| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09968355B2 |
Surgical instruments with articulatable end effectors and improved firing beam support arrangements
A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector that is coupled to a shaft assembly by an articulation joint. A flexible firing beam extends through the articulation joint to interface with a firing member in the surgical end effector to apply a firing motion thereto. In at least one form, a pair of firing beam support members flank the flexible firing beam across the articulation joint. The firing beam support members are movably coupled together to prevent lateral movement away from each other in directions transverse to a shaft axis that is defined by the shaft assembly while permitting the firing beam support members to move axially relative to each other. |
| US09968353B2 |
Catheter based fastener implantation apparatus and methods
Apparatus and methods utilize an intraluminal fastener applier having a guide body with a longitudinal axis. The guide body is sized and configured for intraluminal deployment in a hollow body organ. An actuated assembly is carried by the guide body that is selectively operable to generate an implantation force to implant at least one fastener into tissue within the hollow body organ. The actuated assembly includes a driven member extending generally along the longitudinal axis, which is sized and configured to engage a selected fastener. The actuated assembly also includes a drive member coupled to the driven member to impart the implantation force to the driven element in a direction that is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide body. |
| US09968347B2 |
Retractor
A retractor device for spearing the body tissue apart is provided. The retractor includes a housing configured to include a plurality of sections, wherein each section is configured to accommodate placement of at least one blade, a blade holding mechanism configured to secure the at least one blade within the housing, a translation mechanism configured to provide translation movement of at least one of the sections, and a rotation mechanism configured to provide rotation movement of at least one blade. |
| US09968345B2 |
Vascular hole closure device
A device for closing an aperture in a vessel wall comprising an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and positionable inside the vessel against the internal opening of the aperture. The elongated member has a dimension to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture. A material forms two curved legs having ends positionable external of the vessel. The legs curve in different directions and a retention portion is formed in the material to retain the legs during placement of the elongated member inside the vessel. |
| US09968344B2 |
Surgical instrument with adapter for facilitating multi-direction end effector articulation
A surgical instrument includes a selectively rotatable housing, an adaptor, and a shaft including an end effector. The adaptor is coupled to the housing and is selectively movable between a first position and a second position. The shaft is coupled to one or both of the housing and the adaptor. The end effector is articulable in response to the selective rotation of the housing. The end effector is articulable toward a first direction when the adaptor is positioned in the first position and articulable toward a second direction when the adaptor is positioned in the second position. The first and second directions are different. |
| US09968339B2 |
Biopsy device with rotatable tissue sample holder
A biopsy device comprises a probe body, a cannula extending distally from the probe body, a cutter moveable relative to the cannula to sever tissue, and a tissue sample holder coupled with the probe body. The tissue sample holder comprises a rotatable member having a plurality of recesses to receive tissue samples. The rotatable member can be operable to successively index each recess relative to a lumen defined by the cutter. A cover portion may be associated with the rotatable member and permits one or more recesses to be viewable through the cover. The recesses may be configured to carry one or more tissue samples as the rotatable member is rotated. |
| US09968332B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic probe, diagnostic device, and electronic instrument
An ultrasonic transducer includes “m” first ultrasonic elements including first diaphragms, and “n” second ultrasonic elements including second diaphragms. “m” represents a number of the first ultrasonic elements and is an integer of 1 or more. Each of the first diaphragms has a first area. “n” second ultrasonic elements includes second diaphragms. Each of the “n” second diaphragms has a second area being smaller than the first area. “n” represents a number of the second ultrasonic elements and is an integer larger than “m”. The “m” first ultrasonic elements are electrically connected in series in a case where “m” is an integer of 2 or more. The “n” second ultrasonic elements are electrically connected in series. B/A is within a range of 0.9 to 1.1, when a total sum of the first areas is “A” and a total sum of the second areas is “B”. |
| US09968329B2 |
Remote control of medical device using audio data
A processing device detects a medical device and sends an audio wake-up signal to the medical device, wherein the audio wake-up signal causes the medical device to transition from a low power state to a higher power state. The processing device receives a diagnostic audio signal from the medical device after sending the audio wake-up signal. The processing device processes the diagnostic audio signal to determine medical information of a patient, the medical information comprising at least one of heart beat information or breathing information of the patient. The processing device performs at least one of storing the medical information or transmitting the medical information to a remote computing device. |
| US09968325B2 |
Radiographing apparatus, radiographing method, and program
A radiographing apparatus includes a correction data acquiring unit configured to acquire, by image data obtained by photography in a predetermined photographing mode, offset correction data corresponding to the photographing mode, and a correction data update unit configured to update the offset correction data corresponding to the photographing mode by using a predetermined number of pieces of the image data, wherein the correction data update unit further is configured to adjust the number of pieces of the image data according to the photographing mode. |
| US09968323B2 |
X-ray computed tomography apparatus
An X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to an embodiment includes an X-ray detector, a data-acquisition module and a reconstruction module. In the X-ray detector, a plurality of X-ray detection elements are arranged in a channel direction and a column direction. The data-acquisition module includes a plurality of data-acquisition circuits and a plurality of output modules. A plurality of systems of at least the data-acquisition circuits among the X-ray detection elements and the data-acquisition circuits are disposed in parallel per element of the X-ray detection elements in a center vicinity. Each of the output modules outputs digital data obtained via the data-acquisition circuits. The reconstruction module reconstructs a medical image, based on the output digital data. |
| US09968320B2 |
X-ray diagnostic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray tube that generates X-rays, an X-ray detector that detects X-rays generated from the X-ray tube and transmitted through an object, a supporting mechanism supports the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector in directions to face each other, a display displays an X-ray image concerning the object based on an output from the X-ray detector, position specifying circuitry specifies a position of the face of a user who is visually recognizing the display, and moving circuitry moves the supporting mechanism to an imaging position corresponding to the specified position of the face of the user. |
| US09968319B2 |
Generating an at least three-dimensional display data set
A method for generating an at least three-dimensional display data set of a time parameter relating to the chronological spreading of a contrast medium introduced into a vessel system is provided. A series of chronologically successive x-ray images of digital subtraction angiography from at least two different projection directions showing the chronological spreading of the contrast medium is used. The method includes determining a three-dimensional position for at least one correspondence point and/or correspondence region defined, in each case, in at least one x-ray image of a projection direction. For each three-dimensional position, a time parameter assigned to the three-dimensional position is determined by evaluation of time-intensity curves assigned to the correspondence points or correspondence regions over the series. The display data set formed from the three-dimensional positions is displayed with the assigned time parameters. |
| US09968316B2 |
High-frequency anti-scatter grid movement profile for line cancellation
A process for deploying an anti-scattering grid in a mammograph is provided. The mammograph comprises a radiation source configured to emit radiation for taking mammographic images of a patient, a radiation detector comprising a network of sensors arranged periodically with a first pitch, and an anti-scattering grid arranged between the source and the detector, the anti-scattering grid comprising radiation adsorbing strips arranged parallel to each other and distributed periodically with a second pitch. The process comprises: displacing the anti-scattering grid relative to the detector or displacing the detector relative to the anti-scattering grid during emission of radiation; adapting the second pitch to the first pitch, wherein displacement is perpendicular to the direction of the strips of the anti-scattering grid, the strips being arranged parallel to a side of the anti-scattering grid positioned against the patient, and altering the positions of the return points between successive periods of the displacement motion. |
| US09968306B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for providing adverse condition notification with enhanced wireless communication range in analyte monitoring systems
Methods, devices, systems, and kits are provided that buffer the time spaced glucose signals in a memory, and when a request for real time glucose level information is detected, transmit the buffered glucose signals and real time monitored glucose level information to a remotely located device, process a subset of the received glucose signals to identify a predetermined number of consecutive glucose data points indicating an adverse condition such as an impending hypoglycemic condition, confirm the adverse condition based on comparison of the predetermined number of consecutive glucose data points to a stored glucose data profile associated with the adverse condition, where confirming the adverse condition includes generating a notification signal when the impending hypoglycemic condition is confirmed, and activate a radio frequency (RF) communication module to wirelessly transmit the generated notification signal to the remotely located device only when the notification signal is generated. |
| US09968305B1 |
System and method of generating music from electrical activity data
The Plant Choir™ system comprises a software program and hardware that measures electrical activity of a person, plant, or animal and translates those readings into music on a computing device. The system gathers electrical activity data using electrodermal activity (EDA) measurement devices. The EDA readings of the individual subjects are translated via the software into musical melodies in real time. The individual subject melodies are combined to create interesting harmonies similar to a choir. The music is rendered using a MIDI (Musical Instrument Data Interface) programming interface of the computer operating system. The software allows the user to select program options, set music and program parameters. Variations in the EDA signal are interpreted as music. Each subject connected to the system is assigned a musical voice and the voices are combined to create multi part harmonies similar to a choir. |
| US09968304B2 |
Detecting a vasoactive agent in the bloodstream
A system and method are disclosed for detecting a vasoactive agent in patient's bloodstream. In one embodiment, an input signal is received that is associated with arterial blood pressure. A change of an arterial blood pressure parameter over time is determined. A vasoactive agent is then automatically detected using the determined change. In another embodiment, a waveform associated with an arterial blood pressure signal can be received. A parameter associated with the received waveform is calculate. Then the calculated parameter can be used to determine the presence of a vasoactive agent. In yet another embodiment, detection of a vasoactive agent in any of the other embodiments can be used in a calculation of a hemodynamic parameter, such as cardiac output, stroke volume, systemic vascular resistance, stroke volume variation, cardiac index, stroke volume index, systemic vascular resistance index, vascular compliance, and vascular tone. |
| US09968298B2 |
Method and device for folding a cover on a medical sensor
A method and a device for folding a cover material on a medical sensor having a carrier material which is to be fixed to the skin of a patient and which, on the side facing the patient, is provided with an adhesion or adhesive layer to which the cover material is applied, wherein a section of the cover material which is opposite an adhesion-layer-free section of the carrier material forms a tab. The method and the device are based on the use of a tool for folding the cover material which has at least two contact surfaces which intersect at an edge which runs parallel to the plane of the combination of carrier material and cover material. The tool is moved on an axis which runs at an angle to the plane of the combination of carrier material and cover material in such a way that the tab is gripped by the tool and folded over by the tool. After the tab has been folded over, pressure is applied to the folded-over section of the carrier material to produce a folded edge. |
| US09968292B2 |
Therapeutic angiogenesis for treating erectile conditions
Disclosed are devices, methods and surgical procedures for detecting, imaging, analyzing, diagnosing and/or treating vascular disorders and related conditions of the human and mammalian body in males and/or females. In particular embodiments, treatments include methods for imaging, analyzing and improving erectile dysfunction and related conditions and potentially increasing angiogenesis in response to specifically diagnosed conditions. |
| US09968289B2 |
System and method for detecting a sepsis condition
A biosensor includes an optical sensor circuit that emits light directed at skin tissue of a patient at a plurality of wavelengths. A first and second spectral response of light reflected from the tissue is obtained around a first wavelength in a UV range and a second wavelength in an IR range. A measurement of nitric oxide (NO) is then determined from the spectral responses. A risk of septic condition is obtained using the measurement of NO. |
| US09968288B2 |
Systems and methods for predicting seizures
The present invention provides for a computer system including at least one server having software stored on a non-transient computer readable medium; where, upon execution of the software, the at least one server is at least configured to: i) receiving physiological data representative of a first physiological measurement of at least one physiological characteristic of an epileptic user; ii) receiving physiological data representative of a second physiological measurement of at least one physiological characteristic of the epileptic user; iii) comparing the first physiological measurement of the epileptic user to the second physiological measurement of the epileptic user; iv) based on the comparing, determining that a difference between the first physiological measurement of the epileptic user and the second physiological measurement is: a) higher than a predetermined threshold value, or b) smaller than the predetermined threshold value; and v) generating at least one alert; vi) transmitting the at least one alert. |
| US09968282B2 |
Medical device or system for measuring hemoglobin levels during accidents using a camera-projector system
A medical system (10) and method measures hemoglobin level of a subject (38). A hemoglobin color scale (HbCS) (22) is projected into afield of view (FOV) (42) of an imaging system (12). The HbCS (22) includes a plurality of blood color regions (26a-f), each blood color region (26a-f) corresponding to a hemoglobin level and colored to represent the color of blood at the corresponding hemoglobin level. An image of blood of the subject (38), and the projected HbCS, is acquired using the imaging system (12). |
| US09968279B2 |
MRI transfer table assembly
The present disclosure relates to a transfer table assembly suitable for use in association with an MR scanner. The transfer table assembly includes a transfer table attached to a transfer table base that may releasably engage an incubator. The transfer table may be dimensionally constructed such that it may be inserted directly into an MR scanner. |
| US09968276B2 |
System and method for imaging of the vascular components with temporal information and suppressed blood pools using magnetic resonance imaging
A system and method is provided that includes a) monitoring a cardiac cycle of the subject to identify a predetermined point and, b) upon identifying the predetermined point, performing the steps of i) performing at least one of a desired number of magnetization suppressing preparations to suppress signal from blood flow through at least the region of interest, ii) acquiring a first set of imaging data from the region of interest, and iii) repeating step i) and step ii) to acquire at least a second set of imaging data from the region of interest. The method further includes c) repeating step b) a predetermined number of times over a series of cardiac cycles to acquire respective sets of medical imaging data of the region of interest and d) reconstructing first set of imaging data and the second set of imaging data into a time-resolved series of images. |
| US09968274B2 |
Systems and methods for processing ECG data
A computer-implemented method for processing ECG data may include: receiving ECG data representing a plurality of heartbeats; analyzing the ECG data to determine whether each of the plurality of heartbeats is a normal heartbeat or an abnormal heartbeat; associating each of the abnormal heartbeats with an existing template or a new template; receiving input related to each new template, wherein the input includes either: a) a confirmation that the new template represents an abnormal heartbeat, or b) a reclassification of the new template as representing a normal heartbeat or a different abnormal heartbeat; and in response to the user input, updating a label of each of the heartbeats associated with each confirmed new template and each of the heartbeats associated with each reclassified new template. |
| US09968269B1 |
Wireless disposable angioplasty transducer manifold
A wireless disposable angioplasty transducer manifold is disclosed. The wireless disposable angioplasty transducer manifold includes am elongated manifold frame and a hollow elongated tubular manifold disposed within the frame. The hollow elongated tubular manifold has an inlet end for receiving fluid directly from a patient, an outlet end for returning the fluid to the patient, and a passageway extending between the inlet and outlet ends. The transducer manifold also includes at least one valve port and at least one sensing port provided on the tubular manifold, the sensing port having a pressure sensing transducer within a housing formed in the sensing port. A Radio Frequency (RF) or Infra-red (IR) transmitter and battery electrically coupled to the pressure sensing transducer allow for pressure signals to be transmitted wirelessly to remotely located monitoring equipment. |
| US09968268B2 |
Device and method for the geometric determination of electrical dipole densities on the cardiac wall
Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for determining the dipole densities on heart walls. In particular, a triangularization of the heart wall is performed in which the dipole density of each of multiple regions correlate to the potential measured at various located within the associated chamber of the heart. To create a database of dipole densities, mapping information recorded by multiple electrodes located on one or more catheters and anatomical information is used. In addition, skin electrodes may be implemented. Additionally, one or more ultrasound elements are provided, such as on a clamp assembly or integral to a mapping electrode, to produce real time images of device components and surrounding structures. |
| US09968262B2 |
Optical speculum
A system for direct imaging and diagnosing of abnormal cells in a target tissue includes a disposable optical speculum and an image acquisition system having the speculum assembled on and mechanically secured thereto. The image acquisition system is arranged to capture at least one of a single image or multiple images or video of cells within the target tissue using at least one of bright field or dark field ring illumination divided into independently operated segments to obtain a plurality of data sets. An image analysis and control unit in communication with the image acquisition system analyzes the data sets and applies algorithms to the data sets for diagnosing abnormal cells. |
| US09968260B2 |
Guidewire with internal pressure sensor
The present document describes a pressure guidewire comprising: a shaft tube with a proximal section; a middle section extending from the proximal section of the shaft tube, the middle section having greater flexibility than the proximal section; an inner hypotube installed substantially within the middle section for optimal mechanical properties; a pressure sensor with a communication means routed through the middle section and the proximal section; and a sensor housing for receiving the pressure sensor. There are also described methods for joining the inner hypotube to the shaft tube. |
| US09968257B1 |
Volumetric quantification of cardiovascular structures from medical imaging
A computing system accesses complementary image data of a biological tissue structure (BTS), which can include a human cardiovascular structure. The complementary image data is comprised of two-dimensional images which represent different views of the BTS respectively aligned with a plurality of distinct image planes. A plurality of separate convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are used to respectively process each of the plurality of two-dimensional images. Each CNN determines a probability map which is then adaptively fused into a single segmented output. A contouring operation is automatically performed to calculate at least one clinical measurement and/or create at least one 3D volume. |
| US09968250B2 |
Autofluorescence imaging of macular pigment: image quality criteria and corrections
A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for diagnosing a condition of an eye such as macular degeneration and/or cataracts. The system may include an optical system, which may project light at an eye and record lipofuscin fluorescence from a retina of the eye to form an image of the retina. A computing device may process the image to apply one or more image acceptance criteria and/or one or more image clarity criteria. If the image fails to meet the one or more image acceptance criteria, the image may be re-taken. Based on the level of conformance of the image to the one or more image clarity criteria, the system may indicate that the macular pigment level cannot be provided with confidence, indicate that the eye likely has one or more cataracts, and/or calculate and provide the macular pigment content based on a correction factor, if needed. |
| US09968247B2 |
Cleaning device for an endoscopic device
A cleaning device for use with an endoscope. The device includes an elongated and flexible base and a set of discs axially spaced along the base. Each disc is positioned along the base at a center point of the disc. The size and spacing of the discs may vary within the set of discs. |
| US09968245B2 |
Apparatus and method for obtaining and providing imaging information associated with at least one portion of a sample, and effecting such portion(s)
Exemplary apparatus and process can be provided for imaging information associated with at least one portion of a sample. For example, (i) first different wavelengths of at least one first electro-magnetic radiation can be provided within a first wavelength range provided on the portion of the sample so as to determine at least one first transverse location of the portion, and (ii) second different wavelengths of at least one second electro-magnetic radiation within a second wavelength range can be provided on the portion so as to determine at least one second transverse location of the portion. The first and second ranges can east partially overlap on the portion. Further, a relative phase between at least one third electro-magnetic radiation electro-magnetic radiation being returned from the sample and at least one fourth electro-magnetic radiation returned from a reference can be obtained to determine a relative depth location of the portion. |
| US09968242B2 |
Suction control unit for an endoscope having two working channels
A suction control unit placed on an endoscope to control application of suction through at least one of two working channels of the endoscope. The suction unit has first and second valves with first and second valve openings, at a proximal end, that lead through to a distal end, which is adapted to be placed on the first and second ports of the two working channels. The suction unit has a channel extending between the first and second valves, an opening extending from a front wall to a rear wall of the housing and through the channel, and a switcher having a handle and a shaft with a through hole. When the shaft is placed within the opening and in a first position, suction is applied to both the working channels. When the shaft is placed within the opening and in a second position, suction is applied to only one of the two working channels. |
| US09968233B2 |
Automatically driven cleaning device
A device for cleaning or processing a surface, wherein the device has a light source for illuminating the surface with light and an optical detection device for detecting the light reflected by the surface. In addition, the invention relates to a method for operating a device according to the invention. To create a device for cleaning or processing a surface and a method of the type in question, which differentiates various surfaces with a better resolution than that in the prior art, it is proposed that the optical detection device has at least one filter element and at least one sensor element, which are arranged and designed to detect the light reflected from the surface with respect to at least four different spectral ranges. |
| US09968227B2 |
Liquid dispensing system
A liquid-dispensing system is disclosed. The system includes a container associated with a base, the container and base can be mounted within an enclosure (e.g., a cabinet) or on a ground surface, the container has an inlet and an outlet and is movable relative to the base from a first position to a second, different position to present the inlet for refilling of the container with a liquid. The container can also be fluidly connected with a dispenser through its outlet so that liquid can be dispensed to a user. Methods of refilling the container are also disclosed. |
| US09968224B1 |
Culinary cutting guide
A classic knife cut culinary guide for providing both visual and actual measurement comparison of classic knife cuts to standard size classic knife cuts provided as cutouts around the periphery and through the guide, as well as limited measurement indications in both English and metric units. |
| US09968222B2 |
Fluid communication of a blender system
A blender is adapted to process and heat food products. The blender includes a base and a container coupled with the base. Disposed in the container is a work area and a processor component adapted to process food products. Disposed within the processor component is a fluid conduit through which steam may pass. The fluid conduit includes at least one outer wall and an interior lumen. The outer wall of the fluid conduit is separated from an inner wall of the processor component by a gap. The gap is in fluid communication with the work chamber. Disposed in the base is a reservoir (adapted to hold one or more fluids, e.g., water), which is in fluid communication with the interior lumen of the fluid conduit of the container. Steam formed in the reservoir passes from the reservoir into the work chamber by way of the interior lumen and the gap. |
| US09968219B2 |
Coffee maker
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved water fill capabilities, improved coffee baskets, and improved steam diverting and management features for coffee makers used on board passenger transport vehicles. |
| US09968218B2 |
Coffee brewer apparatuses and methods for brewing beverages
A brewer for brewing beverages in a brew basket, such as loose coffee or tea, is provided, where the flow of water to the brew basket alternates between water brewing phases and steam brewing phases during a single brew cycle, resulting in comparatively higher temperatures of water in the brew basket than conventional brewers. The frequency and duration of the water brewing phases and steam brewing phases during a brew cycle can be electronically controlled according to one or more predetermined programs. A reinforcing band is also provided for the lighted brew basket interior to strengthen the brewer head bowl in this area, and a single cup insert is also provided. |
| US09968214B2 |
Carbon fiber heating element
This invention relates to a heating element that includes a carbon fiber tow having carbon threads enclosed between semi-rigid laminates, wherein each thread has an electrical resistance in the range of less than 0.25 to 0.50 ohm per centimeter, and wherein the threads are connected in electrical parallel and terminated into a copper braid, whereupon the application of a voltage generates heat for use in a wide range of appliances including a portable food warmer having a chafing pan and wherein the heating element is electrically connected to a power source controllable through one or more sensors for measuring the temperature of the chafing pan interior. |
| US09968213B2 |
Roman shade with translucent layer and opaque layer
A Roman shade includes a translucent layer and at least one opaque layer. The translucent layer is connected to the top box. Multiple rows of first magnets are positioned transversely on the translucent layer. A translucent area is formed between any two adjacent rows of the first magnets. The opaque layer includes multiple rows of second magnets positioned transversely thereon, and an opaque area is formed between two any adjacent rows of the second magnets. The at least one opaque layer is folded to attract the second magnets on the at least one opaque layer to the first magnets on the translucent layer to expose the translucent areas. |
| US09968212B1 |
Tension rod and room divider assembly
An improved tension rod having a first thin-wall metal tube, a plastic bushing inserted inside the first metal tube, a second thin-wall metal tube the second metal tube set partially inside the first metal tube, a helically-wound metal spring with an eyelet on one end and a two closed coils on the other end, the metal spring retained inside the first metal tube by a first diameter metal rivet and in the second metal tube by a second diameter metal rivet, the second metal tube having an end cap on the end opposite the first metal tube, a third metal tube being an extension tube connected to the first metal tube by an expansion clamp located between the first metal tube and the extension tube, the extension tube having an end cap located opposite the first metal tube. |
| US09968209B2 |
Aromatic identification for a food container
Olfactory identification of the contents of a bottle, in particular wine, or any food container, intended to facilitate the choice of the product by a novice consumer making a purchase is enabled. A support, such as an enclosure attached to a bottle and, inside, a substance aromatized with the aromas representative of the contents of the bottle, make it possible to assist with the selection. |
| US09968202B2 |
Pocketed spring comfort layer and method of making same
A comfort layer for a bedding or seating product has slow-acting pockets characterized by the individual springs of the comfort layer being pocketed with either semi-impermeable or impermeable fabric. Each seam joining opposed plies of fabric around each of the coil springs of the comfort layer may be segmented, allowing air to flow between the segments, thereby increasing the luxury “feel” of the comfort layer. The method of making the comfort layer includes compressing the springs and creating pockets with a welding horn and an anvil. |
| US09968201B2 |
Active mattress spinner
A device is disclosed for facilitating rotation of a mattress in a horizontal plane carried by a box spring or a platform. In order to facilitate rotation, slick surfaces between the mattress and the box spring or platform are selectively placed in contact in order to reduce the normal friction therebetween. The slick surfaces may be provided by two (2) separate covers; one cover for the mattress and one cover for the box spring or platform. A first cover is provided with a slick and non-slick surface. In order to further facilitate rotation, a second cover includes a slick surface on one side and forms part of a levitation device. The other side of the second cover may be formed with a slick or a non-slick surface. The levitation device creates an air cushion between the mattress and the box spring under the influence of an air supply which lifts the mattress and allows the mattress to be rotated in a horizontal plane virtually effortlessly. Once the mattress has been rotated to the desired position, the air supply is removed and the first cover is attached to the underside of the mattress so that its non-slick side is in contact with the box spring or platform or bed skirt and its slick side is in contact with the slick side of the other cover and the levitation device defining a normal mode of operation. In a rotate mode of operation, the first cover is attached to the box spring or platform so that its non-slick surface is in contact therewith. Alternatively, the first cover may be integrally incorporated into the box spring or a slick surface may be integrally formed on the platform that forms part of the platform bed. In this embodiment, in order to reduce movement of the mattress with respect to the box spring or platform, the mattress is secured relative to the box spring or platform by removable fasteners in a normal mode of operation. In yet another alternate embodiment of the invention, a portion of the levitation device may be built into the mattress. |
| US09968196B2 |
Kinematic mechanisms for furniture
Items of furniture that include a chassis, a kinematic mechanism mounted upon the chassis, and a base furniture part that is movably coupled to the kinematic mechanism, provided that the kinematic mechanism is configured to permit independent rotation around three distinct axes, and that the three distinct axes intersect one another at a central point. |
| US09968195B2 |
Adjustable seat and leaning apparatus
An adjustable seating solution that enables users to adjust several seating characteristics is disclosed. In a relatively low sitting position, the disclosed device provides some support if the user leans back, but predominately supports the user's weight and requires the user to engage core muscles to maintain good posture. The disclosed apparatus enables the user to adjust the seat upward to a leaning position. A platform extends forward under the user's feet to ensure that when the user leans against the seat, the apparatus remains stable. The apparatus enables the seat portion to be tilted, such that varying contours can be selected to engage the user's body in a desired way. At low heights, the user can tilt the seat portion forward to require the user to further engage core muscles while seated. At higher heights, the user can customize the contour of the seat that engages the user's body. |
| US09968194B2 |
Furniture glide with rigid arcing sidewall
A furniture glide is provided as a snap on cap that is mountable on the terminal end of a furniture leg having an outer surface. The furniture glide includes an interior volume having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a cavity for receiving the furniture leg. A sidewall of the cavity may be arced so as to precisely conform to a furniture leg. Matted material is molded into the outer surface of the cup. As a result, the furniture glide may fit snugly and securely without shearing off, though it may still be removable, and the furniture glide may avoid the requirement of adhesives, though adhesives could optionally be used. |
| US09968193B1 |
Slide rail assembly with switch
A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a first driving device, a second driving device and a switch. The second rail is movable relative to the first rail. The first driving device is configured to drive the second rail to open relative to the first rail when the second rail is pushed at a retracted position along a first direction. The second driving device is configured to drive the second rail to close relative to the first rail when the second rail is moved from an open position to a predetermined position. The switch is configured to enable the first driving device in a first state and disable the first driving device in a second state. |
| US09968192B2 |
Device for moving a movable furniture part, and item of furniture
A device for moving a movable furniture part, including a force accumulator such that by way of the fitted device the furniture part under action of the force accumulator is capable of being put in the opening direction of the furniture part, wherein in a tensioned position of the force accumulator the force accumulator is charged for the opening movement of the furniture part. The device has a locking assembly having a displaceable locking member for locking the tensioned position of the force accumulator, wherein the locking member in the tensioned position assumes a locking position which is unlockable. The locking member in the case of an unlocking procedure is movable from the locking position in a releasing direction, wherein a transmission installation by way of which a movement of the locking member is transmittable to a functional unit which is spaced apart from the locking member is provided. |
| US09968187B2 |
Modular furniture unit having power distribution
A modular furniture unit can be configured to provide power distribution in conjunction with other furniture features. Embodiments of furniture arrangements may utilize one or more modular furniture units to provide one or more of such features (e.g. storage, seating, privacy, work surface, lighting, etc.). In some embodiments, the modular furniture unit includes an elongated upper member having an upper slot that has a first end and a second end opposite its first end. At least one leg is attached to the first end and at least one leg is attached to the second end. The elongated upper member may have a channel through which power cabling passes and outlets that are connected to such cabling. Different elements can be connected to the upper member via the upper slot or a downward facing opening of the upper member and/or to the legs to provide different furniture arrangements. |
| US09968184B2 |
Knock down table
The invention relates to a knock down table suitable for food preparation that includes extension legs and terminal legs that are interconnected with a threaded connector and threaded receiving plugs in the connecting ends of the extension and terminal legs. One of the receiving plugs in each connection protrudes from the end of its legs and is configured to extend into the connecting leg and abut with the receiving plug in the other leg. |
| US09968182B2 |
Cleaning device with fluid dispenser
A cleaning device with fluid dispenser is a device that is used to clean a surface. The device includes an elongated hollow handle with an internal cavity for holding cleaning fluid. A cap is removably engaged to an open end of the elongated hollow handle while a one-way valve plate is positioned within the open end. A cleaning implement is slidably engaged through the cap and is positioned adjacent to an expandable slot of the one-way valve plate. The expandable slot is opened when the cleaning implement is pressed against the expandable slot, enabling cleaning fluid within the elongated hollow handle to exit through the expandable slot and into the cleaning implement. The cleaning implement includes a plurality of bristles that may be saturated by the cleaning fluid after the fluid exits the elongated hollow handle. |
| US09968175B2 |
Applicator for a liquid or viscous cosmetic and the associated packaging assembly thereof
An applicator for a liquid or viscous cosmetic and packaging assembly thereof. The applicator extends in a longitudinal extension direction (X) and comprises a distal end and a proximal end. The applicator comprises an end piece, at the proximal end, which can be attached to a rod of an applicator assembly, a spatula at the distal end, and a base which connects the end piece and the spatula. The end piece, the base, and the spatula being a single piece made of a polymer material. The spatula comprises at least two tongues, each having an end connected to a solid portion of the spatula and an opposite end, and at least two applicator tabs formed in the extension of each tongue in the region of the opposite end, each tab having a free end which forms the distal end of the applicator. |
| US09968173B2 |
Method for producing fingernail tips
An automated method for producing fingernail tips. Reinforcing fibers are provided as a strip and the strip is moved at a specific travel rate in the longitudinal direction of the strip. The strip is covered on one side and impregnated with the plastic, and then shaped in a shaping station, where is it bent into a curve that corresponds substantially to the shape of a natural fingernail or toenail. The strip maintains its shape after the plastic is cured and the covering is then removed. The fingernail tips are punched from the strip in a cutting station. The automated method allows the strip to be continuously or virtually continuously transported and then the fingernail tips to be automatically counted, sorted, and packaged. |
| US09968171B2 |
Multifunctional hair treatment device
A multifunctional hair treatment device. A handpiece in the shape of a glove has nozzles on fingers thereof. A device body draws in and heats ambient air, thereby creating hot wind. A blower tube connects the nozzles of the handpiece to the device body to supply hot wind created in the device body to the nozzles of the handpiece. A user can dry and style hair using the handpiece worn on his or her hand. |
| US09968165B1 |
Key fob protector
A key fob protector for use with an electronic key fob that prevents inadvertently unlocking a vehicle door by covering a plurality of control buttons on a key fob so that no buttons are activated when the key fob is stowed in a bag, purse or pocket. The key fob protector has a gap, exposing a panic button, so that the panic button can easily be activated in an emergency situation without opening the cover. The key fob protector is easily installed using a strap that wraps around the key fob securing the key fob protector in place when the strap is fastened. |
| US09968158B2 |
Shoe wear-out sensor, body-bar sensing system, unitless activity assessment and associated methods
A system assesses activity and displays a unitless activity value. A detector senses activity of a user. A processor reads sensed activity data from the detector. A display displays the unitless activity value. An enclosure houses the detector and the processor. The processor periodically reads the sensed activity data from the detector and processes the data to generate an activity number, the number being used to generate the unitless activity value based upon a maximum number and a display range. |
| US09968154B2 |
Protective equipment having frangible energy absorbing elements
A protective helmet having a protective shell with an interior surface and an exterior surface. A padding layer is affixed to the interior surface. The padding layer comprises a compliant material and a frangible material, such as glass foam. At least the frangible material is enclosed in a container. A detection circuit detects compromise of the frangible material, and outputs an indicator in the event the compromise is detected. The detection circuit may include a frangible wire configured to break in the event the frangible material is compromised. The indicator may include an LED, and/or radio-frequency signals. The radio-frequency signal may include an identifier for the helmet. The padding layer may include a plurality of pads each containing compliant material and frangible material. The plurality of pads may include one or more fasteners for releaseably affixing the pads to the interior surface of the protective shell. |
| US09968151B1 |
Transport hood having perforations
A transport hood protects conveying personnel from exposure to blood and body fluids of a detainee and avoids discomfort and breathing difficulty to the detainee if the blood and body fluids accumulate and are retained within the transport hood. The transport hood includes a top portion made of an open mesh material that is positioned over the head of the detainee to below the eyes of the detainee. A bottom portion made of a breathable material impervious to the blood and body fluids of the detainee is joined to the top portion below the eyes of the detainee and extends downwardly to below the chin of the detainee. The bottom portion has a plurality of perforations formed through the breathable material that allow the blood and body fluids issued by the detainee to drain from the bottom portion of the transport hood under the influence of gravity. |
| US09968147B1 |
Garment having an improved pocket construction
A garment having an improved pocket construction. The garment includes a garment body and at least one partial bag pocket attached to the garment body. The garment may also include a finished edge along the lower portion of the at least one partial bag pocket for providing reinforcement. Finally, the garment may also include a closure. |
| US09968142B2 |
Nursing bracelet
A nursing bracelet includes an adjustable elongate flexible band with a first fastener on a first side near a first end and a complementary second fastener on a second side opposite the first side at a second end. The nursing bracelet may be formed into a closed loop to hold a garment away from a woman's breast during breastfeeding or while using a breast pump to collect breast milk. The nursing bracelet may be worn on a wrist to remind a woman which breast was last used for breastfeeding a child or for collecting breastmilk, or alternately as a reminder about which breast is to be used for the next breastfeeding or breastmilk collection. |
| US09968139B2 |
Hidden control waistband garment
A lower body garment with shaping benefits is provided. The lower body garment may comprise an outer garment and a control panel inside the outer garment, such that the control panel is not visible from the outside of the outer garment. The control panel may have a rectangular shape and line a full circumference of an interior waist of the outer garment. Further, the control panel may be anchored to the outer garment at a top edge seam of the outer garment. In certain aspects, the lower body garment may be a legging, pant or skirt. |
| US09968136B1 |
Heater element for a vaporization device
A heater element for a vaporizing device, a vaporizing device containing the heater element, and a method for vaporizing fluid ejected by an ejection head. The heater element includes a conductive material having a concave area. The concave area of the heater element captures and vaporizes fluid ejected from an ejection head in the vaporization device. The concave area of the heating element has a cavity volume that is at least sufficient to retain an entire volume of liquid to be vaporized. |
| US09968135B2 |
Electronic cigarette with oil observation strip
