Document Document Title
US08341758B2 Secure device and method for preventing side channel attack
Provided are a secure device and method for preventing a side channel attack. The secure device includes a secure module converting plaintext data received from the outside into ciphertext data to thereby store the converted ciphertext data, or converting stored ciphertext data into plaintext data to thereby output the converted plaintext data, and a side channel attack sensing module sensing a side channel attack upon the secure module, and, according to the sensing result, allowing the secure module to stop operating, inducing malfunctions of the secure module, delaying operations of the secure module, or making the secure module a device having the secure module disabled. The secure device can safely protect an internal security algorithm and data from the side channel attack.
US08341753B2 Managing pre-release of a game application over a network
A system, method, and apparatus are arranged to enable loading of an application, such as a game application, prior to a formal release date of the application. An end-user is provided components of the application either over a network, CD, DVD, or the like. At least one component of the application is encrypted. The end-user may register with an application provider. At a pre-defined time, such as a release date for the application, a decryption key is made available to the end-user. The decryption key may be employed to decrypt the encrypted component(s) of the application, such that the application may be readied for execution. In addition, bug fixes, additions, or the like, may also be pre-loaded to release of the application, thereby ensuring that the end-user has the most current application configuration.
US08341750B2 Document processing apparatus, document processing system and recording medium
A document processing apparatus provided with boxes for storing various information in a sorted manner, the boxes including at least a private box having a box function of allowing an access from a specific user and/or group, includes a notification portion. The notification portion is configured such that when a document is moved in or a new document is accumulated in the private box from a user or a group other than an owner of the private box, the fact that the document is moved in or the new document is accumulated in the private box from a user or a group other than the owner of the private box is notified to the owner of the private box and that when a document not accumulated by the owner is accumulated in the private box, the fact that the document not accumulated by the owner is accumulated in the private box is also notified to the owner.
US08341745B1 Inferring file and website reputations by belief propagation leveraging machine reputation
The probability of a computer file being malware is inferred by iteratively propagating domain knowledge among computer files, related clients, and/or related source domains. A graph is generated to include machine nodes representing clients, file nodes representing files residing on the clients, and optionally domain nodes representing source domains hosting the files. The graph also includes edges connecting the machine nodes with the related file nodes, and optionally edges connecting the domain nodes with the related file nodes. Priors and edge potentials are set for the nodes and the edges based on related domain knowledge. The domain knowledge is iteratively propagated and aggregated among the connected nodes through exchanging messages among the connected nodes. The iteration process ends when a stopping criterion is met. The classification and associated marginal probability for each file node are calculated based on the priors, the received messages, and the edge potentials associated with the edges through which the messages were received.
US08341743B2 Detection of viral code using emulation of operating system functions
A method and apparatus for detecting viral code that uses calls to an operating system to damage computer systems, computers and/or computer files is provided. The apparatus comprises a CPU emulator, a memory manager component and a monitor component. An artificial memory region spanning one or more components of the operating system is created by the memory manager component. Execution of computer executable code in a subject file is emulated by the CPU emulator. An attempt by the emulated computer executable code to access the artificial memory region is detected by the monitor component. The apparatus optionally may comprise an auxiliary component and an analyzer component. The auxiliary component determines an operating system call that the emulated computer executable code attempted to access. The analyzer component monitors the operating system call to determine whether the computer executable code is viral.
US08341742B2 Network attack detection devices and methods
A network attack detection device is provided, including a spatial coordinate database for storing spatial coordinate data; a standard time zone database for storing standard time zone data; a domain name system packet collector for collecting a domain name system packet; a spatial snapshot feature extractor for extracting internet protocol address corresponding to the domain name system packet according to the domain name system packet, and generating spatial feature data corresponding to the internet protocol address according to the internet protocol address, the spatial coordinate data and the standard time zone data; and an attack detector for determining whether the domain name system packet is an attack according to the spatial feature data and a spatial snapshot detection model, and when determining that the domain name system packet is an attack, sending a warning to indicate the attack.
US08341739B2 Managing network security
Technology for network security is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of managing network security includes receiving sampled packets. The sampled packets represent packets being sampled from network packet traffic in at least one location in a network. The sampled packets are converted into an appropriate format for analysis to form converted packets. Moreover, the converted packets are sent to a first group including at least one security device for analysis. If an event message is generated by the at least one security device as a result of analysis of the converted packets, the event message is received from the at least one security device. Network security is evaluated based on the event message and security policies and is adjusted based on that evaluation. The method may be implemented with a network manager.
US08341737B1 Detecting fraudulent web sites through an obfuscated reporting mechanism
A callback component embedded on a web site determines a current location of the web site. The current location is compared to a known legitimate location of the web site to determine if the web site has been copied to a different host location. Responsive to determining that the web site has been copied to a different location, the callback component alerts a central authority that the web site may be a fraudulent web site set up to launch phishing attacks. If the central authority determines that the web site is fraudulent, the central authority alerts appropriate entities to take down the fraudulent web site. The callback component generates a visual component viewable on the web site to deter phishing attackers from removing the callback component when the web site is copied.
US08341727B2 Method and system for protecting a computer system from denial-of-service attacks and other deleterious resource-draining phenomena related to communications
Embodiments of the present invention include a variety of different integrated, multi-tiered methods and systems for preventing various types of attacks on computer systems, including denial-of-service attacks and SYN-flood attacks. Components of these integrated methods and systems include probabilistic packet droppers, packet-rate throttles, resource controls, automated firewalls, and efficient connection-state-information storage in memory resources and connection-state-information distribution in order to prevent draining of sufficient communications-related resources within a computer system to seriously degrade or disable electronics communications components within the computer system.
US08341724B1 Blocking unidentified encrypted communication sessions
Techniques are described for blocking unidentified encrypted communication sessions. In one embodiment, a device includes an interface to receive a packet, an application identification module to attempt to identify an application associated with the packet, an encryption detection module to determine whether the packet is encrypted when the application identification module is unable to identify an application associated with the packet, and an attack detection module to determine whether the packet is associated with a network attack, to forward the packet when the packet is not associated with a network attack, and to take a response when the packet is associated with a network attack, wherein the encryption detection module sends a message to the attack detection module that indicates whether the packet is encrypted, wherein when the message indicates that packet is encrypted, the attack detection module determines that the packet is associated with a network attack.
US08341715B2 System and method for shared resource owner based access control
Method and system for controlling application access to a shared resource in a runtime environment. The shared resource is owned by a remote resource owner. An access control ticket including a permission for the shared resource, a cryptographically verifiable remote resource owner identifier and a cryptographically verifiable application owner identifier are generated. The access control ticket is approved and signed by the remote resource owner, and transmitted to the runtime environment. The application, when executed in the runtime environment, accesses the resource based on the permission.
US08341704B2 Secure communication between client device and server device
A user is enabled to select one or more client devices from a number of client devices and to select one or more server devices from a number of server devices. Secure communication is to occur between each selected client device and each selected server device. For each unique pair of a selected client device and a selected server device, a validation of a security configuration of the selected client device and a security configuration of the selected server device is performed, to determine whether secure communication can occur between the selected client device and the selected server device. Where the validation has failed, reconfiguration of one or more of the selected client device and the selected server device is performed so that secure communication can occur between the selected client device and the selected server device.
US08341698B2 Transforming static password systems to become 2-factor authentication
The present invention provides systems and processes for transforming any system that implements a static password authentication or 1st-factor authentication so as to enforce strong 2-factor authentication, requiring the user to present both a static password and a dynamic password, without having to modify the existing system.
US08341696B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and storage medium
A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an authentication information unit including login information of a user and an authentication key; an authentication key providing unit including the authentication key; functional units; and a functional-unit authentication unit including authentication information of the functional units and a first verification unit configured to determine whether the functional units are authenticated. Each of the functional units includes an authentication key obtaining unit for obtaining the authentication key from the authentication key providing unit if the first verification unit determines that the functional unit is authenticated. The authentication information unit further includes a second verification unit for determining whether the authentication key obtained by the authentication key obtaining unit matches the authentication key in the authentication information unit, and a login information providing unit for providing the login information to the functional unit if the second verification unit determines that the authentication keys match.
US08341694B2 Method and system for synchronized access control in a web services environment
Access controls for a Web service (which controls are based on abstract WSDL definitions) are defined for a WSDL defined protected object space and, as such, are loosely coupled with the concrete WSDL binding derived from those definitions, preferably on a per binding level. This WSDL-defined POS is in turn loosely bound to a resource-specific protected object space definition. This loose coupling is leveraged to allow changes (e.g., updates) to the abstract WSDL binding's protected object space to be transitively applied to the application-specific protected object space. If appropriate, changes to the resource-specific protected object space may be applied to the WSDL's protected object space. Thus, according to the invention, the coupling may be one-way (typically, from the WSDL POS to the resource level POS) or two-way (from the WSDL POS to the resource level POS and vice versa). This technique ensures that different security policies are not applied unintentionally to the same resource (for example, one at the Web services entry level, and the other at the resource level). By synchronizing the protected object spaces in the manner described, neither the entity that deploys the application nor the security administrator need to be aware of the differences between the Web service request and the resource request.
US08341684B2 Method and device for transmitting data
A method for transmitting video communication data includes: allocating a redundant audio data bandwidth according to an obtained current packet loss ratio of audio data, generating redundant audio data according to the redundant audio data bandwidth, and sending the redundant audio data; calculating a target total video data bandwidth according to a video communication bandwidth, an encoded audio data bandwidth, and the redundant audio data bandwidth; allocating a redundant video data bandwidth according to an obtained current packet loss ratio of video data and the target total video data bandwidth, generating redundant video data according to the redundant video data bandwidth, and sending the redundant video data. A method for transmitting video communication data and a video communication device are also provided. By using the method and device, the quality of voices and videos is improved in the video communication, and the utilization efficiency of the communication bandwidth is guaranteed.
US08341675B2 Method and system for providing program guide data from a content provider to a user device through a partner service provider based upon user attributes
A method and system for providing program guide data to a user network device associated with a user identifier includes a partner service provider in communication with the user network device and a primary service provider in communication with the partner service provider authenticating the user network device provider using the user identifier. The user network device generates a request for program guide data and communicates the user identifier and the request to the partner service provider. The partner service provider or the primary service provider communicates program guide data to the user network device based on the identifier data. The user network device displays the program guide data on a display device.
US08341673B2 Information processing apparatus and method as well as software program
The present invention concerns an information processing apparatus, a method thereof, and a program for allowing the audience to easily search for intended television programs. A server stores characteristic words extracted from television program information in a characteristic word file 103. The server also stores the extracted characteristic words associated with IDs for identifying television programs in an association file 102. When the audience selects a characteristic word as an interested word from the characteristic word file 103, the server reads the ID of a television program corresponding to the selected characteristic word from the association file 102. The server reads television program information corresponding to the read ID from a television program information file 101. The server then provides the read television program information to the audience. The present invention can be applied to a recording/reproducing apparatus and a television receiver to provide intended television programs.
US08341671B2 System and method for synchroning broadcast content with supplementary information
Disclosed herein is a system and method for providing a supplementary information associated with a broadcast content. The system provides a supplementary information associated with a specific broadcast program in the broadcast content by means of a supplementary information server, wherein the supplementary information server comprises a broadcasting receiving unit for receiving the broadcast content; a synchronization information unit for storing a synchronization information of the supplementary information associated with the specific broadcast program; a video comparison unit for comparing screens of the broadcast content with a previously stored scene change screen of the specific broadcast program and setting a start time of the specific broadcast program; a supplementary information extracting unit for calculating an elapsed time from the start time of the specific broadcast program to a specific screen and extracting the supplementary information corresponding to the elapsed time. The supplementary information associated with the specific broadcast program in the broadcast content is provided through the steps of receiving a synchronization information of the supplementary information associated with the specific broadcast program; setting a start time of the specific broadcast program by comparing screens of the broadcast content with a previously stored scene change screen of the specific broadcast program; calculating an elapsed time corresponding to a specific screen based on the start time; extracting the supplementary information corresponding to the elapsed time.
US08341669B2 Systems and methods for controlling an electronic device
The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to a controller apparatus for controlling an electronic device by sensing and processing a user's interactions with an object and, particularly, for controlling and interacting with a media guidance application implemented on an interactive user equipment device. The controller apparatus may include a platform, a liquid container, and a stirring rod. The platform may include sensors of various kinds for detecting a user's interactions with any one of the components of the user interface system. The controller apparatus may also include sensors for sensing environmental conditions and use the sensed conditions to interact with the media guidance application or any other applications or electronic devices.
US08341666B2 ADM enabled OITF, supporting IPTV infrastructure and associated methods
A system and method for the automated discovery of advertisement decision services and advertisement management services employs an advertisement application server which receives the address of an advertisement management service from an IPTV Controller during the registration phase. The advertisement application server then begins the configuration process by informing the advertisement decision server of the availability of a new advertisement management service. Additionally, an OITF having an embedded ADM makes use of markers in a received content stream to identify the location at which an advertisement is to be inserted, requests and receives advertisements from an ADS, and renders a video stream based on the received content and the received advertisement.
US08341665B2 Providing content responsive to multimedia signals
A method of providing information including providing a communication session of at least one of audio and video media and applying automatic recognition to media transferred on the communication session. An advertisement is selected by a processor, based on the automatic recognition and non-advertisement information is selected by the processor, responsive to the automatic recognition. The selected advertisements and the selected non-advertisement information, are presented during the communication session.
US08341659B2 Multimedia service system based on user history
Disclosed is a user history based multimedia service system, wherein user history data include a multimedia consumption type and/or consumption behavior of the user. The consumption type data includes a start time or end time of the multimedia content consumption (i.e., simple view data), content recording time and format, content backup time and format, and content transfer time and format. The consumption behavior data includes a content access/play data such as a normal finish, skimmed, skipped, slowed, or replay, and a stopped data of the content access/play. The consumption type or consumption behavior data include information on program identification and information on access to the consumption type/consumption behavior data. The respective data is provided for each user and program.
US08341656B2 Slim optical disc drive with flexible flat cable assembly
The present invention discloses a slim optical disc drive comprising a case with an upper cover and a lower cover, a disc tray for loading and unloading an optical disc, a first circuit board disposed on the lower cover, a second circuit board disposed on the disc tray, and a flexible flat cable for connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The flexible flat cable comprises a fixed portion and a movable portion, and a patch is adhered to the movable portion of the flexible flat cable. The patch has a first end and a second end, and the width of the first end is larger than that of the second end.
US08341653B2 Optical disc storage system
Embodiments provide methods and systems for handling optical discs in a media library appliance and for replacing optical drives in the field. In one embodiment, the media library appliance comprises optical disc handling robotics developed for slim form factor slot load drives in a vertical orientation located on both sides of the robotics within a 19 inch rackable appliance. On the system level, the optical disc storage system provides modularity and scalability. The drives reside in field replaceable units (“FRUs”) that are oriented vertically on a horizontal backplane. The disc handling robotics access discs on each side stored in horizontal stacks within large disc cartridges. A small disc shuttle cartridge attaches to a large disc cartridge to provide a means to import and export a smaller number of discs from the disc cartridge.
US08341645B1 Workflow and exception system
An exception management system comprising a centralized exception engine for processing exception messages from a plurality of source systems across a firm (or enterprise) and for generating workflow items where needed from the exception messages. The centralized exception engine may comprise an exception backbone that receives the exception messages from the source systems and processes the exception messages based on business rules. The exception messages may adhere to an exception message definition format. Users may access the exception information via a user interface. The exception engine may send alerts to certain users in certain circumstances based on the business rules. A flow manager of the exception backbone may process the exception messages by: (i) enriching the exception messages with additional information; (ii) prioritizing the exception messages; (iii) routing the exception messages to one or more users; and/or (iv) persisting exception information extracted from the exception messages in a persistent store. A workflow engine may communicate workflow messages to the source systems or directly with the exception backbone when workflow is required for one of the exception messages.
US08341642B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program and information processing system
An IC chip in which secure information is recorded is mounted on an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus is connected to a service providing server for providing a service and a settlement operator server for executing a settlement concerning the service via a network. The apparatus includes a content data acquisition part that acquires content data containing a network location of a script file capable of reading the secure information in the IC chip from the service providing server, that transmits to the network location a request for the script file, and that acquires the script file from the settlement operator server based on the request. The apparatus also includes a file reading part that reads the script file, and a secure information reading part that reads the secure information from the IC chip based on a secure information access description contained in the script file.
US08341641B2 Task processor
A task processor includes a CPU, a save circuit, and a task control circuit. A task control circuit is provided with a task selection circuit and state storage units associated with respective tasks. When executing a predetermined system call instruction, the CPU notifies the task control circuit accordingly. When informed of the execution of a system call instruction, the task control circuit selects a task to be subsequently executed in accordance with an output from the selection circuit. When an interrupt circuit receives a high-speed interrupt request signal, the task switching circuit controls the state transition of a task by executing an interrupt handling instruction designated by the interrupt circuit.
US08341640B2 Using smart objects in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources
Described herein are some embodiments that use smart objects in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. Some embodiments describe a first object that detects an indication to reduce resource usage of a computing resource that supports a virtual universe. Some embodiments further describe reducing, based on detection of the indication to reduce resource usage, display quality of the first virtual object according to an order of degrees of display quality reduction that corresponds to one or more degrees of resource reduction required for the computing resource. Further, some embodiments describe a second virtual object that is not reduced in display quality while simultaneously the first virtual object is reduced in display quality.
US08341637B2 Utilization management
Utilization management is provided. A utilization monitor is initiated to monitor a set of processes. Utilization data for an identified process of the set of processes is recorded to form recorded utilization data. It is determined whether the recorded utilization data exceeds a utilization threshold. In responsive to determining that the recorded utilization data exceeds a utilization threshold, an action is performed to manage utilization.
US08341635B2 Hardware wake-and-go mechanism with look-ahead polling
A hardware wake-and-go mechanism is provided for a data processing system. The wake-and-go mechanism looks ahead in a thread for programming idioms that indicates that the thread is waiting for an event. The wake-and-go mechanism performs a look-ahead polling operation for each of the programming idioms. If each of the look-ahead polling operations fails, then the wake-and-go mechanism updates a wake-and-go array with a target address associated with the event for each recognized programming idiom.
US08341630B2 Load balancing in a data processing system having physical and virtual CPUs
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of load balancing in a data processing system comprising a plurality of physical CPUs and a plurality of virtual CPUs, the method comprising: mapping one or more virtual CPUs to each of said physical CPUs; and dynamically adapting the mapping depending on the load of said physical CPUs and the negative load indicative of the load of all other virtual CPUs that are allocated to each physical CPU.
US08341622B1 Systems and methods for efficiently using network bandwidth to deploy dependencies of a software package
A package deployment manager on an administrative system deploys a dependent software package to a plurality of target nodes. The package deployment manager also identifies one or more dependencies of the dependent software package. For each dependency that is identified, the package deployment manager determines which of the plurality of target nodes already have the dependency installed, and deploys the dependency only to the target nodes that do not already have the dependency installed.
US08341620B2 Streaming optimized virtual application images
Embodiments provide an optimized virtual application or suite of virtual applications, but are not so limited. In an embodiment, components of a system are configured to generate an optimized virtual package that can be used in a virtual application streaming environment. Components of the system can provide bits of the optimized virtual package based in part on scenario mappings associated with a user action and/or an application or application feature. In one embodiment, a client virtualization handler can operate to download byte ranges of an optimized virtual package including re-prioritizing byte range download operations as part of streaming virtual application functionality over a computing network.
US08341614B2 Memory management for closures
Methods, software media, compilers and programming techniques are described for creating copyable stack-based closures, such as a block, for languages which allocate automatic or local variables on a stack memory structure. In one exemplary method, a data structure of the block is first written to the stack memory structure, and this may be the automatic default operation, at run-time, for the block; then, a block copy instruction, added explicitly (in one embodiment) by a programmer during creation of the block, is executed to copy the block to a heap memory structure. The block includes a function pointer that references a function which uses data in the block.
US08341613B2 Reducing stack space consumption via head-call optimization
Embodiments of the invention provide a method for reducing stack space consumption via a head-call optimization. When compiling the source code of a computer application, a compiler application may be configured to analyze program flow to identify a “head-call” within any functions included in the program source code. Once identified, the “head-call” may be removed during program compilation. Doing so may reduce the number of elements pushed onto a program's stack space during program execution.
US08341610B2 Method and apparatus for authoring and optimizing flowcharts
A method and system for generating problem resolution flowcharts, whereby users do not author flowcharts directly but instead author a dependency matrix of questions and answers related by state or underlying problem cause. After creation of a matrix of questions and answers, a corresponding flowchart is then calculated based on the information in the dependency matrix, and also based on the likelihood of the various problems and their causes. The probabilities of problems and their causes may be estimated or may be calculated from historical data accumulated by use of the flow chart, or some combination of the two. These probabilities are incorporated into the answer cells of the dependency matrix. The resulting flowchart is tested and evaluated, and the results of testing and evaluation are used to make modifications in the matrix of questions and answers. The flowchart is then made available for execution by a problem determination engine, usable by staff at a help center or directly as self-help to a customer over a network. Experience from use of the problem determination engine is accumulated for use in further refinements of the dependency matrix and its probabilities.
US08341609B2 Code generation in the presence of paged memory
A computer is programmed to automatically identify multiple sequences of executable code such that each sequence fits within a page of memory. When the executable code comprising several sequences is loaded into the paged memory, each sequence is placed in its own page. The computer is further programmed to prepare a number of structures which identify a corresponding number of instructions that transfer control between sequences. Each structure identifies at least a control transfer instruction in one sequence and a target in another sequence. When loading the sequences into memory, the structures are used to replace destination addresses of control transfers between sequences with new addresses derived from base addresses of pages that have been allocated in memory to hold the sequences.
US08341605B2 Use of execution flow shape to allow aggregate data reporting with full context in an application manager
Data relating to execution flows at a computer system is aggregated across multiple execution flows by categorizing each execution flow into an execution flow shape. The execution flows may represent sequences of software components that are invoked or other computer system resources that are consumed. The execution flow shapes are developed by observing and recording the execution flows at the computer system and applying lossy compression rules. Execution flows are categorized into an execution flow shape which is a closest match. The execution flow data may be aggregated by an agent at the computer system, and communicated to a manager for subsequent use. The aggregation combines the information from all execution flows into a small enough data set that can be reported without consuming unduly large processing overhead while still preserving as many of the interesting aspects of the execution flows as possible.
US08341604B2 Embedded trace macrocell for enhanced digital signal processor debugging operations
Techniques for the design and use of a digital signal processor, including (but not limited to) for processing transmissions in a communications (e.g., CDMA) system. The method and system improve software instruction debugging operations by capturing real-time information relating to software execution flow and include and instructions and circuitry for operating a core processor process within a core processor. A non-intrusive debugging process operates within a debugging mechanism of a digital signal processor. Non-intrusively monitoring in real time predetermined aspects of software execution occurs with the core processing process and occurs in real-time on the processor. An embedded trace macrocell records selectable aspects of the non-intrusively monitored software execution and generates at least one breakpoint in response to events arising within the selectable aspects of the non-intrusively monitored software execution. The present disclosure controls aspects of the non-intrusive debugging process in response to at least one breakpoint.
US08341595B2 System and method for developing rich internet applications for remote computing devices
A system for developing rich internet applications (RIAs) for remote computing devices that utilize a certifying player to invoke server-side web services through a single, secure, certifying intermediary server, includes an integrated development environment (IDE). The IDE includes a toolbox comprising graphical components configured to be dragged and dropped into UI states implementing the RIA process flow and a Web Service Description Language (WSDL) integrator for generating web service call for accessing web services for processing input from the UI states and generating an output result.
US08341593B2 Integrated development framework for composite applications
There is disclosed an integrated development environment for development of a composite application, wherein the development environment integrates a plurality of different heterogeneous development frameworks to provide a single user interface and perspective for developing a composite application including components from the different heterogeneous frameworks. In the environment, objects from different frameworks and layers may be viewed simultaneously, navigated between, edited and composed. Error checking functionality allows edits across different layers or objects of different frameworks to be checked at design time.
US08341591B1 Method and software tool for real-time optioning in a software development pipeline
As provided, a method for real time optioning includes providing, for each of multiple projects in a software development pipeline, a set of inputs, the inputs comprising at least one input from a group consisting of 1) work-in-progress inputs relating to a current project in a software development pipeline and 2) placeholder inputs relating to a future project in the software development pipeline. The method also includes aggregating the inputs resulting in one or more constraints. The method further includes implementing a test change that has an impact on one or more constraints in the software development pipeline, and outputting, in real-time, the impact of the test change on the one or more constraints in the software development pipeline. The impact is at least one of positive and negative.
US08341561B2 Methods of arranging mask patterns and associated apparatus
Methods and apparatus are disclosed that arrange mask patterns in response to the contribution of a second pattern to image intensity. In some methods of arranging mask patterns, a distribution of functions h(ξ−x) is obtained which represents the contribution of a second pattern to image intensity on a first pattern. Neighboring regions of the first pattern are discretized into finite regions, and the distribution of the functions h(ξ−x) is replaced with representative values h(x,ξ) of the discretized regions. A position of the second pattern is determined using polygonal regions having the same h(x,ξ). As described, the term x is the position of the first pattern and the term ξ is the position of the assist.
US08341555B2 Image managing apparatus, image managing method and image managing program
An image managing apparatus includes a storage part, an input part, a grouping-processing part, a representative image extraction part, a folding-button preparing part, a folding-screen preparing part and an output part. An image is stored in the storage part. A user's instruction is input by the input part. The grouping-processing part is configured to classify images displayed on a screen into a group for display based on the instruction. The representative image extraction part is configured to extract an image in the group as a representative image of the group. The folding-button preparing part is configured to generate a folding button for displaying the representative image of the group on the screen. The folding-screen preparing part is configured to generate an image-listing screen (“folding screen)”) on which the representative image of the group and an ungrouped image are displayed when the folding-button displayed on the screen is operated.
US08341550B2 User generated targeted advertisements
User generated targeted advertisements is described. In embodiments, a selection of an advertisement template for a targeted advertisement can be received when initiated by a user. Advertisement content to incorporate in the advertisement template can be received, as well as selections of recipients to receive the targeted advertisement. A program grid can be generated for display from which a television program and advertisement time slot can be selected to display the targeted advertisement for viewing. Confirmation to purchase the targeted advertisement for delivery to the recipients can also be received to initiate the targeted advertisement being displayed for viewing during the selected television program and advertisement time slot.
US08341547B2 Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing contact information at turf level
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing contact information at turf level. According to embodiments, a method for providing contact information at turf level is provided. According to the method, a selected turf from a plurality of turfs displayed in a spreadsheet-based graphical user interface (GUI) is received. In response to receiving the selected turf, contact information for field supervisors associated with disciplines of the selected turf is displayed.
US08341520B2 Method and system for spell checking
The present invention provides a method of correction of misspelled and confused words in a phrase written in a natural language, as well as a computer system employing this method. The method of the invention comprises creating a fast-lookup N-gram database for context spelling combined with editing and phonetic rules, POS and grammar bindings. Employed in the computing system the method permits to achieve fast and efficient spelling correction with a high correction success level for most difficult texts. The method of the invention does not require any pre-training or pre-learning user-specific patterns of errors.
US08341507B2 Method and device for decoding a received systematic code encoded block
A method of decoding a received systematic code encoded block corresponding to an original block of information, wherein the received systematic code encoded block may include soft systematic values, may include detecting an error condition in the received systematic code encoded block. The method may also include decoding the received systematic code encoded block for retrieving the original block of information if the error condition in the received systematic code encoded block is detected and processing the soft systematic values to retrieve the original block of information instead of the decoding if the error condition in the received systematic code encoded block is not detected.
US08341503B1 Methods and systems for storing data in memory using zoning
Methods and systems for storing data in a memory system with different levels of redundancy are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide allow a redundancy level to be associated with received data, wherein associating the redundancy level of the data includes determining a desired level of protection for that data and determining the redundancy level based on the desired level of protection. A zone within a memory system is located that has a redundancy level that matches the redundancy level of the data, and the data is stored in the located zone with the desired redundancy level.
US08341495B2 Method for detecting short burst errors in LDPC system
The present invention is a device for detecting short burst errors. The device includes a first signal input, wherein the first signal input is configured to receive a first signal. The device includes a second signal input, wherein the second signal input is configured to receive a second signal. The device includes a logic gate, wherein the logic gate is operable for receiving the first signal via the first signal input, receiving the second signal via the second signal input, and generating a logic output gate signal based on the received first signal and the second signal. Furthermore, the device includes a filter, wherein the filter is configured for receiving the logic output gate signal from the logic gate and generates a filter output signal based upon the received logic output gate signal, wherein the filter output signal is operable for flagging errors.
US08341492B2 Quasi-cyclic LDPC (low density parity check) code construction
Quasi-cyclic LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code construction is presented that ensures no four cycles therein (e.g., in the bipartite graphs corresponding to the LDPC codes). Each LDPC code has a corresponding LDPC matrix that is composed of square sub-matrices, and based on the size of the sub-matrices of a particular LDPC matrix, then sub-matrix-based cyclic shifting is performed as not only a function of sub-matrix size, but also the row and column indices, to generate CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) sub-matrices. When the sub-matrix size is prime (e.g., each sub-matrix being size q×q, where q is a prime number), then it is guaranteed that no four cycles will exist in the resulting bipartite graph corresponding to the LDPC code of that LDPC matrix. When q is a non-prime number, an avoidance set can be used and/or one or more sub-matrices can be made to be an all zero-valued sub-matrix.
US08341489B2 Permuted accelerated LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoder
Permuted accelerated LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoder. This decoding approach operates by processing, in parallel, selected rows for multiple individual LDPC matrix rows from various sub-matrix rows (e.g., first group of rows from a first sub-matrix row, second group of rows from a second sub-matrix row, etc.). A memory structure of daisy chains is employed for memory management of APP (a posteriori probability) values and also for check edge messages/intrinsic information (λ) values. A first group of daisy chains may be employed for memory management of the APP values, and a second group of daisy chains may be employed for memory management of the check edge messages. These daisy chains operate to effectuate the proper alignment of APP (or gamma(γ)) values and check edge message/intrinsic information (λ) values for their respective updating in successive decoding iterations.
US08341476B1 I-R voltage drop screening when executing a memory built-in self test
A built-in self test (BIST) method and system for testing a memory included on an integrated circuit includes activating a component of the integrated circuit, partitioning the memory into a first part for use by non-BIST components and second part for BIST, and executing BIST on the second part of the memory while the component is operating. While the BIST is executing, the non-BIST components can access the first part of the memory and perform normal functional operations. The BIST method and system finds memory faults that are related to an I-R voltage drop due to the physical placement of the memory relative to power supply sources.
US08341473B2 Microprocessor and method for detecting faults therein
A microprocessor has a silicon area comprising a plurality of transistors implemented on the silicon area and a fault detection circuit occupying less than 20% of the silicon area and configured to detect faults at runtime in at least 80% of the plurality of transistors.
US08341455B2 Management method and system for managing replication by taking into account cluster storage accessibility to a host computer
A management system, which manages a host computer and a storage system, holds cluster information, specifies an active-state host computer and an inactive-state host computer based on a backup instruction specifying a virtual host identifier, determines the need for executing a replication for disaster recovery use, and when necessary, executes this replication for disaster recovery use in combination with a replication for backup use.
US08341452B2 Explicit skew interface for reducing crosstalk and simultaneous switching noise
Methods and apparatus are disclosed, such as those involving an inter-chip interface configured to receive and process electronic data. One such interface includes a receiver circuit that includes a clock tree configured to receive a clock signal at a clock tree input. The clock tree distributes a plurality of clock signals delayed from the clock signal such that one or more of the clock signals have a delay different from the delays of the other clock signals. The receiver circuit further includes a plurality of data input latches configured to receive a plurality of data elements over two or more different points in time. This configuration at least partially reduces crosstalk and simultaneous switching output noise.
US08341442B2 Energy load management method and system
A modification method and system. The method includes detecting and monitoring by a computing system, a frequency signal associated with an input voltage signal used for powering a plurality of power consumption devices at a specified location. The computing system compares the frequency signal to a predetermined frequency value. The computing system determines that the frequency signal comprises a first value that is not equal to the predetermined frequency value. The computing system calculates a difference value between the first value and the predetermined frequency value. The computing system compares the difference value to a second value. The computing system enables a load adjustment modification process associated with the plurality of power consumption devices. The computing system generates and stores a report associated with the load adjustment modification process.
US08341438B2 Information processing device for assigning interrupts to a first CPU or a second CPU based on a sleeping state
An information processing device of the present invention comprises a main CPU capable of taking at least two states which are an operating state and a sleeping state, a sub-CPU having power consumption lower than that of the main CPU and capable of taking at least two states which are an operating state and a sleeping state, and a process request determining section for determining which of the main CPU and the sub-CPU is caused to execute a process related to a request from a peripheral device. The process request determining section determines whether the main CPU is in the sleeping state or the operating state, and when the main CPU is in the sleeping state, determines whether or not the sub-CPU can be caused to execute the process, and when the main CPU is in the operating state, determines whether or not the main CPU can be caused to execute the process, and depending on a result of the determination, causes the main CPU or the sub-CPU to execute the process.
