B1 |
Basic service set color identifier
A method for changing a first basic service set (BSS) color identifier for a first communication device identifiable by the first BSS color identifier and a first basic service set identifier that is longer than the first BSS color identifier is described. An indication that the first BSS color identifier and a second BSS color identifier for a second communication device have a same first value is received by the first communication device. Respective service coverage areas of the first and second communication devices at least partially overlap. A second value of the first BSS color identifier is determined by the first communication device in response to the indication. A notification frame that indicates the second value and a start time are generated by the first communication device. The first BSS color identifier is changed by the first communication device to the second value based on the start time. |
| US09942192B2 |
Provision of public service identities
A mechanism to handle Public Service Identities identifying services in a network when a given Public Service Identity (PSI) belongs to a range of Public Service Identities defined as a ‘Wildcard PSI’ range. An enhanced Home Subscriber Server, serving entity, and routing entity, all co-operating to carry out the invention by handling an identifier of the ‘Wildcard PSI’ range, which includes the given Public Service Identity, the ‘Wildcard PSI’ range being associated with a common service profile to be applied for services identified by those Public Service Identities belonging to the ‘Wildcard PSI’ range. |
| US09942190B2 |
Method and apparatus for group messaging
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for group messaging are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a group messaging system receiving a broadcast message from an originating user, imposing a limit on a number of text characters included in the broadcast message, identifying a group of intended recipients of the broadcast message, determining contact information for an intended recipient included in the group, determining at least one broadcast message sending method for the intended recipient, and sending the broadcast message to the intended recipient using the at least one broadcast message sending method. |
| US09942189B2 |
Methods and system for distributing information via multiple forms of delivery services
A content distribution facilitation system is described comprising configured servers and a network interface configured to interface with a plurality of terminals in a client server relationship and optionally with a cloud-based storage system. A request from a first source for content comprising content criteria is received, the content criteria comprising content subject matter. At least a portion of the content request content criteria is transmitted to a selected content contributor. If recorded content is received from the first content contributor, the first source is provided with access to the received recorded content. The recorded content may be transmitted via one or more networks to one or more destination devices. Optionally, a voice analysis and/or facial recognition engine are utilized to determine if the recorded content is from the first content contributor. |
| US09942186B2 |
Email chain navigation
Technical solutions are described to arbitrarily order and access email messages based on text analysis and social network analysis. One general aspect includes a system that includes an email server and an email client. The email server generates a topic map of email messages stored on the email server. The email server also generates a social map of users with accounts on the email server. The email server receives an email message from a first user, the email message directed to a second user. The email server sends the email message to a third user in response to determining that the email message is relevant to the third user. The present document further describes examples of other aspects such as methods, computer products. |
| US09942185B2 |
Hyperlink validation
A method and associated computer system. A composed message portion, of an electronic message, that includes a hyperlink is sent to a set of content rendering emulators. Each emulator is configured to emulate a rendering of content accessible through the hyperlink on a respective particular platform. An emulation result is received from the set of content rendering emulators. The emulation result is indicative of the emulated rendering of the content accessible through the hyperlink on the respective particular platforms emulated by the content rendering emulators. It is determined whether the emulation result indicates that the content accessible through the hyperlink can be rendered in accordance with defined rendering criteria on at least one of the respective platforms prior to transmission of a message including the message portion, and if so then a validation message is generated, and if not then a warning message is generated. |
| US09942184B2 |
Communication and management of electronic mail classification information
A network interface receives an electronic mail on a first computer. A processor determines that the received electronic mail comprises a classification tag, and in response to the determination parses the classification tag to extract a plurality of classification information. The processor displays the plurality of classification information on the first computer. |
| US09942182B2 |
System and method for cloud based IP mobile messaging spam detection and defense
A cloud based mobile internet protocol messaging spam defense. Short message service (SMS) messages are analyzed by a cloud based virtual machine to determine if should be considered potentially unwanted messages (e.g., spam). The cloud based virtual machine uses a user specific algorithm for determining if a message should be considered to be a potentially unwanted message. Messages that are determined to be potentially unwanted messages trigger a notification to be sent to a user device associated with the virtual machine. The notification requests confirmation from the user that the potentially unwanted message is an unwanted message. The user's response to a request for confirmation is then used to update an unwanted message database associated with the user and the user device. |
| US09942180B2 |
Private text chatting sessions
A system and method for private text chatting. A request to a remote device to establish a private text chat session is either sent or received. Based on the sending or receiving, an acceptance from the remote device accepting the request is received. Based on the sending or receiving, a separate user interface to conduct the private text chat session is presented. Private text chat messages are exchanged in association with the private text chat session based on and subsequent to the receiving and the presenting. |
| US09942171B2 |
Network data processor having per-input port virtual output queues
Various embodiments of a virtual output queue system within a network element enables per-input port virtual output queues within a network data processor of the network element. In one embodiment, each port managed by a network data processor has an associated set of virtual output queues for each output port on the network data element. In one embodiment, network data processor hardware supports per-processor VOQs and per-input port VOQs are enabled in hardware for layer 3 forwarding by overloading layer 2 forwarding logic. In such embodiment, a mapping table is generated to enable virtual per-input port VOQs for layer 3 forwarding logic using layer 2 logic that is otherwise unused during layer 3 forwarding. In one embodiment, multiple traffic classes can be managed per-input port when using per-input port VOQs. In one embodiment, equal cost multi-path (ECMP) and link aggregation support is also enabled. |
| US09942169B1 |
Systems and methods for efficiently searching for stored data
A memory system has a plurality of memory stages in which each stage stores a respective portion of a data table. A request for reading an entry of the table is processed serially by the memory stages, and each stage narrows the range of table entries possibly storing the requested data. Based on the results of the previous stages, the final stage is able to quickly determine whether the requested data is stored in the data table and, if so, to retrieve the requested data from such table. |
| US09942167B2 |
Mesh platform utility computing portal
A utility computing portal supports public and private modules for application development in a cloud computing environment. The public nodules support downloads, customer support and access to a development community. The private modules are accessible to users with valid login credentials or those authenticated via a related entity, such as a Live ID. The private modules may include modules for testing, analysis, and billing. The utility computing portal also supports access to application configuration, for example, allowing a manager to change the number of front end and backend physical/virtual machines available to various application roles. |
| US09942166B2 |
Relay management apparatus, relay management method, program, and relay management system
Provided is a relay management apparatus including: a session management unit configured to perform registration of session information for multicast transmission of a data stream that is performed between one or two or more transmission apparatuses and one or two or more reception apparatuses via relay links of a relay apparatus, separately for information on a transmission apparatus side and information on a reception apparatus side; and a band reservation unit configured to perform band reservation of a relay link on the transmission apparatus side or band reservation of a relay link on the reception apparatus side, based on the registration of the session information on the transmission apparatus side or the reception apparatus side performed by the session management unit. |
| US09942164B2 |
Mobile information terminal and program thereof
A mobile information terminal determines whether or not access to a site which is specified by a signal is permitted when the signal transmitted from a transmission source is received, based on identification information. When it is determined that access to the site is permitted, the terminal changes a state of the identification information to a state in which access is not permitted by accessing the site. When it is determined that access to the site is not permitted, the terminal receives an instruction on access to the site while the signal is received. When the instruction on access is received, the terminal accesses the site. |
| US09942163B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing media access control addresses
A method and apparatus for managing a media access control address are provided. The method comprises assigning a priority to the MAC address. The method also comprises managing the MAC address in a forwarding database based on the priority. With the method and apparatus, a MAC flooding attack can be efficiently avoided and communication performance would be improved in a secure manner. |
| US09942162B2 |
Active application response delay time