An electronic cigarette comprises an electronic cigarette body; the electronic cigarette body is provided with a smoking end (1), an oil storage assembly (4) for containing cigarette oil, an atomization assembly (3) for atomizing the cigarette oil and a battery component (2) for powering the atomization assembly (3); the oil storage assembly (4) is arranged on one end of the electronic cigarette body which is in an opposite side of the smoking end (1), since a smoke passage does not pass through the oil storage assembly (4), a user can be effectively prevented from sucking a non-atomized cigarette oil; and meanwhile, through an arrangement of a protective sleeve (5) for containing the oil storage assembly (4) on the electronic cigarette, a vibration-resistance of the oil storage assembly (4) can be enhanced, so that a risk that the oil storage bottle is easily broken is avoided. |
| US09968133B2 |
Atomizer and electronic cigarette having same
An exemplary atomizer includes an atomizing sleeve, a liquid chamber, a liquid stopper, a liquid filling opening, and an atomizing assembly. The liquid chamber is defined in the atomizing sleeve, and configured for storing tobacco liquid. The atomizing assembly is received in the liquid stopper, and capable of moving along an axial direction of the liquid stopper between a first position and a second position relative to the liquid stopper. When the atomizing assembly is in the first position, the liquid filling opening communicates with the liquid chamber, so that the tobacco liquid in the liquid chamber can flow to the atomizing assembly via the liquid filling opening. When the atomizing assembly is in the second position, the liquid filling opening is closed, so that no tobacco liquid in the liquid chamber can flow to the atomizing assembly via the liquid filling opening. |
| US09968126B2 |
Cigarette manufacturing machines and methods
In one aspect, an apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes includes a housing, a mandrel extending from the housing, and a movable member operably coupled to the housing and adapted to carry a first cigarette tube. The movable member is movable, relative to each of the housing and the mandrel, in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction. In another aspect, a method of manufacturing cigarettes includes loading a first cigarette tube on a mandrel, holding the first cigarette tube on the mandrel, and inserting a push rod and a carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves into the first cigarette tube, the carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves having a generally cylindrical shape. An offset distance is defined between the first cigarette tube and the mandrel after the push rod and the carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves are inserted into the first cigarette tube. |
| US09968125B2 |
Nicotine—diketopiperazine microparticle formulations and methods of making the same
This invention relates to nicotine microparticles formulations made with the help of a diketopiperazine compound, in particular fumaryl diketopiperazine (FDKP). The invention relates to the various types of microparticles that can be made, in particular nicotine-coated and nicotine-loaded microparticles. The invention further relates to the various methods that can be used in making the microparticles. One particular method involves making FDKP microparticles which are further surface-coated with nicotine. Another particular method involves mixing nicotine with FDKP2− and/or FDKP and then forming microparticles which contain nicotine throughout their volume. The invention also relates to the use of this microparticles in tobacco related therapies, such as tobacco replacement or tobacco withdrawal. |
| US09968124B2 |
Freeze-dried, aerated fruit or vegetable compositions and methods of making thereof
The present invention comprises a freeze-dried, aerated fruit or vegetable composition comprising a fruit or vegetable ingredient and an emulsifier and methods of making thereof. |
| US09968122B1 |
Aseptic method of preparing coconut water to improve flavor profiles and retain organoleptic properties of the coconut water
An aseptic method of preparing coconut water to improve flavor profiles and retain organoleptic properties of the coconut water is provided, as well as the coconut water obtained through this process. |
| US09968121B1 |
Safflower oil emulsion as dietary supplement and preparation thereof
Novel safflower oil emulsion and method of preparation. The safflower oil is 100% all natural, non-genetically modified organism (GMO), expeller pressed, solvent free, linoleic fatty acid rich oil wherein the linoleic fatty acid content is in a range from approximately 70% to approximately 80% of the total safflower oil that is mixed with a purified water and a mixture of at least one of an emulsifier, a flavoring, a natural sweetener, a natural coloring agent, and a gum. The mixture is blended to provide a stable emulsion that has the rich taste of a nutritious fruit smoothie that increases metabolism to support a healthy weight management program. The resulting dietary supplement is bioavailable and easily absorbed by the consumer of the emulsified safflower oil dietary supplement. |
| US09968118B2 |
Protein gel formation
The invention is directed to a method of forming a gel, to a gel obtainable by said method, to a heat treated native potato protease inhibitor, to the use of said protease inhibitor, and to a foodstuff comprising said gel or said protease inhibitor. The method includes: providing a solution of native potato protease inhibitor isolate having an isoelectric point of more than 6.0 and a molecular weight of less than 35 kDa; subjecting the native potato protease inhibitor solution to a heat treatment to a temperature of 65-121° C. for at least 10 minutes, or an UHT treatment at temperatures above 121° C., at an ionic strength of less than 60 mM and a pH of less than 4.5 yielding a heat treated native potato protease inhibitor solution; and setting the ionic strength of the native potato protease inhibitor solution to more than 60 mM. |
| US09968117B2 |
Edible pet chew
An edible pet chew 114 has a first casing 10 of plant base material and a second protein 12 of flavored material for example jerky that is wrapped with the first sheet to form alternating layers in the edible pet chew. |
| US09968113B2 |
Machine for making ice cream
An ice cream machine for making ice cream, including a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream-type product; a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber; a cooling system, provided with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat therewith; a device for receiving and housing a capsule containing a basic preparation; a device for transferring the basic preparation from the capsule to the processing container; a device for injecting a dilution liquid, associated with the receiving and housing device or with the device for transferring the preparation or with the processing container; dispensing means, connected to the processing chamber for delivering the ice cream-type product to the outside. |
| US09968112B2 |
Instant beverage tablet for producing a layered beverage
An instant beverage tablet in the form of multilayer tablet for producing a layered beverage having one or more cream layer(s), coffee and/or cocoa layer(s) and optionally a foam upon reconstitution in a liquid comprising a dark component having sugar, coffee and/or cocoa particles for producing a dark layer; a white component having creamer and sugar for producing white layer; wherein the dark component has a density in the range of 0.5 to 0.7 g/cm3 and wherein the white component has a density in the range of 0.74 to 0.9 g/cm3 and wherein the dark component is compressed with a compaction pressure of at least 250 kPa and wherein the white component is compressed with a compaction pressure of at least 1250 kPa. |
| US09968111B2 |
Capsule and method for preparing a food liquid by centrifugation
A single-use capsule for preparing a food liquid from a food substance contained therein. The capsule has an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall connecting the upper and lower walls, wherein the walls form an enclosure that contains the food substance. The capsule also has a sealed interface connecting the upper and lower walls and a liquid collecting cavity located between the side wall and sealed interface. The sealed interface is configured to open under a predetermined fluid pressure in the capsule to allow the food liquid to leave the capsule. Also, a method for preparing a food liquid from the capsule by passing water through the food substance using centrifugal forces for producing the food liquid. |
| US09968109B2 |
Green tea extract composition
Provided is a green tea extract composition, comprising the following components (A), (B), (C), and (D): (A) non-polymer catechins; (B) a sugar; (C) iron; and (D) caffeine, the green tea extract composition having: a content of the non-polymer catechins (A) of from 25 to 45 mass %; a content of the sugar (B) of from 6 to 13 mass %; a mass ratio between the sugar (B) and the iron (C), [(C)/(B)], of from 0.000005 to 0.00016; a mass ratio between the sugar (B) and the caffeine (D), [(D)/(B)], of from 0.2 to 0.7; and a water content of 10 mass % or less. |
| US09968108B2 |
Milk-based alternative product and method for producing the same
The present invention concerns the production of a milk-based alternative product, using edible oil to substitute at least part of the milk fat. In particular, the present invention concerns the production of a cheese alternative product, an ice cream alternative product, a custard alternative product or a chilled or frozen dessert alternative product, using an edible oil to substitute at least part of the milk fat. Further, a milk based alternative product, in particular a cheese alternative product, an ice cream alternative product, a custard alternative product or a chilled or frozen dessert alternative product, and the use of an edible oil, in particular olive oil, for the production of the milk-based alternative product are disclosed. |
| US09968107B2 |
Methods of making cheese products including artificial eyes
Food products including artificial eyes or eye voids interspersed throughout the product are provided by forming a visco-elastic mass of the food product and combining pieces of solidified carbon dioxide with the visco-elastic mass. The solidified carbon dioxide sublimes throughout the visco-elastic mass and forms carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas expands and forms eye voids nearly instantaneously and the fully formed eye voids are provided in the food product in a matter of hours. In addition, gaseous carbon dioxide stored under pressure, such as through encapsulation or in a pressurized vessel, is combined with a visco-elastic mass and the released carbon dioxide gas expands and forms eye voids defined within the visco-elastic mass. |
| US09968106B2 |
Yogurt topping
Provided herein are whippable topping compositions comprising yogurt. The compositions comprise a blend of yogurt and a whip topping emulsion. The yogurt can be made with regular, low fat or fat free milk. The fat content of the whip topping emulsion can also be varied to provide topping compositions of various fat content having a smooth texture and desirable consistency. |
| US09968100B2 |
Natural antimicrobials and article comprising the same
There is provided a natural antimicrobial including a mixture of tree essential oils, soybean oil, and a residual hydrocarbon extract extracted from a rutaceae plant, wherein the mixture is supported in a supporter, and an article including the antimicrobial are provided. The antimicrobial is comprised of only natural materials, so it is harmless to human beings and environmentally friendly. Also, in the antimicrobial, tree essential oils is supported together with soybean carrier oil in a supporter, and thus, volatility of tree essential oils is controlled by the soybean oil, whereby the tree essential oils is naturally emitted to have an effective antibiosis for a long period of time. Thus, extra power, driving device (e.g., a fan), or the like, is not required to emit the tree essential oils. In addition, the antimicrobial is actively emitted in the air, having efficacy of continuously annihilate bacteria, virus, or the like. |
| US09968091B2 |
Selective herbicides based on substituted thien-3-yl-sulphonylamino(thio)carbonyltriazolin(thi)ones and safeners
The invention relates to selective herbicidal compositions that comprise an effective amount of an active compound combination comprising (a) one or more compounds of the formula (I) in which Q1, Q2, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the disclosure—and salts of the compounds of the formula (I)— and (b) at least one of the crop-plant-compatibility-improving compounds listed in the disclosure. The invention further relates to the use of these compositions for controlling undesirable vegetation and to a process for preparing the compositions according to the invention. |
| US09968089B2 |
Microbicidal composition
A synergistic microbicidal composition having two components. The first component is a nonionic surfactant with structure: R2O(CH2CH(CH3)O)3(CH2CH2O)7H, where R2 is a mixture of C8-C14 linear alkyl groups. The second component is tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane. The weight ratio of the nonionic surfactant to tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane is from 1:0.16 to 1:1.8286. |
| US09968087B2 |
Azoline compounds
The present invention relates to azoline compounds of formula I wherein A, B1, B2, B3, G1, G2, X1, R1, R3a, R3b, Rg1 and Rg2 are as defined in the claims and the description. The compounds are useful for combating or controlling invertebrate pests, in particular arthropod pests and nematodes. The invention also relates to a method for controlling invertebrate pests by using these compounds and to plant propagation material and to an agricultural and a veterinary composition comprising said compounds. |
| US09968081B2 |
Hunting decoy apparatus for luring wild game
A hunting decoy apparatus, wherein the decoy exhibits lifelike movements controlled mechanically by a user. The apparatus comprises an outer sleeve member and a movable slidable member slidably engaged within the outer sleeve member. The outer sleeve member attaches to the ground. The decoy stand is inserted into the movable sliding member and extends perpendicular from the outer sleeve member in an upward direction with a decoy on top. The distal ends of the slidable inner sleeve member and the outer sleeve member are connected by an extension limiting biasing element such as a spring or elastic cord. A tether is attachable to the proximal end of the movable slidable member. To activate movement of the decoy, the tether is pulled and released by the user causing the decoy and decoy stand to move within the slot forward and backwards. Small tugs on the tether by the user causes the decoy to move in lifelike movements creating the appearance the decoy is bobbing and pecking like a wild bird. |
| US09968079B2 |
Collapsible-adjustable rod holder
A collapsible-adjustable rod holder. The collapsible-adjustable rod holder primarily designed to support a rod for ice fishing. The rod holder comprised of a pair end sections in hinged communication with a middle section wherein the sections are articulated and movable in hinged fashion. The end sections include an indent, the indent sized for the cradling receipt of a fishing rod and rod handle. |
| US09968078B2 |
Smart fishing rod and system for detecting fishing related events
Described is an apparatus and system for detecting fishing related events and providing notifications to a fisher regarding those events. When a fishing related event, such as a fish on line event occurs, it results in a fishing rod flexing or moving in particular directions. The described implementations include sensors located on or in the fishing rod that provide position data that is utilized to monitor a movement of the fishing rod and determine a type of fishing related event that has occurred. |
| US09968074B2 |
Device for reorientation of an egg in a cellular tray
A device for reorientation of eggs deposited in the hollow open cells of a tray. The device is intended to reorientate at least one egg from said tray along a substantially vertical axis. The device includes at least one reorientation element capable of moving between a low position and a high position with respect to the cell containing the egg to be reorientated. The reorientation element includes a lower seat on which the upright rods are fixed, the upper ends of said rods being able to spread out with respect to each other on contact with the egg to be re-orientated, the upright rods being intended to interpose themselves between the cell and the egg, in the high position, so as to damp and guide a movement of the egg under the effect of its weight to a substantially vertical position. |
| US09968067B2 |
Lettuce variety 41-521 RZ
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 41-521 RZ, which exhibits a combination of traits including resistance against downy mildew (Bremia lactucae Regel) races Bl:1 to Bl:26, Bl:28, Bl:32, Ca-I to Ca-VIII, resistance against currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribignisi) biotype Nr:0, as well as intensely red leaves with a solid main vein, narrow base leaves and very slow bolting. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 41-521 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 41-521 RZ. |
| US09968066B2 |
Lettuce variety 79-36 RZ
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-36 RZ, which exhibits a combination of traits including resistance against downy mildew (Bremia lactucae Regel) races Bl:1 to Bl:32 and Ca-I to Ca-VIII, currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribignisi) biotype Nr:0 and Lettuce Mosaic Virus (LMV) race LMV:1, as well as very slow bolting and a small plant size. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-36 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-36 RZ. |
| US09968062B1 |
Soybean cultivar CL 1460479
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CL1460479 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CL1460479 and its seed, cells, germplasm, plant parts, and progeny, and methods of using CL1460479 in a breeding program. |
| US09968061B1 |
Soybean cultivar CL1460725
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CL1460725 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CL1460725 and its seed, cells, germplasm, plant parts, and progeny, and methods of using CL1460725 in a breeding program. |
| US09968060B1 |
Maize hybrid X13K543
A novel maize variety designated X13K543 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 X13K543 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13K543 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13K543, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13K543. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13K543. |
| US09968056B2 |
Soybean variety 01051641
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01051641. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01051641. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01051641 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01051641 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09968055B2 |
Soybean variety 01062064
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01062064. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01062064. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01062064 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01062064 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09968053B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH215805
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH215805. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH215805, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH215805 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 CH215805. |
| US09968051B2 |
Canola hybrid cultivar G2537376H
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola, designated G2537376H. Also included are seeds of canola G2537376H, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola G2537376H and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola G2537376H with itself or another canola genotype, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola G2537376H. |
| US09968043B2 |
Potato cultivar Y9
A potato cultivar designated Y9 is disclosed. The invention relates to the tubers of potato cultivar Y9, to the seeds of potato cultivar Y9, to the plants of potato cultivar Y9, to the plant parts of potato cultivar Y9, to food products produced from potato cultivar Y9, and to methods for producing a potato plant produced by crossing potato cultivar Y9 with itself or with another potato variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a potato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic potato plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to potato cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from potato variety Y9, to methods for producing other potato cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from potato cultivar Y9 and to the potato plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid potato tubers, seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing potato cultivar Y9 with another potato cultivar. |
| US09968029B2 |
Method for metering granular material and apparatus for metering granular material
In a method for metering granular material, and in a corresponding metering apparatus, the granular material is carried and conveyed by an airflow and/or by its own kinetic energy and directed through a feed tube into a metering unit, where it is guided along an approximately circular arc path and tangentially directed into an outlet tube, which is adjacent to the metering unit and which runs, at least in a section, slightly curved. The granular material is approximately evenly spaced or evenly metered and conveyed in an outer area of the curved outlet tube and is at least partially carried by the airflow being discharged and exiting the metering unit through the outlet tube. |
| US09968023B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting wheel spacing of an agricultural implement
A wheel adjustment system for an agricultural implement includes a controller having a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a first signal indicative of a ground speed of the agricultural implement, receive a second signal indicative of a desired position of a wheel of the agricultural implement, receive a third signal indicative of a current position of the wheel of the agricultural implement, and output a control signal to adjust a position of the wheel of the agricultural implement based on the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal, wherein a rate of adjustment of the position of the wheel varies based on the first signal. |
| US09974219B2 |
Tray feeder and component mounting apparatus
A tray feeder extracts one of trays where components are stored from corresponding one of magazines, and moves the extracted tray to a component feed position. The tray feeder includes a rack portion having a plurality of magazine holding portions disposed in a vertical direction, and a tray movement portion that extracts one of the trays from corresponding one of the magazines through a corresponding one of tray extraction ports. The magazine holding portions hold the magazines respectively which are inserted horizontally through magazine exits/entrances. Each of the magazine holding portions includes a block unit which blocks communication between the magazine exit/entrance and the tray extraction port of corresponding magazine holding portion when the magazine is removed from the corresponding magazine holding portion through the magazine exit/entrance. |
| US09974217B2 |
Jam prevention mechanism
A jam prevention mechanism includes a used tape guide with a guide surface along which a used tape fed out from a tape feeder is guided in a guide direction following a longitudinal direction of the used tape. A pressing member presses, against the guide surface, the used tape guided along the guide surface. A support member removably supports the pressing member. |
| US09974212B2 |
Electronic equipment
An electronic equipment includes a refrigerant tank that contains a refrigerant, an electronic component, a through card electrically coupled to the electronic component, and a pouch of which one end side is in a close contact with the through card so as to seal the electronic component, wherein the electronic component is immersed in the refrigerant of the refrigerant tank in a state of being sealed in the pouch. |
| US09974205B1 |
Cable management bracket with side clamps
An apparatus for securing cables in a computer rack is provided. The apparatus includes a bracket attachable to one of a computer chassis arranged in the computer rack or a vertical structural member of the computer rack, and including an outward-facing surface and a first connector feature arranged on the outward-facing surface. The apparatus also includes a cable clamp. The cable clamp includes a base having a first side and an opposing second side. The first side includes a surface configured to receive cables. The second side includes a second connector feature configured for mating engagement with the first connector feature such that the base is attached to the bracket when the first and second connector features are matingly engaged. The cable clamp also includes a pliable retention strap attached to the base and configured to be wrapped around the cables such that the cables are secured to the base. |
| US09974196B2 |
Electronic device
The present disclosure provides an electronic device including a casing, a terminal, a substrate, an electric connector, and a conductive adhesive. The terminal is fixed to the casing. The substrate is attached to the casing at a position where at least a portion of the substrate faces the terminal. The electric connector is fixed to a circuit wiring formed in the substrate at a position where the substrate faces the terminal. The electric connector protrudes toward the terminal from the circuit wiring. The conductive adhesive electrically and mechanically connects the terminal to the electric connector. |
| US09974195B2 |
Electrical junction box
An electrical junction box includes a circuit assembly including a circuit board and a conductive plate, a engaging component (terminal block), a frame including an installation portion to which the engaging component is installed. A first engaging portion (first bus bar) is formed on one end side of the circuit assembly, and a second engaging portion (second bus bar) is formed on another end side of the circuit assembly. The frame includes a first engaged portion (receiving portion) that is engaged with the first engaging portion and receives the one end side of the circuit assembly. The engaging component includes a second engaged portion (auxiliary receiving portion) that is engaged with the second engaging portion and receives the other end side of the circuit assembly. |
| US09974192B2 |
Method of manufacturing an intermediate product for an interposer and intermediate product for an interposer
A method of manufacturing an intermediate product for an interposer including a glass substrate having a plurality of through holes is provided. The method includes a step of forming a resin layer on a support substrate, and a step of forming a laminated body by adhering the glass substrate having the plurality of through holes on the resin layer. The glass substrate having the plurality of through holes has a thickness within a range of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. |
| US09974190B2 |
System and method of providing a semiconductor carrier and redistribution structure
In an embodiment, a method includes arranging a first carrier on a first major surface of a circuit board such that an electronic component arranged on the first carrier is positioned in an aperture in the circuit board and spaced apart from side walls of the aperture, and arranging a second carrier on a second major surface of the circuit board such that the second carrier covers the electronic component and the aperture, the second major surface of the circuit board opposing the first major surface of the circuit board. The electronic component includes a power semiconductor device embedded in a dielectric core layer and at least one contact pad arranged on a first major surface of the dielectric core layer. |
| US09974189B2 |
Method and system of producing a multilayer element and multilayer element
A method of producing a multilayer element with a substrate and at least one conductor structure connected in an areal manner to the substrate, which has first regions of electrically conductive material present in accordance with a prescribed pattern, electrically non-conductive second regions lying between the first regions to produce RFID antennas or flexible printed circuit boards in a roller-to-roller process, the method including connecting a conductor foil to the substrate by a laterally structured layer of adhesive lying in between such that in first regions a partial bonding contact between the substrate and the conductor foil is created at a multiplicity of bonding zones, and in laterally extended second regions the conductor foil is not connected or is connected less firmly by adhesive to the substrate; structuring the conductor foil by cutting the conductor foil along boundaries of the first regions; and removing contiguous pieces of foil of the conductor foil from laterally extended second regions. |
| US09974184B2 |
Printed board, electronic device, and method for manufacturing electronic device
A printed board includes: a depression formed in at least one surface of a board; an open hole formed in the board so as to penetrate the board from a bottom portion of the depression; and a conductor formed over an edge of an opening portion of the open hole and an inner surface of the open hole. |
| US09974180B2 |
Component protection structures for electronic devices
An electronic device may have a printed circuit to which electrical components are mounted. The electrical components may include a thermal sensor and a pressure sensor. A through hole in the printed circuit may receive the shaft of a standoff. The standoff may be soldered to plated metal on the sides of the through hole. A screw or other fastener may secure the printed circuit to a housing for the electronic device. A ring-shaped metal member may be soldered to the printed circuit. The ring-shaped metal member may form a bumper that surrounds the screw or other fastener and the thermal sensor. The pressure sensor may have a port through which ambient pressure measurements are made. A dust protection cover such as a fabric or other porous layer may cover the port. |
| US09974174B1 |
Package to board interconnect structure with built-in reference plane structure
Embodiments of an interconnect structure are provided, the interconnect structure including: a reference plane structure having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the reference plane structure including a plurality of through holes from the first major surface to the second major surface; a plurality of conductive columns, each conductive column centered within a through hole; and a plurality of isolation structures, each isolation structure fills an annular region within the through hole between each conductive column and surrounding portion of the reference plane structure. |
| US09974163B2 |
Miniature high density opto-electronic package
A method comprising coupling a circuit to an opto-electronic package via an anisotropic conductive film (ACF), wherein the opto-electronic package is configured to communicate electrical signals via the coupling at a maximum frequency of about 10 gigahertz (GHz) to about 40 GHz. An apparatus comprising, an opto-electronic package comprising a plurality of first electrodes, and a circuit comprising a plurality of second electrodes, wherein at least one of the first electrodes is coupled to at least one of the second electrodes via an ACF, and wherein the opto-electronic package is configured to communicate electrical signals via the coupling at a maximum frequency of about 10 GHz to about 40 GHz. |
| US09974158B2 |
Air-cavity package with two heat dissipation interfaces
The present disclosure relates to an air-cavity package, which includes a bottom substrate with a first heat dissipation interface, a top substrate with a second heat dissipation interface, a perimeter wall, a bottom electronic component, and a top electronic component. The perimeter wall extends between a periphery of the top substrate and a periphery of the bottom substrate to form a cavity. The bottom electronic component is mounted on the bottom substrate, exposed to the cavity, and thermally coupled to a bottom thermally conductive structure, which extends through the bottom substrate and towards the first heat dissipation interface. The top electronic component is mounted on the top substrate, exposed to the cavity, and thermally coupled to a top thermally conductive structure, which extends through the top substrate and towards the second heat dissipation interface. |
| US09974156B2 |
Circular accelerator, circular accelerator operation method, and particle-beam therapy device
A circular accelerator that accelerates charged particles orbiting along an orbital path to a predetermined energy to perform, by deviating the path from the orbital path to an extraction path, extraction of the charged particles exceeding a stable region formed by multipole electromagnets, includes a multipole electromagnet energization control unit setting energization of the multipole electromagnets so that part of the charged particles are deviated to a discarding path other than the extraction path to discard unwanted charged particles, and then setting energization of the multipole electromagnets so that the charged particles orbiting in the orbital path are deviated to the extraction path to perform extraction of the charged particles. |
| US09974153B2 |
Controlling filament current of computed tomography tube
A method for controlling filament current of a computed tomography (CT) tube includes: detecting a present tube current of the CT tube and assigning the present tube current to a feedback value, calculating a difference between a set value of the tube current and the feedback value and assigning the difference to an error value, assigning a target upper bound value to a present filament current when the error value is greater than an first error threshold, and assigning a target lower bound value to the present filament current when the error value is less than a second error threshold, wherein the target upper bound value is greater than the target lower bound value, the first error threshold is greater than 0, and the second error threshold is less than 0. |
| US09974147B1 |
Integrated LED driver for wireless communication
A light fixture is provided or retrofitted with wireless LED lighting system requiring no additional wireless devices. An LED driver housing has power output terminals and control input terminals for an LED driver disposed therein. An LED lighting device includes driver input terminals to receive the output power from the LED driver, and to which an LED array and a wireless communication module are coupled to receive power therefrom. The wireless communication module comprises a transceiver configured to send and receive wireless communication signals with respect to an external device, and a controller linked to the transceiver and configured to generate lighting output control signals. Dimming control signals received via the transceiver may be processed by the controller and transmitted to the driver without requiring additional hardware or wiring within or attached to the driver. The lighting device also can wirelessly receive occupancy sensor data or LED configuration information. |
| US09974146B2 |
Commissioning method of lighting control system using visual light communication
Provided is a lighting system that includes a plurality of luminaires, at least one controller in communication with the luminaires via a communication line in a network, and configured to control the luminaires, and a lighting control system including a smart device which wirelessly communicates with the at least one controller and the plurality of the luminaires, and performs a commissioning operation of the luminaires in the network using visual light communication (VLC). |
| US09974145B2 |
Occupancy sensor with built-in power pack to operate multiple sensors
A system and method provide fail-safe operation of a lighting system. A lighting level detector is used to obtain a baseline lighting level for a low-intensity light. If the detector measures less than the baseline level when an occupancy sensor determines the space is unoccupied, a high-intensity light is energized and an indication is provided to a user that the low-intensity light has failed. A method provides daylighting operation of a lighting system. An occupancy sensor can have Wi-Fi functionality to enable remote configuration of the sensor. A line voltage occupancy sensor can include an interface with low voltage devices. An occupancy sensor can include an integral interface to enable an external control system to override the sensor's normal logic under emergency conditions. An occupancy sensor can include an active temperature compensation feature. An occupancy sensor can also incorporate an automatically adjustable coverage area. |
| US09974137B2 |
Lighting device and light emitting device having red and green phosphor arranged therein
A light emitting device which can adjust color temperature as power is supplied from a single power source comprises an anode electrode land; a cathode electrode land; a first light emitting unit and a second light emitting unit; a low pass filter including a capacitance member which is provided in parallel with the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit; and a resistance member which is provided in series with the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit. A phosphor which is included in the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit includes a red phosphor which is excited by the primary light that is emitted from the LED element and emits light with a peak light emission wavelength into a red region, and a green phosphor which is excited by the primary light that is emitted from the LED element and emits light with a peak light emission wavelength into a green region. |
| US09974135B1 |
Optoelectronic device and adaptive illumination system using the same
An apparatus is disclosed that includes a segmented light-emitting diode (LED) chip having a plurality of LEDs that are separated by trenches formed on the segmented LED chip and arranged in a plurality of sections, each section including at least one first LED and at least one second LED; and a controller configured to: apply a forward bias to each of the first LEDs; apply a reverse bias to each of the second LEDs; and change a brightness of the first LEDs in any section based on a signal generated by the second LED in that section. |
| US09974133B2 |
Optoelectronic circuit comprising light-emitting diodes
An optoelectronic circuit intended to receive a variable voltage containing an alternation of rising and falling phases. The optoelectronic circuit includes assemblies of series-assembled light-emitting diodes, a node coupled to each assembly by a conduction circuit having its electric conductance varying according to a control signal and a control circuit coupled to each conduction circuit and capable of supplying each control signal based on the comparison of a first voltage at said node with at least a second voltage. The control circuit includes a difference amplifier and as many output stages as there are conduction circuits, the control circuit being capable of controlling the first voltage with the second voltage offset by a third voltage, different for each output stage. |
| US09974127B2 |
Lighting device and luminaire
A lighting device includes a rectifier circuit, a drive circuit and a current control circuit. Rectifier circuit rectifies an AC voltage into a pulsating voltage to be output. A load circuit including two or more solid light sources connected in series is connected between output terminals of rectifier circuit. The drive circuit changes a number of solid light sources emitting light, according to a change in a voltage value of the pulsating voltage, so that a period of the pulsating voltage includes: a first time period during which a part of the two or more solid light sources emits light; and a second time period during which all of the two or more solid light sources emit light. The current control circuit controls, in at least the second time period, a value of current flowing through load circuit according to an average voltage of the pulsating voltage. |
| US09974120B2 |
Cooktop, household appliance comprising a cooktop, method for assembling a cooktop and method for installing a cooktop
A cooktop includes a burner box, a heat shield pivotably attached to a bottom of the burner box, a lock for locking the heat shield in a transport position, wherein the heat shield is self-pivotable from the transport position to an operational position after unlocking the lock, and when in the operational position the heat shield is pivoted further from the bottom of the burner box than in the transport position. |
| US09974119B1 |
Portable incense burner
A self-contained incense burner shaped a hairdryer for safely holding, igniting and burning incense. The portable incense burner shaped a hairdryer is going to heat the incense with a certain temperature in order to help the user to direct the smoke flow in the exact direction of the nozzle using the fan thrust. The self-contained incense burner shaped a hairdryer has a small as pocket size and is portable without any wires to enhance the mobility of the users and the way of using incense. |
| US09974115B2 |
Method and device for policy-based routing
A mobile device performs a method for policy-based routing. The method includes creating a first set of marking rules based on routing policy data provisioned in the mobile device, wherein each marking rule indicates labeling for packets, wherein the labeling is used in selecting one of a plurality of active network interfaces in the mobile device to route the packets over a set of access networks available to the mobile device. The method further includes creating a first set of routing tables corresponding to the labeling indicated by the first set of marking rules, wherein each routing table directs the mobile device to a different one of the active network interfaces of the plurality of active network interfaces. |
| US09974114B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling release of simultaneous communication with multiple base stations and related communication device
A network node includes a communication interfacing unit and a processor. The processor operable to perform operations includes controlling the communication interfacing unit to establish at least one second RB with a secondary cell group (SCG) bearer type between the communication device and an auxiliary network node; and releasing one of the at least one second RB under a condition that, for a first time period, all of downlink data in at least one downlink buffer corresponding to the one of the at least one second RB is successfully transmitted or the at least one downlink buffer corresponding to the one of the at least one second RB is empty, and the auxiliary network node does not receive any request for an uplink grant allocation. |
| US09974108B2 |
Paired communication between an implanted medical device and an external control device
A method of identifying an external device that sent a message and then determining whether to process the message based in part on the identity of the external device that sent the message. The implanted device receives a message from the external device and identifies an external device ID in the received message. The external device ID identifies the external device that sent the message. The implanted device then compares the external device ID from the message to a stored list of approved external device IDs. The implanted device processes the message when the external device ID matches one or the approved external device IDs in the stored list of approved external device IDs. However, the message is disregarded when the external device ID does not match any of the approved external device IDs in the stored list of approved external device IDs. |
| US09974107B2 |
Radio node communicating with terminal in communication environment supporting plurality of radio networks, and radio communication method
The present invention relates to radio communications between a terminal, a radio node and a core network in a radio communication system. A radio node, which can form a radio link to a terminal through a first radio interface by a first radio protocol and a second radio interface by a second radio protocol, may transmit, to the terminal, function structure type information about a mobility management-related function which can be performed through the first radio interface by the first radio protocol, form a radio link to the terminal through the second radio interface by the second radio protocol, establish a connection between the terminal and a core network by a non-access stratum (NAS) protocol if the terminal requests a connection between the terminal and the core network through the second radio interface, release the radio link, and perform the mobility management-related function through the second radio interface by communicating with the terminal. |
| US09974106B2 |
Base station apparatus, mobile station apparatus, radio communication system, communication control method of base station apparatus, and communication control method of mobile station apparatus
A base station apparatus includes a processor. The processor executes a process including obtaining information indicating a radio status of each mobile station apparatus relevant to first communication in which radio communication is performed between the mobile station apparatuses via the base station apparatus, and second communication in which radio communication is directly performed between the mobile station apparatuses without via the base station apparatus; and notifying, based on the obtained information, the mobile station apparatuses that perform the second communication of control information for controlling the second communication. |
| US09974105B2 |
Communication system and method, information processing apparatus and method, information processing terminal and method
The present invention relates to a communication system and a method thereof, an information processing apparatus and a method thereof, an information processing terminal and a method thereof, which can start wireless communication easily and promptly. When an electromagnetic wave radiated from a reader/writer of a PDA 2 is received in a reader/writer of a personal computer 1, the personal computer 1 notifies the PDA 2 of device information stored therein. The PDA 2 establishes synchronization for Bluetooth communication with the personal computer 1 in accordance with a Bluetooth address contained in the device information and selects a service in accordance with a service record contained in the device information to establish communication via Bluetooth. The present invention can be applied to various information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer or a PDA. |
| US09974104B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and method for seamlessly communicating data by setting up and switching between multiple networks
A communication apparatus is capable of communicating with another communication apparatus by a first communication scheme and by a second communication scheme for which a communication speed is faster or a communication range is longer than that of the first communication scheme. The communication apparatus, in a case where it is determined that the communication by the second communication scheme was already being performed, includes, in a response corresponding to a request received from an other communication apparatus, information indicating that control for the communication by the second communication scheme based on the request is unnecessary, and transmits the response to the other communication apparatus. |
| US09974103B2 |
Method and apparatus for connecting with external device
Methods and apparatuses are provided for connecting with an external device. A current status of an electronic device is determined when wireless communication with at least one external device is disconnected. A preset time interval corresponding to the current status is determined. An attempt is made to reconnect with the at least one external device based on the preset time interval. |
| US09974096B2 |
Method for assisting scheduling of a user equipment in a heterogeneous network
A method in a first base station for assisting a third base station in scheduling a user equipment. The first base station obtains a first parameter associated to a first cell, or an indication of the first parameter, and identifier of the first cell. The first parameter comprises a first protected subframe pattern. The first base station obtains a second parameter associated to a second cell, or indication of the second parameter, and an identifier of the second cell. The second parameter comprises a second protected subframe pattern. The first base station assists the third base station in scheduling of the user equipment in a third cell by sending to the third base station the first parameter, or the indication of the first parameter, and the identifier of the first cell, together with the second parameter, or the indication of the second parameter, and the identifier of the second cell. |