US08341436B2 Method and system for power-state transition controllers
Power-state transitioning arrangements are implemented using a variety of methods. Using one such method, a power-state transitioning circuit arrangement is implemented having a processing circuit that does not include an arithmetic logic unit. A power-state transition script including instructions from an instruction set is stored in a memory circuit. The processing circuit implements the power-state transition script to facilitate a change in a power-state of another processor circuit.
US08341432B2 Methods of invoking various functions of a digital media player using a single switch of the digital media player
There is provided a method for charging a power source of a digital media player (20) using a cable (24) connected to a computer (34), and also a method for activating a lower volume during playback of content on the digital media player (20). Both methods may be triggered by a toggling switch (22) on the media player (20).
US08341430B2 External encryption and recovery management with hardware encrypted storage devices
Hardware encrypting storage devices can provide for hardware encryption of data being written to the storage media of such storage devices, and hardware decryption of data being read from that storage media. To utilize existing key management resources, which can be more flexible and accommodating, mechanisms for storing keys protected by the existing resources, but not the hardware encryption of the storage device, can be developed. Dedicated partitions that do not have corresponding encryption bands can be utilized to store keys in a non-hardware-encrypted manner. Likewise, partitions can be defined larger than their associated encryption bands, leaving room near the beginning and end for non-hardware encrypted storage. Or a separate bit can be used to individually specify which data should be hardware encrypted. Additionally automated processes can maintain synchronization between a partition table of the computing device and a band table of the hardware encrypting storage device.
US08341427B2 Trusted cloud computing and services framework
A digital escrow pattern is provided for network data services including searchable encryption techniques for data stored in a cloud, distributing trust across multiple entities to avoid a single point of data compromise. In one embodiment, a key generator, a cryptographic technology provider and a cloud services provider are each provided as separate entities, enabling a publisher of data to publish data confidentially (encrypted) to a cloud services provider, and then expose the encrypted data selectively to subscribers requesting that data based on subscriber identity information encoded in key information generated in response to the subscriber requests, e.g., a role of the subscriber.Appendix A—Additional Non-Limiting Details about Federated Trust Overlays
US08341419B2 Apparatus and method for limiting access to model specific registers in a microprocessor
A microprocessor having a control register to which the manufacturer of the microprocessor may limit access. The microprocessor includes a manufacturing identifier that uniquely identifies the microprocessor and that is externally readable from the microprocessor by a user. The microprocessor also includes a secret key, manufactured internally within the microprocessor and externally invisible. The microprocessor also includes an encryption engine, coupled to the secret key, configured to decrypt a user-supplied password using the secret key to generate a decrypted result in response to a user instruction instructing the microprocessor to access the control register. The user-supplied password is unique to the microprocessor. The microprocessor also includes an execution unit, coupled to the manufacturing identifier and the encryption engine, configured to allow the instruction access to the control register if the manufacturing identifier is included in the decrypted result, and to otherwise deny the instruction access to the control register.
US08341414B2 License managing method and device
A license managing device sets a security area for storing a license file, maintains the security area as an encoded file in an inactive state of the security area by encoding the security area, maintains the security area as a directory in an active state of the security area by decoding the security area, and encodes a license file by using a file encoding key according to the user's request and stores the same in a security area in an active state of the security area.
US08341411B2 Enabling use of a certificate stored in a smart card
If a smart card is to be used for a particular purpose, and there is no certificate initialized on the smart card for this purpose, a computerized device enables a user to select one of the certificates already installed in the smart card for the particular purpose. The selected certificate may be imported into the computerized device.
US08341401B1 Interoperable cryptographic peer and server identities
Techniques for interoperable cryptographic peer and server identities can include receiving a message, in a connection establishment transaction, from an endpoint, the message including an endpoint discriminator, selecting a certificate based on the endpoint discriminator, determining a cryptographic scheme based on the selected certificate, and establishing the requested connection with the endpoint using the determined cryptographic scheme. The techniques can also include accessing one or more hashes, each hash being a hash of at least a portion of a certificate, processing the endpoint discriminator for an identity object, and comparing the identity object with the one or more hashes to identify a matching hash. The selected certificate can correspond to the matching hash. These techniques can allow an endpoint to interoperate with other endpoints that use different or similar cryptographic schemes.
US08341398B2 Communication system, network device and program
There is provided a communication system in which a network device and an information processing device are communicatably connected to each other through a network. The network device comprises a certificate providing unit to transmit an electronic certificate to the information processing device through the network; and a printing unit configured to print an image of a public key corresponding to the electronic certificate. The information processing device comprises: a certificate reception unit to receive the electronic certificate from the certificate providing unit through the network; an image output unit to generate and output an image of the public key described in the received electronic certificate; and an installation unit configured to install the electronic certificate onto the information processing device in response to a fact that the generated image of the public key is output by the image output unit and a command for installation of an electronic certificate is received.
US08341397B2 Security system for handheld wireless devices using-time variable encryption keys
In one embodiment, the invention provides a portable wireless personal communication system for cooperating with a remote certification authority to employ time variable secure key information pursuant to a predetermined encryption algorithm to facilitate convenient, secure encrypted communication. The disclosed system includes a wireless handset, such as PDA, smartphone, cellular telephone or the like, characterized by a relatively robust data processing capability and a body mounted key generating component which is adapted to be mounted on an individual's body, in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, for wirelessly broadcasting, within the immediate proximity of the individual, a secret or private key identifying signal corresponding to a time variable secure key information under the control of the certification authority. The key identifying signal is generated in a format that facilitates secure wireless communication with the individual in accordance with a predetermined encryption algorithm including a PKI encryption algorithm. The disclosed system may be used with a console for coordinating access to a variety of different communication system and networks.
US08341396B1 Dynamic selection and insertion of signature blocks during message transmission
A method is provided for inserting signature blocks into a message being transmitted along a communication path between a first client station and a second client station. The method includes a step of receiving, at an intermediate node in the communication path, a message transmitted from the first client station destined for delivery to the second client station. The message bears a sender-identifier (e.g., email address) and a recipient-identifier (e.g., email address). The method further includes a step of selecting, based at least in part on the sender-identifier, a predefined signature block for the message. The method further includes a step of inserting the selected signature block into the message. The signature block to be inserted may be based on both the sender identifier and the recipient identifier.
US08341394B2 Data encryption/decryption method and data processing device
It is possible to improve a radio communication digital baseband processing device including data encryption/decryption so as to prevent processing failure caused by a data rate increase in recent years by increasing the MAC processing speed of data encryption/decryption and realizing the load distribution in a processing device. A data processing device which performs a communication process including data encryption/decryption includes: a control processor which performs calculation of the MAC processing parameter; and MAC processing means which performs MAC data processing including data encryption/decryption. The control processor controls the MAC processing means by a command script continuously describing a combination of a command and parameter accompanying it.
US08341381B2 Twisted and wrapped array organized into clusters of processing elements
An array of processing elements (PEs) is logically twisted in a first direction, wrapped to form a cylindrical array, and grouped in a second direction to determine PEs that are to be located in clusters and implemented to form physical clusters of PEs. Inter-cluster communication paths are mutually exclusive. Due to the mutual exclusivity of the data paths, communications between the processing elements of each cluster may be combined in a single inter-cluster path, thus eliminating half the wiring required for the path. The length of the longest communication path is not directly determined by the overall dimension of the array, as in conventional torus arrays. Rather, the longest communications path is limited by the inter-cluster spacing. Transpose elements of an N×N torus may be combined in clusters and communicate with one another through intra-cluster communications paths. Transpose operation latency is eliminated in this approach. Each PE may have a single transmit port and a single receive port. Thus, the individual PEs are decoupled from the array topology.
US08341380B2 Efficient memory translator with variable size cache line coverage
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a system and method for supporting high-throughput virtual to physical address translation using compressed TLB cache lines with variable address range coverage. The amount of memory covered by a TLB cache line depends on the page size and page table entry (PTE) compression level. When a TLB miss occurs, a cache line is allocated with an assumed address range that may be larger or smaller than the address range of the PTE data actually returned. Subsequent requests that hit a cache line with a fill pending are queued until the fill completes. When the fill completes, the cache line's address range is set to the address range of the PTE data returned. Queued requests are replayed and any that fall outside the actual address range are reissued, potentially generating additional misses and fills.
US08341377B2 Application independent storage array performance optimizer
A system comprising a performance module and an application. The performance module may be configured to (i) monitor a LUN for a predetermined amount of time, (ii) capture information relating to the LUN, and (iii) store the information. The application may be configured to (i) retrieve the information, (ii) analyze the information, (iii) generate a configuration based on the analysis of the information and (iv) send the configuration to the performance module. The performance module may reconfigure the LUN based on the configuration.
US08341376B1 System, method, and computer program for repartitioning data based on access of the data
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for repartitioning data based on access of the data. In use, an addition of a new partition in memory to at least one existing partition in the memory across which data is stored is detected. Additionally, access to a portion of the data is identified. Further, one of the at least one existing partition in the memory in which the portion of the data is stored is determined. Moreover, the portion of the data is repartitioned from the one of the at least one existing partition to the new partition while allowing access to other portions of the data, in response to the identification of the access to the portion of the data.
US08341374B2 Solid state drive and related method of scheduling operations
A solid state drive (SSD) comprises an input/output interface and a memory controller. The input/output interface stores a plurality of input/output commands. The memory controller comprises first and second input/output contexts and an input/output scheduler. The first and second input/output contexts process input/output commands from the input/output interface in an alternating sequence. The input/output scheduler schedules operations of the first and second input/output contexts. In particular, the input/output scheduler suspends execution of a first input/output command by the first input/output context upon determining that an execution time of the first input/output command exceeds an interval before a deadline time. After suspending execution of the first input/output command, the input/output scheduler transmits a second input/output command to the second input/output context.
US08341364B2 Maintaining asynchronous mirroring
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for maintaining asynchronous mirroring. A detection module detects insufficient storage space to store a snapshot of a logical volume in at least one of a primary storage system and a secondary storage system. The primary storage system comprises the logical volume. A write from a host to the logical volume is acknowledged, maintaining asynchronous mode mirroring between the primary storage system and the host. The mirror module mirrors the write to the logical volume at the secondary storage system using a backup synchronous mode in response to detecting the insufficient storage space. Under the backup synchronous mode, the primary storage system acknowledges the write to the host while concurrently mirroring the write to the secondary storage system. The secondary storage system acknowledges the mirrored write to the primary storage system.
US08341358B1 System and method for cleaning dirty data in a cache via frame buffer logic
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for efficiently write dirty data from the L2 cache to a DRAM. A dirty data notification, including a memory address of the dirty data, is transmitted by the L2 cache to a frame buffer logic when dirty data is stored in the L2 cache. The frame buffer logic uses a page-stream sorter to organize dirty data notifications based on the bank page associated with the memory addresses included in the dirty data notifications. The page-stream sorter includes multiple sets with entries that may be associated with different bank pages in the DRAM. The frame buffer logic transmits dirty data associated with an entry that has a maximum threshold of dirty data notifications to the DRAM. The frame buffer logic also transmits dirty data associated with the oldest entry when the number of entries in a set reaches a maximum threshold.
US08341355B2 Reducing energy consumption of set associative caches by reducing checked ways of the set association
Mechanisms for accessing a set associative cache of a data processing system are provided. A set of cache lines, in the set associative cache, associated with an address of a request are identified. Based on a determined mode of operation for the set, the following may be performed: determining if a cache hit occurs in a preferred cache line without accessing other cache lines in the set of cache lines; retrieving data from the preferred cache line without accessing the other cache lines in the set of cache lines, if it is determined that there is a cache hit in the preferred cache line; and accessing each of the other cache lines in the set of cache lines to determine if there is a cache hit in any of these other cache lines only in response to there being a cache miss in the preferred cache line(s).
US08341350B2 Analyzing sub-LUN granularity for dynamic storage tiering
A method for metadata management in a storage system may include providing a metadata queue of a maximum size; determining whether the metadata for a particular sub-LUN is held in the metadata queue; updating the metadata for the particular sub-LUN when the metadata for the particular sub-LUN is held in the metadata queue; inserting the metadata for the particular sub-LUN at the head of the metadata queue when the metadata queue is not full and the metadata is not held in the metadata queue; replacing an entry in the metadata queue with the metadata for the particular sub-LUN and moving the metadata to the head of the metadata queue when the metadata queue is full and the metadata is not held in the metadata queue; and controlling the number of sub-LUNs in the storage system to manage data accessed with respect to an amount of available data storage.
US08341345B2 System and method for providing content based anticipative storage management
A hierarchical storage management (HSM) system and method. A system is provided comprising: a data usage monitor for extracting data object information from data objects in a hierarchical storage complex that is managed by a content management system; a data relationship repository for storing data object information, wherein the data object information includes relationship data for data objects in the hierarchical storage complex; and a system that analyzes the relationship data and makes data management action recommendations for the hierarchical storage complex.
US08341344B2 Techniques for accessing a resource in a processor system
A technique of accessing a resource includes receiving, at a master scheduler, resource access requests. The resource access requests are translated into respective slave state machine work orders that each include one or more respective commands. The respective commands are assigned, for execution, to command streams associated with respective slave state machines. The respective commands are then executed responsive to the respective slave state machines.
US08341335B2 Flash memory apparatus with a heating system for temporarily retired memory portions
Flash memory apparatus including a plurality of memory portions, and a controller operative to reserve for data retention purposes, for at least a first duration of time, only certain portions from among said plurality of memory portions including allocating data, during the first duration of time, only to the certain portions, thereby to define at least one of the plurality of memory portions other than the certain portions as a retired memory portion for the first duration of time.
US08341331B2 Method, apparatus and computer readable medium for storing data on a flash device using multiple writing modes
Methods, apparatus and computer readable medium for writing data into a flash memory device are disclosed. In some embodiments, the data is written in a writing mode selected in accordance with an extent to which the flash memory storage device or a flash die thereof is full of previously-stored data. The presently disclosed techniques may be implemented on the “device-side” (for example, by a device controller of the flash device) and/or on the “host-side.” In some embodiments, the selected writing mode is a bits-per-cell density mode. In some embodiments, the selected writing mode is a “slower” or “faster” writing mode. The presently disclosed techniques relate to SBC as well as MBC devices.
US08341325B2 System and method for providing PCIE over displayport
An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing an extensible information handling system (IHS) bus implemented on predetermined channels of a digital video interface. IHS video signal information is multiplexed with IHS bus information by a host multiplexer for transmission across a digital video connector. The multiplexed IHS video signal and IHS bus information is received by a display multiplexer, where it is demultiplexed. Demultiplexed IHS video signal information is received by a video interface receiver, where it is used to generate an image on a digital display. Demultiplexed IHS bus information is received by a host bus interface transmitter/receiver, where it is used to support peripheral devices attached to the digital display.
US08341323B2 Method and apparatus for data movement in a system on a chip
There is provided a system for comprising a plurality of blocks, each block comprising any hardware element and a plurality of segments for providing interconnection of the plurality of blocks. A segment comprises a connector between multiple blocks and other segments and segments are connected via the ports of blocks or other segments. Communications between blocks is packet based, each packet including at least a destination block. The packet includes at least one of data, packet/message identification and padding. Blocks have an associated address. A block has one or more input ports and one or more output ports. Segments include means for routing packets to destinations. Each block and segment includes properties. Properties include one or more of clocks, bandwidth, bit widths, and latencies. The plurality of segments for multiple packets to be active on different segments. A single segment includes a plurality of ports for multiple packets to be active on different ports of the segment.
US08341311B1 System and method for reduced latency data transfers from flash memory to host by utilizing concurrent transfers into RAM buffer memory and FIFO host interface
A flash memory system having the capability of streaming data directly from flash memory to the interface of a host computer in order to substantially reduce latency of to-host transfers, while also maintaining the capabilities for caching and overlapped flash I/O provided by RAM DMA transfers. When data is read from the flash memory, the data is transferred into the RAM buffer and at the option of the memory controller, directly (via an intermediate FIFO) to the host interface. This results in a desirable reduction in the latency of data transfer because as soon as the first byte of data is read from the flash memory by the DMA engine, the data will be transferred directly to the host interface. Because the data is also being transferred to the buffer RAM, preferred embodiments of the present invention still provide the advantages of using an intermediate transfer buffer.
US08341310B2 Method for adjusting the transmission speed of the electronic aid
A method for adjusting a transmission speed of an electronic aid includes the steps of making a rate negotiation between the electronic aid and a computer, judging whether the rate negotiation is successful or not, if it is successful but data can not be transferred between the electronic aid and the computer, the computer will self-correct the transmission speed of the electronic aid. The present invention ensures that the electronic aid, which can not work normally at high-speed, works normally after deceleration, thereby improving the compatibility of the electronic aid.
US08341309B2 Network system
A universal plug and play (UPnP)-based network system and a method of controlling the same. A UPnP device can operate according to a description of each control point (CP) when performing a command, by including the description, which is inherent information of each CP, in a command message transmitted from each CP to the UPnP device and allowing the UPnP device to analyze the command message to obtain the description of the CP. The UPnP-based network system includes a plurality of CPs, each of which stores a CP description, which is inherent characteristic information of each CP, and generates and transmits a command message including the CP description, and a UPnP device which is connected to the plurality of CPs over a network, analyzes the command message received from each CP to perform an operation according to the command message, and analyzes the CP description included in the command message to recognize each CP which transmits the command message.
US08341303B2 Asymmetrical universal serial bus communications
In some embodiments a Universal Serial Bus cable includes a first differential pair to transmit bus signals, and a second differential pair to transmit bus signals in a same direction as the bus signals transmitted by the first differential pair. In this manner, a bandwidth of the Universal Serial Bus cable is doubled in that same direction. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08341299B2 Reusing system configuration information and metadata for related operations
Reusing system configuration information and metadata for related operations is disclosed. It is determined that a group of content management system commands may be treated as a related set for purposes of updating content management system configuration information and/or metadata. The content management system configuration information and/or metadata are updated once for purposes of processing the group.
US08341293B2 Peer-to-peer (P2P) network system and method of operating the same based on region
A peer-to-peer (P2P) network system and a method of operating the P2P network system based on region are provided. If an edge peer storing a resource information list of a super peer migrates to a different super peer and is registered and connected with the different super peer, the edge peer transfers the resource information list to the different super peer to share the resource information list. Resources may be searched based on a region information list into which resource information lists of adjacent super peers are integrated.
US08341287B2 Systems and methods for configuring policy bank invocations
Systems and methods for configuring and evaluating policies that direct processing of one or more data streams are described. A configuration interface is described for allowing users to specify object oriented policies. These object oriented policies may allow any data structures to be applied with respect to a payload of a received packet stream, including any portions of HTTP traffic. A configuration interface may also allow the user to control the order in which policies and policy groups are executed, in addition to specifying actions to be taken if one or more policies are undefined. Systems and methods for processing the policies may allow efficient processing of object-oriented policies by applying potentially complex data structures to unstructured data streams. A device may also interpret and process a number of flow control commands and policy group invocation statements to determine an order of execution among a number of policies and policy groups.
US08341285B2 Method and system for transferring files
The present invention proposes an apparatus and a method to efficiently transfer large files by splitting the file into smaller portions which may be transferred through a plurality of recipient nodes to a terminal node. The portion of file to be transferred by each recipient node is decided based on a load sharing algorithm. The terminal node may gather the current specifications of the recipient nodes and compute the portion of file each needs to transfer. The source node will get parallel requests from plurality of recipient nodes to transfer different offsets of the same file. The file splits across various nodes may be later merged locally.
US08341283B2 Method and system for peer-to-peer content dissemination
A method is provided for delivery of content data to a plurality of hosts. Each host is configured to operate as at least one of a content uploading host and a content downloading host. The plurality of hosts form a peer-to-peer network.
US08341268B2 Resource sharing in multi-principal browser
Techniques for providing resource sharing in a multi-principal browser are described. Resource sharing includes managing a resource for web entity by determining how to divide the resource to share among two or more web entities based at least in part on a Document Object Model (DOM)-recursive resource allocation policy or an application-specified resource allocation policy. A web entity includes a principal instance contending for the resource. The process identifies resource allocation mechanisms from each resource type based at least in part on the DOM-recursive sharing policy or the application-specified resource allocation policy along with the resource type.
US08341255B2 Managing network traffic by editing a manifest file
A technique for controlling the streaming of content through a network is disclosed. In an embodiment, the technique involves editing the manifest file that is used to implement an HTTP adaptive bit rate streaming protocol. For example, a manifest file is received at an intermediate network device in response to a request from a client for a content element, the manifest file is then edited at the intermediate network device, and then the edited manifest file is sent to the client. In an embodiment, editing the manifest file involves deleting and/or inserting a URI within the manifest file.
US08341242B2 System and method for managing entitlements to data over a network
A system and method for determining entitlement to content residing on a server. A subscriber computing device operated by a subscriber generates a request for access to a requested content residing on a content access provider server. The subscriber has an account with a multi-channel video program distributor (MVPD) and the account comprises subscription information indicative of the services provided by the MVPD to the subscriber. The content request is received by the content access provider and forwarded to an entitlements server. The entitlement determines whether the subscriber is entitled to receive the requested content based on the subscription information and sends an access granted message to the content access provider server when the subscriber is entitled to receive the requested content.
US08341238B2 Methods and systems for multiple-device session synchronization
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for session synchronization between multiple devices connected to a server system.
US08341236B1 Privacy and security enhanced internet geolocation
To determine a geographical location of a user network device communicating with a network site on a network having a master, first slave and second slave servers, the master server receives, via the network, user messages including a user input character padded with k−1 characters, where k equals a predefined message size, and time stamps corresponding to the respective time that message was sent to the master server, the first slave server and the second slave server, and the message was received by the first slave server and by the second slave server. The master server computes the respective time taken to communicate each message to the master and slave servers based on the time stamps, adjusts the computed times based on fluctuations in the bandwidth dependent on the time of day, and determines a geographic location of the user network device as a function of the adjusted times.
US08341228B2 Method and system for automatically collecting information in a messaging system
A method and system for automatically collecting information in messaging system. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: setting a flag indicating an information collection and an initiation flag for a message for requesting information collection by an information requestor; generating a unique identifier for identifying a task for the information collection, and sending the message; when replying to the message for requesting information collection, setting a reply flag for a replied message and sending the replied message, wherein information required to be collected is included in the replied message; and extracting the information required to be collected by the task for the information collection identified by the unique identifier from the replied message in accordance with the flag indicating an information collection and the reply flag, consolidating the information into a single summary document, and providing the summary document to the information requester.
US08341222B2 Text suggestion framework with client and server model
A local or remote server is configured to receive requests for text and other suggestions from a plurality of client applications. The local or remote server can format requests for delivery to one or more suggestion sources along with client contexts that specify client delivery, format, or other requests associated with the suggestion request. The local or remote server selects suggestion sources based on the client requests and the client contexts, and can combine suggestions returned from multiple sources as directed by client contexts. Requests associated with different clients can be directed to different suggestion sources, and user or client accepted suggestion histories can be stored for use in providing suggestions.
US08341220B2 Content distribution service
The technology disclosed herein is related to content distribution. It involves transmission of a request to a server for content, reception and display of that content on a user device. In addition, requests are received to send notification to at least one remote user and the server sends an indication that at least one remote user has selected content. A user device is enabled to send and/or receive at least one communication involving at least one remote user.
US08341216B2 Efficient method for image processing in a computer network
A method for processing digital image files including providing local and remote network-connected computing resources. A digital image stored on a local resource is used for calculating a local turnaround time for processing the digital image file and also for calculating the remote turnaround time for processing the digital image. Either the local or remote resources are selected for processing the digital image in response to which resource is capable of processing the digital image faster.
US08341211B2 System and method for inquiry caching in a storage area network
A system and method for servicing inquiry commands, wherein inquiry data is stored in a memory and if an inquiry command for a target device is received while the target device is busy processing another command, the stored inquiry data is returned in response to the command. In one embodiment, a router contains a memory for storing static inquiry data corresponding to each of a plurality of sequential devices connected thereto. The first time a host sends an inquiry command to one of the sequential devices, the router routes the command to the target device and stores the data returned by the device. Subsequent inquiry commands are serviced by passing the command through to the target device if it is not busy, or returning inquiry data from the router's memory if the target device is busy processing another command.
US08341207B2 Apparatus and method for matching users for online sessions
An apparatus, method, and machine-readable medium are described for establishing peer-to-peer (“P2P”) communication channels. In particular, in one embodiment, a matchmaker service performs a series of operations to service match requests received from a group of mobile devices. In one embodiment, the matchmaker service groups the match requests into matchable sets based on the application for which the requests are received and one or more variables associated with the application. Match requests within each match set can then be matched based on variables such as the NAT type, connection type and language associated with each of the mobile devices. Other variables such as geographical location, experience level, and age of the match requests may also be used to render match decisions.
US08341205B2 Fast singular value decomposition for expediting computer analysis system and application thereof
The present invention uses a computer analysis system of a fast singular value decomposition to overcome the bottleneck of a traditional singular value decomposition that takes much computing time for decomposing a huge number of objects, and the invention can also process a matrix in any form without being limited to symmetric matrixes only. The decomposition and subgroup concept of the fast singular value decomposition works together with the decomposition of a variance matrix and the adjustment of an average vector of a column vector are used for optimizing the singular value decomposition to improve the overall computing speed of the computer analysis system.
US08341201B2 Random number generator
Provided is a random number generator including: a clock generator outputting first and second control signals; a ring oscillator (RO) block receiving a meta stable voltage and performing an oscillation operation using the meta stable voltage in response to the first control signal; and a sampling unit sampling an output signal according to the oscillation operation in response to the second control signal.
US08341196B2 Method and apparatus for creating a contextual model based on offline user context data
An approach is provided for providing a contextual model based upon user context data. A context modeling platform collects context data on offline activities of a user. The context modeling platform maps the collected user context data as context data points into a multidimensional contextual model. The context modeling platform causes, at least in part, actions that result in reception of at least one multidimensional contextual model of another user. The context modeling platform compares the multidimensional contextual model of the user with the multidimensional contextual model of the another user.
US08341184B2 Communications network system and service provider
In order to help system users organize the user data and communications, a service provider system organizes the user data according to a specific system data architecture using W4 technology to facilitate organization of user communications, content, and data. The system provides a data structure that organizes data using the human metaphor and provides a user interface to access and manipulate the data using a human metaphor. As a result, users may intuitively interact with, manipulate, and create data without having to learn specific rules and steps based on of file-size, format, and directory structures, among others. In addition, the service provider system provides a single, intuitive to manipulate interface to manage all user communications.
US08341175B2 Automatically finding contextually related items of a task
Architecture for enabling a user to automatically recover documents and other information associated with work contexts and recover documents and other information artifacts associated with a specific project. The architecture enables monitoring and recording of activity information related to user interactions with information artifacts pertaining to a particular work context. The user can select a document having a portion of work content (e.g., a term or other type of reference item in a document) related to the work context. A lexical analysis is performed on the activity information and the reference item to identify lexical similarities. A list of candidate items (e.g., related documents) is inferred from the information artifacts based on the lexical similarities. The candidate items related to the work context are presented to the user, who can select specific items to reestablish the work context.
US08341170B2 Apparatus and method for visualizing technology change
A technology transition visualization apparatus includes: bibliographic database integrating heterogeneous resources; technology information database storing information in technology lifecycle; interface module receiving technology from user; feature set creation module calculating feature values by searching bibliographic database and creating feature set for each technology; answer feature set creation module calculating common feature value of feature sets of technologies belonging to the same stage in technology lifecycle and creating answer feature set of each stage; stage determination module acquiring feature-related information, creating representative feature set and year-specific feature set of technology, determining representative stage or year-specific stage by comparing the representative feature set or year-specific feature set with the answer feature set, and estimating development speed of the technology; visualization module visualizing the technology lifecycle; and year-specific stage acquisition module acquiring current stage, year-specific stage and estimated next stage of the technology and visualizing the stages.
US08341150B1 Filtering search results using annotations
A search engine system accepts queries that include query terms and labels applicable to certain documents. A domain filter is constructed that is used to filter search results to certain domains, where the domains are determined based on the labels included in the query. The filtered search results are processed to ensure that certain portions of the results are from domains included in the filter. The results are further processed to include the query labels with certain ones of the results.
US08341147B2 Blending mobile search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for blending mobile search results. A method includes receiving a search query and multiple search results. The search results each satisfy the search query and have a respective search result quality score. The search results include generic and mobile search results. The generic and mobile search results each identify a generic and mobile resource, respectively. The search result quality scores include mobile and generic search result quality scores for the mobile and generic search results, respectively. The mobile search result quality scores and the generic search result quality scores were generated according to different scoring formulas. Based on one or more terms in the search query, the search query is classified as a mobile query. As a consequence, one or more search result quality scores are modified to improve the sorting of search results that include both mobile and generic search results.
US08341143B1 Multi-category searching
Methods and apparatus for rendering search results are described. In one aspect of the invention, a search request is received from a computerized client. A search is performed based on the search request in at least two different categories of information to obtain search results in the searched categories. Selected search results are returned to the client to facilitate rendering the search results at the client. Search results from different search categories are returned in a manner configured to be presented in different panes of a graphical user interface rendered on the client. In another aspect, what searches to perform can be determined based at least in part upon search results display settings associated with the client, such that searches are performed only in categories of information that are associated with a pane that is in an open state on the client.
US08341142B2 Methods and apparatus for searching the Internet
Some embodiments relate to performing a search for content via the Internet, wherein user input specifying a search query is supplied to a mobile communications device, such as, for example, a smartphone. The mobile communications device separately issues the search query to a plurality of search engines and can receive the results from each search engine and display the results to the user. Thus, the user does not have to separately issue the query to each of the plurality of search engines.
US08341141B2 Method and system for automated document registration
A method and system for automated document registration. The method and system provide an automatic document registration system that creates a secure transformed electronic document with an unalterable time and date stamp. Multiple third-parties are provided an ability to view a given original document in secure transformed electronic document format and each original individual document is provided with a unique set of approved third-party viewer/receivers/auditors via a virtual matrixed file system.
US08341139B1 Item customization by tailored intergenerational historic snapshots
A user-customized photo book includes a tailored intergenerational historic snapshot message which informs a younger person about the world an older person lived in when they were young. The older person's age and the younger person's age may be used to identify a historic time period in which the older person was the same age as the younger person. A circumstance which occurred in the historic time period may be selected from a database or web search result. The message may be tailored to the ages of the people involved. The message may also be tailored to recite circumstances specific to a topic area or a geographic location. The message may be used in the book's title, dedication, photo captions or watermarks, photo call-outs or other labels, narrative text, and back-cover summary, for example. Items other than photo books may also be customized with such a message.
US08341135B2 Information search provision apparatus and information search provision system
It is necessary to create a new information search service system for differentiating reliable contents from unreliable contents. An information search provision apparatus for acquiring a search conditional statement, matching the search conditional statement and providing contents, as the search results, comprises: a collecting unit which collects contents to be evaluated, posted on a web page via a network at a predetermined time; and a reliability controlling unit which increases or decreases the reliability degree of the contents to be evaluated, depending on whether the contents to be evaluated were collectable by the collecting unit. Accordingly, the contents to be evaluated may be evaluated in terms of reliability degree, depending on whether it is possible to collect the contents to be evaluated, as a result, reliable contents can be separated from unreliable contents, and is thus an information search service which is highly convenient to users may be provided.
US08341133B2 Compressed transactional locks in object headers
A software transactional memory system is provided that generates and stores compressed transactional locks in a portion of object headers. The software transactional memory system allocates preferred write log memory with a predefined size of memory that corresponds to a number of bits in the compressed transactional locks. The compressed transactional locks identify write log entries in corresponding write logs in the preferred write log memory. If the preferred write log memory becomes full, additional write log memory is allocated for write log entries and subsequent transactional locks are stored uncompressed in an auxiliary memory. A pointer that may be used to locate the uncompressed transactional lock is stored in the header. If an object header with a compressed transactional lock is needed for another use, the compressed transactional lock is uncompressed and stored in the auxiliary memory. A pointer that may be used to locate the uncompressed transactional lock is stored in the header.
US08341132B2 System and method for applying deltas in a version control system
A system and method that efficiently maintains multiple versions of a dataset using recursive calls is provided. The method may include fully storing one or more versions of the dataset and storing only changes, called deltas, that occurred from one version to another. Using recursive techniques eliminates the need to generate interim versions in their entirety to generate a requested version. For each position in the requested version the method may include generating content by recursive calls. Each recursive call may initiate a request on an adjacent version to produce content at its corresponding position. The request triggers a recursive call by the adjacent version, which may in turn initiate another request on its adjacent version. This series of recursive calls may be repeated until a fully stored version, which simply returns its content, is reached. The requested version may then generated using content generated for each position by the recursive calls.
US08341127B1 Client initiated restore
Client initiated restore is disclosed. An indication is received from a client computer that a restore operation is desired. Access to a backup data associated with the client computer is provided to the client computer. The backup data associated with the client computer comprises a subset of a backup data set that includes both backup data associated with the client computer and backup data not associated with the client computer.
US08341126B2 Efficiently storing indented threads in a threaded discussion application
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for retrieving records in a hierarchical set of the records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of the records, comprises identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of the records; modifying the tag, thereby producing a key; indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once, thereby selecting one or more of the records within the hierarchical set of the records, wherein indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once comprises applying the key to the hierarchical set of the records; and retrieving the selected records.