Provided are methods and systems for load balancing client requests between sites associated with a domain name. A method comprises determining a first active response delay time between a local Domain Name System (DNS) server and a first site. The method further comprises determining a first application response delay time between the first site and one or more first servers associated with the first site. According to the method, the first active response delay time and the first application response delay time are compounded to produce a first compounded response delay time. The method further comprises determining a second active response delay time and a second application response delay for a second site to produce a second compounded response delay time. The first compounded response delay time and the second compounded response delay time are compared to perform load balancing between the first site and the second site. |
| US09942159B2 |
Method and arrangement for QOS differentiation of VPN traffic across domains
A node in a first network domain and a method performed thereby for transmitting a data packet to a VPN client in a second network domain, the node and the VPN client being part of a VPN, wherein the first and second network domain are connected by means of a third network domain are provided. The method comprises receiving, from an application server, a first packet comprising a first IP header and a payload; and determining a DCSP. The method further comprises adding a second header comprising the determined DCSP and an IP address of a VPN client resulting in a second packet and encrypting the second packet. Further the method comprises adding a third header to the encrypted second packet resulting in a third packet, the third header comprising a destination address of a node in the second network domain, and transmitting the third packet in an IP tunnel terminating at the node in the second network domain. |
| US09942158B2 |
Data traffic policy management system
An information handling system (IHS) network includes a switch IHS that coupled together a plurality of server IHSs. A source software-defined (SD) virtual appliance is located on one of the plurality of server IHSs. A destination SD virtual appliance is located on one of the plurality of server IHSs. An SD network controller is located on at least one of the plurality of server IHSs. The SD network controller is configured to receive a data traffic flow identifier and policy information that is associated with at least one data traffic flow policy from the source SD virtual appliance. The SD network controller determines a plurality of ports located between the source SD virtual appliance and the destination SD virtual appliance using the data traffic flow identifier. The SD network controller then configures each of the plurality of ports using the at least one data traffic flow policy. |
| US09942157B2 |
Method and apparatus to avoid negative compression in consumer internet networks
An apparatus and method for avoiding negative compression in communication networks. A TCP connection is identified from traffic data being received across the communication network. TCP connections which facilitate HTTP transactions are examined to determine whether compression eligible information is being transmitted. All packets associated with the TCP connection are compressed, if the transaction includes compression eligible information. All packets associated with the TCP connection are output in compressed form. All other packets are output in their originally received form. |
| US09942155B2 |
Traffic offloading method, apparatus, and system
A traffic offloading method, apparatus, and system, relates to the field of communications technologies, and resolves a problem of difficulty in implementing traffic offloading on a downstream node in a solution of the prior art. The method may include receiving, by a downstream node, flow table support capability information of an upstream node, determining, according to the flow table support capability information, whether the upstream node supports a downstream node flow table, where the downstream node flow table includes at least one flow entry, and each flow entry corresponds to one flow, and sending the downstream node flow table to the upstream node when the upstream node supports the downstream node flow table. |
| US09942149B2 |
System and method of using an exact match table and longest prefix match table as a combined longest prefix match
A method and apparatus of a device that determines a match for a destination address using an exact match table and a longest prefix match table of a network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives a data packet that includes a destination address. The network element generates a key for the destination address, wherein the key represents more addresses than the destination address. The network element further performs an address lookup using the key in an exact match table. Furthermore, a match in the address lookup indicates a first transmitting interface of the network element. The network element additionally performs an address lookup using the destination address with a longest prefix match table, wherein a match in the address lookup indicates a second transmitting interface of the network element. In addition, the network element determines a resulting transmitting interface based on results from the exact match table address lookup and the longest prefix match address lookup. The network element forwards the data packet using the transmitting interface. |
| US09942148B1 |
Tunneled packet aggregation for virtual networks
In general, techniques are described for enhancing operations of virtual networks. In some examples, a network system includes a plurality of servers interconnected by a switch fabric comprising a plurality of switches interconnected to form a physical network. Each of the servers comprises an operating environment executing one or more virtual machines in communication via one or more virtual networks. The servers comprise a set of virtual routers configured to extend the virtual networks to the operating environments of the virtual machines. A virtual router of the set of virtual routers is configured to aggregate a plurality of inbound tunnel packets according to a same virtual network identifier in order to generate an aggregate tunnel packet. The virtual router is further configured to route the aggregate tunnel packet to a host associated with a virtual network identified by the same virtual network identifier. |
| US09942145B2 |
Attribute SET_ID in border gateway protocol
Present disclosure relates to methods for preparing BGP update messages for transmission and processing received update messages. The methods are based on grouping path attributes common to a plurality of IP address prefixes into respective sets identified with respective set identifiers and, instead of duplicating path attributes in each BGP update message, including a respective identifier referring to a certain set of path attributes provided in an earlier BGP update message when sending subsequent update messages. Grouping of path attributes into individual sets associated with respective identifiers provides significant advantages by enabling re-use of the results of previous processing on both the sending and receiving sides associated with transmission of BGP update messages. In addition, such an approach limits the amount of information transmitted in the control plane because duplicate sets of path attributes may only be transmitted once and merely be referred to in subsequent update messages. |
| US09942142B2 |
Using segmentation identification to identify destination node within network environment
Packet transmission techniques are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes receiving a packet that identifies an internet protocol (IP) address assigned to more than one destination node; selecting a virtual routing and forwarding table based, at least in part, on a segmentation identification in the packet; identifying a designated destination node in the packet based, at least in part, on the selected virtual routing and forwarding table; and transmitting the packet to the designated destination node. |
| US09942134B2 |
Holding of a link in an optical interface by a lower level processor until authorization is received from an upper level processor
A lower level processor holds a link, in response to detecting a link down condition of the link. In response to the holding of the link, the lower level processor transmits a command to an upper level processor indicating the link down condition of the link. The lower level processor initiates a process of link recovery for the link, in response to receiving an authorization from the upper level processor. |
| US09942132B2 |
Assigning communication paths among computing devices utilizing a multi-path communication protocol
A method for routing communication paths among computing devices. The method includes a one or more computer processors identifying a computing entity and a data storage entity that transfer data. The method further includes determining a plurality of communication ports that the data storage entity utilizes to transfer data to the computing entity. The method further includes identifying a plurality of computing resources respectively associated with the determined plurality of communication ports that the data storage entity utilizes to transfer the data to the computing entity. The method further includes generating a list of tuples for the data storage entity based, at least in part, on the identified plurality of computing resources and the determined plurality of communication ports. |
| US09942127B2 |
Mechanism and framework for finding optimal multicast tree roots without the knowledge of traffic sources and receivers for fabricpath and TRILL
The proposed methodology enables finding the most efficient roots in the network to carry multicast traffic, while further providing a theoretical basis for such selection. It guarantees the minimum expected delivery cost for multicast frames in the absence of any knowledge about the source and receivers. |
| US09942126B2 |
Distributing non-unicast routes information in a TRILL network
The present invention discloses a method for processing non-unicast routes information in a TRILL network and a corresponding RBridge, wherein the RBridge has a neighbor relation with a plurality of other RBridges in the TRILL network, and the RBridge is the RBridge which computes non-unicast routes information in the neighbor relation, and in the method, the RBridge executes steps of: sending an acknowledgement message to the plurality of other RBridges, wherein the acknowledgement message acknowledges that the RBridge is the RBridge which computes the non-unicast routes information; obtaining a network topology related to the non-unicast routes information in the TRILL network; computing the non-unicast routes information based on the network topology; and distributing the computed non-unicast routes information to the plurality of other RBridges. The method and the corresponding RBridge are capable of reducing consumption of CPU resource of RBridges in the TRILL network. |
| US09942115B2 |
Techniques for providing visualization and analysis of performance data
Techniques for providing visualization and analysis of performance data are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for providing visualization and analysis of performance data. The system may comprise one or more processors communicatively coupled to a mobile communications network. The one or more processors may be configured to monitor data traffic within the mobile communications network. The one or more processors may further be configured to collect network performance data associated with the mobile communications network. The one or more processors may also be configured to provide user-selectable options to a user at a mobile device for viewing the network performance data. The one or more processors may further be configured to process the network performance data based on the user-selectable options identified by the user. The one or more processors may also be configured to provide a visualization to be displayed at the mobile device based on the processed network performance data, where the visualization presents the processed network performance data that improves customer experience assurance. |