| US09974089B2 |
Methods and systems for selection of channels for unlicensed wireless communications
Methods, devices and systems are disclosed to enable the use of unlicensed wireless channels by nodes and devices in a network, such as a mobile or cellular communications network, which primarily operates over licensed wireless channels. A selected channel, or selected channel and node pair for serving a user device are determined based on a combined metric of a signal quality level and a target time share parameter. The time share parameter represents the estimated data rate available for each potential channel, or channel and node pair, in light of the requirement to share the unlicensed wireless channel resources with other equipment. The signal quality level represents an estimated signal quality at the user device for each channel and node based on factors including residual interference from other communications signals transmitted over the unlicensed channels. |
| US09974086B2 |
Methods used in control node and radio node and associated devices
The present disclosure discloses a method used in a control node and an associated control node. The method includes selecting one or more client radio nodes based on a Directional Link Interference Map (DLIM) for all active links under control of the control node; for each of the selected one or more client radio nodes, determining one or more candidate links between the client radio node and other radio nodes; for each of the determined candidate links and all active links, determining a set of sounding and sensing related parameters; and transmitting the determined set of sounding and sensing related parameters for each of the determined candidate links and all active links to a transmitting node and a receiving node of the link. The present disclosure further discloses a method used in a radio node under control of a control node and an associated radio node. |
| US09974082B2 |
Transmitting device, receiving device, controlling node, and methods therein, for transmitting a block to the receiving device
Method performed by a transmitting device for transmitting a block to a receiving device. The transmitting device and the receiving device operate in a wireless communications network. The transmitting device transmits a block to the receiving device. The block comprises four bursts. The four bursts further comprise Uplink State Flag, USF, Stealing Flag, SF, and data and header fields. The USF and the SF fields are interleaved and mapped over the four bursts. The data and header fields are interleaved over one burst but repeated over the four bursts. The data and header fields are overlapping with and overridden by bits from the USF field in different positions in each burst. In a method performed by the receiving device, the receiving device receives the transmitted block. In a method performed by a controlling node, the controlling node selects a block format for transmission by the transmitting device. |
| US09974076B2 |
Method, device and system for transmitting uplink information
Disclosed are a method, device and system for transmitting uplink information, which are used for solving the problem that the existing UE uplink transmission mechanism may increase the load of a Macro eNB and increase the uplink interference among UEs, and is not beneficial to power saving of UEs. The method in the embodiments of the present application comprises: a macro eNB determining an uplink transmitting node used for receiving uplink information about a UE this time from a transmission node connected to the UE; determining the effective time of the uplink transmission node determined this time; and after the effective time of the uplink transmitting node determined this time has arrived, receiving the uplink information sent by the UE through the uplink transmitting node determined this time. Under a heterogeneous network, the embodiments of the present application can flexibly determine an appropriate uplink transmission node to transmit uplink information, thereby reducing the load of the Macro eNB, reducing the interference among various UEs, improving the system throughput, and saving the electric quantity of the UEs. |
| US09974075B2 |
Method and apparatus for NAN terminal to transceive signal in wireless communication system
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for a neighbor awareness networking (NAN) terminal to transceive a signal in a wireless communication system. To be specific, the present invention discloses a method for the NAN terminal to transceiver a signal in the wireless communication system, when the NAN terminal performs an anchor master selection procedure in a condition where there are a plurality of terminals operating as an anchor master in a cluster. |
| US09974073B2 |
Methods and nodes relating to system information acquisition during flexible subframe operation
The disclosure relates to a method performed in a wireless device located in a first cell operated by a network node of a wireless communication system. The method comprises acquiring (510) system information of a second cell using at least one autonomous gap during a time period. The wireless device is configured with a flexible subframe allocation scheme in the first cell during at least a part of the time period. The method further comprises obtaining (520) a value Nmin corresponding to a minimum number of uplink feedback signals, where the value Nmin is associated with the flexible subframe allocation scheme. The method also comprises transmitting (530) at least the minimum number Nmin of uplink feedback signals in response to downlink data during the time period. The disclosure also relates to a method in the network node and to the wireless device and the network node. |
| US09974068B2 |
Method for transmitting signal for improving coverage and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for receiving data, by a terminal, in a wireless communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a PDCCH; receiving a PDSCH corresponding to the PDCCH in a subframe including CSI-RS resource available in a cell; and demodulating the PDSCH. If a predetermined condition is satisfied, demodulation of the PDSCH is performed on the assumption that the PDSCH is not transmitted in the CSI-RS resource available in the cell, and if the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the demodulation of the PDSCH is performed on the assumption that the PDSCH can be transmitted in the CSI-RS resources available in the cell. |
| US09974066B2 |
Methods and apparatus for device-to-device communications system
A method includes configuring one or multiple pools of Device-to-Device (D2D) communication resources by an eNodeB (eNB). The method also includes signaling of the configured pool(s) of D2D communication resources by the eNB to a first User Equipment (UE) and a plurality of UEs using a common broadcast channel; and sending a request for one or multiple D2D communication resources to an eNB by the first UE configured to transmit D2D messages. The method also includes determining one or multiple resources for D2D communication by an eNB for the first UE. The method also includes communicating D2D resource allocation information to the first UE. The method also includes communicating D2D resource allocation information by the first UE to multiple UEs; and transmitting D2D data by the first UE to multiple UEs. Methods for configuring and signaling D2D communication resources by relay or out-of-coverage UEs are also provided. |
| US09974065B2 |
Dynamic control blanking in heterogeneous networks
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate requesting blanking over control resources from one or more interfering eNBs or devices. An eNB, such as a macrocell, femtocell or picocell eNB, can transmit a downlink control blanking message to a UE directing the UE to perform blanking (e.g., for uplink control resources) or request the blanking from the interfering eNBs or devices (e.g., for downlink control resources). The downlink control blanking message can specify the desired control resources and/or information to determine the control resources. Thus, dynamic control blanking is provided such that blanking is requested to mitigate interference over control resources for the small scale eNB. The small scale eNB can subsequently communicate control data to the UE over the control resources; the control data can include a resource blanking message that similarly directs the UE to request blanking of general data resource from the interfering eNBs or devices. |
| US09974061B2 |
Method, UE and base station for transmitting periodic signal/periodic system information, and method and base station for forwarding periodic system information
The present disclosure relates to a method used in a UE for transmitting a periodic signal to a first base station and an associated UE. The UE has been in communications with a first base station. The method includes: obtaining from the second base station a subframe configuration, which indicates a first set of subframes assigned to communications between the UE and the first base station and a second set of subframes assigned to communications between the UE and the second base station; and if a given uplink subframe, in which the periodic signal is to be transmitted to the first base station, is not in the first set of subframes, transmitting the periodic signal in a first available uplink subframe in the first set of subframes following the given uplink subframe. The present disclosure also relates to a method used in a first base station for transmitting a periodic signal/its periodic system information to a UE and an associated first base station; and a method used in a second base station for forwarding to a UE and an associated second base station. |
| US09974058B2 |
Defining a sub-subframe of a subframe
Methods of operating a network node in a RAN may include transmitting control information for a subframe from the network node to a wireless terminal. The control information may include a Time Domain Split (TDS) indication defining a sub-subframe of the subframe, and a duration of the sub-subframe may be less than a duration of the subframe. Moreover, communication of data may be provided between the network node and the wireless terminal during the sub-subframe of the subframe. Methods of operating the wireless terminal may include receiving the control information for the subframe at the wireless terminal from the network node. The control information may include the TDS indication, and communication of the data may be provided between the wireless terminal and the network node during the sub-subframe of the subframe. Related network nodes and wireless terminals are also discussed. |
| US09974056B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving information in wireless distributed system
When a transmitter transmits a first Timing Offset Indication iDentifier (TOID) of a plurality of TOIDs representing timing offset of a frame, the transmitter determines a first codeword corresponding to the first TOID of a plurality of codewords representing a subcarrier. The transmitter allocates a busy tone to a first subcarrier that the first codeword represents. The transmitter transmits the busy tone. |
| US09974052B2 |
Cell and method and system for bandwidth management of backhaul network of cell
A cell and a method and a system for bandwidth management of a backhaul network of the cell, adapted for arranging a routing path of a bearer established between a user equipment and a serving gateway through the cell in the backhaul network, are provided. In the method, the cell connects the user equipment to establish the bearer between the user equipment and the serving gateway or change an established bearer. The cell sets a packet label on the data packets of the bearer and transmits the packet label and bandwidth management information of the bearer to a controller of the backhaul network for the controller to arrange the routing path of the data packets using the packet label in the backhaul network according to the bandwidth management information. |
| US09974051B2 |
Method and wireless device for providing device-to-device communication
The present disclosure relates to methods and to a wireless device, 10, 20, for enabling device-to-device communication. In particular the present disclosure relates to a method, performed in a radio node, of assigning resources for direct control signalling. The method comprises receiving, S1, from at least one further radio node, 160, sets of resources for direct control signalling in a respective cell or cluster. The method further comprises assigning, S2, resources for direct control signalling transmission within an area controlled by the radio node based at least on the received sets of resources, and transmitting, S3, to wireless devices controlled by the radio node, a message indicating resources assigned for direct control signalling. The disclosure also relates to the corresponding method in a wireless device and to a radio and to a wireless device implementing the methods, as well as to corresponding computer programs. |
| US09974049B2 |
Adaptive paging techniques for extended coverage-capable devices
Adaptive paging techniques for EC-capable devices are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise at least one memory and logic for an evolved node B (eNB), at least a portion of the logic comprised in hardware coupled to the at least one memory, the logic to receive an S1 paging message comprising a user equipment (UE) identifier (ID) associated with a UE and an extended coverage (EC) capability indicator indicating that the UE is EC-capable and page the UE using an EC paging sequence based on receipt of the S1 paging message, the EC paging sequence to comprise a series of transmissions of a radio resource control (RRC) paging message, the logic to truncate the EC paging sequence based on a determination that the UE has responded to RRC paging. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09974048B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for distributed scheduling for device-to-device interference mitigation
Systems, methods, and devices for device-to-device (D2D) distributed scheduling are disclosed herein. User equipment (UE) is configured to measure a received power level for a reference signal received from a target UE and measure received power levels for reference signals received from one or more non-target UEs. The UE is configured to generate a resource usage map for the target UE and the one or more non-target UEs. The UE is configured to determine a priority, with respect to the target UE, for each resource element group based on the resource usage map and an anticipated signal-to-interference ratio (SIR). The UE is configured to transmit data to the target UE during one or more resource element groups with the highest priorities for the target UE. |
| US09974047B2 |
User notification of cellular service impairment
When a user of a mobile device attempts to use an application having high data demands, the mobile device queries its cellular data provider to determine currently available data transfer rates, based on the geographic location of the mobile device and the demands on the cellular base station from which the mobile device is being served. If the base station is experiencing data congestion, which is likely to result in a less than optimum user experience, the mobile device displays a warning to the user suggesting that the user postpone usage of the application or try using the application in a different geographic location that is experiencing less congestion. |
| US09974045B2 |
Systems and methods for contextual discovery of device functions
Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems and methods for providing notifications relating to context-based features of a mobile device. According to an example implementation, a method is provided for receiving an indication of contextual information and an indication of historical information. The method also includes determining an environmental context of the mobile device from the contextual information and the historical information. The method also includes determining whether a usage criteria associated with a context-based feature associated with the environmental context has been met. The method also includes outputting an indication of the determination that the context-based feature has not met the usage criteria, such that the mobile device outputs a notification related to the context-based feature. |
| US09974041B2 |
Methods and apparatus for adjusting a broadcast setting of a node in a wireless node network
Methods, medium, systems, and a master node are described involving adjusting a broadcast setting of a node in a wireless node network. In an exemplary method, the master node detects an advertising signal from the node deployed in the network. The master node then establishes an active association with the node, and determines an updated value for the broadcast setting (e.g., a frequency, power level, timing setting) of the node. The updated value may be a value related to a structure (such as building or container) associated with the master node. The method concludes with the master node adjusting the broadcast setting of the node from a current value to the updated value. Such adjusting may take the form of modifying a broadcast profile of the node, where the broadcast profile defines the broadcast setting used when the node communicates with the master node. |
| US09974036B2 |
Direct communication network system and signal synchronization method thereof
A direct communication network system and a signal synchronization method thereof are provided. The direct communication network system includes a first direct communication apparatus and a second direct communication apparatus. The first direct communication apparatus synchronizes with a base station within communication coverage of the base station. The second direct communication apparatus synchronizes with the first direct communication apparatus outside the communication coverage of the base station according to at least one first synchronization signal of the first direct communication apparatus. The first direct communication apparatus determines an abnormal synchronization status with the base station, and adjusts a transmitting status of the at least one first synchronization signal. The second direct communication apparatus switches synchronization to a third direct communication apparatus according to the transmitting status of the at least one first synchronization signal and synchronizes with the third direct communication apparatus via at least one second synchronization signal. |
| US09974033B2 |
Method for setting, in a wireless cellular telecommunication network, the power of uplink radio signals
A method for setting, in a wireless cellular telecommunication network, a power of radio signals transferred by mobile terminals served by plural nodes, the method including, executed by a server in charge of the nodes: checking if a message is received from one of the nodes, the message being representative of occurrence of an event in a cell of the node which transferred the message; adjusting a common parameter value for the nodes according to reception or not of the message; and transferring to each node the adjusted common parameter value or information derived from the adjusted common parameter value. |
| US09974031B2 |
Spectrum sharing
Communication methods and devices are provided. A communication method includes: a first communication device detecting whether its communications is substantially affected; and if yes, sending a message to a second communication device, whose communication distance is shorter than that of the first communication device, to request the second communication device to decrease its effect on the communications of the first communication device. More reliable solutions for spectrum sharing may be obtained. |
| US09974027B2 |
System and method for closed loop uplink power control
Systems and methods are disclosed that provide a closed loop power control system including adaptively adjusting the desired target SINR over time so as to ultimately achieve a feasible SINR. In one implementation, a method is provided of optimizing uplink closed loop power control in a RAN in which one or more base stations each service a plurality of mobile stations, including: determining a power level for each mobile station for its respective uplink transmissions, including measuring a current achieved SINR for each mobile station; and for each mobile station, adjusting the power level to be sufficiently high to meet desired transmission characteristics but not so high as to cause unnecessary interference with transmissions from other mobile stations, by adjusting a desired target SINR based on factors selected from the following: current and prior achieved SINRs, current and prior interference measurements, and current and prior transmission power control commands. |
| US09974024B2 |
Circuit, integrated circuit, receiver, transceiver and method for receiving a signal
A circuit according to an example includes a receiver circuit configured to receive a signal including a data stream, the data stream including at least one block of data, a block of the at least one block of data including at least two sub-blocks, a payload of the block being redundantly encoded in the at least two sub-blocks, and the at least two sub-blocks of the block being consistently arranged over time inside the block. The circuit further includes a control circuit configured to switch the receiver circuit into a non-ready-to-receive state during at least a part of at least one of the at least two sub-blocks of the block, when an enable condition is fulfilled. |
| US09974018B2 |
Systems and methods for processing and transmitting sensor data
Systems and methods for processing, transmitting and displaying data received from an analyte sensor, such as a glucose sensor, are provided. The data can be displayed on a hand-held display device having a display such as a key fob device including a user interface, such as an LCD and one or more buttons 604 allows a user to view data, and a physical connector, such as USB port. |
| US09974015B2 |
Embedded internet of things (IOT) hub for integration with an appliance and associated systems and methods
An embedded Internet of Things (IoT) hub for integration with an appliance and associated systems and methods. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: an embedded Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a wide area network (WAN) interface to couple the embedded IoT hub to an IoT service over a network, and a local wireless communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to one or more IoT devices; an IoT hub slot interface coupled to the embedded IoT hub and comprising a first plurality of pins or pads to interface with corresponding pins or pads within an IoT hub slot of an appliance when the embedded IoT hub is inserted into the IoT hub slot; and a modular antenna interface coupled to the embedded IoT hub and comprising a second plurality of pins or pads to interface with corresponding pins or pads on a modular antenna to be coupled to the embedded IoT hub. |
| US09974012B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication system
A communication apparatus includes first communication means for performing a wireless communication with another communication apparatus in a first communication method, second communication means for performing the wireless communication with another communication apparatus in a second communication method that is different from the first communication method, and sending means for sending a request message for requesting, by using the first communication means, a connection parameter for connecting to another communication apparatus via the second communication means, the request message including information about a communication service executable by the communication apparatus. |
| US09974010B2 |
System and method for establishing network connection and terminal having the system
Provided is a communication system applied to a terminal, the communication system includes: a first communication module; a second communication module; a first determination unit configured to determine whether the terminal currently supports circuit switched fallback based on a real-time state of the terminal; and a processing unit configured to establish a connection between the first communication module and a first network in a case that the first determination unit determines that the terminal currently supports the circuit switched fallback, or establish a connection between the second communication module and a second network in a case that the first determination unit determines that the terminal does not currently support the circuit switched fallback. Accordingly, further provided are a terminal and a communication method. |
| US09974006B2 |
Link setup level coordination
Various communication systems may benefit from coordination in interworking. For example, certain wireless communication systems may benefit from link setup level coordination, such as coordination between a first radio access technology base station and a terminal that is setting up a link to a second radio access technology. A method may include, for example, determining an allowed link setup level for a terminal. The method may also include communicating the allowed link setup level to the terminal. |
| US09974002B2 |
Grouping of user terminal cell access information in a system information block
Disclosed is a method for generating and transmitting system information in a mobile radio cell. In said method, system information is grouped into several information frames, information required for a mobile user device in order to verify if said mobile user device has access to the mobile radio cell being grouped into a single information frame, and the information frames are fed to the data securing layer by the network layer and are transmitted by means of the physical layer. |
| US09974001B2 |
Ad hoc network with unidirectional link
A method and apparatus for use in an ad hoc network, comprising: a node transmitting an extended allowable hold time value to a further node; the node changing its transmission behavior such that the further node stops receiving transmission from the node for an extended period, for example by pausing transmission at least in the direction of the further node; and the further node treating the link to the node as intact during the extended allowable hold time. The transmitting of the extended allowable hold time value may be performed earlier than a next routine transmission of routine allowable hold time value would have been sent. The method may further comprise the node being instructed to maintain topology information for an extended time. |
| US09974000B2 |
Wireless beacon devices for use in managing transportation service terminals
There are provided systems and methods for wireless beacon devices for use in managing transportation service terminals. A user may travel with a device, such as a communication device, that includes a communication module that may utilize specialized hardware features to establish short range wireless communications with nearby wireless beacons. The wireless beacons may be established at or nearby transportation service terminals, such as bus/train stops. The beacon may provide the aforementioned communication services with the communication device and be utilized to determine whether the user will utilize a transportation service for the terminal. If the user wishes to utilize the transportation service, a transportation service may be alerted. The user may also be alerted of an expected time of arrival for the transportation service, other transportation services available at the transportation terminal, and/or of nearby transportation terminals. |
| US09973995B2 |
Mobile communication system and method of information processing for improving user experience in the mobile communication system
The present invention relates to a method for processing information between mobile communication systems in order to prevent the degradation of user-experienced performance when different types of mobile communication networks are used. The method for processing information at user equipment (UE) to improve user-experienced performance of a mobile communication system includes performing a data communication through a first network and receiving, from a policy server, a routing policy including a validity condition which is information about a condition of designating a UE status for handover. The method further includes, in the handover, if a searched second network satisfies the validity condition, performing the data communication through the second network. Accordingly, a network for data transmission can be selected using a routing policy created in consideration of a UE status or a network status, thereby enhancing user-experienced performance. |
| US09973990B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting handover report message in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting a handover report message in a wireless communication system is provided. In a heterogeneous network (HetNet) intra long term evolution (LTE) failure case, an eNodeB (eNB) performs a handover procedure for a user equipment (UE) with a source eNB, and receives a radio link failure (RLF) indication message. The eNB transmits a handover report message to the source eNB, the handover report message including UE history information element (IE) of the UE. |
| US09973985B2 |
Method for cell handover, base station device and communication system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a base station device for detecting uplink power. The method includes: detecting a modulation and coding scheme and an initial block error rate of an uplink data packet sent by a user equipment; determining, according to a relationship between an index of the detected modulation and coding scheme of the uplink data packet sent from the UE and a first threshold, and a relationship between the detected initial block error rate of the uplink data packet sent from the UE and a second threshold, whether uplink power of the user equipment is restricted. |
| US09973984B1 |
Satellite system with switched communication channels among earth stations
An exemplary satellite in a communication system supports communications among earth stations and has a first receiver that receiving a first RF signal transmitted from a first earth station that is down converted to a first electrical IF signal. An up converter converts a second electrical IF signal, from a second earth station carrying information for the first earth station, to a second RF signal and transmits it to the first earth station. A switch switches remotely reconfigurable electrical IF communication circuits between pairs of ports. Signals carrying information to be communicated between the first and second earth stations are linked together by the switch. |
| US09973983B2 |
Communication management apparatus and communication management method
The communication management apparatus includes a reception index determination device configured to determine, with respect to respective neighboring cells of a serving cell of each terminal apparatus within a predetermined cell, and a reference signal reception index for the terminal apparatus according to location information of the terminal apparatus. The reference signal reception index is used for indicating signal reception situation of the terminal apparatus with respect to the neighboring cells. |
| US09973982B1 |
Controlling reverse-direction neighbor reports based on the characteristics of queued bearer traffic
A wireless communication device (WCD) may determine that the WCD has bearer traffic queued for transmission to a radio access network (RAN). The WCD may be configured to transmit the bearer traffic and neighbor reports over a reverse-direction channel of the RAN. The neighbor reports may contain information related to wireless coverage areas. One or more characteristics of the bearer traffic may also be determined. Based on the one or more characteristics of the bearer traffic, the neighbor reports may be scheduled to be transmitted over the reverse-direction channel at a particular rate. The WCD may transmit the neighbor reports over the reverse-direction channel at the particular rate. |
| US09973980B2 |
Communications methods and apparatus that facilitate handover decisions and related measurements
Methods and apparatus that facilitate handover related measurements and decision making in a communications system including user equipment (UE) devices, a macro base station and femto base stations (femtocells) are described. In some embodiments a UE device transmits pilots along with identification information using UE device selected transmission resources from a set of recurring UE pilot transmission resources dedicated by a macro base station for UE pilot signal and related device information transmission purposes. Femto base stations measure the UE transmitted pilot signals and report the signal strength measurement results and corresponding device identifiers to a handoff decision control entity, e.g., an eNodeB or control node, which makes handover decisions. By relying on UE transmitted pilots measured by multiple base stations, e.g., femto base stations, the need for femto cells to transmit pilots can be reduced while well informed UE handoff decisions still being possible. |
| US09973977B2 |
System and method of supporting packet-switched handover
A system and method of supporting packet-switched handover of a mobile station (MS) from a GERAN/UTRAN cell to a Generic Access Network (GAN) cell within a GAN. If the MS is within coverage of the GAN cell, the MS registers within the GAN, triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover from the GERAN/UTRAN cell to the GAN cell. A preparation phase is then conducted for executing the packet-switched handover. The preparation phase includes identifying the MS context as part of the preparation phase and activating the GA-PSR TC towards the MS. Next, the packet-switched handover is executed, resulting in the MS switching to GAN mode. The MS then begins transferring packets via the GAN cell. The system and method also supports a packet-switched handover from the GAN cell to the GERAN/UTRAN cell. |
| US09973971B2 |
Methods, nodes and system for enabling redistribution of cell load
The present invention relates to a method and system for enabling a redistribution of load between cells. The method comprises obtaining a current load value for a first cell, and obtaining a target load value for a neighbor cell. The method also comprises determining the target load value for the first cell as a function of the current load value and the target load value for the neighbor cell, obtaining an update of the target load value for the neighbor cell, and iterating the determining and the obtaining. The method further comprises taking action for a redistribution of load between the first cell and the neighbor cell towards a load distribution represented by the resulting load values. |
| US09973967B2 |
Radio operations in a carrier aggregation system
A method comprises, in a carrier aggregation system having multiple component carriers, utilizing an air interface based collision avoidance procedure on at least one component carrier that is associated to a cellular radio access technology to check that a radio resource in the at least one component carrier is available; and thereafter communicating on the radio resource using the cellular radio access technology only if the check reveals that the radio resource is available. |
| US09973966B2 |
User-plane congestion management
Methods, apparatuses and systems for user-plane congestion management are provided. Among these method, apparatuses and systems is a method, implementable by a base station (and/or a serving gateway), for mitigating user plane congestion. The method may include sending a congestion indication to a core network; receiving a general packet radio system (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP) packet including an first internet protocol (IP) packet associated with a first flow within a bearer; obtaining, from a header of the GTP packet, an indicator indicative of a priority of the IP packet, wherein the indicator was inserted into the header of the GTP packet by the core network responsive to the congestion indication; and dropping any of the GTP packet and the first IP packet on condition that a priority of a second IP packet associated with second flow within the bearer takes precedence over the priority of the first IP packet. |
| US09973964B2 |
Enterprise cognitive radio integrated with laser communications
A wireless data access system is provided to ameliorate bursty traffic occurring in a radio communications link such as a WiFi, WiMAX, 3G or cellular telephone link to a wireless network access device. A data traffic event is detected relating to traffic in the link. The traffic event may be a traffic burst exceeding a predetermined threshold. Based on detecting the data traffic event, a free-space optical communications link is established to the network access device to handle the traffic burst. The established radio link may be used to set-up and coordinate the free-space optical link. |
| US09973961B2 |
System and method for offloading data in a communication system
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a data packet transported on a backhaul link at a first network element; de-capsulating the data packet; identifying whether the data packet is an upstream data packet; identifying whether the data packet matches an internet protocol (IP) access control list (ACL) or a tunnel endpoint identifier; and offloading the data packet from the backhaul link. In more specific embodiment, the method can include identifying that the data packet does not match the IP ACL or the tunnel endpoint identifier; and communicating the data packet to a second network element. In other examples, the method can include identifying that the data packet is a downstream data packet; identifying a service to be performed for the data packet that cannot be performed at the first network element; and communicating the data packet to a second network element. |
| US09973959B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling cell aggregation
According to one aspect of the teachings herein, a wireless device operating in a wireless communication network determines the difference in signal arrival times with respect to first and second cells, and the device and/or the involved wireless communication network uses the difference to control one or more aspects of Carrier Aggregation, CA, operation for the wireless device. For example, there may be a maximum timing difference defined for the wireless device, e.g., as a function of its inherent capabilities, and the wireless device may evaluate the timing difference of a second cell that is a candidate of aggregation into its CA configuration, or that may be a candidate for activation as a serving cell within a CA configuration, with respect to a first cell that is already in use as a serving cell for the wireless device. |
| US09973958B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for improved inter-frequency measurement
Systems and methods for improved inter-frequency measurement are disclosed herein. User equipment (UE) may be configured to communicatively couple to an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) Node B (eNB). The eNB may determine a measurement pattern indicating when the UE should perform inter-frequency measurements. The measurement pattern may be selected such that the UE performs measurements more often than once per measurement cycle. The measurement pattern may be selected to balance timing requirements for the UE with increased power consumption that may result from more frequent measurements. The eNB may determine the measurement pattern based on an estimate of UE speed and a number of frequencies to be monitored. A default pattern may be used if the UE speed and/or number of frequencies do not exceed predetermined thresholds. |
| US09973955B2 |
Systems and methods for reference signals and CSI feedback
System and method embodiments are provided for signaling reference signals and Channel State Information (CSI) feedback for wireless communications. An embodiment method implemented by a user equipment (UE) for wireless communications measurements and CSI feedback includes receiving, from a network, at least one of a first index that indicates a corresponding non-zero-power CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource, a second index that indicates a corresponding zero-power CSI-RS resource, a third index that indicates a corresponding CSI-RS resource for interference measurement, and a fourth index that indicates a corresponding channel quality indicator (CQI) report configuration. The method also includes receiving, from the network, at least one of a fifth index that indicates a corresponding periodic CQI report in accordance with the CQI report configuration indicated by the fourth index, and a sixth index that indicates a corresponding aperiodic CQI report in accordance with the CQI report configuration indicated by the fourth index. |
| US09973951B1 |
Use of UE-capability reporting to control UE service
A method and system that uses user-equipment (UE) capability reporting to control UE service. A UE provides its serving base station with an initial capabilities report indicating that the UE does not support determining and reporting when neighboring coverage is threshold strong, and so the base station does not yet provision the UE with a measurement event including a threshold to facilitate such determining and reporting. When the UE then determines that its serving coverage is threshold weak, the UE then transmits to its serving base station an updated capabilities report indicating that the UE does support such determining and reporting, and so the base station then provisions the UE with threshold (e.g., provisions the UE with a measurement event causing the UE to compare measured neighbor coverage strength with such a threshold). |
| US09973950B2 |
Technique for data traffic analysis
A technique for providing information derived from data traffic between a telecommunications network and the Internet is disclosed. The telecommunications network provides mobile Internet access to a plurality of mobile subscribers using IP addresses allocated to the mobile subscribers. Data packets in data traffic are analyzed at an interface between the telecommunications network and the Internet. Each analyzed data packet includes an IP address allocated to one of the plurality of mobile sub-scribers. For each of the analyzed data packets, a subscriber identity is retrieved based on the IP address included therein using an allocation function of the telecommunications network. The allocation function associates sub-scriber identities to IP addresses. Information derived from the analyzed data packets is stored in combination with the retrieved subscriber identities in a storing unit. An access interface for accessing the stored information is also provided. |
| US09973949B2 |
FTM protocol with angle of arrival and angle of departure
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that may perform ranging operations between an initiator device and a responder device. The initiator device may request the responder device to perform a ranging operation. The responder device may transmit a first fine timing measurement (FTM) frame to the initiator device, may receive an acknowledgement (ACK) frame from the responder device, and may transmit a second FTM frame to the initiator device. The second FTM frame may include a time value and angle information. The time value may indicate a difference between a time of departure (TOD) of the first FTM frame and a time of arrival (TOA) of the ACK frame. The angle information may indicate a direction of the initiator device relative to the responder device. The initiator device may determine its position, relative to the responder device, based at least in part on the received time value and angle information. |
| US09973948B2 |
Mobile terminal testing apparatus and cell use method for use in the same
The mobile terminal testing apparatus including: a cell state determination unit 16 that determines in-use states of multiple cells which perform communication with a mobile communication terminal 2; a cell state change processing unit 17 that changes states of the multiple cells and notifies the cell state determination unit 16 of the states of the multiple cells; and a scenario processing unit 15 that detects the number of cells that need to be added and the number of cells that are available for deletion, based on a message that is transmitted and received between the mobile terminal testing apparatus and the mobile communication terminal 2, and that causes the cell state change processing unit 17 to perform initialization of a cell that is available for deletion, and sets the cell to be available for re-use. |
| US09973946B2 |
Protecting a mobile communication network from performance impacts
A method for protecting a mobile communication network from performance impacts includes determining whether to apply a forwarding functionality or an alternative treatment functionality for downlink data packets directed to the specific IP-address or to the specific range of IP-addresses of the user equipment, wherein the application of the forwarding functionality versus the alternative treatment functionality of the filter element is based on load conditions of the mobile communication network at a reception time of the downlink data packets at the core network; and providing the forwarding functionality or the alternative treatment functionality for the downlink data packets directed to the specific IP-address or to the specific range of IP-addresses of the user equipment. |
| US09973940B1 |
Apparatus and methods for dynamic impedance matching of a guided wave launcher
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a guided wave launcher generates, in response to an output RF signal, a guided electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the guided electromagnetic wave has a non-optical carrier frequency. A mismatch probe generates a mismatch signal based on the output RF signal, wherein the mismatch signal indicates an impedance mismatch of the guided wave launcher. A controller generates one or more control signals in response to the mismatch signal, wherein the one or more control signals adjust one or more adjustable circuit elements of an impedance matching circuit, wherein adjustment of the one or more adjustable circuit elements facilitates reducing the impedance mismatch of the guided wave launcher. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09973939B2 |
UAV network design
Methods, apparatuses, and systems relating to drone-assisted mesh network design are disclosed. Exemplary methods for wireless networking and communications may include identifying a geographic area, receiving topographic data obtained by an unmanned air vehicle at a first predetermined height, the topographic data relating to the geographic area, analyzing the topographic data to identify one or more characteristics, determining a location relating to a first wireless network device based at least in part on the analyzing, and determining one or more locations each relating to one or more other wireless network devices within the geographic area based at least in part on the location relating to the first wireless network device. |
| US09973938B2 |
Communication system, communication device, program and communication control method
There is provided a communication system comprising: a first communication device that senses a communication environment surrounding the first communication device; a second communication device that acquires sensed data sensed by the first communication device; and a third communication device that determines availability of usage of a second communication service using a part or whole of a spectrum assigned to a first communication service based on the sensed data transmitted from the second communication device. |
| US09973937B2 |
Communications device
A communications device comprising a transmitter, a receiver and a controller operable to transmit and to receive signals representing data to and from a network element across a first wireless access interface, the first wireless access interface being provided by the network element and access to resources of the first wireless access interface being controlled by the network element. The controller is configured to control the receiver to perform detection of signals transmitted across a second wireless access interface, and to control the transmitter to transmit a reporting message to the network element across the first wireless access interface, the reporting message including an indication of one or more properties of signals that have been detected across the second wireless access interface. |
