| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08348171B2 |
Smartcard interconnect
A smart card inlay and method for assembling the same are provided. The method includes attaching a first trace to a substrate, attaching a second trace to the substrate, attaching an antenna wire to the substrate, coupling a first end of the antenna wire to a first area of the first trace, and coupling a second end of the antenna wire to a first area of the second trace. A second area of the first trace and a second area of the second trace are configured to be coupled to an integrated circuit (IC) or IC module, and the first area of the first trace is located away from the second area of the first trace and the first area of the second trace is located away from the second area of the second trace. |
| US08348168B2 |
Focus adjustment with liquid crystal device in imaging scanner
A method and apparatus for using in an imaging scanner. The apparatus includes an illumination source, a solid-state imager, a liquid crystal device, a lens system, and a decoding circuitry. The liquid crystal device has a liquid crystal material sandwiched between two parallel plate structures. The lens system is operative to focus light reflected from the target object onto the array of photosensitive elements in the solid-state imager through the liquid crystal device. The decoding circuitry is operative to decode a barcode on the target object from the image captured by the solid-state imager. |
| US08348165B2 |
Optical reader having an imager
There is described a device having a two dimensional imager. The device having a two dimensional image sensor can be a hand held device. Imaging optics can be provided for focusing light reflected from a target onto the two dimensional imager. An image including imaging data can be obtained utilizing the hand held device. The image can include a representation of a signature. |
| US08348162B2 |
Foreign substance detection device for card reader and card reader socket
A foreign substance detection device for a card reader includes an emitting module (1), a receiving module (2) and a control processing module (3). The emitting module (1) is embedded on a wall surface of a card reader insertion opening (101) for emitting detection waves to a detection area (103) in front of the card reader insertion opening (101). The receiving module (2) is embedded on the wall surface of the card reader insertion opening (101) for receiving the detection waves emitted by the emitted the emitting module (1). The control processing module (3) identifies whether the receiving module (2) receives the detection wave reflected by the foreign substance in the detection area (103), and determines whether the foreign substance exists in the detection area (103) according to the determination result. A card reader socket which includes a case (100) and the foreign substance detection device is also provided. |
| US08348146B1 |
System and method for determining product authenticity
The system and method for determining product authenticity including a code assembly having a plurality of preferably three displayed companion codes visually observable on the product and purportedly associated therewith. A communication device is structured to input at least one of the displayed companion codes and transmitted to a remote processor facility. A database accessible by the processor facility includes a plurality of preferably three correct companion codes correctly associated with the product wherein receipt of the displayed companion codes from the communication device will facilitate access by the processor facility of the database and the plurality of correct companion codes associated with the product, wherein product authenticity is determined by a transmission of a predetermined one of the displayed companion codes back to the communication device for comparison with the one other of the displayed companion codes not transmitted to the processor facility. |
| US08348142B2 |
Carton with handle
A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. A handle comprises a first handle and a second handle. The first handle comprises a first opening feature and a second opening feature. The first and second opening features of the first handle comprise a plurality of tear lines and at least one of the tear lines extends into the first side panel. The second handle comprises a first opening feature and a second opening feature. The first and second opening features of the second handle comprise a plurality of tear lines and at least one of the tear lines extends into the second side panel. |
| US08348140B2 |
Clip file
The invention relates to a clip file, comprising a clip body with a front and a rear clip jaw (5) made from sheet steel, wherein both clip jaws (5) are connected by means of a yoke and the rear clip jaw rests against a rear wall of a rear cover of the file, while the front clip jaw (5) presses against a section of a multiply folded strip (2), provided with a window (4), formed from the longitudinal edge of the rear cover folded towards the front of the file and the strip (2) forms a stop which cooperates with a counter stop formed from an edge of the front clip jaw (5) folded inwards. According to the invention, the clip body may be provided with a defined grip point by means of a projection embossed in the center of at least the front clip jaw, the apex of which faces the yoke of the clip body. |
| US08348139B2 |
Composite solder alloy preform
Various embodiments of the invention provide laminate composite preform foils for high-temperature Pb-free soldering applications. The laminate composite preform foil is composed of a high-melting, ductile metal or alloy core layer and a low-melting solder coating layer at either side of the core layer. During soldering, the core metal, liquid solder layer, and substrate metals react and consume the low-melting solder phase to form high-melting intermetallic compound phases (IMCs). The resultant solder joint is composed of a ductile core layer sandwiched by the IMCs layers at substrate sides. The joint has a much higher remelt temperature than the original melting temperature of the initial solder alloy coating, allowing subsequent mounting of packaged devices. |
| US08348136B1 |
Friction stir welding apparatus, system and method
A method of performing friction stir welding is provided herein. More specifically, traditional friction stir welding requires a rotatable head that is forced against a plurality of work pieces to bond the same. The rotational and normal forces generated by the friction stir welding tool are generally reacted by a backing plate, anvil, mandrel or other mechanisms, such hardware are subject to the applied forces and are often supported with additional internal supports. Conversely, a method of performing a friction stir weld is described that omits the need for such a backing member and internal supports as it is performed using a self reacting pin tool. |
| US08348134B2 |
Composite silver nanoparticle, composite silver nanopaste, bonding method and patterning method
A cold formation method of composite silver nanoparticles has been established. Thus, provided are composite silver nanoparticles comprising a silver core, which is made up of aggregated silver atoms and has an average particle diameter of from 1 to 20 nm, and an organic coating layer formed thereon which comprises at least one member selected from an alcohol molecule derivative having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alcohol molecule residue or an alcohol molecule; a composite silver nanopaste which contains at least the composite silver nanoparticles and a solvent and/or a viscosity grant agent added thereto; a method of producing the same; an apparatus for producing the same; a method of bonding the same; and a method of patterning the same. The method of producing the composite silver nanoparticles comprising mixing silver salt microparticles with an alcohol solvent in excess to prepare an excess alcoholic solution, reacting the solution in a reaction chamber for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature, and thus forming silver cores from the silver salt at a low temperature by the reducing effect of the alcohol and also forming an organic coating layer derived from the above-described alcohol around the silver cores. |
| US08348129B2 |
Surgical stapler having a closure mechanism
A surgical stapler comprising a first handle portion comprising a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second handle portion comprising an anvil. The stapler further comprises a rotatable latch and a latch projection, wherein the latch is rotatably coupled to one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion and wherein the latch projection extends from the other of the first handle portion and the second handle portion. The latch is configured to engage the latch projection to move the first handle portion and the second handle portion toward one another. In various embodiments, the latch projection comprises a rotatable bearing wherein the latch is configured to contact the rotatable bearing when the latch engages the latch projection. |
| US08348126B2 |
Crimp and release of suture holding buttress material
A mechanism is provided for crimping and releasing a suture securing a strip of buttress material to an end effector. The mechanism includes a retention member movably mounted within the end effector. The retention member is movable from a first position crimping the suture to the end effector to a second position releasing the suture from the end effector. The mechanism additionally includes a follower member, engageable with the retention member, and movable in response to actuation of a surgical instrument to move the retention member between the first and second positions. A lock mechanism is also provided to secure the retention member in the first position. The follower member operates to disengage the lock mechanism. |
| US08348125B2 |
Battery powered surgical instrument
A surgical stapler has a handle assembly including a stationary handle and a trigger. The stapler also has a drive assembly with a body having a working end and a cam member supported on the working end. The cam member is positioned to translate relative to the anvil to maintain the anvil in the closed position during firing of the stapler. The trigger is operatively connected to a power cell. The power cell is operably connected to a motor of the drive assembly. The manipulation of the trigger actuates the power cell such that the power cell powers the drive assembly to effect translation of the cam member relative to the anvil. The stapler also has a channel for supporting the staple cartridge and the motor of the drive assembly controls the actuation sled supported within the cartridge. The actuation sled urges the plurality of staples from the cartridge when the anvil is in the closed position and in cooperative alignment with the staple cartridge. |
| US08348121B2 |
Stapler
A staple leg cutting mechanism includes a fixed cutter interposed between staple legs penetrated through binding sheets and a pair of movable cutters disposed movable from the outside of the staple legs to the inside thereof, and a clincher mechanism that includes a pair of movable clinchers, respectively disposed on the lower surface side of their associated movable cutters. The staple legs penetrated through the binding sheets are formed in an inwardly curved manner by the movable clinchers and are then guided into and between the movable cutters and fixed cutter. The movable cutters are moved from the outside of the staple legs to the inside thereof to cut the leading end portions of the staple legs, and the staple legs are bent along the binding sheets by the movable clinchers. |
| US08348113B2 |
Fixing assembly for carrying a bike
A fixing assembly for carrying a bike includes a main body having a transverse hole provided therein with transverse ribs to be secured with a rod of a carrying stand on a motor vehicle. The main body is formed with a concave portion with vertical ribs for positioning a bike frame rod or a bike wheel thereon, having a first strap with lots of one-way ratchets and a second strap for receiving an engaging device that has a base to be secured with the second strap. The base is provided with a micro-adjusting member for adjusting combined tightness of the first and the second strap, and an engaging member for engaging the one-way ratchets of the first strap to prevent the first strap from moving reversely and a releasing member for pulling open the engaging member to release and separate the first strap and the second strap. |
| US08348107B2 |
Food dispensing apparatus
A food dispensing apparatus comprises a first shell, at least one second shell disposed within the first shell, a nozzle coupled to the first shell and the at least one second shell, and a check valve disposed in the nozzle and coupled to the at least one second shell. The at least one second shell is suitable for containing a food component. The food dispensing apparatus is suitable for preventing air from entering the at least one second shell. |
| US08348104B2 |
Apparatus for dispensing fluids
An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid has a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber; a dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, and an elastic valve member in fluid communication with the valve inlet and defining a normally-closed valve opening; a manually engageable actuator; and a pump including a compressible member defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber. Multiple portions of the stored fluid are hermetically sealed in the variable-volume storage chamber. The actuator is manually engageable and movable between (i) a first position wherein the compression chamber defines a first volume, and (ii) a second position wherein the compression chamber defines a second volume less than the first volume. In the second position the fluid in the compression chamber exceeds a valve opening pressure and, in turn, moves the elastic valve member between (i) a normally closed position hermetically sealing the one-way valve and variable-volume storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere, and (ii) an open position permitting fluid flow through the valve opening. |
| US08348098B2 |
Dispensing device for dispensing a plurality of different preparations
A dispensing device dispenses at least two different preparations substantially simultaneously. The device has a delivery element to deliver a first preparation from a package to its surrounding environment when an actuating element, in at least one embodiment a trigger connected to a pump, is actuated. The dispensing device has a connection line between the delivery element and at least one portion cartridge for a second preparation. The portion cartridge is detachably coupled to the dispensing device such that as the actuating element is actuated, the first and second preparations can be simultaneously dispensed. |
| US08348094B2 |
Vacuum based pill singulator and counter based thereon
A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the discs rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated. The paddles aid in the pickup and agitation of the items while the vacuum management system conserves the vacuum capacity necessary to pickup and singulate items. The RFID tags may contain information such as the number of items left in the hopper, a par level for that item, an expiration date, among others. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims. |
| US08348088B2 |
Container with reinforced base
The container includes a floor and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the floor. The floor includes a first panel spaced away from a second panel by a plurality of ribs connecting the first panel to the second panel. The ribs each circumscribe an opening through the second panel. |
| US08348086B2 |
Plastic beer keg
A beer keg includes a container having a base and a wall extending upward from a periphery of the base. A liner within the container includes a base, sidewalls and a mouth. The base of the liner interlocks with the base of the container to prevent relative rotation therebetween. A valve is disposed over the mouth of the liner. |
| US08348075B2 |
Cap
A cap which has a female screw in the inner peripheral surface and which is to be screwed on a port neck part of a container main body holding a predetermined liquid, wherein a plurality of ribs radially extending astride from an inner surface of a top surface part of the cap to an inner surface of a peripheral wall part and integrally projecting inwards are formed on a peripheral edge part of the inner surface part. A female screw is a screw in the form of two threads composed of spiral mated ridges of two threads, for example. The liquid held in the container main body is, for example, a chlorine-based bleach which contains a surface active agent and a sodium hypochlorite. The mated ridges each are 80 to 120 degrees in thread angle θ and 1 to 15% of a valley radius of the female screw in thread height H. |
| US08348074B2 |
Connector and connection block in a train coupler arranged for connection of a rail vehicles
A connector by which data signals are conducted between data communication networks separately installed in coupled rail vehicles, includes a contact holder arranged to be seated in a train coupler connection block; a metal contact housing arranged for insertion in a forward end of the contact holder, and a metal contact member seated in the contact housing, the contact member extending through the contact housing to a conductor termination seated in a rear end of the contact holder. A connection block in a train coupler, wherein a multiplicity of connectors are arranged in the front of the connection block and adapted for mating with connectors of a corresponding connection block for electrically connecting rail vehicles that are interconnected by the train coupler, and wherein at least some of the connectors are effective for conducting signals at 100 MHz frequency range via electromagnetically shielded contacts, is also described. |
| US08348070B2 |
Display mounting apparatus
A display apparatus and method for mounting display brackets. The display brackets having a male anchor portion having a profile which is an upwardly curved tab of substantially even thickness. The apparatus comprising: an elongate insert element having an anterior face and posterior face; the elongate insert element having a pair of parallel longitudinal anterior lip portions that define an elongate longitudinal orientated slot aperture to a substantially horizontally orientated anchoring cavity for receiving the male anchor portion; the anchor cavity having a profile that substantially conforms to the profile of the male anchor portion. |
| US08348069B2 |
Rotatable organizer
A rotatable organizer comprising: a base; a first gear in rotatable communication with the base; a first turntable fixedly attached to the first gear, the exposed turntable having a center; a second gear in rotatable communication with the base, and meshing with the first gear; a third gear in rotatable communication with the base, and meshing with the second gear; a second turntable fixedly attached to the third gear, the second turntable having a center; an enclosure attached to the base; a central divider attached to the enclosure. A rotatable organizer similar to the one previously described, except with rails instead of an enclosure, with the rails being about ½ inch to about 9 inches high. |
| US08348067B2 |
Fingernail color display device
A fingernail color display system. Holding rods having a fingernail color display element are inserted into a display device. The display device has a side section and a top section. The side section provides support for the top section. The top section has holes arranged in rows. Rod support sections are attached to the underside of the top section so that there are rows of the rod support sections. The holding rods are inserted through the holes and are supported by the rod support sections to display the holding rods so that a rearmost row is higher than a frontmost row. In a preferred embodiment the display device is injection molded. Also preferably the top section is tilted with respect to horizontal and the rod support sections are of equal length. Also preferably the rod support sections include an alignment feature for aligning the holding rods so that the color display element is flush with the front edge of the display device. |
| US08348065B2 |
Separation apparatus for separating mud from water
A separation apparatus for separating mud from water has an input tank device, a pipe device and a first separating assembly. The input tank device has an input tank. The pipe device has a first pipe having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first pipe is connected securely to the input tank. The first separating assembly has a main structure having a hydrocyclone. The hydrocyclone is connected to the second end of the first pipe. Accordingly, the hydrocyclone can efficiently and quickly separate mud from liquid of the raw water in the input tank. |
| US08348062B2 |
Packaging box
A packaging box, which is easily disassembled to easily remove a product therefrom. A packaging box including an external box having a receiving space therein, the external box including a receiving part and a cover removably coupleable to the receiving part; an internal box receivable in the receiving space of the external box, the internal box having a receiving space therein; and a slide pad slidably coupleable to a lower portion of the internal box. |
| US08348055B2 |
Musical instrument carrying case and stand
A musical instrument carrying case and stand is disclosed. The carrying case and stand includes a case having a top side, a bottom side, a back side, and a front side having a vertical slit and a horizontal slit that collectively define a first flap and a front panel and a support element that is pivotally attached to the back side of the case to pivot between a first position in which the element is substantially parallel to the back of the case and a second position in which the element supports the case when the musical instrument is removed from the case. Additional embodiments may include first and second members attached to the back of the case where an end of the support element is pivotally attached between the first and second members, so that the element supports the case when the musical instrument is removed from the case. |
| US08348050B2 |
Dental floss dispenser and method of operation thereof
A dispenser including a first sheet defining at least part of one or more cavities; a second sheet defining at least another part of the one or more cavities; a plurality of pull covers attached to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet; and a plurality of floss portions each located in a corresponding cavity of the one or more cavities, wherein when a pull cover of the plurality of pull covers is separated from the first sheet or the second sheet, a corresponding floss portion of the plurality of floss portions is removed from a corresponding cavity of the plurality of the one or more cavities. One or more of the floss portions may be attached to, or formed integrally with, a corresponding pull cover of the plurality of pull covers. A weakened area may delineate a pull cover. |
| US08348047B2 |
Parts manipulation method and apparatus
Method and apparatus for imparting movement to one or more articles includes placing the one or more articles on a surface of a support member and imparting vibratory motion to the support member by vibrating actutators connected to the support member wherein the vibratory motion includes at least a rotational vibratory component about one or more axes out-of-alignment with the gravity vector to produce effective force fields on the surface. |
| US08348040B2 |
Freewheel coupling
A form-fitting freewheel coupling, which has a first and second clamping track with latching structures, a gap space between the clamping tracks, and a clamping ring arranged in the gap space. The clamping ring has clamping tongues facing toward the first clamping track and clamping tongues facing toward the second clamping track. A drag ring is arranged in the gap space. The drag ring is pivotable to a limited extent, relative to the clamping ring and is spring-loaded against one of the clamping tracks and interacts with the clamping ring in such a way that, in the event of a rotation of the first clamping track relative to the second clamping track in the freewheel direction, the clamping ring is lifted fully from one of the clamping tracks, while the clamping tongues, which face away from the clamping track, protrude into the latching structures of the opposite clamping track. |
| US08348030B2 |
Piston with improved displacement properties
A brake pad actuating device comprising: a piston including: a first pocket; an opposing second pocket; and an internal wall located in the piston separating the first pocket and the second pocket, wherein the volume of the first pocket to the volume of the second pocket form a ratio of less than about 20:1; and wherein the piston is adapted to be used as a brake piston. |
| US08348029B2 |
Single fastener strut top mount and method of optimizing same
A strut top mount is optimized to provide a resilient response to jounce and rebound load rates that is symmetrical and linear over a predetermined range of travel. An annular tower is formed of the body structure. A central bracket has adhered thereto an outer resilient element that abuts the tower, and has adhered oppositely thereto an inner resilient element. A bearing is supported by the central bracket, and a spring seat is supported by the bearing. A sleeve is received by a strut shaft and adhered to the inner resilient element A lower washer abuts a lower end of the inner resilient element. An upper washer abuts an upper end of the inner resilient element. A retention washer is mounted onto the strut shaft, wherein a periphery thereof has a retention washer resilient element. The components are collectively tuned to provide the optimization. |
| US08348022B2 |
Elevator call display panel with universal body part to accommodate call button and display variations
An arrangement for the call apparatus and display apparatus of an elevator has a body part which includes at least call buttons and other actuators, such as apertures for the display elements. The body part is essentially universal such that the number, size, shape and placement location of the apertures of the body part are arranged to be suited for the use of as many display variations and/or call button variations as possible, and in that an essentially thin light-attenuating film-like layer is disposed in front of the body part, which layer is fitted to allow light produced by the display elements through, but covers the apertures and other features in the body part. |
| US08348020B2 |
Elevator control device with carrier frequency switch circuit
An elevator control device includes a vector controller that calculates a voltage command required for driving an elevator cage, a carrier frequency switch circuit that outputs a carrier frequency signal, and a power converter that performs PWM control based on the voltage command and the carrier frequency signal, generates an AC power and supplies the AC power to an AC motor. The carrier frequency switch circuit changes the carrier frequency signal when a torque command for driving the AC motor reaches a torque limit value. Thus, it is possible to continuously operate an elevator without causing damage to a switching element of the power converter. |
| US08348012B2 |
Resonator
The present disclosure relates to a resonator, and more particularly, to a resonator installed at the rear of a turbo charger of a vehicle and combined with a Helmholtz resonator and a groove type resonator to attenuate both high-frequency noise and low-frequency noise. The resonator installed at the rear of a turbo charger of a vehicle to attenuate an inhaling noise includes: at least one Helmholtz resonator having a cavity in an air introduction path extending into a duct so that the cavity is formed in a radial direction of the duct; and at least one groove type resonator provided at the rear of the Helmholtz resonator and protruding outwards in the radial direction of the duct. |
| US08348006B2 |
Structure for mounting ancillaries on vehicle
A structure for mounting ancillaries on a vehicle wherein one end of a first bracket in a plate form extends downwardly and is fixed to a body frame and the other end of the first bracket supports a reservoir. In addition, the first bracket supports the regulator in the proximity of the reservoir. The reservoir attached to the forward end of the first bracket functions as a deadweight which, because of the inertia of the deadweight, suppresses the vibrations of the forward end of the first bracket due to vehicle traveling and engine rotation. Thus, this structure suppresses and attenuates the vibration of the regulator attached to the first bracket. |
| US08347994B2 |
Tractor hood airflow system
A vehicle engine enclosure includes a tractor frame which supports an engine. A cooling system is mounted on the frame. The cooling system has a housing which surrounds cooling components. A hood is mounted on the frame and encloses the engine and the cooling system. The hood includes a top panel and left and right hood side panels. The top panel has outlet vents formed therein. A pair of left and right side plates are mounted on the frame. A rear end plate covers a rear end of the hood. A plurality of seals are placed between these components so that a duct is formed which collects hot air and moves it vertically through the vents to prevent re-ingesting of the hot air. |
| US08347993B2 |
Motorcycle
An off-road vehicle having a belt type continuously variable transmission and an air intake path. A four cycle type engine includes a crank case and a cylinder extending upward from the crank case. A belt type continuously variable transmission is provided on one end of the crank case in a vehicle width direction. A belt chamber is formed inside a transmission case for housing the belt type continuously variable transmission. A part of the transmission case in front of a rear end of the cylinder is connected to an intake path for leading air to the belt chamber. The intake path extends upward from the transmission case. |
| US08347992B2 |
Electrically-variable accessory drive for engine start
A hybrid powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine mechanically coupled through a planetary gear set to an accessory drive and a torque machine. Operator inputs and engine operating parameters are monitored to select an operational state including one of an autostop accessory control state, autostart operation state, engine torque assist state, and energy power generation state. |
| US08347990B2 |
Matrix bit bodies with multiple matrix materials