| US09942106B2 |
Network broker
A network broker divides IP address space into subnets to allow IT infrastructure transfers using a cloud computing environment. A link established between a client and network broker allows transfer of data and provides connectivity between the client and cloud providers. IT infrastructure to be divested is provisioned onto subnets in a cloud environment. A second link is established via the network broker between the entity being divested and the provisioned IT infrastructure. Client access to provisioned IT infrastructure is cut by rerouting, at the network broker, traffic destined to the subnet(s) hosting the provisioned IT infrastructure from the link to the second link. After a new owner assimilates the divested IT infrastructure using the second link, network broker routing rules are adjusted to sever access of the new owner to the subnet(s) hosting the divested IT infrastructure and return access to the subnet(s) to the client. |
| US09942103B2 |
Predicting service delivery metrics using system performance data
A method for predicting a computerized service delivery organization workload including collecting data of a computer implementing service delivery routine including overlapping samples of load values, overlapping samples of performance values, overlapping samples of event outputs, ticket values and ticket volumes, building a first correlation of said load values with said performance values for predicting new performance values based on new data, building a second correlation of said performance values with said event outputs, said ticket values and said ticket volumes, combining said first and second correlations into a third correlation for correlating said load values with a ticket volume and an event volume, and determining at least one projected event volume or projected ticket volume value using said third correlation and at least one projected load value of said computer. |
| US09942100B2 |
Computer program product, communication quality estimation method, information processing apparatus, and communication quality estimation system
A computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing an information processing program. The program causes a computer to function as: a first communication control unit that calculates a first transfer rate by communicating with a communication quality check server via a network; a second communication control unit that calculates delay information about communication delay by communicating with the communication quality check server via the network; an estimation unit that estimates a second transfer rate based on the first transfer rate and the delay information, the second transfer rate being lower than the first transfer rate; and a display control unit that displays communication quality information about communication quality based on the first transfer rate and the second transfer rate on a display unit. |
| US09942093B2 |
Data gathering for a node
Methods and systems are disclosed including a mobile device configured for initiating a communication session with a transceiver interface of a node that comprises a network interface. The node may be queried via the communication session for a status report associated with an error, and an instruction may be communicated to the node via the communication session instructing the node to perform an operation. Communication may be established with the wireless access point via the wireless network after communication of the instruction. The transceiver interface may be configured to communicate via a second network to address issues in the wide area network. |
| US09942091B2 |
Pump configuration software wizard for configuring parameters of a handheld insulin pump
A system for configuring an insulin pump comprising: a computing device configured to receive a source device and a destination device; the source device being configured to communicate with the computing device, wherein the source device includes a source configuration file comprising a plurality of configurable source parameters; the destination device being configured to communicate with the computing device, wherein the destination device includes a destination configuration file comprising a plurality of configurable destination parameters; and the computing device being configured to determine whether a parameter mismatch occurred based on a comparison between the source configuration file and the destination configuration file; and to copies values associated with each of the plurality of source parameters to each of the plurality of destination parameters based on i) the determination of whether a parameter mismatch occurred and ii) the comparison between the source configuration file and the destination configuration file. |
| US09942087B2 |
Application resiliency using APIs
An approach is provided for managing resiliency of an application. Based on information specifying services provided by service providers (SPs) which is stored in a configuration management database, a topology mapping a first service provided by a first SP to a second service provided by a second SP is generated. Each of the first and second services provides a functionality of the application. A fail condition of the first SP is detected. Based on the topology, a first API provided by the first SP is determined to have provided the first service prior to the fail condition, and a second API provided by the second SP is determined to provide the second service. The first API provided by the first SP is disabled and the second API is activated, thereby continuing to provide the functionality of the application even though the first SP is experiencing the fail condition. |
| US09942084B1 |
Managing data stored in distributed buffer caches
Techniques are described for automatically managing the use of a buffer cache in volatile memory, including in at least some situations to distribute the buffer cache across the volatile memory of a pool of multiple computing devices. Furthermore, the data that is stored in such a distributed buffer cache may in some situations be stored in a redundant manner, such that the stored data may be recovered from a subset of the computing devices in the pool, such as by using erasure coding techniques. In some situations, the described techniques are used to provide a distributed database buffer cache to support operations of a database server program for a database—thus, as database data is retrieved from a non-volatile storage device, that database data may also be redundantly stored across the distributed database buffer cache for later retrieval and use. |
| US09942081B2 |
System and method for guard band utilization for synchronous and asynchronous communications
Embodiments are provided for guard band utilization for synchronous and asynchronous communications in wireless networks. A user equipment (UE) or a network component transmits symbols on data bands assigned for primary communications. The data bands are separated by a guard band having smaller bandwidth than the data bands. The UE or network component further modulates symbols for secondary communications with a spectrally contained wave form, which has a smaller bandwidth than the guard band. The spectrally contained wave form is achieved with orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation or with joint OFDM and Offset Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (OQAM) modulation. The modulated symbols for the secondary communications are transmitted within the guard band. |
| US09942079B2 |
256 quadrature amplitude modulation user equipment category handling
According to some embodiments, a method of decoding a transport block in a wireless network element comprises receiving a first transmission of a transport block. The transport block is modulated according to a first modulation coding scheme. The method further comprises determining a number of soft channel bits SB1 in the first transmission of the transport block based at least on a category type of a wireless device. The category type of wireless device is capable of supporting the first modulation coding scheme and a second modulation coding scheme of a different order than the first modulation scheme and both the first and second modulation schemes are associated with the same number of soft channel bits and soft buffer size. The method further comprises storing SB1 soft channel bits of the first transmission of the transport block in a soft buffer. |
| US09942077B2 |
Digital domain content processing and distribution apparatus and methods
Methods and apparatus for distributing content using a spectrum generation device. In one embodiment, digital content is received via a time-multiplexed network transport (such as Gigabit Ethernet), and converted to frequency channels suitable for transmission over a content distribution (e.g., Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC)) network. In one variant, the conversion is performed using digital domain processing performed by a full spectrum generation device. Additionally, methods and apparatus for selectively adding, removing, and/or changing digital content from the full spectrum device are also disclosed. Various aspects of the present invention enable physical (infrastructure) consolidation, and software-implemented remote management of content distribution. |
| US09942071B2 |
Signal processing method, apparatus and signal receiver
The present application discloses a method for processing a signal. An apparatus detects, according to a check relationship set during a forward error correction coding, that a phase jump occurs in a data segment of a signal, and a quantity of degrees of the phase jump, performs, according to the quantity of degrees of the phase jump, a phase correction on the data segment; after the phase correction, performs a confidence correction on the data segment; and after the confidence correction, performs a forward error correction decision decoding on the data segment on which the confidence correction has been performed and output the data segment. |
| US09942070B2 |
Radio communication
A radio transmitter (4) comprises an encoder (5) that receives one or more variable message bits, and encodes each message bit that has a first value as a predetermined first binary chip sequence and encodes each message bit that has the opposite value as a predetermined second binary chip sequence. The radio transmitter (4) transmits data packets, each comprising (i) a predetermined synchronization portion, comprising one or more instances of the first binary chip sequence, and (ii) a variable data portion, comprising one or more encoded message bits output by the encoder. A radio receiver (9) receives such data packets. It uses the synchronization portion of a received data packet to perform a frequency and/or timing synchronization operation, and then decodes message bits from the data portion of the data packet. |
| US09942069B2 |
Methods and devices for frequency shift detection