| US09973925B2 |
Method and apparatus for direct communication key establishment
A method, performed by a User Equipment device (UE), for obtaining a key for direct communication with a device over an air interface, wherein the UE has previously acquired a transaction identifier received from a Bootstrapping Server Function (BSF), in a Generic Bootstrapping Architecture (GBA), procedure, is provided. The method comprises storing the transaction identifier, sending the transaction identifier to the device and requesting key generation for direct communication with the device. If the transaction identifier is invalid, the method further comprises receiving from the device a device identifier and key generation information, deriving a session shared key from at least the key generation information, and deriving a direct communication key from at least the session shared key and the device identifier. |
| US09973924B2 |
Method and system to enable secure communication for inter-eNB transmission
The embodiments herein provide a method and system for creating a secure connection for a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless network including a UE, carrier aggregated with at least one first serving frequency served by a first eNB and at least one second serving frequency served by a second eNB. A unique non-repetitive security base key associated with the second eNB is generated using a freshness parameter and security key associated with the first eNB. The use of a different freshness parameter for each security base key derivation avoids key stream repetition. Further, a user plane encryption key is derived based on the generated unique non-repetitive security base key associated with the second eNB for encrypting data transfer over at least one data radio bearer. |
| US09973920B2 |
Managing multiple communication profiles at a mobile device
Systems and methods for performing actions associated with multiple communication profiles generated for a user of a mobile device are described. In some embodiments, a communication alias system generates multiple, distinct, communication profiles for the user of the mobile device, where a communication profile is a distinct profile associated with the user of the mobile device and includes a unique communication address to which communications are directed. The communication alias system may perform actions associated with providing information to the user of the mobile device via a selected communication profile for the user of the mobile device. |
| US09973912B1 |
Stackable communications device for sensor information processing and delivery
As sensor technology becomes more pervasive in our daily lives, an issue which arises is how to efficiently deal with the large volume of data created by these sensors. Typically, a sensor is capable of capturing far more information than is necessary for use in any given application. However, different types and amounts of data may be needed for different applications and different levels of accuracy at different times. Therefore, it is desirable that sensors are able to continue to collect comprehensive amounts of data and to send it to a unit which is able to optimize the data storage and transmission in order to reduce both upstream and downstream burdens caused by large sensor data volumes. Disclosed herein are several examples of communications devices. Communications devices can be modular, as shown, and/or stackable, as shown. An advantage to modular/stackable systems is that they can be easily customized to specific demands. |
| US09973911B2 |
Method of operating AVN, AVN, and vehicle including the same
A method of operating audio, video, navigation (AVN), an AVN, and a vehicle including the same are disclosed. The method includes determining whether a vehicle speaker and a vehicle microphone connected to the AVN is abnormal when a car accident occurs, releasing pairing with a paired terminal and performing role change of changing the terminal to a hands-free unit (HF) when at least one of the vehicle speaker and the vehicle microphone is abnormal, and performing voice call using a speaker and microphone of the terminal. |
| US09973910B1 |
Mobile content distribution system
A method of mobile content distribution. The method comprises receiving requests to provide mobile content to a mobile communication device by an application executing on a computer system, where each request comprises a user identity, looking up profile information by the application based on the user identity, and evaluating the profile information by the application according to a Boolean rule, where each rule defines a plurality of conditions for satisfying the rule in terms of three or more of gender, location, identity of a mobile application installed on a mobile communication device, age category, and identity of a mobile communication device model. The method further comprises, for a content request that evaluates true in the Boolean rule, scoring the profile information according to a model and sending mobile content to a mobile communication device associated with the profile information whose score exceeds a predefined threshold. |
| US09973909B2 |
Individual prediction of use and/or individual adaptation of use of a personalised telecommunications terminal
A method for prediction and/or adaptation of use of a telecommunications terminal includes: detecting, by the telecommunications terminal, use actions by a user carried out via a user interface of the telecommunications terminal and context information of the telecommunications terminal over a predetermined time interval; generating or altering, by the telecommunications terminal, at least one specific rules factor out of a plurality of rules factors based on an occurrence of a first event out of a plurality of events subject to the behavior of the user regarding the use actions carried out via the user interface and/or subject to the context information of the telecommunications terminal; and in case of the occurrence of the first event and/or in case of the occurrence of a second event, applying, by the telecommunications terminal, the at least one generated or altered specific rules factor subject to the context information. |
| US09973907B1 |
Method and system for service continuity, network preference, and reporting logic with SMS services
Methods and systems for originating and terminating a short message service (SMS) message using an IP network are disclosed. Delivery of an SMS message is attempted on a first network a first predetermined number of times according to a first predetermined time schedule. Delivery of the SMS message on a second network is attempted after a failure to deliver the SMS message on the first network. Reattempted delivery of the SMS message on the first network is followed by reattempted delivery of the SMS message on the second network, according to a second predetermined time schedule. |
| US09973904B2 |
Matrix access review
A computing platform may receive, from a plurality of computing systems, data identifying permissions of a plurality of users to access one or more resources of the plurality of computing systems. The computing platform may identify, from amongst the plurality of users, a plurality of groups of users. The computing platform may identify, from amongst the permissions, a plurality of sets of permissions. Each set of permissions may include permissions shared by each user of a group of users of the plurality of groups of users. The computing platform may generate a graphical depiction of the plurality of groups of users and the plurality of sets of permissions. The graphical depiction may graphically depict, for each group of the plurality of groups, one or more sets of permissions, of the plurality of sets of permissions, shared by each user of the group. |
| US09973903B2 |
Traffic advertisement in a network
A device for communication includes a processor, a transmitter, and a receiver. The processor is configured to generate a traffic advertisement indicating availability of data to be sent to a plurality of devices. The traffic advertisement includes a unicast message addressed to a first device of the plurality of devices. The transmitter is configured to transmit the traffic advertisement during a paging window. The receiver is configured to receive, during a data transmission window that is subsequent to the paging window, a data request from a second device of the plurality of devices. The data request is responsive to the traffic advertisement. The transmitter is further configured to send first data to the second device responsive to the data request. |
| US09973900B2 |
Method of displaying location of a device
A system and method are provided that display search results and user location on a map. A floor selector interface may be displayed with the map. The floor selector interface may include one or more floor selectors, each of which correspond to a floor in a multi-story building. Upon selection of a floor selector, first search result and location indicators may be displayed transparently or semi-transparently to indicate whether the user or the search results are on the selected floor. If the user or the search results are on a non-selected floor, such indicators may be displayed differently, such as with a different transparency. The floor selector interface may also include second search result and location identifiers. Such second identifiers may be displayed at particular floor selectors corresponding to the present elevation of the user and search results, respectively. |
| US09973898B2 |
Multi-device architecture for tracking device access
A tracking server stores information identifying one or more community mobile devices and information identifying one or more tracking devices within a proximity of each of the one or more community mobile devices. The tracking server receives a tracking device request from a mobile device. The tracking device request includes information identifying a tracking device and configuration instructions for configuring the tracking device. The tracking server identifies a community mobile device from the one or more community mobile devices within a proximity of the tracking device. The tracking server sends the tracking device request to the identified community mobile device. The identified community mobile device is configured to forward the tracking device request to the tracking device and the tracking device is configured to re-configure the tracking device based on the configuration instructions included in the tracking device request. |
| US09973892B1 |
Location-based service zone management for multiple providers
Disclosed are various embodiments for a multi-provider management system for location-based service zones. The multi-provider management system can receive data associated with location-based service zones from multiple providers. A unique identifier can be assigned to each provider. The multi-provider management system can send location-based service zones from multiple providers to a client device, and can receive trigger event notifications associated with the location-based service zones. The unique identifier can be used to identify which provider to notify when receiving a trigger event notification. |
| US09973891B2 |
System and method for geofencing
A system and method for geofencing includes sending, by the location management server, location data collection criteria and location data reporting criteria to a first location-aware client; and receiving, by the location management server, location data from the first location-aware client, the location data collected by the first location-aware client according to the location data collection criteria, the location data received from the first location-aware client according to the location data reporting criteria. |
| US09973889B2 |
Telecommunication network signal analysis for matching a mobile device cellular identifier with a mobile device network identifier
A signal analysis system matches a mobile device cellular identifier to a mobile device network identifier. The system obtains multiple cellular positioning records (CPRs) and multiple network positioning records (NPRs). These records include different types of information because they are generated by different types of networks. The system performs spatial matching and temporal matching of the CPRs and the NPRs to identify a specific mobile device cellular identifier among the CPRs that belongs to a mobile device identified by a specific mobile device network interface identifier among the NPRs. |
| US09973887B2 |
Sharing navigation data among co-located computing devices
This document describes systems, methods, devices, and other techniques for sharing navigation data among computing devices. The techniques can include identifying, by a first computing device, a second computing device, based on the first computing device detecting an audio signal emitted by one or more speakers of the second computing device, wherein the second computing device is running a navigation application that has been programmed to navigate a geographic route. Using information encoded in the audio signal that was emitted by the one or more speakers of the second computing device, the first computing device can determine the geographic route that the navigation application running on the second computing device has been programmed to navigate. A representation of the geographic route can be displayed on an electronic display of the first computing device. |
| US09973885B2 |
AVN terminal and control method thereof
A control method for an audio-video-navigation (AVN) terminal includes: receiving an identifier code and point of interest (POI) information; searching for user information corresponding to the identifier code from a communication connected terminal; and displaying the POI information and user information when the user information corresponding to the identifier code is identified during the searching. |
| US09973883B2 |
Personal area network pairing
A method for automatically adding a first sensor device to a first personal area network in a healthcare application includes receiving a signal with out-of-band pairing data at the first sensor device. The first sensor device is disposed on a patient's body. The out-of-band pairing data is injected into the patient's body by a second sensor device disposed on the patient's body. Pairing data is extracted from the received signal at the first sensor device. Using the pairing data, the first sensor device is added to the first personal area. |
| US09973876B2 |
Application recommendations
Disclosed is apparatus configured: to create an advertising message including a packet data unit [PDU] including information identifying an application that may be installed on the apparatus and an indication that the PDU may include an application recommendation; and to cause the advertising message to be broadcast. Another apparatus is configured: to receive an advertising message including a packet data unit [PDU] including information identifying an application that may be installed on another apparatus and an indication that the PDU may include an application recommendation; and to use the information identifying an application to provide an option to install the application. |
| US09973864B2 |
Hearing device including antenna unit
A hearing aid device having an antenna unit is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises a transmission line connecting a communication unit and the antenna unit, or at least being part of a connection between them. The antenna unit is at least partly embedded in a battery drawer of the hearing aid device. |
| US09973859B2 |
Amplifiers for parametric loudspeakers
Systems and methods of audio processing and control for improved audibility and performance in a parametric loudspeaker system. The parametric loudspeaker system includes a parametric loudspeaker providing a capacitive load, an output stage having a plurality of switches interconnected in a bridge configuration and connected to the capacitive load of the parametric loudspeaker, and a controller operative to generate a series of pulse width modulation (PWM) pulses, and to generate a plurality of control signals synchronized with the series of PWM pulses for switchingly controlling the plurality of switches in the bridge configuration, thereby driving the capacitive load of the parametric loudspeaker. |
| US09973857B2 |
Piezoelectric speaker and electroacoustic transducer
A piezoelectric speaker has a piezoelectric element and vibration plate. The piezoelectric element has a base body with a mounting surface, as well as first and second terminals that are formed on the mounting surface with a distance between them. The vibration plate has a conductive body joined to the piezoelectric element and having a principle surface facing the mounting surface, as well as a first hole with or without a bottom which is formed on the principle surface in a region facing the first terminal to form a space between the body and first terminal. The piezoelectric speaker is capable of preventing the external electrodes of the piezoelectric element from shorting to each other. |
| US09973855B2 |
Method and electronic device for controlling output depending on type of external output device
An electronic device and a method for controlling output through an external output device are provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a receptacle formed so as to receive one of a first external connector and a second external connector, and a circuit electrically coupled to the receptacle. The first external connector includes first, second, third, and fourth terminals. The second external connector includes first, second, third, and fourth terminals. The circuit is configured to detect whether one of the first and second external connectors is inserted into the receptacle, and, based on results of detection, provide an audio output to the first external connector in a first manner if the first external connector is inserted, and provide the audio output to the second external connector in a second manner different from the first manner if the second external connector is inserted. |
| US09973854B1 |
Electronic headset
Implementations of an electronic headset are provided. In some implementations, the electronic headset may be configured to be worn on the head of a user. In some implementations, the electronic headset may be configured so that two earcups can be removably and/or rotatably coupled to a headband thereof. In some implementation, the electronic headset may be configured to power attached electronic earcups and/or other electrically powered accessories (e.g., a light, etc.) conductively coupled thereto. In some implementations, an electronic headset may comprise a headband having a mounting bracket on each end thereof, two earcup mounting hubs, and an electronic circuitry comprising a power source. In some implementations, each earcup mounting hub may be configured to conductively interface with a mounting bracket when coupled thereto. In this way, the electronic earcups may be powered by the electronic headset. |
| US09973851B2 |
Multi-channel playback of audio content
An example method is performed by a media playback system comprising a plurality of audio drivers having a first radiation pattern. The method includes receiving data representing audio content, where each datum of the data indicates (i) a frequency and (ii) an amplitude corresponding to the frequency. The method further includes, for each audio driver of the plurality of audio drivers, determining a transfer function; processing each datum of the data based on (i) the frequency indicated by the given datum and (ii) the determined transfer function; and providing, to the given audio driver, a respective signal representing the data processed for the given audio driver, thereby causing the plurality of audio drivers to play back the audio content according to a second radiation pattern that is different from the first radiation pattern. An example media playback system and an example non-transitory computer-readable medium related to the example method is also disclosed herein. |
| US09973849B1 |
Signal quality beam selection
A device that includes a first beam selection component that selects a portion of the multiple beams prior to performing adaptive noise cancellation, in addition to a second beam selection component that selects a beam after adaptive noise cancellation is performed. The device only performs adaptive noise cancellation on the portion of the multiple beams that are selected, reducing a complexity of performing adaptive noise cancellation. In addition, as the first beam selection component selects from the multiple beams before adaptive noise cancellation, the quality of the signals are not reduced and/or desired signals are not suppressed, resulting in the first beam selection component increasing a likelihood that the second beam selection component selects the desired beam. The first beam selection component may use a different algorithm and/or selection criteria than the second beam selection component in order to select beams associated with desired signals such as speech. |
| US09973848B2 |
Signal-enhancing beamforming in an augmented reality environment
An augmented reality environment allows interaction between virtual and real objects. Beamforming techniques are applied to signals acquired by an array of microphones to allow for simultaneous spatial tracking and signal acquisition from multiple users. Localization information such as from other sensors in the environment may be used to select a particular set of beamformer coefficients and resulting beampattern focused on a signal source. Alternately, a series of beampatterns may be used iteratively to localize the signal source in a computationally efficient fashion. The beamformer coefficients may be pre-computed. |
| US09973842B2 |
Portable sound equipment
There is disclosed a portable sound equipment comprising a neckband wire configured to wrap a predetermined region of a user's neck; a main body coupled to one end of the neckband wire; a first printed circuit board disposed on an upper or lower surface of the main body; a flat bracket disposed on the first printed circuit board and having one surface which contacts with the first printed circuit board; a lateral bracket coupled to a lateral surface of the flat bracket; a second printed circuit board supported to the lateral bracket and toward a lateral surface of the main body; and a side button disposed on the second printed circuit board and exposed outside the lateral surface of the main body. |
| US09973841B2 |
Earbud set, and hearing aid and earphone using same
An ear bud set comprises: a body part; a leg part foldably connected to the body part; and an elastic body connected to the body part and a foldable portion of the leg part. The earbud set is stably provided in the ears when being used for the hearing aid or the earphone, the Bluetooth and the like, and thus is not easily separated from the ears despite vigorous motion, and since earholes are ventilated and external sound can be heard after being worn in the ears, sound transmission efficiency capable of preventing a safety accident is effective. The earbud set can be stably worn in the ears irrespective of the different shapes and sizes of ears of people, does not cause earaches by dispersing the force applied to the ears, and can be stably provided to the ears with low pressure. |
| US09973837B2 |
Finger-wearable mobile communication device
A mobile communication device configured to be worn on an index finger of a user's hand. The device includes a case, a microphone, a switch, and a power source. The microphone and the switch are strategically located along a shape of the case so that as worn on the user's index finger and when the switch is activated by the thumb of the user's hand, the hand naturally cups about the microphone to form a barrier to ambient noise. Further, the microphone can readily be located near a corner of the user's mouth for optimal speech-receiving conditions and to provide more private audio input. |
| US09973836B1 |
Detecting a transceiver using a noise optical signal
A method may include causing a signal to be transmitted that includes a plurality of wavelengths. The signal may be transmitted via an optical fiber that is associated with a particular wavelength. The particular wavelength may be included in the plurality of wavelengths. The method may include filtering the signal, based on the particular wavelength, to generate a filtered signal. The filtered signal may include the particular wavelength. The method may include detecting the filtered signal in association with the optical fiber. The method may include determining the particular wavelength based on the filtered signal. The method may include storing or providing information identifying at least one of the particular wavelength, the optical fiber, or a transmitter that transmitted the signal. |
| US09973833B2 |
Parameter correction for cascaded signal components
Various examples are directed to crosspoint switches and methods of use thereof. An example cross point switch comprises a first row buffer, a second row buffer, a first column buffer, and a second column buffer. The crosspoint switch may also comprise a first switch that, when closed, electrically couples the second row buffer to the first column buffer, and a correction controller. The correction controller may be configured to send a first correction signal to the first row buffer; send a second correction signal to the second row buffer; receive an indication that the first switch is closed; send a third correction signal to the first column buffer; and send a fourth correction signal to the second column buffer. |
| US09973831B2 |
Data collection system and method for fleet management
Embodiments of the invention are directed a data communication system and method for a fleet management system configured to assist with monitoring and managing a fleet of one or more powered machines and one or more human operators. |
| US09973829B2 |
Method for video communications and terminal, server and system for video communications
A method and system for video communications between a terminal and a server. A first terminal establishes a communication connection with a server through a communication protocol. Local video data displayed in a video zone of the first terminal and other data displayed in a preset whiteboard zone of the first terminal are sent-to the server, to allow the server to send the local video data and the other data to one or more second terminals to be displayed. Complex content can be shown in one-to-one, one-to-many or many-to-many video communications applications to satisfy the demand and experience of video communications in the scenes of chats. |
| US09973821B2 |
Method and apparatus for concurrent broadcast of media program and social networking derived information exchange
A method and apparatus for presenting a media program concurrently with viewer questions and live commentary about the media program is disclosed. As the media program is broadcasted, messages from the first group regarding the media program are accepted. The accepted messages are filtered to identify suitable messages of interest and to present only those messages to a second group for comment. The identified messages from the first group and comments from the second group are added to the broadcast media program concurrently or in real time. |
| US09973819B1 |
Live video stream with interactive shopping interface
Disclosed are various embodiments for providing a live video stream with an interactive shopping interface. A live video stream is obtained from a media server. Item information is obtained from the media server. The item information indicates one or more items being featured in the live video stream. A user interface is rendered upon a display. The user interface includes the live video stream and the item information indicating the items being featured in the live video stream. |
| US09973817B1 |
System and method for providing a list of video-on-demand programs
A list of video-on-demand (VOD) programs based on viewer selections is provided. VOD programs may be marked with a mark indicating the level of viewer interest. In one embodiment, a list of VOD programs may be displayed that includes or excludes programs having a particular mark, or sorts programs based on the marks. In another embodiment, a list of VOD programs may be displayed based on availability times. In yet another embodiment, after a viewer has played back a VOD program, a list of related VOD programs may be automatically displayed. |
| US09973810B2 |
Controlled environment media and communication system
The Controlled Environment Media And Communication System delivers communications services to residents of controlled facilities using a common network architecture. Some of the communications capabilities of the Controlled Environment Media And Communication System include media distribution, video visitation, intra-facility messaging, and other such communications services. |
| US09973808B2 |
Streamlined viewing of recorded programs based on markers
A receiving system includes a communication input system to receive a program and a marker file. The program has a total duration when the program is presented in its entirety. The marker file includes a plurality of markers indicating locations of contents-of-interest in the program. The system includes a data storage system to store the program and the marker file. The system includes a user control to receive requests to present the contents-of-interest indicated by the plurality of markers. The system includes one or more processors to determine the locations of the contents-of-interest in the program from the plurality of markers. The system includes a presentation output interface to present the contents-of-interest on a user interface. The presentation of the contents-of-interest skips some content in the program. The contents-of-interest are presented over a shortened duration that is less that the total duration of the program when presented in its entirety. |
| US09973801B1 |
Incentivizing insertion forecast validation in intelligent insertion of secondary content in live streaming
A non-climactic period is forecasted during a live streaming of a main content, where a likelihood of an occurrence of any climactic event in the non-climactic period is below a threshold likelihood, and where a second content is inserted during the non-climactic period. A validation is requested from a first user of the live streaming, of the forecasted non-climactic period and a first response to the request is received from the first user. Based on the first response, a first rank of the first user is computed relative to another user in a group of responding users. A first dynamic delay period that has an inverse relationship with the first rank is computed for the first user. A first transmission of a future portion of the live streaming to the first user is delayed by at least the first dynamic delay period. |
| US09973798B2 |
Technique for securely communicating programming content
A technique for securely transferring content from a first device in a first layer to a second device in a second layer. In one embodiment, the first device is a device in a trusted domain and the second device is outside of the trusted domain. Transfer of protected content to another device may require authentication of the receiving device. A rights file which specifies the rights of the receiving device to use the protected content, according to its security level is also transferred. These rights may concern, e.g., the number of times the receiving device may transfer the protected content to other devices, the time period within which the receiving device may play the protected content, etc. The higher the security level of the receiving device, the more rights accorded thereto. A minimum security level requirement may be imposed in order for protected content to be transferred to a device. |
| US09973796B2 |
Device control in backup media-broadcast system
In one aspect, an example method may be used in connection with a system including a first media-broadcast system (MBS) and a second MBS, wherein the first MBS includes a first automation-system and a first device, and wherein the second MBS includes a second automation-system and a second device. The method includes: receiving, by the second automation-system, first output generated by the first automation-system to control operation of the first device; using, by the second automation-system, the received first-output to control operation of the second device; receiving, by the second automation-system, a traffic schedule; using, by the second automation-system, the received traffic schedule to generate second output; determining, by the second automation system, that a trigger event occurred; and responsive to determining that the trigger event occurred, switching, by the second automation-system, from using the received first-output to using the generated second-output, to control operation of the second device. |
| US09973795B2 |
Method for video synchronization in video distribution systems
This disclosure describes a method for video synchronization in video distribution systems that includes a system that re-synchronizes the video playback of a video synchronization device with that of a host device after any change by the host, interruption within the host, or interruption of data flow between a video source device and a video display device. |
| US09973794B2 |
Demand target detection
A system draws an inference about the audience being targeted by the buyer of an advertisement placement opportunity by correlating the order for the advertisement placement opportunity with characteristics of the audience associated with the television program in which the advertisement placement opportunity is embedded. Sellers of advertisement placement opportunities may use the inferred target audience information to appropriately price their advertising inventories and to fulfill orders more effectively. |
| US09973792B1 |
Systems and methods for presenting visual information during presentation of a video segment
A first and second video segment may be obtained. A second video segment may be obtained. A first and second set of contextual information associated with the first and second video segments may be obtained. The first set of contextual information defining a first set of performance information characterizing performance of a first activity associated with the first video segment and the second set of contextual information defining a second set of performance information characterizing performance of a second activity associated with the second video segment. The first set of performance information and the second set of performance information may be compared. Relative performance of the first activity relative to the second activity may be determined based upon the comparison. Visual information associated with the first video segment may be generated. The visual information may be presented during presentation of the first video segment. |
| US09973791B2 |
Asset qualification for content on demand insertion
Systems and methods presented herein provide for qualifying assets for insertion into selected COD content. In one embodiment, a system is operable to select from a plurality of assets for insertion into a Content On Demand (COD) content selection. The system includes an interface operable to process a request for asset insertion into the COD content selection to extract information of the COD content selection including a provider of the COD content selection (e.g., a head end). The system also includes an asset qualification module operable to communicate with the provider of the COD content selection to validate the request, to analyze the information of the COD content selection to validate the assets for insertion into the COD content selection, and to remove one or more of the assets from insertion selection based on the validation of the assets. |
| US09973788B2 |
Determining interest levels in videos
A video is analyzed to identify interest level for a plurality of frames. The interest level is determined based on analysis of the content of each of the plurality of frames or how often other clients view the frames or take actions while viewing the frames. Frames are clustered and key frame locations are determined for each of the clusters. Key frames are given a higher buffering priority than non key frames. Buffering of key frames is prioritized based on key frame interest level. Key frames are also utilized to enable a client to skip forward or backward between key frames and view content that is likely to be of interest to the user. |
| US09973778B2 |
Method for multiview video prediction encoding and device for same, and method for multiview video prediction decoding and device for same
A multi-view video prediction method and a multi-view video prediction restoring method. The multi-view video prediction method includes generating a base layer image stream including residual values of I-picture base view key pictures and base view images of a base view by performing inter prediction between the base view images; and generating an enhancement layer image stream comprising residual values of additional view images of an additional view by performing inter-view prediction for predicting the additional view images with reference to the base view images, performing inter prediction for predicting a different additional view key picture with reference to an additional view key picture from among the additional view images, and performing inter prediction for predicting an additional view image other than the additional view key picture with reference to the additional view images. |
| US09973775B2 |
Video prediction encoding device, video prediction encoding method, video prediction encoding program, video prediction decoding device, video prediction decoding method, and video prediction decoding program
A predicted signal generation unit provided in a video predictive encoding device estimates a zero-th motion vector for derivation of a zero-th predicted signal, selects a zero-th motion vector predictor similar to the zero-th motion vector, and generates zero-th side information containing a zero-th motion vector predictor index to identify the motion vector predictor and a motion vector difference determined from the zero-th motion vector and the zero-th motion vector predictor. The video predictive encoding device selects a motion vector for generation of a first predicted signal having a high correlation with a target region, generates first side information containing a first motion vector predictor index to identify the motion vector as a first motion vector predictor, sets the first motion vector predictor to a first motion vector, and combines the zero-th and first predicted signals to generate a predicted signal of the target region. |
| US09973774B2 |
Video coding/decoding system, video coding/decoding method, and storage medium
A video decoding apparatus includes a reference picture list storing unit configured to store picture information of pictures; a motion vector information storing unit configured to store motion vector information including motion vectors of blocks that are spatially and temporally adjacent to a target block to be decoded and reference picture identifiers indicating pictures that the motion vectors refer to; and a vector predictor generating unit configured to scale a vector predictor candidate for a motion vector of the target block based on the picture information and the motion vector information and to correct the scaled vector predictor candidate toward 0 by a predetermined amount. |
| US09973769B2 |
Methods and apparatus of encoding real time media content
Methods, apparatus and systems of parallel encoding and publishing media content in a plurality of encoded formats. One exemplary embodiment includes the steps of receiving at least a first portion of a first content stream; communicating the first portion of the stream to a plurality of encoders including a first through Nth encoder, operating said first through Nth encoders in parallel to perform different encoding operations in real time to generate first through Nth encoded versions of said first portion of content; monitoring the encoding status of each of the first through Nth encoders; determining when at least the first through Nth encoders are done processing the first portion of the stream, and publishing, in response to determining that the first through Nth encoders are done processing the first portion of the stream, at the same time, the successfully encoded versions of the first portion of the stream. |
| US09973765B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding multilayer video, method and apparatus for decoding multilayer video
Disclosed are methods for coding and decoding a multilayer video. The method for decoding a multilayer comprise: decoding a first layer picture and saving same to a decoded picture buffer (DPB); marking the first layer picture as a short-term reference picture; obtaining interlayer RPS information of a second layer picture which has a first POC identical to that of the first layer picture and which is interlayer-predicted by referencing the first layer picture; marking the first layer picture which has been marked as the short-term reference picture as a long-term reference picture, based on the interlayer RPS information; and performing interlayer prediction with respect to the second layer picture by referencing the first layer picture which has been marked as the long-term reference picture. |
| US09973764B2 |
Method and device for transmitting and receiving advanced UHD broadcasting content in digital broadcasting system
The present invention relates to a method and a device for transmitting and receiving advanced UHD broadcasting content in a digital broadcasting system. The method for transmitting and receiving advanced UHD broadcasting content, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: encoding data of a base layer; encoding data of one or more enhancement layers; encoding broadcast network program metadata including information on an advanced UHD broadcast program transmitted through a broadcast network, and encoding IP network program metadata including information on an advanced UHD broadcast program transmitted through an IP network; packetizing the encoded data of the base layer and/or the data of a first enhancement layer into a broadcast packet; packetizing the encoded data of a second enhancement layer into an IP packet; transmitting the broadcast packet through the broadcast network; and transmitting the IP packet through the IP network. |
| US09973763B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method for applying filtering determination processes in parallel
An image processing device including a decoding section configured to decode an image from an encoded stream, a determination section configured to perform determination processes of determining whether to apply a deblocking filter to neighboring blocks neighboring across a block boundary within an image to be decoded by the decoding section, a filtering section configured to apply a deblocking filter to neighboring blocks to which the determination section has determined to apply a deblocking filter, and a control section configured to allow the determination section to perform the determination processes for a vertical block boundary and a horizontal block boundary using pixels of the neighboring blocks of a reconstruct image as reference pixels. |
| US09973761B2 |
Context initialization in entropy coding
A decoder includes an entropy decoder configured to derive a number of bins of the binarizations from the data stream using binary entropy decoding by selecting a context among different contexts and updating probability states associated with the different contexts, dependent on previously decoded portions of the data stream; a desymbolizer configured to debinarize the binarizations of the syntax elements to obtain integer values of the syntax elements; a reconstructor configured to reconstruct the video based on the integer values of the syntax elements using a quantization parameter, wherein the entropy decoder is configured to distinguish between 126 probability states and to initialize the probability states associated with the different contexts according to a linear equation of the quantization parameter, wherein the entropy decoder is configured to, for each of the different contexts, derive a slope and an offset of the linear equation from first and second four bit parts of a respective 8 bit initialization value. |
| US09973760B2 |
Extension data handling
A length indicator associated with an encoded representation of a slice is parsed. The length indicator is indicative of a length of an extension field present in a slice header of the encoded representation. A decoder can then determine to ignore, during decoding of the encoded representation, any value of the extension field in the slice header where these values are identified based on the length indicator. As a consequence, an extension field can be added to slice headers and still enable legacy decoders to correctly decode the encoded representations. |
| US09973759B2 |
Method of simplified CABAC coding in 3D video coding
A method for reducing the storage requirement or complexity of context-based coding in three-dimensional or multi-view video encoding and decoding is disclosed. The system selects the context based on selected information associated with one or more neighboring blocks of the current block conditionally depending on whether the one or more neighboring blocks are available. The syntax element is then encoded or decoded using context-based coding according to the context selection. The syntax element to be coded may correspond to an IC (illumination compensation) flag or an ARP (advanced residual prediction) flag. In another example, one or more syntax elements for coding a current depth block using DMM (Depth Map Model) are encoded or decoded using context-based coding, where the context-based coding selects a by-pass mode for at least one selected syntax element. |
| US09973758B2 |
Content adaptive entropy coding for next generation video
Techniques related to content adaptive entropy coding are described. A technique for video coding may include obtaining first and second video data for entropy encoding such that the first and second video data comprise different data types, determining a first entropy encoding technique for the first video data such that the first entropy encoding technique comprises at least one of an adaptive symbol-run video length coding technique or an adaptive proxy variable length coding technique, entropy encoding the first video data using the first encoding technique to generate first compressed video data and the second video data using a second encoding technique to generate second compressed video data, and assembling the first compressed video data and the second compressed video data to generate an output bitstream. |
| US09973757B2 |
Content adaptive predictive and functionally predictive pictures with modified references for next generation video coding
Techniques related to content adaptive predictive and functionally predictive pictures with modified references for next generation video coding are described. |
| US09973756B2 |
Video encoder and video encoding method
A video decoder decoding an encoded stream includes a parallel entropy decoding part to entropy decode the stream of blocks in block lines in parallel, a parallel QP prediction part to compute prediction values of the blocks in the block lines in parallel, and a parallel decoding processing part to generate decoded pixels of the blocks in the block lines in parallel, the decoded pixel being obtained utilizing data decoded by the parallel entropy decoding part and the prediction value. When performing computing processing in parallel per unit of N block lines, the processing is performed on a processing block in a (K−1)th block line preceding a processing block in a Kth block line by at least one block in a horizontal position to compute the prediction value of the processing block by referring to a block already processed corresponding to the processing block. |
| US09973753B2 |
Moving image encoding device and moving image decoding device based on adaptive switching among transformation block sizes
An encoding controlling unit 3 selects one transformation block size which provides an optimal degree of encoding efficiency from a set of transformation block sizes which are determined in accordance with an encoding mode 7, and includes the transformation block size selected thereby in optimal compression parameters 20a to notify the transformation block size to a transformation/quantization unit 19, and the transformation/quantization unit 19 divides an optimal prediction differential signal 13a into blocks having the transformation block size included in the optimal compression parameters 20a, and carries out a transformation and quantization process on each of the blocks to generate compressed data 21. |
| US09973752B2 |
Intelligent MSI-X interrupts for video analytics and encoding