A drill bit may include a bit body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom, the bit body comprising a first matrix region and a second matrix region, wherein the first matrix region is formed from a moldable matrix material having carbide particles with a unimodal particle size distribution; and at least one cutting element for engaging a formation disposed on at least one of the plurality of blades. |
| US08347985B2 |
Mulitmodal geosteering systems and methods
Multimodal geosteering systems and methods are disclosed. Some disclosed tool embodiments include first and second transmitter-receiver arrangements that make geosteering measurements using different forms of energy (such as acoustic and electromagnetic energy) to provide geosteering measurements that at least indicate a boundary direction but may also indicate a boundary distance. Some disclosed method embodiments include: determining a direction to a bed boundary using measurements with different energy types; and adjusting a drilling direction based at least in part on said determination. Combinations of (or selections between) the different measurements may be made based on, inter alia, measurement range, resolution, and contrast. Some disclosed system embodiments include a memory and a processor. The memory stores geosteering display software that configures the processor to generate an image with different regions based on the different types of geosteering measurements. Characteristics such as opacity, resolution, and intensity may visually distinguish the different regions. |
| US08347977B2 |
Powered mobile module and attachment combination
Various attachments (different dozer blade arrangements, a gantry crane, large auger) are designed for use with multiple identical powered mobile modules including a main support frame housing an internal combustion engine as a prime mover and being supported on either powered tracks or wheels. The modules can be either equipped with a cab and manned or used without a cab and controlled remotely. One or more of the mobile modules may be equipped with a GPS unit to aid in positioning the associated attachment. |
| US08347975B2 |
Cultivator
A cultivator includes an operation rod, a handle, a base, and a plurality of claw members. The operation rod has a rotating central axle. The handle is disposed on one end of the operation rod. The base is fixed to another end of the operation rod. The base has non-circle connecting troughs at a circumferential portion thereof. Each of the connecting troughs has vertical connecting surfaces therein. Each claw member has a vertical connecting block and a claw portion. The connecting block has a non-circle cross-section. The connecting block has vertical mating surfaces on outer sides thereof. The connecting block is inserted in the connecting trough. The matching surfaces are vertically engaged with the connecting surfaces and confined by the connecting surfaces. The connecting block is coupled at a predetermined angle. The claw members are disposed in an oblique and curve form. |
| US08347974B2 |
Safety locking device
A safety locking device 18 for a quick hitch/coupler 10 of an earth working machine. The safety locking device 18 has a locking element 21 which is biased into a locking position to automatically lock a front pin of an implement when it is engaged in the hook 14 of the coupler 10. The safety locking device 18 has an hydraulic operable mechanism to move the locking element 21 to an unlocking position. The hydraulic supply to the safety locking device 18 is independent of the hydraulic supply to a locking mechanism 16 of the coupler 10. |
| US08347973B2 |
Increasing oil production
A method of recovering petroleum from dormant oil wells or increasing the production of oil wells. An alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate is introduced into a water layer associated with a subterranean petroleum reservoir and/or an explosive composition is introduced into an oil layer associated with a subterranean petroleum reservoir. CO2 gas is produced by reacting the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate with an acid and/or by detonating the explosive composition. |
| US08347970B2 |
Wellhead tubular connector
Systems and methods are provided that may include employing a lockscrew to provide radial and axial force in connecting tubular members in a mineral extraction system. The lockscrew may be angled relative to the tubular members, at an angle that is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. Further, the lockscrew may have an end portion which mates with a slot in a locking segment, and the lockscrew and locking segment may be moved from an unlocked to a locked position. In a locked position, the lockscrew exerts force axially downward and radially inward to push the locking segment against a tubular member, locking the member in place. The interconnection between the lockscrew and the locking segment may enable easier installation and may utilize parts which may be easier to manufacture. Furthermore, the angle of the lockscrew may provide improved support for tubular members. |
| US08347967B2 |
Subsea tree safety control system
An embodiment of a method for limiting the probability of failure on demand of a subsea test tree (“SSTT”) includes the steps of providing a safety shut-in system for actuating a safety valve of the SSTT, the safety shut-in system including a surface control station positioned above a water surface connected via an umbilical to a subsea control system positioned below the water surface to actuate the safety valve; and diagnostically testing the safety shut-in system without actuating the safety valve. |
| US08347963B2 |
Controlling transient underbalance in a wellbore
A method of perforating a well includes selecting a desired transient underbalanced condition, configuring a perforating gun string to achieve the transient underbalanced condition, deploying the perforating gun is a wellbore, and firing the perforating to achieve the transient underbalanced condition. |
| US08347950B2 |
Modular room heat exchange system with light unit
A modular heat exchange system for use in a central heat exchange installation in buildings, including at least one heat exchange element equipped for exchanging heat between environmental air and a fluid which is conducted through the heat exchange element. The heat exchange element has a predetermined first shape with opposite lateral sides. At least one non-heat-exchange add-on element, equipped for adding a given additional functionality to the system, has a predetermined second shape with a complementary lateral side to one of the opposite lateral sides of the heat exchange element. |
| US08347936B2 |
Hybrid mount assembly for a window treatment
A window covering for a window having a window casement, or other opening in a wall, such as a doorway or a case-less window opening, with an inside portion adjacent to the window and an outside portion adjacent to the inside portion, the outside portion having a left side portion and a right side portion is disclosed. The window covering comprising includes a support assembly configured and arranged to attach to an inside portion of a window casement and a window treatment suspended from the support assembly and overlapping at least a portion of a left side portion and a right side portion of an outside portion of the window casement whereby the window treatment covers the window. |
| US08347935B2 |
Rigid retractable patio or window awning and operating mechanisms therefor
A rigid retractable patio or window awning includes a number of rigid panels disposed in a tiered relationship with each other. Each lower panel is slidably connected with its respective upper panel via a set of slides. The top panel remains stationary. An awning operating mechanism includes arms connected via swivel joints with the bottom panel. Each arm also is connected via a threaded nut with a drive screw. The awning is extended by rotating the drive screw, which causes the nuts to travel along the drive screw causing the arms to push the bottom panel outwardly and the bottom panel to pull along any intermediate panels. The awning is retracted by rotating the drive screw in the opposite direction. |
| US08347928B2 |
Support element
Provided is a wood splitter having a support element, a first elongated element, a second elongated element, and wood splitting components. A support element may be a first elongated element and a second elongated element engaged to the first elongated element. The first elongated element may be subject to a first pre-stress load. The first pre-stress load may be a first moment. The a second elongated element may be engaged to the first elongated element and may be subject to a second pre-stress load. Wood splitting components may be engaged with at least one of a first elongated element or a second elongated element, may be adapted to operate to split wood, and may be adapted to apply an operational load during operation to the first elongated element. The operational load may at least partially relax the first moment. |
| US08347927B2 |
Water collection apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for passively collecting water in an environment where dew forms are disclosed. The apparatus has a radial body which includes a hydrophobic surface that is supported at a slope of about 10 to 80 degrees from the direction of gravity. The apparatus may also include ridges which increase the surface area of the body thus increasing dew collection and provide shade which reduces the temperature increase of the body when the apparatus is exposed to sunlight. The method includes supporting a hydrophobic radial surface at a slope of about 10 to 80 degrees from the direction of gravity and waiting for dew or condensation to form on the hydrophobic surface and run down the hydrophobic surface to either a reservoir or a beneficiary of the passively collected water, such as the roots of a plant. |
| US08347924B2 |
Fuel pump nozzle
The invention relates to a main valve for a fuel pump nozzle, the main valve comprising a shut-off body for closing a fuel line and a displacement space that is configured to avoid undesirable pressure surges during closing of the main valve. The invention further relates to a fuel pump nozzle comprising a main valve according to the invention. |
| US08347917B2 |
Four-way valve
In a four-way valve having a simple structure, even if a high-temperature refrigerant and a low-temperature refrigerant flow close to each other, heat loss between both refrigerants is suppressed. The valve comprises a housing member including a valve chamber, a valve seat including a bearing surface portion located in the valve chamber, a first channel through which a high-temperature fluid flows and a second channel through which a low-temperature fluid flows at a predetermined time, including openings adjacent to each other at a bearing surface portion of the valve seat, passing through the valve seat and extending outside of the valve chamber, and a valve element moving to the bearing surface portion of the valve seat. A thermal resistor portion suppressing heat transfer between these channels is located near the openings, between the first and second channels. |
| US08347908B2 |
Lightweight titanium aluminide valves and methods for the manufacture thereof
Embodiments of a lightweight, high temperature airborne valve are provided. In one embodiment, the airborne vale includes a valve element and a flowbody. The flowbody is formed at least partially from a titanium aluminide alloy and has a flow passage therethrough in which the valve element is movably mounted. Embodiments of a method for producing such a lightweight, high temperature airborne valve are also provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of forming a lightweight flowbody at least partially from a titanium aluminide alloy, hot isostatically pressing the lightweight flowbody, and machining the lightweight flowbody to desired dimensions. |
| US08347904B2 |
Accessory support bracket for a portable structure
A blind accessory support bracket is disclosed. The bracket is configured to fit into the X-shaped framework of a hunting blind, tent, or portable structure. Abutments are located on either side of the bracket, containing the framework therebetween, and securing the bracket in place. The bracket may provide a variety of different supports, including a gun brace, a camera mount, or a shelf. When the bracket is located on framework near an opening of the blind, it may assist in aiming or shooting of a camera or gun at a target outside the blind. |
| US08347902B2 |
Lever handle mechanism for a dishwasher
A dishwasher includes a tub, a door coupled to the tub, and a hand lever coupled to the door. The tub has an access opening that permits access to a washing chamber defined therein. The door has a closed position in which access to the washing chamber is prevented. When the door is positioned in the closed position, the rotation of the lever in a first direction about a laterally extending axis advances the lever into contact with the tub such that the door is urged away from the tub. |
| US08347900B2 |
Wind turbine fluid application apparatus
A wind turbine tower cleaning or coating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a frame which circumferentially extends at least partially around a wind turbine tower. A separator structure can be attached to the frame and extends between the frame and the wind turbine tower to position the frame at a predetermined distance away from the wind turbine tower. The separator structure can also include an attachment end which is attached to the frame and a slidabe end positionable near the wind turbine tower. A slider can be attached to the slidabe end of the separator structure and can slide on the surface of the wind turbine tower as the frame is raised and lowered on the wind turbine tower. A frame lift device can raise and lower the frame on the wind turbine tower. A plurality of sprayers can be positioned circumferentially along the frame and configured to selectively spray fluid onto the wind turbine tower. In one embodiment, a hoist device is attached to the frame to hoist the wind turbine cleaning or coating device vertically up and down the wind turbine tower. |
| US08347899B2 |
Wind turbine fluid application apparatus
A wind turbine tower cleaning apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a frame which circumferentially extends at least partially around a wind turbine tower. A separator structure can be attached to the frame and extends between the frame and the wind turbine tower to position the frame at a predetermined distance away from the wind turbine tower. The separator structure can also include an attachment end which is attached to the frame and a slidabe end positionable near the wind turbine tower. A slider can be attached to the slidabe end of the separator structure and can slide on the surface of the wind turbine tower as the frame is raised and lowered on the wind turbine tower. A frame lift device can raise and lower the frame on the wind turbine tower. A sprayer can spray fluid onto the wind turbine tower to clean the wind turbine tower. |
| US08347891B2 |
Methods and apparatus for performing a non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen
Methods and apparatus are provided for non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen. Apparatus may be positioned within a body lumen of a patient and may deliver energy at a first lengthwise and angular position to create a less-than-full circumferential treatment zone at the first position. The apparatus also may deliver energy at one or more additional lengthwise and angular positions within the body lumen to create less-than-full circumferential treatment zone(s) at the one or more additional positions that are offset lengthwise and angularly from the first treatment zone. Superimposition of the first treatment zone and the one or more additional treatment zones defines a non-continuous circumferential treatment zone without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion. Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for achieving such non-continuous circumferential treatment are provided. |
| US08347888B2 |
Vaginal spring loaded delineator
A gynaecological instrument for delineating the fornix of the vagina during laparoscopic surgeries having a spring, which proximal end is securely affixed to a distal end of a solid ring and the distal end of the spring is securely affixed to a base. The extension of the base can be inserted into the head of the Valtchev® Uterine Mobilizer and locked in place. When the delineator is pushed toward the fornix of the vagina the solid ring is self-adjusting to the angle of the of the fornix and the length of the cervix. An elastic plastic ring is provided, for placing on the solid ring, in order to protect the ring and instrument which is used to open the vagina laparoscopically. |
| US08347883B2 |
Manual controlled bi-phasic intrapulmonary percussive ventilation and methods
The method and system ventilates a patient's airway during the inspiratory phase and expiratory phase from a source of pressurized gas, typically from a compressor. The system and method supplies, to the patient airway during the inspiratory phase, a plurality of pulses of small volumes of gas from the gas source, and adds, in succession, pulses of small volumes of gas to provide successively greater volumes of gas successively increasing in pulsatile form the pressure of the gas in the patient's airway. This addition of successively greater volumes of gas serves to provide diffusive ventilation to the patient during the inspiratory phase, and, permits the patient to exhale during the expiratory phase. |
| US08347878B2 |
Aerosol therapy device
Aerosol therapy device comprising a nebuliser (10) for generating an aerosol and forming an aerosol flow, a first nosepiece (11) for introducing the aerosol flow into one of the two nostrils (12) of a user, a pressure fluctuation source for generating a pressure fluctuation (DS), a second nosepiece (14) for introducing the pressure fluctuation into the other of the two nostrils (15) of the user in order to superimpose the pressure fluctuation and the aerosol flow, and a sensor system comprising a first pressure sensor (19) for detecting the signal of the pressure fluctuation that arrives at the first nosepiece (11), and an evaluation means (18) that concludes the degree of closure of the velum of the user based on the signal. |
| US08347877B2 |
Solar energy collecting system and method
A solar energy collecting system and method suitable for hot water generation using solar energy. The system includes multiport tubes between inlet and outlet manifolds. The tubes are formed of a metallic material, each tube has oppositely-disposed first and second flat surfaces between lateral edges thereof, longitudinally-opposed first and second ends, and multiple fluid channels between the first and second ends that are in fluidic parallel to each other. The inlet and outlet manifolds are coupled to the first and second ends of the tubes so that chambers within the inlet and outlet manifolds are fluidically connected to the fluid channels of the multiport tubes. During operation of the system, a fluid flowing through the fluid channels of the tubes is heated by direct solar radiation impinging the first flat surfaces of the tubes and optionally by reflected solar radiation impinging the second flat surfaces of the tubes. |
| US08347872B2 |
Battery powered concrete saw system
A battery operated concrete saw system (10) includes an electric saw (12) and a battery pack cart (14) as well as an electrical cord (62) for facilitating cutting in small places with a battery pack cart at a remote location. |
| US08347871B2 |
Wet cutting saw
A wet cutting saw comprising: a blade rotatable about an axis; a liquid feed conduit for feeding liquid onto a surface of the blade as it rotates; a hood comprising a top wall located above the blade and a side wall located to one side of the blade and connected to the top wall; the wet cutting saw also comprising at least one collector for collecting liquid which leaves the blade surface as it rotates, each collector located at the side wall of the hood and arranged to recycle the collected liquid to the blade surface. |
| US08347860B2 |
Control strategy for a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition engine
A method for operating a multi-cylinder spark-ignition direct-injection internal combustion engine responsive to a low load demand includes monitoring an engine state associated with combustion for each cylinder during each combustion cycle during low load operation, determining a combustion stability index for each cylinder based upon the monitored engine state associated with combustion for the respective cylinder, and individually adjusting an initiation of a spark discharge relative to an end of a fuel injection event for each cylinder based upon the combustion stability index determined for the respective cylinder. |
| US08347858B2 |
Load condition detection apparatus for general-purpose engine
In an apparatus for detecting condition of load connected to a general-purpose internal combustion engine, a first threshold value is compared with a sum obtained by adding a predetermined value to a detected throttle opening and changes the threshold value to the sum if the first threshold value is less than the sum and the engine is determined to be under first load condition if the throttle opening exceeds the threshold value. Next a second threshold value is compared with a difference obtained by subtracting change amounts of the engine speed and throttle opening and the engine is determined to be under second load condition if the difference exceeds the second threshold value, thereby enabling to accurately detect a condition of a load connected to the engine. Then the desired engine speed is changed in response to results of the determinations. |
| US08347855B2 |
Control system and method for improving engine stop-start response time
A control system for an engine includes a stop-start initiation module and a load control module. The stop-start initiation module shuts down the engine in response to an engine shutdown request. The load control module, in response to the engine shutdown request, increases a rate at which a rotational speed of the engine decreases during engine shutdown by increasing a rotational load input to the engine by an engine accessory coupled to a crankshaft of the engine. A method for an engine includes shutting down the engine in response to an engine shutdown request. The method further includes increasing, in response to the engine shutdown request, a rate at which a rotational speed of the engine decreases during engine shutdown by increasing a rotational load input to the engine by an engine accessory coupled to a crankshaft of the engine. |
| US08347854B2 |
Internal combustion (IC) engine head assembly combustion chamber multiple spark ignition (MSI) fuel savings device and methods of fabrication thereof
A composite device assembled into a top of a head combustion chamber as a formed in place multiple spark ignition structure with embedded electrodes connected in a series electrical circuit spaced from a single centrally located ignition source to receive an arc from a central spark plug electrode to initiate a series multiple spark ignition within the series electrical circuit. |
| US08347853B2 |
Shallow piston bowl and injector spray pattern for a gasoline, direct-injection engine
A method of forming a bowl in a top surface of a piston for an internal combustion engine includes machining the top surface of the piston to form a spherical depression in the top surface wherein the top surface comprises a dome prior to the machining and a center of the bowl is displaced from a center of the piston by at least one-quarter of a diameter of the piston. In one embodiment, the method includes machining recesses in the top surface aligned, respectively, with intake valves, an exhaust valve, and spark plug when installed. Because the bowl is smooth and shallow, the surface area of the combustion chamber is less than with a deeper bowl of complicated shape. Lowering surface area in the combustion chamber leads to improved fuel economy. |
| US08347844B2 |
Oil pan for internal combustion engine transmission unit
The invention relates to an oil pan (6) for an internal combustion engine transmission unit (1) comprising an oil pan housing (7) and a carrier flange, by way of which the oil pan housing is to be connected to the transmission housing (5) of the transmission. The carrier flange (4) is affixed to the transmission housing (5), and is connected to the oil pan housing (7) via a detachable connecting unit, wherein the connecting unit can be released or locked for the assembly and disassembly of the oil pan housing between the oil pan housing (7) and the carrier flange (9) regardless of the disassembly of the carrier flange from the transmission housing. |
| US08347839B2 |
Internal combustion engine with variable-lift electrohydraulic valve actuation
An internal combustion engine with a bottom camshaft (1) and an electrohydraulic variable-lift valve actuation of a modular construction type is provided. The hydraulic unit (6) is assembled separately from the internal combustion engine and installed in or on the crankcase (10). |
| US08347830B2 |
System for controlling and conveying air flows through the engine compartment of a motor vehicle
A motor vehicle is provided with a conveyor structure that conveys the entire flow of air that traverses the radiator downwards and then longitudinally underneath the floor panel of the motor vehicle, preventing said flow from traversing the engine compartment and obtaining a consequent reduction in the aerodynamic resistance of the motor vehicle. Associated to the aforesaid conveyor structure are active and passive fins for enabling an adequate cooling of the components of the engine unit or electronic components associated thereto during given operating conditions. |
| US08347829B2 |
Electrolytic reactor and related methods for supplementing the air intake of an internal combustion engine
An electrolytic reactor and related methods are provided for supplementing the air-intake of an internal combustion engine with hydrogen. In one embodiment, the reactor has a core defined by a plurality of whole metal plates separated by peripheral gaskets; an inlet for providing an electrolyte to the core; a gas and effluent outlet, and a pump to force an electrolyte through the core. |
| US08347828B2 |
Device and method for detecting degradation of fuel for internal combustion engine
A transmittance sensor that detects the optical transmittance of biofuel is provided on a fuel tank that stores biofuel to be supplied to an internal combustion engine. An ECU periodically acquires the optical transmittance detected by the transmittance sensor, and calculates the amount of change from the previous value. In addition, the ECU calculates a degradation index value indicating the degree of degradation of the biofuel by accumulating the amount of change. |
| US08347818B2 |
Hummingbird liquid feeder
The hummingbird liquid feeder includes a base, a liquid tray attached to the base, a flange that fits inside the liquid tray, and a liquid container that rotatingly engages the liquid tray in a fill mode to permit filling without removing or inverting the liquid container while preventing spillage and alternately in a feed mode to permit the flow of the nectar into a moat for access thereto through feeding ports in the base and featuring a vertically-oriented stabilization member centrally disposed on the liquid tray that receives a support post pole disposed on a plate to stabilize and support the device during windy and inclement weather conditions. |
| US08347815B2 |
Mobile pet bed/carrier
The present invention relates to a mobile pet bed wherein the top and bottom units of the mobile pet bed are reversibly attached to each other. When the top unit is removed from the bottom unit the mobile pet bed functions similarly to a traditional pet bed. When the top unit is attached to the bottom unit the mobile pet bed functions as a pet carrier. Additionally, the top unit of the mobile pet bed has a door portion that can be opened and closed to permit pet ingress and egress as well as permitting easy loading of the mobile pet bed with the animal without necessitating the removal of the top unit from the bottom unit. |
| US08347812B2 |
Device and method for cleaning cables
The present invention relates to a device arranged to move along a cable (1), preferably a tension cable of a suspension bridge, in order to obstruct covering of snow or ice on the cable. The device (2) comprises a compound (6) that obstructs covering of snow or ice as well as means (10) to coat the cable (1) with the compound (6). In addition, the device comprises sensors arranged to detect how large amount of the compound that is in the container. The sensors detect if the container needs to be replenished, and if so is the case, the device is arranged to automatically move to a replenishing device in order to there replenish more of the compound. The present invention also relates to a method to obstruct covering of snow or ice on a cable (1), preferably a tension cable of a suspension bridge. |
| US08347802B2 |
Watercraft with reactive suspension and an integrated braking and steering system
A watercraft with several stability and handling design improvements. It has an enhanced reactive suspension system positioned in the vessel between a set of separating hull and body components. The watercraft also has improved braking, steering and stabilizing systems designed around multiple pivoting mechanisms on the vessel hull that work individually or in unison to achieve the desired braking or steering effect. The stabilizing system is operated by a computerized, gyroscopic hydraulic control to maintain stability and comfort of ride, minimizing the roll, pitch and yaw commonly experienced in the passenger compartment. |
| US08347792B2 |
Portable utility shelf
A portable utility shelf having a first shell pivotably connected to a second shell. A channel having a slot is located in the front surface of at least one of the shells. A fastener is mounted in the slot in the channel. The fastener allows for mounting one shell on an attachment surface and pivoting the utility shelf to an open position to create a work surface on the other shell. |
| US08347788B1 |
Lead free reduced ricochet limited penetration projectile
A frangible projectile with a specific gravity similar to a lead projectile. The projectile comprises 34-94%, by weight, binder. The binder comprises poly ether block amide resin. The projectile further comprises 6-66%, by weight, ballast. The ballast comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of tungsten, tungsten carbide, molybdenum, tantalum, ferro-tungsten, copper, bismuth, iron, steel, brass, aluminum bronze, beryllium copper, tin, aluminum, titanium, zinc, nickel silver alloy, cupronickel and nickel. The projectile can be prepared with a particularly preferred specific gravity of 5-14 and more preferably 11-11.5. |
| US08347778B2 |
Fluid-working machines