A method and mobile communication device adapted for frequency synchronization with a radio access network (RAN) based on frequency shift detection in a first signal received at the mobile communication device, including: offsetting the first signal's frequency by a first value extracted from a second signal received at the mobile communication device; generating a replica of the first signal from a second value extracted from a third signal received at the mobile communication device; multiplying a component of the offset first signal with the replica to generate a product; transforming the product into a frequency-domain signal; and detecting a peak in the frequency-domain signal to determine the frequency shift. |
| US09942068B1 |
Active device to enable the use of legacy-equipment in higher return band splits
Devices and methods for enabling the use of legacy-equipment in light of evolving and conflicting standards used by new-equipment are provided. When a standard for transmission on a network conflicts with an existing standard, legacy-equipment, which uses the existing standard, may prevent the implementation of new-equipment, which uses a new or updated standard, on the network. Although many standards strive for backwards compatibility or interoperability with other standards, not all standards are compatible, or they achieve backwards compatibility by disabling features of new-equipment until legacy-equipment has been upgraded or removed from the network. Devices and methods therefore are provided to isolate legacy-equipment and new-equipment so that the new features of evolving standards may be implemented for new-equipment without materially impacting the operation of legacy-equipment. |
| US09942066B2 |
Embedded clock in communication system
A method for simultaneously transmitting data bits and a clock signal includes converting the combination of the data bits and the clock signal to analog voltages by a digital-to-analog converter. The clock signal are the most significant bit of the digital-to-analog conversion and the data bits are the least significant bit of the digital-to-analog conversion. |
| US09942065B2 |
Wireless communication device, wireless communication system, and recording medium
A wireless communication device includes a wireless communication unit and a processor. The wireless communication unit connects to relays for wireless communication and transmits and receives communication data via the relays by wireless communication. The processor determines a second relay different from a first relay currently connected to the wireless communication unit and a timing of connection to the second relay based on a predetermined connection standard. When setting are provided for switching destination to the second relay at the timing of connection, the processor instructs the wireless communication unit to send information on the second relay and information at the timing of connection to other predetermined wireless communication device. The processor instructs the wireless communication unit to switch the destination to the second relay at the timing of connection. |
| US09942059B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless control method, and virtual base station apparatus
A virtual base station apparatus includes: a first base station apparatus and a second base station apparatus. The first base station apparatus includes a first receiver that receives a plurality of first training frames, a first transmitter that transmits a plurality of second training frames to a terminal apparatus, and a calculator that calculates a first reception quality of each of the plurality of first training frames. The terminal apparatus includes a second transmitter that transmits the plurality of first training frames to the plurality of base station apparatuses, and a second receiver that receives the plurality of second training frames. The first receiver receives a second reception quality of each of the plurality of first training frames from the second base station apparatus. The first reception quality is transmitted to the second base station apparatus when the first reception quality is higher than the second reception quality. |
| US09942058B2 |
Managing tunnel endpoints for facilitating creation of logical networks
Some embodiments provide a novel method for managing hardware forwarding elements (MHFEs) that facilitate the creation of multiple logical networks on a set of shared physical forwarding elements. The method uses a set of logical controllers that generate data that defines a set of logical networks, and a set physical controllers to distribute the generated data to the hardware forwarding elements. In some embodiments, each MHFE can serve as either a master MHFE or a slave MHFE for one set of computing end nodes (e.g., VMs, containers, etc.) in a logical network. To ensure proper routing of data packets to the computing end nodes, each MHFE sends to its physical controller an inventory (e.g., a table, a list, etc.) of the set of computing end nodes for which it serves as the master MHFE or the slave MHFE. Each physical controller forwards the inventory for each logical network to the logical controller for the logical network. Each logical controller maintains the master inventory of the MHFEs that are masters (and slaves if applicable) of the various compute end nodes of each logical network managed by the logical controller. After receiving a new inventory from a physical controller, the logical controller updates its records, resolves any conflicts while it is updating its records, and distributes one or more master/slave inventories for one or more logical networks that it manages to the physical controllers, which, in turn, pass this information to the MHFEs that they manage. |
| US09942051B1 |
System and method for secure relayed communications from an implantable medical device
The present invention provides systems and methods for supporting encrypted communications with a medical device, such as an implantable device, through a relay device to a remote server, and may employ cloud computing technologies. An implantable medical device is generally constrained to employ a low power transceiver, which supports short distance digital communications. A relay device, such as a smartphone or WiFi access point, acts as a conduit for the communications to the internet or other network, which need not be private or secure. The medical device supports encrypted secure communications, such as a virtual private network technology. The medical device negotiates a secure channel through a smartphone or router, for example, which provides application support for the communication, but may be isolated from the content. |
| US09942048B2 |
Method for distributed trust authentication
A method for distributed trust authentication of one or more users attempting to access one or more service providers operating on a network includes performing primary authentication of a user using a first authentication factor, generating a first partial digital signature for a first authentication response to the primary authentication, performing secondary authentication of the user using a second authentication factor, generating a second partial digital signature for the second authentication response to the secondary authentication, combining the first and second partial digital signatures to form a composite digital signature, and validating the composite digital signature. |
| US09942044B2 |
Multiply-encrypting data requiring multiple keys for decryption
A server receives a piece of data for encryption. The server encrypts the piece of data such that no single key can decrypt the encrypted piece of data and any combination of a first multiple of unique keys taken a second multiple at a time are capable of decrypting the encrypted piece of data. Each of the first multiple of unique keys is tied to account credentials of a different user. The second multiple is less than or equal to the first multiple. The encrypted piece of data is returned. |
| US09942038B2 |
Modular exponentiation using randomized addition chains
Various embodiments relate to a device for generating code which implements modular exponentiation, the device including: a memory used to store a lookup table; and a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to: receive information for a generated randomized addition chain; output code for implementing the modular exponentiation which loads elements from the lookup table including intermediate results which utilize the information for a generated randomized addition chain; and output code for implementing the modular exponentiation which uses the loaded elements to compute the next element. |
| US09942037B2 |
System for managing cryptographic keys and trust relationships in a secure shell (SSH) environment
A system for managing cryptographic keys and trust relationships in a secure shell (SSH) environment by mapping network servers, clients, and appliances and locating SSH keys and key pairs associated with each device. The system provides for mapping the network topology and all SSH keys and key pairs stored on network connected devices, and the creation of a master database of all devices, keys and key pairs, key types and encryption strength, and user accounts with which each key or key pair is associated. The mapping and database enable the effective management of SSH keys and key pairs, detection of errors and weakness, elimination of orphaned or outdated keys, correction of all deficiencies, and replacement of keys in accordance with policies set by the organization maintaining the network. |
| US09942035B2 |
Platform migration of secure enclaves
A processor to support platform migration of secure enclaves is disclosed. In one embodiment, the processor includes a memory controller unit to access secure enclaves and a processor core coupled to the memory controller unit. The processor core to identify a control structure associated with a secure enclave. The control structure comprises a plurality of data slots and keys associated with a first platform comprising the memory controller unit and the processor core. A version of data from the secure enclave is associated with the plurality of data slots. Migratable keys are generated as a replacement for the keys associated with the control structure. The migratable keys control access to the secure enclave. Thereafter, the control structure is migrated to a second platform to enable access to the secure enclave on the second platform. |
| US09942033B2 |
Cryptographic device with detachable data planes
A system for performing encryption and/or decryption may include a parent cryptographic device. The parent cryptographic device may be configured to receive a first cryptographic key. The parent cryptographic device may be configured to determine one or more session keys based on the first cryptographic key and/or internally generated random data bits. The parent cryptographic device may be configured to insert the one or more session keys onto one or more child cryptographic devices that are operably connected to the parent cryptographic device. The one or more child cryptographic devices may be configured to receive the one or more session keys from the parent cryptographic device, and perform one or more of encryption or decryption of communications exchanged with another child cryptographic device of the one or more child cryptographic devices. The one or more child cryptographic devices may perform encryption/decryption after separation from the parent cryptographic device. |
| US09942032B1 |
Systems and methods for securely detecting data similarities