US08341125B2 Transaction log management
Managing a log-full condition of a transaction log in a transaction processing system, where the transaction log has a plurality of log records each associated with a particular transaction. When a log-full condition is detected, the active transaction having the oldest log entry of all active transactions is identified and logging for all transactions except for the identified transaction is temporarily suspended. A dynamic transaction backout of the identified transaction is initiated, with the writing of a backout record for the identified transaction to the log being delayed. Confirmation that the backout has completed is awaited before trimming the log. Then the delayed backout record for the identified transaction is written to the log, and normal logging is resumed.
US08341120B2 Apparatus and methods for transferring database objects into and out of database systems
Techniques for transferring objects between database systems. A transfer is controlled by a master table in the RDBMS that is performing the transfer operation. The master table specifies the kind of transfer operation to be performed, a set of objects to be transferred, operations to be performed on the objects as they are being transferred, and filters for selecting a subset of the objects. During execution of the transfer, the transfer mechanism maintains and updates state in the master table and thereby makes it possible for the entity that is doing the transfer to determine the current status of the transfer and to restart the transfer after it has been stopped. The entity that is performing the transfer may also detach from the transfer without stopping the transfer and later again attach to the transfer.
US08341119B1 Flexible copies having different sub-types
According to one or more of the provisions set forth herein, data can be managed in a data storage system in an efficient manner. In one example, a first flexible copy volume of data is generated based on a snapshot copy volume of a flexible volume containing the data. The first flexible copy volume is configured to be operated upon according to a first set of operations. A second flexible copy of the data is also generated based on the snapshot copy volume. The second flexible copy volume is configured to be operated upon according to a second set of operations that differs from the first set of operations. Having a second copy of the data allows testing or other operations to be performed on the data while also maintaining an original version of the data.
US08341118B2 Method and system for dynamically replicating data within a distributed storage system
A server computer at a first storage sub-system of a distributed storage system receives from a client a first client request for an object. If the object is not present in the first storage sub-system, the server computer identifies a second storage sub-system of the distributed storage system as having a replica of the requested object, the requested object including content and metadata. The server computer submits an object replication request for the requested object to the second storage sub-system and independently receives the content and metadata of the requested object from the second storage sub-system. The server computer generates a new replica of the object at the first storage sub-system using the received metadata and content and returns the metadata of the new replica of the object to the client.
US08341117B2 Method, system, and program for personal data management using content-based replication
Provided herein are data management systems and methods for storing, cataloging, and protecting data on a computer using software and a portable data storage device. The technology can back up, manage, and protect data for any operating or file system by checking files for block-level or byte-level changes and storing only new data. By storing only new data and cataloging information within a comprehensive backup archive composed of these blocks, the size of each backup is minimized.
US08341116B2 Systems and methods for updating an LDAP
A system updates a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) database based on changes made to a second database. The system determines differences between Internet Protocol (IP) communication service records stored in the second database and IP communication service records stored in the LDAP database and creates a transaction file based on the differences. The system updates the LDAP database using the transaction file.
US08341109B2 Method and system using a processor for reasoning optimized service of ubiquitous system using context information and emotion awareness
A method and system using a processor for reasoning an optimized service of a ubiquitous system using context information and emotion awareness. The system using a processor for reasoning an optimized service of a ubiquitous system includes: a ubiquitous system unit to collect information about surroundings of a user; a context awareness unit to recognize a state of the user based on the information collected in the ubiquitous system unit, and to generate context information; an emotion awareness unit to recognize an emotion of the user based on the information collected in the ubiquitous system unit, and to generate emotion information; a combination unit to combine the context information and the emotion information; and a service selection unit to reason and select a service for the user based on the combination result of the combination unit.
US08341101B1 Determining relationships between data items and individuals, and dynamically calculating a metric score based on groups of characteristics
Systems, apparatus, and methods for correlating two items of interest, based on a plurality of data items and characteristics. The data items may include objective and quantitative data, as well as subjective and qualitative data. In one implementation, the relationship of an individual to a metric is determined. The system, apparatus, and methods may store characteristics describing individuals generally, along with metrics relevant to an organization; receive a plurality of data items; extract information associated with the individual from the data items; determine a number of relationships between the data items, individuals, metric, and characteristics; and use the relationships to determine an overall relationship between the individual and the metric, based on the data and characteristics. In addition, related groups of characteristics may be identified. Similarly, the relationships between any individual, metric, sub-metric, group of characteristics, data item, data source, characteristic, or groups thereof may also be determined.
US08341099B2 Semantics update and adaptive interfaces in connection with information as a service
Additional semantic information that describes data sets is inferred in response to a request for data from the data sets, e.g., in response to a query over the data sets, including analyzing a subset of results extracted based on the request for data to determine the additional semantic information. The additional semantic information can be verified by the publisher as correct, or satisfy correctness probabilistically. Mapping information based on the additional semantic information can be maintained and updated as the system learns additional semantic information (e.g., information about what a given column represents and data types represented), and the form of future data requests (e.g., URL based queries) can be updated to more closely correspond to the updated additional semantic information.
US08341098B2 Information processing apparatus and method, and program thereof
There is provided an information processing apparatus including: evaluation information extracting means extracting evaluation information from evaluation of every user for an item; preference information creating means for creating preference information indicating a preference of every user on the basis of the evaluation information extracted by the evaluation information extracting means and an item characteristic amount indicating a characteristic of the item; space creating means for creating a space in which the user is located, according to the preference information; and display control means for controlling display of the user located in the space, according to the space created by the space creating means and the preference information. The apparatus may be applied to, for example, an image display apparatus which displays server images for providing a variety of items and information.
US08341096B2 System, method and computer program product for incremental learning of system log formats
A computer program is disclosed including but not limited to instructions to input an initial description of a data format and a batch of data comprising data in a new data format not covered by the initial description, instructions to use the first description to parse the records in the data source, instructions to discard records in the input data that parse successfully, instructions to collect records that fail to parse, instructions to accumulate a quantity, M of records that fail to parse, instructions to return a modified description that extends the initial description to cover the new data, instructions to transform the first description, D into a second description D′ to accommodate differences between the input data format and the first description D by introducing options where a piece of data was missing in the input data and introducing unions where a new type of data was found in the input data; and instructions to use a non-incremental format inference system such as LEARNPADS to infer descriptions for the aggregated portions of input data that did not parse using the first description D.
US08341095B2 Supervised semantic indexing and its extensions
A system and method for determining a similarity between a document and a query includes building a weight vector for each of a plurality of documents in a corpus of documents stored in memory and building a weight vector for a query input into a document retrieval system. A weight matrix is generated which distinguishes between relevant documents and lower ranked documents by comparing document/query tuples using a gradient step approach. A similarity score is determined between weight vectors of the query and documents in a corpus by determining a product of a document weight vector, a query weight vector and the weight matrix.
US08341093B2 Method of performing non-secure franking with stamps from books
A method of performing non-secure franking by means of a communications terminal comprising means for communicating with a franking service provider's server, a non-secure memory for recording identification numbers and associated postage amounts received in the franking service provider's server. The communications terminal can further comprise print command means for instructing a standard printer to print one of the identification numbers corresponding to the desired postage amount and extracted from the non-secure memory on a mail item to be sent.
US08341087B2 Method for implementing and application of a secure processor stick (SPS)
Systems and methods for implementing a secure processor stick are described. In one aspect, the system for implementing a secure processor stick with a computer, the system comprising: a secure processor stick, including: a processor; a memory coupled to said processor; a smart chip coupled to said processor, said smart chip storing data for implementing a secure environment; and an operating system adapted to run on said memory and said processor, wherein said operating system is adapted to provide a secure environment for display on a computer using said data.
US08341085B2 Methods and apparatus for playback of an electronic file
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.
US08341084B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for topping up prepaid payment cards for offline use
A card holder carries out an initial top-up of a balance of a pre-paid payment card. The prepaid payment card is configured for use in an infrastructure in accordance with a payment specification requiring different behavior for normal transactions in the infrastructure versus that required for topping-up of the balance. Contemporaneously with the initial top-up, the card holder registers risk mitigation information in association with the pre-paid payment card. Subsequent to the initial top-up, an indicator is written to the pre-paid payment card during a transaction with the pre-paid payment card outside the infrastructure. The indicator identifies the pre-paid payment card as having the risk mitigation information associated therewith. During subsequent presentation of the pre-paid payment card to the infrastructure, the pre-paid payment card is treated as a token backed up by the risk mitigation information, based on presence of the indicator on the pre-paid payment card.
US08341080B2 Offsite financial account onboarding
Offsite financial account onboarding is provided which creates a more streamlined process for a customer. The customer accesses a money services business business electronic system to request financial account setup. The onboarding system establishes account access to a pooled custodial account managed by the money services business business based on preliminary identification (ID) data from the customer. With only preliminary ID data, account access limits are assigned which reduces the risk of fraud or criminal activity with the customer's account access. Because account access is established with just the preliminary ID data, the customer may fully obtain account access directly from a mobile device. The money services business business provides additional graduated access levels depending on additional ID data provided by the customer. Thus, depending on the type of ID data provided by the customer, the customer's account access will have corresponding access level rights to the custodial account.
US08341076B1 Automatic overdraft attached to prepaid debit card accounts
A system for managing financial accounts includes one or more account holders. An account holder data structure is associated with one or more financial accounts. The financial accounts are defined to flexibly respond to the needs of the account holders. A balance is also associated with each of the one or more financial accounts, and an overdraft balance is associated with at least one of the one or more financial accounts. The balances, including the overdraft balance, are accessed through the accounts by one or more access methods, such as prepaid debit card or stored value financial cards. When a transaction initiated with an access method attempts to access an amount in a balance which exceeds the available amount of the balance, the access method accesses an amount in the overdraft balance through the overdraft account to complete the transaction.
US08341064B2 Standardization and management of over-the-counter financial instruments
A method of managing over-the-counter financial products is disclosed. The method includes receiving transaction parameters associated with an over-the-counter financial product, determining a standardized financial product that reflects the transaction parameters associated with the over-the-counter financial product; calculating a net position based on the difference between the standardized financial product and the over-the-counter financial product, and clearing the net position through a clearing party.
US08341063B1 Asset allocation risk and reward assessment tool
A financial planner and portfolio simulation system projects the simulated cumulative risks and rewards of a plurality of mixed portfolios in relation to the expected risk and reward of a minimum-risk or relatively risk-free baseline portfolio. Through simulation, the system generates, for each mixed portfolio, a distribution of average retirement budgets that the corresponding mixed portfolio would be projected to sustain. An asset allocation risk and reward spectrum chart is provided that graphs various percentile-ranked samples from each distribution on a computer-generated plot that also displays the sustainable retirement budget supported by a baseline portfolio. The statistical and graphical comparisons of the mixed portfolios to the baseline portfolio assist investors in choosing mixed portfolios best suited to their retirement goals and risk tolerance.
US08341054B2 System and method for bank account management and currency investment
The invention is a device for bank account management, comprising an input device adapted to receive information related to a diversification of an initial fund of a user, and a processor adapted to calculate a distribution of the initial fund comprising one or more selected currencies based upon the diversification information, convert the initial fund from an initial currency into a converted fund comprising one or more selected currencies based upon the calculated distribution, and record the information about the converted fund in a data file for the bank account.
US08341053B2 Credit-default swap trustee and collateral manager
Systems and methods are provided for a CDS trustee and collateral manager. In some embodiments, the systems and methods of the invention may provide a holistic approach to CDS transactions which facilitates such transactions, enables the management of such transactions, streamlines the resolution of these transactions, improves market information relating to these transactions, and provides other advantages. In some embodiments, a CDS trustee is provided that manages CDS documentation throughout the CDS transaction market and therefore can determine the positions and exposure of all market players. In some embodiments, the CDS trustee may also monitor for and process credit events of a reference entity to a CDS transaction. Furthermore the CDS trustee may facilitate payments to and from counterparties to CDS transactions, facilitate unwinding of CDS transactions, facilitate settlement of CDS transaction in the event of a credit default, and/or provide other features and functions. In some embodiments, a collateral manager is provided to enable the use of securities as collateral and other collateral management for CDS transactions.
US08341048B2 Check-cashing/loan system using a variable amount electronic funds card
A rechargeable and disposable electronic funds (cash card) issued by a non-financial facility, such as a check cashing facility, a payday loan facility or a short term loan facility, is disclosed where the card substitutes for the cash and is labeled in the name of a bank type financial institution with which the non-financial facility has a relationship. The card can be charged with a variable amount on money. When used at a store for a purchase it can act like a debit card but need not have a name of the holder associated with (or embossed on) it like a gift card, so the user can remain anonymous. The card can be upgraded to a rechargeable or debit/credit card. The card can draw on an account or sub account of the check cashing service or of the bank.
US08341041B2 Method and apparatus for automated medical supply take/store tracking
A supply cabinet is fitted with an outer sensor and an inner sensor. The outer and inner sensor wirelessly sense inventory items tagged with radio frequency tags and in proximity of the sensors. A method of tracking inventory items stored in a supply cabinet includes determining, based on time sequencing of sensing by the outer and the inner sensor, if an inventory item was removed from the cabinet or stored into the cabinet, and updating an inventory database accordingly. An alarm is optionally triggered if an inventory item is removed by an unauthorized user.
US08341040B1 System and method for stow management of similar items
Various embodiments of a system and method for stow management of similar items are described. Various embodiments may include a control system and/or an electronic stow component configured to determine whether a bin is eligible to stow a unit of a particular item. For instance, an agent tasked with stowing items as inventory in a materials handling facility may use such electronic stow component and/or the control system to determine whether a bin is eligible to stow a unit of a particular item. For instance, the electronic stow component may identify a bin to evaluate, identify a unit of a particular item, and determine whether the bin is eligible to store the unit of the particular item according to various methods and techniques for preventing the stowage of like items in nearby bins.
US08341039B2 Mixed source media playback
Playlists having media items from more than one source are described. Media items in a first library are mapped to media items from an online media item store. Media items within the playlist that can be found in the first library will be played from the first library, while media items not within the first library will be played from the online media store. By identifying media items present in both libraries and playing them only from the first library, the described method can reduce the royalties needing to be paid by the online media store. Further methods are disclosed for setting limits on the number of media items that can be shared by a second library.
US08341036B2 Combining disparate purchases into a single purchase order for billing and shipment
An order is placed by a purchaser at a client system and received by a server system. The server system receives purchaser information including identification of the purchaser, payment information, and shipment information from the client system. The server system then assigns a client identifier to the client system and associates the assigned client identifier with the received purchaser information. The server system sends to the client system the assigned client identifier. The client system receives and stores the assigned client identifier. In response to an order indication, the client system sends to the server system a request to purchase the identified item. The server system receives the request and combines at least one previous purchase associated with the client identifier of the client system to generate a single order for billing and shipment.
US08341033B2 Method, system and business model for a buyer's auction with near perfect information using the internet
A methodology, system and business model are disclosed for facilitating a fully automated buyer's auction in which the major types of transaction costs are significantly reduced by providing the buyer and the sellers with near-perfect information about one another, including information about buyer preferences and competing sellers' offers. The system implements a buyer's auction with multidimensional bidding that minimizes market intelligence, search, bargaining and transaction execution costs and thus creates more competitive, frictionless markets. Buyers and sellers can efficiently conduct the buyer's auction within a unified environment, thereby minimizing buyer integration costs as well. The buyer's auction generates commercially marketable proprietary information and a revenue stream for the auctioneer providing such a service.
US08341031B2 Availability check for a ware
Computer-implemented methods, and associated computer program products and systems, for checking availability of a ware in a time interval, a resource to produce the ware being associated with the ware. The computer-implemented method can include obtaining capacity supply information comprising a capacity supply for each date of the time interval and capacity demand information comprising a capacity demand for each date of the time interval. The first date of the time interval is set to a later date, there is determined for each date from the first date to the later date whether capacity supply is unused. If capacity supply is unused, the method includes eliminating the specific amount from the capacity supply information. In response to demand information representing a demand having a requested date, availability of the resource on the requested date is determined using the capacity supply information and the capacity demand information.
US08341021B2 System, program product, and method for debit card and checking account autodraw
A consumer is prequalified for a line of credit attached to a checking account by a lending institution computer responsive to consumer underwriting data. The lending institution computer makes available draws to the line of credit line in an authorization stream for a proposed payment from the checking account. When the line of credit is accessed, the checking account is credited with an additional value equal to one or more preselected loan increments so that the account then has a new amount totaling a previous amount plus the amount of value of the one or more preselected loan increments and so that the new amount exceeds or equals the value of a proposed payment. Next, a new value for the line of credit balance available is determined, accounting for value credited to the checking account and a preselected loan advance fee for each loan increment credited to the account.
US08341020B2 Match engine marketing
Enabling advertisers using a computer network such as the Internet and a match engine to submit their offerings to product, service, benefit seeking entities. In some embodiments, a database having accounts for the providers is made available. Accounts contain contact and billing information for an advertiser; and at least one offering having at least a description, a criteria set comprising one or more criterion factors, and a bid amount. An advertiser influences a position of an offering in the advertiser's account by first selecting offering relevant criteria. The advertiser enters the criteria and the description into a listing; influencing at least in part the position for the listing within a results page through an online bidding process. This results page is generated in response to a seeking entity query of the match engine. Pay for performance demographic, geographic, psychographic criteria/characteristics targeted directly advertising (frictionless advertising) is enabled.
US08340987B2 Program for alternative funding of employee and retiree benefits
An insurance program for funding benefits by maintaining assets in the insurance program that includes an employer or employee owned trust account and at least one life insurance contract obtained directly or indirectly from a captive insurance company. The life insurance contract is purchased with assets from the trust account and the captive insurance company is a least partially owned by the employer. When paying or reimbursing benefits, the employer or the trust may pay the benefit and if the employer pays the benefit, the trust may reimburse the employer.
US08340985B2 System and method for selling intangible property
A method comprises analyzing the psychology of a typical consumer and defining first key stages wherein customers drop out and second key stages wherein sales could be maximized.
US08340980B2 Data visualisation system and method
A data visualization system is disclosed that includes a data value memory, a display, and contour generator. The data value memory maintains a finite set of data values. The display is arranged to display a representation of each data value centered on respective data points. The contour generator is arranged to generate and display a representation having a cross-sectional shape of a bell-shaped curve in which each data point is displayed as an apex of the bell-shaped curve. Also disclosed is a method of data visualization and a data visualization computer program.
US08340970B2 Methods and apparatus for initiating actions using a voice-controlled interface
Methods and apparatus for initiating an action using a voice-controlled human interface. The interface provides a hands free, voice driven environment to control processes and applications. According to one embodiment, a method comprises electronically receiving first user input, parsing the first user input to determine whether the first user input contains a command activation statement that cues a voice-controlled human interface to enter a command mode in which a second user input comprising a voice signal is processed to identify at least one executable command and, in response to determining that the first user input comprises the command activation statement, identifying the at least one executable command in the second user input.
US08340969B2 Method and mobile communication device for generating dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands on a mobile communication device having a touchscreen
A method and mobile communication device for generating dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands on a mobile communication device having a touchscreen are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands on a mobile communication device having a touchscreen, comprising: detecting an automated attendant during a telephone call; activating speech recognition in respect of incoming voice data during the telephone call in response to detecting an automated attendant; translating spoken prompts in the incoming voice data into respective DTMF commands; displaying a menu having selectable menu options corresponding to the DTMF commands In a graphical user interface on the touchscreen; receiving input selecting one of the menu options; receiving input via the touchscreen activating a selected one of the menu options; and generating a DTMF command in accordance with the activated menu option.
US08340968B1 System and method for training diction
A computer-implemented method for automatically training diction of a person acquires a speech data stream of the person as the person is speaking, compares the words in the speech data stream to a set of predefined undesirable phrases provided in a look-up table and upon detection of one of the predefined undesirable phrases in the speech data stream, alerting the person by an alarm.
US08340965B2 Rich context modeling for text-to-speech engines
Embodiments of rich context modeling for speech synthesis are disclosed. In operation, a text-to-speech engine refines a plurality of rich context models based on decision tree-tied Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to produce a plurality of refined rich context models. The text-to-speech engine then generates synthesized speech for an input text based at least on some of the plurality of refined rich context models.
US08340962B2 Method and apparatus for adaptively encoding and decoding high frequency band
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding an audio signal. According to the present application, a signal of a high frequency band above a preset frequency band is adaptively encoded or decoded in the time domain or in the frequency domain by using a signal of a low frequency band below the preset frequency band. As such, the sound quality of a high frequency signal is not deteriorate even when an audio signal is encoded or decoded by using a small number of bits and thus coding efficiency may be maximized.
US08340958B2 Text and speech recognition system using navigation information
A system and method are provided for recognizing a user's speech input. The method includes the steps for detecting the user's speech input, recognizing the user's speech input by comparing the speech input to a list of entries using language model statistics to determine the most likely entry matching the user's speech input, and detecting navigation information of a trip to a predetermined destination, where the most likely entry is determined by modifying the language model statistics taking into account the navigation information. A system and method is further provided that takes into account navigation trip information to determine the most likely entry using language model statistics for recognizing text input.
US08340941B2 Temperature measurement system for a light emitting diode (LED) assembly
A temperature measurement system is provided for a light emitting diode (LED) assembly that includes an LED having two semiconductors joined together at an LED junction. The system includes a temperature sensor operatively connected to the LED assembly at a remote location that is remote from the LED junction. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the LED assembly at the remote location. A temperature calculation module is operatively connected to the temperature sensor for receiving the measured temperature at the remote location from the temperature sensor. The temperature calculation module is configured to determine a junction temperature at the LED junction based on the measured temperature a the remote location.
US08340933B1 Method and apparatus for performing power supply self-diagnostics in redundant power architectures
A system for detecting latent defects within a redundant power architecture includes a plurality of redundant power supplies, each having one or more output power rails, connected in a redundant fashion to a system load; each power supply output having fault-isolating OR'ing circuitry that prevents reverse current flow when free of defects; each power supply having means for adjusting its output voltage; each power supply having means for monitoring an internal voltage therein, and, based on characteristics of the monitored internal voltage, determining the presence of latent defect/s in the fault-isolating “OR'ing” circuitry. Further, the system operates to shift the load demanded from power supplies in redundant power architectures to allow the power supplies to run at their optimum electrical efficiency.
US08340928B2 Sensor and method for detecting oil deterioration and oil level
A capacitive sensor in its simplest form has three identical plated spatial electrodes, which are positioned equally spaced apart, in order, alignment and parallel with each other. The first and third electrodes are the outer electrodes and connected in parallel by a first lead wire serving as a first electrical pole to be a group of the integrated electrodes. The second electrode is the middle electrode and connected by a second lead wire serving as a second electrical pole. The sensor is applied with an alternating current (AC) excitation signal from an AC device. The present invention method includes application of referencing and sensing capacitive sensors to obtain a measured temperature compensated electrical property of the oil to thereby obtain a measured remaining usage so as to a predicted remaining usage of the oil. Therefore, the top oil level, or the normal, or the abnormal oil deterioration can be concluded according to the measured remaining usage which is respectively larger than, or similar to, or less than the predicted one of the oil.
US08340926B2 Internal combustion engine control apparatus
An internal combustion engine control apparatus according to the present invention includes storage for storing a plurality of air flow rate conversion tables T1 and T2 used to convert a signal of a heating resistor 2 to an air flow rate, a selector for selecting a conversion table to be referred to from the plurality of conversion tables T1 and T2 stored, and a converter for converting a signal of the heating resistor into an air flow rate by referring to the conversion table selected by the selector. The selector performs selection of the conversion table according to a state value, which directly or indirectly indicates the state of air flow pulsation generated in a passage.
US08340920B2 Method and device for measuring foreign bodies in the measuring medium
The disclosure relates to a method for measuring a flow rate, in particular in an inductive flowmeter, in which an electrical signal is applied to a measuring medium flowing in a measuring tube at electrodes, and the response function at measuring electrodes is determined as a measure of the flow rate, and to a corresponding flowmeter device. So that the flow effects of gas bubbles and/or particles in the measuring medium can be distinguished from other faults and the determination of the flow rate is thus more reliable, the disclosure proposes that, in order to detect gas bubbles and/or particles in the measuring medium, a magnetic and/or electric field is applied to the latter and the potential and/or current is/are read out at one or more electrodes, the signal profile A(t), together with its signal-to-noise component, is measured electronically as a function of the time, and a statistical evaluation is used to infer the existence of gas bubbles and/or particles.
US08340915B2 Systems and methods for analyzing microarrays
The present invention discloses methods and systems for analyzing microarray data. The method includes the general steps of providing microarray data, normalizing the data using a least trimmed squares regression, and then analyzing the normalized microarray data to obtain a desired result such as an expression profile. There is also disclosed a method of subdividing an array into subarrays before normalization. This approach provides a method for improving measurement accuracy and salvaging array data from arrays containing minor defects. Also disclosed is a Probe-Treatment-Reference (PTR) model for streamlining normalization and summarization of microarray data by allowing multiple references. Other aspects of the present invention include computer systems and computer readable media encoding methods of the present invention.
US08340913B2 Phase behavior analysis using a microfluidic platform
Methods and related systems are described for analyzing phase properties in a microfluidic device. A fluid is introduced under pressure into microchannel, and phase states of the fluid are optically detected at a number of locations along the microchannel. Gas and liquid phases of the fluid are distinguished based on a plurality of digital images of the fluid in the microchannel. Bi-level images can be generated based on the digital images, and the fraction of liquid or gas in the fluid can be estimated versus pressure based on the bi-level images. Properties such as bubble point values and/or a phase volume distribution ratio versus pressure for the fluid are can be estimated based on the detected phase states of the fluid.
US08340911B2 Compensated ensemble crystal oscillator for use in a well borehole system
A compensated ensemble crystal oscillator clock system. The clock system includes preferably four quad compensated clocks, a compensated temperature sensor, and software for processing and correcting system response. Physical fabrication of elements of the quad compensated clocks, the compensated temperature sensor and cooperating software minimized drift in frequency of the oscillator clock system in harsh borehole environments encountered while drilling a borehole. The clock system exhibits a frequency stability of 2.8×10−9 or less over a temperature range of from 0° C. to 185° C. The compensated ensemble crystal oscillator clock system is particularly applicable to seismic-while-drilling operations wherein precise downhole measurements of time are required typically over a period of days.
US08340908B2 Calibration of tracking device
A tracking device may be used to detect a position or movement of an object. The tracking device may include a housing that supports an emitter. The emitter may transmit a first signal. A measurement device within the housing may measure rotational movement of an object. Circuitry may receive a second signal in response to the first signal. The circuitry may reset an angle value to a predetermined value based on the second signal. The angle value may be determined by a measurement of the rotational movement of the object.
US08340907B2 Slippage condition response system
A slippage condition response system for a first machine of a plurality of machines is disclosed. The response system may have a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the response system may have a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the first machine. The response system may also have a transmitter. In addition, the response system may have a controller, which may be in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the transmitter. The controller may be configured to monitor the location of the first machine. The controller may also be configured to monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the controller may be configured to transmit to an offboard system at least one location where the first machine experienced a slippage condition.
US08340898B2 System and method for identifying portions of roads
A system and method splices into, or replaces routes identified based on road geometry with routes taken by the same user or other users to create alternate routes that may be selected by a user to display, for example, on a map or for which driving directions can be displayed. Communication of routes traveled by different devices may be received from a server or from another device. A naming convention for road segments and ordered paths of road segments is described.
US08340892B2 Onboard aircraft weight and balance system
An onboard system and method for determining the instantaneous weight and balance of an aircraft simply, reliably, accurately, and requiring a minimum amount of calibration includes a memory for storing previously determined breakout friction data of the aircraft's landing gear shock struts, sensors for sensing the pressures in the struts, the vertical loads exerted by the landing gear on the aircraft, and the attitude of the aircraft relative to the horizontal during loading or unloading thereof, and a computer for computing the vertical load in each of the landing gears from the stored calibration breakout friction data and the shock strut pressures, landing gear vertical loads and aircraft attitude sensed during the loading or unloading. The computer then computes the gross weight of the aircraft and the location of its center of gravity (CG) using the computed vertical loads in the landing gears.
US08340888B2 System and method for reducing powertrain disturbances based on system energy
A control system for a powertrain includes an energy determination module and a speed control module. The energy determination module determines a rotational energy input to the powertrain during a first period of a negative lash event of the powertrain. The speed control module selectively limits an increase in a rotational speed of the engine to a first predetermined rate based on the rotational energy during a second period of the negative lash event following the first period. The rotational energy is based on an acceleration rate of the rotational speed, and the speed control module limits the increase when the acceleration rate is greater than a predetermined acceleration rate. The speed control module further selectively increases the rotational speed at a second predetermined rate during a third period beginning at an end of the second period. A related method is also provided.
US08340886B2 System and method for transitioning between fuel supplies for a combustion system
A system includes a turbine fuel controller. The turbine fuel controller includes a purge control logic configured to control a purge sequence of mixing a purge gas with a first fuel during a first fuel shutdown, wherein the purge sequence is configured to open a purge valve for the purge gas before fully closing a fuel valve for the first fuel.
US08340881B2 Method and system for assessing vehicle movement
Methods and systems are provided for assessing movement of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels. A plurality of wheel direction values are obtained. Each of the wheel direction values pertains to a direction of wheel rotation of a respective wheel. An average value of the wheel direction values is calculated. A direction of movement of the vehicle is obtained via a controller using the average value. In addition, a signed velocity is determined for and indicative of both forward and reverse motions using the wheel direction values.
US08340872B2 Control system and method for capturing partial bucket loads in automated loading cycle
An automated bucket loading control method includes determining a bucket tilt parameter for a bucket of the machine which corresponds with a partial bucket load, and capturing a partial bucket load by controllably tilting the bucket in a pile of material according to the determined bucket tilt parameter. A control system includes a sensor configured to monitor a bucket tilt parameter and output a bucket tilt signal, and further includes an electronic payload controller coupled with the sensor which is configured to output bucket tilting control commands. The electronic payload controller is further configured to determine a value for the bucket tilt parameter that corresponds with a target partial bucket load and output corresponding bucket tilting control commands during moving a bucket of the machine in a material pile to capture a partial bucket load.
US08340871B2 Vehicle steering control device and method
Under an automatic turning control, a steering controller defines a value of steering angle set according to a target turning angle of the automatic turning control, as a value of steering angle at which a reaction force is equal to 0. Thereby, the steering controller controls a steering reaction force on the basis of a difference between an actual steering angle and the value of steering angle at which the reaction force is equal to 0.
US08340862B2 Agricultural working vehicle and display unit therefor
A display unit is provided in an agricultural working vehicle to display at least one operating parameter of the working vehicle, so that it is possible to change the operating parameter as a function of one or more setting parameters of the working vehicle. The display unit is designed to display a change in the operating parameter resulting from a change made to at least one of the setting parameters.
US08340860B2 Acceleration detection device, acceleration detection method, and neutral control device employing same
An acceleration detection device for detecting detected acceleration of a vehicle is provided with a stopped acceleration detector, an acceleration change detector, an acceleration estimating unit and a correcting unit. The stopped acceleration detector detects a detected stationary acceleration value when the vehicle is stopped on a sloping road based on an acceleration sensor signal from an acceleration sensor mounted on the vehicle. The acceleration change detector detects an acceleration change associated with the vehicle transitioning from a stationary state to a driving state on the sloping road based on the acceleration sensor signal. The acceleration estimating unit estimates an estimated stationary acceleration value based on the acceleration change that was detected by the acceleration change detector. The correcting unit corrects the detected stationary acceleration value based on a deviation between the estimated stationary acceleration value and the detected stationary acceleration value.
US08340833B2 Control distribution transformer and method of making same
A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communications module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convey the first low voltage electricity along a low voltage line to an electrical device. The communications module is configured to transmit a load reduction request along the low voltage line to the electrical device.
US08340829B2 Method and apparatus of detecting and compensating for DC residual fault currents on electrical systems
This invention relates to a method and apparatus of detecting and compensating for DC residual fault currents on electrical systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus which is capable of accurately detecting one or more parameters of the fault current waveform and generating a compensation factor which compensates for specific pulsed DC fault components present. In this way, trip sensitivity is optimized for all types of fault current waveforms. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention operates by detecting one or more parameters of the encoded fault current waveform and generating a measure of symmetry comparing the mean squared values of negative and positive sections of said encoded fault current waveform. In use, various bands of the ratio of the mean squared sum of the positive and negative sections of said encoded fault current waveform are obtained, and a compensation factor is determined from a look-up table stored in a processing means.
US08340822B2 Actuator control device, actuator control method, actuator, robot apparatus, and computer program
There is provided an actuator control device for force-controlling a joint driving actuator according to a commanded joint force command value τa. The actuator control device includes a joint value detecting means for detecting a joint value q at an output stage of the actuator, an action force detecting means for detecting an action force τe in a joint driving direction at the output stage of the actuator, and a driving force determining means for determining an instructed driving force τ to the actuator, on the basis of an ideal response model of the actuator which specifies the relationship of a joint value acceleration target value achieved as the actuator responds ideally when the joint force command value τa, the action force τe, and a joint value velocity obtained by time-differentiating the joint value q are given.