A fluid-working machine comprises at least one primary working chamber such as a cylinder (4) of cyclically changing volume and primary valves (7) to control the connection of the at least one chamber to low (10)- and high (9)-pressure manifolds. The machine has at least one secondary working chamber (5) of cyclically changing volume and a secondary valve (12, 21) for placing the secondary chamber in communication with the primary chamber (4) in an active state of the secondary chamber (5) and for isolating it therefrom in an idling state of the secondary chamber. |
| US08347770B2 |
Hole punch
A hole punch includes a base and a handle assembly to actuate a punch pin. The base may include a housing enclosing a punch head, and the housing may include an opening where the handle assembly is adapted to be recessed within the opening. The handle assembly may include a first linkage and a second linkage, each pivotally coupled to the base, and a third linkage pivotally coupled to both the first and second linkages, where the third linkage is arranged to move substantially parallel to the base. The first linkage may be substantially parallel to the second linkage when the punch pin is in a rest position, and the second linkage may be configured to nest within the first linkage when the punch pin is in a deployed position. |
| US08347765B2 |
Axial connecting structure of pliers
An axial connecting structure of pliers contains two symmetrical bodies axially connected together by using a first screw bolt and a nut; each body including a first extension with a grip and a second extension axially connected with a clamping paw, wherein the second extension includes a hollow fitting member, the fitting member includes a central hole, a limiting shaft, a positioning orifice to receive a spring and a ball, and a circular disc; the clamping paw includes an annular tab having a central post, the post includes an axial aperture, the tab also includes a receiving chamber to fit the fitting member and an inner fringe, the receiving chamber includes a guiding groove based on a radian of a predetermined degree of first central angle, the inner fringe includes plural recesses arranged thereon based on a radian of a second central angle. |
| US08347763B1 |
Wrench with a quickly rotatable driving head
A wrench with a quick rotatable driving head includes a handle, a driving head and a quick-disengaging unit. The quick-disengaging unit is composed of a fixing member secured with the driving head, an operating member inserted through the handle and fitted around the fixing member, and a restraining element transversely provided between the fixing member and the operating member and the handle. The handle and the driving head can be separated by the quick-disengaging unit so that the driving head, with the quick-disengaging unit acting as a pivot, can quickly screw or unscrew a thread locking member, and the operating member can be restrictedly positioned on the fixing member by the restraining element, able to prevent the handle and the driving head from separating. |
| US08347757B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing at least one friction force opposing an axial force exerted through an actuator element
Actuator elements such as cables or push rods in an instrument are used for manipulating an end effector or distal end of the instrument. Each actuator element extends within a tubular housing and either the tubular housing is axially rotated about the actuator element or the actuator element is axially rotated within the tubular housing to reduce at least one force opposing an axial force exerted through or movement of the actuator element. |
| US08347756B2 |
Transmission with connection mechanism for varying tension force
A transmission includes a drive member, a driven member having a connection mechanism, and an at least partially flexible transmission coupled to the drive member and the connection mechanism of the driven member and configured to cause movement of the driven member in response to movement of the drive member. The connection mechanism is configured to be adjusted to vary a tension force applied to the flexible transmission. |
| US08347754B1 |
Multi articulating robatic instrument
A system for navigating around healthy organs to reach a desired site of surgery is provided. The system includes an articulating shaft capable of navigating around healthy organs in a body. The articulating shaft includes a plurality of shaft sections and one or more movable joints. Further, the one or more movable joints have a two-degree of freedom motion. The two-degree of freedom joints operatively connect the plurality of shaft sections. Moreover, the system includes one or more cables which aid in controlling the movements of the movable joints. Additionally, the system can include a variety of medical tools located at the tip of a shaft section of the articulating shaft, wherein the medical tool aids in performing the medical activity. |
| US08347753B2 |
Industrial robot with tubular member for a cable harness
A robot arm for an industrial robot, including a first arm part and a second arm part, where the second arm part is rotatably journalled in the first arm part for rotation about a first axis of rotation, characterized in that the second arm part includes a tubular member, rotatably journalled in the first arm part, so that the tubular member is configured to support the robot arm. |
| US08347742B2 |
Sampler
A sampler for automatic taking of liquid samples from a sample-taking location. The sampler includes: a housing with a door; an energy or power supply unit; a control/evaluation unit; a sample-taking unit, which, in a predeterminable time interval, takes a predetermined quantity of sample from the sample-taking location; a sample collecting unit arranged in a lower region of the housing of the sampler for storing taken samples; and a temperature-control unit, which controls at least the region of the sampler, in which the sample collecting unit is arranged, to a predetermined temperature. |
| US08347736B2 |
Measuring transducer of vibration-type, as well as an in-line measuring device having such a measuring transducer
A measuring transducer serves for registering at least one physical, measured variable of a flowable medium guided in a pipeline and/or for producing Coriolis forces serving for registering a mass flow rate of a flowable medium guided in a pipeline. The measuring transducer comprises: a transducer housing; four, straight, measuring tubes connected to flow dividers for guiding flowing medium along flow paths. Each of the four measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side, measuring tube end into one the flow openings of an inlet-side, flow divider and with an outlet-side, measuring tube end into one of the flow openings. An electromechanical exciter mechanism for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations of the four measuring tubes. The exciter mechanism is embodied in such a manner, that, the measuring tubes are excitable pairwise to execute opposite phase bending oscillations in, in each case, a shared imaginary plane of oscillation. The measuring transducer is suitable, especially, for measuring a density and/or a mass flow rate of a medium flowing in a pipeline, at least at times, with a mass flow rate of more than 2200 t/h. |
| US08347732B2 |
Adjustable ultrasonic gas flow measurement device
An adjustable ultrasonic gas flow measurement device includes a gas pipe, a transmitter, a receiver and a micro-processing module. The gas pipe is filled with a gas under test. The transmitter and the receiver are respectively installed in two ends of the gas pipe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals inside the gas pipe. The micro-processing module is electrically connected to the transmitter and the receiver for generating and sending a first ultrasonic signal to the transmitter for transmitting, and comparing the phase shift of a second ultrasonic signal and a third ultrasonic signal to output a phase comparison result, wherein the transmitted first ultrasonic signal passing through the gas pipe was received by the receiver as the second ultrasonic signal, and the third ultrasonic signal is generated by shifting the first ultrasonic signal with a predetermined phase difference. |
| US08347727B2 |
Multi-format, binary code symbol for non-linear strain measurement
A binary code symbol for non-linear strain measurement that can be constructed in any geometric shape having a solid, continuous perimeter containing straight line segments. The symbol includes finder cells to “orient” the symbol in order to associate strain measurements with physical dimensions; and contains encoded data in “data regions” and/or “utility regions.” The data and utility regions can be distinct and separate, combined, exclusive (i.e. data regions and no utility regions, or utility regions and no data regions), or omitted. The data “density” can be varied depending upon the application, by varying the number of distinct data or utility cells present in the data regions or utility regions. |
| US08347719B2 |
Piezoelectric frame and piezoelectric device incorporating same
A piezoelectric frame (20) is comprised of a tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece (30) having a pair of vibrating arms (21) extending from a base portion (23) wherein excitation electrodes are formed on the vibrating arms, an outer frame (22) surrounding the tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece, a pair of supporting arms (26) extending from the base portion to the outer frame portion and supporting the tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece; and an acute angle portion (11) formed on a side surface between the outer frame and the tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece and having an acute angle seen from Z-direction. |
| US08347713B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring dynamic rigidity of a main shaft of a machine tool
An apparatus for measuring dynamic rigidity of a main shaft of a machine tool with high accuracy. The apparatus includes an unbalanced master that is attached to the main shaft and of which position of a center of gravity is offset with respect to a center of rotation of the main shaft; a tachometer that measures a rotational speed of the main shaft; and a run-out amount measuring device that is positioned so as to face the unbalanced master at a predetermined position in an axial direction and is any given position in a circumferential direction, and that measures an amount of run-out of the unbalanced master. The dynamic rigidity of the main shaft is calculated based on a relation between the rotational speed measured by the tachometer and the amount of run-out measured by the run-out amount measuring device. |
| US08347706B2 |
Flow-rate measurement apparatus
A plate-shaped board is arranged so that fluid passages are respectively formed at a sensor-element mounting surface side of the plate-shaped board and at a backside surface side thereof being opposed to the sensor-element mounting surface side, a curved passage portion is provided which is located upstream of the plate-shaped board and changes its direction so as to form a curved line, and the curved passage portion has an outer-side wall surface including a sloping portion that slopes so that, of two edge portions of the outer-side wall surface in a direction perpendicular to board surfaces of the plate-shaped board, the edge portion located on a sidewall surface, facing the sensor-element mounting surface, of the curved passage portion is positioned closer to an inner wall surface of the curved passage portion than the edge portion located on a sidewall surface opposed to the first sidewall surface, along the sidewall surfaces. |
| US08347703B2 |
Tire chip and tear test apparatus and method
A tire testing apparatus that includes a test drum and at least one tire station. The test drum has an outer radial surface and a plurality of sectioned plates having outer radial test surfaces, wherein the plurality of sectioned plates mount on the outer radial surface of the test drum. The tire testing apparatus further includes at least one tire station having a selected tire with a tread, wherein the tread of the selected tire presses against the outer radial test surface of the plurality of sectional plates, and wherein the at least one tire station applies a force against the tread of the selected tire. Further, a tire testing method includes providing a selected tire having a circumferential tread and moving the selected tire against a rotating test drum having a plurality of sectional plates having a test surface. Further, the method includes maintaining contact between the selected tire and the plurality of sectional plates for a selected period of time, moving the selected tire away from the test drum, and evaluating the tread for wear. |
| US08347693B2 |
Apparatus and methods for continuous compatibility testing of subterranean fluids and their compositions under wellbore conditions
Disclosed is a fluid testing device which utilizes a small, cross-section fluid interface to separate a test fluid chamber from a drive and measuring chamber. The test fluid chamber contains the test fluid and a paddle-type fluid test assembly. The drive and measuring chamber contains a second fluid and assemblies for moving the paddle and for determining the resistance movement. The two chambers are connected together by a narrow cross-section passageway allowing for continuous testing while test fluids are flowed through the test chamber and for successive testing of different samples without breaking down the device between tests. A pair of coaxial shafts extends between the test fluid chamber and the drive and measuring chamber. The shafts are connected together by a spring located in the drive chamber whereby the resistance to movement is determined by measuring the deflection in the spring. The shafts are magnetically coupled to a motor to rotate the shafts. |
| US08347689B2 |
Tool for assisting leak testing of an enclosed volume and method incorporating the tool
A tool for assisting the leak testing of an enclosed volume is disclosed. The tool may comprise an outer seal defining inside its perimeter an attachment face of the tool. A vacuum port defined in the attachment face is configured to be fluidly coupled to a vacuum source. A nozzle disposed in the attachment face may be coupled to the test port, in fluid communication with the enclosed volume. A primary connection in fluid connection with the nozzle may be placed in fluid connection with the external conduit. A nozzle seal is disposed in the attachment face around the perimeter of the nozzle, such that when the nozzle is coupled to the test port, the nozzle is fluidly isolated from said vacuum port. A leak-test system incorporating at least one tool and a method for leak testing an enclosed volume using the tool are disclosed. |
| US08347684B2 |
Apparatus and method for producing embossed paper or laminated metallic foil sheets
An apparatus (1) and method for producing embossed paper or laminated metallic foil sheets (55) comprising means for feeding an elongate strip (20) of paper or laminated metallic foil, a pair of matched embossing rollers (5, 10) disposed to receive such a strip from the feeding means, and means for receiving such a strip from the embossing rollers after being embossed thereby, and for cutting such strip into sheets. The rollers have a plurality of embossing sectors (75) arranged on the surface thereof. At least one of the sectors imparts a first embossing, and at least another of the sectors imparts an alternate embossing different in appearance from the first embossing. The sectors are dimensioned similarly to the foil sheets. At least one group of the sheets carry the first embossing while at least another group of the sheets carry the alternate embossing. |
| US08347682B2 |
Apparatus for cleaning cylinders or rolls
An apparatus for cleaning cylinders (5) and/or rolls (5), e.g., working rolls (5) in a rolling stand, which are used for producing a rolled stock (1) such as strips or slabs, in which a liquid is sprayed onto the cylinders (5) at high pressure through several nozzles D1-Dn, a number of nozzles (D1-Dn) are stationary arranged in and/or on a nozzle beam (10), at least one on-off valve is associated with each nozzle (D1-Dn), and one or several nozzle(s) (D1-Dn) are sequentially switched on and off one after another starting from one end of the nozzle beam. |
| US08347680B2 |
Lock and key combination with a large number of codes
A lock and key combination is disclosed, offering a large number of codes. The combination includes a lock (200) of the kind comprising a housing having a cylindrical bore, a cylindrical key plug (202) and a number of locking pins (205a-205g) in a row along a key plug axis for locking the key plug against rotation in the cylindrical bore, and a key (100) of the kind comprising a longitudinally extending, substantially flat key blade (102), with at least two longitudinally extending formations. The key blade comprises an upper edge portion having a first code pattern (103) and a lower, massive portion having a second code pattern (104). At least one of the locking pins in said row is a short pin (205a, 205b, 205c) comprising a first, relatively short key sensing part (207, 208) cooperating with the first code pattern (103), and at least another one of the locking pins in said row is a long pin (205f, 205g, 205h) comprising a second, relatively long key sensing part (210, 207, 208) cooperating with the second code pattern (104). |
| US08347677B2 |
Releasable lock for a motor vehicle lock mechanism
A releasable latch, for a motor vehicle lock mechanism, includes a fixed stator having at least two semicylindrical portions, a rotor rotatably mounted in the fixed stator and includes a plurality of tumblers configured to be moved radially under an action of a key that is designed to be inserted axially into the rotor, and an intermediate tubular socket configured to rotate about an axis thereof in the fixed stator and to move axially relative to the fixed stator. The rotor is directly coupled with a control lever that acts as a cam when the key is suitable, and uncoupled from the control lever in a released position. The rotor is fixed axially in the intermediate socket, and the rotor and the intermediate socket are prevented from rotating relative to one another by the plurality of tumblers when the key is not suitable. |
| US08347672B2 |
Lock cylinder particularly for functions which can be carried out in a vehicle
In order to enable a turning of a key of a lock cylinder onto a driven member (shaft 36) in the lock cylinder only when a proper key is inserted, yet to prohibit the turning in case of an overload, an overload lock is arranged therebetween. The driven member (shaft 36) should specifically actuate functions in the vehicle only if the correct key is used. A threshold rotation torque determines the change between the normal and the overload state. In order to improve the lock cylinder, it is furnished that a disengaging lever (40) is mounted in the cylinder housing (30) in a pivotable manner (42) and can be displaced between two pivot positions in a radial plane defined by the longitudinal axis (13) of the lock cylinder. A locking cam (41) belonging to the overload lock is arranged on the free end of the disengaging lever (40). When the disengaging lever pivots, a carrier (50) pivots in unison, the carrier having a coupling part which engages in a counter coupling part of the cylinder core (10) during normal function. The disengaging lever (40) and the carrier (50) form a common pivot unit. In case of overload, wherein a rotation of the cylinder core force, the carrier (50) is decoupled from the cylinder core (10). |
| US08347671B2 |
Lockout device
A lockout device is provided for an instrument having a body and an actuating member extending from the body for operating the instrument. The lockout device includes a bottom member, a cover member, and a flexible member. The bottom member and cover member are adapted to receive a cinching portion of the flexible member between first and second holding surfaces of the bottom member and cover member. When the flexible member is wrapped around a portion of the body and received between the first and second holding surfaces and the cover member is in a closed position, the first and second holding surfaces prevent movement of a cinching portion of the flexible member. |
| US08347669B2 |
Securing mechanism cooperating with a device that is to be secured
A securing mechanism cooperating with a device that is to be secured, having a closing part, which can be slipped onto a free end region of the device. Locking elements are rotatably mounted in the closing part and engage into an annular groove of the device by an engaging element to lock it, except in one defined position of rotation. An adjusting member engages in an end region of the locking elements accessible from outside. A spring presses the locking element against a contact area of the closing part in the direction of the axis of rotation thereof forming a brake. A catching structure provided with a plurality of catching points is disposed on an annular surface of the locking elements. A catching element engages into the catching points when the respective locking element is rotated, at least when the closing part is tilted. |
| US08347661B2 |
Locking system with tamper resistant feature
The combination of: a) an apparatus with a frame bounding an internal space and a first door that is movable between closed and open positions; b) cooperating components on the first door and at least one of: i) the frame; and ii) a second door that are alignable in a first relative position; and c) a lock assembly that cooperates with the components with the first door in the closed position and the cooperating components in the first relative position and has a locked state wherein the lock assembly prevents the first door from being moved from its closed position into its open position. The lock assembly has a casing with an outer surface and a first assembly that extends over at least a portion of the outer surface of the casing to block access to the casing in a manner that would allow a repositioning force to be applied to the outer surface of the casing so as to thereby defeat the lock assembly. |
| US08347655B2 |
Method and system for producing glass, in which chemical reduction of glass components is avoided
In the apparatus for producing glass reduction of reduction-sensitive components in the glass melt is reduced or preferably is prevented during the melting and/or fining processes by introducing an oxidizing agent into the glass melt. The apparatus has a melt crucible, a fining vessel, and a device for conducting oxygen and/or ozone into the glass melt in the melt crucible and/or fining vessel, in order to suppress reduction of reduction-sensitive components of the glass melt. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus has a metallic skull crucible, which includes the melt crucible and/or the fining vessel. The apparatus preferably includes a homogenization unit connected to the fining vessel to receive glass melt from the fining vessel in order to further process the glass melt after refining. |
| US08347654B2 |
Vacuum degassing apparatus and vacuum degassing method for molten glass
A vacuum degassing apparatus for molten glass is comprised of an uprising pipe, a vacuum degassing vessel, a downfalling pipe, an upstream side pit that supplies molten glass to the uprising pipe, and a downstream side pit that receives molten glass from the downfalling pipe. The vacuum degassing apparatus for molten glass is further comprised of a separating mechanism that separates a part of molten glass moving from the downfalling pipe to the downstream side pit, and a returning pipe that returns separated molten glass to the upstream side pit. |
| US08347650B2 |
Method of producing a quartz glass crucible
A method of producing a quartz glass crucible for pulling a single crystal comprising: providing a melting mold comprising a wall having passages between outside and inside; providing an outer layer granulation consisting of first coarser SiO2 particles and forming an outer granulation layer from the outer layer granulation on the inside of the melting mold wall; providing a barrier layer granulation consisting of second finer SiO2 particles and forming a barrier granulation layer from the barrier layer granulation on the outer granulation layer; applying a negative pressure to the outside of the melting mold wall; and heating the barrier granulation layer and the outer granulation layer with formation of a quartz glass crucible with transparent inner layer. In order to produce a sealing layer that is as thin and uniform as possible it is suggested that the SiO2 particles of the barrier layer granulation should have a mean particle size (D50 value) of less than 50 μm and that the formation of the barrier granulation layer should include a measure for fixing the barrier layer granulation to the outer granulation layer. |
| US08347648B2 |
Air cycle refrigerating/cooling system and turbine unit used therefor
An air cycle refrigerating/cooling system includes a first heat exchanger for cooling air, a turbine unit that has a compressor for compressing the air and an expansion turbine for adiabatically expanding the air, and a second heat exchanger for cooling the air. A compressor rotor of the compressor and a turbine rotor of the expansion turbine are attached to a common main shaft in the turbine unit in such a manner that the turbine unit drives the compressor rotor with a power generated by the turbine rotor, and the main shaft is rotatably supported by a rolling contact bearing. A part or the entirety of a thrust force applied to the main shaft is supported by an electromagnet, and a pressure equalizing device for equalizing a gas pressure at opposite ends of the rolling contact bearing is provided. |
| US08347647B2 |
Air cycle machine for an aircraft environmental control system
An ECS system provides an ACM which locates the compressor upon a common shaft between a first turbine and a second turbine. Each RAF is located remote from the ACM such that the turbines are located outboard on each end of the ACM to provide the highest efficiency possible with each turbine using a straight axial outlet diffuser. As the compressor is located between the turbines the bypass circuits from the turbines are less circuitous and more efficient. Integral valve ports formed into the ACM housing portions results in a weight reduced design due to increase bypass efficiencies and simplified installations. |
| US08347638B2 |
Compact support system using low aspect ratio composite tensile support bands
A support system comprising a number of racetrack-shaped tensile support bands held in tension between a supported article and a supporting article, respective curved end portions of each tensile support band being retained by respective mounting points mounted on respective surfaces of the supported article and the supporting article, respectively. At least one of the tensile support bands is arranged so that the curved end portions lie in a plane substantially parallel to the surface upon which the respective mounting point is mounted; and at least one mounting point is a monolithic mounting point having a curved surface which is complementary to an inner curved surface of an end of the tensile support band. |
| US08347633B2 |
Gas turbine engine with variable geometry fan exit guide vane system
A turbofan engine includes a variable geometry fan exit guide vane (FEGV) system having a multiple of circumferentially spaced radially extending fan exit guide vanes. Rotation of the fan exit guide vanes between a nominal position and a rotated position selectively changes a fan bypass flow path to permit efficient operation at various flight conditions. |
| US08347627B2 |
Carbon-dioxide-capture-type steam power generation system
A carbon-dioxide-capture-type steam power generation system 1 according to the present invention comprises a boiler 6 producing an exhaust gas 5 by combusting a fuel 2 and having a flue 8; an absorbing unit 40 being configured to absorb the carbon-dioxide contained in the exhaust gas 5 into an absorbing solution; and a regenerating unit 44 being configured to release the carbon dioxide gas from the absorbing solution absorbing the carbon dioxide and discharge the released carbon dioxide gas. Further, in this system, a reboiler 49 is provided for receiving a heating-medium as heat source, producing a steam 43 and supplying the produced steam 43 to the regenerating unit 44. Additionally, in the flue 8 of the boiler 6, a boiler-side heat exchanger 61 is provided for heating the heating-medium by the exhaust gas 5 passing therethrough. |
| US08347620B2 |
Bypass/flushing valve for closed hydraulic circuit
A bypass/flushing valve for a hydrostatic system includes a valve body including a central bore, a shuttle valve located in the central bore, and a valve spindle disposed within the central bore. The valve body includes four ports each in communication with the central bore. The shuttle valve blocks flow through the central bore between a first port and a second port. When pressure at the second port is higher than at the first port, the shuttle valve moves to allow flow passage between the first port and the third port. When pressure at the first port is higher than at the second port, the shuttle valve moves to allow flow passages between the second port and a third port. The spindle is movable between a first position to block communication between the second port and the fourth port and a second position to allow for communication between the second port and the fourth port. |
| US08347618B2 |
Dual pump hydraulic system
A dual pump hydraulic system is provided for a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine. The system includes a first circuit with a first high pressure pump supplying hydraulic fluid to the first subsystem at a higher pressure. The system also includes a second circuit with a second lower pressure pump supplying hydraulic fluid to the second subsystem at a second pressure. A first valve controls communication between the first pump and the second circuit. A second valve is operable to communicate the second pump with the first circuit when pressure in the first circuit is less than a second threshold pressure or when commanded by a control unit. A check valve prevents fluid flow from the first circuit back into to the second valve. |
| US08347617B2 |
Hydralic two-circuit system and interconnecting valve system