A computer-implemented method for securely detecting data similarities may include (1) identifying a private data object subject to comparison to determine a similarity with at least one potentially similar data object, (2) establishing a connection between a client system and a server that is not authorized to access the private data object, (3) generating a summary of the private data object by applying a summary generation protocol between the client system and the server to the private data object without exposing plaintext from the private data object to the server and without exposing a parameter of the summary generation protocol to the client system, and (4) computing the similarity between the private data object and the potentially similar data object by using the summary of the private data object and a summary of the potentially similar data object. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09942031B2 |
System and method for private-key fully homomorphic encryption and private search between rings
A system for producing a public ring that is fully homomorphically encrypted. The system comprises a processor which generates a first presentation G of a ring, where G=x,y|x2=0,y2=0,xy+(p+1)yx=1, where x and y are generators and p is a first private prime number. The system further generates a second presentation H of the ring. H is defined as follows: H=x,y,t|x2=0,y2=0,t=m1yx,xy+m2yx+t=1. In addition, m1 and m2 are positive integers and p+1=m1+m2, wherein t is a generator and the first presentation G and the second presentation H are isomorphic. The system further produces a public ring Ĥ that is fully homomorphically encrypted, where: H ^ = 〈 x , y , t ❘ N · 1 = 1 , x 2 = 1 , y 2 = 0 , xyx = x , yxy = y , tx = 0 , yt = 0 , t 2 = t + m 2 2 - m 2 m 1 tyx 〉 , N=pq and further, q is a second private prime number, and the public ring Ĥ is further, publically available. A corresponding method is also disclosed. |
| US09942030B1 |
Serial transmitter with feed forward equalizer
A serial transmitter that outputs one symbol every unit interval (UI) from a data source is presented. The serial transmitter includes a serial output port that outputs one symbol every unit interval (UI) from a data source. The serial transmitter also includes a plurality of driver segments that jointly drive the serial output port. Each driver segment is configured to use one of N phases of a sampling clock to serialize and transmit data from the data source. Different sets of the driver segments are configured to use different phases of the sampling clock for serializing and transmitting data, the sampling clock being a half-rate clock having a period of two UI. |
| US09942027B2 |
Synchronization and ranging in a switching system
A system and method for measuring propagation delays and other delays in an optical switching system. A transmitter is connected, through a circuit switch, to a receiver. To measure the propagation delay between the transmitter and the receiver, the transmitter sends one or more time-tagged ranging messages and the receiver calculates a propagation delay from the difference between the time of receipt and the time of transmission. In another embodiment, a time delay between message transmission and transition of a CDR of the receiver to a fast acquisition mode is adjusted, by trial and error, to find a range of such time delays for which transmission is successful. A time delay between the transmitter and the switch is measured by establishing or breaking the connection and determining, for various tentative time delay values, whether transmission succeeds. |
| US09942022B2 |
Component carrier activation and deactivation using resource assignments
This invention relates to a proposal of an uplink resource assignment format and a downlink resource assignment format. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the new uplink/downlink resource assignments in methods for (de)activation of downlink component carrier(s) configured for a mobile terminal, a base station and a mobile terminal. To enable efficient and robust (de)activation of component carriers, while minimizing the signaling overhead, the invention proposes a new uplink/downlink resource assignment format that allow the activation/deactivation of individual downlink component carriers configured for a mobile. The new uplink or downlink resource assignment comprises an indication of the activation state of the configured downlink component carriers, i.e., indicate which downlink component carrier(s) is/are to be activated or deactivated. This indication is for example implemented by means of a bit-mask that indicates which of the configured uplink component carriers are to be activated respectively deactivated. |
| US09942021B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring and processing component carriers
A method and apparatus are described which perform bandwidth aggregation by simultaneously monitoring and processing a number of simultaneous, non-contiguous or contiguous component carriers in the downlink. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) can be configured by an evolved Node-B (eNodeB) to support additional component carriers. A pre-configured additional component carrier may be used. Various methods for activating and deactivating the additional component carrier are also described. |
| US09942018B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
The present invention provides a method of transmitting broadcast signals. The method includes, processing input streams into BB (Base Band) frames of PLPs (Physical Layer Pipes); encoding data of the PLPs; building at least one signal frame by mapping the encoded data of the PLPs; and modulating data in the built signal frame by OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) method and transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data, wherein the signal frame includes PLS (Physical Layer Signaling) data having signaling information for the data of the PLPs. |
| US09942012B2 |
Carrier allocation method, user equipment, and base station
The present invention is applicable to the field of radio communication technologies, and provides a carrier allocation method, a user equipment, and a base station. The method comprises: acquiring, by a base station, a carrier hopping pattern; sending, by the base station to a user equipment UE, carrier configuration information, where the carrier configuration information comprises information about activating carrier hopping and/or the carrier hopping pattern, the carrier hopping pattern presents a carrier set used by a user equipment in at least one time unit, and the carrier set comprises at least one carrier; and sending, by the base station, a signal to the UE and/or receiving a signal from the UE according to the carrier hopping pattern. |
| US09942011B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and the method thereof
In one exemplary embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus transmitting data by using several sub-carriers. The wireless communication apparatus comprises a signal modulator, a signal processor, a storage, a computing processor, and a transmitter. The signal modulator generates a modulated signal in time domain based on the data. The signal processor performs signal processing on the modulated signal, and comprises a window module and a filter module. The window module performs windowing operation on the modulated signal to generate a window-operated signal. The filter module performs filtering operation on the window-operated signal to generate a transmitting signal in time domain. The computing processor performs operations of setting up the window module and the filter module according to a window characteristic function and a filter characteristic function. The transmitter transmits the transmitting signal. |
| US09942009B2 |
Measurement gap configuration
A method a wireless communication device and a corresponding method for a network node of a cellular communication system are disclosed. The network node and the wireless communication device are configured to communicate with each other according to an automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol having a requirement that a number of time units between reception of an ARQ packet and transmission of an associated response message is smaller than a maximum response time. According to the methods, the wireless communication device transmits at least one measurement gap adaptation signal to the network node. The network node determines a measurement gap configuration of the wireless communication device based on the measurement gap adaptation signal, wherein measurement gaps of the measurement gap configuration have a length smaller than the maximum response time. The network node transmits an indication of the measurement gap configuration to the wireless communication device, which uses the measurement gap configuration to perform measurements. Corresponding computer program product, arrangements, network node and wireless communication device are also disclosed. |
| US09942005B2 |
Sequence detector
A sequence detector is provided for detecting symbol values corresponding to a sequence of input samples obtained from a transmission channel. The sequence detector comprises a branch metric unit (BMU), a path metric unit (PMU) and a survivor memory unit. The branch metric unit calculates branch metrics for respective possible transitions between states of a trellis. The path metric unit accumulates branch metrics provided by the branch metric unit in order to establish path metrics. The survivor memory unit selects a survivor path based on the path metrics and outputs a survivor sequence of the detected symbols corresponding to the survivor path. The sequence detector is configured such that the synchronization length is different than the survivor path memory length. |
| US09942004B2 |
Apparatus and methods for maximum likelihood symbol detection in communications systems
This invention discloses apparatus and methods for detecting transmit symbols from the receiving waveform samples at the receiver side for communications systems. The receiving waveform samples are corrupted by channel and noise effects and the detection is carried out with a maximum likelihood optimality criterion. This invention utilizes a successive linear constraint exchange scheme that formulates a sequence of linearly constrained minimization subproblems to allow the solutions to these subproblems, combined with certain quantization and mapping operations, to converge to the optimal maximum likelihood estimate. This invention is applicable to any digitally modulated communications systems, including but not limited to Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) communications systems. |
| US09942001B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for providing energy management, profiles, and message blocks in a cable service environment
A method is provided in one example and includes creating a plurality of profiles that describe one or more downstream modulations for each data-subcarrier in a channel to be used by a plurality of cable modems; receiving at least one testing measurement from the plurality of cable modems; and assigning a selected one of the plurality of profiles to each of the plurality of cable modems based, at least in part, on the one testing measurement that was received. |
| US09941998B2 |
Control information signaling for MIMO transmissions
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for conveying downlink control information (DCI). According to certain aspects, the DCI comprises at least a first field that indicates both a rank indication (RI) and a number of enabled transport blocks (TBs) and at least a second field that indicates either a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for an enabled TB if the first field indicates more than one TB is enabled or information other than the MCS if the first field indicates a single TB is enabled. |