US08340816B2 User preference inferring apparatus, user profile inferring apparatus, and robot
An object of the present invention is to infer a user's preference or profile with a good precision.A user preference inferring apparatus 100 includes a receiving means 2 which receives information related to an article from a tag attached to the article, an article name determining means 3 obtaining an article name of the article on the basis of the information related to the article received by the receiving means 2, and a preference determining means 4 which infers a user's preference on the basis of the information related to the article received by the receiving means 2. On the basis of the article name obtained by the article name determining means 3, the preference determining means 4 obtains preference information corresponding to the article name from a database that stores the article name and the preference information corresponding to the article name, and determines the user's preference.
US08340813B2 System and process for real time monitoring of mail and print jobs and providing real time verification of mail piece completion
The present application relates to a system and method for tracking individual pieces within a printing or mailing job, as well as tracking completed trays, skids, or containers of printed documents.
US08340804B2 Embroidery data creation apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing embroidery data creation program
An embroidery data creation apparatus includes a storage portion that stores pattern information for a first pattern, a first point specification portion that specifies first feature points, a first area specification portion that specifies first partitioned areas bounded by line segments linking the first feature points, an image acquisition portion that acquires a second image, a second point specification portion that specifies second feature points that correspond to the respective first feature points, a second area specification portion that specifies second partitioned areas bounded by line segments linking the second feature points, a conversion portion that, based on positional relationships between the first and second feature points, converts information of the pattern information that corresponds to the first partitioned areas into information that corresponds to the plurality of second partitioned areas, and a first creation portion that creates embroidery data for sewing the second pattern based on the information.
US08340803B2 Component placement apparatus, component placement setting calculation apparatus, program, and component placement setting calculation method
The present invention is directed to a technique that avoids occurrence of interference among multiple placement heads, when multiple placement heads simultaneously access a circuit board, and a pallet which is arranged in one direction with respect to the circuit board. When the component placement part 150 having the multiple placement heads simultaneously pick up the components from the pallet 160 and simultaneously place the components on the circuit board, the controller 140 specifies a pair of component groups to be picked up simultaneously from the pallet 160 by the multiple placement heads and places the components on the circuit board, so that an area where the multiple placement heads move in overlapping manner is minimized, and the placement heads respectively pick up the components included in the pair of component groups being specified and place the components on the circuit board.
US08340802B2 Systems and methods for producing clip-ons for a primary eyewear
A method for providing data regarding a given primary eyewear to a remote data processing center where the data is processed to yield production instructions for producing a clip-on for the primary eyewear. The production instructions are provided to one or more remote production units. Preferably, the site providing data regarding the primary eyewear and the site for producing the secondary eyewear object are the same site.
US08340797B2 Method and system for generating and processing digital content based on text-to-speech conversion
A method and system is provided for generating digital content using text-to-speech (TTS) conversion. A predetermined script is selected using a portable terminal or user personal computer (PC). A format for converting the selected script into an audio data file is determined. The selected script is generated into the audio data file according to the determined conversion format of the audio data file using a TTS engine provided to at least one of the user PC and a web server.
US08340795B2 Small removable audio player that attaches to a host media player
A media player, including a host player, including a host media playing module for playing digital media files, a host storage unit for storing digital media files, a host battery for supplying power to the host player, a host controller for storing incoming media files in the host storage unit, a host display unit, and at least one host user interface control for user command input to navigate and play the digital media files stored in the host storage unit, and a removable player which can be attached to the host player and detached from the host player, and which is operative to play digital audio files when it is attached to the host player and when it is detached from the host player, including an audio playing module, a storage unit for storing digital media files, a wireless modem for receiving digital media files from remote sources, a battery for supplying power to the removable player, which is charged by the host battery when the removable player is attached to the host player, and a controller for storing incoming media files in the removable player storage unit and for selectively copying media files from the removable player storage unit to the host storage unit when the removable player is attached to the host player, wherein the host controller selectively copies media files from the host storage unit to the removable player storage unit when the removable player is attached to the host player. A method is also described and claimed.
US08340794B1 Fantasy sports trade evaluator system and method
Disclosed is a trade evaluator for evaluating trades based on statistics of players to be traded, statistics of other players on each fantasy team, and settings of a fantasy league. A computer receives a request to analyze a trade of one or more players for one or more other players. The computer determines league settings and player statistics. For each player on the teams, the computer determines a position in a roster. The computer determines a highest value player for each position. If there is only one slot that can hold the highest ranked player still available to place, the computer fills the slot with that player. If there are multiple slots left, and each of those slots can also hold other player positions, the computer places the player in a slot with a lowest opportunity cost. The computer determines a point total for the teams with and without execution of the trade.
US08340793B2 Architecture using integrated backup control and protection hardware
An electronic control configuration includes at least one secondary microprocessor operable to control a device. The at least one secondary microprocessor assumes protection control of the device responsive to a first type of failure by transmitting a protection control signal to a first effector. The at least one secondary microprocessor assumes backup control of the device responsive to a second type of failure by transmitting a backup control signal to a second effector. The backup control functionality of the at least one secondary microprocessor can be selectively disabled.
US08340790B2 Methods and apparatus to adjust control loop timing in a process control system
Example methods and apparatus to adjust control loop timing in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a first input signal generated via a first process control device within a process control system, determining within the process control system if the first input signal is received during a first scheduled time period of a control loop, and adjusting within the process control system a timing of a subsequent input signal received from the first process control device to cause the subsequent input signal to be received during a subsequent scheduled time period of the control loop, wherein the timing of the subsequent input signal is based on at least when the first input signal was received.
US08340785B2 Self expanding electrode cuff
An expandable electrode cuff of an implantable stimulation system that includes a base member, a first flange member extending from a proximal end along a first side wall of the base member to a first distal end, and a second flange member extending from a proximal end along a second side wall of the base member to a second distal end. The first flange member extends over both a top wall of the base member and the second flange member, and the second flange member extends over the top wall to form a lumen. The electrode cuff is capable of being advanced between a first position corresponding to both flange members extending over the top wall, a second position corresponding to the first flange member not extending over the top wall and the second flange member extending over the top wall, and a third position corresponding to both of the flange members not extending over the top wall.
US08340779B2 Percutaneous flat lead introducer
In general, the invention is directed to a technique for percutaneously introducing a stimulation lead into a target stimulation site via the epidural region proximate the spine of a patient. The process of introducing the stimulation lead may include the use of a hollow stimulation lead introducer, which comprises an elongated sheath and an elongated dilator. The dilator fits within the sheath and serves to widen a path through the epidural region for the introduction of a stimulation lead. At least a portion of the stimulation lead introducer has an oblong cross-section, allowing passage of stimulation leads such as paddle leads. The stimulation lead introducer may enter the epidural region proximate a spine of a patient via a guidewire. The stimulation lead introducer provides a path through the epidural region of a patient to a target stimulation site. A stimulation lead may travel through the path to reach the target stimulation site where it may provide therapy to the patient.
US08340772B2 Brown adipose tissue utilization through neuromodulation
Methods and devices for improved neurostimulation to treat obesity. Some methods include measuring temperature increases in Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) during intraoperative test stimulations to determine the proper nerve electrode placement for implantation. Methods can include determining the side of the patient having the most BAT, and stimulating preferentially on that right or left side. The BAT maybe used to burn fat by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system innervating the BAT deposits.
US08340764B2 Method and apparatus for cardiac protection pacing
A pacing system delivers cardiac protection pacing to protect the heart from injuries associated with ischemic events. The pacing system detects an ischemic event and, in response, initiates one or more cardiac protection pacing sequences each including alternative pacing and non-pacing periods. In one embodiment, the pacing system initiates cardiac protection pacing sequences including at least one postconditioning sequence to protect the heart from a detected ischemic event and a plurality prophylactic preconditioning sequences to protect the heart from probable future ischemic events.
US08340763B2 Methods and apparatus to stimulate heart atria
A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension and heart failure by increasing secretion of endogenous atrial hormones by pacing of the heart atria. Atrial pacing is done during the ventricular refractory period resulting in premature atrial contraction that does not result in ventricular contraction. Pacing results in the atrial wall stress, peripheral vasodilation, ANP secretion. Concomitant reduction of the heart rate is monitored and controlled as needed with backup pacing.
US08340755B2 Electric field control device and detection device
The present invention provides an electric field control device that can transmit a quasi-electrostatic field more efficiently. There is provided an electric field control device that applies electric fields to an electric field application subject, which includes a first electrode and a second electrode that generate the electric fields, a frame that is arranged around the first electrode and second electrode, and is connected to the first electrode and second electrode, an opening that is formed at one end of the frame, and an output unit that outputs a first signal to the first electrode, and outputs a second signal to the second electrode, wherein, when the electric fields are generated from the first electrode and second electrode, the output unit outputs the second signal to the second electrode so that the potential of the frame is not changed temporally and made constant.
US08340754B2 Method and a device for determining the hydration and/or nutrition status of a patient
The invention relates to the field of monitoring the hydration and/or nutrition status of a patient. According to the invention a method is provided to determine at least one of a mal-hydration component, an adipose tissue component and a lean tissue component of a patient comprising the steps of determining chemical or physical properties of the patient and deriving the at least one component on the basis of the determined chemical or physical properties of the patient and previously determined values of a mass or volume fraction of water in lean tissue and a mass or volume fraction of water in adipose tissue. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method according to the invention and to a computer program product to be used on such a device.
US08340753B2 Binaural beat augmented biofeedback system
A biofeedback system that incorporates binaural beat technology to augment the EEG feedback provided to the trainee. Specifically, the system will provide binaural beats at the frequency of the brain's naturally occurring peak energy in the EEG band or bands subject to the biofeedback.
US08340751B2 Method and apparatus for determining tracking a virtual point defined relative to a tracked member
An volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.
US08340749B2 System for automatically minimizing cardiac oxygen consumption and cardiac disease treating system using the same
A cardiac disease treating system has an input part for inputting a patient's indexes of kinetics of blood circulation including at least heart rate, a cardiac oxygen consumption calculation monitor unit for calculating the estimated value of said patient's amount of cardiac oxygen consumption based on the indexes of kinetics of blood circulation input from the input part, and a cardiac oxygen consumption curtailment unit for comparing the heart rate input from the input part and the critical heart rate minimizing the estimated value of amount of cardiac oxygen consumption calculated by the cardiac oxygen consumption monitor unit and controlling the patient's heart rate in conformity with the results of this comparison.
US08340743B2 Methods, systems and computer program products for positioning a guidance apparatus relative to a patient
A method for positioning a guide device for placement of an interventional object in a body, the guide device having a guide axis, includes: determining a target point in the body and a reference point, wherein the target point and the reference point define a planned trajectory line (PTL) extending through each; determining a visualization plane, wherein the PTL intersects the visualization plane at a sighting point; mounting the guide device relative to the body to move with respect to the PTL, wherein the guide device does not intersect the visualization plane; determining a point of intersection (GPP) between the guide axis and the visualization plane; and aligning the GPP with the sighting point in the visualization plane.
US08340741B2 System and micro-catheter devices for medical imaging of the breast
A method of scanning breast tissue involves inserting an imaging element into a breast via a carrier inserted into a breast duct. The imaging element may be for example a receiver, a transmitter or a mirror. A signal is transmitted between one imaging element within the breast duct and a second imaging element outside the breast.
US08340739B2 Monitor device and biological component-measuring device
This invention provides a monitor device capable of detecting possible abnormalities in body fluid withdrawal by a body fluid sampler and variations in the dilution when a withdrawn body fluid is diluted, and a living organism-measuring device with this monitor device. The former device includes a first optical sensor disposed on a diluent channel through which a diluent is introduced into a body fluid sampler for withdrawing a body fluid; a second optical sensor disposed on a diluted body fluid channel through which the diluted body fluid is transferred to a living organism-measuring sensor, and close to the first optical sensor; and a controlling unit for judging whether variations in a dilution to which the body fluid is diluted are within predetermined limits, from data outputted by the first optical sensor and data outputted by the second optical sensor. The latter device has the monitor device incorporated thereto.
US08340734B2 Sliding mechanism for slide-type electronic device
A sliding mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a fixing member, at least one first elastic member arranged at a side of the fixing member, a sliding member, and at least one second elastic member arranged at a side of the sliding member. The first elastic member includes an arcuate first resisting section, the second elastic member includes an arcuate second resisting section, the second resisting section is shorter than the first resisting section. The sliding member is assembled with the fixing member and the second resisting section elastically resists with the first resisting section. The sliding member can automatically slide due to resilient forces between the first resisting section and the second resisting section.
US08340731B2 Automatic recharging wireless headset
A wireless headset has a body, an ear clip, and at least two devices for converting at least two different sources of energy into electrical power. The body includes an RF integrated circuit in electrical communication with an antenna and a baseband circuit, the baseband circuit being in electrical communication with a microphone and a speaker. The at least two devices for converting at least two different sources of energy into electrical power are in electrical communication with the RF integrated circuit and the baseband circuit. The ear clip is engaged to the body. The at least two sources of energy are selected from the group consisting of solar energy, thermoelectric energy, piezoelectric energy, and vibration energy.
US08340727B2 Method and system of creating a video sequence
A method of creating a video sequence. The method comprises setting at least one repetitive reminder in a schedule managed by a handheld device having an image sensor, alarming a user according to the at least one repetitive reminder, capturing a sequence of images using the image sensor, automatically identifying a facial image depicting a face in a preset area in the sequence of images, automatically selecting the facial image, in response to the identification, and adding the facial image to a facial video sequence.
US08340725B2 Mobile terminal and touch recognition method therefor
Disclosed is a touch recognition method for preventing an execution of a function associated with an icon by unintentionally touching the icon when a slide-type mobile terminal performs a sliding motion and a mobile terminal implementing such method. If a pre-command is inputted by a touch through the touch screen of the mobile terminal, a pre-command operation that is predetermined is performed. If a sliding motion is detected while the pre-command is performed, the pre-command operation is cancelled.
US08340724B2 Feeder cable reduction
The present invention allows transmission of multiple signals between masthead electronics and base housing electronics in a base station environment. At least some of the received signals from the multiple antennas are translated to being centered about different center frequencies, such that the translated signals may be combined into a composite signal including each of the received signals. The composite signal is then sent over a single feeder cable to base housing electronics, wherein the received signals are separated and processed by transceiver circuitry. Prior to being provided to the transceiver circuitry, those signals that were translated from being centered about one frequency to another may be retranslated to being centered about the original center frequency.
US08340719B1 Mobile phone message management
Techniques are described for managing messages with a mobile phone. First user input is received that indicates a first active call record from a list of active call records. In response to the first user input, a call is initiated from a mobile device to a particular target indicated by the first active call record. After completion of the call, the mobile device prompts for second user input to update the status of the list of active call records. In one embodiment, a second active call record is created for the connection in response to the second user input. The second active call record may automatically populated with notes from the first active call record.
US08340707B2 Method and system for connecting wireless communications unit users
A system and method for wireless communications unit users within proximity to make social connections. Users can dynamically discover potential matches in the proximity and interactively find out mutual intentions to socially connect in an anonymous and discreet manner.
US08340702B2 Unsuccessful call alert
A method for a mobile phone to provide an unsuccessful call alert, including monitoring an outgoing call from a caller to a callee to determine if the callee is available; if the callee is not available, then automatically actuating a message editor, automatically displaying a pre-defined call alert message, including an identifier of the caller and contact information for the caller, enabling the caller to edit the pre-defined call alert message, and sending the call alert message to the callee. A system is also described and claimed.
US08340696B2 Mobile terminal device
A mobile terminal device including a communication processor that conducts wireless communication processing, an operation unit that receives an instruction input from a user for selecting a communication contact, a displacement detector that detects a magnitude of displacement in orientation of the mobile terminal device, and a controller that causes the communication processor to conduct the wireless communication with the selected communication contact according to the detected magnitude of displacement.
US08340694B2 Synchronizing mobile and vehicle devices
Location information is received at a mobile device from the memory of a vehicle device. The mobile device is updated based on the location information. Sensor data is received from at least one sensor measuring movement of the mobile device, and an estimated location of the mobile device is calculated based at least in part on the location information and the sensor data.
US08340674B2 Method and system for assigning wireless special number call routing among call answering positions
A method for assigning special number wireless call routing responsibilities among special number call answering positions, each respective special number call answering position having a respective designated special number service area, includes: (a) in no particular order: (1) establishing a plurality of cell sector areas for wireless call service; and (2) establishing respective special number service areas in the vicinities of the plurality of cell sector areas; (b) associating respective cell sector areas with the respective special number service areas to establish cell sector-special number areas; (c) establishing at least one population area in the vicinity of the cell sector-special number areas; (d) associating the cell sector-special number areas with the at least one population area to establish cell sector-special number-population areas; (e) determining portions of population attributed to each respective cell sector-special number-population area; and (f) assigning the responsibilities in proportion with the portions of population.
US08340668B2 Method, device and system for paging terminal device across heterogeneous networks
A method for paging a terminal device across heterogeneous networks, where networks using different wireless standards send paging messages and location management information, and thus the load terminal devices can be alleviated and wireless resources occupied can be reduced. The method includes: selecting, by a current network, another network to execute a paging procedure, when receiving user data and determining a corresponding communication interface of the terminal device in the current network to be in a Dormant Mode, where the another network uses wireless standards different from the current network; sending, by the another network, a paging message to the terminal device to enable the terminal device to reconnect to the current network. A terminal device and network system is also provided.
US08340667B2 System and method to control wireless communications
Methods and systems to control wireless communications are provided. A particular network communication system includes a plurality of distributed mobile architecture gateways. Each distributed mobile architecture gateway includes at least one interface to communicate with one or more legacy communication networks and each distributed mobile architecture gateway also includes a data network connection. The data network connection is adapted to connect to at least one other distributed mobile architecture gateway of the plurality of distributed mobile architecture gateways. Additionally, the system includes a private Internet Protocol (IP) network connecting each distributed mobile architecture gateway to a respective set of distributed mobile architecture (DMA) servers. Each DMA server is coupled to a respective base transceiver station, and the private IP network also connects each DMA server in a particular set of DMA servers to the DMA servers in the other sets of DMA servers.
US08340659B2 Apparatus and method of performing minimization of drive tests
A method and corresponding apparatus for performing minimization of drive tests (MDT) in a mobile communication system are provided. The method may include receiving, by a base station, a control message from a user equipment (UE). The control message may be one of a MDT prohibit indication configured to indicate the base station should not select the UE for performing MDT, a UE status indication including at least one first UE parameter to be used by the base station when selecting MDT UEs, and a MDT measurement rejection when at least one second UE parameter differs from a predetermined UE parameter threshold.
US08340654B2 Apparatus and method for video display and control for portable device
An apparatus and method for display and control of video data on a mobile device provides simultaneous multiple video data display of groups of video sources and selection of video data for single, larger viewing. Control of the camera source of the video data is provided for the mobile device user, such as by manipulation of a multi-touch sensitive screen to pan, tilt and zoom. Image capture from the video screen and marking of the captured image is provided. Activation of video data streams and groups of video data streams for display on the mobile device is provided by transfer of activation information to the mobile device via email. Notification of events monitored by the video source or by other sensors is sent to users of the mobile devices.
US08340653B2 Communication terminal apparatus and communication method
A communication terminal apparatus that includes a personal information obtaining unit configured to obtain contact information about one or a plurality of persons that are a subject of an image; a storage unit configured to store the image in an image address book as an image-attached personal information list item after being added with the contact information obtained by the personal information obtaining unit; a display unit configured to display the image stored in the storage unit; and a control unit configured to cause the display unit to display the image stored in the storage unit when an operation of reading the image-attached personal information list item is performed, and perform a process related to the contact information added to the image in the storage unit when an operation of selecting the one or plurality of persons on the displayed image is performed by a user.
US08340651B1 Reconciling contact information between users
Methods, devices, and products utilize wireless-backup technologies to provide contact-reconciliation services with respect to sets of contacts stored on mobile devices. One embodiment of the inventions includes receiving an indication of an update event associated with a first set of contacts on a first mobile device, updating a remotely-stored copy of the first set of contacts, determining that a remotely-stored copy of a second set of contacts does not include a portion of contact information corresponding to the first mobile device, and updating the remotely-stored copy of the second set of contacts. In an embodiment, the remotely-stored copy of the second set of contacts is synchronized with the second set of contacts, thereby updating the second set of contacts.
US08340646B2 Direct voicemailing
Various exemplary user interfaces, methods, and computer program products describe directly sending a voicemail message to a voicemail box of a receiving telecommunications device without first initiating a synchronous voice communication to the receiving telecommunications device. A sending telecommunications device can record the voicemail message for sending the voicemail message or for subsequent transmission. In some implementations, the voicemail server sends or subsequently transmits based on whether the sending telecommunications device is capable of engaging in an asynchronous communication session.
US08340640B2 Transcription systems and methods
A communication device may participate in telephone calls. The communication device may allow a user to request transcription of a telephone call by prompting the user when the telephone call is completed. The communication device may display a call history user interface and, in response to a selection of a telephone call from the call history user interface, may request transcription of the selected telephone call. The communication device may include a dedicated transcription button that, when pressed, causes audio content of a telephone call to be sent to a transcription service. The communication device may display a preferences user interface via which a user may elect to have all incoming and outgoing telephone calls transcribed, all incoming and outgoing telephone calls to/from selected contacts transcribed, and/or have the communication device prompt the user about transcription when each telephone call is completed.
US08340639B2 Message processing system, device and method
A message processing system includes message center and user subscription data center. The subscription data center stores user subscription data of calling number anonymity service. The message center queries if calling number is anonymous when it transfers message that is transmitted by subscription user, and determines if calling number is anonymous in process of transfer message based on query respond. Interest and mystery of message are increased, personality demand of user is satisfied, and load of message center is decreased. Flexibility and scalability are improved. Additional, the present invention discloses a user subscription data center, a short message center and message processing method.
US08340638B2 System and method of maintaining communications policy settings in a wireless network
In a network having a plurality of subscriber devices, a plurality of base stations and a server, a system and method of modifying policy settings are provided. Each base station transmits wirelessly across a geographic region. A subscriber device, capable of roaming between regions, establishes a wireless link with the server via the base stations. The network contains a communication policy determining from which other communication devices a subscriber device can receive voice calls. The server updates the policy based on requests from subscriber devices. The determination of whether to update the policy can be based on a record of rejections respective to the caller requested to be blocked. Alternatively, the policy can be updated according to a trust policy maintained on the server respective to the subscriber device making the request; the trust policy represents the procedure to follow when a request is received from that subscriber device.
US08340634B2 Enhanced roaming services and converged carrier networks with device assisted services and a proxy
Enhanced roaming services and converged networks with device assisted services and a proxy is provided. In some embodiments, enhanced roaming services and converged networks with device assisted services and a proxy includes collecting device generated service usage information for one or more devices in wireless communication on the wireless network; and providing the device generated service usage information in a syntax and a communication protocol that can be used by other network devices to augment or replace network generated service usage information for the one or more devices in wireless communication on the wireless network.
US08340628B2 Systems and methods for localized wireless notification
Implementations relate to systems and methods for localized notification that provide localized information to one or more mobile devices in a wireless communication system that are located in one or more geographical regions. The wireless communication system includes a localized notification server that responds to geographically-targeted broadcast requests and localized service or information requests. The localized notification server localizes components of the wireless communication system into sets of localized components that provide wireless communication service to mobile devices in the specific geographical regions.In response to a request to broadcast to a target geographical region, the localized notification server identifies a set of localized components associated with the target geographical region. The localized notification server then broadcasts information to mobile devices actively serviced by the set of localized components.
US08340625B1 Alternative techniques for processing wireless communication backhaul
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for transmitting wireless data across a coaxial cable. In one aspect, a set of computer-readable media provides a method that includes receiving a request from a mobile device for data and transmitting the data across a coaxial cable to a cable modem. The method further includes sending the data to the mobile device through a base station, wherein the base station communicates with the cable modem in order to receive the data.
US08340624B2 Receiver circuit adapted to communication apparatuses operative with different power voltage range
A LIN receiver includes a voltage divider that divides an input voltage and outputs the divided voltage, and a peak hold circuit that outputs a peak voltage of the input voltage. The LIN receiver is configured to generate a threshold voltage to be used for determining a voltage signal of a communication bus. The threshold voltage is generated from a voltage signal of the communication bus such that the peak value of the voltage signal (i.e., equivalent to a battery voltage) is held by the peak hold circuit and divided by the voltage divider. Although the communication bus is connected to an on-vehicle battery of which voltage varies with time, by using the voltage signal of the communication bus, a 5V system ECU can generate a threshold voltage which varies responding to the variation of the battery voltage. Hence, the voltage signal can be determined correctly as either high or low level.
US08340616B2 Tracking filter for tuner
A tuner uses a bank of tracking filters to preselect a channel to be received. Each tracking filter covers a range of frequencies. The tracking filters are tunable in frequency using switched capacitors and are tunable in gain by using switched resistors. The switched resistors can be controlled by an automatic gain control circuit that monitors the selected signal and adjust the tracking filter gain to achieve a desired signal level. A switch directs the received signal or signal from a test tone generator into the tracking filters. The test tone, generated by a frequency agile circuit, can be used to calibrate the filters, both in frequency and gain.
US08340608B2 Dual-mode mobile phone and method of the same for inhibiting GSM/CDMA mutual interference
The present invention discloses a GSM/CDMA dual-mode mobile phone and method of the same for inhibiting a GC mutual interference, wherein the mobile phone comprises a dual-port antenna connected respectively with a duplexer and a GSM RF circuit and configured to access the signals of the GSM and the CDMA; a RF switch provided in the CDMA RF receiving circuit, wherein the RF switch is controlled by a GSM baseband chip and configured to cut off a CDMA signal (i.e., cutting off a receiving path of the CDMA) transmitted/received by the dual-port antenna when a GSM operational frequency and a CDMA operational frequency belong to close frequency band during a transmitting timeslot of the GSM, to enhance the isolation between a GSM signal and a CDMA signal. The present invention inhibits interference of GSM transmission with the CDMA receiving in the circuit, achieves high isolation, and also simplifies design of the antennas, lowers requirements of the double antennas on the appearance and volume of the overall machine, and improves the flexibility in the design of the dual-mode mobile phone.
US08340606B2 Doherty amplifier and transmitter using mixer
A transmitter and a signal amplifier are provided. The signal amplifier includes a digital-to-analog converter converting an input digital signal into an analog signal, a local oscillator signal generator outputting in-phase and quadrature-phase oscillator signals, a first mixer mixing the analog signal with the in-phase local oscillator signal to output an in-phase high frequency signal, a second mixer mixing the analog signal with the quadrature-phase local oscillator signal to output a quadrature-phase high frequency signal, a main amplifier amplifying the in-phase high frequency signal output from the first mixer, and an auxiliary amplifier amplifying the quadrature-phase high frequency signal output from the second mixer.
US08340590B2 Method for conducting radiated performance tests of a wireless device
A test apparatus for conducting a radiated performance test on a wireless device under controlled test conditions, the test apparatus having an anechoic chamber; a test computer; and an interface, the interface adapted to connect the test computer to the wireless device, the test apparatus being adapted to: establish a data connection on the interface between the test computer and the wireless device; initialize and start a timer for a predetermined interval on the wireless device; subject the wireless device to the radiated performance test in the anechoic chamber after the predetermined interval; and analyze test results on the test computer from a test log stored on the wireless device during the radiated performance test, wherein the interface between the test computer and the wireless device is adapted to be removed during the predetermined interval; for conducting a radiated performance test on a wireless device.
US08340583B2 Receiver circuit, electronic instrument, and signal processing method
In a portable phone, a signal received by a GPS antenna passes through a SAW filter and is amplified by an LNA. An addition section adds a cancellation signal generated by a cancellation signal generation section to the amplified signal to cancel noise superimposed on the received signal.
US08340578B2 Methods and apparatus for enhanced coexistence algorithms in wireless systems
Methods and apparatus for mitigating the effects of interference between multiple air interfaces located on an electronic device. In one embodiment, the air interfaces include a WLAN interface and PAN (e.g., Bluetooth) interface, and information such as Receiver Signal Strength Index (RSSI) as well as system noise level information are used in order to intelligently execute interference mitigation methodologies, including the selective application of modified frequency selection, variation of transmitter power, and/or change of operating mode (e.g., from multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) to single-in, single-out (SISO)) so as to reduce isolation requirements between the interfaces. These methods and apparatus are particularly well suited to use cases where the WLAN interface is operating with high data transmission rates. Business methods associated with the foregoing technology are also described.
US08340573B2 Payload system for satellites
A payload system for satellites comprising transponder devices with an input section including an uplink antenna, a low noise amplifier, and a converter, and an output section including an input filter, a high power amplifier, an output filter, and a downlink antenna. At least some of the transponders share their high power amplifiers and the high power amplifiers shared have a maximum power smaller than the total power which can be transmitted by the payload.
US08340567B2 Printing apparatus and tray control method of the same
Provided is a printing apparatus which includes a tray for setting a printing medium thereon, the printing apparatus including: a switch section which is used to perform a power-on operation or a power-off operation; a tray driving section which performs a driving operation of extracting the tray; a detection section which detects whether the printing medium exists on the tray; a control section which moves the tray to a discharge position by controlling the tray driving section in order to prompt an operation of extracting the printing medium from the tray before an initialization process ends when the printing medium is detected upon performing a power-on process; and a storage section which stores information that the control section moves the tray to the discharge position upon performing the power-on process.
US08340564B2 Sheet thickness detector and image forming apparatus using same
The sheet thickness detector includes a fixed member, a displacement roller disposed opposite the fixed member and movable in such a linear direction as to be contacted with or separated from the fixed member when the sheet passes through a nip therebetween, bearings rotatably supporting a shaft of the displacement roller, a displacement member movable in the linear direction in conjunction with the displacement roller and integrated with at least one of the bearings, and a displacement sensor operatively connected to the displacement member and detecting displacement of the displacement member. The thickness of the sheet passing through the nip is determined based on the amount of displacement of the displacement member.
US08340558B2 Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus is provided with: an intermediate transfer belt that has a hard layer formed on a surface thereof and supports a toner image that has been primarily transferred on the hard layer from a latent-image supporting member; and a secondary transfer roller that is pressed onto the intermediate transfer belt supporting the toner image with an image-recording medium being interposed therebetween, wherein a toner is supplied to a non-image area 17 in the contact area 16 of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 3 with the image-recording medium at a rate of 0.01 to 0.20 g/m2.
US08340555B2 Toner supply container and image forming apparatus
A toner supply container has a container body and a conveyance member rotatably arranged inside the container body and which conveys toner toward a discharge opening of the container body when driven to rotate by external force. The conveyance member includes a cylindrical rotary body and a screw blade member wound around the cylindrical rotary body so that the screw blade member stands on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical rotary body. The inner surface of a bottom wall of the container body includes a cylindrically curved surface identical to a part of a circumferential surface of an imaginary cylinder whose axis is substantially the same as a rotation axis of the conveyance member. A curvature radius of the cylindrically curved surface is set so the conveyance member rotates in a state where an outer circumferential edge of the screw blade member substantially slides on the cylindrically curved surface.
US08340544B2 Printing apparatus and control method wherein a maintenance temperature is determined based on preset temperatures
A printing apparatus includes a memory used for storing a preset temperature value indicating a preset temperature of a heating portion controlled by a CPU when print processing including transfer processing and fixing processing is performed in association with a plurality of types of sheets that are usable by the printing apparatus. The CPU of the printing apparatus calculates a maintenance temperature value, which is a temperature value to be maintained by the heating portion when the print processing is not performed, based on a plurality of preset temperature values that are set in association with the plurality of types of sheets, and controls the temperature of the heating portion to become equal to the maintenance temperature value.
US08340537B2 Image forming apparatus and method of compensating for printing quality of the image forming apparatus
A method of compensating for printing quality of an image forming apparatus includes determining a pattern to be printed as a first pattern which is a default pattern and a second pattern obtained by changing the first pattern according to a toner stress index that represents a deteriorated degree of remaining toner, and printing the determined pattern with the remaining toner.
US08340521B2 Optical transmission system
An optical transmission system is provided. The optical transmission system includes a user side optical repeater device, a central office side optical repeater device, and wavelength multiplexing and wavelength de-multiplexing functions. The user side optical repeater device is to be connected with a user side optical network unit, transmits data in two ways, and is used for wavelength division multiplexing. The central office side optical repeater device is to be connected with a central office side optical line terminal, transmits data in two ways, and is used for wavelength division multiplexing. The wavelength multiplexing and wavelength de-multiplexing functions are used for relaying between the user side optical repeater device and the central office side optical repeater device.
US08340519B2 Passive optical network comprising an optical burst mode receiver
A passive optical network is disclosed that enables burst mode operation without some of the disadvantages for doing so in the prior art. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a receiver that receives optical signals from transmitters of a plurality of optical network units. For each transmission from an optical network unit, the receiver provides an output signal based on a comparison of the optical signal and a reference voltage that is specific to that optical network unit. A digital-to-analog converter generates the reference voltage in a data rate-independent manner based on information provided to it from the control plane.