A hydraulic two-circuit system (2, 4) for activating consumers (A1, B1; A2, B2; A3, B3) of a mobile unit, for example a track-laying unit, and an interconnecting valve arrangement (38), which is suitable for a two-circuit system (2, 4) of this type and via which the two circuits (2, 4) can be interconnected so as to add them together, are disclosed. According to the invention, the interconnecting valve arrangement has an interconnecting valve with two pressure connections (P1, P2), two LS input connections (LS1, LS2) and two LS output connections, wherein a valve body of the interconnecting valve is designed with four control surfaces, of which two control surfaces which act in one direction are acted upon by the highest load pressure (LS1) in the first circuit and by the pumping pressure (P2) in the second circuit, and the control surfaces acting in the other direction are acted upon by the highest load pressure (LS2) in the second circuit and by the pumping pressure (P1) in the first circuit. |
| US08347615B2 |
Exhaust flow director and catalyst mount for internal combustion engine
An exhaust flow director and catalyst mount for an internal combustion engine includes a collector chamber with an outlet flange adapted for direct connection with an exhaust treatment catalyst. A number of transitional guide vanes located within the collector chamber direct exhaust gases flowing from runners into the collector chamber. The runners attaching exhaust flanges and the outlet flange of the present device are substantially coplanar. |
| US08347613B2 |
Controlling operation of exhaust of an engine including a particulate filter
Methods and systems for controlling operation of exhaust of an engine including a particulate filter are described. One example method includes generating compressed air during engine operation, and storing the compressed air. The method further includes, during or after engine shutdown, pushing the compressed air through the particulate filter using a pressure of the compressed air. |
| US08347611B2 |
Methods and systems for emission system control
Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine including an emission control system, the emission control system comprising a catalyst downstream of a turbine of a boosting device and a reductant injector upstream of the turbine. In one example, the method comprises injecting reductant into exhaust upstream of the turbine, mixing the injected reductant with exhaust gas via the turbine, and delivering the mixed reductant to the catalyst. |
| US08347609B2 |
Methods and systems for emission system control
Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine including an SCR catalyst downstream of an exhaust turbine and a particulate filter upstream of the turbine. In one example, the method comprises, adjusting a turbine wastegate to adjust a catalyst temperature to a desired catalyst temperature. |
| US08347601B2 |
Device for pivoting at least one pivotable element in a gas turbine engine
A device is provided for pivoting at least one pivotable element in a gas turbine engine between a first and a second position in order to influence a gas flow in an annular gas duct in at least one of the positions. The device includes a moveable annular member which is arranged externally around the gas duct and is connected to the pivotable element in order to effect the pivoting of the pivotable element. The annular member is more specifically arranged to be displaced in a substantially axial direction and arranged to pivot the pivotable element when it is displaced axially. |
| US08347597B2 |
Thread draw-off nozzle
A thread draw-off nozzle (1) for an open-end spinning device has a draw-off nozzle funnel (6) that contains a yarn deflection zone (3) for deflecting a yarn (5) produced during the yarn draw-off process. The draw-off nozzle funnel (6) has a two-part design, an external part (6a) containing a first area (3a) of the yarn deflection zone (3) and an internal part (6b) containing a second area (3b) of the yarn deflection zone (3). Both parts (6a, 6b) are made of different materials and/or have different coatings at least in the areas (3a, 3b) of the yarn deflection zone (3) or only one of the two parts (6a, 6b) has a coating. |
| US08347586B2 |
Window and door assembly structures
Interfaces between nosings on respective frames and frame combinations to be joined. Each nosing has an elongate receptacle extending along the nosing length. A remote wall of the receptacle is displaced from the remainder of the nosing. The remote wall on the nosings to be joined can be generally aligned with and proximate the receptacle opening on the other nosing. With the remote walls and respective receptacles aligned, the frames are moved toward each other with the remote walls on the respective nosings entering the receptacles, with the remote walls in generally facing relationship with each other. Spacings and tolerances of the remote walls, and corresponding receptacles, can optionally provide frictionally-restrained engagements of the remote walls in the receptacles, whereby the frames can be re-oriented with limited assembly support to such assembly without disengagement of the nosings from each other by the action of gravity. |
| US08347583B2 |
Building trim
A trim element such as a door pilaster or frieze board, for attachment to a building wall, having front and back longitudinal faces, first and second longitudinal edges, and a longitudinal groove in the first edge. A mounting bracket for the wall has a forward strip that extends laterally and is selectively friction fit into the groove, a back strip that extends laterally on the back face of the element, and a connecting web between the forward and back strip that is flush with the first edge when the forward strip is fully inserted in the groove. A mounting flange for the wall extends laterally from the back face of the element, beyond the second longitudinal edge, and has a longitudinal channel along the second edge with a width that is effective to receive an edge of wall siding. |
| US08347582B1 |
Variable pitch connectors
An innovative retrofit connector with unique bends that add strength, and angled nailing that allow the connector to positively tie together intersecting wood structural members. The intersecting members can be horizontal, vertical, and of different slopes. The connector is simple to manufacture, doesn't split the wood, angles the nails or screws into the heart of the wood, and is strong. The connector helps protect an existing home against wind and seismic events. |
| US08347578B2 |
Shingle assembly set
An assembly, and method for constructing the assembly, to aid in the proper installation of shingles by providing panels of shingles and assembly guides that when followed, result in the installation of shingles that meet keyway width requirements, keyway alignment requirements, provide an aesthetically pleasing distribution of the shingles, and provides adequate ventilation. |
| US08347572B2 |
Lightweight beam structure
A lightweight beam may have a triangular prism core and a triaxial fabric cover wrapped around the core, with at least one rod proximate an apex of the core. The rod may extend substantially parallel to a centerline of the core. Multiple lightweight beams may be joined to form a larger lightweight structure. |
| US08347571B2 |
Structural column with footing stilt
A structural column assembly of the type used for erecting building structures and the like is bedded in a concrete footing formed in situ in an earthen hole. The column assembly includes a post whose bottom end is suspended above a floor of the hole by a stilt. The stilt includes a plurality of legs which extend from the post's bottom end and grip the hole floor through a plurality of cleats. The cleats help stabilize the column assembly during the concrete pour operation so that it does not shift out of position. The stilt legs are provided with a base pad, which is set below the bottom end of the post at a predetermined distance so that the concrete footing can be poured in a single operation immediately after the hole is formed. The stilt can accommodate posts made from wood, pre-cast concrete or any other known construction material. The stilts can be manufactured from formed flat steel or commercially available angle iron and channel stock. |
| US08347565B2 |
Solar panels fixtures and installations
The edge fixtures are designed to clip at least two edges of at least one solar panel and corner fixtures are designed to clip to each corner of at least one solar panel. These fixtures can be made by casting mold that can use materials of aluminum or aluminum alloys, or made by injection molding using plastic materials. The examples show the edge fixtures and the corner fixtures having flexible features to fix or install on any desired angle surface with various supporting members such as frame members and cross brace members which can be shaped as polygon or use angle aluminum or angle aluminum alloy or angle iron or angle steel etc. These fixtures and supporting members can be installed on the ground or attached to additional structures such as roofs of buildings etc. for residential, commercial and industrial users. |
| US08347564B2 |
Solar cell module
A solar cell module includes a plate-shaped solar panel including a plurality of solar cells arranged on same plane; a plate-shaped cell protection member that covers the plural solar cells that are arranged on the same plane; and a surface protection member that is bonded onto a top surface of the cell protection member; an outer frame that supports a circumference of the solar panel; and a brace having rigidity against bending and that supports a center area of a back surface of the solar panel in such a manner that both ends of the brace are joined to each of two opposed positions of the outer frame. An initial tension is provided to the brace. |
| US08347547B1 |
Stowable fishing device
The invention provides a fishing device adapted to carry a plurality of fishing lures. The fishing device includes a winged section having a support shaft guide which slideably engages onto a wire support shaft equipped with a winged section retaining eyelet. Depending upon the slideable position of the support guide in relation to the winged section retaining eyelet, the winged section may be retained and collapsed about the wire support shaft in a stowable form or allowed to radially expand to a fishing lure position. The winged section and the support shaft are adapted to carry a plurality of fishing lures dimensionally triangulated along different planes of carriage travel. |
| US08347545B2 |
Decoy support system and method
A support supports a decoy device in an elevated position above the support with a post. The support comprises a platform member with a front edge and an opposite rear edge with longitudinal sides extending therebetween. The platform member has top and bottom surfaces defining parallel planes between the front and rear edges and the longitudinal sides. The front edge has a width dimension less than the width dimension of the rear edge. The front edge is generally pointed in cross-section. The platform member is formed from a material with sufficient buoyancy to allow the support to substantially float in the water with the decoy device mounted thereto. The platform member top surface has a mount adapted to receive the post of the decoy device. The platform member has a tether connector. The method of using the support is also disclosed. |
| US08347544B1 |
Dampening device for absorbing shock waves and dissipating harmonic vibration generated by a firearm
A dampening device for absorbing shock waves and dissipating harmonic vibration generated by a firearm includes a body, a clamping assembly configured to releasably clamp the body to the firearm, and a dampening structure disposed within a cavity formed in the body. The cavity has opposing fixed end walls, and the dampening structure is captivated between the opposing fixed end walls of the cavity. |
| US08347543B1 |
Laser system for measuring motion of a gas and for aiming an object
Measurement of the deviation of a laser beam from a straight line, where the laser beam is of a type which causes thermal blooming, is used to determine the integrated effect which wind will have on an article traveling through airspace, for example, to enable an adjustment in the aim point of the article. The invention includes correcting the aim point of a gun firing a projectile, correcting the flight path of an aircraft, and correcting the path of a watercraft. The invention includes a method and means for measuring the flow of fluid in a conduit or as a free mass, for purposes other than adjusting the path of a projectile or the like. |
| US08347539B2 |
Trigger guard for loading and unloading a weapon
A weapon safety apparatus comprising a sleeve comprising a cavity portion open to receive a trigger portion of a weapon and free of any structures that impede movement of the trigger. The sleeve further comprises a body portion comprising at least one closed portion preventing access to a trigger of the weapon. The sleeve is shaped to provide access to all loading or unloading components of the weapon. The cavity portion of the sleeve may be further open to receive a handle of the weapon. A method for loading and unloading a weapon using the above weapon safety apparatuses is also provided. |
| US08347535B2 |
Display and method of making thereof
The present invention provides a display and method of making thereof that can comprise comprising fragmenting a first image into a plurality of individual first image fragments, fragmenting a second image into a plurality of individual second image fragments, and positioning the first image fragments and the second image fragments at locations and at orientations in a three dimensional space to form a display having the first image visible when the display is viewed in one direction, the second image visible when the display is viewed in a different direction, and neither the first image nor the second image visible when the display is viewed in other directions. The invention also envisions a kit for making a display and a method for making an advertisement where two images can be viewed from two directions and not from any other direction. |
| US08347533B2 |
Machine applied labels to armored cable
Flexible indicia bearing labels are placed on armored electrical cable at spaced apart intervals while the cable is moving continuously from an armoring station to a takeup reel or accumulator. A label dispenser places labels in a U shaped recess of a body which is moveable toward engagement with the cable. Opposed rollers fold one edge of the label over into engagement with the surface of the cable and the other edge of the label over onto itself in overlapping relationship. The cable is passed through a heat tunnel to shrink the labels into tight engagement with the cable. A controller monitors movement of the cable and controls actuators for applying and folding labels onto the cable at spaced apart intervals. |
| US08347531B2 |
Steam ironing appliance comprising a water container directly connected to a boiling compartment
Steam wrinkle-removing appliance comprising a water tank (110) in direct communication with a steam-producing boiling chamber (60), said boiling chamber (60) comprising a heating unit (4) and a steam outlet (62) through which the steam can freely flow toward a wrinkle-removing element such as a steam brush, characterized in that the boiling chamber (60) is supplied with water from the tank (110) by means of several supply lines (70) with a small flow cross-section of less than 15 mm2, said supply lines extending lengthwise between an end (70A) opening into the tank (110) and an end (70B) opening into the boiling chamber (60) so as to generate head losses that limit the backflow of hot water or steam toward the tank (110). |
| US08347522B2 |
Drying apparatus
A drying apparatus has a casing, a cavity formed in the casing for receiving an object, a fan located in the casing and creating an airflow, a motor arranged to drive the fan. At least one opening communicates with the fan and is arranged in the casing so as to direct an airflow transversely across the cavity. The motor and fan arrangement generate an airflow across the cavity, wherein, in use, the pressure of the airflow emitted through the opening is at least 8 kPa. The motor has a rotor which, in use, may rotate at a speed of at least 80,000 rpm. The high velocity, high pressure airflow provided by the apparatus is capable of drying an object efficiently and quickly and is suitable for use in a hand dryer. |
| US08347520B2 |
Drying unit and laundry washing/drying machine equipped with the drying unit
In a laundry washing/drying machine involving drying by a heat pump cycle, in an initial stage of the drying operation the heat within an air circulation path is deficient and therefore it is impossible to effect quick heating of air on a drum inlet side up to a sufficiently high temperature. According to the present invention there is provided a drying unit capable of raising the drum inlet air temperature quickly up to a sufficiently high temperature in an initial stage of the drying operation and thereby shortening the drying time. The drying unit includes a heat pump cycle device for performing a cycle of radiating, with use of a radiator, the heat of a refrigerant compressed by a compressor, passing the refrigerant through a pressure reducing/expansion valve, evaporating the refrigerant in an evaporator and compressing the refrigerant again by the compressor, an air circulation path for allowing air to be circulated by a blower in such a manner that air heated by the radiator is introduced into a drying chamber to dry the laundry, exhaust air discharged from the drying chamber is passed through the evaporator, then is heated again by the radiator and the air thus dehumidified is circulated by the blower, and an external heat source applying device for applying the heat of an external heat source to the evaporator to quicken the rise in temperature of the air in an initial stage of the drying operation. |
| US08347519B2 |
Drainer basket assembling structure of stepping wringer bucket
A drainer basket assembling structure of a stepping wringer bucket includes a bucket body, having a containing space concavely formed at the bottom of a front side, a shaft base formed at the top of the containing space; a base, having two support stands installed in the containing space; a driving mechanism installed between the two support stands for producing a driving force; a transmission shaft installed in the containing space and whose bottom is driven by the driving mechanism; and a drainer basket driven by the transmission shaft. An upper end of the transmission shaft is protruded out from the shaft base, and a protruding end is provided for sheathing the coupling base of the drainer basket and form a sheathing and linking structure with the protruding end of the transmission shaft, such that the drainer basket can be assembled from the top of the bucket body. |
| US08347503B2 |
Methods of manufacturing brazed aluminum heat exchangers
Methods for manufacturing brazed aluminum heat exchangers involved in boiling and condensing, including a high performance nucleate boiling surface bonded with the walls of fin-less boiling passages. One method includes providing a first heat exchanger core subassembly including a first joinable end, at least one cooling and one boiling passage, and a first partial finless passage arranged at the joinable end. A second heat exchanger core subassembly is provided similar to the first including a second joinable end. The first and second heat exchanger core subassemblies are brazed. The first joinable end is affixed, preferably by welding, to the second joinable end and the first partial finless passage is affixed to a second partial finless passage to form a coupled finless passage, and thereby a heat exchanger core. |
| US08347499B2 |
Method for producing a turbine casing
A method for producing a turbine casing for a rotating machine is provided. The casing is manufactured by a casting process, and is cast in two casing halves which are separated by a parting plane which passes axially through the turbine casing. Each casing half is first cast in one piece in each case, and each casing half is separated into at least two casing sections which are joined together for forming a casing half in each case. |
| US08347487B2 |
Fabricating method of magnetoresistance sensor
A fabricating method of a magnetoresistance sensor is provided with cost effective and process flexibility features. Firstly, a substrate is provided. Then, at least one magnetoresistance structure and at least one bonding pad are formed over the substrate, wherein the bonding pad is electrically connected with the magnetoresistance structure. Then, a passivation layer is formed over the magnetoresistance structure and the bonding pad. Then, a magnetic shielding and concentrator structure is formed over the passivation layer at a location corresponding to the magnetoresistance structure. Finally, bonding pad openings is formed on the passivation layer by patterned polyimide, thereby exposing the bonding pad. After bonding pad was opened, the patterned polyimide can be removed or retained as an additional protection layer. |
| US08347474B2 |
Brake drum/brake rotor removal tool
A pulling tool includes a elongated main support body having a plurality of retention holes formed on opposite sides thereof. An actuator stem member is threadably mounted in the support body. A pair of jaw members is slidably mounted on opposite side of the support body. The jaw members have extended hook portions adapted to engage an outer periphery of a wheel element removably mounted on a stationary wheel mounting member. A pair of tubular holders is slidably mounted on opposite sides of the support body, and retained against outer faces of the jaw members to prevent lateral outward movement of the jaw members on the support body and to orient the jaw members substantially perpendicularly to the support body. |
| US08347447B2 |
Mop body having recessed side surfaces
Disclosed is a mop body that includes side surfaces that are substantially recessed from a lowermost contact point. The greatly recessed side surfaces completely remove a large portion of the cleaning surface from contact with the surface to be cleaned. Upon rotation of the mop body, the side surfaces can be placed into contact with the surface to be cleaned in order to pickup dirt, hair, lint, or other debris captured by the portion of the mop body contacting the surface to be cleaned. Further, in some embodiments the lowermost contact provides essentially a single point of contact with the surface to be cleaned to enable the mop body to easily remove debris from corners. The disclosed mop construction greatly enhances the total amount of surface area that can be effectively used for cleaning. |
| US08347442B2 |
Barbeque grill cleaning device
A barbeque grill cleaning device including a soaking container, in which the grill may be submerged in a cleaning liquid, and a rotary scrubbing head for scrubbing the grill while positioned in the soaking container. The barbeque grill cleaning device includes: a container defining a cavity shaped and sized for receiving a barbeque grill therein; and a scrubbing head for scrubbing the barbeque grill, the scrubbing head is rotatable relative to the container; such that the cleaning of the barbeque grill is aided by a scrubbing action as a result of contact between the barbeque grill and the rotating scrubbing head. |
| US08347440B1 |
Retractable trailer ramps
A pair of integrated ramps attach to the rear of a trailer or utility cargo bed, the ramps swinging on a horizontal plane from a stored position and then being rotated to form a pair or flat ramps surfaces in a flat position, the ramps sliding along the rear end of a trailer on a secure end railing. The sliding railing provides adjustment to the width of the ramps for the purpose of off loading cargo carried upon the cargo surface of the trailer, the ramps forming a stable angled surface between the cargo bed and the ground. The ramps may form a tailgate in a stored position or be made part of the side rails for the trailer in the stored position. |
| US08347438B2 |
Footwear uppers and other textile components including reinforced and abutting edge joint seams
Textile Components, such as upper members for articles of footwear, include: (a) a first portion having a first edge, wherein the first edge includes a first portion of material engaged with a first seam support material via a first thermoplastic material; (b) a second portion having a second edge, wherein the second edge includes a second portion of material engaged with a second seam support material via a second thermoplastic material; and (c) structure to engage the first and second edges in an abutting edge joint (such as a zig-zag stitch). The resulting textile components may be lightweight and breathable (e.g., due to use of lightweight upper fabric), having a comfortable fit (e.g., due to the abutting edge joint), while still providing a strong, stable, and durable construction (e.g., due to the presence of the seam support member(s)). |
| US08347432B2 |
One-piece blanket swaddle
An infant swaddle blanket that includes a torso wrap section with wings and a leg pouch for the infant's legs. The torso wrap section is designed to wrap around the infant's torso for swaddling. The swaddle includes various hook and loop fasteners which facilitates swaddling and makes the swaddle easier to use, as well as making the swaddle safer to use by providing a more secure, adjustable fit. External hold-down straps augment hook and loop closures on the wings. The leg pouch permits the infant's diaper to be changed without unwrapping the torso wrap section, thereby facilitating diaper changes. |
| US08347428B2 |
Portable bathroom and kitchen fixture display
A portable bathroom and kitchen fixture display includes a base, walls rising from the top of the base, a canopy spanning the walls, a holding tank within the base, fluid supply and fluid drain conduits, a plurality of fixtures selectively mounted to the base, and a fluid pump within the holding tank. |
| US08347420B2 |
Thermal liner subassembly, fabric and method of use
The present invention concerns a thermal liner sub-assembly comprising crimped, heat resistant fibers held in a state of compression by a binder adhered to at least one thermally stable flame resistant stabilizing fabric wherein, when the thermal liner is exposed to heat or flame, the liner increases its thickness by at least one hundred percent and the shrinkage of the liner is no more than ten percent.The invention also relates to use of such liners in protective fabrics, garments, and articles. |
| US08347419B1 |
Form-fitting protective headwear
Provided are a protective headwear and method of manufacturing the headwear. The headwear includes a body, band and plurality of protective inserts. The body has a tubular shape with an opening and a crown, and is configured to fit a head of a person. The band extends from and about the opening of the body to the interior of the tubular shape and partially toward the crown. The band is free floating with respect to the body and configured to fit the head of the person. The band includes a plurality of pockets disposed about a base stitching of the band. The protective inserts are configured to be received into the pockets to provide a protective function to the head of the person. The protective inserts are disposed adjacently to one another about the band and extend from the base stitching of the band to the crown of the body. |
| US08347418B2 |
Shorts
Shorts having a constitution where the exposed skin area can be freely determined while a wearer wears the shorts without unnecessary physical or psychological burden is disposed. By connecting an approximately inverted triangular front cover and an approximately inverted triangular back cover at their tops of individual approximately inverted triangular shape, when the wearer wears the shorts, a lower abdomen, a crotch and buttocks of the wearer's body can be covered as one unit by the front and back covers. Further, by inserting a ring-shaped string into a string through passage made at upper hems of the front and back covers in a freely slidable manner, both ends of the upper hems of the front and back covers can be slid towards the center along the string and a state of the front and back covers is changeable to a narrow-width state to cover the lower abdomen, the crotch and the buttocks of the body. |
| US08353058B1 |
Methods and systems for detecting rootkits
A computer-implemented method for detecting rootkits is disclosed. The computer-implemented method may include sending periodic security communications from a privileged-processor-mode region of a computing device. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying at least one of the periodic security communications. The computer-implemented method may further include determining, based on the periodic security communications, whether the privileged-processor-mode region of the computing device has been compromised. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08353055B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing rights object
A method for upgrading a Rights Object (RO) includes: acquiring, by a Digital Rights Management (DRM) Agent, RO related information of the RO that requires updating from a Secure Removable Media (SRM) Agent; providing, by the DRM Agent, the RO related information to a Rights Issuer (RI), and obtaining a new RO from the RI; and interacting, by the DRM Agent, with the SRM Agent to upgrade the RO that requires updating on the SRM by means of the new RO. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the DRM Agent acquires RO related information which is stored on the SRM and does not have Move rights, and interacts with the RI to move the RO out from the SRM, so as to move the RO without the Move rights out from the SRM. |
| US08353050B2 |
Mobile device management
A device management method, is disclosed in which available features on a slave mobile device are managed (monitored or controlled) by a slave manager module commanded by a master device through secure messages exchanged between the two devices using respective electronic messaging capabilities on the two devices. Selection of the features of the slave mobile device to be controlled or monitored is facilitated on the master device through a master manager module resident thereon. The features that are controlled or monitored may comprise any user-accessible feature incorporated or installed on the slave mobile device and user access to the feature may be prevented according to at least one criterion, such as: date of use, time of day of use, number of times of use, originator and recipient. User access to the feature may be prevented access to the user-accessible feature when usage limitations for the feature have been reached. |
| US08353046B2 |
System and method for delivery of a modular operating system
An operating system and method for use include a core function module, or basic kernel, providing fundamental operating system support and one or more add-on modules that allow customization of the operating system as desired. Add-on modules may provide support or extended capability to the computer including hardware, applications, peripherals, and support. A digital signature may be used to confirm the integrity of an add-on module prior to installation. Certification may be verified to determine if installation of the add-on module is authorized. By withholding certification, a service provider may manage illegal or undesired modifications to a provided computer. Digital rights management may be used to enforce terms of use of the add-on module in keeping with licensing arrangements. |