| US09941996B2 |
Message coding for NCMA-based multiple access networks
Computationally efficient message encoding and decoding schemes for NCMA-based multiple access networks are enabled. Belief propagation decoding of fountain codes designed for NCMA-based multiple access networks may be enhanced using Gaussian elimination. Networks utilizing a network-coded slotted ALOHA protocol can benefit in particular. In such cases, Gaussian elimination may be applied locally to solve the linear system associated with each timeslot, and belief propagation decoding may be applied between the linear systems obtained over different timeslots. The computational complexity of such an approach may be of the same order as a conventional belief propagation decoding algorithm. The fountain code degree distribution may be tuned to optimize for different numbers of expected channel users. |
| US09941990B2 |
Operation and stabilization of Mod-MUX WDM transmitters based on silicon microrings
A transmitter comprising a plurality of modulator and multiplexer (Mod-MUX) units, each Mod-MUX unit operating at an optical wavelength different from the other Mod-MUX units. The transmitter can additional include in each Mod-MUX unit two optical taps and three photodetectors that are configured to allow the respective Mod-MUX unit to be tuned to achieve thermal stabilization and achieve effective modulation and WDM operation across a range of temperatures. The Mod-MUX transmitter avoids the use of a frequency comb. The Mod-MUX transmitter avoids cross-modulation between different modulators for different laser signals. |
| US09941988B1 |
Multi-radio device for WLAN
Systems and techniques relating to wireless devices are described. A described system includes a first radio unit configured to receive communication signals that include one or more signals indicative of a first physical layer frame of a data packet, and produce a first output based on the first physical layer frame; a second radio unit configured to receive communication signals that include one or more signals indicative of a second physical layer frame of the data packet, and produce a second output based on the second physical layer frame, the one or more signals indicative of the first physical layer frame are concurrently received with the one or more signals indicative of the second physical layer frame; a deparser configured to combine outputs, including the first and second outputs, to produce a combined output; and a controller configured to resolve the data packet based on the combined output. |
| US09941984B2 |
Channel state information measurement method and device, and signal transmission method and device
The present disclosure provides a CSI measurement method and a CSI measurement device. The CSI measurement method includes steps of: receiving channel state measurement information from a network side, the channel state measurement information including a CRS from a set of CRS ports corresponding to vertical beams having an identical Vshift in a vertical dimension, the Vshift determines shift values of CRS patterns in different vertical beams in the vertical dimension in a frequency domain; and performing CSI measurement in accordance with the channel state measurement information. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the CSI measurement is performed in accordance with the CRS of the set of CRS ports corresponding to the vertical beams having an identical Vshift in the vertical dimension, so that a common signal/channel in the vertical dimension is covered by several vertical beams. Each vertical beam has a small main lobe width, so a constant modulus weight vector may be used. As a result, it is able to improve the power efficiency. |
| US09941982B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing the beamforming performance of a wireless communication device
Systems and techniques relating to beamforming testing for wireless communication are described. A described technique includes controlling a first wireless device to deactivate or activate a beamforming mode, the first device being configured to selectively use the beamforming mode to transmit data over multiple antennas; causing the first device to send a first portion of data traffic to a second wireless device via a wireless channel while the beamforming mode is deactivated; measuring first throughput values of the first portion of data traffic while the beamforming mode is deactivated; causing the first device to send a second portion of data traffic to the second device via the wireless channel while the beamforming mode is activated; measuring second throughput values of the second portion of the data traffic while the beamforming mode is activated; and producing a test result based on a comparison of the first and second throughput values, and predetermined criteria. |
| US09941977B2 |
Data transmission between devices over audible sound
Implementations generally relate to providing data transmission between devices over audible sound. In some implementations, a method includes mapping each symbol of data to a frequency combination, where each frequency combination includes one or more frequencies. The method further includes generating a sine wave for each frequency. The method further includes adding sine waves for a given symbol to obtain a resulting sine wave. The method further includes applying a window function to the resulting sine wave to obtain a data signal. |
| US09941975B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexing optical receiver and driving method for same
The invention relates to a wavelength division multiplexing optical receiver that is provided with a polarization splitting grating coupler and a driving method for the same, where the power consumption is reduced, and at the same time, a degradation in the receiver sensitivity is suppressed. Two monitor photodetectors configured to monitor the light intensity of a first polarization component and a second polarization component separated by a polarization splitting optical coupler are provided, and a control circuit is provided in order to allow a semiconductor optical amplifier that amplifies the first polarization component and another semiconductor optical amplifier that amplifies the second polarization component in accordance with the signal intensity ratio of the two monitor photodetectors to amplify light with different light gains. |
| US09941974B2 |
Techniques for receiving DFT spreading modulation signals
Techniques for receiving a modulated optical signal which has undergone a digital Fourier transform spreading (DFTS), include generating digital samples of the modulated optical signal, performing resampling and synchronization of the digital samples to generate time-corrected digital samples from an input wireless signal, compensating the time-corrected digital samples for nonlinearity (NL) to produce NL-compensated digital samples, de-spreading the NL-compensated digital samples using an inverse digital Fourier transform to recover quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulated signals, applying post-equalization to the QAM signals to generate equalized QAM signals, performing a decision directed least mean square (DD-LMS) equalization to generate blind-optimized QAM signals and demodulating the blind-optimized QAM signals to recover data bits. |
| US09941970B2 |
Adaptive mach zehnder modulator linearization
The present invention is directed to optical communication systems and methods thereof. In various embodiments, the present invention provides method for linearizing Mach Zehnder modulators by digital pre-compensation and adjusting the gain of the driver and/or the modulation index. The pre-compensation can be implemented as a digital pre-compensation algorithm, which is a part of an adaptive feedback loop. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US09941966B2 |
Method for information exchange in access network, apparatus, and system
The present invention provides a method for information exchange in an access network, an apparatus, and a system, and relates to the communications field. The method includes: receiving, by an access device, a configuration command from a network management server; converting the configuration command into an OpenFlow-protocol-based openflow message; and sending the openflow message to a terminal device, so that the terminal device configures an openflow flow table according to the openflow message. |
| US09941964B2 |
Authentication for wireless local area networks
A digital credential is generated for a user device. The digital credential is transmitted to the user device via an optical wireless communication access point (OWC AP). The user device is located in a coverage area of the OWC AP. The digital credential is provided to a wireless local area network (WLAN AP) associated with the OWC AP for authentication of a request from the user device to access the WLAN. |
| US09941961B2 |
Signal detection device and signal detection method
A signal detection device including: a comparison unit that obtains data including central frequencies of optical signals respectively transmitted by a plurality of optical transmitters and a central frequency interval indicating the interval between the central frequencies, power measurement values obtained by measuring, at sampling point frequencies arranged at a prescribed sampling interval, the power of a WDM signal for which the wavelength of optical signals has been multiplexed, a sampling interval, and sampling point frequencies, that selects a selection value from among the power measurement values on the basis of the central frequency interval and the sampling interval, and that outputs a result of comparison between the selection value and a prescribed threshold; and an alarm generator that outputs a signal interruption alarm in a case where the comparison result indicates that the selection value is less than the threshold. |
| US09941954B2 |
System and method for radio link sharing
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a first user equipment (UE) from a second UE, identity information and transmitting, by the first UE to a communications controller, the identity information. The method also includes receiving, by the first UE from the communications controller, a first packet after transmitting the identity information and transmitting, by the first UE to the second UE, the first packet in accordance with the identity information. |
| US09941952B2 |
Inroute burst header in a VSAT system
A satellite terminal and a machine-implemented method are provided for encoding a burst header of a burst for transmission on an inroute. One component of a group of satellite terminal components consisting of an ASIC, a FPGA, and a DSP, generates a burst header having five information bits encoded therein. The five information bits may be encoded using a Reed-Muller code, a (32, 5) block code or a convolutional code having a code rate of either 1/5 or 1/10. The five information bits may represent one or more of a modulation type for a payload of the burst, a code rate for encoding the payload, a code type, and a spreading factor for spreading the payload during transmission. A satellite gateway and a machine-implemented method are also provided for decoding a burst header of a burst received on an inroute as described above. |
| US09941951B2 |
Interference cancellation relay device