US08340515B2 Method and system for monitoring optical dispersion in an optical signal
A method is provided for dispersion compensation of an optical signal communicated in an optical network. The method may include receiving an optical signal comprising a plurality of channels. The method may further include filtering at least one channel from the plurality of channels. The method may also include analyzing the at least one channel of the plurality of channels to measure optical dispersion in the at least one channel. The method may additionally include compensating for optical dispersion based on the measured dispersion.
US08340510B2 Implementing channel start and file seek for decoder
A video bit stream with pictures comprising inter-coded content can be decoded upon receiving a channel start or file seek instruction. Pictures for beginning decoding and display of the bit stream can be selected based at least in part on one or more tuning parameters that set a preference between a latency of beginning to display video and possible defects in the displayed video. In some embodiments, to implement decoding upon a channel start or file seek, one or more types of data are generated for one or more pictures. For example, picture order counts are generated for pictures after a channel start or file seek operation. As another example, a decoder generates a frame number value that triggers re-initialization of a reference picture buffer before decoding after a channel start or file seek operation.
US08340502B2 Movie reproducing apparatus and method
If a movie reproducing apparatus detects an error during reproduction of encoded movie data, based on management information that includes a recording position of an intra-picture coded picture included in the encoded movie data, the movie reproducing apparatus determines a position used when the error is recovered by searching for an intra-picture coded picture subsequent to a frame including data with the error as well as updates elapsed time information to be displayed based on a frame number of the searched intra-picture coded picture at the time the error is recovered.
US08340501B2 Input-output circuit, recording apparatus and reproduction apparatus for digital video signal
A video signal input-output circuit and a recording-reproduction apparatus in which a digitally compressed video signal input in packet form can be recorded and reproduced efficiently and in stable fashion. In this apparatus, a clock reference is detected from a packet signal containing the clock reference and a digitally compressed video signal, a time stamp for a packet is generated using a clock signal in phase with the clock reference and added to the particular packet, and the packet signals with the time stamp added thereto are recorded closely to each other in a data storage element such as a magnetic recording medium. At playback, the packet interval is output by being restored to the original length on the basis of the time stamp added to the packet in store.
US08340497B2 Recording apparatus, recording method, reproducing apparatus, reproducing method, and program
Disclosed is a recording apparatus to record data in a recording medium. The apparatus includes: an input portion to input moving picture data; an encode portion to encode the moving picture data input by the input portion; a storage portion which uses a first storage area to store frame image data, i.e., data for any frame image contained in the moving picture data encoded by the encode portion and uses a second storage area to store the moving picture data except the frame image data; a recording portion to record the moving picture data stored by the storage portion in the recording medium; a decode portion to decode the moving pictured at a encoded by the encode portion; and a thumbnail image generation portion to generate a thumbnail image based on the frame image data.
US08340496B2 Playback apparatus, playback method, program, program storage medium, data structure, and recording-medium manufacturing method
The present invention relates to a playback apparatus and a playback method which allow setting of picture-in-picture display, a program, a program storage medium, a data structure, and a recording-medium manufacturing method. Pip_metadata states information required for the picture-in-picture display. Pip_horizotal_position indicates, on the frame of a primary video, an X coordinate at the upper left corner of a sub display screen on which a secondary video is displayed. Pip_vertical_position indicates, on the frame of the primary video, a Y coordinate at the upper left corner of the sub display screen on which the secondary video is displayed. Pip_scale states information indicating the size of the sub display screen on which the secondary video is displayed. For example, pip_scale states the size ratio of the secondary video to the primary video, the scale ratio of the secondary video to its original image, or information indicating how many pixels is included in the sub display screen in each of the vertical direction and horizontal direction. The present invention is applicable to playback apparatuses.
US08340490B2 Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays
An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining open rearward cable connections and open forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. The adapters being arranged in arrays that slide independently of other adapter arrays to provide access to the open rearward and open forward cable connections.
US08340487B2 Rare earth-doped core optical fiber and manufacturing method thereof
A rare earth-doped core optical fiber of the present invention includes a core comprising a silica glass containing at least aluminum and ytterbium, and a clad provided around the core and comprising a silica glass having a lower refraction index than that of the core, wherein the core has an aluminum concentration of 2% by mass or more, and ytterbium is doped into the core at such a concentration that the absorption band which appears around a wavelength of 976 nm in the absorption band by ytterbium contained in the core shows a peak absorption coefficient of 800 dB/m or less.
US08340485B2 Laser-shaped optical fibers along with optical assemblies and methods therefor
Disclosed are optical assemblies such as field-installable connectors having a laser-shaped optical fiber along with methods for laser-shaping the optical fiber. The field-installable connector includes a ferrule having front and rear opposed faces and at least one fiber bore defined longitudinally therethrough, a stub optical fiber having a distal end with a laser-shaped end face is disposed within the at least one fiber bore of the ferrule and extends a predetermined distance beyond the rear face of the ferrule, and an alignment feature operable for aligning the stub optical fiber with the field optical fiber. One method of laser-shaping the optical fiber includes rotating the optical fiber and sweeping a beam of a laser across the optical fiber and then essentially stopping the rotation of the optical fiber and sweeping the beam through the optical fiber to cut the same with a tapered and angled end face. Other methods may include shifting the laser relative to the optical fiber to create a “pencil-tip” end on the optical fiber.
US08340480B2 Opto-electrical hybrid wiring board and method for manufacturing the same
An opto-electrical hybrid wiring board is formed with a flexible wiring board; a first rigid wiring board and second rigid wiring board connected to each other by the flexible wiring board; a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, one of which is arranged on the first rigid wiring board and the other on the second rigid wiring board; and a flexible optical waveguide for optically connecting the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element. One end of the flexible wiring board is inserted in and supported by the first rigid wiring board, and the other end is inserted in and supported by the second rigid wiring board; the rigid wiring boards and flexible wiring board are electrically connected to each other by using vias to connect the wiring of the first and second rigid wiring boards and the wiring of the flexible wiring board at the inserted portions.
US08340479B2 Electro-optic modulator with inverse tapered waveguides
An integrated circuit that includes an optical waveguide to convey an optical signal via an optical mode in an on-chip optical waveguide is described. In this integrated circuit, a cross-sectional area of the optical waveguide may be tapered in proximity to an electro-optic modulator in the integrated circuit, such as a germanium electro-optic modulator or a quantum-well (QW) electro-optic modulator. In particular, the cross-sectional area may be tapered from a first diameter distal from the electro-optic modulator to a second diameter proximate to the electro-optic modulator. This so-called ‘inverse taper’ may increase the spatial extent or size of the optical mode, thereby allowing the optical signal to be optically coupled to or from the electro-optic modulator with low optical loss.
US08340477B2 Device with automatic image capture
In some embodiments, provided are methods and reading devices with image capture capabilities for efficiently capturing multiple images.
US08340476B2 Electronic acquisition of a hand formed expression and a context of the expression
Embodiments include an apparatus, device, method, and computer program product. In an embodiment, a device includes a handheld writing device that includes a writing element, and a writing detector module operable to generate information indicative of a handwriting movement of the writing element. The device also includes a context detector module operable to generate information indicative of a content portion of a document proximate to the handwriting movement of the writing element.
US08340465B2 Device, method and program for processing image
Disclosed herein is a device for processing a moving image, the device including: a selection unit which selects an image group composed of a plurality of still images including a target image from the moving image, according to specified information for specifying the target image among the plurality of still images included in the moving image; an acquisition unit which performs an acquisition process of acquiring the plurality of still images included in the image group from the moving image; and a synthesis unit which performs a synthesis process of synthesizing the plurality of acquired still images and generating a high-resolution image of the target image having a pixel density higher than that of the target image, wherein the selection unit has a function for performing selection by a first mode for selecting the target image and a still image which is located behind the target image in time-series order.
US08340464B2 Image processing method and image processing device
In a device for combining a plurality of images having a same photograph range, a position shift between the images having the same photograph range is detected, and the position shift of the images is corrected, and after the position shift is corrected, similarity of the respective portions between the images is evaluated, and the image combining method is changed according to the similarity evaluation. Therefore it is possible to create an image having no position shift due to the shaking of a camera and object blurring due to the movement of the object. Moreover, whether the images are combined or not is determined according to the similarity, hence the processing load is reduced and an image having no object blurring can be created.
US08340462B1 Pixel mapping using a lookup table and linear approximation
A forward interpolation approach is disclosed for enabling a second version of an image to be constructed from a first version of the image. According to one implementation, pixels from the first version of the image are mapped to pixels in the second version of the image, and pixel values are determined for the corresponding pixels in the second version of the image. In one implementation, the pixel mapping is performed using a lookup table and linear approximation. Performing the pixel mapping in this manner enables computations to be simplified and cost and gate count to be reduced.
US08340460B2 Estimating an offset image of a new imaging device from the offset image of an aged imaging device
The present invention relates to methods and systems for improving image quality of imaging devices such as image detectors, and preferably of flat panel detectors such as amorphous silicon flat panel detectors, for example used in radiotherapy. The invention also relates to the improving of life span of used or aged detectors.
US08340457B2 Image analysis method, image analysis program and pixel evaluation system having the sames
The present invention provides an image analysis method and an image analysis program having a feature of carrying out a panel display quality evaluation at low cost and short time with relieved influence of moire by treating a value, which is obtained by recognizing a coordinate of a panel pixel in a shot image based on an image for detecting a coordinate and positional information thereof with high accuracy and by calculating average luminance by panel pixel unit based on a center position of a coordinate, as representative luminance in each pixel of the panel, in a panel evaluation method of shooting an image display panel with a digital camera.
US08340455B2 Systems and methods for performing Gabor-domain optical coherence microscopy
In one embodiment, imaging a medium under evaluation includes generating acquired images of the medium, each acquired image comprising a cross-sectional image along a lateral and a depth direction of the medium that results from scanning the medium at a different depths, filtering each acquired image to remove out-of-focus portions of the images and generate filtered images, and merging the filtered images to form a high-resolution fused image.
US08340452B2 Automatic generation of a photo guide
An apparatus, method and an image quality guide document are disclosed. The method includes, for at least one image in a set of images undergoing image enhancement, identifying image quality-related features for the image based on enhancements being applied to the image, identifying image content-related features based on content of the image, determining a content-based degradation of the image based on the identified image quality-related features and image content-related features, and generating a thumbnail of the image. The method further includes generating an image quality guide document for the set of images in which at least one of the thumbnails is associated with a respective text description that is based on the determined content-based degradation.
US08340449B1 Three-dimensional wavelet based video fingerprinting
A method and system generates and compares fingerprints for videos in a video library. The video fingerprints provide a compact representation of the spatial and sequential characteristics of the video that can be used to quickly and efficiently identify video content. Because the fingerprints are based on spatial and sequential characteristics rather than exact bit sequences, visual content of videos can be effectively compared even when there are small differences between the videos in compression factors, source resolutions, start and stop times, frame rates, and so on. Comparison of video fingerprints can be used, for example, to search for and remove copyright protected videos from a video library. Further, duplicate videos can be detected and discarded in order to preserve storage space.
US08340448B2 Locally variable quantization and hybrid variable length coding for image and video compression
A coding method, apparatus, and storage media with instructions to carry out a method. The method operates on an ordered series of transform coefficients of a block of image data, and for a fixed quantization method, and includes quantizing and encoding the ordered series to form a coded bitstream. The quantizing and encoding uses one or more variable length code (VLC) mappings. The quantizing includes quantizing to have amplitude-1 at least one coefficient that would be quantized by the fixed quantization method to have zero amplitude, quantizing to have zero amplitude at least one coefficient that would be quantized by the fixed quantization method to have amplitude-1, and using the fixed quantization method to quantize any coefficient that is quantized by the fixed quantization method not to have zero amplitude, amplitude-1, or amplitude-2.
US08340446B2 Apparatus and method for generating chain code
Disclosed are a chain code generating apparatus and a method thereof. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the chain code generating apparatus can include an image input unit, receiving an image signal from a camera and converting the received image signal to a digital image signal, and separating a synchronizing signal from the digital image signal and outputting the synchronizing signal; an image storing unit, storing image data corresponding to an active image section of the digital image signal in units of frame based on the synchronizing signal; and a code generating unit, reading the image data stored in the image storing unit and performing an outline search of the analysis portion, and generating a chain code according to a correlation between adjacent pixels forming an outline of the analysis portion in accordance with the searched result.
US08340437B2 Methods and systems for determining optimal features for classifying patterns or objects in images
Provided are methods for determining optimal features for classifying patterns or objects. Also provided are methods for image analysis. Further provided are methods for image searching.
US08340432B2 Systems and methods for detecting a tilt angle from a depth image
A depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. A human target in the depth image may then be scanned for one or more body parts such as shoulders, hips, knees, or the like. A tilt angle may then be calculated based on the body parts. For example, a first portion of pixels associated with an upper body part such as the shoulders and a second portion of pixels associated with a lower body part such as a midpoint between the hips and knees may be selected. The tilt angle may then be calculated using the first and second portions of pixels.
US08340425B2 Optical character recognition with two-pass zoning
An image of a paginated document is zoned to identify text zones. First-pass character recognition is performed on the text zones to generate textual content corresponding to the paginated document. The image of the paginated document is re-zoned based on the textual content to identify one or more new text zones. Second-pass character recognition is performed on at least the new text zones to generate updated textual content corresponding to the paginated document.
US08340422B2 Generation of depth map for an image
An image processing unit comprises a first processing unit (101) which generates a depth indication map for an image. The depth indication map may be, for example, an image object separation mask or a predetermined depth profile or background depth map. A second processing unit (103) generates a modified depth indication map by filtering the depth indication map in response to image characteristics of the image. The image adaptive filtering may, for example, provide a more accurate separation mask and/or may modify the predetermined depth profile to reflect the specific image. A third processing unit (105) generates an image depth map for the image in response to the modified depth indication map. The image depth map comprises data representing a depth of at least one image region of the image. The invention leads to the generation of an improved depth map for an image.
US08340416B2 Techniques for robust color transfer
Techniques and systems to transfer color robustly between images are described. In an embodiment, a technique for transferring color includes separating color information of a registered source image into a one dimensional luminosity channel and multi-dimensional chromatic channels. The technique further includes building a voting table, where each table cell is indexed by the chromatic coordinates from the source image and from the destination image. The table is built by adding to a count stored in a table cell indexed by the chromatic coordinates of the source pixel and the chromatic coordinates of its related destination pixel for each occurrence of such a pairing. The voting table values are used to identify a transfer color, and to adjust the colors of the source image to the colors of the destination image. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08340415B2 Generation of multi-resolution image pyramids
Embodiments are described for a system and method for generating a multi-resolution image pyramid. The method can include obtaining an image captured as a coarse image of a defined subject and a fine image of the defined subject. The fine image can be downsampled to create a temporary image. A further operation is applying a structure transfer operation to the temporary image to transfer color detail from the coarse image. The structure transfer takes place while retaining structural detail from the temporary image. A blending operation can be applied between the temporary image and the fine image to construct an intermediate image for at least one intermediate level in the multi-resolution image pyramid between the fine image and the coarse image.
US08340404B2 Image processing device and method, learning device and method, program, and recording medium
An image processing device includes: a smoothing section configured to extract a smoothing tap and smooth a target image on the basis of pixel values within the tap, the smoothing tap being of variable size and including plural pixels centered on each target pixel of the image; a class tap extracting section configured to extract a class tap including plural pixels centered on each target pixel in the smoothed image; a class code determining section configured to generate a code corresponding to a characteristic of variation of pixel values within the class tap, and determine a class code including a size of the smoothing tap and the code; and a pixel value computing section configured to read tap coefficients corresponding to the determined class code, and multiply pixel values forming a prediction tap extracted from the smoothed image, by the tap coefficients to calculate pixel values of a processed image.
US08340400B2 Systems and methods for extracting planar features, matching the planar features, and estimating motion from the planar features
A method of controlling an actuator based on a set of three-dimensional (3D) data points is provided. The method includes obtaining a first set of 3D data points for a scene and a second set of 3D data points for a scene with a sensor. At least a first set of planar features is extracted from the first set of 3D data point. At least a second set of planar features is extracted from the second set of 3D data points. A motion is determined between the first set of 3D data points and the second set of 3D data points based on a rotation and a translation from the at least a first set to the at least a second set. At least one actuator is controlled based on the motion.
US08340395B2 Defect inspection method and apparatus therefor
The invention relates to a defect inspection apparatus in which images of mutually corresponding areas in identically formed patterns on a sample are compared to detect mismatched portions of the images as defects. The defect inspection apparatus includes an image comparator that creates a feature space with the use of feature quantities calculated from pixels of images acquired under different optical conditions and detects outlier values in the feature space as defects. Thus, the defect inspection apparatus can detect various defects with high sensitivity even if there are luminance differences between images of identical patterns which are attributable to the difference in wafer pattern thickness.
US08340392B2 Medicine packet inspecting apparatus
A medicine packet inspecting apparatus is disclosed. The medicine packet inspecting apparatus includes a transfer conveyer installed on the upper surface of a main body to transfer medicine packets to one side of the main body, a tablet spreading unit installed on the upper surface of the transfer conveyer to uniformly spread tablets within the medicine packets, an image reading unit to capture the upper surfaces of the medicine packets with a camera and to judge whether or not the tablets are defective through comparison of the captured images with information regarding a prescription and the tablets stored in a data storage unit, and a making unit to mark a defective sign on medicine packets if the tablets within the medicine packets are judged to be defective.
US08340378B2 Ribcage segmentation
A technique for segmenting a ribcage, e.g., in a chest radiograph, may involve determining whether or not the top of the image cuts through the lungs. The process may then proceed to segment the top and the sides of the ribcage. A dynamic programming technique may be used to perform the segmentation.
US08340377B2 Method for energy calculation and pileup determination for continuously sampled nuclear pulse processing
A method for processing events in a medical imaging device may comprise the steps of receiving analog signals from at least one PMT into an Applied Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) comprising a Constant Fraction Discriminator (CFD) and transmitting analog outputs from the ASIC. Further, sampling the analog outputs continuously using an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) and transmitting digital outputs; and collecting a number of samples of the digital output during a sampling period using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) when triggered by the CFD. The method may additionally determine the energy of the analog signals from the at lease one PMT by subtracting the peak value of each signal from the baseline value of each signal, wherein the peak value is determined as an average of at least one sample taken only around the peak during the sampling period, and the baseline value is determined as an average of at least one sample taken only around the beginning or end of the sampling period.
US08340373B2 Quantitative image reconstruction method and system
A technique is provided for generating quantitative projection images from projection images. The pixels of the quantitative projection images correspond to quantitative composition estimates of two or more materials. The quantitative projection images are reconstructed to generate a quantitative volume in which each voxel value corresponds quantitatively to the two or more materials or a mixture of the two or more materials.
US08340372B2 Image analysis
A method for the automated analysis of digital images, particularly for the purpose of assessing mitotic activity from images of histological slides for prognostication of breast cancer. The method includes the steps of identifying the locations of objects within the image which have intensity and size characteristics consistent with mitotic epithelial cell nuclei, taking the darkest 10% of those objects, deriving contours indicating their boundary shape, and smoothing and measuring the curvature around the boundaries using a Probability Density Association Filter (PDAF). The PDAF output is used to compute a measure of any concavity of the boundary—a good indicator of mitosis. Objects are finally classified as representing mitotic nuclei or not, as a function of boundary concavity and mean intensity, by use of a Fisher classifier trained on known examples.
US08340368B2 Face detection system
The present invention relates to a face detection system for a vehicle. At least one first lighting unit is configured to radiate infrared light onto a left side of a driver's face. At least one second lighting unit is configured to radiate infrared light onto a right side of the driver's face. An image capturing unit separately captures the driver's face onto which the infrared light is radiated from the first and second lighting units. A control unit acquires left and right images of the face from the image capturing unit, and obtains a difference image between the acquired left and right images, thus determining whether the driver is inattentive in looking ahead. The system stably performs the face detection function with no or less effect by external optical environments as well as reduced computational load.
US08340366B2 Face recognition system
A face recognition system includes: an image input section that acquires a facial image of a user; a database in which a feature value of a part of a face of a registered person is stored; a facial position detection section that detects a position of a part of a face from the facial image of the user; a feature value extraction section that extracts a feature value of the part of the face; and a recognition section that recognizes the user by comparing the feature value of the part of the face which is extracted by the feature value extraction section with the feature value of the part of the face of the registered person stored in the database, in which the user selects the part of the face from which the feature value is extracted.
US08340363B2 System and method for efficient interpretation of images in terms of objects and their parts
The present application is a method and system of interpreting an image by finding a configuration of multiple variables which optimizes an objective function with a factorizable upper bound, by applying an iterative algorithm that relies on efficient dynamic ordering of candidate configurations, in a priority queue, in a descending order of an upper bound score. As an example, consider a constellation model for an object. It specifies the appearance models for individual parts of objects, as well as spatial relations among these parts. These are combined into a single function whose value represents the likeness of the object in an image. To find the configuration in which the object is present in the image, we maximize this function over all candidate configurations. The purpose of the iterative algorithm mentioned above is to find such optimal configurations efficiently.
US08340356B2 Method for producing a known fixed spatial relationship between a laser scanner and a digital camera for traffic monitoring
Method for producing a known fixed spatial relationship between a laser scanner and a digital camera for monitoring traffic, wherein the laser scanner axis and the optical axis of the digital camera are aligned relative to one another only roughly, and the spatial relationship between a scanner coordinate system (1) defined by the position of the laser scanner and orientation of the laser scanner axis and a camera coordinate system (3) defined by the position of the digital camera and orientation of the optical axis of the digital camera is calculated computationally based on the measured values and the image of a vehicle driving through the monitoring area.
US08340355B2 Three-dimensional measurement instrument, image pick-up apparatus and adjusting method for such an image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus is provided with cameras and string-shaped members. The user is allowed to know working distances based upon the lengths of the string-shaped members. The optical axis direction of the camera is adjusted so that the leading edge of the string-shaped member is included in the viewing field of the camera, and the optical axis direction of the camera is adjusted so that the leading edge of the string-shaped member is included in the viewing field of the camera. Even in the case when no image-pickup object is present, by presuming the position of the image-pickup portion of the object, the working distance from the presumed position can be found by the string-shaped member. Moreover, since the string-shaped members are coupled to each other at the image-pickup position, the directions of the optical axes of the cameras can be determined based upon the extending directions of the string members.
US08340352B2 Inter-trajectory anomaly detection using adaptive voting experts in a video surveillance system
A sequence layer in a machine-learning engine configured to learn from the observations of a computer vision engine. In one embodiment, the machine-learning engine uses the voting experts to segment adaptive resonance theory (ART) network label sequences for different objects observed in a scene. The sequence layer may be configured to observe the ART label sequences and incrementally build, update, and trim, and reorganize an ngram trie for those label sequences. The sequence layer computes the entropies for the nodes in the ngram trie and determines a sliding window length and vote count parameters. Once determined, the sequence layer may segment newly observed sequences to estimate the primitive events observed in the scene as well as issue alerts for inter-sequence and intra-sequence anomalies.
US08340351B2 Method and apparatus for eliminating unwanted objects from a streaming image
A method and apparatus for eliminating unwanted objects in a streaming image. The method includes recognizing unwanted objects in a streaming image and eliminating the recognized unwanted objects from the streaming image.
US08340347B2 Information processing apparatus and information processing method
This invention provides a technique of preventing determination of image alteration when digital image data has undergone, e.g., rotation without any substantial change in contents. To do this, an area separation processing unit separates image data into areas. For each of the separated areas, an area feature value calculator calculates an area feature value independent of the coordinate information of the image. An area order sorter sorts the separated areas in accordance with the calculated area feature values. A validation data generation processing unit generates validation data based on the sort result.
US08340345B2 Thermal and short wavelength infrared identification systems
A method and apparatus for preventing fratricide including an emitter that emits a signaling code at a wavelength, the signaling code representing a coded message; a receiver that captures an image of a field of view including the emitter and generates image information corresponding to the captured image; a translation system that: receives the image information, and decodes the coded message from the image information; and a output device that outputs the decoded message.
US08340338B2 Adjustable shape earphone
This disclosure relates to an adjustable ear insert, such as an earbud style earphone, that may be inserted in a user's ear canal in a compact configuration and adjusted by a user to expand and fit snugly against the ear canal.
US08340335B1 Hearing device with semipermanent canal receiver module
A modular canal hearing device having a speaker module placed in the bony region for extended wear while a main module is removably inserted in the cartilaginous region. The main module wirelessly activates the speaker module when placed in proximity thereto. The main module is removed daily or as needed for maintenance of the hearing device such as for battery replacement. The speaker module remains undisturbed in the bony region to avoid skin friction. The main module contains the microphone, electronics, battery and in the preferred embodiment an inductive coupling coil for inductively sending audio signals to the receiver module. The modular design allows for a highly miniaturized design that is easier to navigate in the ear canal for improved fit and sound fidelity at the eardrum while allowing easy maintenance of a removable module.
US08340330B2 Audio apparatus for wirelessly transmitting audio signal, audio system, and audio signal transmission method thereof
An audio apparatus includes a main unit to extract audio signals for at least two channels from a multichannel audio signal; and a transmitter to wirelessly transmit at least one audio signal of the extracted audio signals to a first receiver, and to wirelessly transmit at least one other audio signal of the extracted audio signals to a second receiver.
US08340327B2 Home theater
An acoustical window assembly for a vehicle includes a transparent glass window panel and mounting portions for mounting respective perimeter regions of the window panel to a vehicle structure. A first mounting portion substantially fixedly mounts a first perimeter region of the window panel relative to the vehicle structure, while a second mounting portion mounts a second perimeter region of the window panel to the vehicle structure and includes a flexible element to allow for movement of the second perimeter region of the window panel toward and away from the vehicle structure. An actuating assembly is positioned at an actuating region of the window panel and has a substantially rigid interface element that engages the actuating region of the window panel. The actuating assembly is operable to vibrate the window panel via vibration of the substantially rigid interface element relative to the vehicle structure.
US08340318B2 Methods and systems for measuring performance of a noise cancellation system
A method for measuring performance of a noise cancellation system that is operable to cancel noise is provided. The method includes generating a first model of a target noise. The first model represents the target noise in a form that is received at a location remote from a noise source of the target noise and within a defined environment. The method also includes generating a second model of a cancellation noise. The cancellation noise is configured to at least partially cancel the target noise when combined with the target noise. The second model represents the cancellation noise in a form that is received at the location. The method also includes determining, using the first model and the second model, a cancellation error value indicative of only a portion of the target noise that remains when the target noise and the cancellation noise are combined. The method also includes transmitting the determined cancellation error value to a module operable to monitor a performance level of the noise cancellation system.
US08340307B2 Passive sound pressure level limiter
A passive sound pressure level (SPL) limiter is provided that can be used with audio sources of varying drive levels and headsets, earbuds, etc. of varying sensitivity. The SPL limiter includes a control circuit that includes a rectifier and, in most configurations, a step-up transformer. The SPL limiter also includes a limiting circuit that utilizes a transistor to shunt current from the audio source in proportion to a control signal output by the control circuit. The control circuit may further include a low pass filter, for example an RC filter, and one or more fast limit diode paths. The limiting circuit may further include a feedback network to increase the linear behavior of the limiting circuit.
US08340303B2 Method and apparatus to generate spatial stereo sound
A method of processing a 2-channel stereo sound signal into a spatial stereo sound includes generating stereo signals of first and second channels from a first input channel signal and a second input channel signal by applying a time difference of times taken for each channel signal to arrive at two ears, and a sound pressure difference formed between the two ears and varying with respect to a frequency band or constant, to each of the first and second input channel signals, generating a center channel of the first and second channel by adding the first and second input channel signals, generating a surround signal of the first channel by subtracting one of the first and second input channel signals, from the other one of the first and second input channel signals, and generating a surround signal of the second channel by making the surround signal of the first channel out of phase, generating a plurality of reflected sounds from the generated surround signals, and applying the time difference and the sound pressure difference to each reflected sound, processing reflected signals of the first and second channels from the reflected sounds, and adding the generated signals of the first channel and adding the generated signals of the second channel.
US08340298B2 Key management and user authentication for quantum cryptography networks
Key management and user authentication systems and methods for quantum cryptography networks that allow for users securely communicate over a traditional communication link (TC-link). The method includes securely linking a centralized quantum key certificate authority (QKCA) to each network user via respective secure quantum links or “Q-links” that encrypt and decrypt data based on quantum keys (“Q-keys”). When two users (Alice and Bob) wish to communicate, the QKCA sends a set of true random bits (R) to each user over the respective Q-links. They then use R as a key to encode and decode data they send to each other over the TC-link.
US08340297B2 Method and apparatus for efficiently providing location of contents encryption key
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for efficiently providing a location of a contents encryption key. A method of efficiently providing a location of a contents encryption key according to an embodiment of the present invention includes generating metadata containing information regarding a location of a contents encryption key in a rights object, and setting the generated metadata and the rights object in a portable storage device.
US08340296B2 Method and system for registering and verifying smart card certificate for users moving between public key infrastructure domains
Disclosed herein is a method and system for registering and verifying a smart card certificate for users moving between public key infrastructure domains, which allows a user moving between domains to have a smart card certified in a terminal located in an external domain other than a home domain. According to the present invention, when a user wants his/her own smart card to be certified in a terminal of an external domain, a certification authority of the external domain can certify the smart card using a certificate stored in the smart card and signed electronically by a certification authority of a home domain. Additionally, a new certificate issued by the certification authority of the external domain is stored in the certified smart card, so that a certificate of the moving user can be verified regardless of domains and a new certificate of a moved domain can be easily obtained.
US08340293B2 Verification system, server, and electronic instrument
The verification system of this invention comprises an image forming apparatus 1 having verification function and a card reader 2 for reading a user ID from a card. The image forming apparatus 1 is capable of performing short-range radio communication with a portable instrument 3. The portable instrument 3 receives a polling command transmitted by the image forming apparatus 1 and sends back its own identification code if it is located near the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 permits usage of all the functions thereof if it verifies that user is an officially permitted person according to user ID read by the card reader 2 and the identification code sent back from the portable instrument 3. Consequently, there is provided a verification system having a high security level and convenient for use or a verification system which permits usage of its apparatus and other related devices within an appropriate range depending on the security level of a verified method.
US08340287B2 Securing multifactor split key asymmetric crypto keys
Techniques for securing an asymmetric crypto-key having a public key and a split private key with multiple private portions are provided. A first one of multiple factors is stored. All of the factors are under the control of a user and all are required to generate a first private portion of the split private key. The first private portion not stored in a persistent state. A second private portion of the split private key under control of an entity other than the user is also stored. The first private portion and the second private portion are combinable to form a complete private portion.
US08340282B2 Information processing apparatus
A high-security cryptanalysis-resistant cryptographic processing apparatus and a cryptographic processing method are provided. A Feistel common key block cipher is produced by repeatedly performing an SPN-type F-function including a nonlinear transformation part and a linear transformation part over a plurality of rounds. In each round, a linear transformation process is performed according to an F-function using a matrix determined so as to satisfy a relatively loose constraint whereby high resistance to differential attacks and/or linear attacks is achieved. The relatively loose constraint allows an increase in the number of candidates for usable matrices, and it is possible to maintain the number of active S-boxes to a sufficiently large level. This makes it possible to increase the minimum number of active S-boxes, which is one of measures indicating the degree of robustness of ciphers, and thus it is possible to realize an algorithm of encrypting data in a highly secure manner so that high resistance to attacks is achieved.
US08340279B2 Interference cancellation system
An adaptive interference cancellation system is described. In one example the system operates by receiving a data signal using a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and receiving a reference signal, the reference signal corresponding, in part, to noise on the data signal. The reference signal is classified and a noise cancellation signal is applied to the data signal based on the classification.
US08340278B2 Method and apparatus for cross-talk resistant adaptive noise canceller
A method and apparatus for cross-talk resistant adaptive noise cancellation. The method includes retrieving, via the processor, a primary signal and a reference signal, filtering the primary signal utilizing a filter H12(z) and estimating a cross-talk, filtering the reference signal utilizing a filter H21(z) and estimating the noise leakage of the reference signal, determining the difference between the noise leakage estimate from the primary signal and estimating a first post-filtering, determining the difference between the cross-talk estimate and the reference signal and estimating a second post-filtering, determining if the voice activity is detected in the primary signal, adapting filters H12 and H21 by de-correlation if the voice activity is detected, and adapting filter H12 by NLMS if the voice activity is not detected, limiting maximum filter change during different conditions for protecting filters H12 and H21 from diverging, maintaining filter stability by tracking absolute sum of the coefficients of the convolution of H12 and H21, obtaining a primary output and a reference output utilizing the first post-filtering and the second post-filtering, and utilizing the primary output and the reference output for cross-talk resistant adaptive noise cancellation.
US08340277B2 Bartering system and method for controlling position in a wait queue in a contact center
A contact center establishes a communication with a user. The communication is placed into a position in a wait queue that has other position(s) with other communication(s) that are waiting to be serviced by contact center agents. An offer is made to the user to change an amount of time to wait in the wait queue before being connected to a contact center agent. The offer can be based on a commodity such as money, frequent flyer miles, willingness to listen to an advertisement while holding, completing a survey, and the like. In response to the user accepting the offer, the position of the communication in the wait queue is changed to a different position. This allows the user to interactively adjust their wait time.