| US08353042B2 |
Content filtering of remote file-system access protocols
Methods and systems for content filtering of remote file-system access protocols are provided. According to one embodiment, holding buffers in which data collected from a remote file-system access protocol is stored, a holding buffer context table, a file map table and a usage table corresponding to each holding buffer are created within one or more computer-readable media. References to each of the holding buffers are tracked within the holding buffer context table. References to a common file are mapped to a common holding buffer of the holding buffers with the file map table. Modified and unmodified portions of the holding buffers are tracked using the usage table corresponding to each holding buffer. Responsive to a predetermined event in relation to a holding buffer or the holding buffers, the existence of malicious, dangerous or unauthorized content contained within the holding buffer is determined by performing content filtering on the holding buffer. |
| US08353041B2 |
Secure application streaming
A server includes a scanning module for determining whether an application is free of malware, a module for packaging the application into blocks for delivery via application streaming, a module for providing the blocks to a client on request, and a module for adding to each block an indication of whether the associated application has already been determined to be free of malware. A client includes a module for requesting blocks of a streamed application from the server. When the client receives a block, it employs a module for verifying that the associated applications have been determined to be free of malware by examining the indication provided by the server. If verification is successful, then the block's code is executed without first receiving and scanning any additional blocks from the server. |
| US08353038B1 |
Monitoring and managing changes to non-structured storage of system configuration information
A configuration information manager monitors attempts by processes to update non-structured storage of system configuration information, such as plain text files which contain system configuration information. When such an attempt is made, the configuration information manager makes a copy of the target file, and redirects the write operation to this copy. The configuration information manager then analyzes the process that did the writing, as well as the content that was written. If the process and/or the content is deemed to be suspicious, the changes will be logged and discarded, thus protecting the system. Should the changes be deemed legitimate, then the configuration information manager folds them into the real file, typically in an annotated manner, so as enable subsequent reversion of the changes as desired. |
| US08353034B2 |
System and method to locate a prefix hijacker within a one-hop neighborhood
Method, system and computer-readable medium to locate a prefix hijacker of a destination prefix within a one-hop neighborhood on a network. The method includes generating one-hop neighborhoods from autonomous system (AS)-level paths of plural monitors to a destination prefix. The method also includes determining a suspect set of AS identifiers resulting from a union of the one-hop neighborhoods. The method further includes calculating a count and a distance associated with each AS identifier of the suspect set. The count indicates how often the AS identifier appeared in the one-hop neighborhoods. The distance indicates a total distance from the AS identifier to AS identifiers associated with the plural monitors. Yet further, the method includes generating a one-hop suspect set of AS identifiers from the suspect set that have highest counts and highest distances. |
| US08353025B2 |
Method and system for dynamically establishing a virtual private network (VPN) session
Techniques for virtual private network (VPN) access are provided. A dynamic determination, in response to privileges, is made as to whether a principal and a device of a principal are to receive a thin client virtual private network (VPN) installation for a thin client VPN session between the principal and a remote site or whether a clientless VPN session is appropriate. Dynamic switching between the clientless VPN session and thin client VPN session is permissible when the principal supplies the appropriate credentials for such a switch. |
| US08353021B1 |
Determining firewall rules for an application on a client based on firewall rules and reputations of other clients
A security system monitors the trustworthiness and firewall configurations of a set of clients, where a firewall configuration comprises a set of firewall rules that control access by an application to network communication functionalities of a client. Based on the firewall rules used by other clients and the reputation of those clients, the system determines a set of default firewall rules by selecting one or more rules that are used by the more trustworthy clients. The default firewall rules are made available to other clients, which may use these default rules. This leverages community knowledge about how much network access to allow for a particular application. |
| US08353020B2 |
Transparently extensible firewall cluster
A generic master-slave mechanism enables a single processor of a cluster of firewall processors to define the behavior of the other processors in the cluster for a specific logical connection. The cluster of firewall processors utilizes virtual adapters representing physical adapters on other processors in the firewall cluster. This virtualization allows each cluster member to act as though it is a standalone machine that owns all local IP addresses of the entire cluster. When traffic is received by a firewall processor, the firewall processor determines if there is a master associated with the logical connection for the traffic. If so, the traffic is routed to the master. If no master is associated, in an example configuration, the receiving firewall processor becomes the master. A message traffic logical connection has a single master. A master remains the master of a logical connection until the connection is terminated. |
| US08353019B2 |
Security token destined for multiple or group of service providers
An authentication server generates a security token to be used by a client for accessing multiple service providers by obtaining a secret key for each specified service provider, generating a saltbase, generating a salt for each service providers using the saltbase, the secret key, and a hashing algorithm, generating a session key that includes the salt, assigning an order to each of the generated salts, and arranging the salts based on the orders, generating a presalt for each provider using the salt for each previous provider, generating a postsalt for each of the specified service providers using the salt for each following provider, generating a blob for each of the specified service providers using the saltbase, the respective presalt, and the respective postsalt, inserting the generated blobs for the specified service providers in the security token, and providing the generated security token to the client workstation. |
| US08353010B2 |
Method of establishing protected electronic communication between various electronic devices, especially between electronic devices of electronic service providers and electronic devices of users of electronic service
A method of establishing protected electronic communication between various electronic devices equips users beforehand with a personal electronic identity gadget bearing no information about the user identity. Only at the first connection of the blank personal gadget to the electronic devices of an arbitrary electronic service provider, and/or to local electronic devices, the personal electronic identity gadget and the electronic devices and/or the local electronic devices mutually generate a verifiable electronic identity, which is stored in the personal electronic identity gadget and in the electronic devices and/or local electronic devices, for the needs of further mutual electronic communication, separately from other identities and without the knowledge of personal data about the user. Consequently only the generated and stored information is utilized for verification of the identity at every subsequent connection of the user to the electronic devices of the given electronic service provider and/or to the local electronic devices. |
| US08353004B2 |
Authentication device, authentication method, authentication program and computer readable recording medium
An authentication device having high resistance to spoofing is provided. The portable telephone includes a camera of imaging the face of the person to be authenticated, an imaging direction comparing unit of determining whether or not the face of the person to be authenticated is imaged from diagonally below, and a main control unit of determining that the person to be authenticated is not the person in question when the imaging direction comparing unit determines that the face of the person to be authenticated is not imaged from diagonally below. |
| US08352997B2 |
System and method of monitoring blackout events
Systems and methods of monitoring blackout events are provided. A particular method includes receiving a server blackout event associated with a scheduled blackout of a first media service. The method also includes receiving at least one client blackout event from at least one set top box (STB) affected by the scheduled blackout. For example, the server blackout event and the client blackout event(s) may be received at a subscriber event transmission interface (SETI). The method further includes storing the server blackout event and the client blackout event(s) at a data warehouse. |
| US08352971B2 |
Contained command invocation framework
An object-oriented middleware framework for use in a network having a plurality of hosts including a first host having an associated first memory and first processor; and a second host having an associated second memory and second processor. The object-oriented middleware framework includes an Originator Command Container instantiating a Command by executing computer programming code stored in the first memory using the first processor. The framework also includes an Invocator Command Container, remote from the Originator Command Container and its associated first host where the instantiated Command is invoked, locally by executing computer programming code stored in the second memory using the second processor. |
| US08352967B2 |
Safe browser plugins using native code modules
Some embodiments provide a system that executes a plugin for a web browser. During operation, the system obtains the plugin as a native code module and executes the native code module in a secure runtime environment. Next, the system enables communication between the native code module and the web browser by providing an interface bridge between the native code module and the web browser. |
| US08352966B2 |
System and method of inter-widget communication
A method and apparatus enabling inter-widget communication and control uses a central server to receive selected widgets and settings associated with at least one widget, wherein the received settings are used to at least partly determine the settings of the other selected widgets according to a pre-defined relationship between or among the widgets. |
| US08352958B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a generic audit trail service
Systems, methods, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing a generic audit trail service for a plurality of business objects, at least two of the plurality of business objects being of different business object types. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided that comprises receiving, at an application server, a notification of a change associated with at least one of the plurality of business objects, and requesting, in response to receiving the notification, auditing data from the at least one business object, the at least one business object implementing an auditable function set to interface with the application server. Further, the method includes receiving, through a called method of the auditable function set, the requested auditing data, and storing the received auditing data in a repository. |
| US08352957B2 |
Apparatus and method for passing metadata in streams modules
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and method for passing metadata in STREAMS modules. The apparatus and method are configured to perform acts including, allocating a STREAMS message in a kernel space, storing data in the data block in the STREAMS message, allocating a buffer space for metadata associated with the data, storing the metadata of the data in the metadata block in the STREAMS message, passing the metadata among STREAMS modules as a part of the STREAMS message, and performing an operation based upon the metadata. |
| US08352956B1 |
Calculating an estimated time remaining for completion of a multi-phased and multi-threaded process
A device initializes a total time estimate for a multi-phased and multi-threaded process, determines task information for a currently executing phase of the process, and determines time information for the currently executing phase of the process. The device also calculates an updated total time estimate for the process based on the task information and the time information for the currently executing phase of the process, and displays the updated total time estimate to a user associated with the device. |
| US08352954B2 |
Data storage resource allocation by employing dynamic methods and blacklisting resource request pools
A resource allocation system begins with an ordered plan for matching requests to resources that is sorted by priority. The resource allocation system optimizes the plan by determining those requests in the plan that will fail if performed. The resource allocation system removes or defers the determined requests. In addition, when a request that is performed fails, the resource allocation system may remove requests that require similar resources from the plan. Moreover, when resources are released by a request, the resource allocation system may place the resources in a temporary holding area until the resource allocation returns to the top of the ordered plan so that lower priority requests that are lower in the plan do not take resources that are needed by waiting higher priority requests higher in the plan. |
| US08352947B2 |
Method to automatically redirect SRB routines to a zIIP eligible enclave
A Method to redirect SRB routines from otherwise non-zIIP eligible processes on an IBM z/OS series mainframe to a zIIP eligible enclave is disclosed. This redirection is achieved by intercepting otherwise blocked operations and allowing them to complete processing without errors imposed by the zIIP processor configuration. After appropriately intercepting and redirecting these blocked operations more processing may be performed on the more financially cost effective zIIP processor by users of mainframe computing environments. |
| US08352942B2 |
Virtual-machine control apparatus and virtual-machine moving method
A virtual-machine control program includes an operational-status inquiry unit that inquires of another machine about a memory usage status of virtual machines realized on another machine; a swapping-target selecting unit that selects a virtual machine capable of being swapped for a virtual machine realized on a machine from among the virtual machines realized on another machine based on information obtained by the operational-status inquiry unit; and a swapping performing unit that swaps the virtual machine realized on the machine for the virtual machine selected by the swapping-target selecting unit. The virtual-machine control program enables to move the virtual machine to another machine without preparing a free space in advance. |
| US08352940B2 |
Virtual cluster proxy to virtual I/O server manager interface
An interface is provided between a virtual cluster proxy and a virtual I/O server on a logical partitioned platform. The virtual I/O server is configured to support virtual real memory. A command is received from a virtual cluster proxy. The virtual cluster proxy identifies whether the command is a virtual real memory command or a virtualization command. Virtual real memory commands and virtualization commands are marked by the virtual cluster proxy with a virtualization marker. The virtualization marker indicates that the command is a virtual real memory command or a virtualization command. The command is then forwarded to a logical partitioned platform. A virtual memory manager intercepts the command and identifies whether the command has been marked with the virtualization marker. If the command is marked with the virtualization marker, the virtual memory manager reroutes the command to the virtual I/O server. |
| US08352930B1 |
Software modification by group to minimize breakage
A method is employed to group computers to facilitate application of a software modification to the computers. The method includes identifying a global set of computers to which it is desired to apply the software modification. Based on characteristics of software configurations of the computers of the identified global set, the computers of the identified global set are grouped into a plurality of clusters. Grouping the computers into a plurality of clusters includes processing syntactic information about the computers to identify the plurality of clusters and applying the software modification to the computers of the clusters. The software modification is applied with an adjustment for each cluster in an attempt to avoid software breakage of the computers of that cluster. |
| US08352928B2 |
Program conversion apparatus, program conversion method, and computer product
A linker generates a simulator-use executable format program from a pre-conversion object program and a simulator-use object program. A simulator executes the simulator-use object program and acquires branch trace information. A binary program converting tool, based on the branch trace information and a branch penalty table, generates a post-conversion object program having a rewritten branching prediction bit of the pre-conversion object program. Another linker generates an actual-machine-use executable format program from the post-conversion object program and an actual-machine-use object program. |
| US08352922B2 |
Date and time simulation for time-sensitive applications
A process for providing a simulated date and/or time to a time-sensitive application is disclosed herein. Such a process may include detecting the invocation of a time handler method configured to retrieve system time. Upon detecting the invocation, the contents of a call stack may be captured and analyzed to determine which requester method initiated the invocation. The process may then determine whether the requester method should receive a real or simulated system time. A real system time may be returned to the requester method in the event it should receive the real system time. A simulated system time may be returned to the requester method in the event it should receive the simulated system time. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein. |
| US08352915B2 |
Organization of application state and configuration settings
The operating system manages software entities by creating a construct called a context that organizes and manages software-related state and configuration settings of applications. A context may comprise an installation service, a configuration service and an activation service. Contexts can be linked or arranged hierarchically to form parent-child relationships. Hierarchies may be used to affect accessibility of software items, to satisfy dependencies, to control the visibility/invisibility of software items, to provide access to configuration settings and to override software availability, dependencies and configuration settings. An override may be applied to set policy when more than one context has a configuration setting, dependency or access to a software entity. |
| US08352910B1 |
System and method for providing audio in a media file
A system and method adds audio to a media file. The audio may be received via one or more files in an uncompressed format, a compressed format or both types of files may be received. The system and method can mix multiple sources, and converts the audio received into a compressed version in a manner that facilitates streaming. |
| US08352903B1 |
Interaction with partially constructed mobile device applications
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for creating mobile device applications. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a user has entered one or more user inputs into an integrated development environment, to select or arrange a component that defines a portion of an application, and transmitting interpreter code that corresponds to the component to a mobile device, where the interpreter code, when interpreted by a command interpreter on the mobile device, causes the mobile device to generate a mock-up of the portion of the application defined by the component. |
| US08352902B2 |
Implementing routing first for rapid prototyping and improved wiring of heterogeneous hierarchical integrated circuits
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing routing first for rapid prototyping and improved wiring of heterogeneous hierarchical integrated circuit chips. Placement for each of a plurality of random logic macros (RLMs) is identified. Predefined wiring shapes are created for each of the identified RLMs. Full chip wire routing is defined responsive to the created predefined wiring shapes for each of the identified RLMs. |
| US08352897B2 |
Calculating waveform deterioration amount for determining pin placement
A pin placement determining method includes calculating a waveform deterioration amount of wires from a noise amount of the wires and wiring loss of the wires, the wires being coupled to a connector on a printed board, comparing the calculated waveform deterioration amount of the wires to an evaluation criteria, evaluating the wires in which the waveform deterioration amount exceeds the evaluation criteria, and replacing corresponding pins of the connectors to which the wires that have been evaluated as exceeding the evaluation criteria are coupled with replacement pins of connectors that have a low noise amount. |
| US08352893B1 |
Circuit topology recognition and circuit partitioning
Aspects of the invention relate to circuit topology recognition and circuit partitioning. In various embodiments of the invention, diode-connected transistors can be identified in a circuit netlist based on the unique structure. From the diode-connected transistors, current mirrors can be found. The current mirrors may be employed for locating differential pairs used in the input stage of operational amplifiers and for locating supply voltage and ground nodes in the netlist. The subcircuits that are strongly connected due to feedback loops of operational amplifiers in the circuit can then be identified and grouped together for circuit analysis and simulation. |
| US08352886B2 |
Method for the reproducible determination of the position of structures on a mask with a pellicle frame
A method for the reproducible determination of the positions of structures (3) on a mask (2) is disclosed. A pellicle frame (30) is firmly attached to the mask (2). A theoretical model of the bending of the mask (2) with the firmly attached pellicle frame (30) is calculated, wherein material properties of the mask (2), of the pellicle frame (30), and of the attaching means between the pellicle frame (30) and the mask (2) are taken into account in the calculation of the bending of the mask (2). For the calculation of the bending of the mask (2) its contact with three support points is considered. The positions of the structures (3) on the mask (2) are measured with a metrology tool (1). The measured positions of each structure are corrected with the theoretical model of the bending of the mask at the position of the respectively measured structure. |
| US08352883B2 |
Analysis of complex data objects and multiple parameter systems
A computer facilitates multiple parameters data analysis by special visualization and navigation methods. Data to be analyzed is loaded from an external source the computer displays the data in response to user input using a variety of methods including data tables, slices of data spaces, hierarchically navigated data spaces, dynamic slice tables, filters, sorting, color-mapping, numerical operations, and other methods. |
| US08352880B2 |
Active path navigation system
Disclosed is a method of navigating an information structure comprising: providing a graphical menu interface displaying the items of a given level of the information structure and enabling selection thereof; dynamically constructing an active path as a sequence of active links after an item of the information structure has been selected; said active links allowing the display of one or more items on a given level of the information structure; and said active links allowing a user to access an item in the information structure by selecting from the one or more items displayed by one of the active links on the active path. |
| US08352874B2 |
Visual group interface for group connectivity
A communication icon represents a shared connection allowing members of an online group to interact with each other and participate in different activities together. The icon through which the group interacts resides on each group member's desktop and has many attributes including click activation modes and drag and drop functionality. The icon provides each group member with a representation of the group's shared relationship. Any group member can change the group icon and have that change propagated to the computers of the other members of the group. The icon can be activated for both non-verbal and verbal communications as well as activity sharing. Online members of the group are kept apprised of the group's status and activities via a displayed status bar. |
| US08352859B2 |
Dynamically providing a feed of stories about a user of a social networking system
To display a news feed in a social network environment, a social networking system generates news items regarding activities associated with a user of a social network environment. The social networking system may also attach an informational link associated with at least one of the activities to at least one of the news items, limit access to the news items to a predetermined set of viewers, and assign an order to the news items. The news items may be displayed in the assigned order to at least one viewing user of the predetermined set of viewers, and the number of news items displayed may be dynamically limited. |
| US08352858B2 |
High-speed web server
A high-speed web server that generates an HTML file upon receipt of an HTTP request is described. The server includes an application executor device and an HTTP server device that receives the HTTP request and sends an HTTP response to the HTTP request. A method for sending an HTTP response in a server that generates an HTML file upon receipt of an HTTP request is also provided. The method includes: executing a script; calculating the number of appearances of the string; storing the string in a storage; executing a script when the script is a command for processing a string; replacing the string with reference information; and sending the string file along with the HTML file when it includes reference information for reference to the string file. |
| US08352854B2 |
Dynamic page generator
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a method for providing at least one customized advertisement in a dynamically generated customized page is provided. The method includes receiving a user request for a customized page. In response to the user request, the method further includes receiving a template program specific to the user. The template program is based on user configuration information. The user configuration information includes user demographic information. The template program is received from one of at least two locations. The location is determined from the frequency of the user request for the customized page. After receiving an advertisement selected in accordance to the user demographic information, the template program is executed using the selected advertisement to generate the customized page. The customized page is provided to the user. |
| US08352850B1 |
Dynamic paragraphs
A method for entering input into a form involves receiving prose based on the form and a first input, receiving a request for a second input, where the request is based on the first input, submitting the second input in response to the request, where the second input contains a modification to the prose, where the second input is incorporated into the prose to obtain a summary that enables comprehension of the form. |
| US08352847B2 |
Matrix vector multiplication for error-correction encoding and the like
In one embodiment, a matrix-vector multiplication (MVM) component generates a product vector based on (i) an input matrix and (ii) an input vector. The MVM component has a permuter, memory, and an XOR gate array. The permuter permutates, for each input sub-vector of the input vector, the input sub-vector based on a set of permutation coefficients to generate a set of permuted input sub-vectors. The memory stores a set of intermediate product sub-vectors corresponding to the product vector. The XOR gate array performs, for each input sub-vector, exclusive disjunction on (i) the set of permuted input sub-vectors and (ii) the set of intermediate product sub-vectors to update the set of intermediate product subvectors, such that all of the intermediate product sub-vectors in the set are updated based on a current input sub-vector before updating any of the intermediate product sub-vectors in the set based on a subsequent input sub-vector. |
| US08352846B2 |
Method an apparatus for low density parity check codes encoding and decoding
Provided is a method for generating a single rate or multi-rate highly structured low density parity check, encoding a data stream with the generated LDPC matrix for transmission in a wireless communication system, and for efficient LDPC decoding at a receiver. |
| US08352839B2 |
Encoding data into constrained memory