Video analytics may be used to assist video encoding by selectively encoding only portions of a frame and using, instead, previously encoded portions. Previously encoded portions may be used when succeeding frames have a level of motion less than a threshold. In such case, all or part of succeeding frames may not be encoded, increasing bandwidth and speed in some embodiments. |
| US09973744B2 |
3D tracked point visualization using color and perspective size
One exemplary embodiment involves receiving a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) track points for a plurality of frames of a video, wherein the 3D track points are extracted from a plurality of two-dimensional source points. The embodiment further involves rendering the 3D track points across a plurality of frames of the video on a two-dimensional (2D) display. Additionally, the embodiment involves coloring each of the 3D track points wherein the color of each 3D track point visually distinguishes the 3D track point from a plurality of surrounding 3D track points, and wherein the color of each 3D track point is consistent across the frames of the video. The embodiment also involves sizing each of the 3D track points based on a distance between a camera that captured the video and a location of the 2D source points referenced by the respective one of the 3D track points. |
| US09973743B2 |
Electronic device having dynamically controlled flashlight for image capturing and related control method
A control method of an electronic device with an image capture function is provided. The control method includes the following steps: detecting a distance between the electronic device and at least one subject in a scene to be captured to generate a distance detection result; and utilizing a controller for referring to the distance detection result to determine whether to turn on or turn off a flashlight of the electronic device to capture the scene. |
| US09973741B2 |
Three-dimensional image sensors
A single image sensor including an array of uniformly and continuously spaced light-sensing pixels in conjunction with a plurality of lenses that focus light reflected from an object onto a plurality of different pixel regions of the image sensor, each lens focusing light on a different one of the pixel regions enables a controller, including a processor and an object detection module, coupled to the single image to analyze the pixel regions, to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image of the object through a plurality of images obtained with the image sensor, generate a depth map that calculates depth values for pixels of at least the object, detect 3D motion of the object using the depth values, create a 3D model of the object based on the 3D image, and track 3D motion of the object based on the 3D model. |
| US09973739B2 |
Sharing of motion vector in 3D video coding
Joint coding of depth map video and texture video is provided, where a motion vector for a texture video is predicted from a respective motion vector of a depth map video or vice versa. For scalable video coding, depth map video is coded as a base layer and texture video is coded as an enhancement layer(s). Inter-layer motion prediction predicts motion in texture video from motion in depth map video. With more than one view in a bit stream (for multi view coding), depth map videos are considered monochromatic camera views and are predicted from each other. If joint multi-view video model coding tools are allowed, inter-view motion skip issued to predict motion vectors of texture images from depth map images. Furthermore, scalable multi-view coding is utilized, where interview prediction is applied between views in the same dependency layer, and inter-layer (motion) prediction is applied between layers in the same view. |
| US09973735B2 |
Camera apparatus and method of controlling camera apparatus
A camera apparatus includes a rotatable camera unit; a filter unit which is configured to selectively take at least one of a covering state and a standby state, wherein the covering state covers a light incident portion of the camera unit with a filter and the standby state removes the filter from the light incident portion; a controller which is configured to control a rotation of the camera unit and a state of the filter unit; and a memory which stores posture information including a direction of the camera unit and filter information representing at least one of the covering state and the standby state of the filter unit. The controller controls the direction of the camera unit based on the posture information stored in the memory and controls the filter unit based on the filter information stored in the memory. |
| US09973734B2 |
Vehicle circumference monitoring apparatus
A vehicle circumference monitoring apparatus includes: an image acquisition section that acquires captured image data output from an imaging section that is provided in a vehicle and images a circumference of the vehicle; a state acquisition section that acquires vehicle state data output from a vehicle state detection section that is provided in the vehicle and detects at least a roll state of the vehicle; a setting section that sets a center of rotation to rotate a display image depending on the roll state if the display image is displayed on a display device based on the captured image data; an image adjustment section that rotates a display state of the display image about the center of rotation that is set depending on the roll state; and an output section that outputs the display image to the display device. |
| US09973728B2 |
System and method for supporting selective backtracking data recording
Systems and methods can support a data processing apparatus. The data processing apparatus can include a data processor that is associated with a data capturing device on a stationary object and/or a movable object. The data processor can receive data in a data flow from one or more data sources, wherein the data flow is configured based on a time sequence. Then, the data processor can receive a control signal, which is associated with a first timestamp, wherein the first timestamp indicates a first time. Furthermore, the data processor can determine a first data segment by applying the first timestamp on the data flow, wherein the first data segment is associated with a time period in the time sequence that includes the first time. |
| US09973723B2 |
User interface and graphics composition with high dynamic range video
A method and system for adaptively mixing video components with graphics/UI components, where the video components and graphics/UI components may be of different types, e.g., different dynamic ranges (such as HDR, SDR) and/or color gamut (such as WCG). The mixing may result in a frame optimized for a display device's color space, ambient conditions, viewing distance and angle, etc., while accounting for characteristics of the received data. The methods include receiving video and graphics/UI elements, converting the video to HDR and/or WCG, performing statistical analysis of received data and any additional applicable rendering information, and assembling a video frame with the received components based on the statistical analysis. The assembled video frame may be matched to a color space and displayed. The video data and graphics/UI data may have or be adjusted to have the same white point and/or primaries. |
| US09973718B2 |
Solid-state imaging element, method of driving the same, and camera system
A solid-state imaging element including pixel signal read lines, and a pixel signal reading unit for reading pixel signals from a pixel unit via the pixel signal read line. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element. In the pixel unit, a shared pixel in which an output node is shared among a plurality of pixels is formed, and a pixel signal of each pixel in the shared pixel is capable of being selectively output from the shared output node to a corresponding one of the pixel signal read lines. The pixel signal reading unit sets a bias voltage for a load element which is connected to the pixel signal read line and in which current dependent on a bias voltage flows in the load element, to a voltage causing a current value to be higher than current upon a reference bias voltage when there is no difference between added charge amounts, when addition of pixel signals of the respective pixels in the shared pixel is driven. |
| US09973717B1 |
Image sensors with anti-eclipse circuitry
An image sensor may include an array of image pixels arranged in rows and columns. Image pixels arranged along the same column may be coupled to a column line. The column line may be coupled to anti-eclipse control circuitry. In one suitable arrangement, the anti-eclipse control circuitry may include a comparator that compares the output signal on the column line to an anti-eclipse bias voltage. If, during a reset sampling period, the output signal on the column line is less than the anti-eclipse bias voltage, a transistor may be asserted that couples the floating diffusion region in the pixel to a power supply terminal. Using this arrangement, at least a minimum pixel level may be output when the eclipse condition is met and noise from the reset sample will correlated to noise in the incident light sample. |
| US09973716B2 |
Reset noise reduction for pixel readout with pseudo correlated double sampling
Provided are an imaging device implementing pseudo correlated double sampling (CDS), and an imaging method and a control method of the image device. The imaging device includes: a pixel array comprising a pixel configured to generate a current in response to incident light; a readout circuit configured to read out a plurality of output signals of the pixel, the plurality of output signals corresponding to a plurality of consecutive integration periods of the pixel within an aggregating period; and an aggregator configured to aggregate the plurality of output signals read out by the readout circuit to obtain a final aggregated output corresponding to illuminance for the aggregating period, wherein the readout circuit is configured to read out the plurality of output signals by, for each output signal, sampling a signal voltage of the pixel and sampling a subsequent reset voltage of the pixel and obtaining a difference therebetween. |
| US09973711B2 |
Content-based zooming and panning for video curation
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for identifying content in video data and creating content-based zooming and panning effects to emphasize the content. Contents may be detected and analyzed in the video data using computer vision, machine learning algorithms or specified through a user interface. Panning and zooming controls may be associated with the contents, panning or zooming based on a location and size of content within the video data. The device may determine a number of pixels associated with content and may frame the content to be a certain percentage of the edited video data, such as a close-up shot where a subject is displayed as 50% of the viewing frame. The device may identify an event of interest, may determine multiple frames associated with the event of interest and may pan and zoom between the multiple frames based on a size/location of the content within the multiple frames. |
| US09973709B2 |
Noise level control device for a wide dynamic range image and an image processing system including the same
An image processing device includes a first wide dynamic range (WDR) image generation block, a control signal generator, and a second WDR image generation block. The first WDR image generation block processes a long-exposure image signal to generate a first image signal, processes a short-exposure image signal using a second weight value to generates a second image signal, and to synthesize the first image signal and the second image signal to generate a first WDR image signal. The control signal generator calculates a difference between the second weight value and a reference weight value and generates control signals according to a result of the calculation. The second WDR image generation block adjusts a noise level of the first WDR image signal using the control signals and generates a second WDR image signal according to a result of the adjustment. |
| US09973708B2 |
Optical detector
A sensor array including at least two image sensors situated one above the other in layers, including at least one organic semiconductor, and subdivided into pixels. The at least two image sensors are different in the size of their pixels. |
| US09973707B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus and system for dynamically adjusting frame rate
An image processing method is provided. The image processing method includes the following steps: detecting an input sequence of image frames captured using an image capturing device to generate a detection result; referring to the detection result to selectively perform frame interpolation on the input sequence of image frames to generate a to-be-encoded sequence of image frames; and encoding the to-be-encoded sequence of image frames to generate an encoded video signal. |
| US09973706B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting imaging conditions
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for detecting an imaging condition. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for detecting an imaging condition. The method comprises: determining, based on luminance distribution in a first image of a scene, imaging lightness of the first image, the first image being captured by a first camera; determining, based on detection of a highlighted region in a second image of the scene, imaging exposureness of the second image, the second image being captured by a second camera, the first image and the second image being captured under a same or similar imaging condition, an exposure amount of the first camera being lower than an exposure amount of the second camera. There is also disclosed a relevant apparatus, electronic device, and a computer program product. |
| US09973705B2 |
Smart camera user interface
Implementations of the present disclosure include actions of receiving image data of an image capturing a scene, receiving data describing one or more entities determined from the scene, the one or more entities being determined from the scene, determining one or more actions based on the one or more entities, each action being provided at least partly based on search results from searching the one or more entities, and providing instructions to display an action interface comprising one or more action elements, each action element being to induce execution of a respective action, the action interface being displayed in a viewfinder. |
| US09973701B2 |
Monitoring system
There is provided a monitoring system capable of facilitating checking of an installation status of a sensor body, and also capable of reducing personal identification of a worker even in the case of displaying a camera image with the worker appearing therein. The monitoring system is configured of: an intrusion detecting section for detecting an intruding object in a monitoring area, to generate a stop signal for stopping an operation of an external device; a camera for photographing the monitoring area; a detail check image generating section for generating a detail check image for display based on a camera image photographed by the camera; a privacy image generating section for generating a privacy image with lower picture quality than picture quality of the detail check image based on the camera image. |
| US09973698B2 |
Rapid shake detection using a cascade of quad-tree motion detectors
A method of determining stability of a camera comprises capturing an image with the camera and then (A) determining a magnitude of motion for each region of a current sub-division of the image. A step (B) then determines a number of the magnitudes of motion not larger than a magnitude threshold associated with the current sub-division, and where the determined number is greater than or equal to a region threshold associated with the number of regions in the current sub-division, (i) determining the camera to be stable, or otherwise (ii) dividing the current sub-division of the image into a further sub-division and repeating steps (A) and (B) upon the further sub-division. |
| US09973687B2 |
Capturing apparatus and method for capturing images without moire pattern
An method for capturing images using a capturing apparatus including determining whether a moiré pattern exists in a preview image captured by a camera device. A capturing parameter of the camera device is adjusted when the moiré pattern exists in the preview image. The camera device is controlled to capture images when the capturing parameter has been adjusted. |
| US09973686B2 |
Image capturing control apparatus, image capturing control method to control display based on user input
An information processing system that detects that a first user input is received at a user interface corresponding to a display configured to display an image captured by an image capturing unit; determines a status of a timer corresponding to the user interface upon detecting the first user input; controls an image capture operation of the image capturing unit upon detecting the first input and determining that the status of the timer satisfies a first predetermined condition; and controls the display to display an image condition settings menu upon detecting the first input and determining that the status of the timer satisfies a second predetermined condition. |
| US09973684B2 |
Lens control apparatus and control method
A lens control apparatus and a control method thereof are disclosed. The lens control apparatus includes a microprocessor which obtains a correction defocus amount so that the correction defocus amount obtained by the microprocessor when a zoom speed is a first speed is greater than the correction defocus amount obtained by the microprocessor when a zoom speed is a second speed which is less than the first speed. |
| US09973675B2 |
Transmission apparatus, reception apparatus, communication system, and recording medium
A transmission apparatus configured to transmit image data to a reception apparatus through a network, in which a setting value for generating captured data and a setting value for generating image data by an encoding unit are updated according to reception of a command that sets the setting value for generating the captured data by the image capturing unit. When the setting value for generating the captured data is updated according to the received command, notification is performed through the network regardless of a restart process is performed. |
| US09973668B2 |
Camera system having a modular printed circuit board arrangement
Camera system for a vehicle comprising an objective lens; a first printed circuit board provided with an image sensor for acquiring image information via the objective lens; and at least one additional printed circuit board adapted for providing a predetermined basic function for the camera system, wherein the first printed circuit board and each of the at least one additional printed circuit board comprises at least a connection unit, wherein the printed circuit boards are electrically connectable in a modular exchangeable manner, respectively, via the at least one connection unit for adapting the range of functions of the camera system according to the predetermined basic function. |
| US09973667B2 |
Camera housing for adjusting an optical system
A housing for mounting a component that includes an image sensor, a fixed installation space being provided in the interior of the housing for accommodating at least one optical component. The housing has at least one outer receiving recess that is spatially separate from the interior of the housing. This outer receiving recess is provided for receiving at least one positioning element in a way that allows the positioning element to define a support plane relative to the housing, and the component including the image sensor to be placed on the positioning element, so that the component including the image sensor resides in the defined support plane. In this case, the component including the image sensor may be placed in the defined support plane in a way that does not allow any direct contact between the component that includes the image sensor, and the housing. |
| US09973662B2 |
Detection of solid color frames for determining transitions in video content
Particular embodiments detect a solid color frame, such as a black frame, that may include visible content other than the solid color in a portion of the frame. These frames may conventionally not be detected as a solid color frame because of the visible content in the portion of the frame. However, these solid color frames may be “functional” black or white frames, in that the solid color frames are performing the function of the solid color frame even though the frames include the visible content. The visible content may be content that may always be displayed on the screen even if the video content is transitioning to an advertisement. Particular embodiments use techniques to detect the functional solid color frames even when visible content appears in the solid color frames. Particular embodiments use color layout information and edge distribution information to detect solid color frames. |
| US09973659B2 |
Imaging element, image reading device, image forming apparatus, and imaging method
An imaging element includes: a plurality of pixel units configured to each include a plurality of light receiving elements performing photoelectric conversion; a plurality of analog-to-digital (A/D) converters configured to be provided to each of the pixel units for sequentially converting an analog signal obtained by photoelectric conversion performed by the light receiving elements to a digital signal; a plurality of first holding units configured to be provided to each of the pixel units for sequentially holding a digital signal obtained by conversion performed by the A/D converters; and a plurality of second holding units configured to receive and hold a digital signal held by the first holding units in a period when the A/D converters do not convert an analog signal to a digital signal. |
| US09973658B2 |
CRUM chip and image forming device for authentication and communication, and methods thereof
A Customer Replaceable Unit Monitoring (CRUM) chip, an image forming apparatus, and a method of authenticating are provided. The apparatus includes a main body that includes a main controller controlling operations of the apparatus, a consumable unit mounted on the main body to communicate with the main controller, and a CRUM chip that is provided in the consumable unit and stores information regarding the consumable unit. The main controller and the CRUM chip transmit and receive signals that include data and integrity detection data between each other. The integrity detection data is generated by using previous integrity detection data. |
| US09973656B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus may include an image forming unit configured to form an image on a printing medium and a control unit configured to perform at least one of a user authentication operation, an image forming preparation operation, and an image forming operation according to distance information between a portable electronic device and the image forming apparatus. |
| US09973649B2 |
Photographing apparatus, photographing system, photographing method, and recording medium recording photographing control program
A photographing apparatus includes: an image pickup section that outputs a picked-up image obtained by photographing an object; a metadata creation section that creates metadata based on a tag format when the picked-up image is recorded; a communication section that can transmit the picked-up image to an external apparatus; a metadata update section that converts the metadata created by the metadata creation section into a data description language; and a transmission control section that transmits the metadata created by the metadata update section to the external apparatus via the communication section when the picked-up image is transmitted. When an image file is transmitted, auxiliary data is converted into data in text format according to a transmission destination, so that it is possible to promote effective use of the auxiliary data while enabling high-speed processing. |
| US09973647B2 |
Suggesting image files for deletion based on image file parameters
The present disclosure describes a system and method to manage image file storage that includes a memory device to store instructions and at least one processing device to execute the instructions stored in the memory device to determine a blur indication or a burst characteristic for each of a plurality of files stored on a storage medium, automatically identify candidate image files to delete based at least in part on the blur indication or the burst characteristic, and delete at least some of the candidate image files based on receiving a delete indication. |
| US09973642B2 |
Information processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a detection unit, and a remote operation unit. The communication unit communicates with an external device. The detection unit detects a sound. The remote operation unit operates the external device with at least one of operations on the external device invalidated, and validates an operation on the external device, which has been invalidated, in the case where a first specific sound is detected by the detection unit with a reception screen for receiving a specific input by a user displayed on the external device. |
| US09973638B2 |
Peripheral bus video communication using internet protocol
Described are techniques for video bridging for conversion of IP network video streams to the USB Video Class (UVC). The conversion of IP video to UVC video can include the use of software-only conversions and hardware assisted conversions, and can be done within purpose-built “conversion” devices or as software only solutions operating within applications or drivers within the operating systems of the “end nodes”. The end-nodes simultaneously see and use multiple USB UVC video sources. The conversion process can also convert the USB UVC video control protocol to IP Video Stream control protocols. |
| US09973637B2 |
Wearable captured image data relay device
A wearable wireless image data relay device for positioning on a limb of a wearer may include a band configured to at least partially encircle the limb of the wearer; a storage mounted on the band and configured to store image data; and a transceiver mounted on the band and configured to detect wireless transmission of the image data from at least one camera, wirelessly receive the transmission of the image data from the at least one camera to enable storage of the image data within the storage, form a wireless coupling with a receiving device, and in response to formation of the wireless coupling and the storage of the image data within the storage, wirelessly transmit the image data from the storage to the receiving device. |
| US09973636B2 |
Mobile terminal
There is disclosed a mobile terminal including a case comprising an electric control unit in which electric/electronic parts are mounted, a battery cover coupled to a rear surface of the case, and a vibration motor coupled to an inner surface of the battery cover. |
| US09973634B2 |
Data processing in a digital subscriber line environment
Methods, systems, devices, and computer readable medium for processing data in a digital subscriber line environment are disclosed. In one aspect methods include establishing a first data channel in a first system utilizing a first frequency band. Methods also include conveying, for a second system that establishes a second data channel over a second frequency band, handshake information using the first system. |
| US09973631B2 |
History management apparatus, history management method and history management program
A history management apparatus that includes: a control unit and a storage unit that stores a history management program that, when executed by the control unit, causes the history management apparatus to perform actions including: acquiring a plurality of fragment data sets, an action of a contact center to a call, and an execution time of the action; generating a plurality of historical data sets indicating a history of response states to a respective plurality of calls and, for each call of the plurality of calls, determining a sequence of response states and duration of each of the sequence of response states; generating a first display image indicating the history of response states for one or more calls from the plurality of calls at the position of a corresponding time within a region indicating a designated time slot based on the historical data sets; and causing the display image to be displayed on a display unit. |
| US09973626B2 |
Redundancy for back-end failure
Methods and systems are described for back-end failure redundancy in security and automation systems. According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for back-end failure redundancy includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by a processor to detect an alarm event, and attempt to establish a connection between a control panel and a backend system. If no connection between control panel and backend system is made, the instructions may initiate a two-way cellular call between the control panel and a central station, and deliver a caller ID from the control panel to the central station via the two-way cellular call. |
| US09973624B2 |
Systems and methods for establishing a diagnostic transmission mode and communicating over the same
Upon detection of a trigger, such as the exceeding of an error threshold or the direction of a user, a diagnostic link system enters a diagnostic information transmission mode. This diagnostic information transmission mode allows for two modems to exchange diagnostic and/or test information that may not otherwise be exchangeable during normal communication. The diagnostic information transmission mode is initiated by transmitting an initiate diagnostic link mode message to a receiving modem accompanied by a cyclic redundancy check (CRC). The receiving modem determines, based on the CRC, if a robust communications channel is present. If a robust communications channel is present, the two modems can initiate exchange of the diagnostic and/or test information. Otherwise, the transmission power of the transmitting modem is increased and the initiate diagnostic link mode message re-transmitted to the receiving modem until the CRC is determined to be correct. |
| US09973622B2 |
Mobile device inactive mode and inactive mode verification
A mobile device, comprising: a processor; and a memory including instructions that when executed by the processor cause it to perform the steps of: receiving a user selection to automatically enter an inactive mode in response to an action within the mobile device indicating the device is being used in a moving vehicle; receiving a communication from a wireless communication module; if the mobile device is not in inactive mode, providing a notification to the user that a communication has been received; if the mobile device is in inactive mode, transmitting an away message via the wireless module. |
| US09973620B2 |
Terminal and operating method thereof
Provided is an operating method of a terminal coupled with a terminal case. The method includes: determining a terminal state including at least one of an operating state of the terminal and a state of the terminal case; recognizing a state change of the terminal case; and performing an operation corresponding to the determined terminal state and the recognized state change of the terminal case, wherein the state of the terminal case includes a position corresponding to the terminal of a case front part of the terminal case covering a front of the terminal. |
| US09973618B2 |
Method for controlling display using sensor data and electronic device thereof
An electronic device and its operating method are provided. The method includes, while a display displays content, identifying, by a first processor, state information of the electronic device using a first sensor based on a first cycle, determining, by the first processor, whether the state information is maintained using the first sensor based on a second cycle, when determining that the state information is maintained based on the second cycle, providing, by the first processor to a second processor, first notification information corresponding to the determination, and changing, by the second processor, a state of the display in response to the first notification information. |
| US09973612B2 |
Mobile terminal with touch screen and method of processing data using the same
A method of processing data in a mobile terminal with a touch screen is presented. The method includes simultaneously displaying a first application and a data list including at least one data item in predetermined regions on the touch screen, selecting at least one data item from the data list, moving the selected at least one data item to the region displaying the first application, and using the selected at least one data item to execute a function provided by the first application in response to the moved selected at least one data item. |
| US09973611B2 |
Device and method for self-administration of medicine
Devices and methods for improving user compliance with a pre-determined medication schedule including integrated software and hardware elements using wireless communication protocols to provide assistance to individuals who need to remember to administer one or more medications are provided. |
| US09973610B2 |
Mobile information processing apparatus
A mobile information communication apparatus includes a data processing device for sending plotting command/data to a display control device that controls the pixels of a display panel belonging to the mobile information communication apparatus. An interface device is provided which receives the plotting command/data generated by the data processing device and sends, based on plotting command/data, an external display signal to the external display device. The data processing device and the interface device are configured to send, from the interface device, a higher-resolution external display signal. |
| US09973607B2 |
Headset adapter and a headset system
A headset adapter and a headset system for voice communication comprising a headset and a headset adapter as well as a method of enabling microphone transmission to a host device are provided. The headset comprises at least one earphone having a headset speaker, a headset microphone and a headset transceiver, the headset adapter being configured to interconnect the headset and a host device, the headset adapter comprising an adapter processor, a host interface, such as a host interface interconnecting the adapter processor and the host device, an adapter transceiver configured to establish a wireless communication link with the headset. The adapter furthermore comprises a controller configured to enable and disable the headset microphone. The adapter processor is configured to receive a request for headset microphone activation or microphone deactivation, for example from the host interface, and in response to receiving the request providing a control signal to the controller to enable or disable the headset microphone. The controller may thus activate the transceiver to configure the wireless communication link with the headset. |
| US09973605B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing telephone numbers in a portable terminal
A method and apparatus for storing a telephone number in a portable terminal. The method includes the steps of providing a user with a name input request message; determining whether or not the inputted name exists in a phone book list of the portable terminal; and generating a new entry including the inputted name and its associated telephone number and adding the new entry to the phone book list when the inputted name does not exist in the phone book list. |
| US09973604B2 |
Framework for user-created device applications
A method to provide an interface for launching applications is described. The method includes receiving information indicative of a record stored in an electronic device application. The method also includes determining whether the record is associated with a software application command. In response to determining that the record is associated with a software application command, the software application command is activated. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described. |
| US09973602B2 |
Electronic apparatus
A piezoelectric vibrator is located on a first end portion of a second surface of a panel, and is configured to vibrate while being bent in a first direction, the first end portion extending in the first direction. A double-sided tape is located between the panel and a first case. An adhesive is located between the panel and the first case. The first end portion includes an element region, and has second and third end portions with the element region interposed between the second and third end portions. The second end portion faces the element region, and includes a first adhesive region. The double-sided tape is present between the first adhesive region and the element region, and is not present in a region located closer to an outer edge of the panel than the first adhesive region. |
| US09973599B2 |
Parser for parsing header in packet and related packet processing apparatus
A parser is used for parsing a header in a packet. The parser includes a plurality of horizontal field selectors, a plurality of comparators, and a content addressable memory (CAM) based device. Each of the horizontal field selectors is configured to select a first bit group. The comparators are coupled to the horizontal field selectors, respectively. Each of the comparators is configured to compare a first bit group selected by a corresponding horizontal field selector with a designated value to generate a comparison result. The CAM based device is configured to receive a plurality of comparison results generated from the comparators, and use the comparison results as a first input search data. |
| US09973597B1 |
Differential dictionary compression of network-accessible content
Server systems are disclosed that retrieve content on behalf of client devices and compress the retrieved content based on information known to be available to the client devices. The server systems may use server-side copies of compression dictionaries stored on the client devices. The compression dictionaries may be based on content portions, scripts, formatting data, and other byte sequences typically found in content. In some embodiments, device-specific, browser-specific, or user-specific compression dictionaries may be used based on content requested by the respective devices/browsers/users, and the server systems may maintain server-side copies of each dictionary. During compression, the server systems may generate additional compression information, such as new compression dictionary entries, and may provide information to the clients about the differences between the server-side and client-side compression dictionaries to so that the client devices can update the client-side compression dictionaries. |
| US09973596B2 |
Dynamically adjusting frame MTU to support low-latency communication
In one embodiment, a sender in a shared-communication network determines whether a pending frame is low-latency or high-throughput, and sets a maximum transmission unit (MTU) of the pending frame as a first MTU in response to a low-latency frame and a longer second MTU in response to a high-throughput frame. In another embodiment, a receiver receives a data frame from a sender according to an MTU, and determines a trigger for adjusting the MTU based on latency requirements. In response to the trigger, the receiver sets an interrupt flag in a link-layer acknowledgment for the received data frame. In still another embodiment, a sender determines a pending low-latency data frame to send to a receiver operating according to an MTU, and sends a control message to the receiver to indicate the pending low-latency data frame and an adjusted MTU. |
| US09973592B2 |
System and method for experience-sharing within a computer network
A system and method for providing a communication between users of a computer network are provided, the method including the steps of storing, in a database, received geo-location information, object information, brand information or other information, from a user; providing to the user a subset of previously stored digital media templates from the database for user selection; combining a user-selected digital media template with a user-selected media data object file received from the user; and tagging the geo-location information, object information, brand information or other information, to the combined user-selected digital media template and user-selected media data object file for communicating between users of the computer network. |
| US09973590B2 |
User identity differentiated DNS resolution
Systems and methods for DNS resolution based on user identities are provided herein. In the DNS name resolution process, a DNS resolver can construct and send DNS queries to different DNS name servers depending on the identities of the users requesting the name resolution. One embodiment may be a DNS forwarder configured in a home router, where DNS requests from a certain user group (e.g., kids) may be forwarded to OpenDNS Family Shield, while DNS requests from another user group (e.g., parents) may be forwarded to the ISP's default DNS servers or Google Public DNS. In another embodiment, the DNS resolver may be integrated within an authenticating proxy server, wherein the DNS resolver may use different DNS name servers to perform DNS name resolution for different users authenticated by the proxy server. |
| US09973587B2 |
Web page pushing method and apparatus, and terminal
A web page pushing method and apparatus, and a terminal, where the method includes receiving, by a first terminal, a response packet, which is sent by a network side to the first terminal, for a request packet for visiting a target web page, where the response packet includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the target web page, determining whether the first terminal stores the response packet, if the first terminal stores the response packet, forwarding the response packet to a second terminal, if the first terminal does not store the response packet, storing the response packet in the first terminal, and replacing the IP address of the target web page in the response packet with an IP address of a preset web page to obtain a target response packet, and sending the target response packet to the second terminal. |
| US09973586B2 |
Social context for applications
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying an application installed on a client device of a first user, and one or more second users of a social-networking system that are connected to the first user within the social-networking system. Data associated with the one or more second users may be determined. The data may indicate: a number of the one or more second users who have installed the identified application, or a number of uses of the identified application by the one or more second users over a pre-determined period of time. The data, which may be configured to be displayed on the client device with an interactive element associated with the application, may be sent to the client device of the first user. |
| US09973585B2 |
Methods, apparatus and systems for providing notice of digital tracking technologies in mobile apps on mobile devices, and for recording user consent in connection with same
Notice and consent features are provided, to a user of a mobile device who opens a mobile app, relating to tracking technologies (“trackers”) present within the mobile app. The user may be provided with a list of one or more trackers present within the mobile app and, if a tracker is not essential to the functioning of the app, the user may disable the tracker. User selections relating to notice of the presence of trackers in a mobile app, and disabling trackers, are transmitted from the mobile device to a third-party server to provide a record of the user's consent regarding the presence of the tracker(s) in the mobile app. The types of notice and consent options provided to the user in connection with the presence of trackers in the mobile app may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction depending on the location of the mobile device when the user initiates the mobile app. |
| US09973583B2 |
Method for accessing a service, corresponding device and system
A device comprises a memory. The memory stores data relating to at least one service profile template. The service profile template includes executable data. A server sends to the device a first message including a request for creating or modifying at least one service profile based upon a service profile template. The device executes the executable data. The device creates or modifies a memory area. The memory area is associated with a service profile by using the service profile template. The device sends to the server at least one second message including a request for loading into the device data relating to at least one service profile. The server sends to the device at least one third message including data relating to at least one service profile. And the device stores within the created or modified memory area the data relating to at least one service profile. |
| US09973578B2 |
Real time caching efficient check in a content centric networking (CCN)
A method for monitoring cache efficiency by a network device is implemented in a content centric networking (CCN) gateway or CCN router, where the CCN gateway or CCN router is part of a CCN network. The method collects content object retrieval information using a cache check type length value (TLV) that tracks a number of hops between a CCN gateway and a node in the CCN network that caches the content object. The method includes receiving a CCN interest packet from a user equipment, the CCN interest packet including a content object name, determining whether the cache check TLV is present in the CCN interest packet, and updating a value of the cache check TLV where the cache check TLV is determined to be present in the CCN interest packet. |
| US09973576B2 |
Communication console with component aggregation
Systems methods and devices are provided for a presentation including a communications console with component aggregation. In one potential implementation, a computing device with an application framework receives a communication manager object via a network connectivity device and executes the communication manager object within the application framework. The computing device may then receive and execute communications components and a presentation components within the application framework using the communication manager object. The communication manager object may then manage interface and display of the presentation information via the application framework, as modified by communication components. |
| US09973572B2 |
Server load management for data migration
A system and method for controlling a migration of data items in a data directory from a source system to a destination system by setting one or more target properties for implementing the migration are disclosed. A migration controller can be employed to obtain statistical information regarding the migration. The statistical information can then be used to compute the one or more target properties. For example, a target number of network connections for achieving an optimal total throughput and concurrency can be computed based on an average throughput per network connection. The target number of network connections may be determined by a migration monitor, which may set the determined target number of network connections as a policy to be enforced by the migration controller. |
| US09973571B2 |
Migrating legacy applications to a multi-tenant computing environment
Various embodiments migrate a legacy application to a multi-tenant computing environment. In one embodiment, at least one virtualized computing container is instantiated on a host system in a multi-tenant computing environment. An instance of the legacy application is executed within the virtualized computing container. The legacy application having been initially configured to run on premise and serve one tenant at a time. The virtualized computing container securely isolates the executing instance of the legacy application from other executing instances of the legacy application. At least one request received from a first client is sent to the instance of the legacy application executing within the virtualized computing container. The virtualized computing container is quiesced based on at least one quiescing criterion having been satisfied by the instance of the legacy application. |
| US09973570B2 |
System for providing an isolated testing model for disaster recovery capabilites