US08340273B2 Provision of telecommunication services
A device (1200) for concentration of unused subscriber lines in a telecommunications or data network comprising a first distribution matrix (104) connected to a crossover matrix (108) and a second distribution matrix (106) connected to said crossover matrix (108), wherein the crossover matrix (108) is adapted to be connected to a distribution cable (1212, 1214) and crossover switching elements for switching of connections within said crossover matrix (108) and distribution switching elements for switching of connections within said distribution matrices (104, 106) are controlled from a remote location, wherein the first distribution matrix (104) and the second distribution matrix (106) are adapted to be connected to a main cable and/or to a node for providing a plurality of telecommunications or data services (1208, 1210).
US08340263B2 System and method for incremental do-not-disturb
A system and method for incremental do-not-disturb. User input is received to activate the incremental do-not-disturb. The incremental do-not-disturb is activated for a time period in response to receiving the user input to activate the incremental do-not-disturb. The incoming calls are diverted during the time period in response to activating the incremental do-not-disturb.
US08340259B2 Method and apparatus for providing fraud detection using hot or cold originating attributes
An approach provides fraud detection in support of data communication services. A list of single-event attributes (e.g., hot or cold attributes) is generated and includes a network address of an end user host originating a data call or a calling party identification (e.g., Automatic Number Identification (ANI) or an originating Calling Line Identification (CLI)) for network access, wherein entries of the list specify values of the hot attributes. An attribute value associated with the data call is compared with the entries. A fraud alert is generated if the attribute value matches one of the entries.
US08340252B2 Surveillance device detection with countermeasures
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for detecting surveillance devices on a telephone line and deployment of countermeasures therefor. The apparatus comprises a line monitoring circuit for evaluating whether the phone is off hook or ringing. A test generation circuit produces a test signal to be injected into a line and issues test commands. A signal response analysis circuit compares a test signal response to a baseline signal response and reports an anomaly when the difference between a test signal response and a baseline signal response exceeds a threshold. Additionally, an anomaly may be reported when an unusual signal is detected, such as a clock. A detection management circuit issues countermeasures to the anomaly based on programmed responses.
US08340249B2 Real-time dosimetry system, RTDS
Real-Time Dosimetry System, RTDS, is dose measurement system consisting of an ionization chamber and electrometer with the ability to measure, record, and display the high radiation doses required to meet approved standards for sterilization of medical, industrial and food products.
US08340241B2 Image display apparatus and X-ray computed tomography apparatus
An X-ray computed tomography apparatus has an area arithmetic unit and an image processing unit. The area arithmetic unit obtains information with respect to a position of a deteriorating area appeared around an end on an acquisition range of a projection data under an influence of a cone angle. The image processing unit performs an image processing for a CT image to be discriminable the deteriorating area from an area other than the deteriorating area.
US08340237B2 Wireless communication method, wireless communication system, base station and mobile station
There is provided a wireless communication method, a wireless communication system, a base station and a mobile station which conduct wireless communication using an OFDM modulation scheme. The base station transmits a timing correction burst to the mobile station only when a correlation peak detected from a received OFDM symbol is within a predetermined timing detection range. If the timing correction burst is not introduced from the base station even after expiration of predetermined time duration, by copying a signal by a length different from a guard interval from the end of an effective symbol and adding the copied signal to the front of the effective symbol, the mobile station generates a new timing correction channel (second time), in which transmission timing of a previously generated timing correction channel is shifted.
US08340235B2 X-MIMO systems with multi-transmitters and multi-receivers
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a wireless transmission of a plurality of data streams in a wireless communication system having a plurality of nodes is disclosed. Each node has multiple antennas. The method involves receiving first and second data streams from respective first and second nodes at a receiver node, causing the receiver node to generate a receive filter for decoding each of the received data streams, and causing the receiver node to transmit receive filter information for each of the first and second data streams, the receive filter information facilitating precoding of the first and second data streams for simultaneous transmission within a common frequency band to the receiver node.
US08340233B2 Method and apparatus for combining signals at wireless receivers in the absence of channel gain estimation
Signals transmitting symbols through a multi-paths channel are received by a diversity receiver using at least two branches. The signals are combined after their processing in individual branches, minimizing combining loss of EGC receivers, minimizing BER and optimizing the performance. Processing in individual branches includes estimation of the phase changes induced by the channel at each received signal, with reference to the transmitted signal, and weighting of each signal by a co-phasing coefficient based on said estimation, so that all received signals are co-phased. An optimization step includes estimation of mean value and variance of signal to noise ratio (SNR) in each branch, using sampling techniques, and weighting the received signals by an optimization coefficient calculated from the mean value and variance. The process avoids expensive hardware for continuous estimation of instantaneous channel gains at each branch.
US08340226B2 Multiantenna receiving device
A multiantenna receiving device is provided to make it possible to cope with both improvement in error rate characteristic and simplification in structure. The multiantenna receiving device is comprised of soft judgement output units for carrying out a soft judgement of a modulation signal in accordance with signal point distances between a plurality of candidate signal points with respect to a plurality of multiplexed modulation signals and a receiving signal, decoding units for obtaining digital data of the modulation signals by using the judged results obtained by the soft judgement output units, and signal point decreasing units for decreasing the number of the candidate signal points used in the soft judgement output units by recursively using a part of the digital data except self-modulation signals obtained by the decoding units.
US08340225B2 System and method for performing blind IQ-imbalance estimation and compensation
An IQ-imbalance of a complex receiver can be corrected by compensating the in-phase signal component and the quadrature-phase signal component produced by the complex receiver for an IQ-imbalance estimated by analyzing the in-phase signal component and the quadrature-phase signal component. A carrier signal can be received at the complex receiver. An in-phase signal component and a quadrature-phase signal component can be generated from the carrier signal. The generated in-phase signal component and the generated quadrature-phase signal component can be analyzed to estimate an IQ-imbalance. Based on the estimated IQ-imbalance, the in-phase signal component and quadrature-phase signal component can be compensated to correct the IQ-imbalance.
US08340219B2 Receiver and receiving method for scalable bandwith
Provided are a receiver and a receiving method for a scalable bandwidth in a mobile station of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system. The receiving method includes the steps of: (a) filtering a received RF signal; (b) oscillating a frequency according to a center frequency control signal to output a local oscillation frequency; (c) down-converting the filtered RF signal by using the local oscillation frequency; (d) scalable-filtering the down-converted signal while adjusting a bandwidth according to a bandwidth control signal; (e) controlling gain of the scalable-filtered signal; (f) converting the gain-controlled analog signal into a digital signal by using a sampling frequency matching with a corresponding bandwidth according to an ADC control signal; and (g) demodulating the converted digital signal, outputting the center frequency control signal, the bandwidth control signal, and the ADC control signal according to control information received from an upper layer.
US08340215B2 Radio transceiver architectures and methods
A radio communications device 100 including a processor 120 having a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to a transceiver 110. The transceiver includes a digital-to-phase synthesizer having one or more independently variable frequency or phase signal outputs coupled to a transmitter and/or to a receiver. The variable frequency and phase outputs of the digital-to phase synthesizer are mixed with corresponding received signals and are capable of frequency or phase modulating information signals for transmission. Amplitude modulated signals may be provided through polar modulation by combining synthesizer outputs at a summer.
US08340211B2 Methods and apparatus to encode bandwidth request message
A subscriber station is capable of encoding a bandwidth request message. The subscriber station includes a controller and a transmitter coupled to the controller. The transmitter includes a linear channel encoder and a Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation block. The channel encoder uses a generator matrix comprising alphabets from Galois field (GF) (2). Each column of the generator matrix belongs to a twelve dimensional subspace and wherein the code generated using the generator matrix has a minimum hamming distance no greater than thirty.
US08340205B2 Method and apparatus for correcting linear error phase of an OFDM signal
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for correcting linear error phase of an OFDM signal. The method includes a step of offsetting a rotation corresponding to a back-off value of the signal. The apparatus of the present invention includes a correction module for offsetting the rotation of the signal corresponding to the back-off value.
US08340204B2 Soft decision enhancement
A Viterbi trellis processing technique in which soft decisions and hard decisions are derived from a received signal and the soft decisions are enhanced by being modified using the hard decisions. A log likelihood ratio for a bit of the received signal can be derived by grouping candidate metrics associated with the decision that the bit has a first state, grouping candidate metrics associated with the decision that the bit has a second state, applying respective functions to the groups and calculating the difference of the function values.
US08340201B2 Wireless communication system with multiple transmission antennas using pilot subcarrier allocation
A method of allocating pilot subcarriers in a resource block for a wideband wireless mobile communication system with multiple transmission antennas using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation is disclosed. In this method, pilot subcarriers are allocated to the resource block comprised of five (5) or seven (7) OFDM symbols so that only four (4) OFDM symbols of the resource block are allocated for pilot subcarriers.
US08340198B2 Preprocessing method, base station, and system for cooperative communication
A preprocessing method for cooperative communication and a base station and a system for executing the method are provided. The method includes: obtaining a common base station group from a cooperative base station group of a user terminal, in which the common base station group includes a set of base stations providing a cooperative service for other user terminals in the cooperative base station group; and calculating a first precoding matrix of the user terminal according to the common base station group, in which the first precoding matrix is used to perform elimination preprocessing on interference from the user to other user terminals served by the common base station group. The method reduces Multi-User Interference (MUI).
US08340194B2 High-yield multi-threading method and apparatus for video encoders/transcoders/decoders with dynamic video reordering and multi-level video coding dependency management
Disclosed is an exemplary video coder and video coding method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The exemplary video coder includes a scheduler, a plurality of processors and a multiplexer. The scheduler can examine processing units in an input buffer to determine an order for the processing unit to be coded by a processor. If the processing unit under examination depends on a processing unit not yet processed, the processing unit under examination can be merged with other processing units, if any, that share a similar dependency. If the processing unit under examination does not depend on any processing units not yet processed, it can be sent to a next available processor for coding. When a processing unit is sent to a processor, any merged processing units that depend on sent processing unit can also be sent to a next available processor.
US08340192B2 Wyner-Ziv coding with multiple side information
A Wyner-Ziv coding scheme jointly utilizes multiple side information at the decoder is described. A new probability model is introduced based on an extended turbo decoding trellis, so that the transitional probability is calculated from the probabilities conditioned on multiple side information. The proposed scheme handles multiple side information in a multi-dimensional manner to potentially achieve coding performance better than either selecting one side information or generating a single side information by averaging several side information. When the decoder receives multiple streams of parity bits, the conditional probabilities on the parity bits from the multiple streams all contribute in turbo decoding. The errors existing in some of the streams can be automatically eliminated during the decoding process.
US08340181B2 Video coding and decoding methods with hierarchical temporal filtering structure, and apparatus for the same
A method and apparatus for video coding and decoding with hierarchical temporal filtering structure are disclosed. A video encoding method in a temporal level having a hierarchical temporal filtering structure, includes generating prediction frames from two or more reference frames that temporally precede the current frame; generating a residual frame by subtracting the prediction frames from the current frame; and encoding and transmitting the residual frame.
US08340177B2 Embedded base layer codec for 3D sub-band coding
Techniques and tools are described for scalable video coding and decoding. For example, a 3D sub-band video encoder includes an embedded base layer codec as well as temporal sub-band transforms and spatial sub-band transforms. The placement of the base layer codec among the sub-band transforms and the role of the base layer codec in scalable video coding vary depending on implementation. In general, the base layer codec provides efficient compression at low bit rates and produces a base layer compressed video bit stream compatible with existing decoders. At the same time, the 3D sub-band video encoder provides spatial and temporal scalability options at higher bit rates, refining the base layer video. A corresponding 3D sub-band video decoder includes an embedded base layer decoder.
US08340169B1 Order recursive computation for a MIMO equalizer
A receiver including an input module, a computation module, and an equalizer module. The input module is configured to receive a message from a wireless communication channel. The message includes multiple training fields. The computation module is configured to recursively compute equalizer parameters, as the training fields are being received, based on the training fields and a channel estimation matrix. The equalizer module is configured to apply the equalizer parameters to the message to recover user data.
US08340167B2 Method and apparatus for measuring and correcting receiver parameters
A method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a receiver having a mixer for generating an I signal and a Q signal using an input signal, an I channel circuit for processing the I signal, and a Q channel circuit for processing the Q signal. The method includes feeding the receiver a first testing signal before the mixer. The method includes feeding the receiver a second testing signal on the I channel circuit. The method includes feeding the receiver a third testing signal on the Q channel circuit. The method includes measuring I/Q quadrature deviation and I/Q delay imbalance of the receiver using the first, the second, and the third testing signals. This separates the I/Q quadrature deviation and I/Q delay imbalance.
US08340166B2 Smart grid radio-frequency interference (RFI) detection
A method, system, network and device provide Smart Grid Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) detection. One or more symbols or chips present in one or more received radio frequency signals are detected and the presence of one or more erred symbols or chips in the detected one or more symbols present in the received one or more radio frequency signals determined. A correlation in time between the one or more erred symbols or chips and an infrastructure waveform associated with electrical infrastructure can be determined. When the determined correlation indicates the electrical infrastructure as a source of detectable radio frequency interference to a device, a pattern flag is generated. The pattern flag or pattern flag representation can be stored and/or transmitted.
US08340163B2 Implementing single line asynchronous dual watchdog communication for ESD immunity
A method and dual watchdog communication circuit for implementing single line asynchronous dual watchdog communication for electrostatic discharge (ESD) immunity, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The dual watchdog communication circuit includes a source transceiver module and a sink transceiver module connected together by a single line, each of the source transceiver module and the sink transceiver module uses a coded pulse for the single line asynchronous dual watchdog communication.
US08340162B2 Method for synchronizing seamless rate adaptation
A Discrete Multitone Modulation (DMT) system and method with the capability to adapt the system bit rate on-line in a seamless manner. The DMT system provides a robust and fast protocol for completing this seamless rate adaptation. The DMT system also provides a framing and encoding method with reduced overhead compared to conventional DMT systems. The DMT system and method provide seamless rate adaptation with the provision of different power levels. This framing and encoding method enables a system with seamless rate adaptation capability. The system and method of the invention can be implemented in hardware, or alternatively in a combination of hardware and software.
US08340158B2 System and method for human body communication using limited passband
Provided are a system and method for human body communication using a limited passband. The system includes a transmission frame generating unit for human body communication which generates a transmission frame for human body communication based on data information including user identification (ID) and data scrambled into an orthogonal code generated by the user ID; a symbol mapping unit for symbolizing the generated transmission frame for human body communication according to a predetermined modulating method; a spreading unit for spreading the symbol outputted in the symbol mapping unit; a waveform generating unit for generating a baseband signal whose band is limited to a predetermined range with respect to the data spread in the spreading unit; and a middle band transmitting unit for modulating the baseband signal into a predetermined limited passband signal.
US08340154B2 Radio transmission device and radio transmission method
Disclosed are a radio transmission device and a radio transmission method which can reduce a processing amount or a memory amount while maintaining the randomizing effect of other cell interference. When using as a reference signal, a ZC sequence of the sequence length uniquely correlated to a transmission bandwidth of a reference signal, as the transmission bandwidth becomes smaller and the sequence length of the ZC sequence becomes shorter, the sequence is switched at a shorter time interval and as the transmission bandwidth becomes greater and the sequence length of the ZC sequence becomes longer, the switching is performed at a longer time interval. Thus, a reference signal is generated by using the ZC sequence in accordance with the timing into which the reference signal transmission bandwidth and the sequence are switched.
US08340153B2 Hybrid orthogonal frequency division multiple access WTRU and method
A hybrid orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and method are disclosed. A WTRU includes a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver processes received data to recover data mapped to the subcarriers using OFDMA. The receiver recovers first input data by separating user data from multi-user spread data and recovers second input data from non-spread data.
US08340148B2 Surface-emission laser devices, surface-emission laser array having the same, electrophotographic system and optical communication system
A surface-emission laser device comprises an active layer, cavity spacer layers provided at both sides of the active layer, reflection layers provided at respective sides of the cavity spacer layers, the reflection layers reflecting an oscillation light oscillated in the active layer and a selective oxidation layer. The selective oxidation layer is provided between a location in the reflection layer corresponding to a fourth period node of the standing wave distribution of the electric field of the oscillating light and a location in the reflection layer adjacent to the foregoing fourth period node in the direction away from the active layer and corresponding to an anti-node of the standing wave distribution of the electric field of the oscillation light.
US08340135B2 Apparatus and method for coding an information signal into a data stream, converting the data stream and decoding the data stream
More customization and adaptation of coded data streams may be achieved by processing the information signal such that the various syntax structures obtained by pre-coding the information signal are placed into logical data packets, each of which being associated with a specific data packet type, and by defining a predetermined order of data packet types within one access unit. The consecutive access units may correspond to different time portions of the information signal. By defining the predetermined order it is possible, at decoder's side, to detect the borders between successive access units even when removable data packets are removed from the data stream between data stream source and decoder without incorporating any hints into the datastream. Therefore, decoders surely detect the access unit beginnings and endings and are not liable to buffer overflow.
US08340130B2 Methods and systems for generating playback instructions for rendering of a recorded computer session
A type of input stored by a packet in a recorded session is identified, this recorded session comprises a plurality of packets that represent display data that is generated by an application program. At least one of the packets can be marked responsive to determining the type of input stored in that packet. A destination for rendering the contents of the packet can also be stored in a playback data structure in response to marking at least one of the packets.
US08340126B2 Method and apparatus for congestion control
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method of congestion control. The method includes transmitting by a first apparatus to a second apparatus a packet stream corresponding to stream data generated by a variable data rate application, determining a round-trip-time of a packet in the packet stream, updating a congestion measure based on the round-trip-time, and informing the variable data rate application based on the congestion measure to adjust a data rate for generating the stream data.
US08340119B2 Transmission apparatus
A modulator modulates the packet data signal. A correction unit 18 adjusts the amplitude component of the modulated data signal. An amplifier amplifies the adjusted data signal and outputs the data signal. A control unit controls the operation of the amplifier. The control unit turns on the operation of the amplifier at the header timing of a packet. The amplifier generates a transient response in the header part of the packet when the amplifier is turned on. In accordance with the inverse characteristic of the transient response generated in the amplifier, the correction unit adjusts the amplitude component of the modulated data signal.
US08340116B2 Node scheduling and address assignment within an ad-hoc communication system
A method and apparatus for address assignment and node scheduling within an ad-hoc communication system is provided herein. During operation a personal area network coordinator (PANC) (40) will divide a superframe (301) into a plurality of slots, assigning each sub-tree under the PANC's direct child node to each slot for communication with the PANC. Each sub-tree coordinator will be assigned a same logical address by the PANC. As a result, a sub-tree coordinator synchronizes to the PANC node in only one subsuperframe slot assigned by the PANC with different sub-tree coordinators synchronizing to the PANC in different slots.
US08340112B2 Implementing enhanced link bandwidth in a headless interconnect chip
A method and circuit for implementing enhanced link bandwidth for a headless interconnect chip in a local rack interconnect system, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The headless interconnect chip includes a cut through switch and a store and forward switch. A packet is received from an incoming link to be transmitted on an outgoing link on the headless interconnect chip. Both the cut through switch and the store and forward switch are selectively used for moving packets received from the incoming link to the outgoing link on the headless interconnect chip.
US08340101B2 Multiplexed data stream payload format
A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting the communication of a frame of octet-sized timeslots, wherein the timeslots are configured to carry a plurality of data types. Also disclosed is a method comprising communicating a high priority data and a low priority data in a frame comprising a plurality of octet-sized timeslots, wherein each timeslot is assigned to the high priority data or the low priority data, wherein the high priority data is provided in the timeslots assigned to the high priority data, and wherein the low priority data is provided in the timeslots assigned to the low priority data. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising recognizing the reception of a plurality of data streams each having a priority, and promoting the multiplexing of the data streams based on the priority of each data stream.
US08340095B2 Equipment in a data network and methods for monitoring, configuring and/or managing the equipment
A router having one or more downstream interfaces and situated in a data network system between sources that send multicast data packets to at least one multicast group address and multiple hosts that request data from the multicast group address and sources. In one implementation the router has a management system agent and an associated management system agent database and stores for each network interface, each multicast group address and each host information in the management system agent database derived from one or more data requests made by the hosts. In one implementation the router stores for a downstream network interface and multicast group address at least one INCLUDE source record containing information about include source lists derived by data requests made by the one or more hosts and at least one EXCLUDE source record containing information about exclude source lists derived by data requests made by the one or more hosts in the management system agent database, the router using a host-router multicast routing protocol based on the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) or the MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) protocol to communicate with the one or more hosts, the router using a different protocol to communicate with a management system control station information stored in the management system database.
US08340090B1 Interconnecting forwarding contexts using u-turn ports
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-readable media, mechanisms, and means for interconnecting forwarding contexts using U-turn ports. A U-turn port typically comprises an egress port and an ingress port such that packets placed in the egress port are automatically forwarded to the ingress port. Other forwarding contexts are able to communicate packets to a next-destination forwarding context by sending these packets to the U-turn port of the next-destination forwarding context.
US08340088B2 Methods and apparatus related to a low cost data center architecture
In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a first edge device that can have a packet processing module. The first edge device can be configured to receive a packet. The packet processing module of the first edge device can be configured to produce cells based on the packet. A second edge device can have a packet processing module configured to reassemble the packet based on the cells. A multi-stage switch fabric can be coupled to the first edge device and the second edge device. The multi-stage switch fabric can define a single logical entity. The multi-stage switch fabric can have switch modules. Each switch module from the switch modules can have a shared memory device. The multi-stage switch fabric can be configured to switch the cells so that the cells are sent to the second edge device.
US08340087B2 Storage subsystem
Deadlock is avoided in a grid storage system having superior scalability. Provided is a storage subsystem connected to a host computer for receiving a write or read access from the host computer. This storage subsystem includes a plurality of modules respectively having a storage resource, a switch for connecting the plurality of modules, a controller for controlling the transfer of a packet based on the write or read access from the host computer to a target module among the plurality of modules via the switch, and a memory storing a transfer rule of the packet. The controller controls the transfer of the packet based on the transfer rule.
US08340085B2 Method and apparatus for enabling customer premise public branch exchange service feature processing
A method and apparatus for enabling customer premise Public Branch eXchange (PBX) service feature processing to be performed in a service provider network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a signaling message associated with a user, and accesses a customer premise Internet Protocol (IP) Public Branch eXchange (PBX) to retrieve customer premise IP PBX based service logic and data associated with the user by a Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) network element. The method then completes a service feature associated with the service logic and data in the communication network.
US08340084B2 System and method for indicating circuit switched access at IMS registration
In IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) IMS Control Channel Protocol (ICCP) is used between a user equipment (UE) and IMS Control Channel Function (ICCF) and Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) interface (between to ICCF, Call Session Control Function and Application Server) to support the indication of Circuit Switched (CS) access utilizing P-Access-Network-Information header. The indication can be used by an S-CSCF or AS for different purposes such as routing decision, charging, and presence info.
US08340083B2 Border control system, method, and software
Embodiments disclosed herein include systems, methods, and software that reduce processing burdens on host soft switches. A method of operating a communication network comprises receiving a plurality of update messages from a plurality of border controllers that interface communications between a first packet network and a second packet network. The update messages are processed to determine operational states of the plurality of border controllers. Responsive to receiving a query from a soft switch in the first packet network for a session between the first and second packet networks, the query is processed to select a first border controller for the session from the plurality of border controllers based on the operational states of the plurality of border controllers. A response is transferred to the soft switch indicating the first border controller.
US08340075B2 Method for transferring MPOA packet
A method for transferring a packet that is capable of permitting address resolution based on layer 3 packet filter information and that is further capable of preventing establishing an undesirable short cut path is provided. In a network, a server that receives an address resolution request packet from a client determines if the address resolution request packet should be forwarded to another server or another client based on a layer 3 packet filter information.
US08340069B2 Method, base station, UE, and system for sending and receiving PDCCH signaling
A method, a base station, a User Equipment (UE) and a system for sending and receiving Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) signaling are disclosed. The method for sending PDCCH signaling includes the following steps: the base station determines locations of a first search space and second search space; and the base station sends only PDCCH signaling exclusive of a Carrier Indication Field (CIF) to the UE in a physically overlapped region between the first search space and the second search space if the physically overlapped region exists and length of PDCCH signaling exclusive of a CIF in the first search space is equal to length of PDCCH signaling inclusive of a CIF in the second search space.
US08340065B2 Technique for managing wireless networks
Network connectivity may be managed on a computing device. An identifier of each wireless access point or network that is available at a given location is determined. The identifier determined without the device attempting to connect to any available wireless access point or network at the given location. Each determined identifier is compared to one or more network identifiers that are known to the device. The device connects to an available wireless access point having the identifier that is known and detected.
US08340061B2 Transmission terminal, reception terminal, and information distribution system
A transmission terminal includes an information generation unit, a transmission unit, a delivery management unit, and a reception unit. The information generation unit generates information that is to be transmitted to a destination reception terminal. The transmission unit transmits information that the information generation unit has generated. The delivery management unit manages transmission of information. The reception unit receives information that the destination reception terminal transmits. Furthermore, the information generation unit generates or receives transmission information that is to be transmitted to the destination reception terminal and generates redundant information for the destination reception terminal to restore the transmission information. The delivery management unit causes the information generation unit to generate, and causes the transmission unit to retransmit, the redundant information when the reception unit has not received a successful reception reply from the destination reception terminal.
US08340051B2 Method and apparatus for storing mobile station physical measurements and MAC performance statistics in a management information base of an access point
A method and wireless communication system for requesting and obtaining transmit power control (TPC) information. The system includes at least one access point (AP) and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). When the AP decides to adapt the transmit power level of the WTRU, the AP transmits a TPC request frame to the WTRU. In response to receiving the TPC request frame, the WTRU performs one or more physical measurements and sends a TPC report frame back to the AP.
US08340040B2 System and method for providing mobile based services for hotel PBX
The invention relates to a method and system for providing mobile based services for hotel PBX having an external number assigned which includes the steps of providing each hotel room which provides the mobile based service with at least one mobile station comprising a SIM, each SIM storing a different IMSI number; assigning a VPN to the hotel; assigning each IMSI number of each mobile station to a different MSISDN that can only be used internally in the MNO network and that cannot be dialed from other telephones; and assigning each MSISDN to a different extension number that can be used as a room extension number and that corresponds to the VPN number of the VPN of the hotel. The invention is advantageous in that it solves problems of prior art systems by making use of a mobile PBX, so that every hotel will have its own VPN numbers that can be used as room extensions.
US08340037B2 Methods and apparatuses for generating and parsing continuous resource allocation signaling
A method for generating continuous resource allocation signaling comprises: a sender determines a value of the total number of resource blocks NRB in a system according to the total resource number in the system and determines, according to the amount and location of the total resources occupied by the continuous resources allocated to the target user equipment, the number of continuous resource blocks allocated to the user equipment LCRBs and the value of the index number of the starting resource block RBstart in the continuous resource blocks allocated to the user equipment; the sender compares LCRBs−1 with └NRB/2┘ to compute the value RIV of the resource allocation signaling of the user equipment; if the LCRBs−1 is greater than the └NRB/2┘, then the RIV is NRB(NRB−LCRBs+1)+(NRB−1−RBstart); else the RIV is NRB(LCRBs−1)+RBstart; and the resource allocation signaling of the target user equipment is generated according to RIV and transmitted. An apparatus for generating continuous resource allocation signaling, and a method and an apparatus for parsing continuous resource allocation signaling, are also disclosed. The present invention ensures that under any resource allocation situation the overhead for resource allocation signaling is always ceil ( log 2 ⁢ N · ( N + 1 ) 2 ) .
US08340032B2 Method of retransmitting data in a wireless communication system and apparatus for implementing the same
A method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes receiving a first group index and a second group index, wherein the first group index represents indices of a group having channel power below a specified threshold value and the second index group index represents indices of a group having channel power greater than or equal to the specified threshold value, and transmitting the data after swapping mapping locations of the first group index and the second group index.
US08340030B2 Method and apparatus for high-speed transmission on RACH
A method and apparatus for signaling in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU). The method includes the WTRU receiving a value of a maximum number of retransmissions and retransmitting data in a plurality of hybrid automatic retransmission request (HARQ) processes limited by the value of a maximum number of retransmission. The WTRU is configured to receive a cell-specific, fixed or absolute grant on a broadcast channel.
US08340025B2 Data burst communication techniques for mobile communication devices operating in packet data sessions
In one illustrative example, a mobile communication device receives and decodes a plurality of packet data bursts over a packet data channel of a serving cell. While receiving and decoding the packet data bursts, the mobile communication device also receives and decodes a plurality of broadcast data bursts over a broadcast control channel of a neighbor cell. When a time conflict exists between receiving and decoding at least one of the packet data bursts and receiving and decoding at least one of the broadcast data bursts, the mobile communication device receives and decodes the at least one packet data burst instead of the at least one broadcast data burst when no imminent call drop between the mobile communication device and the serving cell is identified. On the other hand, the mobile communication device receives and decodes the at least one broadcast data burst instead of the at least one packet data burst when an imminent call drop between the mobile communication device and the serving cell is identified.
US08340024B2 Virtual linking using a wireless device
A system and method for virtual linking a wireless device to another device is disclosed herein. The system includes an access point and a controller configured to mediate transmissions between the wireless device and the another device. The system further includes a virtual device table and a permissions filter to ensure virtual linking between devices that have matching access right and requested services. The wireless device and the another device may have the same or dissimilar protocols.
US08340002B2 Load control of UE MBMS measurement reporting
An improved method and a communication means node implementing the method for load control in connection with a multimedia service transmission intended for multiple receivers over a wireless network are disclosed. The receivers in the wireless network are able to respond to requests communicated from an ordering entity by feeding back responses to a management entity in said wireless network. The feedback of these responses uses a different communication means, separate from said wireless network. This different communication means has limited communication resources. A transmission load caused in said different communication means by said feedback of said responses is according to the invention controlled by the different communication means itself.
US08339994B2 Defining an optimal topology for a group of logical switches
A Layer 2 network switch fabric is partitionable into a plurality of virtual fabrics. A network switch chassis is partitionable into a plurality of logical switches, each of which may be associated with one of the virtual fabrics, including a base switch. Logical switches in multiple network switch chassis are connected by logical connections, such as logical inter-switch links that use physical connections, such as extended inter-switch links between base switches, for data transport. A topology of logical connections is established that balances competing metrics, such as robustness and scalability, while maintaining alignment with the topology of the physical connections. A topology factor allows establishing different topologies with different balances between the competing metrics.
US08339991B2 Node self-configuration and operation in a wireless network
A device performs a self-configure process for operations in a managed network to allocate a network address for the device by determining if the device will operate as a gateway of the managed network, obtaining a network address for communication with external devices outside of the managed network in response to determining that the device will operate as a gateway, scanning for neighbor devices operating in the managed network and maintaining a database of neighbor devices located in the scanning, and selecting a managed network to join based on the database of neighbor devices in response to determining that the device will operate as a node.
US08339985B2 Method and system for announcing traffic engineering parameters of composite transport groups
An approach is provided for announcing aggregate characteristics of a composite transport group (CTG) for traffic engineering. Information specifying characteristics of a plurality of component links of the CTG is received. An aggregate characteristic of the CTG is determined based the information. The aggregate characteristic is announced to a label switched network for provisioning label switched paths on the CTG.
US08339978B2 Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication, and computer program
A wireless communication apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive packets in multiple formats in which two or more different types of preamble information and intra-header control information are multiplexed, a demodulation and decode unit configured to demodulate and decode the received packets, and a measurement unit configured to measure a sending end time of the reception packets by selectively referring to any one of the intra-header control information on the basis of a transmission mode supported by the demodulation and decode unit.
US08339976B2 Method of determining video quality
A method and a device utilizing an algorithm using measurement data derived from parameters related to a video-streaming player and/or parameters related to data transport is disclosed. The data are used as input data in a model designed to generate a value corresponding to the quality of the multimedia sequence, such as for example a MOS score.
US08339974B1 Method and system for detecting and mitigating RTP-based denial of service attacks
This present invention provides a method and system for detecting and mitigating RTP-based denial of service attacks. A prediction model is implemented to analyze data within RTP packets to predict a range of valid data for future packets. Subsequent RTP packets that contain data that fall within the predicted range of data are considered valid RTP packets while others may be considered invalid packets subject to additional analysis.
US08339972B2 Method and system for monitoring a GTP communication path in an UMTS/GPRS network
A method for monitoring a GTP communication path in an UMTS/GPRS network as well as a corresponding monitoring system that is connected to the UMTS/GPRS network. The monitoring system comprises means for generating a GTP-C message in the form of a GTP echo request message containing an IP address of the monitoring system as an originating address and an IP address of a node of the UMTS/GPRS network or an external network as a destination address. The system also includes means for transmitting the GTP echo request message to the addressed network node and storing the message transmission time, means of receiving a GTP echo response message sent by the addressed network node as a reply to a successfully transmitted GTP echo request message, and means for determining a round trip time of the GTP echo request/response messages by forming the difference between the time the GTP echo response message is received and the time the GTP echo request message is sent.