Encoding data into constrained memory using a method for writing data that includes receiving write data to be encoded into a write word, receiving constraints on symbol values associated with the write word, encoding the write data into the write word, and writing the write word to a memory. The encoding includes: representing the write data and the constraints as a first linear system in a first field of a first size; embedding the first linear system into a second linear system in a second field of a second size, the second size larger than the first size; solving the second linear system in the second field resulting in a solution; and collapsing the solution into the first field resulting in the write word, the write word satisfying the constraints on symbol values associated with the write word. |
| US08352833B2 |
System and method for data read of a synchronous serial interface NAND
A method and system is disclosed for operating a NAND memory device. The NAND memory device is operated by transmitting serial peripheral interface signals from a host to a NAND memory device, whereby the signals are communicated to a NAND memory in the NAND memory device without modifying the signals into a standard NAND memory format. Similarly, a method and system is disclosed for receiving signals from the NAND memory device without modifying the signals from a standard NAND format into a serial format. The system also incorporates error detection and correction techniques to detect and correct errors in data stored in the NAND memory device. |
| US08352829B1 |
Regeneration of a packet CRC
Techniques relate to the regeneration of a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) value of a data packet in a manner that avoids a complete CRC recomputation based on the entire packet after only a portion of a packet has been modified. When modifying and forwarding a packet, a network device identifies only the changed portions of a packet and computes an updated CRC for the packet based on the original CRC, the modified portions, and the length from the modified field to end of packet. |
| US08352828B2 |
Techniques to perform forward error correction for an electrical backplane
Techniques to perform forward error correction for an electrical backplane are described. An apparatus may include a physical layer unit having a forward error correction sublayer to perform forward error correction. |
| US08352826B2 |
System for providing running digital sum control in a precoded bit stream
A system includes an error correction encoder that encodes data and produces parity bits, and a parity bit processor that disperses the parity bits across the data, placing respective i-bit parity sub-blocks between selected multiple-bit data sub-blocks. The system also modifies one or more of the bits in predetermined positions in respective data sub-blocks based on the bits of the parity sub-blocks that precede them, such that the precoding does not sign invert the data sub-blocks. |
| US08352822B2 |
Method and arrangement relating to communications network
The invention relates to a method in a radio base station and user equipment, and comprises varying the transmitted timings of the HARQ feedback signaling such that only users with orthogonal pre-coding vectors (W) are scheduled simultaneously, to reduce multi-user interference and to ensure that said signaling is received by a transmitter before the start of the next retransmission. |
| US08352821B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving scheduling assignments in a communication system
An apparatus and method for generating a Scheduling Assignment (SA), which reduces a probability of an incorrect action by a User Equipment (UE) in response to a reception of the SA, in a communication system wherein a base station transmits the SA being a first type or a second type and including at least one Information Element (IE). The method includes setting at least one bit in the at least one IE with an arbitrary value, if the SA is of the first type; setting the at least one bit in the at least one IE with a predetermined value, if the SA is of the second type; and setting any remaining bits in the at least one IE with arbitrary values. |
| US08352820B2 |
ARQ and HARQ protocol data units and method of formation
The present invention provides for a method of forming at least one ARQ PDU from an ARQ service data unit (SDU), the ARQ PDU comprising a header portion and a data portion, and the method including selective addition of a Length Indicator field to the said header portion responsive to the determination of the presence in the PDU of the last bit of an ARQ SDU and if a HARQ PDU is formed of a plurality of ARQ PDUs wherein the last of the ARQ PDUs is arranged not to include an LI within its header if it is found not to be carrying the last bit of the ARQ SDU and LI will be added to all other ARQ PDUs though they are not carrying last bit of ARQ SDU. |
| US08352816B2 |
Adapter leads connected to test circuitry and third leads set
A system and method for sharing a communications link between multiple protocols is described. A system includes a communications interface configured to exchange information with other systems using at least one of a plurality of protocols; a protocol select register that stores a value that selects a protocol from among the plurality of protocols to become an active protocol; and a state machine accessible to the communications interface, the state machine used to control the exchange of information through the communications interface according to the active protocol. The active protocol is used by the communications interface to exchange information while the remaining protocols of the plurality of protocols remain inactive. The state machine sequences through a series of states that cause the communications interface to operate according to the active protocol, and that are designated as inert sequences under the remaining protocols. |
| US08352810B2 |
Fault detection using embedded watermarks
Detection of faults in a transmitted signal stream occurs by recovering, from the information stream, a water mark embedded in the stream prior to transmission. The embedded watermark has data characteristic of stream quality. Thereafter, the at least one watermark property is analyzed to detect faults in the received information stream. |
| US08352788B2 |
Predictive monitoring with wavelet analysis
A computer implemented method, computer program product and system for monitoring a plurality of hardware or software system resources for identifying hidden trends in the behavior of the system resources, includes: collecting metrics of at least one system resource indicative of the behavior of at least one system resource; for each of the at least one system resource, determining a spectrum representative of a time-based signal of the collected metrics; performing a wavelet transform on each of the at least one spectrum; and analyzing the result of the wavelet transform to identify possible linear trends in the behavior of the at least one system resource. |
| US08352783B2 |
Information system and I/O processing method
An information system including: a first and second storage apparatus including a first and second volume; a failure detection storage apparatus including a third volume; wherein, for backup purposes, the first and second volumes form a remote copy pair, and, for I/O request purposes, are recognized as a single volume labeled with a same volume identifier, but accessible by alternative access paths designated with differing priorities; wherein, if one apparatus detects a failure in the other or a connection failure, the apparatus detecting the failure stores, in the third volume, a failure information flag showing failure; wherein, upon receiving the I/O request through the second access path, the second storage apparatus determines whether the failure information flag is stored in the third volume, and sends an error reply of the I/O request to the host computer if the failure information flag is stored in the third volume. |
| US08352781B2 |
System and method for efficient detection and restoration of data storage array defects
The system and method are for efficient detection and restoration of data storage array defects. The system may include a data storage subsystem, wherein the data storage subsystem includes a data storage array, read-write logic coupled to the data storage array, a parity generator for producing and storing check data during write operations to the data storage array and generating check data during read operations on the data storage array, and a parity checker for verifying the stored check data with generated check data and identifying defective data read-write elements during read operations on the data storage array. The subsystem may further include a Built-in Self Test (BIST) generator operating only on the identified defective data read-write elements for determining defective data storage elements in the defective data read-write elements, and a restoration mechanism for restoring the valid operation of data access elements containing the defective data storage elements in the data storage array. |
| US08352769B1 |
System and method for querying for energy data in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating a query over a network to a plurality of entities that reside in a domain, the query including a request for data relating to energy use. The query can be generated by one or more computing devices belonging to the domain. A selected one of the computing devices can control power consumption for the entities in the domain. In other embodiments, a discovery protocol (DP) and a link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) is used for transporting events regarding the entities that connect or disconnect from the network. The entities send discovery events over a DP/LLDP protocol, identifying them as part of the domain. In yet other embodiments, the method includes querying a selected one of the entities to determine, if the selected entity moved to a certain energy level, an energy consumption value at the certain energy level. |
| US08352768B2 |
Controlling power states of a peripheral device in response to user proximity
In a method of controlling the power state of a peripheral device, the peripheral is changed from a first power state to a second power state in response to communications across a network connected to the peripheral indicating that a user is proximately located to the peripheral. A user may be determined to be proximately located to the peripheral by monitoring communications across the network to detect traffic that is associated with a user logging onto a computer that can utilize the peripheral, by discovering a wireless terminal that is associated with a user and which is proximately located to the peripheral, by receiving information from a cellular communication network across the network that indicates that a user of the peripheral is proximately located to the peripheral, and/or in response to a time of day and/or day of week/month schedule. |
| US08352765B2 |
Dark wake
Exemplary embodiments of methods, apparatuses, and systems for powering up select components of a computer from a sleep state, maintaining a network state, and powering down the select components of the computer to return the computer to the sleep state are described. For one embodiment, a network interface and a fan controller receive power during the network state maintenance but a display or audio components do not receive power during the network state maintenance. |
| US08352758B2 |
Power bus current bounding using local current-limiting soft-switches and device requirements information
An energy management control method and controller reduce power supply current and/or subsystem cooling overhead that reduces system efficiency, may reduce system reliability and may increase ambient noise. Multiple device connectors are supplied from corresponding soft switches that are programmed to provide a current level that is sufficient to supply the maximum current for the device installed in the corresponding device connector. The current level may be determined from device information provided from the device during initialization, which may directly specify a maximum current requirement. Alternatively, the maximum current requirement can be determined from other device-identifying information such as a unique device identifier. As a result a guaranteed maximum current or power and power dissipation can be determined, and multiple power supplies and/or cooling devices such as air movement devices (AMDs) may be enabled, disabled or otherwise controlled accordingly. |
| US08352755B2 |
Digital image system transmitting digital image data
A digital image system which transmits digital image data, and more particularly, to a digital image system in a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) format or a digital visual interface (DVI) format. |
| US08352747B2 |
Software self-checking systems and methods
Software self-checking mechanisms are described for improving software tamper resistance and/or reliability. Redundant tests are performed to detect modifications to a program while it is running. Modifications are recorded or reported. Embodiments of the software self-checking mechanisms can be implemented such that they are relatively stealthy and robust, and so that they are compatible with copy-specific static watermarking and other tamper-resistance techniques. |
| US08352744B2 |
Product authentication method
The invention relates to a method that allows a third party to authenticate a manufacturer's individual product. According to said method, at least one first code that is specific for said individual product is generated and is applied to the product or the packaging thereof by the manufacturer, said first code is stored in a publicly accessible database, the first code is read by the third party and is entered into the database, and the database generates an output based on a comparison between the entered first code and the first codes of all products stored in the database, said output indicating whether the first code is identical to a stored first code and/or whether the first code has been retrieved at an earlier time. Previously known methods of this type offer no sufficiently sure possibility to verify whether the product is an original product or a counterfeit product. The aim of the invention is to further develop said method so as to make it possible to distinguish with adequate reliability between originals and counterfeit products. Said aim is achieved by the fact that the first code is provided with a removable cover once the first code has been applied, said cover concealing the code and being removed by the third party before he/she reads and enters the first code. |
| US08352742B2 |
Receiving encrypted emails via a web-based email system
The present invention provides systems and methods for allowing an Email User to create a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Email Account and thereafter to digitally sign, send, verify and receive PKI encrypted emails over a computer network, such as the Internet. The systems and methods preferably include a Web-based Email System and a Certificate Authority that coordinate their actions to make the process of creating, maintaining and using the PKI Account as easy as possible for the Email User. In a preferred embodiment, a Keystore System may also be used to enhance the management and use of digital keypairs. |
| US08352741B2 |
Discovery of secure network enclaves
A hierarchical key generation and distribution mechanism for a computer system in which devices are organized into secure enclaves. The mechanism enables network access to be tailored to approximate minimum needed privileges for each device. At the lowest level of the hierarchy, keys are used to form security associations between devices. Keys at each level of the hierarchy are generated from keys at a higher level of the hierarchy and key derivation information. Key derivation information is readily ascertainable, either from identifiers for devices or from within messages, supporting hardware offload of cryptographic functions. Because keys may be generated based on the enclaves in which the hosts participating in a security association are located, the system includes a mechanism by which devices can discover the enclave in which they are located. |
| US08352735B2 |
Method and system for encrypted file access
A method and system for encrypted file access are provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving (502, 552) an access request for an encrypted file (401-403) by an application (110); determining (503, 553) the application (110) making the access request; checking (505, 555) if the application (110) is authorised for access; and if authorised, allowing the access request. The access request may be a read or write access by a destination or source application (110). If the application (110) is authorised for access, the method checks (508, 558) if the application (110) is authorised for unencrypted access; and if so, allowing unencrypted file access. |
| US08352730B2 |
Biometric personal data key (PDK) authentication
Systems and methods are provided for an integrated device that persistently (or permanently) stores biometric data for a user in a tamper-resistant format. Subsequently, scan data collected from a user (e.g., a finger-print) can be compared against the biometric data. Once the user has been verified by the integrated device, a code can be wirelessly transmitted for authentication. The authentication module sends the code to a trusted key authority. The trusted key authority checks a list of enrolled integrated devices for a match. If there is a match, the authentication module sends a message to an application to allow access by the user. The trusted key authority also stores a profile associated with the code. The profile can contain user information such as name, age, account numbers, preferences, etc. and can also describe the status of the integrated device. |
| US08352721B1 |
Initiating an operating system boot from firmware
A computer system firmware stores an operating system boot loader along with accompanying firmware boot driver and a service option ROM. A firmware boot enables the computer system to initiate an operating system boot without necessarily utilizing a hard drive or other peripheral. The service option ROM is installed, indicating to the firmware that a firmware boot is available. When selected the firmware boot copies the operating system boot loader from firmware to main memory and then initiates the operating system boot loader. |
| US08352708B2 |
Parallel read functional unit for microprocessors
A functional unit for a microprocessor is provided, which allows for fast, parallel data read, write, and manipulation operations in the microprocessor that are useful for a number of software applications, such as cryptography. The functional unit includes first and second source registers for receiving first and second data items to be processed by the functional unit, first and second banks of memory tables, a combinational logic circuit, and a decoder. The first and second banks of memory tables are in communication with the first source register, and each of the tables is indexed by an index comprising a portion of the first data item received by the first source register. Each index points to a lookup result in a respective one of the memory tables. The combinational logic circuit is in communication with the first and second banks of memory tables and the second source register, receives the lookup results, and processes the lookup results and the second data item in the second source register to produce a result data item. The decoder circuit is in communication with the combinational logic circuit, and extracts an operational code from an instruction supplied to the functional unit, decodes the operational code, and controls the combinational logic circuit in accordance with the operational code. |
| US08352706B2 |
Memory system managing address translation table and method of controlling thereof
A forward lookup address translation table and a reverse lookup address translation table stored in a nonvolatile second storing unit are transferred as a master table to a volatile first storing unit at a time of start-up. When an event occurs so that the master table needs to be updated, difference information before and after update of any one of the forward lookup address translation table and the reverse lookup address translation table is recorded in the first storing unit as a log, thereby reducing an amount of the log. |
| US08352691B2 |
Facilitation of simultaneous storage initialization and data destage
Various embodiments for storage initialization and data destage in a computing storage environment are provided. At least a portion of data on a storage device is initialized using a background process, while one of simultaneously and subsequently destaging the at least the portion of the data to the storage device using a foreground process is performed. A persistent metadata bitmap, adapted to indicate whether the at least the portion of the data has been initialized, is staged to cache, the cache operable in the computing storage environment. The background process maintains a volatile bitmap indicating a status of the initialization of the at least the portion of the data in direct correspondence to the metadata bitmap. As the background process initializes the at least the portion of the data, an applicable bit on the persistent metadata bitmap is cleared and a corresponding bit is set on the volatile bitmap. |
| US08352689B2 |
Command tag checking in a multi-initiator media controller architecture
Described embodiments provide a method of allocating resources of a media controller for a data transfer. A data transfer request is received from at least one host device, and includes a host device ID and a data transfer request ID. The media controller generates a Tag ID of the data transfer request based on the host device ID and the data transfer request ID, and generates a starting memory address of a tag table based on the Tag ID of the data transfer request. A tag count value is read from the starting memory address of the tag table. If the tag count value reaches a threshold, an absence of a tag overlap is determined and the Tag ID of the data transfer request is added to the tag table at the starting memory address. |
| US08352673B2 |
Data writing method for a flash memory, and flash memory controller and flash memory storage system using the same
A data writing method for writing data from a host system into a flash memory chip having a plurality of physical blocks is provided. The method includes configuring a plurality of logical access addresses and recording address centers and address radiuses for the physical blocks. The method also includes receiving data to be written in logical access addresses, determining opened physical blocks among the physical blocks, and writing the data into the flash memory chip based on the logical access addresses, and the address centers and the address radiuses of the opened physical blocks. Accordingly, the method can effectively reduce the degree of data dispersion of each of the physical blocks, reduce the time for organizing valid data, and increase the speed for writing data. |
| US08352666B2 |
Signal transmission interface and digital broadcast receiving device
A signal transmission interface includes: a USB audio format encoding unit adapted to be coupled to a digital broadcast receiving end, for converting a digital audio signal that originates from the digital broadcast receiving end into a USB audio signal; a USB hub coupled to the USB audio format encoding unit and adapted to be coupled to a host end, for transmitting the USB audio signal to the host end and receiving a USB control signal that originates from the host end; and a USB/serial transmission bus bridge unit coupled to the USB hub and adapted to be coupled to the digital broadcast receiving end, for converting the USB control signal that is transmitted from the USB hub into a serial transmission bus control signal, and transmitting the serial transmission bus control signal to the digital broadcast receiving end. |
| US08352660B2 |
Portable computer capable of connecting discrete graphics card to PCIe controller by combination switch
The portable computer includes a PCIe controller, a DisplayPort connector, and a combination switch. The DisplayPort connector includes a hot plug pin. The combination switch is connected between the PCIe controller and the DisplayPort connector. The combination switch includes a selecting pin electronically connected to the hot plug pin. When the DisplayPort connector is electronically coupled to a discrete graphics card using PCIe, the hot plug pin sends a hot plug voltage signal to the selecting pin, and the combination switch electronically connects the DisplayPort connector to the PCIe controller after receiving the signal. |
| US08352658B2 |
Fabric based lock manager service
A replicated finite state machine lock service facilitates resource sharing in a distributed system. A lock request from a client identifies a resource and a lock-mode, and requests a leaseless lock on the resource. The service uses client instance identifiers to categorize requests as duplicate, stale, abandoned, or actionable. A lock may be abandoned when a client holding the lock goes down. After a per-client abandonment timer expires, the lock service may treat any exclusive lock granted to the client as abandoned, and treat any non-exclusive lock granted to the client as unlocked. The service tries to notify a lock-holding client if another client requests the same lock, and treats the lock as abandoned if the notification attempt fails. An abandoned read lock is granted to a different client on request. An abandoned write lock is granted or refused depending on whether the requesting client accepts abandoned write locks. |
| US08352656B2 |
Handling atomic operations for a non-coherent device
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a non-coherent atomic request from a device coupled to an agent via a non-coherent link, accessing a mapping table of the agent to convert the non-coherent atomic request into a coherent atomic request, and transmitting the coherent atomic request via a coherent link to a second agent coupled to the agent to cause the second agent to be a completer of the non-coherent atomic request. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08352640B2 |
Methods of operating electronic devices having USB interfaces capable of supporting multiple USB interface standards
An electronic device includes a universal serial bus (USB) interface therein. This USB interface is configured to support at least first and second different USB interface standards. These different interface standards are selected by the electronic device in response to comparing a voltage level of a signal provided to said USB interface relative to a reference voltage generated within the electronic device. The signal provided to the USB may be a power supply signal, the first USB standard may be a USB 2.0 interface standard and the second USB standard may be an inter-chip USB interface standard. |
| US08352629B2 |
Media stream capture, modification, and forwarding
A transmission delay system, an improvement to a transmission delay system, and a method of delaying a transmission for removing undesired content from an input media stream; for excising, recording, storing, and logging, the undesired content; and for automatically providing message alerts through a network to at least one message alert recipient that an excision event has occurred. |
| US08352623B2 |
System for energy efficient computer management environment via tightly integrated target status and directed work sessions
A method and system for providing an energy efficient computer management environment via tightly integrated target status and directed work sessions. The illustrative embodiments query, by a lightweight communication means, an availability status of a target computer device using a status thread. The status of the target computer device is recorded in a memory of a central computer according to response from the server thread. Responsive to an absence of a response by the target computer, the illustrative embodiments query, by a heavyweight communication means, the status of the target computer device using the status thread. |
| US08352618B2 |
Method and system for resolving conflicts between IPsec and IPv6 neighbor solicitation
A method of enabling host devices having an IPsec policy to communicate with one another via an IPv6 communication network, which includes the following steps: extracting a Media Access Control identifier (MAC ID) for a target host from a security policy for an IPv6 address for the target host; searching for the MAC ID of the target host in an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) table on a source host; upon locating the MAC ID of the target host, creating a temporal neighbor cache entry in a neighbor cache table for the target host; and enabling a security association between the source host and the target host based on the temporal neighbor entry in the neighbor cache table, which allows IPv6 communications to be exchanged between the target host and the source host. |
| US08352614B2 |
Content management
A system and method for management and processing of resource requests is provided. A content delivery network service provider determines a class associated with a set of client computing devices and monitors resources requests for the determined class. The content delivery network service provider then identifies at least one cache component for providing additional content, such as advertisement content or other additional content provided in anticipation of future resource requests, to client computing devices as a function of the determined class. In other embodiments, instead of cache components, the content delivery network service provider identifies a second set of client computing devices as a function of the determined class for providing the additional content information. |
| US08352613B2 |
Content management
A system and method for management and processing of resource requests is provided. A content delivery network service provider determines a class associated with a set of client computing devices and monitors resources requests for the determined class. The content delivery network service provider then identifies at least one cache component for providing additional content, such as advertisement content or other additional content provided in anticipation of future resource requests, to client computing devices as a function of the determined class. In other embodiments, instead of cache components, the content delivery network service provider identifies a second set of client computing devices as a function of the determined class for providing the additional content information. |
| US08352611B2 |
Allocating computer resources in a cloud environment
A method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing resources. A request for resources in the network data processing system is received. The request comprises requested values for a plurality of attributes for the resources in the network data processing system. In response to receiving the request, potential resources in the network data processing system are identified. The request is evaluated using a function configured to generate identified values for the plurality of attributes from the requested values in the request based on proximity scores for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources relative to an ideal allocation of the potential resources and resource weights for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources. |