Provided is an interference cancellation relay device. The interference cancellation relay device includes: an interference cancellation unit cancelling an interference signal from an input signal and outputting the input signal from which the interference signal is removed; a gain control unit controlling a gain of an output signal of the interference cancellation unit; and a pre-distortion unit distorting the output signal of the interference cancellation unit, of which the gain is controlled by the gain control unit. |
| US09941949B2 |
Managing wirelessly transmitted use-data in a wireless data transmission environment
A method of managing wirelessly transmitted use-data in a wireless data transmission environment, the method comprising: Receiving the wirelessly transmitted use-data by a first receiver and estimating a reception quality of the use-data received by the first receiver by applying a quality criterion. In case the reception quality meets the quality criterion, the method moreover comprises using a second receiver for background scanning the wireless data transmission environment, and in case the reception quality does not meet the quality criterion, the method moreover comprises using the second receiver additionally for reception of the use-data, thus providing both receivers for a diversity reception of the use-data. |
| US09941946B2 |
Excursion compensation in multipath communication systems having performance requirements parameters
Methods, apparatuses, and systems that compensate for communication excursions in multipath communication systems (e.g. MIMO communication systems) while satisfying performance requirements parameters of the communication system. A plurality of communication signals may be received in a transmitter. The plurality of communication signals may be precoded (e.g. mixed) into a plurality of precoded communication signals. Excursions in the precoded communication signals may be scaled to generate a plurality of excursion compensated precoded communication signals. The scaling may be based on performance requirements parameters of a communication system and based on parameters of the preceding the plurality of communication signals. The plurality of excursion compensated precoded communication signals may then be amplified by a plurality of amplifiers. |
| US09941945B2 |
Method for performing mobility-based beamforming in wireless communication system, and apparatus therefor
Disclosed in the present invention is a method for a transmitting end transmitting a signal in a wireless communication system. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of: transmitting, to a receiving end, a first reference signal for providing a reference beam which is equal in all directions, and a second reference signal for providing a boundary beam which heads toward a pre-set direction; receiving, from the receiving end, feedback information on the difference value between the reference beam gain and the boundary beam gain; estimating the mobility information of the receiving end on the basis of the amount of change in the difference value; and, by using the mobility information, performing beamforming for transmitting a signal to the receiving end. |
| US09941942B2 |
Method and device for processing channel state information, user equipment and evolved node B
Provided are a method and device for processing Channel State Information (CSI), User Equipment (UE) and an Evolved Node B (eNodeB). The method includes: storing one or more sets of precoding codebook models the same as those of an eNodeB; determining a precoding codebook model for feeding back CSI; and sending the CSI to the eNodeB by adopting the determined precoding codebook model. By the solution, the problems of difficulty in code word selection and increase of link overhead during application of a codebook-based CSI feedback manner to massive Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) in the related technology is solved, and the effect of reducing codebook transmission overhead is further achieved. |
| US09941941B2 |
System for evaluation of MIMO antenna deployment
The present disclosure relates to a radio receiver, a radio transmitter, and methods for evaluating multiple-input multiple-output, MIMO, antenna deployment. The method for evaluating MIMO, antenna deployment comprises the steps of receiving a first composite signal via a first receive antenna. The first composite signal comprises a first tone transmitted from a first transmit antenna at a first variable frequency and a second tone transmitted from a second transmit antenna at a second variable frequency different from the first variable frequency, and also receiving a second composite signal via a second receive antenna. The second composite signal comprising the first tone transmitted from the first transmit antenna and the second tone transmitted from the second transmit antenna. The method also comprises determining a first power signal from the first composite signal, and determining a second power signal from the second composite signal, as well as determining a phase difference between the phase of the first power signal and the phase of the second power signal, and evaluating MIMO antenna deployment based on the determined phase difference. |
| US09941940B2 |
Sectorized beam operation for wireless networks
A communication method for a wireless network is disclosed. The wireless network comprises a plurality of wireless devices. The method comprises transmitting one or multiple packets with an omni-beam by a first wireless device to a second wireless device in a packet exchange during an omni-beam duration to indicate a sectorized-beam duration, receiving the packet(s) by a third wireless device, transmitting/receiving data by the first wireless device using a sectorized beam in a packet exchange with the second wireless device during the sectorized beam duration, and detecting by the third wireless device the sectorized beam packet(s) from the first wireless device and packet(s) from the second wireless device, if no sectorized beam packet(s) from the first wireless device and packet(s) from the second wireless device is detected, the third wireless device starting to communicating with a fourth wireless device. |
| US09941939B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting or receiving RACH signal in beamforming system
A method for operating a random access channel (RACH) by a base station (BS) performing beamforming with at least one receive chain includes broadcasting RACH configuration information; and receiving an RACH signal with at least one receive chain, wherein the RACH configuration information includes threshold information to divide an RACH groups into a first group and a second group. A BS for operating a RACH by performing beamforming with at least one receive chain in a communication system, the BS comprising a controller configured to broadcast RACH configuration information and control at least one receive chain to receive an RACH signal, wherein the RACH configuration information includes threshold information to divide RACH groups into a first group and a second group. Other embodiments including a user equipment are also disclosed. |
| US09941937B1 |
Near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) antenna
Example near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) antenna, including: an electric antenna having a first surface and a second surface; a magnetic antenna having a first, second and third coils; a first feeding connection coupled to one end of the first coil and the first surface; a second feeding connection coupled to another end of the first coil and coupled to one end of the second coil; wherein another end of the second coil is coupled to one end of the third coil; wherein another end of the third coil is coupled to the second surface; wherein the first, second and third coils are configured to carry a time varying current from the first and second feeding connections in a same direction; wherein the first and second coils are configured to have a first coupling coefficient; and wherein the first and third coils are configured to have a second coupling coefficient. |
| US09941935B2 |
Method of connecting one or more contactless components to a single antenna, and corresponding system
An electronic device includes an antenna, an irremovable component, a removable component, an impedance matching circuit, and a controller. The impedance matching circuit is arranged in a first configuration corresponding to the removable component connected to the irremovable component. The impedance matching circuit has a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a third capacitor. The controller is configured to arrange the impedance matching circuit in a second configuration corresponding to the removable component being disconnected from the irremovable component. |
| US09941934B2 |
Method and device for modulating an active load
In a general aspect, a method can include producing, by an inductive antenna circuit, a first periodic signal that is based on an alternating external magnetic field; producing, by an oscillator circuit, a second periodic signal that is based on the first periodic signal; and transmitting, in correspondence with a data-carrying modulation signal, a sequence of data bits. The transmitting can include sequentially and repetitively: applying, with the oscillator circuit operating in a free oscillation mode, the second periodic signal to the inductive antenna circuit; and inhibiting, with the oscillator circuit operating in a synchronous oscillation mode, application of the second periodic signal to the inductive antenna circuit. The synchronous oscillation mode of the oscillator circuit can cause the second periodic signal to be synchronized to the first periodic signal. |
| US09941928B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing a DSL system
An apparatus comprises at least one vectoring engine and a cross-connect coupled to the vectoring engine. The cross-connect is to couple with each of a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) devices via a respective DSL loop. An interface is to receive instructions for the cross-connect to couple the vectoring engine to a nonoverlapping subset of the CPE devices via the respective DSL loops. The interface is further to receive instructions for the vectoring engine to apply vectoring to the DSL loop via which to couple one of the CPE devices to the cross-connect. |
| US09941926B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for determining a time of arrival
Apparatus for determining a time of arrival of a message signal comprising: a quadrature mixer (13, 14) for mixing a received message signal with the signal of a local oscillator, wherein the received message signal comprises a binary sequence modulated by binary frequency shift keying with pulses corresponding to a first value at a first frequency and with pulses corresponding to a second value at a second frequency, wherein the local oscillator has a frequency between the first frequency and the second frequency; a time of arrival detector (18) for determining a time of arrival of the message signal on the basis of the output of the quadrature mixer (13, 14). |
| US09941924B2 |
Signal equalisation
Generated chirp pulses are modified so that they have an increased time bandwidth product to compensate for noise and/or attenuation in a communication channel. In certain circumstances, the modification alone may be inefficient so a counterbalancing modification may be applied at the receiver. |
| US09941920B2 |
Adaptive matching RF architecture and associated matching method