A system for providing an isolated testing model for testing the disaster recovery capabilities of a streamlined backup network backing up a primary network. The primary network provides one or more users access to critical data and critical services. The system is configured to be switched between a production mode and a test mode. When the system is in the production mode, the primary network and the streamlined backup network form a live production environment and the streamlined backup network provides the one or more users access to the critical data and the critical services in the event the primary network is unable to do so. When the system is in the test mode, the streamlined backup network is removed from the live production environment by physically and logically isolating the streamlined backup network from the primary network. |
| US09973569B2 |
System, method and computing apparatus to manage process in cloud infrastructure
A system, method and computing apparatus to manage process(es) in a cloud computing infrastructure are provided. Application nodes are connected to at least one administration node in a cloud computing infrastructure. The application nodes are configured upon instruction from the administration node to run a process or set of processes for at least one service, to perform the following: initiating a first process on each of the application node by at least one of the administration node; initiating at least one process other than the first process on each of the application nodes by the first process through a first procedure; monitoring operational statuses of all the processes other than the first process through the first procedure, by the first process in each of the application nodes; and the status of all the processes other than the first process is communicated to the at least one administration node. |
| US09973567B2 |
System and method for terminal management in a home network using a virtual client
A gateway Auto-Configuration Server (ACS) generates a service template according to service server information received from a service server, where the service template includes a first application identifier corresponding to an application service; a home gateway acquires the service template from the gateway ACS, and creates a virtual client for the application service corresponding to the first application identifier, and when an application service corresponding to a second application identifier acquired from a terminal belongs to the application service corresponding to the first application identifier, maps information corresponding to the second application identifier, to the virtual client corresponding to the first application identifier, and the virtual client implements message exchange between the service server corresponding to the first application identifier and the terminal. |
| US09973564B2 |
Determining variable chunk size for transfer of a file
Example implementations relate to determining variable chunk size for transfer of a file. For example, a system for determining variable chunk size for transfer of a file may include an available memory engine to determine an amount of available memory in a receiving server, where the receiving server is to receive a transferred file greater than a threshold size from a sending server, a raw chunk size engine to determine a raw chunk size for transfer of the file based on the available memory of the receiving server and a memory usage ratio for the receiving server, and a variable chunk size engine to determine a variable chunk size for transfer of the file based on the raw chunk size and a memory storage integer limitation of the receiving server. The system may further include a transfer engine to cause a transfer of the file from the sending server to the receiving server using the variable chunk size. |
| US09973562B2 |
Split processing of encoded video in streaming segments
Techniques are described for split processing of streaming segments in which processing operations are split between a source component and a decoder component. For example, the source component can perform operations for receiving a streaming segment, demultiplexing the streaming segment to separate a video content bit stream, scanning the video content bit stream to find a location at which decoding can begin (e.g., scanning up to a first decodable I-picture, for which header parameter sets are available for decoding), and send the video content bit stream to the decoder component beginning at the location (e.g., the first decodable I-picture). The decoder component can begin decoding at the identified location (e.g., the first decodable I-picture). The decoder component can also discard subsequent pictures that reference a reference picture not present in the video content bit stream (e.g., when decoding starts with a new streaming segment). |
| US09973561B2 |
Conferencing based on portable multifunction devices
A computer receives a first audio signal that is acquired by a first user device used by a first user in a conference and a second audio signal that is acquired by a second user device used by a second user in the conference. The computer processes the first audio signal based on the second audio signal to improve quality of the first audio signal, and sends the processed first audio signal to the conference. |
| US09973560B2 |
Location-based network radio production and distribution system
A location-based radio system including a storage database and a computing device coupled with the storage database. The computing device includes an application that determines a location of a listener computing device that is accessing a radio station and plays audio content associated with one or more locations on the listener computing device if the location of the listener computing device corresponds to the one or more locations associated with the audio content. |
| US09973559B2 |
Systems and methods for presenting content streams to a client device
Systems and methods for presenting content streams to a client device are provided. In some aspects, a method includes providing an indicator of a plurality of content streams to a client device. Each of the plurality of content streams is associated with a variant feature of content to be delivered to the client device. The method includes monitoring one or more requests, from the client device, for at least one of the plurality of content streams based on the variant feature of the content associated with each of the requested plurality of content streams. The method also includes modifying the indicator of the plurality of content streams based on the monitored one or more requests. The method also includes providing the modified indicator of the plurality of content streams to the client device. |
| US09973558B2 |
Distributed streaming platform for real-time applications
Software for a distributed streaming platform receives a specification for a streaming application and converts the specification into a logical plan that includes a directed acyclic graph (DAG) with operators as nodes and streams as edges. The software translates the logical plan into a physical plan using any stream modes as specified and with one or more instances of the operators per any static partitioning. Then the software obtains a plurality of containers running on a networked cluster of servers. One slave executes in each container. The software assigns the instances to the slaves for execution according to an execution plan that depends at least in part on the physical plan and number of containers obtained. Each slave monitors throughput of the streaming windows through the instances in the container and other statistics related to service level and reports the results of the monitoring, which are used for dynamic adjustment. |
| US09973552B2 |
Systems and methods for organizational collaboration
A peer collaboration method comprising: receiving commands from certain users to create project correspondence environment (PCE) objects each containing PCE metadata and PCE team members and related entities; generating, for each of the PCE objects, child PCE objects associated with respective related entities, associating each entity with the respective child PCE object as a PCE child member, and inheriting respective PCE metadata from the PCE object, each one of the child PCE objects additionally containing child PCE team members; documenting correspondence held between any of the child PCE team members within each respective child PCE object; providing each of the child PCE team members with an access to the documented correspondence within the child PCE object; documenting correspondence held between any of the PCE team members with each of the entities; and providing each of the PCE team members with an access to the documented correspondence in the PCE object. |
| US09973550B2 |
Systems and methods for applying intelligence and prioritization to calendared events
Methods and systems are provided for displaying calendared events on a mobile computing device. The method includes: receiving, by the mobile computing device, a meeting invitation including meeting information and an email address; transmitting the email address to a customer relationship management (CRM) database; receiving, by the mobile computing device, contextual information associated with the email address from the CRM database; and displaying, by the mobile computing device, the meeting information and the contextual information. |
| US09973548B2 |
Notifying response sender of malformed session initiation protocol (SIP) response messages
A method, computer program product, and computer system for notifying a response sender of a malformed SIP response message. The method includes, producing a special ACK message after receiving a malformed response message from a SIP server. The special ACK message contains a correction of the determined malformation, and is sent to the SIP server for correction by the SIP server. |
| US09973539B2 |
Enforcing runtime policies in a networked computing environment
Embodiments of the present invention provide approaches for enforcing runtime policies in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, in a typical embodiment, computer code and data of an application is annotated with metadata defining a set of runtime policies for executing the computer code and data. Once a request is received to run the application, a set of parameters (e.g., geographic location) corresponding to the execution of the computer code and data of the application is dynamically determined, and compared to the runtime policies. The runtime policies for executing the computer code and data are then enforced at runtime. This includes either running the application, or preventing the running of the application in the case that the set of parameters corresponding to the execution of the computer code and data of the application do not satisfy the runtime policies. |
| US09973534B2 |
Methods and systems for secure network connections
Context information associated with a mobile communications device and a network connection for the mobile communications device is collected. A security policy is applied to determine whether the security offered by the network connection is appropriate for the context. If the security offered by the network connection is not appropriate for the context, the network connection may be made more secure, less secure, or a different network connection having an appropriate level of security may be used for the data associated with the context. |
| US09973531B1 |
Shellcode detection
According to one embodiment, a threat detection system is integrated with at least a dynamic analysis engine. The dynamic analysis engine is configured to automatically determine whether one or more objects included in received network traffic contains a heap spray attack. Upon detection of a potential heap spray attack, the dynamic analysis engine may copy potential shellcode within an object included in the received network traffic, insert the copy of the potential shellcode into a second region of allocated memory and analyze the execution of the potential shellcode to determine whether characteristics associated with an exploit are present. |
| US09973528B2 |
Two-stage hash based logic for application layer distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack attribution
Methods and systems for a two-stage attribution of application layer DDoS attack are provided. In a first table just a hash index is maintained whereas the second stage table keeps the string parameter corresponding to the application layer attribute under attack. A linked list maintains a plurality of rows if there is hash collision in the first table. The second table is aged out and reported periodically with details of large strings. |
| US09973526B2 |
Mobile device sensor data
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for reporting sensor data over a communication network are provided. A data reporting instruction that identifies at least one of a sensor or a data reporting technique is received from a trust mediator over a communication network. The data reporting instruction is based at least in part on an identified risk. Sensor data is obtained from the sensor, and the sensor data is transmitted to the trust mediator over the communication network based on the data reporting technique. |
| US09973525B1 |
Systems and methods for determining the risk of information leaks from cloud-based services
The disclosed computer-implemented method for determining the risk of information leaks from cloud-based services may include (1) identifying a cloud-based service that provides remote software-services to client organizations, (2) extracting, from a publicly accessible page of the cloud-based service, a list of customers that use the cloud-based service, (3) retrieving, for each customer in the list of customers, at least one link to a customer page on the cloud-based service that represents a method for the customer to access the remote software-services offered by the cloud-based service, (4) analyzing each identified customer page for at least one risk factor, and (5) calculating, based on the analysis, a risk score for the service that represents an overall estimation of security risks to client organizations that utilize the cloud-based service. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09973524B2 |
Information technology security assessment system
A method and system for creating a composite security rating from security characterization data of a third party computer system. The security characterization data is derived from externally observable characteristics of the third party computer system. Advantageously, the composite security score has a relatively high likelihood of corresponding to an internal audit score despite use of externally observable security characteristics. Also, the method and system may include use of multiple security characterizations all solely derived from externally observable characteristics of the third party computer system. |
| US09973520B2 |
Explaining causes of network anomalies
In an embodiment, the method comprises receiving network performance data for a computer network; receiving, from an intrusion detection system, network anomaly data indicating a plurality of anomalies that have occurred in the computer network; based, at least in part, on the network performance data and the network anomaly data, generating feature data; for each anomaly of the plurality of anomalies, using the feature data to determine a minimal set of features that distinguishes the anomaly from non-anomalies in the plurality of anomalies, and creating a mapping of the anomaly to the minimal set of features; based at least in part on the mapping, generating explanation rules for the plurality of anomalies; for a particular anomaly, identifying a particular rule of the explanation rules that is associated with the particular anomaly, and generating explanation data for the particular anomaly based upon the particular rule. |
| US09973518B2 |
Apparatus and method for checking message and user terminal
A message checking apparatus comprising one or more processors, the message checking apparatus includes: a uniform resource locator(URL) extracting unit to check, when a message is received, whether a URL is included in the message and extract the URL from the message; a communication unit to download an application using the URL; and an authorization/application program interface(API) verifying unit to check whether an authorization or API having a security risk is included in the application to be downloaded through the communication unit and then determine whether the URL is malicious based thereon. |
| US09973517B2 |
Computing device to detect malware
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for a computing device to determine if an application is malware. The computing device may include: a query logger to log the behavior of the application on the computing device to generate a log; a behavior analysis engine to analyze the log from the query logger to generate a behavior vector that characterizes the behavior of the application; and a classifier to classify the behavior vector for the application as benign or malware. |
| US09973515B1 |
Network security for avionics with ethernet connections system and related method
A system and method is disclosed for identification and response to an unauthorized transmission to a networked critical system. The invention employs a pre-defined parameter which matches trusted sources with defined destinations to enable secure access to the networked critical system. Once the method receives a transmission to the destination, it filters the transmissions based on specific architecture constraints. Should the transmission survive, the method continues with a plurality of layers of system level checks to verify the source matches the pre-defined parameter of a trusted source. Should the transmission fail any of the layers of system level checks, the method provides an appropriate response. Once the transmission survives, the method continuously monitors the data stream for possible threats and allows access the transmission to reach the destination and the networked critical system. |
| US09973511B2 |
Method and system for enabling access of a client device to a remote desktop
A computer implemented method, computer program product, and systems for enabling access of a client device to a remote desktop. The remote desktop is implemented within a remote virtual machine engine (302) selected from one or more virtual machines running on a virtual host (301). A connection management component receiving from the client device 200 a connection request wherein the connection request is directed to establishing a connection between the client device (200) and the remote virtual machine engine (302). If authorization data associated with the connection request complies with a predefined access data structure and corresponding access rules, the connection management component requests destination data of the remote virtual machine engine (302), the destination data allowing to interact with the virtual machine engine (302) and, in response, receiving the destination data. Then it sends to a proxy service (102) a session request based on the destination data for establishing a session (1010) with the remote virtual machine engine (302) through the proxy service (102) in accordance with the authorization data. It receives from the proxy service (102) proxy connection data configured to allow the client device to establish a proxy connection (1009) via a wide area network (400). The proxy connection data is then sent to the client device (200) to enable the client device (200) for establishing the proxy connection between the client device (200) and the proxy service (102) over the wide area network (400) to access the remote virtual machine engine (302) through the session with the remote virtual machine engine (302). |
| US09973507B2 |
Captive portal having dynamic context-based whitelisting
Methods, systems and computer readable media for a captive portal having dynamic, context-based whitelisting are described. |
| US09973506B2 |
Method and apparatus for clearing notification icon, and storage medium
The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for clearing a notification icon, and a storage medium. The method includes: acquiring a list of applications corresponding to to-be-cleared notification icons, the application list including application identifiers of the applications corresponding to the to-be-cleared notification icons; and stop displaying a notification icon corresponding to the application identifier, when a clearing command is received and according to each application identifier included in the application list. By determining application identifiers of applications corresponding to to-be-cleared notification icons, displaying of notification icons corresponding to the application identifiers can be stopped at once according to the application identifiers of the applications of the to-be-cleared notification icons when a clearing command is received. Hence, notification message prompts which a user does not care about are cleared quickly, and unwanted distraction is avoided when messages are reduced, and the operation is simple and convenient. |
| US09973499B2 |
Method for statistical object indentification
A mechanism to activate an original object (12S) so that statistical objects (14S) generated from the original object can be recognized using statistical object identification is disclosed. An object activation agent (48) with a clock (47) and at least one original object (12S) communicates the original object (12S) and time from the clock (47) to an object activation service (50). The object activation service (50) provides and communicates keying information (61) and expiration criterion (63) for at least one of said original objects (12S) back to the object activation agent (48). |
| US09973498B2 |
Virtual smart cards with audit capability
Virtual smart card system includes a virtual smart card server (VSS) which controls access to content respectively associated with a plurality of virtual smart cards. A remote client computer system includes a system level agent which establishes the client computer machine to the VSS as a trusted computer system. A user level agent at the client computer system responds to a request for a virtual smart card operation by causing the client computer system to obtain user authentication information, negotiate with the system level agent to obtain a cookie, and initiate a request to the VSS for the virtual smart card operation. The VSS will perform the virtual smart card operation provided that a security policy is satisfied and will communicate the results to the user level agent. |
| US09973494B2 |
Upload management system, method for controlling upload management system, and storage medium
An upload management system for managing data upload from a client to a storage system includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The acquisition unit acquires information about data already uploaded by the client from the storage system in response to a request from the client which performs the data upload. The determination unit determines whether the client violates a predetermined condition based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit. The control unit performs control to return authentication information for performing the data upload to the client in a case where the determination unit determines that the client does not violate the condition, and performs control not to return the authentication information in a case where the determination unit determines that the client violates the condition. |
| US09973492B2 |
Unified mobile security system and method of operation
A mobile secure agent on a wireless device executes one or more authenticated data collection profiles provisioned by a private profile producer. Each data package can only be transmitted to a collector certificated by the same private profile producer. Update profiles are signed and provisioned through a tunnel initiated from the mobile secure agent. A Certificate Authority provides libraries, anchors, and certificates in a key management message module to each mobile secure agent which enables revocation and replacement of certificates. Data stored in this way on a wireless device may only be transmitted in encrypted form to an authenticated destination. |
| US09973490B2 |
Single login authentication for users with multiple IPV4/IPV6 addresses
Disclosed in the authentication and authorization of a client device to access a plurality of resources, requiring a user of a client device to enter only one set of login information. Authentication and authorization of a client device to access a plurality of resources after an initial set of login information is received by a networked computing environment. After the initial set of login information is received, a series of steps are performed that may be entirely transparent to the user of the client device. |
| US09973481B1 |
Envelope-based encryption method
The present document describes systems and methods that, in some situations, improve data security. In one embodiment, communications between a client and a server are encrypted using an envelope-based encryption scheme. The envelope includes: a data encryption key reference; and data encrypted with a corresponding data encryption key. A data encryption key server maintains a collection of data encryption keys that are accessible using corresponding data encryption key references. In another embodiment, a storage server maintains stored data using the envelope-based encryption scheme. The stored data is made available to particular clients in encrypted or plaintext form based at least in part on a trust score determined for each client's request. In yet another embodiment, as a result of a secure transport handshake, a client is provided with a pluggable cipher suite. |
| US09973480B2 |
Multi-level security enforcement utilizing data typing
A computer-implemented method, a computer system, and a computer program product are provided for enforcing multi-level security (MLS) on a message transmitted over a network that may be insecure. The method includes the processor obtaining a request from a source to send a message to a target, where the request includes the message and a context indicating a requested security level for the message. The processor encrypts the message based on ascertaining the message received in the request is a plaintext. The processor authenticates the encrypted message based on ascertaining the encrypted message is a ciphertext, where the target is enabled to trace the authenticated ciphertext back to the source. The processor transmits the authenticated encrypted message to the target across the network. |
| US09973478B2 |
Controlling write access to a resource in a reload network
Methods and apparatus for controlling write access by one or more accessing nodes to a resource within a Resource Location And Discovery, RELOAD, network. The methods and apparatus configured to: at a node owning the resource, obtain a public key of a peer responsible for the resource, encrypt a write key using the obtained public key and send the encrypted write key to the peer responsible for the resource; at the peer responsible for the resource, decrypt the write key; at an accessing node, sign data to be written to the resource using the write key and send a request to the peer responsible for the resource to write the signed data to the resource; and at the peer responsible for the resource, control write access to the resource based on the decrypted write key and the signed data. |
| US09973474B2 |
Cloud computing gateway, cloud computing hypervisor, and methods for implementing same
Embodiments of the present invention provide a cloud gateway system, a cloud hypervisor system, and methods for implementing same. The cloud gateway system extends the security, manageability, and quality of service membrane of a corporate enterprise network into cloud infrastructure provider networks, enabling cloud infrastructure to be interfaced as if it were on the enterprise network. The cloud hypervisor system provides an interface to cloud infrastructure provider management systems and infrastructure instances that enables existing enterprise systems management tools to manage cloud infrastructure substantially the same as they manage local virtual machines via common server hypervisor APIs. |
| US09973471B2 |
Protection method and computer system thereof for firewall apparatus disposed to application layer
A protection method, which releases an attack of a malware to a firewall apparatus disposed at an application layer, includes processing a microbatching operation in a plurality of session channels and at at least an operational period according to at least one input information, to generate a plurality of session-specific firewall patterns; and merging the plurality of session-specific firewall patterns to generate an application-specific firewall pattern at the application layer, so as to dispose a script information corresponding to the application-specific firewall pattern in the firewall apparatus for releasing the attack of the malware, wherein the microbatching operation is processed to generate a plurality of independent subset-specific firewall patterns in each session channel, so as to generate a session-specific firewall pattern corresponding to each session channel. |
| US09973469B2 |
MAC (L2) level authentication, security and policy control
Techniques are described that enable MAC (L2) address authentication within an L2 switching network, such as a metro transport network. Moreover, when used in an EVPN, the techniques provide fine grain policy control over the L2 switching network so as to enable carrier networks to specify and control topologies for transporting packet-based communications. Access routers of the EVPN communicate with a L2 network address authentication device of the metro transport network and only advertise MAC addresses into the EVPN that have been validated. Moreover, the L2 network address authentication device may distribute MAC-level policies to control topologies and MAC learning within the EVPN and provide services such as per-MAC traffic quota limits. |
| US09973468B2 |
Systems and methods for address resolution protocol (ARP) resolution over a link aggregation of a cluster channel
In the present solution, when a cluster node sends an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) request for an external internet protocol (IP), the node sends a message to all the other nodes, which are part of the Cluster Link Aggregation (CLAG) to expect an ARP reply for the IP. When a node in the cluster receives the ARP reply, the node informs the other nodes which are part of the same CLAG to update the Machine Access Control (MAC) address. Also when an ARP entry is learned/updated over a CLAG link as part of an ARP request/Gratuitous ARP, the node learning/updating the ARP entry will inform other nodes which are part of the same CLAG about the learned/updated ARP entry. Nodes in a cluster may communicate between with each other over a dedicated backplane, which may be a separate physical medium. |
| US09973467B2 |
Auto provisioning of bulk access points
Provided are devices, computer-program products, and methods (e.g., methods implemented by a network device), for automatic provisioning of an access point. In some implementations, a network device may receive a request for provisioning information. In some implementations, a group name is determined. In these implementations, the group name may be determined using information provided in the request. In some implementations, provisioning information is selected. In these implementations, selecting the provisioning information includes using the group name. In some implementations, the selected provisioning information is transmitted. In these implementations, provisioning information facilitates self-configuration of un-provisioned network devices. |
| US09973466B2 |
Space time region based communications
There is disclosed an apparatus including a node with a processor, a communications interface, and a computer readable memory that has other and a space time modules that enable space time region based communication if space time region based criteria are met. There is disclosed a method with steps of: providing an interface; determining if a space time region based criteria is met; and enabling communication over the interface if the space time region based criteria is met. There is disclosed a user interface method having the steps of: providing a view that controls objects rep resenting a spatio temporal information related to a space time based communication rendered on the interface; and displaying information on the user interface in relation to the space time region based communication if a space time region based criteria are met. |
| US09973463B2 |
Method for the certification of data messages transmission to mobile terminals
The invention consists of a method so that a telecommunications operator can deliver data messaging, digitally sign it and deliver it to the user with a certificate. The method is based on the: creation of a data message through a user interface, which is delivered to the destination; upon reception of a delivery notification of the data message sent to the destination, the data processing unit creates an electronic document that comprises at least issuing user data, date of issuance, content and delivery notification data of the message sent, said electronic document is encrypted by the implementation of a digital signature algorithm for the creation of a certificate, which is delivery of the certificate to the user through the mail server. |
| US09973460B2 |
Familiarity-based involvement on an online group conversation
A method for providing suggested modifications to user messages is provided. The method may include receiving user messages associated with a communication application. The method may further include collecting communication application data comprising user information associated with users and group information associated with a group. Additionally, the method may include analyzing the collected communication application data. The method may also include determining user expertise levels associated with users. The method may further include determining message precision levels associated with the received user messages. The method may also include providing suggested modifications to the received user messages. The method may further include posting at least one version of the received user messages on the communication application, wherein the at least one version of the received user messages is based on users editing or not editing the received user messages in response to the provided suggested modifications. |
| US09973458B2 |
Mobile chat system for supporting cartoon story-style communication on webpage
Provided is a mobile chatting system for allowing cartoon story-type chatting between chatting users of a mobile terminal on which a cartoon-type chatting application is installed and a mobile terminal on which the cartoon-type chatting application is not installed, which includes: a first mobile terminal on which a cartoon-type chatting application is installed; a second mobile terminal for allowing chatting in a cartoon story form through a web page; a chatting server for relaying chatting between the first and second mobile terminals; and a chatting web server for, when a chatting message is input from the second mobile terminal, displaying the message and the user of the second mobile terminal with a cartoon character on the chatting web page. |
| US09973456B2 |
Messaging as a graphical comic strip
Systems and methods for messaging as a graphical comic strip are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving a text message from a user, computing a conversation topology for the comic panel based on the message, the number of previous messages, and the number of user avatars, selecting a panel template based on a zoom level, the conversation topology, and a length of each message, and filling the panel template with user avatars and each message in an associated speech bubble to create the comic panel. |
| US09973449B2 |
Efficient processing of voice-over-LTE call setup
A method for communication includes monitoring communication traffic in a wireless data network that serves wireless communication terminals. Control messages, relating to setting-up of voice calls over the wireless data network for the wireless communication terminals, are identified in the communication traffic. Precedence is given to the identified control messages, relative to other communication traffic that is not related to setting-up of voice calls. The communication traffic is controlled selectively in accordance with the precedence. |
| US09973443B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing a multicast packet
The embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of computer networks, and disclose a method and an apparatus for processing a multicast packet. The method includes receiving a multicast packet, acquiring a local router interface corresponding to the multicast packet according to a multicast routing entry carried in the multicast packet, and forwarding the multicast packet through the acquired local router interface to a clustered routing system interface for further transfer. The embodiments of the present invention can cluster several routing devices into a virtual routing system which externally acts as a single routing node for supporting a multicast service, so as to implement the efficient and reliable forwarding of the multicast packet in a clustered routing system with virtual aggregation, and enable the clustered routing system to support the multicast service with high efficiency and quality. |
| US09973442B1 |
Calculating reachability information in multi-stage networks using matrix operations
Techniques and solutions are provided for calculating reachability matrices for multi-stage networks using matrix operations. For example, link status information can be obtained for network devices of the multi-stage network. Using the link status information, binary link state matrices can be determined representing connectivity between the stages of the multi-stage network. Binary reachability matrices can then be calculated using the binary link state matrices. The binary reachability matrices can be used in deciding where to forward network packets for destination devices. |
| US09973441B2 |
Method and system for establishing routes in wireless ad-hoc networks utilizing Bayesian approach
The invention provides a method and system for routing broadcast messages by managing a plurality of observation tables in a wireless ad-hoc network having a plurality of nodes. The method includes receiving one or more broadcast messages from one or more second nodes at a first node and stores information received from the broadcast messages pertaining to the one or more second nodes in one or more observation tables at the first node. A maximum aposteriori probability of connectivity is then computed for the one or more second nodes based on the information in the one or more observation tables maintained at the first node utilizing Bayesian approach. Thereafter, the first node transmits broadcast messages to the one or more second nodes based on the maximum aposteriori probability of connectivity computed for the one or more second nodes from the first node. |
| US09973439B2 |
Internet protocol address management (IPAM) integration with a plurality of virtualization tiers in the virtual cloud using infrastructure metadata
Processing infrastructure metadata information about a virtual resource of a virtual cloud is disclosed. Infrastructure metadata information is collected. The collected metadata information is about a virtual resource of a virtual cloud. A storage of infrastructure metadata information is updated. The updating of the storage of infrastructure metadata information is performed using the collected information. |
| US09973438B2 |
Downlink flow management
A flow management method comprises receiving (210) of incoming downlink packets. The received downlink packets are classified (220) in sub-flows, based on information that is available in a header of respective such received downlink packet. The downlink packets of each sub-flow are queued (230) in a respective sub-flow queue. Downlink packets are extracted (250) from the sub-flow queues into a common outgoing flow. A sub-flow queue from which no downlink packets yet have been extracted is prioritized (240). The extraction comprises assigning of an indicator of last service occasion to each sub-flow queue when a predetermined amount of data has been extracted from said sub-flow queue. When no prioritized sub-flow queues are present, the sub-flow queue with the earliest last service is selected. When a prioritized sub-flow queue is present, the prioritized subflow queue is selected. The downlink packets of the common outgoing flow are sent (260). |
| US09973433B2 |
Load balancing in a virtualized computing environment based on a fabric limit
A method manages virtual machines in a virtualized computing environment based at least in part on limitations associated with storage fabrics through which virtual machines may access one or more storage systems in such an environment. The storage fabric limitations may be used, for example, in connection with placing virtual machines on hosts in a virtualized computing environment. As another example, storage fabric limitations may be used in connection with deploying virtual machines into a virtualized computing environment to reduce the likelihood of boot errors. As still another example, storage fabric limitations may be used in connection with load balancing across multiple fabrics in a virtualized computing environment. |
| US09973431B2 |
Single line PMIC-host low-level control interface
System, methods, and apparatus are described that facilitate signaling between devices over a single bi-directional line. In an example, the apparatus couples a first device to a second device via a single bi-directional line, indicates initiation of a first action, initiated at the first device, by sending a first single transition on the single bi-directional line from the first device to the second device, and indicates initiation of a second action, initiated at the second device, by sending a second single transition on the single bi-directional line from the second device to the first device. In another example, a first device initiates a first action, indicates initiation of the first action by generating a first event on a single bi-directional line, and receives an indication of a second action initiated at a second device by observing a second event on the single bi-directional line. |
| US09973430B2 |
Method and apparatus for deep packet inspection for network intrusion detection
A method for processing packets in a network device includes receiving a packet at the network device, identifying a flow with which the packet is associated, and, based at least in part on the identified flow, selectively causing the packet, or a packet descriptor associated with the packet, to bypass at least a first packet processing unit of the network device. |
| US09973424B1 |
Storage system with flow based services for flash storage
A system is provided that includes a packet routing network that includes routing circuitry to route packets between endpoints coupled to the network; one or more endpoints include a Flash storage circuit; a distributed routing structure defines multiple routes, each route including a different sequence of endpoints, including a Flash storage circuit endpoint; the distributed endpoint routing structure includes routing structure portions that are distributed among endpoints; the endpoints provide services to packets transmitted over routes defined by the distributed routing structure. |
| US09973423B2 |
Automated path-finding and integrated bandwidth management for hybrid video routing connections
Automated path-finding and integrated bandwidth management for hybrid video routing connections are disclosed. When a video source signal is to be routed to a video router from a remote video router, a control system automatically determines whether the video source signal is routable to the video router from the remote video router over a hybrid connection that includes connection segments of different types. The video source signal is routed to the video router from the remote video router through the hybrid connection if the video source signal is routable to the video router from the remote video router over a hybrid connection. In an embodiment, a single user interface allows a user to request routing of video source signals. |
| US09973419B2 |
Routing management method, routing method, network controller, and router
A routing management method includes: receiving, by a network controller, a request for creating a Layer 2 Virtual Private Network, determining, according to routing information of each router in a public network and information about a connection between each local area network and the public network, path information of a tunnel that a packet between any two of the local area networks should pass by when being transmitted in the public network; determining, according to the path information of each tunnel, forwarding information that each router forwards a packet along each tunnel, and allocating, to each router that each tunnel passes by, a label and processing information that is for the label before each router forwards the packet; and sending each piece of routing control information to each router, so that each router forwards the packet. The method reduces a calculation overhead of a router in a public network. |
| US09973416B2 |
Method and apparatus that provides fault tolerance in a communication network
A system for detecting a fault in a first transmission medium that affects a transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that convey data and that propagate along a surface of the first transmission medium, selecting a backup communication medium from one or more backup communication mediums according to one or more selection criteria, and redirecting at least a portion of the data to the backup communication medium to mitigate the fault. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09973410B2 |
Notifying original state listeners of events in a domain model
Notifying original state listeners within a domain model. Identifying listener registration information pertaining to a listener. Monitoring a hierarchical relationship tree for an observable event, whereby the hierarchical relationship tree includes model objects, and whereby an observable event includes one or more of a change to a model object, an error condition associated with a model object, and the hierarchical relationship tree returning to an original state. Determining that a first observable event to the hierarchical relationship tree has occurred. Transmitting a notification to the listener detailing the occurrence of the first observable event. Determining that a second observable event to the hierarchical relationship tree has occurred. Determining that a third observable event to the hierarchical relationship tree has occurred, whereby the third observable event includes the hierarchical relationship tree returning to an original state. Transmitting a notification to the listener detailing the occurrence of the third observable event. |
| US09973406B2 |
Systems and methods for mapping and analyzing networks
Systems and Methods for mapping and analyzing networks are taught. Network line data is converted into point data. The point data is associated with cells of a grid overlaying the network. A number of points in each of the cells of the grid is determined. The number of points in one cell of the grid is compared to the number of points in other cells of the grid to determine the infrastructure in each of the cells of the grid. It is determined how the infrastructure in one cell is spatially related to the infrastructure in other cells in order to rank cell criticality. Cell criticality rankings are sequentially removed from the grid to determine consequential impact on network properties of the grid. |
| US09973405B2 |
Network element status identification based on service
In one implementation, a set of path information may be retrieved from an inventory mechanism based on a service. A set of configuration information may be received from the inventory mechanism based on a network element. The network element status may be identified based on the set of configuration information. |
| US09973403B2 |
Intelligent traces and connections in electronic systems
All electronic systems, viewed from a macro-environment perspective, to a network perspective, to devices dependent upon circuit boards and the internal workings of chips, are critically dependent upon simple point to point connections in order to function properly. Connections are represented by cords, ribbons, traces and cat whiskers, to name a few. With this invention, intelligent but independent electronics are added to the connection to uniquely identify the instance of the connection, allowing the electronic system in question to self map down to the least common denominator, the actual connecting means. Using this technique, a system can report its complete topologic map which may then be stored and retrieved or accessed in real time for purpose of repair and reconstruction and most importantly, as a security enhancement. |
| US09973399B2 |
IPV6 address tracing method, apparatus, and system