| US08352602B2 |
Arrangements and methods for access to stored data
An access server generates a handshake with storage servers resulting in more rapid access to the stored data, for example, video data, by a user. The handshake also results in load balancing effects. |
| US08352596B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program for processing information
A switcher, residing in a memory, detects a connectable network when a terminal is powered on. When a network is detected, a communication unit issues a message to a processor. The processor detects whether the terminal has ever been connected to the detected network and whether the profile of the network is registered. If the processor determines that the profile of the network is registered, a connection to the network is established in accordance with the profile. If the processor determines that no profile of the network is registered, a new profile of the network is produced, and then registered. The present invention is applicable to personal computers. |
| US08352594B2 |
Network monitoring device, bus system monitoring device, method and program
A network monitoring device which monitors a network in which data is transmitted through relays, includes a monitoring frequency recording unit (111) which records monitoring frequencies for monitoring transmission statuses of the relays, a selection probability generating unit (112) which generates selection probability information which is probability values for the relays, a monitoring object determining unit (113) which determines, according to the monitoring frequency and the selection probability information, a relay the transmission status of which is to be monitored, a transmission status obtaining unit (106) which obtains transmission status information indicating a transmission status on the relay determined, a transmission status recording unit (107) which records the transmission status information, an activation level calculating unit (109) which calculates, using the transmission status information, activation level indicating suitability of the monitoring on the transmission statuses of the relays, and a monitoring frequency updating unit (110) which updates, based on the activation level, the monitoring frequency, and the network monitoring device detects the change in throughput on a data transmission path highly responsively. |
| US08352589B2 |
System for monitoring computer systems and alerting users of faults
A System is monitored by detecting activity signatures of network components. Some of the activity signatures are generated by sensing patterns of operations in data streams. Some of the activity signatures are precompiled in the system, or are standard in computer systems. The activity signatures are stored in a database. Select information about select baselined attributes generates monitoring profiles (MPs) for the baselined attributes. The MPs are defined so abnormal behavior of end points and/or system components can be detected. The system compiles baseline values for baselined attributes of MP's. By properly analyzing deviating end points or components one can determine what is causing a problem or who is effected by a problem based on which identifying attributes are common to the deviating end points or components. |
| US08352587B2 |
Parameterized recursive network architecture with topological addressing
A digital data communications network that supports efficient, scalable routing of data and use of network resources by combining a recursive division of the network into hierarchical sub-networks with repeating parameterized general purpose link communication protocols and an addressing methodology that reflects the physical structure of the underlying network hardware. The sub-division of the network enhances security by reducing the amount of the network visible to an attack and by insulating the network hardware itself from attack. The fixed bandwidth range at each sub-network level allows quality of service to be assured and controlled. The routing of data is aided by a topological addressing scheme that allows data packets to be forwarded towards their destination based on only local knowledge of the network structure, with automatic support for mobility and multicasting. The repeating structures in the network greatly simplify network management and reduce the effort to engineer new network capabilities. |
| US08352579B2 |
Gateway server system comprising a gateway server for making SOAP/XML-based web services accessible to RPC clients
Certain example embodiments concern a gateway server system including a gateway server for making at least one SOAP and/or XML-based web service accessible to at least one RPC client using at least one mapping file. The at least one mapping file includes definitions for translating at least one first RPC request message from the at least one RPC client to at least one web service call. The gateway server includes a configuration interface to receive and store the at least one mapping file. The gateway server is configured to create at least one first sub-program for processing the at least one first RPC request message in accordance with the at least one mapping file. The configuration interface is further configured to receive at least one updated mapping file and overwrite the corresponding at least one stored original mapping file, without affecting the processing of the at least one first subprogram. |
| US08352574B2 |
Online human network management system and method for stimulating users to build various faces of relation
The present invention provides the steps of maintaining a first database containing profiles of a plurality of users in a network; maintaining a second database containing relationship index between some of the users wherein the relationship index is determined based upon degree of correspondence relationship between the users; forming a social network comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links between at least some of the nodes, in association with the relationship index stored in the second database; upon receipt of a request from a first user, searching for at least one route connecting the first user to a second user in the social network based, at least in part, upon said existing links and the relationship index of the links; and evaluating each of the searched routes based, at least in part, upon the relationship indexes of the links which form said respective searched routes. |
| US08352568B2 |
System, apparatus, method and computer program product for configuring disparate workstations
A system, apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for configuring disparate workstations. In particular, an administrative utility is provided that may allow users to upload to a configuration server individual configuration files for applications executing on workstations associated with physiological devices. Once uploaded, a user may group the configuration files into configuration groups based, for example, on similarities in configurations utilized. Once a configuration group has been created, the user may assign one or more workstations to each configuration group. Upon startup of a workstation, an application executing on the workstation may automatically transmit a request to the configuration server to load the configurations for that workstation. In response, the configuration server may determine to which configuration group the workstation has been assigned, and then download the configuration files of that configuration group to the workstation. The downloaded configuration files may then control the behavior of the application. |
| US08352565B2 |
Method for viewing non-image attachments on a portable electronic device
A method for viewing an attachment of an email message on a portable electronic device in which the attachment has a renderable format. The method includes: requesting to view the attachment in an attachment viewer of the device, building a graph structure within an attachment server representing a map of the attachment, the graph structure including at least one renderable identifier corresponding to a page of the attachment, requesting rendering of the attachment, the rendering request sent from the attachment viewer to the attachment server and including the at least one renderable identifier, initializing a rendering library and storing rendering commands corresponding to command types of the graph structure in the rendering library, drawing the rendering commands in an off-screen bitmap which is saved as a JPEG file, sending the JPEG file to the portable electronic device and displaying the JPEG file in the attachment viewer. |
| US08352564B1 |
System and method for data collection and update utilizing surrogate e-mail addresses using a server
A system and method for data collection and update utilizing surrogate e-mail addresses using a server. An e-mail client generates an e-mail message comprising a surrogate e-mail address and data elements conveyed within standard fields of the e-mail message. The surrogate e-mail address also comprises data and instructions directed to a specialized software program. A message server parses the surrogate e-mail address and the e-mail content. Information relating to a specialized software program is extracted and translated into instructions and data elements. The specialized software program operates on the data elements based on the instructions obtained from the e-mail message. |
| US08352556B2 |
Conditioned delivery of electronic mail
A system and method for conditioned distribution of e-mail is provided. Delivery of an e-mail message to selected second recipients (equivalently addressees) may be conditioned on a set of preselected conditions, in particular to a set of conditions associated with the delivery of the e-mail to a set of first recipients. In response to message delivery notifications corresponding to the set of first recipients, a determination is made if the delivery conditions are satisfied, and delivery to the set of second recipients made accordingly. Delivery to a set of third recipients may be likewise conditioned on another set of conditions. |
| US08352551B2 |
Methods and systems for providing an electronic account to a customer
An electronic account is provided to a customer to enable the customer to access electronic services, such as e-mail and electronic transactions. The electronic account links an electronic address of the customer to a physical address of the customer. Using the electronic account, electronic services can be provided to the customer at either the electronic or physical address, or both. The services can be both secure and non-secure and can be provided by any service provider, such as an online merchant, a government agency, or a bank. |
| US08352548B2 |
Communications system providing enhanced client-server communications and related methods
A communications system may include an application server and at least one communications device for processing requests from one another. The communications device may process requests using an HTTP client application, for example. Furthermore, the system may also include an HTTP server for interfacing the HTTP client application with the application server. The HTTP server and the HTTP client application may format requests to be communicated therebetween via the Internet in an HTTP format, and each may provide additional state information with the HTTP formatted requests recognizable by the other for authenticating the application server and the HTTP client application to one another. Furthermore, the HTTP client application may request a first universal resource locator (URL) from the HTTP server for accepting work requests from the application server, and a second URL different from the first URL for responding to work requests from the application server. |
| US08352542B2 |
Method and system for providing an interactive application over a network
Described is a method of providing an interactive application over a network. Executable instructions to display foreground content and background content can be transmitted over a network to a client device. The client device can transmit data identifying a positional location of a user-selected element of the foreground content in the foreground display to a server. The server can determine a next state of the interactive application based on the current state of the interactive application and the positional location of the user-selected element. The server can transmit a next set of executable instructions causing the client device to manipulate one or more of the individual elements in the foreground display according to the next state of the interactive application. |
| US08352535B2 |
Method and system for managing confidential information
A method and a system for information management and control is presented, based on modular and abstract description of the information. Identifiers are used to identify features of interest in the information and information use policies are assigned directly or indirectly on the basis of the identifiers, allowing for flexible and efficient policy management and enforcement, in that a policy can be defined with a direct relationship to the actual information content of digital data items. The information content can be of various kinds: e.g., textual documents, numerical spreadsheets, audio and video files, pictures and images, drawings etc. The system can provide protection against information policy breaches such as information misuse, unauthorized distribution and leakage, and for information tracking. |
| US08352533B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit in in a carry computation network having a logic blocks which are dynamically reconfigurable
There is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit including: a plurality of first logic blocks which are reconfigurable, the plurality of first logic blocks inputting data of a first bit width and performing computation; a first network connecting the plurality of first logic blocks in a dynamically reconfigurable manner; a plurality of second logic blocks inputting data of a second bit width different from the first bit width and performing computation; a second network connected to outputs of the plurality of second logic blocks; and a third network connecting a carry bit output of a computing unit included in the first logic block to an input of a computing unit included in the second logic block in a dynamically reconfigurable manner. |
| US08352530B2 |
Residue calculation with built-in correction in a floating point unit positioned at different levels using correction values provided by multiplexer
A residue generator for calculation and correction of a residue value. The residue generator includes a residue-generation tree connected with an operand register at an input of the residue generator including a plurality of register-bits receiving and carrying bits of numerical data. The residue-generation tree includes a multiplexer connected with respective register-bits which carry unused bits, and selectively providing logical zeros or a correction value when provided, at the respective register-bits carrying the unused bits, a plurality of decoders, each decoder receiving the bits of numerical data from the respective registers-bits including the logical zeros or the correction value when provided and decoding the numerical data, and a plurality of residue condensers, receiving the decoded numerical data from the decoders including the logical zeros or the correction value when provided, and calculating the residue value and correcting while calculating the residue value using the correction value when provided by the multiplexer. |
| US08352523B1 |
Recovering a file system to any point-in-time in the past with guaranteed structure, content consistency and integrity
A data management system (DMS) includes a continuous real-time object store that captures all real-time activities, with associated object metadata information. The DMS is capable of reintroducing any point-in-time view of data ranging from a granular object to an entire file system. A set of algorithms (for creation of a file or directory, modification of a file or directory, deletion of a file or directory, and relocation/renaming of a file or directory) are used to generate and maintain a file system history in the DMS and to ensure that a latest version of a directory always refers to a latest version of its children until the directory changed. Any point-in-time recovery is implemented using the file system history in one of various ways to provide strong individual file integrity, exact point-in-time crash consistency, and/or recovery of last version of all files in the file system. |
| US08352520B2 |
Configurable offline data store
A method and apparatus for a configurable offline data store are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request for a first set of one or more records from a client application, wherein the first set is remotely stored. The method further includes determining a second set of one or more records that is associated with the first set, wherein the second set is remotely stored. The method further includes fetching over a network the first set and the second set from a server data store unit; storing the first set and the second set in a client data store unit and providing access to the first set and the second set when the network is not operational. |
| US08352517B2 |
Infrastructure for spilling pages to a persistent store
Techniques for managing memory usage in a processing system are provided. This may be achieved by receiving a data stream including multiple tuples and determining a query plan that was generated for a continuous query applied to the multiple tuples in the data stream. The query plan may include one or more operators. Before scheduling an operator in the query plan, it is determined when an eviction is to be performed based a level of free memory of the processing system. An eviction candidate is determined and a page associated with the eviction candidate is evicted from the memory to a persistent storage. |
| US08352508B2 |
Impact-based arrangement of images on an electronic display
Disclosed are methods for arranging list elements (e.g., results returned by a user search) according to anticipated “impact.” Thumbnails of the top elements are displayed on a screen of the user's device, with the size of each thumbnail related to that result's anticipated impact. In some embodiments, the arrangement of these thumbnails on the display screen is also based on the anticipated impacts with larger thumbnails placed near the center of the screen and successively smaller thumbnails arranged farther away. Different embodiments may calculate the anticipated impacts differently. The impact can be related to the rank order as assigned by a search engine. Any information about the user's current situation can go into the calculation of the anticipated impact. When the user is searching for information, longer video results may be assigned a larger anticipated impact because they are more likely to contain the wanted information. |
| US08352505B1 |
Identification of resource sharing patterns through isomorphic subtree enumeration
Embodiments relate to a system and method for identifying common patterns of use of resources. The resource usage patterns may be specified using a tree structure, and identifying common resource use patterns may involve identifying isomorphic subtrees between two or more trees. Isomorphic subtree identification may be accomplished by converting trees into key-based representation and analyzing the key-based representation to identify common patterns within the key-based representation. |
| US08352498B2 |
Managing to-do lists in a schedule editor in a project management system
A project management system manages project schedule data using separate current and historical task schedule data structures. In general, current schedule data is stored separately from historical schedule data, so that the current schedule data may be retrieved separately from the historical task schedule data. The project management system may also maintain unscheduled tasks as “to-do lists.” Tasks may be added to a member's schedule without specifying any planned dates and the tasks are added to the database. The tasks have an associated revision number of 0 to indicate that the tasks were added, but not yet scheduled. The tasks are displayed in the member schedule editor and in Web page schedules. The tasks may then be displayed in the member schedule editor and in Web page schedules in a manner that allows a user to readily determine that the tasks are “to-do list” tasks. |
| US08352497B1 |
Page object caching for variably sized access control lists in data storage systems
Technologies are described herein for caching variably sized access control lists (ACLs) in a data storage system utilizing page object caching. A request to access a file is received. An inode number of the requested file is identified. A hash key based on the inode number and a predefined hash value is determined. A determination is made as to whether the hash key is contained in a hash list. In response to determining that the hash key is contained in the hash list, access to a page object in the memory is provided. The page object contains an access control list (ACL) associated with the requested file. The ACL is retrieved from the page object. |
| US08352495B2 |
Distributed platform for network analysis
The present disclosure describes an apparatus and methods for performing data analysis, in particular network analysis. Specifically it provides a framework and user interface whereby raw data may be imported into a data model with entities, attributes, and relationships between the entities and multiple data analysis algorithms may be pipelined into a larger data analysis model and applied to the data model. Offline and online data visualization and data exploration techniques, may be applied to the results of the data analysis enabling real-time and near real-time interactive online analysis. Extensibility models and market transaction models are also provided. |
| US08352493B2 |
Searchable health events directory
Searchable directories of health events are described. In many embodiments, a health event directory platform is provided that enables health providers to upload events to database of health events. The health event directory platform captures data from the health provider in a structured way that facilitates the searching of the database of health events. In addition, the health event directory platform uses knowledge of previous searches to suggest additional information to associate with a health event in order to increase the likelihood that the health event will appear in the results of a relevant search query. Users can provide requests for information to the health event directory platform, which uses the request to query the health events database and retrieve information concerning relevant health events within a particular geographic area. In many embodiments, the user can register for an event and/or pay using the health event directory platform. |
| US08352492B2 |
Retrieval of metadata for peripheral devices
Techniques whereby a client computer may request metadata relating to a peripheral device from one or more server computers are provided. Upon connecting to a peripheral device, the client computer receives information identifying the device, and generates a query, using the received information, for metadata relating to the device. The client computer may, for example, first attempt to execute the query locally to determine if metadata appropriate for use (e.g., not outdated) is stored on the client computer. If not, the client computer may issue the query to one or more server computers which stores metadata received from manufacturers and/or suppliers of peripheral devices. The one or more server computers may issue a response making the requested metadata available to the client computer and providing instructions relating to subsequent requests from the client computer, so as to manage the processing load borne by the one or more server computers. The client computer may employ the metadata to present a graphical interface that enables the user to manage the device. |
| US08352487B2 |
Identifier vocabulary data access method and system
A method of organizing, managing, and providing interactive access to data in a database is disclosed, along with a program and a system for implementing the method. Associations between each data Item and at least one ItemSelector are established and stored. A predefined (but modifiable) Vocabulary of ItemSelectors sufficient to describe each Item of the database is created. Presently selected Items are described by a combination of associations defined by an appropriate Boolean combination of each ItemSelector in a presently selected set of ItemSelectors. A user controls the presently selected set by adding an ItemSelector from a presented group, or by removing a previously selected ItemSelector. The system ideally makes available to the user all relevant ItemSelectors—those which, if added to the presently selected set, would result in a set that describes at least one extant data Item. The system ideally makes all presently selected Items available to the user. |
| US08352484B1 |
Systems and methods for hashing executable files
A method for hashing executable files may include identifying an executable file comprising non-variable executable content that contributes to the functionality of the executable file and does not vary among instances of the executable file. The method may also include identifying, within the executable file, non-executable content that does not contribute to the functionality of the executable file. The method may further include creating a normalized executable file by normalizing at least a portion of the non-executable content of the executable file without normalizing the non-variable executable content of the executable file. The method may include calculating a hash value that represents the normalized executable file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed herein. |
| US08352482B2 |
System and method for replicating disk images in a cloud computing based virtual machine file system
A replicated decentralized storage system comprises a plurality of servers that locally store disk images for locally running virtual machines as well as disk images, for failover purposes, for remotely running virtual machines. To ensure that disk images stored for failover purposes are properly replicated upon an update of the disk image on the server running the virtual machine, a hash of a unique value known only to the server running the virtual machine is used to verify the origin of update operations that have been transmitted by the server to the other servers storing replications of the disk image for failover purposes. If verified, the update operations are added to such failover disk images. |
| US08352479B2 |
Systems,methods and computer products for content-derived metadata
Systems, methods and computer products for content-derived (generated) metadata. Exemplary embodiments include a metadata generation method, including receiving a media file, searching the media file for metadata associated with the media file, adding the metadata to a metadata file associated with the media file, searching the media file for media components and adding metadata entries that are associated with the media components to the metadata file. |
| US08352472B2 |
Systems and methods for using metadata to enhance data identification operations
Systems and methods for managing electronic data are disclosed. Various data management operations can be performed based on a metabase formed from metadata. Such metadata can be identified from an index of data interactions generated by a journaling module, and obtained from their associated data objects stored in one or more storage devices. In various embodiments, such processing of the index and storing of the metadata can facilitate, for example, enhanced data management operations, enhanced data identification operations, enhanced storage operations, data classification for organizing and storing the metadata, cataloging of metadata for the stored metadata, and/or user interfaces for managing data. In various embodiments, the metabase can be configured in different ways. For example, the metabase can be stored separately from the data objects so as to allow obtaining of information about the data objects without accessing the data objects or a data structure used by a file system. |
| US08352471B2 |
Photograph grouping device, photograph grouping method and photograph grouping program
The proximate data selecting unit (photographing time distance base proximate data selecting unit) selects, as a proximate photograph, a photograph having a photographing time satisfying constraint on a time distance from a determination time determined in each adjacent photographs block as a time block sandwiched by photographing times of two photographs adjacent to each other in a group of photographs aligned in the order of photographing based on time series photographing time information and outputs proximate data designation information for designating photographing time data of the proximate photograph. The group boundary determining unit detects a change of a photographing disposition in each adjacent photographs block by using photographing time data of a proximate photograph at a determination time in each adjacent photographs block which is designated by the proximate data designation information, thereby determining whether there exists a boundary of a group in each adjacent photographs block. |
| US08352452B2 |
Methods and apparatus for employing usage statistics in document retrieval
Methods and apparatus consistent with the invention provide improved organization of documents responsive to a search query. In one embodiment, a search query is received and a list of responsive documents is identified. The responsive documents are organized based in whole or in part on usage statistics. |
| US08352450B1 |
Database update through a one-way data link
A database updating application for updating through a one-way data link a remote database in accordance with a change in a reference database is disclosed, which comprises a database trigger client associated with the reference database for generating a database update message in the form of a file or a data packet corresponding to the change in the reference database and sending the database update message to a send node interconnected to a receive node by the one-way data link, and a database trigger server associated with the remote database for receiving the database update message transmitted across the one-way data link and replicating the change on the remote database in accordance with the database update message. The present invention provides database update through a one-way data link that may be implemented efficiently in real time and with a mechanism for verifying the integrity and operability of the one-way data link for the purpose of database update. In addition, the present invention provides a way to combine the functionalities of the conventional database update applications with the security afforded by the use of a one-way data link. |