US08339959B1 Streamlined packet forwarding using dynamic filters for routing and security in a shared forwarding plane
A network router includes a plurality of interfaces configured to send and receive packets, and a routing component comprising: (i) a routing engine that includes a control unit that executes a routing protocol to maintain routing information specifying routes through a network, and (ii) a forwarding plane configured by the routing engine to select next hops for the packets in accordance with the routing information. The forwarding plane comprises a switch fabric to forward the packets to the interfaces based on the selected next hops. The network router also includes a security plane configured to apply security functions to the packets. The security plane is integrated within the network router to share a streamlined forwarding plane of the routing component.
US08339947B2 Flow-based proactive connection admission control (CAC) in wireless networks
A device receives available capacity and used capacity associated with a network, receives a connection request from a user device in the network, and receives a maximum capacity threshold associated with the network. The device calculates a minimum capacity threshold and a medium capacity threshold, associated with the network, based on the maximum capacity threshold. The device also determines whether to admit or deny the connection request based on the available capacity, the used capacity, the minimum capacity threshold, the medium capacity threshold, and the maximum capacity threshold. The device further allocates, when the connection request is to be admitted and based on resource availability associated with the network, a particular bit rate, for a particular quality of service (QoS) class, to the connection request.
US08339940B2 Multi-active detection method and stack member device
The present invention discloses a method of multi-active detection and a stack member device. Each member device in a stack is configured with a detection interface that is assigned an IP address, wherein the IP address of the detection interface on the designated active device is activated. Each member devices is also configured with an active device election rule, and with a correspondence between the IP address of the detection interface on each member device and the active device election parameter of the member device. Upon detection that the stack has become split, each designated standby device transitions to become an active device and activates the IP address of its detection interface. Each active device then uses the IP address of its detection interface as the source IP address to establish a session with other active devices, finds the active device election parameter according to the source IP address in the received session packet, and elects an active device that maintains its active state according to the configured active device election rule. The present invention implements multi-active detection in a stack.
US08339939B2 Re-routing traffic flow in a packet switched communications transport network
In a packet switched communications transport network a method for re-routing traffic flow is provided. The invention based on the recognition of actual utilization of transport resources. In accordance with the implementation, Fast Re-Route detour paths are recalculated each time after new bandwidth information is received. The detours are re-established on new computed paths if needed, i.e., if an optimized path has been found. A node and a system are also disclosed, referring to MPLS network. Also a node is described acting as a Point of Local Repair for link failures. The node comprises a Routing engine, a Link state database, a Detour path calculator and a Detour path establisher in order to capture bandwidth information of the network links and to calculate detour path information for the nodes.
US08339936B2 Method of resolving overlaps in data transmission and user equipment therefor
A user equipment and corresponding method of transmitting symbols by the user equipment in a wireless communication system. The method includes: generating a first symbol and a second symbol, each symbol including a cyclic prefix and a data part; manipulating a part of the second symbol to be ignored in transmission so that the first symbol and a remaining part of the second symbol are transmitted without overlapping, when the first symbol and the second symbol are overlapped due to a transmission timing advance of the second symbol; and transmitting the first symbol and the second symbol at each transmission timing to the base station.
US08339934B2 Spatial multiplexing in a cellular network
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing spatial multiplexing in conjunction with the one or more multiple access protocols during the broadcast of information in a wireless network. A subscriber unit for use in a cellular system is disclosed. The subscriber unit includes: spatially separate receivers, a spatial processor, and a combiner. The spatially separate receivers receive the assigned channel composite signals resulting from the spatially separate transmission of the subscriber downlink datastream(s). The spatial processor is configurable in response to a control signal transmitted by the base station to separate the composite signals into estimated substreams based on information obtained during the transmission of known data patterns from at least one of the base stations. The spatial processor signals the base stations when a change of a spatial transmission configuration is required. The combiner combines the estimated substreams into a corresponding subscriber datastream.
US08339933B2 Method for transmitting uplink pilot signal in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method for transmitting an uplink pilot signal in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method for transmitting an uplink pilot signal in a wireless communication system includes forming a basic unit including a plurality of pilot Resource Elements (REs) and data REs and having a size of 4 subcarriers×9 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) symbols, setting the plurality of pilot REs in the basic unit, and transmitting the basic unit to a base station. Each of the REs is time-frequency resource defined by one symbol index and one subcarrier index.
US08339931B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of transmitting control information in a wireless communication system is provided. A sequence corresponding to control information from a sequence set is determined. A reference modulation symbol set corresponding to a mini unit by modulating the sequence is generated. At least one reordered modulation symbol set is generated by reordering and repeating the reference modulation symbol set. The at least one reordered modulation symbol set is reordered in a unit of a subgroup. The reference modulation symbol set and the at least one reordered modulation symbol set are mapped to the plurality of mini units in the resource unit respectively.
US08339928B2 Single-sided pre-recorded dual-layer DVD disc functioning as a dual-sided pre-recorded DVD
An optical disc structure for playback by a read-out device is described. The optical disc structure includes a first layer with first content recorded thereon. A second layer is coupled to the first layer. The second layer has first content and second content recorded thereon. The disc of the present principles makes use of the fact that a less than full capacity DVD9 disc leaves available recording space after the end of program area and required lead-out area on the second of the two data layers of a DVD9 disc.
US08339924B2 Optical pickup device capable of emitting first and second light beams having different wavelengths and including a light blocking member for blocking light of a specific wavelength, and a optical information device, computer, optical disk player, car navigation system, optical disk recorder, and optical disk server performing the same
An optical pickup device preventing damage or performance degradation of a second optical system. The optical pickup device includes first laser light source emitting a first light beam having a first wavelength, a first optical system guiding the first light beam emitted from the first laser light source to a first optical disc. Further, the optical pickup device includes a DVD integration unit emitting a second light beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, a second optical system guiding the second light beam emitted from the DVD integration unit to a second optical disc different from the first optical disc, and a filter disposed at a position blocking incident light, of an unwanted light beam having the first wavelength and derived from the first optical system, from entering into the second optical system, so as to block the first light beam having the first wavelength.
US08339921B2 Optical information recording apparatus, optical information recording method, optical information recording/reproducing apparatus and optical information recording/reproducing method
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus using holography comprises a signal generation unit that modulates input data, adds at least one control bit to each group of N bits, performs an NRZI-modulation on the modulated data, determines the at least one control bit such that a digital sum value of the NRZI-modulated data is 0, performs NRZI modulation on the data whose at least one control bit was determined, and rearranges the data to generate 2-dimensional data; a pickup that records the 2-dimensional data in a hologram disc and reproduces the 2-dimensional data from the hologram disc; and a signal processing unit that corrects the 2-dimensional data reproduced by the pickup, performs NRZI-modulation on the 2-dimensional data that has undergone a binarization operation, removes the at least one control bit added during the recording, and demodulates the data according to a modulation rule used during the recording.
US08339919B1 Disk drive margining read channel by biasing log-likelihood ratios of a nonbinary iterative decoder
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk and control circuitry operable to sample a read signal emanating from the head to generate read samples. First vectors of log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) are generated in response to the read samples, wherein each vector corresponds to a nonbinary symbol q in a set of symbols. The first vectors of LLRs are biased to generate biased vectors of LLRs, and the biased vectors of LLRs are decoded into a data sequence, wherein the biased vectors of LLRs increase an error rate of the data sequence.
US08339918B2 Optical reading method and optical reading system
An optical reading system is provided to improve read signal quality with increasing its linear recording density. An optical recording medium in which the distance from a light incident surface to an information recording layer is less than 100 μm is irradiated with a laser beam through an objective lens and information stored in the information recording layer is read by means of a PRML detection method. At this time, the constraint length n in the PRML detection method is set to an integer which satisfies 0.5×(λ/NA)/(LV/f)−1
US08339915B2 Focus optimization routine with sub-optimal jump settings in optical disc systems
A method and system for obtaining focus optimization in an optical disc system is disclosed. The focus offset of a recording unit is set to a first of a plurality of predetermined values. A HF quality value is measured and stored for the selected focus offset value of the recording unit. The focus offset is then set to a best-known focus offset value. Tracks on the optical media being read are then jumped. The above steps are then repeated for each of the plurality of predetermined focus offset values. The optimal focus setting is then determined from the stored HF quality measurements.
US08339913B2 Information storage medium, recording and reproducing apparatus, and recording and reproducing method
A computer readable medium, apparatus, and method for efficiently managing a space bitmap. A computer readable medium includes: a user data area on which user data is recorded; and a temporary disc management area on which a space bitmap indicating a recording status of recording and reproducing unit blocks of the user data area is recorded. The space bitmap includes header information for distinguishing an additional space bitmap from the space bitmap. The additional space bitmap is assigned when a space provided for the space bitmap is insufficient to represent the recording status of the recording and reproducing unit blocks of the user data area.
US08339912B2 Record carrier as well as an apparatus and method for applying image data as a visually detectable pattern at an optical record carrier
A record carrier is described comprising a zone with a visually detectable pattern composed of pattern elements arranged along at least one track. The pattern elements comprise a marked zone having an optical property deviating from a background, the marked zones having a width Wm transverse to the track direction and a length Lm along the track direction, wherein at least two or more pattern elements have a marked zone with a mutually different width Wm.In this way, an increased visibility of the visual pattern is achieved. Likewise a method and an apparatus for recording an optical record carrier is included.
US08339907B2 Optical storage focus servo system and method of controlling same
An optical storage focus servo system may include an optical pickup unit that includes an astigmatic focusing lens, a focusing actuator that controls a position of the lens relative to an optical media, and a plurality of detectors that detect an intensity and shape of a reflected beam from the media. The system may also include a controller that controls the focusing actuator based on the intensity and shape of the reflected beam.
US08339906B2 Transducer assembly for heat assisted magnetic recording light delivery
An apparatus includes a transducer assembly including a waveguide having a core layer and a cladding layer adjacent to the core layer, and a grating structured to couple electromagnetic radiation into the waveguide; and a light source mounted on the cladding to direct light onto the grating at an acute angle with respect to a plane containing the grating.
US08339903B2 Dual illumination watch face, and associated methods
Systems and methods for a dual illumination watch face having a tritium gas tube coupled with a dial, minute hand or hour hand of the watch face, and phosphorescent material disposed with at least one of the dial, minute hand and hour hand.
US08339898B2 Processing seismic data using combined regularization and 4D binning
To process seismic data, a combined four-dimensional (4D) binning and regularization procedure is performed on the seismic data, where the combined 4D binning and regularization procedure includes computing measures associated with regularization of the seismic data, computing measures associated with 4D binning, and processing the seismic data according to the regularization measures and 4D binning measures.
US08339887B2 Double line access to a FIFO
An apparatus comprising a write data buffer circuit, a memory, and a read data buffer circuit. The write data circuit may be configured to present data in a second format in response to data received in a first format. The memory may be configured to (i) receive the data in the second format and (ii) present the data in the second format. The read data buffer circuit may be configured to (i) receive data in the second format and (ii) present data in a third format. The memory may be configured to allow two reads or two writes during a single clock cycle of reference clock without encountering a data overflow condition.
US08339876B2 Memory with improved read stability
A static random access memory (SRAM) includes a data line for transferring data to and from the memory and at least one reset line, a plurality of storage cells, each cell including an asymmetric feedback loop; an access device for selectively providing a connection between the at data line and the cell's first access node; a reset device for selectively providing a connection between a reset line and the cell's second access node. The SRAM further includes data access control circuitry for generating control signals for independently controlling the access device and the reset device and to generate a data access control signal. The SRAM also generates a reset control signal to trigger the reset device to provide the connection between the at least one reset line and the second access node in response to a write request to write the complementary predetermined value to the storage cell.
US08339867B2 Fuse elements based on two-terminal re-writeable non-volatile memory
A margin restore fuse element is described, including a latch configured to store data, a first memory element coupled to the latch and configured to store a first resistive value, a second memory element coupled to the latch and configured to store a second resistive value, a restore circuit coupled to the latch, the first memory element, and the second memory element, the restore circuit being configured to perform a restore data operation to substantially restore the first and second memory elements to the first and second resistive values, respectively. The latch, restore circuit, and other circuitry can be formed FEOL on a substrate (e.g., a semiconductor wafer) as part of a microelectronics fabrication process and the fuse element and memory elements can be formed BEOL over the substrate as part of another microelectronics fabrication process. The fuse and memory elements can be included in a two-terminal non-volatile memory cell.
US08339863B2 Operation method of memory device
One embodiment of the present invention provides an operation method of a memory device. The memory device includes a source, a drain, and a channel region between the source and the drain, a gate dielectric with a charge storage layer on the channel region, and a gate on the gate dielectric, wherein the source, the drain and the channel region are located in a substrate. The operation method includes the following steps: applying a reverse bias between the gate and the drain of the memory device to generate band-to-band hot holes in the substrate near the drain; injecting the band-to-band hot holes to a drain side of the charge storage layer; and performing a program/erase operation upon the memory device. The band-to-band hot holes in the drain side of the charge storage layer are not completely vanished by the program/erase operation.
US08339845B2 Flash memory device, programming method and memory system
Provided is a programming method in a flash memory device. The programming method applies a first pass voltage to a selection word line and a non-selection word line, applies a local voltage to the non-selection word line, applies a second pass voltage to the selection word line, and applies a programming voltage to the selection word line.
US08339840B2 Storage element and memory
A memory is provided that is capable of improving the thermal stability without increasing the write current. The memory is configured to include: a storage element which has a storage layer that holds information according to a magnetization state of a magnetic substance and in which a magnetization fixed layer is provided on the storage layer with an intermediate layer 16 interposed therebetween, the intermediate layer is formed of an insulator, the direction of magnetization of the storage layer is changed by injecting electrons spin-polarized in a lamination direction such that the information is recorded in the storage layer, and distortion is applied to the storage layer from an insulating layer which exists around the storage layer and has a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than the storage layer. A wiring line for supplying a current flowing in the lamination direction of the storage element.
US08339834B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device including a variable resistance element
According to one embodiment, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: a first line; a second line intersecting with the first line; and a memory cell arranged at a position where the second line intersects with the first line, wherein, the memory cell includes: a variable resistance element; and a negative resistance element connected in series to the variable resistance element.
US08339829B2 Information storage devices using movement of magnetic domain walls and methods of manufacturing the same
An information storage device using movement of magnetic domain walls includes a writing magnetic layer having a magnetic domain wall. A stack structure is formed on the writing magnetic layer. The stack structure includes a connecting magnetic layer and an information storing magnetic layer stacked sequentially. The information storage device also includes a reader for reading information stored in the information storing magnetic layer.
US08339825B2 Nonvolatile memory device and operation method thereof
In a method of operating a nonvolatile memory device, at least one among memory cell blocks of the nonvolatile memory device is designated as a content addressable memory (CAM) block which includes a plurality of CAM cells coupled to respective word lines of the nonvolatile memory device. Chip information for operations of the nonvolatile memory device is stored in the CAM cells which are coupled to a selected word line, whereas the remaining CAM cells of the CAM block are in an erased state.
US08339824B2 Nearest neighbor serial content addressable memory
A digital design and technique may be used to implement a Manhattan Nearest Neighbor content addressable memory function by augmenting a serial content addressable memory design with additional memory and counters for bit serially accumulating in parallel and subsequently comparing in parallel all the Manhattan distances between a serially inputted vector and all corresponding vectors resident in the CAM. Other distance measures, besides a Manhattan distance, may optionally be used in conjunction with similar techniques and designs.
US08339822B2 Method and device for operating a transformer
A method for operating a single-phase, mid-frequency welding transformer formed with a transformer core having a primary coil and a secondary coil connected into a secondary circuit has several steps. The several steps include regulating a magnetic flux density (B) in the transformer core between an upper flux density threshold value (Bm) and a lower flux density threshold value (−Bm), by applying, in alteration, a first voltage (UDC) and a second voltage (−UDC) to the primary coil of the transformer, and regulating a load current (ibr) in the secondary circuit between an upper load current threshold value (ibr-zg) and a lower load current threshold value (ibr-sp), by applying, in alternation, a third voltage (0V)to the primary coil of the transformer.
US08339810B2 Wide input voltage power supply
A ground power unit having a power supply unit capable of accepting a wide range of AC input voltages and producing one or more DC power signals for powering components of the GPU is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply unit includes a rectifier that converts an AC input power to a DC link power. The power supply unit includes a gate driving circuit that has a power MOSFET transistor which, under the control of a PWM controller, produces a switched DC signal. The DC link power and the output of the gate drive circuitry are provided to a transformer, which modulates the signals and produces a first DC output power signal that is load independent and a second DC output power signal that is load dependent.
US08339802B2 Module having a stacked magnetic device and semiconductor device and method of forming the same
A module having a stacked magnetic device and semiconductor device, and method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the module includes a printed wiring board including a patterned conductor formed on an upper surface thereof. The module also includes a magnetic core mounted on the upper surface of the printed wiring board proximate the patterned conductor and a semiconductor device mounted on an upper surface of the magnetic core.
US08339796B2 Embedded printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an embedded printed circuit board, in which electronic devices having different thicknesses can be embedded together, thus achieving highly dense electronic devices, and when electronic devices having considerably different thicknesses are embedded, two electronic devices which are comparatively thinner can be embedded in a perpendicular direction, thus reducing an embedding area and suppressing warping of the printed circuit board, and an insulating member the thickness of which is variably adjusted is interposed between base substrates, so that spaces between the electronic devices are completely filled therewith, thus solving the problem of void defects, resulting in reliable printed circuit boards, and, when a base substrate includes a core made of metal, the printed circuit board can less warp. Also a method of manufacturing the embedded printed circuit board is provided.
US08339788B2 Printed circuit board with heat sink
A printed circuit board includes a heat sink and a circuit board. The heat sink defines two fixing blind holes respectively arranged on adjacent opposite ends of the heat sink. The circuit board includes a heat-generating component and two fixing elements corresponding to the fixing blind holes. Each fixing elements includes a fixing portion fixed on the circuit board, a locking portion, and an elastic portion extending from a first end of the locking portion to be connected to the fixing portion. A second end of the locking portion of each fixing element is inserted into a corresponding fixing blind hole, to fix the heat sink on the heat-generating component.
US08339786B2 Heat dissipation device
An exemplary heat dissipation device for a portable electronic device includes a heat pipe and a heat dissipating member. The heat pipe includes an evaporator section and a condenser section. The evaporator section is attached to a heat source of the portable electronic device. The heat dissipating member includes a sheath, and a porous heat dissipating layer and a working fluid contained in the sheath. The porous heat dissipating layer defines gaps therein. The working fluid is filled in the gaps. The condenser section of the heat pipe is received in the porous heat dissipating layer and thermally contacts the porous heat dissipating layer.
US08339782B2 Handheld electronic device and keypad having keys with upstanding engagement surfaces
An improved handheld electronic device and keypad include keys having upstanding engagement surfaces that provide a greater effective space between keys than the nominal key-to-key distance therebetween. More particularly, an upstanding engagement surface of one key is spaced farther from that of an adjacent key than the nominal key-to-key distance therebetween. The added space facilitates input by reducing miskeying errors, which allows for faster input with reduced visual and mental attention being required during such input.
US08339775B2 Portable computing device
A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion.
US08339766B2 Method of manufacturing thin film capacitor and thin film capacitor
A method of manufacturing a thin film capacitor, having: a base electrode; dielectric layers consecutively deposited on the base electrode; an internal electrode deposited between the dielectric layers; an upper electrode deposited opposite the base electrode with the dielectric layers and the internal electrode being interposed therebetween; and a cover layer deposited on the upper electrode, has depositing an upper electrode layer which is to be the upper electrode, and a cover film which is to be the cover layer on the unsintered dielectric film which is to be the dielectric layer, to fabricate a lamination component, and sintering the lamination component.
US08339756B2 Control circuit having a delay-reduced inverter
In some embodiments, a power supply clamp may include a switchable discharge device configured to discharge an electrostatic discharge; and a control circuit configured to generate a control voltage to turn off the discharge device at a shutoff time, with the shutoff time being long enough to allow the electrostatic discharge though the discharge device but short enough to reduce a duration of a power-up current transient through the discharge device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08339755B2 Electrical fault restricting system
Electrical fault restricting system for an electrical equipment and/or electrical system has a monitoring unit placed at location of interest to sense or measure electrical fault occurred with the help of sensing or measuring device which is further connected to signal processing and controlling unit which receives data collected by the monitoring unit that provides output for fault identification, alarming and controlling actions to alarming. An indication unit and command for trip signal to circuit breaking device where processed data of data collecting and processing unit are stored at data history storage. A display unit for back reference monitoring unit provides images to image receiver. A processor and controlling unit further provides processed images to an additional data history storage and display unit for future analysis of conditions where plurality of signal processing and controlling unit is inter connected with additional remote central controlling and data handling unit.
US08339751B2 Shield design for magnetic recording head
A method is disclosed for forming a magnetic shield in which all domain patterns and orientations are stable and which are consistently repeated each time said shield is exposed to an initialization field. The shield is given a shape which ensures that all closure domains can align themselves at a reduced angle relative to the initialization direction while still being roughly antiparallel to one another. Most, though not all, of these shapes are variations on trapezoids.
US08339745B2 Baseplate for disk drive suspension and method for manufacturing baseplate
A cylindrical boss portion is press-formed on a baseplate of a disk drive suspension. The boss portion is penetrated by a ball insertion hole relative to the thickness of the baseplate. The baseplate is formed of stainless steel. A chemically-polished surface is formed on an inner circumferential wall of the ball insertion hole by chemically polishing the baseplate after heat-treating it. The boss portion is inserted into a mounting hole of an actuator arm. A ball having a diameter larger than the inside diameter of the ball insertion hole is passed through the ball insertion hole. As the diameter of the boss portion is enlarged by the ball, the boss portion is fixed to the actuator arm.
US08339740B2 Recording head for heat assisted magnetic recording with diffusion barrier surrounding a near field transducer
An apparatus includes a near field transducer positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface, a first magnetic pole, a heat sink positioned between the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, and a diffusion barrier positioned between the near field transducer and the first magnetic pole. The diffusion barrier can be positioned adjacent to the magnetic pole or the near field transducer.
US08339731B2 Fluid dynamic bearing with non-linear damping
Thus, if a shock or other disturbance to a disc stack spindle bearing assembly occurs that tilts the bearing assembly, the resulting motion is both a tilting, and a motion which is axial. If a shock axially moves the hub assembly, only an axial motion occurs. Thus the system has a non-linear behavior. Pursuant to this invention, when a tilting disturbance occurs, and some of it is dissipated in a net axial movement at a different frequency, energy is subtracted out of the system with motion that is not linearly related to the disturbance was that created it.
US08339718B1 Image capturing optical lens system
This invention provides an optical lens system comprising: a first lens element with positive refractive power; a second lens element with negative refractive power; a third lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof being aspheric; a plastic fourth lens element having at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof being aspheric; a plastic fifth lens element having a concave image-side surface, at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof being aspheric, and at least one inflection point is formed on at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof. By such arrangement, photosensitivity and total track length of the system can be reduced, and the aberration and astigmatism of the system can be effectively corrected. Moreover, high image resolution can be obtained.
US08339707B2 Anti-reflection multi-layer laminated film
A laminated film obtained by carrying out anti-reflection processing on the surface of a reflection polarizing film. This laminated film comprising (A) a monoaxially oriented laminated film consisting of 501 or more alternating first layers made of a first thermoplastic resin having a positive stress optical coefficient and a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 μm and second layers made of a second thermoplastic resin different from the first thermoplastic resin and having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 μm, and a low-reflectance layer formed on at least one side of the monoaxially oriented laminated film and having a reflectance of the surface measured from the input side of 3% or less.
US08339703B2 Scanning microscope and method for manipulating samples by means of a manipulating light beam in a scanning microscope
A scanning microscope for manipulating a sample, the microscope, having a first light source, a second light source, a beam deflector, and an optical device. The first light source is configured to emit an illuminating light beam that follows an illuminating beam. A second light source is configured to produce a manipulating light beam which has a manipulating beam focus and follows a manipulating beam path. The beam deflection device is configured to guide the illuminating light beam and the manipulating beam focus over or through the sample. The optical device is disposed downstream of the second light in the manipulating beam and is configured to modify the size of the manipulating beam focus.
US08339699B2 Method for amplification by spatio-temporal frequency conversion and device for carrying out said method
The present invention relates to a method of amplification based on spatio-temporal frequency drift for a pulse laser comprising a so-called CPA (Chirped Pulse Amplification) frequency-shift amplifying chain, the various spectral components spatially spread. The various components separately amplified.
US08339695B2 Controllable illumination device
The invention relates to a controllable illumination device for an autostereoscopic or holographic display, which illumination device contains an illumination matrix of primary light sources having at least one luminous element per light source and a controllable light modulator (SLM) and a reproduction matrix. A computer-generated hologram (CGH) illuminated by the primary light sources (11, . . . , 1n) is coded on the controllable light modulator (SLM) and generates, in at least one plane downstream of the SLM, a matrix—reconstructed from the computer-generated hologram (CGH)—of secondary light sources (2) having a secondary light distribution for the purpose of illuminating the reproduction matrix (4) and for the purpose of focussing in light bundles onto each eye of the viewer via an imaging matrix. The CGH is calculated and reconstructed on the basis of the number of and the positions of the viewers and the system parameters. Owing to the reconstruction of the secondary light sources in a plurality of planes, it is possible for the image information of the display to be tracked for the viewers not only in the case of lateral movements but also in the axial direction.
US08339692B2 Printing control apparatus and printing control method
The invention provides a printing control apparatus having a function for performing preview displaying prior to printing document data outputted by an application program. The apparatus comprises: a generator for generating a preview image based on the document data in accordance with a print setting; and a preview display controller for displaying, together with the preview image, a user interface which displays an option in a predetermined item of a print setting within a scope corresponding to a current print setting, when the predetermined item of the print setting corresponding to the preview image is to be changed. The printing control apparatus enables printing of the document data in accordance with the print setting changed through the user interface.
US08339690B2 Halftone printing with different screens
A method of enabling preparing a printing system calibrated with a first halftone screen for printing with a second halftone screen. The calibration is represented by calibration data. Calibration data for the second halftone screen is produced from the existing calibration data of the first halftone screen without resorting to previous calibration data for the second halftone screen, based on correlation data which represent a first-order correlation between the halftone screens.
US08339684B2 Image reading device and image reading method
An image reading device 1 includes an output acquiring unit 21 acquiring outputs from a plurality of light receiving elements 17 arranged to form an image reading surface for reading an image of an original, a difference detecting unit 22 detecting edges in the original or an end portion of the original on the basis of the outputs from at least some of the light receiving elements 17 in the outputs acquired by the output acquiring unit 21, and an image information generating unit 23 generating the image information of the original by use of the outputs from the plurality of light receiving elements 17 when the difference detecting unit 22 detects the edges or the end portion of the original.
US08339679B2 Image processing apparatus, method, and medium storing program thereof for generating image data having a dot image used to suppress information leakage
A region of a latent image and that of a background image in a first dot image are converted into binary data so as to have different binary data, and a region of the latent image in the binary data is converted into dot data by expressing that region as dots. A second dot image is converted into outline data by removing dots of a region corresponding to the region of the latent image to form an outline region. The converted dot data and converted outline data are composited to generate a dot image including the outline data as a latent image and the dot data as a background image.
US08339674B2 Halftone independent correction of spatial non-uniformities
A method and apparatus are provided for compensating for spatial non-uniformities in a printer by deriving a true spatial non-uniformity tone response curve (TRC) that characterizes the printer in terms of color output variation for each addressable pixel location in a spatial range. The “true average” tone response curve is determined for a color channel. A prediction of the true response as a function of the spatial location is derived by printing and scanning a specially designed halftone-independent target of binary patterns. The predicted tone response curve for each color channel and halftone is predicted using a binary printer model, wherein the “predicted tone response curve” provides a model based approximation of the actual response for each addressable pixel location in the spatial range. Also stored is an “average predicted tone response” by averaging the “predicted tone response curve” over the spatial range of the printer.
US08339671B2 Methods and systems for rendering data by partitioning a graphics list
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for rendering graphical objects in a printing system. According to one aspect of the present invention a graphic list may be partitioned, and the graphic-list partitions may be rendered “out-of-order” or concurrently.
US08339664B2 Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and control method thereof
A raster image processor (RIP) can process data for one page for each of a plurality of small areas, and handles each individual small area as a display list. Each individual display list holds information required to determine a rendering resolution. The RIP renders a small area including a text object with a high resolution, and a small area which does not include any text object with a low resolution. The RIP renders the respective small areas with the designated resolutions, and temporarily holds the rendering results in a memory for respective small areas. Upon generating a page image, the RIP directly transfers the high-resolution rendering result to a page memory. The RIP transfers the low-resolution rendering result to the page memory with applying an enlarging pixel process to the rendering result.
US08339651B2 Printer and computer-readable recording medium storing printing program
A printer includes a connection device that connects to an external device, a printing device that prints a character on a print medium, an input device that inputs the character and an instruction, and a first data acquisition device that acquires first data created in the external device via the connection device. The printer further includes a print history storage device that stores print history information of the first data and a second data used for printing by the printing device among the first data acquired by the first data acquisition device and the second data created based on the character and the instruction inputted by the input device. The printer also includes a print control device that causes the printing device to perform printing based on the print history information stored in the print history storage device.
US08339642B2 Apparatus, method, and system for processing character data
An apparatus, method, and system for processing character data is provided, which selects a format of the character data to be used for generating print data. When a user instruction for printing character data according to character command data specifying the output of the character data is received, the format of the character data is selected based on the character command data.
US08339631B2 Image forming apparatus and warming up method thereof
An image forming apparatus having a plurality of operations and a warming up method thereof, the image forming apparatus including: a user interface to receive a setting of a usage right of a user for a plurality of operations of the image forming apparatus and a login of the user while the image forming apparatus is in a power save mode; and a controller to perform a warming up for at least one operation corresponding to the usage right according to the login.
US08339630B2 Print-order receiving apparatus, printing apparatus, print-order receiving method, and computer program thereof
A print-order receiving apparatus includes a first memory unit for storing an administrator password used to determine whether or not to allow access to administrative information, a second memory unit for storing an order-confirmation password used to determine whether or not to perform printing, a first data-reading unit for reading image data from a first portable recording medium, a password requesting unit for requesting input of the order-confirmation password during an operation of receiving a print-order regarding the read image data, a second data-reading unit for reading password data from a second portable recording medium when the order-confirmation password is requested, and a print-determination unit for checking whether the read password data and the order-confirmation password match and for determining whether or not to print the image data.
US08339629B2 Data processing device, communication processing method, and computer program
To prevent a situation that an external device cannot confirm that a data processing device cannot execute data reception, the data processing device first notifies the external device of a first data size capable of being received by the data processing device and then notifies the external device a second data size larger than the first data size.
US08339626B2 Image forming apparatus and controlling method thereof
An image forming apparatus includes an engine unit to execute an image forming job, a determination unit to repeatedly determine whether the image forming apparatus is in a standby state or not, based on whether the standby state to wait for execution of the image forming job is maintained for a predetermined time or not, and a controller to control the image forming apparatus to operate in a first power saving mode if it is determined that the image forming apparatus is in the standby state, wherein, in the first power saving mode, information stored in a volatile memory is copied to an internal memory and operation frequencies of a CPU, the volatile memory, and an intellectual property are lowered. Accordingly, power consumption in the standby state is reduced in a stepwise manner.
US08339625B2 Secure print job management using machine-readable markings in an image production device
A method for secure print job management using machine-readable markings in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a signal to print a secure print job from a user, identifying the user, generating a machine-readable marking based on the identification of the user, storing the secure print job and the generated machine-readable marking, receiving a signal to release the secure print job, retrieving the generated machine-readable marking, scanning the user's machine-readable marking, determining if the information encoded in the user's machine-readable marking matches the information encoded in the generated machine-readable marking; wherein if it is determined that the information encoded in the user's machine-readable marking matches the information encoded in the generated machine-readable marking, printing the secure print job.
US08339623B2 Paper document processing apparatus, paper document processing method, and computer readable medium
A paper document processing apparatus includes: a document image acceptance unit that accepts an image acquired; a document image recording unit that records a document image in a storage; an attribute information acquisition unit that acquires attribute information based on the document image; an acquisition result evaluation unit that evaluates whether an acquisition result of the acquired attribute information is affirmative or negative; a medium output unit that outputs information indicating a scan status of the paper document that is formed on a medium while specifying the document image for which the acquisition result of attribute information is evaluated negative; a medium acceptance unit that accepts the information formed on the medium; and an attribute information reacquisition unit that reacquires the attribute information of the document image by specifying the document image in accordance with the accepted information.
US08339622B2 Image processing apparatus and integrated document generating method
An image processing apparatus includes a vectorizing unit configured to convert bitmap image data into vectorized data; an integrated document generating unit configured to generate an integrated document which includes the vectorized data and metadata; an accompanying information extraction unit configured to extract one or more of accompanying information relating to the bitmap image data from the bitmap image data; a selection unit configured to select accompanying information meeting conditions which have been defined beforehand out of one or more of accompanying information extracted by the accompanying information extraction unit; and a registration unit configured to register the accompanying information selected by the selection unit as the metadata of the integrated document.