An adaptive matching RF architecture and an associated matching method are provided. The RF architecture comprises a power amplifier module, a receiving module, an antenna, an RF processing module, a baseband control module and at least one adjustable matching network module, the at least one adjustable matching network module being connected between the power amplifier module and the RF processing module, and/or between the receiving module and the RF processing module, and/or between the antenna and the RF processing module. The baseband control module is pre-stored with multiple matching values corresponding to multiple different application scenarios, the matching values of the at least one adjustable network module being applied based on the application scenarios to attain the optimum RF performance. |
| US09941916B2 |
Multi-band programmable receiver
A programmable multi-band receiver includes a signal coupler, programmable signal scaler including a fixed capacitance part including a series set of switchable capacitor arrays positioned before Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protecting circuitry coupled to a variable capacitance part after the ESD protecting circuitry, reconfigurable mixer array, then a baseband polyphase filter. The variable capacitance part includes a parallel set of paths each including a capacitor and at least one switch for setting a center frequency for band selection. The reconfigurable mixer array is coupled to receive phase signals from a local oscillator (LO) circuit and includes a plurality of mixer switch elements for providing image rejection. The received signal strength is adjusted by the programmable signal scaler so that the electrostatic discharge circuit (ESD) can operate without the need of a negative supply voltage. |
| US09941915B2 |
Uplink noise minimization
A method of controlling uplink signal power in a distributed antenna system includes monitoring a noise condition of an uplink signal path in the distributed antenna system and determining the noise contribution from the distributed antenna system that is presented to the base station. The receive noise floor of the base station is determined. The determined noise contribution and receive noise floor are unlisted. Based on the evaluation, the uplink gain that is applied to uplink signals from the distributed antenna system to a base station is adjusted. |
| US09941914B2 |
Receiving device, communication system, and interference detection method
A receiving device of an embodiment has a receiver, a demultiplexer, and an interference detector. The receiver receives a multiplexed signal. The demultiplexer demultiplexes the multiplexed signal into a plurality of signals. The interference detector, with referring to bit transitions of the plurality of signals in a predetermined time period, detects interference in the multiplexed signal. |
| US09941912B2 |
Receiver, transmitter and radio communication method
A mobile station includes: a physical channel segmentation unit to receive radio signals including multiple orthogonal signals which are orthogonal to each other, and multiple non-orthogonal signals which are not orthogonal to each other; and data demodulating/decoding units to extract the non-orthogonal signal addressed to the mobile station from the multiple non-orthogonal signals by demodulating and cancelling the radio signal addressed to another mobile station by use of the orthogonal signals included in the radio signals received by the physical channel segmentation unit, and demodulate the signal included in the orthogonal signals and addressed to the mobile station, and the extracted non-orthogonal signal addressed to the mobile station. |
| US09941911B2 |
Mixing stage, modulator circuit and a current control circuit
A mixing stage includes a first modulation stage that receives an input signal from a first common node of the mixing stage, a first local oscillator input that receives a local oscillator signal, and a first modulation signal output adapted to provide a first modulated signal. A second modulation stage of the mixing stage includes a second input that receives a phase inverted representation of the input signal from a second common node of the mixing stage, a second local oscillator input that receives the local oscillator signal, and a second modulation signal output adapted to provide a second modulated signal. A current generation circuit provides a supply current to the first common node and to the second common node. A current control circuit is adapted to superimpose an offset current to the current of at least one node of the first common node and the second common node. |
| US09941906B2 |
Sliced polar codes
An apparatus for polar coding includes an encoder circuit that implements a transformation c=u1N-sBN-s{tilde over (M)}n, where u1N-s, BN-s, {tilde over (M)}n, and C are defined over a Galois field GF(2k), k>1, N=2k, s |
| US09941905B2 |
Coding and decoding methods with differentiated protection
A coding method with differentiated protection to protect, with a different protection efficiency, a number of groups of data in a frame to be transmitted. The invention is based for that on the use of a correcting code of the LDPC type concatenated with an algebraic correcting code. The invention also proposes a decoding method compatible with the coding method with differentiated protection. |
| US09941903B1 |
Distributed burst error protection
A method of protecting digital words traversing multiple data paths is presented. The method identifies a number of bits for a header of a digital word and determines a number of protection bits for the header. A bit value for each of the protection bits is computed, and the computed bit values of the protection bits are transmitted through one or more data paths. |
| US09941902B2 |
Low density parity check encoder having length of 64800 and code rate of 5/15, and low density parity check encoding method using the same
A low density parity check (LDPC) encoder, an LDPC decoder, and an LDPC encoding method are disclosed. The LDPC encoder includes first memory, second memory, and a processor. The first memory stores an LDPC codeword having a length of 64800 and a code rate of 5/15. The second memory is initialized to 0. The processor generates the LDPC codeword corresponding to information bits by performing accumulation with respect to the second memory using a sequence corresponding to a parity check matrix (PCM). |
| US09941901B2 |
Systems and methods for soft decision generation in a solid state memory system
Systems and method relating generally to solid state memory, and more particularly to systems and methods for generated data from a solid state memory. A data processing system includes a solid state memory device, a soft data generation circuit operable to receive multiple instances of an element of a read data set accessed from the solid state memory device, and access a scramble compensating extended look up table using the multiple instances of the element to receive corresponding soft data, and a data decoder circuit operable to yield a decoded output from the soft data. |
| US09941898B1 |
Scalable interleaved digital-to-time converter circuit for clock generation
Some embodiments include apparatus and methods using a first digital-to-time converter (DTC) circuit to receive an input clock signal and generate a first clock signal based on the input clock signal, a second DTC circuit to receive the input clock signal and generate a second clock signal based on the input clock signal, and an output circuit to receive the first and second clock signals to generate an output clock signal based on the first and second clock signals. |
| US09941897B1 |
Digital-to-analog converter with improved linearity
A higher accuracy ADC circuit (e.g., in which the number of bits of the ADC circuit is twelve or greater) may need calibration multiple times during its working life to avoid bit weight errors. Described are techniques to address DAC element ratio errors between DAC element clusters in a DAC circuit in order to maintain the linear performance of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuits and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuits. |
| US09941895B2 |
Time delay in digitally oversampled sensor systems, apparatuses, and methods
Systems and methods are described to time delay a signal output from an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC includes a digital sensor responsive to an analog field quantity. The digital sensor is configured to output an oversampled digital output signal at a sampling clock frequency. A time delay element is configured to receive as an input, the oversampled digital output signal and to output a time delayed oversampled digital output signal. A filter is configured to receive as an input the delayed oversampled digital output signal. The filter low pass filters and decimates to a lower sample rate the delayed oversampled digital output signal. An output includes a low pass filtered decimated delayed digital output signal, where the lower sample rate is less than the sampling clock frequency. |
| US09941894B1 |
Multiple string, multiple output digital to analog converter
A multiple output, multiple impedance string digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit can provide a first output having a first resolution in response to a first digital input signal and a second output having a second resolution in response to a second digital input signal. A main impedance string and a secondary impedance string can be coupled using switching networks to provide a first DAC output. By coupling additional switches to the main impedance string and by sharing the main impedance string, a second DAC output can be realized. |
| US09941888B2 |
Oscillator, electronic apparatus, and base station
An oscillator includes an oscillation source, multiple temperature control elements, and a controller adapted to perform control to suppress an increase in current consumed in one or more of the temperature control elements during at least part of a period from when operation of the oscillation source initiates to when the oscillation source reaches a specified temperature. |
| US09941887B2 |
Multiplexer-memory cell circuit, layout thereof and method of manufacturing same
An integrated circuit includes a field programmable gate array including: (i) a plurality of memory cells (e.g., static memory cells) to store data, wherein each memory cell includes a first output, (ii) a multiplexer including inputs, an output and input selects, (iii) a plurality of poly-silicon conductors, each poly-silicon conductor is disposed in the substrate and connected to the first output of an associated memory cell, (iv) poly-silicon extensions, each poly-silicon extension is (a) connected to an associated poly-silicon conductor and (b) coupled to an associated input select of the multiplexer, wherein the poly-silicon extensions are disposed in the substrate and at least partially under a metal conductor, disposed above the substrate, in the field programmable gate array. |
| US09941885B2 |
Low power general purpose input/output level shifting driver
Disclosed herein is an low power output stage coupled between a supply node and a ground node, configured to drive an output, and controlled by first, second, and third control nodes. A current sinking circuit controlled by an input signal and configured to sink current from the first and second control nodes when the input signal transitions to a first logic level, thereby resulting in decoupling of the output stage from the ground node and sourcing of current to the output by the output stage. When the input signal transitions to a second logic level different than the first logic level, the current sinking circuit sinks current from a third control node, thereby resulting in decoupling of the output stage from the supply node and sinking of current from the output by the output stage. |