The present application provides an IPv6 address tracing method, apparatus, and system, where the method includes: receiving a to-be-traced target IPv6 address; selecting, in a longest match manner, IPv6 address information that matches the target IPv6 address, where the IPv6 address information includes an IPv6 address or IPv6 prefix information; and acquiring a user identifier corresponding to the IPv6 address information. The present application implements IPv6 address tracing. |
| US09973397B2 |
Diagnosis of network anomalies using customer probes
Methods, apparatuses and systems for diagnosing network anomalies and allocating repair resources in a computer network receive network anomaly reports (NARs) from a group of customers. Each NAR specifies a network anomaly observed by a customer at a network endpoint. Each NAR is entered into a database and associated in the database with attributes including at least one customer attribute associated with the sender of that NAR or network attribute associated with the network anomaly specified in that NAR. A time period is detected during which the difference between an aggregate number of NARs received within that time period and a baseline number of NARs received during prior time periods of substantially identical duration exceeds a threshold. The attributes associated with the NARs received during the time period are analyzed to identify a network anomaly specified in those NARs. Repair resources are further preferentially allocated to the identified network anomaly. |
| US09973395B2 |
Intelligent network diagnosis and evaluation via operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) transport
An operation, administration, and maintenance data sink may receive an event data packet. The event data packet may be processed and transmitted based on instructions from a controller, wherein the controller may regulate the transmission of the processed event data packet based on network conditions. |
| US09973393B2 |
Utilizing a controller for preprogramming a network before removal of a network device
A first computing device determines that a first network device is to be removed from a network, where the network includes one or more network devices. The first computing device determines a first forwarding scheme for the network, where the first forwarding scheme does not include the first network device. The first computing device transmits the first forwarding scheme to the at least one of the one or more network devices in the network. |
| US09973392B2 |
Hierarchical network analysis service
A hierarchical network analytics system operated by a computing device or system is described. In some example techniques, the analytics system may determine results of a plurality of first level analyses each based at least in part on results of a respective plurality of data queries that return respective subsets of a plurality of types of network data. The analytics system may determine a result of a second level analysis based at least in part on results of the plurality of first level analyses. |
| US09973390B2 |
Method of discovering network topology
Example methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for discovery of how network devices are interconnected. A group of network devices may be discovered that are associated with each other may be determined. Using a system of the present disclosures, information is gathered from network devices using networking protocols and links are identified. Protocols suggest how two or more network devices are connected to each other. Every interface on the physical or virtual device may be associated with multiple types of links identified by various protocols. A weight is assigned to each link using a weight mapping table. Next a method to reduce the number of multiple links is applied. The reduction method uses the link associated with an interface with the lowest weight to map the network topology, in some embodiments. |
| US09973387B1 |
System and method of traffic inspection and stateful connection forwarding among geographically dispersed network alliances organized as clusters
A peering relationship among two or more network appliances is established through an exchange of control messages among the network appliances. The peering relationship defines a cluster of peered network appliances, and at each network appliance of the cluster traffic flow state information for all the network appliances of the cluster is maintained. Network traffic associated with traffic flows of the network appliances of the cluster is managed according to the state information for the traffic flows. This managing of the network traffic may include forwarding among the network appliances of the cluster (i.e., to those of the appliances handling the respective flows) at least some of the network traffic associated with one or more of the traffic flows according to the state information for the one or more traffic flows. The traffic flows may be TCP connections or UDP flows. |
| US09973384B2 |
System and method for enterprise java bean support in a multitenant application server environment
In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for supporting Enterprise Java Bean (EJB) and other application types in a multitenant application server environment. The system includes an application server domain with a plurality of partitions, an EJB application, and a plurality of partition-aware server components that interact with the EJB container. The EJB application includes partition-specific code deployed as a separate instance to each partition, and shareable resources across two or more partitions. The system can additionally delegate resource-heavy processing functions of each EJB application to one or more of the server components. At runtime, the system receives a request for an EJB application in a particular partition, and creates an object to hold information of the particular partition. The server components, when invoked by the EJB container, obtains the partition information and execute in a context of the particular partition. |
| US09973380B1 |
Datacenter workload deployment using cross-domain global service profiles and identifiers
At least two domains of a datacenter are registered. Each of the domains comprises at least one server. A global pool of identifiers is generated by the global management module. A logical configuration is generated by a global management module. The logical configuration takes the form of a global profile and allows for a workload to be processed at one or more the servers. A global identifier from the global pool of identifiers is associated with the global profile. The global profile is assigned to a server in a first of the at least two domains. |
| US09973377B2 |
Protection against dual failures for resilient two layer networks
A method comprising identifying a physical ring in a physical layer of a network according to a logical ring in a logical layer of the network, wherein the logical ring is formed from a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of logical links, and wherein the physical ring is formed from at least the plurality of nodes interconnected by a first plurality of physical links, computing a plurality of cross cord paths across the physical ring, and mapping the logical ring onto the physical layer to provide dual physical link failure survivability by determining primary paths and secondary paths for the plurality of logical links over the physical ring and the plurality of cross cord paths such that a secondary path of a first of the plurality of logical links is non-overlapping with a primary path of a second of the plurality of logical links. |
| US09973363B1 |
Generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system
A method includes receiving frequency domain (FD) symbols associated with data symbols transmitted in a channel on a frame including a plurality of subcarriers and a plurality of time-slots. An equalization process is performed to the received FD symbols to generate FD equalized symbols. The FD equalized symbols is transformed to time domain (TD) symbols. A demodulation process is performed to the TD symbols to provide estimates of the data symbols. |
| US09973358B1 |
Time-based and frequency-based distortion recovery
A method includes receiving a signal at a receiver device via a channel from a transmitter device and determining a frequency domain representation of the signal. The signal includes multiple modulation symbols. The method further includes detecting a first symbol of the signal and determining a time domain representation of a distortion estimate associated with the first symbol using a distortion recovery receiver (DRR) technique. The method further includes subtracting the distortion estimate from the first symbol to generate an updated estimate of the first symbol. The method further includes determining a frequency domain representation of a second symbol using a value that is based on a frequency domain representation of the distortion estimate and that is further based on a frequency domain representation of a quantized version of the updated estimate of the first symbol. |
| US09973356B1 |
Slicer and decision feedback equalization circuitry
One embodiment provides an enhanced slicer. The enhanced slicer includes a first clocked comparator circuitry and a current path circuitry. The first clocked comparator circuitry includes a first comparator circuitry, a first latch circuitry, a first output node (Out_P) and a second output node (Out_N). The current path circuitry is coupled to the output nodes and a reference node. The current path circuitry is to enhance current flow between at least one of the output nodes and the reference node, in response to a clock signal. |
| US09973353B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating training signal using binary sequence in wireless LAN system
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for generating an STF signal usable in a wireless LAN system. The STF signal is included in a field used to improve AGC estimation of a MIMO transmission. The STF signal that is suggested, for example, can be used for an 80 MHz band and can be generated based on a sequence in which a predetermined M sequence is repeated. Also, the disclosed STF signal can be used for a 1× STF signal from the 1× STF signal and a 2× STF signal. The predetermined M sequence can be a binary sequence of which the length is 15 bits. |
| US09973350B2 |
Method for network sharing of multiple network operators and network sharing management proxy device using the same
A method for network sharing of multiple network operators includes steps of: providing a network sharing management proxy device adapted to be disposed between a sharing access point (AP) and a plurality of core networks of the network operators, wherein the sharing AP allows one or more end user equipment (UE) of the network operators to access; receiving a control message by the network sharing management proxy device, wherein the control message is corresponding to an UE, and the UE is an end UE of a first network operator of the network operators; checking the control message to determine that the UE is corresponding to which one of the network operators, and generating tunneling information accordingly; and transmitting the control message to a first core network of the first network operator according to the tunneling information. |
| US09973348B2 |
Transceiver circuit and method for controller area networks
A transceiver circuit for operating in a controller area network (CAN), having a CAN bus network and a control unit, that supports a flexible data rate (CAN FD), is described. The transceiver circuit comprises: a transmit CAN path and a receive CAN path; an input node on the transmit CAN path; a detection module operably coupled to the input node on the transmit CAN path and arranged to receive an input frame from the control unit before the input frame is transmitted on the CAN bus network and determine whether the input frame on the transmit CAN path comprises a CAN FD frame; and at least one switching module, operably coupled to the detection module and coupleable to the CAN bus network, where the at least one switching module is operable to impart a first voltage value on the CAN bus network in response to the input frame being determined as comprising a CAN FD frame. |
| US09973341B2 |
Method and apparatus for the limitation of the mining of blocks on a block chain
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described wherein a block chain or block chain network can be created and the mining of new blocks can be limited to certain actors holding a specific set of private keys and verified by the corresponding public keys accessible to consumers interested in validating the block chain. These keys are stored in software or on specific hardware devices designed to not reveal the private key. Only blocks mined using those keys are acceptable on the block chain. The signing of the blocks in the particular block chain is integrated in such a fashion as to be integral to the proof of work for the block chain. |
| US09973340B2 |
Mobile content delivery via toll-free uniform resource locators
A device associated with a cell tower in a Public Land Mobile Network receives, from a mobile device via a network, a uniform resource locator (URL) that is appended with a first signature generated at the mobile device using a private key of a public/private key pair associated with a toll-free campaign. The device obtains a public key of the public/private key pair, extracts the first signature from the URL, decrypts the first signature using the public key to obtain data, and encrypts the data using the private key to generate a second signature. The device compares the second signature with the first signature, denies toll-free network access to content associated with the URL when the second signature does not match the first signature, and designates data involved with accessing the content associated with the URL as being toll-free when the second signature matches the first signature. |
| US09973338B2 |
Configuration of liveness check using internet key exchange messages
There is provided mechanisms for configuration of liveness check using Internet key exchange messages. A method is performed by a user equipment. The method comprises transmitting, to a core network node, a first Internet key exchange message comprising a configuration attribute indicating support of receiving a timeout period for liveness check. The method comprises receiving, from the core network node, a second Internet key exchange message comprising a configuration attribute indicating a timeout period for said liveness check. |
| US09973332B2 |
Clock and data recovery apparatus and method of the same
An electronic apparatus including a PLL unit to an original clock signal, a pair of phase interpolators, a sampler, a phase detector, a control unit and a loop filter is provided. The phase interpolators receive the original clock signal and generate a reference clock signal and an auxiliary clock signal offset by 90 degrees having transition edges. The sampler samples an input data signal at each of the transition edge. The phase detector determines a phase difference of a data transition of the input data signal relative to the reference clock signal. The control unit superimposes an adjusting phase on phases of the reference clock signal and the auxiliary clock signal according to the phase difference. The phase detector determines that the phase difference is within a predetermined range. The loop filter superimposes a varying phase on the phases of the reference clock signal and the auxiliary clock signal accordly. |
| US09973329B2 |
Circuit and method for creating additional data transitions
When a data path includes CMOS circuitry, such circuitry may introduce jitter into the data signal. Embodiments are described in which additional data transitions are made to occur, and these additional data transitions may change the characteristics of the data frequency content transferred to the power supply so that such noise may be better filtered. This may have an effect of reducing jitter in the data signal. In one embodiment, a second data signal is generated to be a version of a first data signal with every second bit inverted. Second CMOS circuitry receives the second data signal in parallel to first CMOS circuitry receiving the first data signal. The first CMOS circuitry and the second CMOS circuitry are connected to a same power supply. |
| US09973326B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving signal in inband full duplex system
Provided are an apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving a signal. The method for transmitting/receiving a signal includes reducing a quantization error in a baseband (BB) analog area with respect to a reception signal, and performing self-interference cancellation (SIC) on a first output signal output from a BB analog circuit unit in a digital area. |
| US09973325B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for generating fractional guard periods
A method, system, and computer program product is provided for transmitting output symbols in sub-slots that each have a pre-determined length. A UE (102) generates (1402) a first output symbol having a first symbol length, and transmits (1404) the first output symbol with a guard period having a guard period length. During the guard period, no transmission is made by the UE (102). The sum of the first symbol length and the guard period length is less than or equal to the predetermined length. Further, the UE (102) generates (1406) a plurality of other output symbols that each have the predetermined length. Then, immediately following the transmission of the first output symbol, the UE transmits (1408) the plurality of other output symbols. Such a resulting fractional guard period located either at the beginning or the end of a subframe prevents collision or overlapping of D2D communication and normal UE to eNB transmissions. |
| US09973323B2 |
Electronic device and method for providing communication service
An electronic device and method for providing a communication service are provided. The method of operating an electronic device includes: receiving a first signal transmitted through a first band and a second signal transmitted through a second band; determining a communication mode of the electronic device for processing the first signal and the second signal based on device information or environment information of the electronic device; and processing the first signal and the second signal using at least one of a first modem or a second modem functionally connected to the electronic device based on the communication mode, wherein the processing of the first signal and the second signal includes: processing, when the communication mode is a first mode, the first signal in the first modem and the second signal in the second modem; and processing, when the communication mode is a second mode, the first signal and the second signal in the first modem. |
| US09973317B2 |
Mobile communication system and mobile communication method used in a mobile communication system
A mobile communication system performs communication of user data directly among a plurality of radio terminals without passing through a radio base station. The communication of user data directly performed among the plurality of radio terminals is performed by using apart of radio resources assigned to the mobile communication system. The plurality of radio terminals comprise: a transmission-side terminal that transmits the user data; and a reception-side terminal that receives the user data. The reception-side terminal transmits to a radio base station in a connected state where a radio connection is established with the reception-side terminal, a transmission acknowledgment signal indicating whether the user data transmitted from the transmission-side terminal has been received. |
| US09973311B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting information on enhanced physical downlink control channel
In transmitting information on an enhanced physical downlink control channel, it obtains, according to a first aggregation level to which a first E-PDCCH candidate belongs, a first eCCE or a CCE resource to which the first E-PDCCH candidate is mapped in a first PRB resource, where eCCE or CCE resources to which E-PDCCH candidates on the first aggregation level are mapped in the first PRB resource are different from each other, and the first PRB resource includes a PRB in which an E-PDCCH candidate on each aggregation level and a PDSCH in each subframe are multiplexed; it determines a first DMRS port corresponding to a reference signal corresponding to the first E-PDCCH candidate; and respectively transmits, on a subcarrier corresponding to the first DMRS port and the first eCCE or CCE resource, the reference signal and a data part corresponding to the first E-PDCCH candidate. |
| US09973309B2 |
Method and base station for receiving reference signal, and method and user equipment for receiving reference signal
A base station does not transmit any reference signal (RS) for channel measurement in a subframe in which transmission of an RS collides with transmission of a synchronization signal or a broadcast signal or in a resource block including the synchronization signal or the broadcast signal in the subframe. A user equipment assumes that any RS for channel measurement is not transmitted in a subframe or in a resource block when transmission of an RS collides with transmission of a synchronization signal or a broadcast signal in the subframe or in the resource block. |
| US09973305B2 |
Soft buffer partition for superposition coding
When the codeword level interference cancellation (CW-IC) is used at the receiver in conjunction with the superposition coding scheme at the transmitter, it is helpful if the soft buffer at the receiver is reserved not only for the desired transport blocks (TBs) but also for the interfering TBs handled by the CW-IC. In so doing, the soft channel bits of interfering TBs at multiple (re)transmissions can be combined to enhance the success rate of data decoding. A soft buffer partition method for the soft channel bits of the desired and interfering TBs in the superposition coding scheme is proposed. The proposed method has a full flexibility in adjusting the soft buffer sizes for the desired and interfering TBs. |
| US09973304B2 |
Communication signal isolation on a multi-port device
Automated processes, devices and systems isolate signals received on first and second ports from each other using staggered time division multiple access (TDMA) schemes. Additionally or alternately, port and/or client identifiers can be included within communications propagating in multiple TDMA schemes, thereby allowing host and/or client devices to verify that communications are received on the intended ports. By logically isolating the communications of the multiple TDMA schemes and/or by providing identifying information within propagated communications, crosstalk between the two schemes can be substantially reduced or eliminated, often without substantial modifications to the hardware configuration of the system. |
| US09973300B2 |
Modulation adaption method for multi-mode modems
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for choosing the modulation mode using packets transmitted by a sender to a receiver, wherein the packets contain data patterns unknown to the receiver. In some embodiments, the sender sends of a data packet in the most robust mode available, such that the packet can be correctly received by the receiver under even the noisiest conditions. The data contained in the packet is demodulated and decoded. A cyclic redundancy check is performed to ensure that the resultant data is error-free. Once the transmitted payload data is known, the original error coding can be re-applied to the payload data to produce the transmitted bit stream. Comparison of the demodulated bit stream to the regenerated transmitted bit stream yields the pattern of errors. The pattern of errors is analyzed and a higher throughput decoding scheme is chosen based on the results of the analysis. |
| US09973298B2 |
Method and apparatus for notifying channel quality indicator and modulation and coding scheme
The method includes: learning, by a terminal, a first CQI index according to a first CQI table, and sending the first CQI index to a base station; receiving, by the base station, the first CQI index sent by the terminal device, determining a first MCS index according to the first CQI table, a first MCS table, and the received first CQI index, and sending the determined first MCS index to the terminal device; and receiving, by the terminal, the first MCS index sent by the base station, and determining a modulation order and a code block size according to the first MCS table and the received first MCS index, where the first CQI table includes an entry in which a modulation scheme is higher than 64 QAM, and the first MCS table includes an entry in which a modulation scheme is higher than 64 QAM. |
| US09973296B2 |
Multiple-wavelength passive optical network (PON) power saving
An optical line terminal (OLT) comprising a processor configured to process a first power consumption data associated with a first optical network unit (ONU) for a plurality of wavelength channels in a multiple-wavelength passive optical network (PON), and select a first target wavelength channel from the plurality of wavelength channels based on the first power consumption data in order to reduce power consumption at the first ONU, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit to the first ONU a tuning control message instructing the first ONU to tune to the first target wavelength channel. |
| US09973286B2 |
System and method for cancelling phase noise induced by antenna vibration
System and method for correcting a phase noise generated by vibration of an antenna transmitting or receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal in a signal propagation direction includes: measuring the vibration of the antenna by a sensor generating an output signal; converting the output signal of the sensor to a measurement signal proportional to the vibration of the antenna in the signal propagation direction; performing a single or double integral of the measurement signal to produce a control signal with an amplitude proportional to the vibrational velocity or displacement of the antenna in the signal propagation direction; and applying the control signal to an oscillator, a clock signal, or a phase controller associated with the RF signal. |
| US09973285B1 |
Frequency shaping noise in a DC-DC converter using pulse pairing
In one aspect, an apparatus includes: a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) voltage converter to receive a first voltage and provide a second voltage to a load; and a pulse generator. The PFM voltage converter may include an inductor to store energy based on the first voltage and a switch controllable to switchably couple the first voltage to the inductor. The pulse generator may be configured to generate at least one pulse pair to control the switch, where this pulse pair is formed of a first pulse and a second pulse substantially identical to the first pulse, where the second pulse is separated from the first pulse by a pulse separation interval, when the second voltage is less than a first threshold voltage. |
| US09973284B2 |
Communication device and system for performing data communication using a human or animal body as transmission medium
The invention is directed at a communication device for performing data communication using a human or animal body as transmission medium. The communication device comprises a transceiver unit comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver. The communication device also comprises an electrostatic transducer for enabling data communication via a surface of the body with one or more user devices in touch with or located near (i.e. in close proximity, e.g. within a range of 0-10 mm therefrom) the body. The communication device further comprises an ultrasonic transducer for enabling data communication through the body using ultrasonic waves. Both the electrostatic transducer and the ultrasonic transducer are capacitive type transducers connected to and operated via the transceiver unit. |
| US09973282B2 |
Method and system for a distributed optoelectronic receiver
Methods and systems for a distributed optoelectronic receiver are disclosed and may include an optoelectronic receiver having a grating coupler, a splitter, a plurality of photodiodes, and a plurality of transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs). The receiver receives a modulated optical signal utilizing the grating coupler, splits the received signal into a plurality of optical signals, generates a plurality of electrical signals from the plurality of optical signals utilizing the plurality of photodiodes, communicates the plurality of electrical signals to the plurality of TIAs, amplifies the plurality of electrical signals utilizing the plurality of TIAs, and generates an output electrical signal from coupled outputs of the plurality of TIAs. Each TIA may be configured to amplify signals in a different frequency range. One of the plurality of electrical signals may be DC coupled to a low frequency TIA of the plurality of TIAs. |
| US09973281B2 |
Systems and methods for demodulation of free space optical signals without wavefront correction
Optical signal receivers and methods are provided that include an optical resonator that allows an optical signal to enter and optical signal energy to accumulate at regions inside the optical resonator. A portion of optical signal energy is emitted from among various regions of the optical resonator, such that a combination of the emitted optical signal energy is disturbed when a phase transition occurs in the received optical signal. A detector aligned with the output detects the combined emitted optical signal energy and is configured to detect the disturbance and determine a characteristic of the phase transition in the received optical signal based upon the disturbance. |
| US09973280B2 |
Feedback carrier recovery device
A digital signal processor (DSP) may include a receiver configured to receive an input signal. The DSP may include a processor component to perform carrier recovery on a set of digital signals representing a set of symbols associated with the input signal. The DSP may include an output component to provide information included in the set of digital signals representing the set of symbols. The DSP may be configured to perform, for the input signal, phase estimation with a latency of less than approximately 880 nanoseconds and having a power consumption of less than approximately 400 milliwatts at an update rate greater than approximately 4 Gigahertz. The latency being a propagation delay of the input signal. |
| US09973275B2 |
System and method for lighting and building occupant tracking
Disclosed is a system and method for using visible light communication (“VLC”) to perform indoor position location. Through use of a system and method configured as set forth herein, the position of any appropriately marked person or item may be found indoors using data interconnected modules that communicate with one another via RF and visible light. A mobile receiver in the form of a tag or badge attached to the person or item to be tracked receives a VLC signal from a plurality of lighting modules, and transmits back to a processor the data it received so that the processor is able determine the tag's or badge's physical position with respect to the individual network modules. |
| US09973273B2 |
Self-indentifying one-way authentication method using optical signals
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a self-identifying optical transmitter for broadcasting a one-way authentication code using light-based communication. The transmitter may include a memory for storing an identifier of the transmitter, a processor for generating a data signal including an identifier of the transmitter, a modulator for receiving the data signal and generating an electrical signal, the modular generating the electrical signal by modulating the data signal. The transmitter may also include a light source for receiving the electrical signal, converting the electrical signal into an optical signal, and continuously broadcasting the optical signal as an optical data transmission stream. The optical data transmission stream may be used to verify that a receiving mobile device is near the transmitter. The transmitter may also include an optical surface for dispersing the optical data transmission stream as the optical data transmission stream is emitted from the transmitter. |
| US09973272B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring in-line signal quality and system
A method and apparatus for monitoring in-line signal quality and a system. The method for monitoring in-line signal quality includes: according to signal to noise ratios (SNRs) of subcarriers obtained in a transmission initialization period, setting a subcarrier with a highest SNR to be a pilot subcarrier and other subcarriers to be data subcarriers; determining bit allocation and power allocation of the pilot subcarrier and bit allocation and power allocation of the data subcarriers; setting data-decision-based SNR measurement thresholds for the data subcarriers according to the bit allocation of the data subcarriers; and comparing the SNRs of the data subcarriers obtained through data-decision-based SNR measurement in a transmission period with the SNR measurement thresholds of the data subcarriers, and when an SNR of a data subcarrier is less than its SNR measurement threshold, trigger pilot-based SNR measurement of the data subcarrier. Hence, not only temporally continuous in-line signal quality monitoring may be provided, but also accuracy of the monitoring result may be guaranteed. |
| US09973268B1 |
Reusing frequencies among high altitude platforms
A method for determining a frequency usage pattern of one or more satellites includes receiving, at data processing hardware, identifications of one or more satellite communication frequencies used by a satellite at corresponding locations of the satellite along a non-geostationary satellite orbit. The method includes determining, by the data processing hardware, a pattern of frequency usage by the satellite at the corresponding locations of the satellite. The method also includes instructing, by the data processing hardware, communication between a high altitude platform and a ground terminal using an identified satellite communication frequency during a non-interfering period of time based on the pattern of frequency usage by the satellite. The high altitude platform has an altitude lower than the satellite. |
| US09973265B2 |
Hitless rearrangement of a satellite-hosted switch via propagated synchronization
An apparatus includes an analog front end to receive an analog input including user data, and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the analog input to digital signals including the user data. A digital channelizer may process the digital signals to generate frequency slices of user data, and a digital combiner may assemble the frequency slices to form output sub-bands of user data. A digital switch may route the frequency slices from the digital channelizer to the digital combiner according to a selected map of a plurality of available maps. The apparatus also includes a map selector to communicate map select data that indicates the selected map. The digital channelizer may receive and insert the map select data into the frequency slices in-band with the user data thereof. And the digital switch may interpret the map select data inserted into and route the frequency slices according to the selected map. |
| US09973260B2 |
Global communication network
A method for modifying a communication signal for transmission from a source to a destination includes identifying, by data processing hardware, a target platform for communication with a communication device. The method includes establishing a communication connection between the target platform and the communication device and identifying an available communication channel for communicating data between the target platform and the communication device. The method also includes modifying a communication signal by multiplying the communication signal with a pseudo random noise spreading code. The method also includes causing transmission of the modified communication signal from the communication device to the target platform through the available communication channel. The modified communication signal is transmitted below a thermal noise of the available communication channel. |
| US09973259B2 |
Method for sending and receiving data on a cooperative communications system and a cooperative communications method
A data transmission method of a source node in a cooperative communication system includes: performing a beamforming to a relay node; transmitting data to the relay node; performing a beamforming to a destination node; and transmitting data to the destination node. |
| US09973251B1 |
Radio transmission apparatus
A radio transmission apparatus includes a plurality of antennas each having an amplifier, a transmission signal generation unit (modulation units, S/P units, and FFT units) which generates a signal to be transmitted to a terminal via the antennas, and a weighting processing unit (a precoder unit, a maximum power calculation unit, and multipliers) which executes a weighting process on a signal to be transmitted to the terminal, which has been generated by the transmission signal generation unit, based on channel state information between the radio transmission apparatus and the terminal and an output limit value of the amplifier. |
| US09973250B2 |
Method for transmitting sounding reference signal in multiple antenna wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method and a user equipment (UE) for transmitting sounding reference signals via multiple antenna ports in a wireless communication system are discussed. The method according to one embodiment includes receiving a parameter via a higher layer; applying a code division multiplexing (CDM) scheme to the sounding reference signals using the parameter; applying a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) scheme to the sounding reference signals when the parameter is a first value; and transmitting the sounding reference signals via the multiple antenna ports. |
| US09973248B2 |
Per-stream channel gain feedback-based multi-stream MU-CQI estimation method and apparatus
A PSCG feedback-based multi-stream multiuser CQI estimation method and apparatus is provided for estimating multi-stream MU-CQI efficiently based on per-stream channel gain feedback. A feedback information transmission method of a terminal in a wireless communication system according to the present disclosure includes estimating a downlink channel based on a channel state information reference signal transmitted by a base station, determining a number of streams based on the estimated downlink channel, generating the feedback information corresponding to the number of streams, and transmitting the feedback information to the base station. |
| US09973247B2 |
Wireless communication system
The solution of the present invention is a precoding that allows an optimal use of multiple-antennas in a MIMO system. The precoding uses codebooks that are optimized for long-range wireless transmissions. A modified Kerdock codebook {wkmi} allows further improvement of the precoding gain. The modified Kerdock codebook {wkmi} contains new codewords wkmi that have been modified in order to further improve the transmit bit error rate (BER). The modified codebook {wkmi} allows a precoding gain that is between 2-3 dB. The present invention improves the transmit bit error rate (BER) of a wireless system. It allows a longer range in outdoor MIMO systems. Less signal outage is the result which allows that wireless signals can be transmitted over several kilometers. |
| US09973245B2 |
Large-scale MIMO communication method and device in base station and UE
The present invention provides a large-scale MIMO communication method and device in a base station and a UE. In one embodiment, a base station transmits first signaling firstly, wherein the first signaling indicates the configuration information of a first RS, and the first RS includes M RS ports; and then receives second signaling, wherein the second signaling indicates M1 RS ports in the first RS, M is a positive integer greater than 1, M1 is a positive integer smaller than or equal to M, and transmitting cells of the first RS are cells other than transmitting cells of the first signaling. The present invention effectively reduces interference with neighboring cells during Massive MIMO transmission, and solves the problem of SRS contamination. Meanwhile, the present invention is compatible with the existing LTE system as much as possible and has good compatibility. |
| US09973244B2 |
Device and method for managing spectrum resources, and wireless communication device and method
A device and method for managing spectrum resources and a wireless communication device and method are provided. The method for managing spectrum resources of a wireless communication system according to the disclosure includes: acquiring resource utilization parameter information of a communication device to be managed, the resource utilization parameter information including the number of antennas; and determining spectrum resource allocation to the communication device based on the resource utilization parameter information. The method for managing spectrum resources enriches contents of signaling interaction between a communication device and a device for managing spectrum resources in a wireless communication system, thereby making it possible to sufficiently utilize a possible spatial freedom degree of a communication device in a multi-antenna system, and to efficiently reduce interference between communication devices or communication systems. |
| US09973240B2 |
System for wireless charging of a plurality of devices
A master unit for wirelessly charging a slave device includes a plurality of radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) modules, each of the plurality of RFIC modules having an antenna array. The master unit is configured to select one of a single beam mode by using all or substantially all antenna arrays in the plurality of RFIC modules, a multi-beam mode by using each respective antenna array in each of the RFIC modules to form a separate beam from each RFIC module, and a customized beam pattern mode by using a customized combination of antennas in selected ones of the plurality of RFIC modules. The master unit is configured to dynamically select from one of the single beam mode, the multi-beam mode, and the customized beam pattern mode based on a location of the slave device relative to the master unit. |
| US09973239B2 |
System and method for operating a mobile device
The present invention provides a mobile device including: a power receiver for wirelessly coupling with a power transmitter to receive power wirelessly from the power transmitter; and a function that automatically initiates upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter. Also provided is a transmitter apparatus including a power transmitter for wirelessly coupling with a power receiver in a mobile device to provide power wirelessly to the power receiver, wherein, upon the power receiver wirelessly coupling with the power transmitter, data is transferred between the power transmitter and the power receiver and a function of the mobile device automatically initiates. The mobile device and transmitter apparatus together form a system for operating the mobile device. Methods and computer-readable media storing executable application programs associated with the system are also provided. |
| US09973233B2 |
Interference cancellation apparatus and method
Embodiments of the present invention provide an interference cancellation apparatus. The apparatus includes: a splitter, configured to send an acquired reference signal to a first and second main-path interference canceller; a main receive antenna, configured to send an acquired first receive signal to the first main-path interference canceller; the first main-path interference canceller, configured to perform first main-path interference cancellation processing on the first receive signal according to the reference signal, to generate a first processing signal; a reference receive antenna, configured to acquire and send a second receive signal to the second main-path interference canceller; the second main-path interference canceller, configured to perform second main-path interference cancellation processing on the second receive signal according to the reference signal, to generate a second processing signal; and a near-field interference canceller, configured to perform near-field interference cancellation processing on the first processing signal according to the second processing signal. |
| US09973232B1 |
Low specific absorption rate (SAR) dual-band antenna structure
Dual-band antenna structures and methods of operating the same of an electronic device are described. One apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) feed and a dual-band antenna structure coupled to the RF feed at a feeding point and coupled to a ground plane at a grounding point. The structure includes a first loop antenna and a second loop antenna, both coupled to the feeding point and the grounding point. The first loop antenna radiates electromagnetic energy in a first resonant mode in a first frequency band and the second loop antenna radiates electromagnetic energy in a second resonant mode in a second frequency band and radiates electromagnetic energy in a third resonant mode in the first frequency band. Surface currents create three or more hot spots of magnetic field. |
| US09973227B2 |
Portable communication device
A portable communication device that can suppress degradation in communication efficiency caused by a reduction in device size. The portable communication device includes a mechanical key that is made of an electrical conductor and is for mechanically locking or unlocking a door of a vehicle, and a transmission antenna for transmitting a wireless signal. A storing portion that stores the mechanical key is provided in a case in which the transmission antenna is provided. When the mechanical key is stored in the storing portion, the transmission antenna is electrically connected to the mechanical key. In the portable communication device, the storage state of the mechanical key in the storing portion is detected by a push switch, and impedance correction in a communication circuit is performed by an impedance matching circuit in accordance with the detection result. |
| US09973226B2 |
Reception device and method for adjusting reception device
A reception device receives a radio frequency (RF) signal and obtains a data signal from the RF signal in a desired reception channel. The reception device includes a bandpass filter, and first and second test signals are input to the bandpass filter in the test mode to obtain bandpass-filtered first and second test signals, respectively. Each of frequencies of the first and second test signals is lower and higher than a frequency of the desired reception channel, respectively. The reception device detects lower and higher frequency signal intensities from the bandpass-filtered first and second test signals, respectively, in the test mode, and adjusts a central frequency of the passband of the bandpass filter using a difference between the lower and higher frequency signal intensities so as to reduce a difference between the central frequency of the passband and the frequency of the desired reception channel. |
| US09973223B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive automatic gain control
Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting the gain in a receiver front end to have a desired amount of headroom, based upon a measurement of the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the output of a digital to analog converter and the amount of degradation to the SNR due to previous adjustments to the gain. |
| US09973222B2 |
Highly configurable radio frequency (RF) module
The disclosed embodiments relate to a communication device (200) that implements a subset of feature choices selected from a complete set of feature choices. An exemplary embodiment comprises at least one common hardware component (210) common to any subset of feature choices, and a base (102) that is adapted to accommodate installation of at least one optional hardware component (221) associated with at least one feature of the complete set of feature choices. |
| US09973221B2 |
Nonlinear system distortion correction device and method
The present document discloses an apparatus and method for nonlinear system distortion correction. The apparatus includes: apparatus for nonlinear system distortion correction including: a robustness signal source generator, arranged to generate a robustness signal provided to an adaptive device; the adaptive device, arranged to collect a main link signal output by a signal generator and a feedback signal returned by the main link signal via a feedback link, and generate a correction parameter according to the main link signal, the feedback signal and the robustness signal; and a pre-corrector, arranged to according to the correction parameter perform pre-correction processing on the main link signal output by the signal generator. |