US08339618B2 Method and apparatus for confirming attributes of media loaded in a media tray in an image production device
A method and apparatus for confirming attributes of media loaded in a media tray in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining which media tray of one or more media trays is being loaded with media using one or more media tray sensors, displaying a graphical representation of the media tray being loaded to a user on a user interface, prompting the user to enter and confirm attributes of the media being loaded into the media tray through the user interface, determining if confirmation has been received from the user interface, wherein if it is determined that the confirmation has been received from the user interface, storing the confirmed attributes for the determined media tray in a memory, and processing print jobs using the stored media tray attributes.
US08339601B2 Counting bacteria and determining their susceptibility to antibiotics
A method for detecting and counting particles suspended in fluids, such as bacteria suspended in urine, utilizing dynamic features of the suspended particles and employing light scattering measurements. The disclosed method is suitable for determining the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. A cuvette for detecting bacteria in fluids, which is especially suited for the light scattering measurements, is provided.
US08339600B2 Dual waveband compact catadioptric imaging spectrometer
A catadioptric dual waveband imaging spectrometer that covers the visible through short-wave infrared, and the midwave infrared spectral regions, dispersing the visible through shortwave infrared with a zinc selenide grating and midwave infrared with a sapphire prism. The grating and prism are at the cold stop position, enabling the pupil to be split between them. The spectra for both wavebands are focused onto the relevant sections of a single dual waveband detector. Spatial keystone distortion is controlled to less than one tenth of a pixel over the full wavelength range, facilitating the matching of the spectra in the midwave infrared with the shorter wavelength region.
US08339590B2 Fiber cable distortion detection system and method
A fiber cable distortion detection system includes a broadband source, an optical source fiber disposed in optical communication with the broadband source, an optical fiber under test (FUT) disposed in optical communication with the optical source fiber and an optical spectrum analyzer disposed in optical communication with the optical source fiber. The system combines the refection of the distortion with the reflection from the source/FUT interface using a 1×2 fiber coupler, the location of the distortion is precisely determined with high resolution by the spectrum of the combined signal. The system is miniaturized to the size of a hand-held device suitable for use in airplane cable plant installation or in an environment where space is limited.
US08339569B2 Temperature-control device for an optical assembly
A temperature-control device is used for controlling the temperature of an optical assembly with at least one optical body, the temperature of which is to be controlled, with at least one optical surface which can be acted upon by a heat flow. The temperature-control device has a heat sink to receive a heat flow, which is emitted by the optical body or a transmission body which is in thermal connection with the optical body. The heat sink is arranged adjacent to a peripheral region of the optical surface. The temperature-control device has a heating mechanism with at least one heating body, which is arranged adjacent to the optical body. The heating body is connected via a physical heat bridge to the heat sink.
US08339567B2 Radial-shaped liquid crystal compound, and optical film and liquid crystal display device comprising the same
The present invention relates to a radial-shaped liquid crystal compound, and an optical film and a liquid crystal display device comprising the same. Particularly the present invention provides a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 comprising a radial-shaped core of tetraphenyl ethylene in which four phenyl groups are bonded to an ethylene group, and makes it possible to provide an optical film which can minimize the change of color according to viewing angle and has an improved contrast ratio and high refractive anisotropy, and a liquid crystal display device comprising the same, by using the compound.
US08339564B2 Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display includes: a pair of substrates having display regions in positions facing each other and surrounding regions around the display regions, respectively, one of the pair of substrates including a wire made of a material blocking an ultraviolet ray in the surrounding region; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates; and a sealing layer arranged so as to overlap a part or the whole of the wire in a direction where the pair of substrates face each other, and sealing the liquid crystal layer, in which the sealing layer is made of a light-curable resin or a combination type resin and includes a photopolymerization initiator, and the content of the photopolymerization initiator is within a range of 0.01 wt % to 1 wt %, and the photopolymerization initiator has a wavelength peak of 320 nm to 420 nm.
US08339563B2 Liquid crystal imager and method of making same
The disclosed LCOS device comprises a transparent composite plate, a planar liquid crystal cell, a base plate which contains an active matrix driving circuitry. In the basic embodiment, the planar liquid crystal cell comprises a conductive seal ring which encloses liquid crystal filling and connects the transparent conductive layer underneath the transparent composite plate with the base plate and the active matrix driving circuitry. In the extended embodiment, the base plate further incorporates a set of thru-substrate via and backside bond pads. The set of thru-substrate via electrically connect a set of input-output pads of the active matrix driving circuitry to the bottom bond pads underneath the base plate. In addition, the conductive seal ring electrically connects the transparent conductive film placed underneath the transparent front plane plate, preferably made of glass, to the active matrix driving circuitry on the base plate. Electrostatically charged between the transparent conductive coating and an electrode array layer including a planar array of reflective pixel electrodes on top of the base plate, planar liquid crystal cell is operated to produce spatial light modulation to incident illumination. The method of wafer level process and packaging of the disclosed LCOS imagers is further disclosed.
US08339562B2 Electro-optical device and method for manufacturing the same
Using thin film transistors (TFTs), an active matrix circuit, a driver circuit for driving the active matrix circuit or the like are formed on one substrate. Circuits such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory, necessary to drive an electric device, are formed using single crystalline semiconductor integrated circuit chips. After the semiconductor integrated circuit chips are adhered to the substrate, the chips are connected with wirings formed on the substrate by a chip on glass (COG) method, a wire bonding method or the like, to manufacture the electric device having a liquid crystal display (LCD) on one substrate.
US08339551B2 Electrode structure which supports self alignment of liquid deposition of materials
An improved two layer electrode structure is fabricated on a surface. According to one aspect of the invention, the first layer of the electrode structure is designed to provide electrical contact to a fluid electronic material and the second layer of the electrode structure is formed so as to constrain the fluid electronic material in a precise pattern. Alternatively, the second layer of the two-layer electrode structure includes a low surface energy material to further assist in constraining the fluid electronic material to the desired pattern. In another alternative, the first layer of the electrode structure includes a transparent electrode material, that is coupled to an electro-optical device. The second layer of this electrode structure includes a high conductivity material that is coupled to the first layer of the electrode structure in an area not directly over the electro-optical device to improve the conductivity of the transparent electrode structure.
US08339546B2 Liquid crystal display device with a pair of discotic viewing angle compensating films
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer which is arranged between first and second aligning films formed on inner sides of first and second substrates, has liquid crystal molecules twist-aligned in a direction from the first aligning film toward the second aligning film when an electric field is not applied between first and second electrodes, and generates retardation of substantially λ/2 with respect to transmitted light. First and second polarizing plates are arranged on outer sides of the first and second substrates. A transmission axis or an absorption axis of the first polarizing plate is substantially matched with a direction along which the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the first aligning film are aligned when a sufficiently intensive electric field is applied.
US08339544B2 Display panel, thin film transistor array panel, and method for repairing display panel
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a display panel having a plurality of pixels, the display panel including a first substrate, and a color filter including a plurality of first color filters disposed on the first substrate and a second color filter having a black color and disposed in the same layer as the first color filters.
US08339542B2 Passive and hybrid daylight-coupled N-stack and collapsible backlights for sunlight viewable displays
A passive daylight-coupled display having an LCD panel, a diffuser, and a curved reflector behind the LCD panel. For passive backlighting, the diffuser transmits daylight to the reflector, which reflects the daylight to the LCD panel and provides for substantially uniform distribution of the daylight on the LCD panel for backlighting it. An N-stack daylight-coupled display includes a plurality of passive backlights cascaded in a stack for backlighting of LCD panels or static display panels. One N-stack display can include an active light source to provide light to the reflectors, and a secondary light source to provide light to at least one of the reflectors to provide backlighting of the display in low lighting conditions. A collapsible daylight-coupled display includes a daylight-coupled backlight that is collapsible when not in use for hand-held or portable display devices.
US08339537B2 Display
A display includes an outer frame defining an circumferential opening in a center, a protective glass accommodated in the opening, an inner frame mounted to the outer frame below the glass, and a liquid crystal display panel mounted to the inner frame. The inner side of the outer frame bounding the opening defines a latching slot to receive sides of the protective glass. The protective glass protects the liquid crystal display panel from being scraped or scratched.
US08339536B2 Display module, display-module support structure and liquid crystal display apparatus
A display module is equipped with a display panel having a display screen for displaying images on a front side of the panel. A panel chassis is provided on a rear side of the display panel with respect to the display screen. The display module is assembled with a plurality of fixing members. Each fixing member has a panel holder to hold the display panel as covering a portion of a periphery of the display screen and a chassis coupling member coupled to the panel chassis so that the display panel is interposed between the panel holder and the panel chassis.
US08339534B2 Display device
A display device includes gate lines; data lines; charge control lines each including a charge control voltage input pad; first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) each including control and input electrodes connected to the gate and data lines, respectively; a first liquid crystal capacitor connected to an output electrode of the first TFT; a second liquid crystal capacitor connected to an output electrode of the second TFT; a charge control TFT including a control electrode and an input electrode connected to one of the charge control lines and the second pixel electrode, respectively; and a charge-down capacitor connected to an output electrode of the charge control TFT. A duration time of a turn-on voltage pulse applied to the charge control TFT is different from a duration time of a turn-on voltage pulse applied to the first TFT transistor or the second TFT.
US08339533B2 Vertical alignment mode liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A vertical alignment liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate. The first substrate includes a first insulation substrate, as well as a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode disposed in a same layer with the first pixel electrode on the first insulation substrate. The second substrate includes a second insulation substrate, a first patterned conductive layer disposed on only a portion of the second insulation substrate which is above the first pixel electrode, and a second patterned conductive layer disposed on only a portion of the second insulation substrate which is above the second pixel electrode.
US08339517B2 Television broadcast receiving apparatus
A television broadcast receiving apparatus has a demodulating unit including a PLL part synchronizing a phase of an IF signal with a phase of an internally generated carrier signal and outputting an out-of-synchronization flag signal when the IF signal and the carrier signal are in an unsynchronized state, and a muting part muting a sound intermediate frequency signal and outputting a noise signal of a predetermined level when the out-of-synchronization flag signal is outputted from the PLL part. Therefore, even when an IF amplifier of a tuning unit amplifies a noise at the maximum gain when there is no signal, an abnormal sound can be prevented from being outputted from a speaker of a decode and output unit.
US08339515B2 Image signal generating apparatus, image signal generating method, and image signal generating program
Disclosed is an image signal generating apparatus that includes a video information obtaining unit that obtains a plurality of video information, a characteristic information obtaining unit that obtains a plurality of predetermined characteristic information from each of the plurality of video information obtained by the video information obtaining unit, and a sorting unit that changes an order of displaying the plurality of the video information based on each of the plurality of characteristic information obtained from the characteristic information obtaining unit. The image signal generating apparatus further includes a display image signal generating unit that generates a video signal to display the plurality of video information based on information obtained, as a result of changing the order of displaying the plurality of the video information, from the sorting unit.
US08339514B2 Modular flexible software architecture for TV
Rather than have a unique code set per TV product, a common code base is provided to service multiple products and even multiple product lines. Embedded systems can be upgraded through a network connection. The software architecture provides a flexible approach to supporting multiple product offerings through a plug-in modular middle-ware and to providing standardized hardware acceleration for both 2D and 3D graphics. The plug-in capability provides for feature additions and upgrades after sale.
US08339510B2 Vibrating device and image equipment having the same
A vibrating device includes a vibrator having a dust-screening member which is shaped like a plate as a whole and has at least one side that is symmetric with respect to a symmetry axis, and a vibrating member secured to the dust-screening member and configured to produce, at the dust-screening member, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to a surface of the dust-screening member, and a hold and support member configured to hold and support the vibrator to a fixed member. The hold and support position by the hold and support member is arranged at position along a circle or ellipse concentric to the centroid of the vibrator such that peak ridges of the vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface of the dust-screening member form closed loops.
US08339508B2 Method and apparatus for low-light imaging enhancement
A device and methods are provided for low-light imaging enhancement by a digital imaging device. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an image associated with ambient lighting of a scene, detecting an image associated with artificial lighting of the scene, aligning the image associated with ambient lighting relative to the image associated with artificial lighting based on a motion parameter of ambient lighting image data and artificial lighting image data, and calculating data for a combined image based on aligned ambient lighting image data and artificial lighting image data, wherein image data for the combined image is selected to maximize an objective quality criterion of the combined image. The method may further include determining an image parameter based on ambient lighting image data, blending image data associated with the artificial lighting and the combined image based on the image parameter to generate a tone rendered image.
US08339497B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program for checking plural stored images
An information processing apparatus includes: display means for displaying an image; operation input receiving means for receiving a user's operation input; and display control means for making a display control of allowing an image to correspond to an image card as an object imitating a real card, displaying a check image, which indicates a shape in which a plurality of the image cards overlap, on the display means, and displaying one of an image corresponding to a specific image card and information indicating the image in a partial or overall area of the specific image card when a check operation indicating an instruction to check the specific image card among the plurality of image cards is received by the operation input receiving means.
US08339496B2 Highspeed image selecting method and digital camera having highspeed image selecting function
In a digital camera operation method, photographic images are taken with the camera and a corresponding compressed high resolution image and also a corresponding lower resolution image is stored for each. A fast display mode of the camera sequentially displays individual lower resolution display images, using the data of one of the lower resolution images. A normal display mode displays high resolution display images by expanding and displaying one of the compressed high resolution images. When changing from the fast display mode to the normal display mode, the lower resolution display image currently displayed can be replaced with the corresponding high resolution display image.
US08339494B1 Image sensor with controllable vertically integrated photodetectors
An image sensor includes front-side and backside photodetectors of a first conductivity type disposed in a substrate layer of the first conductivity type. A front-side pinning layer of a second conductivity type is connected to a first contact. The first contact receives a predetermined potential. A backside pinning layer of the second conductivity type is connected to a second contact. The second contact receives an adjustable and programmable potential.
US08339492B2 Image sensor inhibiting electrical shorts in a contract plug penetrating an image sensing device and method for manufacturing the same
An image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. An image sensor comprises a readout circuitry, an interlayer dielectric, an interconnection, an image sensing device, and a contact. The readout circuitry is formed at a first substrate. The interlayer dielectric is formed on the first substrate. The interconnection is formed in the interlayer dielectric. The interconnection is electrically connected to the readout circuitry. The image sensing device is formed on the interconnection. The image sensing device comprises a first conductive type layer and a second conductive type layer. The contact connects the first conductive type layer of the image sensing device and the interconnection electrically. The contact is isolated from the second conductive type layer by a trench formed in the second conductive layer around the contact.
US08339490B2 Imaging device and camera with a local voltage supply circuit having a constant load current
An imaging device is disclosed. The device includes: a unit pixel that outputs an analog electric signal in accordance with a signal charge; a local voltage supply circuit that generates a local voltage different from an operation voltage; a reference signal generation section that generates a reference signal based on the local voltage provided by the local voltage supply circuit; and a processing section that converts, by referring to the reference signal generated by the reference signal generation section, the analog signal provided by the unit pixel into a digital signal. In the imaging device, the reference signal generation section keeps constant a load current of the local voltage supply circuit in an operating state.
US08339486B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus, imaging method, and imaging system
A solid-state imaging apparatus 10 includes a solid-state imaging device 40, and a color filter 16 constituted of a first color filter 16a (first filter) and a second color filter 16b (second filter). The solid-state imaging device 40 photoelectrically converts light incident to a face S1 (first face) thereof to thereby capture an image of an object to be imaged. Arranged on the face S1 of the solid-state imaging device 40 is the first color filter 16a and second color filter 16b. The first color filter 16a is a filter that allows first wavelength band light to be selectively transmitted therethrough; the second color filter 16b is a filter that allows second wavelength band light in the longer wavelength side relative to the first wavelength band to be selectively transmitted therethrough.
US08339485B2 Apparatus, method and computer readable storage medium outputting a processed signal having corrected gamma values to a location based on a user indication
A video signal processing apparatus includes a user interface unit, a gamma correction value calculating unit, and a gamma correction value storage unit. The user interface unit receives a designation of values of at least three points that form a gamma curve used during gamma correction of a video signal. The gamma correction value calculating unit calculates gamma correction values by substituting coefficients, obtained by an approximation calculation carried out on the values of the at least three points, whose designation is received by the user interface unit, into an exponential function using the coefficients as parameters. The gamma correction value storage unit stores the gamma correction values calculated by the gamma correction value calculating unit and is operable when an indication confirming the gamma correction values has been received from the user, to output the gamma correction values to a gamma correction unit carrying out processing for gamma correction.
US08339483B2 Image processing device, solid-state imaging device, and camera module
According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes a shading correcting unit, a distortion correcting unit, a lens-characteristic estimating unit, and a resolution restoring unit. The shading correcting unit, the distortion correcting unit, the lens-characteristic estimating unit, the resolution restoring unit carry out signal processing for each of image data obtained by a plurality of sub-camera modules.
US08339471B2 Auto white balance algorithm using RGB product measure
A method and device is provided for adjusting the white balance of a digital image by adjusting the values assigned to the red, green, and blue subpixels of a pixel in the image. The adjustment to the subpixels is determined by identifying pixels in the image that have an RGB product greater than a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is based at least in part on an average of the RGB products of each pixel in the image and a variance between the RGB products of the pixels and the average of the RGB products.
US08339468B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and image pickup apparatus
In an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image pickup apparatus according to an aspect of the invention, a compression characteristic is generated based on one of multiple smoothed images to be generated based on an input image, and a compressed base component image having a smaller dynamic range than the dynamic range of a base component image is generated by using the compression characteristic. The image processing device, the image processing method, and the image pickup apparatus enable to more advantageously define a proper compression characteristic, and compress the dynamic range of the input image in a simplified manner and with high quality, as compared with the background art.
US08339465B2 Image capture apparatus
In the presence of a switching instruction of operation modes in an image capture apparatus, it is examined whether image data is being transferred or not. When the image data is not being transferred, the operation modes are immediately switched. When the image data is being transferred, the operation modes are switched after the completion of transfer.
US08339459B2 Multi-camera head pose tracking
Techniques and technologies for tracking a face with a plurality of cameras wherein a geometry between the cameras is initially unknown. One disclosed method includes detecting a head with two of the cameras and registering a head model with the image of the head (as detected by one of the cameras). The method also includes back projecting the other detected face image to the head model and determining a head pose from the back-projected head image. Furthermore, the determined geometry is used to track the face with at least one of the cameras.
US08339456B2 Apparatus for intelligent and autonomous video content generation and streaming
A system for automatically capturing an event of interest in a venue is disclosed, comprising a plurality of cameras for capturing video images of the event; and at least one processor communicatively connected to said plurality of cameras and con figured to execute a plurality of modules, said modules comprising a rectification module for combining the video images to form a wide-angle view; at least one of a motion analysis module configured for tracking salient blobs that are not part of a background of the wide-angle view, an activity analysis module configured for extracting temporal and spatial patterns from the wide-angle view, and a shape and appearance module configured for selecting one or more objects in the wide-angle view based on descriptors that are scale and rotational invariant; and a region of interest selector for selecting a viewpoint from the wide-angle view based on output from at least one of the motion analysis module, the activity analysis module, and the shape and appearance module, wherein the region of interest selector outputs the selected viewpoint for display. The system further comprises at least one audio recording device for capturing audio from the event; and means for synchronizing the video images and audio.
US08339455B2 System for monitoring persons by using cameras
According to one embodiment, a monitoring system is provided, which has a personal authentication unit and a camera. The personal authentication unit is provided near a security gate and authenticates a person allowed to pass through the security gate. The camera photographs an area near the security gate, in which the personal authentication unit is provided. The monitoring system further has a data generation unit configured to generate personal attribute data about the person authenticated by the personal authentication unit, a person identification unit configured to identify the person authenticated, on the basis of video data generated by the camera, and a monitoring data generation unit configured to generate monitoring data composed of video data and metadata. The video data represents an image including the person identified by the person identification unit. The metadata is associated with the video data and containing the personal attribute data.
US08339446B2 Adaptive camera and illuminator eyetracker
An eye tracker includes at least one illuminator for illuminating an eye, at least two cameras for imaging the eye, and a controller. The configuration of the reference illuminator(s) and cameras is such that, at least one camera is coaxial with a reference illuminator and at least one camera is non-coaxial with a reference illuminator. The controller is adapted to select one of the cameras to be active to maximize an image quality metric and avoid obscuring objects. The eye tracker is operable in a dual-camera mode to improve accuracy. A method and computer-program product for selecting a combination of an active reference illuminator from a number of reference illuminators, and an active camera from a plurality of cameras are provided.
US08339445B2 Component placing apparatus
[Problems]To provide a component placing apparatus capable of effectively preventing the occurrence of a suction error by appropriately adjusting a displacement between respective coordinate systems of a placing head and imaging device while efficiently performing suction position recognition using the imaging device that is movable independently of the placing head.[Means for Solving the Problems]A component mounting apparatus (1) includes a placing head (4) that transports a chip component (6) supplied from a component supply portion (5) by sucking the chip component (6), and a suction position recognition camera (32) that is provided to be movable independently of the placing head (4) and takes an image of the chip component (6) before the placing head (4) sucks the chip component (6) from the component supply portion (5). A control unit (40) that controls an operation of the component mounting apparatus (1) checks a correlation of the respective coordinate systems of the placing head (4) and the suction position recognition camera (32) at predetermined timing and corrects an amount of movement when the placing head (4) accesses the chip component (6) in the component supply portion (5) on the basis of this correlation.
US08339442B2 Image conversion method and image conversion apparatus
An image conversion apparatus includes an image signal input unit repeatedly inputting an odd-numbered frame of a first parallax, an odd-numbered frame of a second parallax, an even-numbered frame of the first parallax, and an even-numbered frame of the second parallax, in this order; a frame memory storing the first and second parallax data having been input; a memory control unit alternately reading as field data (m+1) pieces (m is an integer of one or larger than one) of identical odd-numbered frames of the first parallax and m pieces of identical odd-numbered frames of the second parallax, and subsequently alternately reading as field data m pieces of identical even-numbered frames of the first parallax and (m+1) pieces of identical even-numbered frames of the second parallax; and an image output unit outputting the field data having been read.
US08339441B2 Frame processing device, television receiving apparatus and frame processing method
A three-dimensional video is appropriately displayed. A frame processing device includes: a frame extraction module configured to sequentially extract image frames for left eye and for right eye from a three-dimensional video signal; a frame group generation module configured to alternately generate frame groups for left eye and for right eye based on the extracted image frames for left eye and for right eye; a frame storage module configured to sequentially store the alternately generated frame groups for left eye and for right eye; a video processing module configured to sequentially extract the image frames from the frame storage module, and sequentially rewriting a display screen; and a display invalidation module configured to invalidate the display on the display screen during periods of rewriting the image frame for left eye to that for right eye and the image frame for right eye to that for left eye.
US08339439B2 Method of speeding up video recovery of videotelephony after an interruption and mobile terminal and system using the same
Recovery or resynchronization of an ongoing videotelephony communication between a near terminal and a distant terminal is achieved with mechanisms between the radio connection protocol stack in control of the radio connection on network level and the videotelephony protocol stack which is responsible for handling the audio and video data of an ongoing videotelephony communication between the near and distant terminals. A videotelephony agent in the near terminal is aware of an absence the availability of the radio connection to the data network as may be caused by a UMTS handover, so that the videotelephony agent, after resumption of the videotelephony connection, requests the distant videotelephony agent to generate an independently encoded frame of the actual video image of the distant agent for fast resynchronization.
US08339438B2 Web based access to video associated with calls
In a communication environment where a voice bearer is established between a multimedia terminal of a first user and a voice terminal of a second user to allow voice communications between the first and second users, the present invention allows the second user to gain access to video content of the first user through a web session.
US08339427B2 Display drive apparatus and display apparatus
A display pixel including a light-emitting element and a drive element for supplying current flowing in a current path to the light-emitting element is applied with a detection voltage based on a predetermined unit voltage. Based on a value of current flowing in the current path of the drive element, a specific value corresponding to an element characteristic of the drive element is detected. A gradation voltage corresponding to a luminance gradation of display data is generated. Based on the specific value and the unit voltage, a compensated voltage is generated. By compensating the gradation voltage based on the compensated voltage, a compensated gradation voltage is generated. And the compensated gradation voltage is supplied to the display pixel.
US08339425B2 Method of driving pixels and display apparatus for performing the method
A pixel is driven by first converted image data having a first polarity and being converted by an A-gamma curve during an (N)th frame where ‘N’ is a natural number. The pixel is driven by second converted image data having a second polarity opposite to the first polarity and being converted using the A-gamma curve during an (N+1)th frame. The pixel is driven by third converted image data having the first polarity and being converted using a B-gamma curve different from the A-gamma curve during an (N+2)th frame. The pixel is driven by fourth converted image data having the second polarity and being converted by the B-gamma curve during an (N+3)th frame.
US08339421B2 Image processing apparatus and method and image display apparatus and method
There are provided a first image enlarging means (2A) for enlarging the input image (Din) and outputting a first enlarged image (D2A); a high-frequency component image generating means (1) for extracting a high-frequency component of the input image (Din) and generating a first high-frequency component image (D1); a second image enlarging means (2B) for enlarging the first high-frequency component image (D1) and outputting a second enlarged image (D2B); a high-frequency component image processing means (3) for processing the second enlarged image (D2B) and generating a second high-frequency component image (D3); and a means (4) for adding the first enlarged image (D2A) and the second high-frequency component image (D3) and outputting the result. This provides the enlarged image with adequate high-frequency components, and a sense of resolution of the enlarged image can be obtained.
US08339420B2 Method and apparatus for producing size-appropriate images to be displayed by an electronic device with a small display area
The contents of a small image displayed on the back side can be made easy to understand. A layout managing portion outputs display area information indicating display areas of respective small images displayed on the small image list, and arrangement information of respective small images displayed on the small image list. An image zooming portion produces a zoom image by zooming in or out an image of a main area of an original image extracted by a main area extracting portion in response to an area of the display area being output from the layout managing portion produces the small images displayed on the small image list by expanding or contracting the produced zoom image. An image layout designing portion produces the small image list by arranging respective generated small images at predetermined locations of the small image list, based on arrangement information output from the layout managing portion.
US08339418B1 Embedding a real time video into a virtual environment
Generating combined content suitable for including in a virtual environment is disclosed. A background associated with the virtual environment is inputted. A real time video inputted. The background is combined with the real time video to generate combined content. The combined content is suitable for including in the virtual environment.
US08339415B2 Apparatus, method, and medium for encoding and displaying composite images
An image processing apparatus is disclosed which can integrate a plurality of images without depending upon header information of a file. Information of one or more images is inputted as a main image or images. Incidental information relating to the inputted main image or images such as information necessary for integration of a plurality of images is encoded into a first encoded image which can be discriminated based on a visual characteristic and a second encoded image such as a barcode which can be discriminated by an image analysis. The inputted main image or images and the first and second encoded images are integrated so as to be displayed in compartmentalized respective regions of a display screen, and header information is added to the composite image to produce structured image information.
US08339414B2 Monitoring graphics processing
A graphics processing apparatus is provided with rendering circuitry which separately renders different areas of a frame of pixel values. Monitoring circuitry coupled to the rendering circuitry captures for each area rendered one or more parameters and stores these parameters to a parameter memory. A performance frame can be generated from the captured and stored parameters with performance-representing pixel values for each area within the performance frame corresponding to an area within the image frame and having a visual characteristic selected in dependence upon the performance parameter which was captured. The visual characteristic may be a grey-scale value, a pixel intensity or a pixel color.
US08339412B2 Video processing device, recording medium, video signal processing method, video signal processing program, and integrated circuit
It is possible to realize a novel video processing device that can utilize the compatibility between the spaces of an encoded image in an xvYCC system with a wide color gamut and an encoded image in the conventional YCbCr system. The video signal processing device detects the type of the recording medium with a video medium type detection portion, obtains the color gamut of the video signal with a video color gamut obtaining portion, determines a color adjustment parameter with a color adjustment parameter determining portion, performs color adjustment on the video signal with a video color adjustment portion based on that parameter, records the color-adjusted video signal to the recording medium.
US08339401B2 Curved surface importing device and method
A curved surface importing device and method imports character strings of graphic parameters and graphic attributes of graphs from an initial graphic exchange specification (IGES) document, and analyzes the character strings of each of the graphs to generate a graphic model. The curved surface importing device converts the graphic model to a plurality of free-form curves and a free-form curved surface, connects each of the free-form curves to generate a closed boundary curve, and cuts out a contour surface from the free-form curved surface according to the closed boundary curve. The curved surface importing device further meshes the contour surface using a plurality of triangles, and determines an approximate poly-line of a boundary of the contour surface. The plurality of triangles and the approximate poly-line of a boundary of the contour surface are displayed on a display screen.
US08339397B2 Method and apparatus for high-speed shadowing using shadow volumes
Appropriate shadowing processing is performed even if coordinate conversion calculation values of polygons have errors. A calculation section 5 performs hidden surface removal processing on normal polygons based on visual-point coordinates and depth values from a visual-point coordinate conversion processing unit 1, and updates a pixel memory 6 and a Z-buffer memory 7. Further, based on a comparison result of obtained depth values of each polygon and Z values stored in the Z-buffer memory 7, shadowing is performed only on a coordinate region positioned in front of back-facing shadow polygons and behind front-facing shadow polygons when seen from a visual point, and the pixel memory 6 is updated. As a result, even if coordinate conversion calculation values in graphic data on polygons have errors, an edge portion of the shadow polygons which is not intended to be shadowed is not shadowed.
US08339395B2 Method and apparatus for model compression
Aspects of the disclosure provide a lossless compression method for 3D mesh models. The method can be combined or layered with other compression methods to provide additional data compression capability. The method for compressing a mesh model having geometry information and connectivity information of vertices can include defining a first set of vertices having a same connectivity property, determining a subset of the first set of vertices that are encompassed by an area defined by the first set of vertices, and encoding the mesh model without the connectivity information for the subset of the first set of vertices.
US08339388B2 Controlling an energy recovery stage of a plasma screen
A method and a circuit for controlling a power recovery stage of a plasma display panel including a resonant circuit of at least one inductive element and one capacitive element, wherein the capacitive element is precharged to half a supply voltage of the display panel.
US08339382B2 Stylus and electronic device using the same
A stylus includes a tube body, a touch end connected to the tube body, an inflatable balloon enwrapping the tube body such that the tube body and the balloon cooperatively define a sealed chamber, and an inflating mechanism for inserting gas into the sealed chamber to inflate the balloon and therefore, the size of the stylus is adjustable and convenient for using.
US08339370B2 Display device and method of sensing input point using magnetic fluid
A display device and method of sensing an input point using magnetic fluid, the display device including: a touch panel part to receive a user input through a touch at an input point and to calculate a coordinate value of the input point; an electromagnet arrangement part comprising a plurality of electromagnets to generate a magnetic force on one or more electromagnets in a portion corresponding to the coordinate value; and a magnetic fluid part to obtain magnetism at the portion corresponding to the coordinate vale and to project in accordance with the generated magnetic force.
US08339368B2 Input device
An input device includes an input section formed of a display sheet and a coordinate input sheet, and a switch section allowing a push-input and placed on a substrate at a place corresponding to a display section of the display sheet. A foamed layer containing air and working as an insulating resin layer is placed between the input section and the substrate. The input section is supported via the foamed layer.
US08339365B2 Computer mouse and operating method thereof
A computer mouse includes a housing, a first container secured in the housing, and a second container secured in the first container, a timing unit, and a processor. The first container defines through holes. The first container and the second container are spaced by a distance to define a receiving space being partly filling in liquid. Suspending members extends through the through holes. One end of the suspending member is received in the receiving space. The density of the suspending members is less than that of the liquid Sensitive switches are attached to the first container. A method for the mouse includes determining whether any one of the second contacts is charged; generating a position signal, controlling the timing unit to time; determining the movement direction of the a cursor; determining the movement distance of the cursor; and generating cursor control signal for controlling movement of the cursor.
US08339355B2 LED backlight drive
An LED backlight drive for driving an LED backlight having a plurality of LED lines L1-L3 connected in parallel to a power feed line S4, each of the LED lines having an arbitrary number of LEDs connected in series, the LED backlight drive including: an arithmetic section 12 for calculating a delay time from driving one of the plurality of LED lines L1-L3 to driving the next LED line; a signal generator 13 for generating a plurality of control signals successively at intervals corresponding to the delay time calculated by the arithmetic section; and a driver 14 for driving the plurality of LED lines successively in response to the plurality of control signals generated by the signal generator.
US08339349B2 Gate driving unit for liquid crystal display device and method of repairing the same
A gate driving unit for a liquid crystal display device including a plurality of liquid crystal pixels, first to Nth gate lines, a plurality of liquid crystal capacitors and a plurality of thin film transistors, includes first and second clock signal lines for providing first and second clock signals; first to Nth shift registers respectively corresponding to the first to Nth gate lines, the first to Nth shift registers receiving one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal and outputting first to Nth scanning signals, respectively; a redundant repair shift register as (N+1)th shift register receiving one of first and second clock signals and outputting a repair scanning signal; a plurality of first switches for respectively connecting one of the first and second clock signal lines to the first to Nth shift registers and the redundant repair shift register; a plurality of second switches for respectively switching a connection of the first to Nth shift registers with the first to Nth gate lines; and a plurality of third switches for respectively switching a connection of the second to Nth shift registers and the redundant repair shift register with the first to Nth gate lines, wherein N is positive integer.