| US09973220B2 |
Isolation circuits for digital communications and methods to provide isolation for digital communications
Isolation circuits for digital communications and methods to provide isolation for digital communications are disclosed. An example isolation circuit includes an isolation barrier, a burst encoder in a first circuit, and an edge pattern detector in a second circuit. The example isolation barrier electrically isolates the first circuit from the second circuit. The example burst encoder generates a first pattern in response to receiving a rising edge on an input signal and generates a second pattern in response to receiving a falling edge on the input signal. The example edge pattern detector detects the first pattern or the second pattern received from the burst encoder via the isolation barrier, sets an output signal at a first signal level in response to detecting the first pattern, and sets the output signal at a second signal level in response to detecting the second pattern. |
| US09973219B2 |
Predistortion system and method
A predistortion system for optimizing the performance of a distorting component. The predistortion system comprises a signal generator, the distorting component, an analyzing device for frequency and/or time domain analysis, and a predistortion device. The signal generator generates a first signal according to a reference signal. Furthermore, the first signal after being passed through the distorting component results in a second signal. Then, the second signal after being passed through the analyzing device results in a third signal. Moreover, the third signal after being passed through the predistortion device results in a compensated signal. In addition to this, the reference signal is provided for the predistortion device. |
| US09973212B2 |
Decoding algorithm with enhanced parity check matrix and re-encoding scheme for LDPC code
A decoding algorithm with an enhanced parity check matrix and a re-encoding scheme for LDPC codes is disclosed. The decoding algorithm includes the steps of: providing the enhanced parity check matrix; receiving a message part of an original codeword encoded by a generator matrix from the enhanced parity check matrix; setting a LLR for each bit node of the enhanced parity check matrix; processing hard decision on the message part of the original codeword; encoding the message part of the original codeword by the generator matrix to generate a new codeword having a generated parity part; comparing the original parity part with the generated parity part to find out bits of difference; voting candidate error bits to choose the most probably erratic bits; modifying LLR of the chosen bits to have a modified codeword; and processing a conventional iterative decoding procedure on the modified codeword to have a processed codeword. |
| US09973209B2 |
Processor and data processing method thereof
A processor includes a first encoder configured to encode a regular bin block including at least one regular bin, a second encoder configured to encode a bypass bin block including at least one bypass bin, and a parameter calculating module comprising parameter calculating circuitry configured to determine context information for encoding the regular bin block and to transmit the context information to the first encoder. The first encoder and the second encoder may process the regular bin block and the bypass bin block simultaneously and in parallel during at least part of a specific processing cycle. |
| US09973208B2 |
Method and device for arithmetic encoding or arithmetic decoding
A method and a device for arithmetic encoding of a current spectral coefficient using preceding spectral coefficients. The method comprises processing the preceding spectral coefficients, using the processed preceding spectral coefficients for determining a context class being one of at least two different context classes, using the determined context class and a mapping from the at least two different context classes to at least two different probability density functions for determining the probability density function, and arithmetic encoding the current spectral coefficient based on the determined probability density function wherein processing the preceding spectral coefficients comprises non-uniformly quantizing absolutes of the preceding spectral coefficients for use in determining of the context class. |
| US09973206B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium, encoding device, encoding method, decoding device, and decoding method
An encoding device 100 encodes a plurality of input text files to a plurality of encoded files by using a static dictionary unit 121 and a dynamic dictionary unit 122. The dynamic dictionary unit 122 is generated in accordance with word appearance frequencies in the plurality of text files. The encoding device 100 generates a coupled encoded file that includes the plurality of encoded files, information on the dynamic dictionary unit 122, and position information that indicates positions of the respective plurality of encoded files. |
| US09973205B1 |
Decompression using cascaded history windows
The following description is directed to decompression using cascaded history buffers. In one example, an apparatus can include a decompression pipeline configured to decompress compressed data comprising code words that reference a history of decompressed data generated from the compressed data. The apparatus can include a first-level history buffer configured to store a more recent history of the decompressed data received from the decompression pipeline. The apparatus can include a second-level history buffer configured to store a less recent history of the decompressed data received from the first-level history buffer. |
| US09973202B2 |
Successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter
A successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter includes a first capacitance digital-to-analog converter (CDAC), a first comparator configured to compare a voltage of an output signal from the first CDAC with a reference voltage, a first SAR circuit configured to control the first CDAC based on an output of the first comparator, a second CDAC to which the output signal from the first CDAC is input, a second comparator configured to compare a voltage of an output signal from the second CDAC with a reference voltage, a second SAR circuit configured to control the second CDAC based on an output of the second comparator and generate a digital signal representing a residual voltage of the output signal of the first CDAC, and a feedback circuit configured to delay the digital signal, generate a residual signal from the delayed digital signal, and output the residual signal to the first CDAC. |
| US09973201B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to one aspect, a semiconductor device (1) includes: an input circuit (11_1) configured to receive an analog signal, the analog signal and a digital signal being selectively input; an input circuit (11_4) configured to be driven by a power supply common to the input circuit (11_1) and receive a digital signal, the digital signal and an analog signal being selectively input; an AD converter (15) configured to perform AD conversion of the analog signal input to the input circuit (11_1); an edge detection circuit (12) configured to detect an edge of the digital signal input to the input circuit (11_4); and a control unit (13) configured to execute predetermined processing on a result of the AD conversion by the AD converter (15) based on a result of the detection by the edge detection circuit (12). |
| US09973199B2 |
Touch processor circuit and touch screen system performing analog-to-digital conversion of two steps
A touch processor circuit includes a capacitance-to-voltage converter and an analog-to-digital converter. The capacitance-to-voltage converter converts an input signal transmitted from a touch sensor into a conversion signal corresponding to a capacitance of the touch sensor. The analog-to-digital converter digitizes the conversion signal transmitted from the capacitance-to-voltage converter and generates a digital value. The analog-to-digital converter includes a first converter, a second converter, and a combination logic circuit. The first converter calculates upper bits of the digital value based on the conversion signal during a first time period. The second converter calculates lower bits of the digital value based on a residue component signal transmitted from the first converter during a second time period. The combination logic circuit combines the upper bits and the lower bits and generates the digital value. |
| US09973197B2 |
Phase-locked loop circuit
The phase-locked loop circuit according to one embodiment includes a low-pass filter including a first transistor, and a second transistor. The low-pass filter converts a first current into a first voltage, and a second current into a second voltage. The first current and the second current are generated in accordance with a pulse width of the same signal. The first transistor includes a gate input with the first voltage, a first terminal grounded, a second terminal electrically coupled to a gate of the second transistor, and a gate oxide film thicker than that of the second transistor. The second transistor includes the gate input with the second voltage. |
| US09973194B2 |
Block memory layout and architecture for programmable logic IC, and method of operating same
An integrated circuit comprising programmable/configurable logic circuitry including a plurality of logic tiles, arranged in an array, wherein each logic tile includes logic circuitry and I/O connected in an interconnect network via multiplexers. A first logic tile includes (i) a first portion of a perimeter which forms at least a portion of the periphery of the programmable/configurable logic circuitry and (ii) a second portion of a perimeter which is interior to such circuitry's periphery, wherein memory I/O is disposed on the second portion of the perimeter of the first logic tile. A second logic tile includes a second portion of a perimeter which is interior to the programmable/configurable logic circuitry's periphery and opposes the first logic tile's perimeter. Memory array(s), located between the second portions of the perimeters of the first and second logic tiles, is/are coupled to memory I/O of at least the first logic tile. |
| US09973193B2 |
Enabling a field programmable device on-demand
Examples of techniques for enabling a field programmable device on demand are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method may include: determining, by a processing device, whether to enable a disabled field programmable device; responsive to determining to enable the disabled field programmable device, identifying, by the processing device, the field programmable device from a plurality of disabled FPDs; sending an authorization request to an authorization authority to request an authorization to enable the disabled field programmable device; responsive to receiving the authorization from the authorization authority, enabling the disabled field programmable device as an enabled field programmable device; loading computer readable instructions to the enabled field programmable device; and bringing the enabled field programmable device online. |
| US09973190B2 |
Capacitive proximity and/or contact switch
A capacitive proximity and/or contact switch includes a cover plate having an upper side and an underside. The upper side provides a sensitive area of the switch and the cover plate, at least in the region of the sensitive area, is at least partially non-conductive. A conductive sensor face is disposed at a distance from the underside of the cover plate. The dielectric system of this capacitive proximity and/or contact switch is formed of the cover plate, at least one non-conductive element facing towards the sensor face and at least one conductive element between the cover plate and the non-conductive element. |
| US09973185B2 |
Cascade switch device and voltage protection method
A cascode switch device includes a cascode circuit, which includes a first switch and a second switch, and a protection circuit. The protection circuit is coupled between the first switch and the second switch. A first leakage current passing through the protection circuit is greater than or equal to a difference between a second leakage current and a third leakage current, and is smaller than an upper limit value of a leakage current of the cascode circuit. An upper limit value of a withstanding voltage is present between the first terminal and the control terminal of the first switch. When the first switch operates at the upper limit value of the withstanding voltage, the second leakage current is an upper limit value of a leakage current passing through the first switch, and the third leakage current is a lower limit value of a leakage current passing through the second switch. |
| US09973178B1 |
Method and apparatus for clock frequency multiplier
In a clock frequency doubler, an input clock feeds into a digital programmable delay circuit, and an inverted input clock feeds into another digital programmable delay. The outputs of these digital programmable delay circuits are combined with the input clock and inverse clock through AND gates in order to generate clock pulses at both the rising and falling edge of the clock. These signals are combined using an OR gate to provide an output clock signal with a frequency that is double the frequency of the input clock signal. The values of the control bits for the digital programmable delay circuit are determined in a time-to-digital conversion (TDC) circuit that includes a Successive Approximation Register (SAR). For every cycle of the clock, the SAR circuit successively sets the programmable delay control bits and compares the delay circuit output with the input clock to determine the value of the control bits. |
| US09973176B2 |
Circuits for digital and analog controlled oscillators
A circuit may comprise a first node, a ring oscillator, a regulator, and a Kvcc compensation circuit. The first node may be a supply node to provide a supply voltage for the circuit. The ring oscillator may be formed from inverters. The regulator may use a single transistor between the first node and a second node for powering the oscillator. The K compensation circuit may be used to provide to the oscillator a variable capacitive load that is dependent on the supply at the first supply node, and it may drag oscillator frequency down when the first node supply goes up. |
| US09973175B2 |
Control apparatus and tunable filter apparatus
According to an embodiment, a control apparatus includes a shaper and a compensator. The shaper receives a first target value in position control of a controlled object and generates a second target value which changes substantially rampwise over a time equal to or shorter than a period corresponding to one of resonance frequencies of the controlled object until the second target value becomes equal the first target value. The compensator compensates for a control signal, used for controlling the controlled object, based on the second target value. |
| US09973170B2 |
High-frequency module
In a high-frequency module, a phase and amplitude of a high-frequency signal from a connection conductor between filter devices change due to the signal being transmitted by a takeout circuit unit. When the high-frequency signal at a third external connection terminal is a suppression signal and a high-frequency signal passing through the first filter circuit is a suppression-target signal, the transmission distance in the takeout circuit unit is such that the phase of the suppression signal is approximately inverted with respect to the phase of the suppression-target signal and the suppression signal has approximately the same amplitude as the suppression-target signal. The suppression signal is mixed with the suppression-target signal and components outside of the pass band are cancelled out and the attenuation characteristics of the filter circuit are enhanced. |
| US09973154B2 |
Dual output RF LNA
RF receive circuitry, which includes a first output impedance matching circuit coupled to a first alpha output of a first alpha LNA, a second output impedance matching circuit coupled to a first beta output of a first beta LNA, and a first dual output RF LNA, is disclosed. The first dual output RF LNA includes the first alpha LNA, the first beta LNA, and a first gate bias control circuit, which is coupled between a first alpha input of the first alpha LNA and ground; is further coupled between a first beta input of the first beta LNA and the ground; is configured to select one of enabled and disabled of the first alpha LNA using an alpha bias signal via the first alpha input; and is further configured to select one of enabled and disabled of the first beta LNA using a beta bias signal via the first beta input. |
| US09973153B2 |
Broadband power amplifier systems and methods
Disclosed are systems, devices, and methodologies to reduce harmonics in a radio frequency output signal. A power amplifier system comprises a power amplifier and a tunable output matching network electrically connected between the output of the power amplifier and an output of the tunable output matching network. The tunable output matching network reduces second-order harmonics in an amplified radio frequency signal when the power amplifier operates in a low frequency mode. The tunable output matching network includes traps such as a series inductor and a first capacitor in series with a first switch, a second capacitor in series with a second switch, and a third capacitor in series with a third switch, where the traps are tuned to selected harmonic frequencies when the power amplifier operates in the low frequency band of the operating band of frequencies. |
| US09973152B2 |
Current-limiting in an amplifier system
One example includes an amplifier system. The system includes a gain stage configured to conduct a gain current in response to an input voltage. The system also includes a current limit stage coupled to the gain stage and being configured to one of source and sink the gain current and to define a limit amplitude of the gain current during a current limit condition. The system further includes an output stage coupled to the gain stage and configured to conduct an output current through an output node in response to the gain current, the output current having a maximum amplitude during the current limit condition that is proportional to the limit amplitude. |
| US09973144B2 |
Circuits and methods for increasing output frequency of an LC oscillator
Disclosed are circuits and methods for increasing an output frequency of an inductance-capacitance (LC) oscillator. In some embodiments, the LC oscillator can be implemented as a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having differential outputs. When the VCO is implemented on a die, wirebond connections from the outputs to a ground results in an effective inductance that impacts a maximum frequency associated with the VCO. An electrical connection such as a wirebond between the differential outputs yields a reduction in the effective inductance thereby increasing the maximum frequency. In some embodiments, the wirebond between the differential outputs can be configured so that its contribution to mutual inductance is reduced or substantially nil. |
| US09973137B2 |
Active front end power converter with boost mode derating to protect filter inductor
Methods and apparatus are presented for controlling a power converter to protect input filter inductors from overheating, in which an active front end (AFE) rectifier is operated in a boost mode to provide a boosted DC voltage at a derated output current value selected according to the DC bus voltage boost amount corresponding to a maximum load condition for which the filter inductors will not overheat. |
| US09973133B2 |
Motor control device and motor control method
A motor control device includes a detecting unit configured to detect rotation of a motor to be controlled and output a rotation detection value related to the rotation; a drive control unit configured to perform drive control to rotate the motor at a control target value increasing with time based on the rotation detection value; and an abnormality detection unit configured to perform an abnormality detection process for detecting an abnormality in the drive control based on the rotation detection value and a predetermined threshold. The drive control unit performs control to stop rotation of the motor when the abnormality is detected. |
| US09973132B2 |
Detection of an inter-turn winding fault in a motor
A motor control circuit includes a processor configured to calculate a plurality of motor impedances from measurements of an excitation voltage on a power bus to a motor and measurements of a plurality of currents through the motor resulting from the excitation voltage, and the processor configured to calculate individual winding inductances in the motor, based on the measured motor impedances, and configured to determine whether there is an inter-turn winding fault based on the calculated individual winding inductances. |
| US09973129B2 |
HVAC components having a variable speed drive with optimized power factor correction
A power factor optimized variable speed drive unit for an electric motor of an HVAC device is disclosed. In an embodiment, the unit includes a selectively-activatable power factor correction unit operatively associated with a switched mode power supply unit. A power measurement unit measures the input power of the electric motor. A comparator unit compares the motor input power to a predetermined threshold. The comparator unit activates the power factor correction unit when the input power of the electric motor is above the threshold, and deactivates the power factor correction unit when the input power of the electric motor falls below the threshold. In an embodiment, motor input power is determined by the product of motor load current and motor speed. |
| US09973128B2 |
Control device
Periodic disturbance occurs in current etc. due to offset error and gain error of a current sensor used in a control device. A voltage command value is generated from a current command value and a current detection value by the current sensor in a current control section. The generated voltage command value is inputted to a plant model section, and a virtual current value is calculated. The virtual current value is inputted to a periodic disturbance observer via a coordinate transform section, and a compensation value is calculated. The compensation value is superimposed on the current detection value via a coordinate inverse-transform section, and the current detection value of the current sensor is corrected. |
| US09973127B2 |
Control system for controlling the rotational speed of a drive motor
The rotational speed of at least one drive motor of a motor vehicle is controlled by an electronic control system, wherein the differential rotational speed between a specified target rotational speed and an actual rotational speed of the drive motor is considered as a system value for determining the control parameters that influence the rotational speed control process. As an additional system value, the magnitude and direction of the differential rotational speed gradient are considered when determining the control parameters. |
| US09973124B2 |
Dual coil generator
A vehicle electrical system comprises a generator which provides electrical power to an electrical load. The generator includes two field coils. A first switch circuit is coupled with the first field coil and a second switch circuit is coupled with the second field coil. A control device, included in the electrical system, operates the first and second switch circuits to regulate the generator output voltage and, in the alternative, to further reconfigure and/or deactivate the switch circuits based on their operating states. The generator maybe further coupled with an electrical energy absorbing device and the control device maybe further configured to operate on a switch, coupled with the electrical energy absorbing device, in response to a shutdown condition, RPM, rate of change of RPM, and voltage transient. |
| US09973121B2 |
Magnetic sensor and an integrated circuit
The present teaching relates to a magnetic sensor residing in a housing. The magnetic sensor includes an input port and an output port, both extending from the housing, wherein the input port is to be connected to an external alternating current (AC) power supply. The magnetic sensor also includes an electric circuit which comprises an output control circuit coupled with the output port and configured to be at least responsive to a magnetic induction signal and the external AC power supply to control the magnetic sensor to operate in a state in which a load current flows through the output port. The magnetic induction signal is indicative of at least one characteristic of an external magnetic field detected by the electrical circuit and the operating frequency of the magnetic sensor is positively proportional to the frequency of the external AC power supply. |
| US09973119B2 |
Single phase motor drive circuit and a method of driving a single phase motor
A single phase motor drive circuit for driving a single phase motor, comprising: a timer unit for receiving a sensor signal indicative of an angular position of a rotor, and for providing a timing signal in phase with the sensor signal; a waveform generator for generating a waveform for energizing the motor, the waveform generator being adapted for receiving the timing signal and a configurable setting, and for generating the waveform based thereon; a configuration unit for receiving an input signal indicative of a desired motor speed, the configuration unit being adapted for generating the configurable setting as a function of the input signal, and for providing the setting to the waveform generator to dynamically configure the waveform generator. A method, an assembly and a cooling system includes the single phase motor driver circuit. |
| US09973114B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling motion in a counterbalancing system
A method and system for reducing rollback in a counterbalancing system as a holding brake is released is disclosed. A limited amount of movement of a drive shaft is present in the holding brake. A motor drive provides current to the motor with the holding brake set such that a torque is applied at the drive shaft. The current is controlled to generate torque in both directions. The limited amount of movement in the brake may be used to determine a direction and magnitude of torque required to support a mechanical load being applied to the motor. The motor drive then provides a current to generate the necessary torque required to support the load prior to releasing the holding brake. |
| US09973112B2 |
Energy harvester
An energy harvester includes a circuit for collecting an excess of electrical charges on a first connection terminal, wherein the circuit is equipped with a first controllable mechanical switch, and a control device for the first switch. There is a transducer suitable for directly transforming, without consuming the excess of electrical charges present on the first connection terminal, the variation of the energy to be harvested into a mechanical deformation which displaces the first switch from its open position to its closed position. |
| US09973111B2 |
Graphene sheet and nanomechanical resonator
A nanomechanical resonator includes processing electronics configured to control an actuator to actively control a resonant frequency of a portion of a graphene sheet by applying a variable out-of-plane force to the graphene sheet. The graphene sheet is at least partially suspended from a support structure and has a carbon lattice that substantially defines a plane. |
| US09973110B2 |
Electrical architecture for converting DC voltage into AC voltage, and vice versa
An electrical architecture (1) for converting DC voltage into AC voltage, and vice versa, comprising: —a DC/AC voltage converter (2), comprising a plurality of arms mounted in parallel, each arm comprising two controllable switching cells (12), in series and separated by a mid-point, the arms being paired in H-bridges (11), —for each H-bridge (11), a dedicated control member (13), such that all of the switching cells (12) of said H-bridge (11) can be controlled by this control member (13), each control member (13) being intended to communicate with a same remote control unit (14) through a potential barrier (15). |
| US09973106B2 |
Wide range AC/DC converter circuit
An electric circuit for use with an AC power source includes a diode electrically connected to a line input from the AC power source, a transistor having a gate, a drain, and a source, wherein the drain is electrically connected to the diode, a zener diode electrically connected between the gate and the source of the transistor, a resistor electrically connected between the drain of the transistor and a neutral input from the AC power source, and a capacitor electrically connected in parallel with the resistor. |
| US09973102B1 |
System for power conversion with feedback to reduce DC bus loading
A power conversion system can be implemented to reduce load disturbances on a DC bus which may be caused by load activity, such as a motor starting, stopping and/or ramping up or down. In one aspect, the power conversion system can receive externally supplied multi-phase AC electric power, such as three-phase power from a power grid, and use a converter circuit to generate the DC bus. The power conversion system can then use an inverter circuit to generate multi-phase AC electric power from the DC bus for driving the load with adjustable frequencies and/or amplitudes as desired. The power conversion system can receive feedback signals to sense the load activity and adjust the converter and/or inverter circuits accordingly to reduce the load disturbances on the DC bus. |
| US09973099B2 |
AC/DC converters with wider voltage regulation range
A converter is provided. The converter includes a first DC/DC converter, a non-isolated DC/DC converter and a control circuit. The first DC/DC converter includes a transformer, a primary side inverter and a secondary side rectifier. The primary side inverter and a secondary side rectifier are operable at multiple operating modes. The control circuit determines an operating mode for the primary side inverter or the secondary side rectifier, and controls the primary side inverter or the secondary side rectifier to change its respective operating mode. |
| US09973096B2 |
Power control module with improved start requirements
Circuits and devices are described that provide power to appliances and other devices via a power correction circuit and an LLC converter, which may for example include resonant series converters and flyback converters. The circuits and devices economize on board space, part size and power start up time by separately powering up the controller circuit portion prior to powering up the LLC converter. |
| US09973095B2 |
Control method and device for quasi-resonant high-power-factor flyback converter
The present disclosure is directed to a high power factor quasi resonant converter. The converter converts an AC power line input to a DC output to power a load, generally a string of LEDs. The power input is fed into a transformer being controlled by a power switch. The power switch is driven by a controller having a shaping circuit. The shaping circuit uses a current generator, switched resistor and capacitor to produce a sinusoidal reference voltage signal. The controller drives the power switch based on the voltage reference signal, resulting in a sinusoidal input current in a primary winding of the transformer, resulting in high power factor and low total harmonic distortion for the converter. |
| US09973094B2 |
Power converter and power conversion method
In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes disabling a first electronic switch connected in series with a primary winding of a transformer in a power converter circuit if an auxiliary voltage across an auxiliary winding of the transformer is outside a predefined voltage range. The power converter circuit further includes a secondary winding of the transformer, and a rectifier circuit connected between the secondary winding and an output, where the rectifier circuit comprises a second electronic switch. |
| US09973093B1 |
Controller device for resonant mode power converter circuit
In some examples, a controller device for a resonant mode power converter circuit comprises a feed-forward pin configured to receive an input voltage signal of the resonant mode power converter circuit, a feedback pin configured to receive an output voltage signal of the resonant mode power converter circuit, processing circuitry configured to determine a switching frequency based on the input voltage signal and the output voltage signal, a first control pin configured to deliver a first control signal to the first switch at the switching frequency, and a second control pin configured to deliver a second control signal the second switch at the switching frequency. |
| US09973091B2 |
Precise and dynamic control of synchronous rectification switch voltage in a switched mode power supply
A switched mode power supply, in some embodiments, comprises a synchronous rectification transistor switch including a gate, and it further comprises an output driver coupled to the gate and providing a driving signal to the gate. The driving signal is determined based on a dynamically controllable clamp signal and a prior driving signal. |
| US09973089B1 |
Interleaved DC-DC converter and semiconductor device having interleaved DC-DC converter
An interleaved DC-DC converter according to one or more embodiments includes a control circuit and N boost converters that are connected in parallel. The control circuit includes: an output voltage detection circuit that compares a detected voltage with a reference voltage, and outputs a comparison result as an error signal; N PWM generators that respectively generate pulses that on/off drive switching elements of the N converters; N current error amplifiers that compare current signals detected by respective current detectors with the error signal, and that outputs comparison results as feedback signals to the respective PWM generators; a differential detector that detects a difference between one feedback signal and another feedback signal for each of the feedback signals; and a latch circuit that stops all switching operations of the N converters when the differential detector detects that any one of the differences is a predetermined threshold value or more. |
| US09973086B2 |
Low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection
The low input voltage boost converter with peak inductor current control and offset compensated zero detection provide a boost converter scheme to harvest energy from sources with small output voltages. Some embodiments described herein includes a thermoelectric boost converter that combines an IPEAK control scheme with offset compensation and duty cycled comparators to enable energy harvesting from TEG inputs as low as 5 mV to 10 mV, and the peak inductor current is independent to first order of the input voltage and output voltage. A control circuit can be configured to sample the input voltage (VIN) and then generate a pulse with a duration inversely proportional to VIN so as to control the boost converter switches such that a substantially constant peak inductor current is generated. |
| US09973084B2 |
Switching voltage regulator input power estimation
An estimate of voltage regulator input power is provide by estimating output power of the voltage regulator based on output voltage and output current of the voltage regulator, estimating power loss of the voltage regulator and estimating input power of the voltage regulator based on the estimated output power and the estimated power loss. |
| US09973082B1 |
Load driving circuit
A charge pump circuit in a high-side intelligent power switch includes a switching unit between an oscillating unit and a charge-up unit. When the high-side IPS serving as a load driving circuit is in a standby state, a MOSFET switches ON and the switching unit blocks the transmission of signals output from the oscillating unit to the charge-up unit. This prevents a power supply voltage, which can potentially fluctuate, from being applied to capacitors of the charge-up unit via body diodes of inverter circuits in the switching unit while the high-side IPS is in the standby state, thereby suitably protecting the capacitors. |
| US09973081B1 |
Low-power low-duty-cycle switched-capacitor voltage divider
A switched-capacitor voltage divider is provided that functions to divide an input voltage only while a low-duty-cycle clock pulse signal is asserted. All the switches in the switched-capacitor voltage divider are idle during an off time for the low-duty-cycle clock pulse signal. |
| US09973079B2 |
Synchronized charge pump-driven input buffer and method
An integrated circuit includes (a) an analog-to-digital converter operated according to a first clock signal; and (b) a charge pump circuit providing a negative power supply voltage to the integrated circuit, the charge pump circuit being operated according to a second clock signal having a frequency that is different from a frequency of the first clock signal, such that a noise level introduced by the charge pump into the analog-to-digital converter is less than the average noise level over a predetermined range of frequencies for the second clock signal. The integrated circuit may further include a clock divider circuit (e.g., a programmable clock divider) that generates both the first clock signal and the second clock signal. |
| US09973078B2 |
Power conversion apparatus and method of using the apparatus
A power conversion apparatus sets a point between AC input terminals of a full-wave rectifying circuit as an input terminal of an alternating voltage, connects a series circuit of two switches between DC output terminals, connects a series circuit of a capacitor and an inductor with a midpoint of the two switches, forms a closed loop with the first switch, the capacitor and the inductor, connects a series circuit of a diode and a smoothing capacitor with the midpoint of the two switches, forms a closed loop with the first switch, the diode and the smoothing capacitor, sets both ends of the smoothing capacitor as output terminals of direct voltages, and changes a switching frequency according to an average voltage per unit time of the direct voltages output from the output terminals. |
| US09973077B2 |
Delta conversion rectifier
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide an AC-DC rectifier comprising an input configured to receive input AC power from an AC power source having an input AC voltage waveform, an output configured to provide output DC power to a load, an active power filter coupled to the input, an inverter coupled to the input and configured to convert the input AC voltage waveform into an output AC voltage waveform at a desired magnitude, a rectifier portion coupled between the inverter and the output and configured to convert the output AC voltage waveform into the output DC power, and a controller coupled to the active power filter and the inverter and configured to operate the active power filter to provide Power Factor Correction (PFC) at the input and to operate the inverter to provide the output AC voltage waveform at the desired magnitude to the rectifier portion. |
| US09973075B2 |
Method for performing adaptive input current control in an electronic device with aid of adaptor management, and associated apparatus
A method and apparatus for performing adaptive input current control in an electronic device are provided, where the method may include the steps of: before limiting an input current of a regulator of the electronic device to a target current value, monitoring the input current of the regulator according to a reference current, and decreasing the reference current, to make the reference current change starting from one of a plurality of predetermined reference current values, wherein the input current is obtained from a power source; detecting an input voltage of the regulator to generate a detection signal, to selectively trigger limiting output power of the regulator; and at a time point when the reference current becomes smaller than the input current, limiting the input current of the regulator to the target current value with a latest reference current value of the reference current being utilized as the target current value. |
| US09973071B2 |
Control device and control method for power converter
The power converter includes a first operation mode in which each of switching elements is controlled on or off independently so as to perform a power conversion between a load and both a first DC power source and a second DC power source and a second operation mode in which every two of the switching elements are controlled on or off concurrently so as to perform the power conversion between the load and the first DC power source or the second DC power source. A switching speed at which when each of the switching elements is turned on or turned off is controlled in accordance with the operation mode. Specifically, the switching speed in the second operation mode is higher than the switching speed in the first operation mode. |
| US09973070B2 |
Electric power converter
An electric power converter includes a stacked body in which a plurality of semiconductor modules and a plurality of coolers are stacked. Each of the semiconductor modules is provided with a main body that has semiconductor elements therein, a plurality of power terminals, and control terminals. Among the plurality of the power terminals respectively included in the two semiconductor modules adjoining in a stacking direction of the stacked body, at least parts of the power terminals are configured so as not to overlap each other when viewed from the stacking direction. |
| US09973068B2 |
Cast copper alloy for asynchronous machines
A copper alloy having the following composition (in % by weight): in each case 0.05 to 0.5% of at least three elements selected from the group consisting of Ag, Ni, Zn, Sn and Al, remainder Cu and unavoidable impurities, optionally 0.01 to 0.2% of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, Zr, B, P, As, Sb. Also, a current-carrying structural part made of a copper alloy and a cage rotor having multiple conductor bars and two short-circuiting rings, which are cast in one piece from a copper alloy. |
| US09973066B2 |
Multi-layer sandwich-shaped electric wheel
A wheel assembly comprising a wheel-shaped stator plate provided between two wheel-shaped rotor plates, all of which being co-axially attached to a rotation shaft. Each rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnets on the side facing the stator. The stator includes a plurality of coils corresponding in position to the permanent magnets of the rotors. Corresponding magnet faces of the different rotors have opposite orientations, and adjacent magnet faces of the same rotor have also opposite orientations. The rotors are attached to each other to maintain this configuration in place as the rotors rotate. The coils are configured so that each coil generates a magnetic field that extends across the surface of the stator plate to react with corresponding permanent magnets in both rotors, thus maximizing use of the magnetic field generated by the coils and causing the rotor plates to rotate simultaneously. A stream of cooling fluid may be run within the stator plate for reducing overheating. |
| US09973058B2 |
Propeller in-hub power generation and control
A power generation unit for generating electric power within a rotating reference frame includes a generator and a gear assembly. The generator has a plurality of first generator parts disposed concentrically with and radially outward from a plurality of second generator parts. The gear assembly is rotatably attached to the second generator parts and configured to allow relative rotation between the first and second generator parts caused by a single rotating component. The generator and the gear assembly are axially disposed along a common rotational axis. |
| US09973057B2 |
Linear generator and linear drive
Device for the reversible transfer of linear motion into rotational motion and for the conversion of rotational motion into electrical energy and vice versa. The device comprises a central rail and a support element which surrounds the central rail or is being surrounded by the central rail, the support element being positioned so as to be capable of performing a linear motion relative to the central rail in the longitudinal direction of the central rail. A number of rolling bodies which are in contact with the central rail are rotationally mounted in the support element. The rolling bodies rotate during the linear motion of the support element relative to the central rail in conjunction with the central rail. The linear motion is also connected to the drive or output of an electric machine. The elastically preloaded rolling bodies are arranged so that the central rail is essentially mounted with zero clearance under pressure, whereby the preload forces cancel each other out and are produced by elastically deformed retaining brackets on the support element. The rotations of at least one rolling body form the drive or output of the electric machine. |
| US09973055B2 |
Electric compressor
An electric compressor including a compression mechanism, an electric motor driving the compression mechanism, a housing accommodating the compression mechanism and the electric motor, an inverter box located on an outer surface of the housing, an inverter substrate accommodated in the inverter box and having an inverter circuit supplying electric power to the electric motor, the inverter substrate having a first surface and a second surface that is a reverse surface of the first surface, a plurality of fastening members fixing the inverter substrate to the inverter box, and a reinforcing member having a first end fixed to the inverter box and a second end soldered to the first surface or the second surface of the inverter substrate. The reinforcing member extends toward the first surface or the second surface of the inverter substrate in the inverter box. The reinforcing member is not electrically connected to the inverter circuit. |
| US09973051B2 |
Method for connecting motor wire
According to the method for connecting motor wire of the present invention, wire as a first wire having folding part is connected to lead as a first lead or a second wire, each having connecting part, with connection terminal having crimping part. After folding part is folded one or more times, folding part and connecting part are crimped at crimping part. |
| US09973050B2 |
Asynchronous machine with optimized distribution of electrical losses between stator and rotor
The invention relates to an asynchronous machine (1) as can be used particularly in electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. The asynchronous machine (1) has a rotor (5) and a stator (3). The asynchronous machine is designed and controlled in such a manner that it has a pole pair number p of p=3. Because of the reduced yoke saturation that can consequently be achieved, the stator yoke (9) can be designed with a lesser height hy1, such that a ratio of the outer rotor diameter D2a to the outer stator diameter D1a can assume values between 0.7 and 0.8. As a result, enlarged rotor teeth (19) and correspondingly enlarged rotor grooves (21) can be formed in the rotor (5), such that electrical losses in the material in the rotor grooves (21) acting as the rotor coil element (23) are smaller in comparison to conventional asynchronous machines. The electrical losses occurring to a greater extent in the stator (3) compensating for this lead to a lesser warming of the stator (3) than would be the case with the rotor (5) as the stator (3) can be cooled by simple means. Overall, a higher continuous torque can thus be achieved with the asynchronous machine (1) according to the invention. |
| US09973041B2 |
Electronic component that operates stably over a range of temperatures and apparatus including the same
An electronic component includes a first capacitor including a first dielectric material having a permittivity that is inversely proportional to temperature; and a second capacitor connected in parallel with the first capacitor and including a second dielectric material having a permittivity that is directly proportional to temperature. |
| US09973040B2 |
Power feeding device
To minimize excessively high output or increases in magnetic-flux leakage by controlling power feeding on the power-feeding side if an unforeseen situation occurs. This power-feeding device (100) feeds power to an external power-receiving device (150) in a contactless manner. A power-feeding coil (103) uses electromagnetic power to feed electrical power to a power-receiving coil (154) in the power-receiving device (150). While power is being fed from said power-feeding coil (103), a power-feeding-side control unit (107) determines the amount of displacement of the power-feeding coil (103) and, on the basis of the determined displacement amount, controls the amount of electrical power being fed. |