| US08352438B1 |
Systems and methods for contextual evaluation of files for use in file restoration
A method for contextual evaluation of files for use in file restoration. The method may include receiving a request to replace a damaged file on a computing system with a clean instance of the damaged file and identifying a clean file that corresponds to the damaged file. The method may also include identifying at least one file set that includes the clean file. The method may further include evaluating the suitability of the clean file for use as a replacement for the damaged file by: 1) determining whether the computing system includes an instance of each file in the file set and 2) deciding, based on the determination of whether the computing system includes an instance of each file in the file set, whether to replace the damaged file with the clean file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08352434B2 |
Performing scheduled backups of a backup node associated with a plurality of agent nodes
Provided are a system and article of manufacture for performing scheduled backups of a backup node associated with a plurality of agent nodes. Backup data sets on at least one machine in a network are associated with a backup node and a plurality of agent nodes in the network are associated with the backup node. The agent nodes are associated with machines in the network capable of backing up the backup data sets associated with the backup node. A schedule indicating a scheduled backup to backup scheduled data sets associated with the backup node is processed. At least one of the agent nodes is contacted to request the at least one agent node to perform the scheduled backup and backup the scheduled data sets, wherein the at least one contacted agent node performs the scheduled backup to backup the scheduled backup sets. |
| US08352428B2 |
Network file update mechanism with integrity assurance
An approach is provided that receives a file request and maintains a set of file versions of the requested file on a network-accessible storage media. The file versions are retrieved from the network accessible storage media along with expected hash values corresponding to each of the file versions. The retrieved file versions are stored in a second nonvolatile storage media, such as a local nonvolatile storage. File versions are selected from newest to oldest. When a file version is selected, a hash value is computed for the file and this hash value is compared to the expected hash value that corresponds to the selected file version. The first (newest) file version with a hash value that matches the expected hash value is selected and returned to the requestor. |
| US08352426B2 |
Computing system and data management method
Proposed are a computing system and a data management method for improving the usage efficiency of logical volumes without lowering the response performance In a computing system that includes a first storage apparatus in which first and second storage volumes are configured, a file storage apparatus for controlling the first logical volume, a second storage apparatus, and an archive apparatus for controlling the second storage apparatus, the first storage apparatus acquires a snapshot of the first logical volume at regular or irregular intervals and stores differential data in the second logical volume, specifies a file for which the consumption amount of the second logical volume exceeds a predetermined threshold, causes the first storage apparatus to acquire a snapshot of the specified file, and if a read request to read the file is supplied, generates the file on the basis of data stored in the first and second logical volumes. |
| US08352414B2 |
System for discovering business processes from noisy activities logs
A system for discovering business processes from noisy activities logs from various activities performed during the execution of the process. Activities are observed from the noisy activity logs that may include text from manually entered activity logs, chat scripts, emails, voice transcripts, desktop captures, and tool logs, wherein the noisy activity logs are received from multiple person/tool actors with each of the actors performing one or more activities related to one/more business tasks. Extracting information from the noisy activity logs to capture activity based information, and then analyzing similar activities and finding possible paths in the similar activities. The results are used to build a process graph based on the similar activities and the possible paths in the similar activities. |
| US08352413B2 |
System and method for providing controlled access to a funds dispensing device from external processors
Systems and methods for providing controlled access to value dispensing devices are described and in certain examples, systems including those for providing controlled access to a postage meter from multiple programs executing on an external collocated processor are described. |
| US08352410B2 |
Method and system for estimating vegetation growth relative to an object of interest
A method for estimating vegetation growth relative to an object of interest is disclosed. A target vegetation is identified from a second sensing dataset. A corresponding target vegetation is identified in a first sensing dataset, the first sensing dataset collected at a time before the second sensing dataset. A first statistic is attributed to the corresponding target vegetation based on a distance of one or more points of the corresponding target vegetation in the first sensing dataset relative to the object of interest. A second statistic is attributed to the target vegetation based on a distance of one or more points of the target vegetation in the second sensing dataset relative to the object of interest. An encroachment rate is determined from a comparison of the first statistic and the second statistic. |
| US08352404B2 |
Container vessel stowage planning
A computer-implemented method of determining an allocation plan for a cargo stowage problem of allocating a set of cargo items to a set of cargo item positions of a vessel, each cargo item position being suitable for receiving a cargo item. The method comprises constructing an expression indicative of one or more constraints to be satisfied by said allocation plan, constructing a cost function indicative of a cost of an updated allocation plan relative to a current allocation plan of said cargo stowage problem, iteratively updating a current allocation plan from an initial allocation plan to an updated allocation plan so as to decrease said cost function under said one or more constraints. |
| US08352400B2 |
Adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus and method and human-factored interface therefore
A system and method of predicting items likely to appeal to a user, based on data received from a remote site. One or more local systems are provided, along with a remote system, said local systems communicating with said remote system over a network connection. Each local system maintains a set of characterized items. A local processor predicts an appeal of an item to a user based on the comparison with the set of characterized items with, e.g., user preferences. The user may interact through graphical user interface. At least one user-preference predictive algorithm may be employed to present items predicted to appeal to the user. |
| US08352399B2 |
System and method for bouncing failure analysis
A method for analyzing fault modes that may cause a fault is presented in which a multi-point analysis may be performed to identify multi fault modes that are interrelated in causing the fault. The method provides for easy and systematic switching from a top-down to bottom-up approaches of analysis to insure accurate and easy to perform multi-point analysis of the related fault modes. |
| US08352385B2 |
Low-power analog-circuit architecture for decoding neural signals
A microchip for performing a neural decoding algorithm is provided. The microchip is implemented using ultra-low power electronics. Also, the microchip includes a tunable neural decodable filter implemented using a plurality of amplifiers, a plurality of parameter learning filters, a multiplier, a gain and time-constant biasing circuits; and analog memory. The microchip, in a training mode, learns to perform an optimized translation of a raw neural signal received from a population of cortical neurons into motor control parameters. The optimization being based on a modified gradient descent least square algorithm wherein update for a given parameter in a filter is proportional to an averaged product of an error in the final output that the filter affects and a filtered version of its input. The microchip, in an operational mode, issues commands to controlling a device using learned mappings. |
| US08352384B2 |
Combinational stochastic logic
Circuits that solve stochastic problems and techniques for operating them. These natively stochastic circuits may produce samples from probability distributions of interest for particular stochastic problems, and may be combined together in any suitable way to yield potential solutions to stochastic problems. In some implementations, the stochastic circuits may generate samples from conditional probability distributions conditioned on input data provided to the stochastic circuits. The circuits may be constructed from multiple interconnected stochastic subcircuits such that a circuit may produce a sample from a joint probability distribution, or from a marginal distribution of a joint distribution. These circuits may be used to implement stochastic sampling algorithms to solve stochastic processes, and may include stochastic subcircuits that operate concurrently. |
| US08352379B2 |
Method for certifying and verifying digital web content using public cryptography
There is provided a method of, computer programs for and apparatus for providing and accessing digital content such as a news item. A news provider generates a news item, creates a digitally signed version of the news item and packages them together with a digital certificate issued by a certificate authority containing the public key required to decrypt the digitally signed version. The package is posted to a server and is transmitted, or made available or transmission, over a public data network together with a computer program for verifying the news item. A receiving party receives, over the public data network, the package at a client device and is provided with means for launching, and if necessary first downloading, the verifying program. The verifying program uses the public key contained in the certificate to verify the digitally signed news item. Before being first used to verify a news item, the verifying program receives a shared secret from the receiving party which is stored locally to the client device and is used by the verifying program to confirm that it performed the verification process. |
| US08352377B2 |
System and method for electronic payment
An electronic payment method and system between a seller and a buyer to purchase a good providing a dynamic allocation to the seller of predefined SMS numbers and predefined SMS messages is provided. Furthermore, an associated system to carry out an electronic payment over a public network between a seller and a buyer is also provided. |
| US08352374B2 |
Article of manufacture for controlling the use of content by providing for the delegation of rendering rights
Methods and systems for controlling the distribution of digital content are provided. A license holder acquires protected content and an original digital license to the protected content from a content provider system. The license holder in turn delegates all or part of the grants in that original license to other qualified devices or clients. The content remains in its original, protected or encrypted form while it is delivered from the license holder to the client along with a digital sublicense that the client receives from the original license holder, whereupon the content can then be rendered. The original digital license defines or governs the conditions under which such delegation occurs, and includes terms under which such delegation is permitted to continue in order to enforce the intent of the content provider. |
| US08352373B2 |
Data copyright management system
A data copyright management system comprises a database for storing original data, a key control center for managing crypt keys, copyright management center for managing data copyrights, and a communication network for connecting these sections. Data supplied from the database to users is encrypted and distributed. The users decrypts the encrypted data by crypt keys obtained from the key control center or copyright management center. To supply data to users, there are the following two methods: a one-way supplying of encrypted data to users by means of broadcasting or the like; and two-way supplying of encrypted data to users corresponding to users' requests. A crypt key system used for encrypting data uses a secret-key cryptosystem, a public-key cryptosystem or a cryptosystem combining a secret-key and a public-key and further uses a copyright control program to control data copyrights. When a user stores, copies, or transfers data, the data is encrypted by a crypt key different from a crypt key used for supplying the data. The former crypt key is supplied from the key control center or from the copyright management center, or generated by the copyright control program. The present invention can be applied to a data copyright management system for using not only single data but also a plurality of data supplied from a single database or a plurality of data supplied from a plurality of databases. Further, an apparatus to be used by the user to perform data copyright management is proposed. |
| US08352370B1 |
System and method for universal instant credit
Systems and methods for universal instant credit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of offering a financial instrument to a customer includes (1) using a computer processor, an issuer providing a customer with an application for a financial instrument; (2) the issuer receiving from the customer a completed application for the financial instrument; (3) using the computer processor, the issuer determining whether to approve the customer for the financial instrument; (4) using the computer processor, the issuer transmitting a first portion of an account identifier to a merchant; and (5) using the computer processor, the issuer transmitting a second portion of the account identifier to the customer. The financial instrument may be a credit card, a stored value card, a line of credit, etc. |
| US08352366B1 |
Method and system for flexible payment processing
A computer-implemented method is provided for enhancing payment flexibility. The method includes receiving payment notification including a payment amount and a payment date for an identified customer and determining eligibility for flexible payment status implementing the computer processor, the determination based on the customer identity, the payment date, and a payment due date. The method further includes calculating a flex accrual using the computer processor if the customer is eligible for flexible payment status, the flex accrual based on the payment amount, the payment date, and the payment due date and communicating the flex accrual to the customer. The method additionally includes allowing the identified customer to utilize the flex accrual by making a late payment without penalty, wherein a number of days late and dollars paid are determined based on the flex accrual. |
| US08352360B2 |
Method and system for secured transactions over a wireless network
A method and system are disclosed for booking and paying a retailer having a POS, which can be a low cost thin client computer system, connected to a transaction server storing confidential user information including a retailer identification, a user code and a user wireless device phone number, said method comprising the steps of receiving at the transaction server, from the user wireless device which can be a common cellphone, an SMS containing a retailer identification, reading at the transaction server the phone number of the wireless device communicated by the carrier transporting the SMS, authentifying said phone number and retailer identification with the stored confidential user information and sending the user confidential information to the retailer POS, the user entering on the POS the user code and the POS reading and authentifying the user code with the user confidential information received from the transaction server, the retailer entering the payment information on the POS and sending it with user information to the transaction server. |
| US08352340B2 |
Methods and systems for exercising stock options
Methods and corresponding systems are provided for exercising employee stock options between an employee and a company. The stock option exercise generally includes the steps of establishing a plurality of escrow accounts including a company escrow account, a third party escrow account, and an employee escrow account, receiving notice of intent to exercise a stock option from an employee, transferring securities to satisfy the stock option exercise from the company to a company escrow account, transferring property equivalent to a third party purchase price from a third party to the third party escrow account, transferring the notice of intent to exercise a stock option to the employee escrow account, and transferring property held in the plurality of escrow accounts to the employee, the company, and the third party in accordance at least in part with the stock option. |
| US08352339B2 |
Bankruptcy relief calculator
Bankruptcy relief calculator. A calculation program can make a relatively objective determination as to whether to file for relief from a bankruptcy stay relative to a particular account and associated collateral. Using historical statistics on bankruptcy filings as well as information about the collateral and depreciation of the collateral, the calculator can make an estimate of depreciation saved by the filing and compare that estimate to the cost of a filing. The calculator can then produce a recommendation as to whether to file for relief or to wait for the bankruptcy to be discharged in its normal course. The invention can be implemented via a stand-alone computing system or such a system interconnected with other platforms or data stores by a network, such as a corporate intranet, a local area network, or the Internet. |
| US08352335B2 |
Spare part procurement method
A method of facilitating broker mediated matching of a potential buyer of a spare part with a potential seller of the spare part, the potential seller having an inventory of spare parts for use in a manufacturing process run by the potential seller, the method comprising the following steps undertaken by the broker: (a) receiving a request for the spare part from a potential buyer, (b) enquiring with a potential seller as to the presence of the spare part in its inventory, (c) if the spare part is present, assessing whether or not the spare part is excess to the foreseeable needs of the potential seller in running the manufacturing process efficiently by the application of software that presents a series of questions for answering by the potential seller, the answers to which will reveal whether or not the spare part is excess to said needs, and (d) if the spare part is excess to said needs, providing means by which the potential seller and potential buyer will communicate with each other, whereby they may finalise details for securing the sale and transfer of the spare part. |
| US08352332B2 |
Method and apparatus for ordering paint using a portable self-contained tool
A method and a system for ordering paint to cover a surface includes, retrieving a color value from a machine-readable memory to a processor. The processor retrieves a paint quantity from a machine-readable memory. The processor compiles an order for paint including the paint quantity and color value and then transmits the order from the processor to a vendor for formulating the paint quantity having the color value when painted upon the surface and allowed to dry. |
| US08352326B2 |
Method, hardware product, and computer program product for implementing commerce between virtual worlds
A virtual business transaction is implemented between a first virtual world and a second virtual world by providing a searchable catalog that includes one or more items each comprising a virtual good, a virtual service, a real good, or a real service. An object representation is stored for each of the items. Each of the stored object representations is associated with metadata comprising any of digital rights metadata, ownership metadata, identity metadata, payment method metadata, or currency detail metadata. A set of transformation algorithms are established that are customized through a rule set. A request is received specifying a copying, modifying, or reselling of an item selected from the items in the searchable catalog. The copying, modifying, or reselling of the item from a first virtual world to a second virtual world is implemented using the set of transformation algorithms. An exchange of virtual currency is implemented between the first virtual world and the second virtual world using the set of transformation algorithms. |
| US08352322B2 |
Automated document processing system using full image scanning
A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism. |
| US08352314B2 |
Method and system for providing internet advertisement
Provided is a method for providing Internet advertisement. The method provides a plurality of individual Internet advertisements included in an advertisement pool which is configured with a plurality of advertisement groups ‘G1’ to ‘Gm’ having a predetermined advertisement number rate ‘Ni’, a predetermined exposure frequency setting value ‘Ci’ and a correction coefficient ‘Ki’. An advertisement providing server, which provides one or more Internet advertisements to a web page providing server providing a web page including an Internet advertisement, calculates a CTR to the number of times the individual Internet advertisements are exposed. |
| US08352313B2 |
Audio/video automated payment facility
A central monitoring station is linked to a plurality of remote terminals, such as payment terminals at a plurality of parking facilities. The central monitoring station and each remote terminal includes a two-way communication system in the form of a video camera and display, and audio speaker and microphone. The station and remote terminals are preferably linked through an Ethernet or Internet connection, although a hard-wired connection is also contemplated. The two-way communication system can be used by a customer at the remote terminal to achieve direct human interaction with an attendant at the remote central station to address problems occurring at the terminal. The communication system can also allow the attendant to manipulate the processor of each remote terminal to collect data, troubleshoot or override the function of the terminal. |
| US08352311B2 |
Internet based achievement and skills management process and method
An Internet Based Achievement Management Process & Method of use thereof which generally comprises computer software, including internet web page based code, and methods of applications that allows a user to mange, track, and record events and or achievements which pertain to professional, educational, and or personal goals as well as the ability to measure or compare the events and or achievements against their peers by means of an impartial third party review and assessment process. |
| US08352304B2 |
System and method for allocating jobs to an agent
A system and method for allocating jobs to an agent is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for allocating jobs to an agent includes defining, for each job of the jobs, a job type associated with at least one job and at least one sub-step associated with the at least one job, determining eligibility to perform the at least one sub-step by an agent of agents, determining a number of jobs of each job type to be performed by the agent based on the eligibility determination, and automatically generating agent-specific job queues based on the number of jobs. |
| US08352300B2 |
System, computer program and method for implementing and managing a value chain network
A system, computer program product and method for implementing and managing a value chain network. The computer program product includes allowing a first company having one or more clusters of retail stores and a second company in a value chain network to access to a shared database, having first and second plurality of fields in the shared database are uniquely associated with each respective first and second company, on a service provider computer over a network; linking the first company with one or more of the second plurality of fields; linking the second company with one or more of the first plurality of fields; periodically receiving sales information and events, including a demand event and a supply event, on the value network within at least one of the one or more clusters of retail stores; and updating one or more of the first plurality of fields that are linked to the second company upon receipt of at least one selected from the group consisting of the sales information, the demand event and the supply event. The first and second company are linked and provided limited access to the one or more of the respective second and first plurality of fields without creating a copy. The one or more updated first plurality of fields are immediately accessible to the first and second company. |
| US08352299B1 |
Assessment of item listing quality by impact prediction
Systems and methods use behavioral data to assess listings for items. The behavior data may relate to information regarding user actions in connection with listings for the items. The listings may be collections of information about the items. Behavioral data in connection with a collection of listings is used to assess how changing listings affects one or more performance measures and/or to score listing quality. The assessment may be used for various purposes, such as identifying listings that may be changed to achieve one or more improved performance measures for corresponding items and for other applications. |
| US08352295B1 |
Insurance premium gap analysis
A method and apparatus for determining the amount of premium, policies, or quotations needed to improve market share in various geographic locations based on user selected criteria. The method comprises calculating a total estimated expenditure on insurance by zip code, an estimated market share for an insurance provider by zip code, a year-to-date sale-to-quote ratio by zip code, and finally the amount of premiums, policies, or quotations needed to achieve a market share in a zip code. The method and apparatus will also display or output demographic data, market data, insurance provider information, and calculated amounts of premiums, policies, or quotations needed to achieve a market share in a given zip code. |
| US08352293B2 |
Independent annuity placement system and method
A system and method for facilitating annuity transactions between annuity purchasers and providers via an annuities placement program accessible to the purchasers and providers. Purchasers enter quote solicitation information used by the annuity providers to establish a quote for an annuity. Annuity providers enter a quote in response to the quote solicitation information, and the quote is provided to the purchaser via the annuities placement program. The quote is customized to the annuity purchaser's quote solicitation information. Multiple quotes from multiple providers may be presented to the purchaser for ease of quote comparison. To facilitate such transactions, a discretionary group is established to be a contract holder for each participating annuity provider. A master group contract is established for each of the participating providers, each of which is written by a respective one of the participating annuity providers to the discretionary group to allow the discretionary group to be the contract holder for annuities purchased by the annuity purchasers. In response to an annuity purchase, a certificate of participation is issued to the purchaser from the provider under the terms of the master group contract of that annuity provider, which reflects annuity terms customized to the annuity purchaser. |
| US08352282B2 |
System and method for managing and deploying functional services to a vehicle client
An invention is provided for a system for managing and deploying software functionality to a vehicle client including a server including a user preference list, a communication tier, applications for receiving a request from the vehicle client, the request identifying the particular user preference and applications for deploying the selected plurality of services and the plurality of service directories in the particular user's preference list to the vehicle client in response to a request from the vehicle client. The user preference list includes a selected plurality of services subscribed by a corresponding particular user's preference list, each one of the plurality of services including a plurality of software components and information for use of a corresponding service, wherein the selected plurality of services are downloadable service implementation components and a plurality of service directories, each service directory including a list of service objects. The communication tier couples the server and a plurality of devices via one or more networks, wherein the plurality of devices includes at least one vehicle client. |
| US08352278B2 |
Methods and systems for resolving the incompatibility of media items playable from a vehicle
A system for monitoring hands-free accessibility of media items for play at a vehicle includes a vehicle entertainment computing system (VECS) configured to receive predetermined rules for voice-activated access of the media items. Violations of the rules are detected based on media item metadata. If a violation is detected, a prompt is outputted. Media items are retrieved and played based on voice-activated requests. One embodiment includes a method for monitoring hands-free accessibility of media items for play at a vehicle. A system for formatting media items for accessibility at a VECS includes a media item incompatibility resolution system (MIIRS) configured to resolve violations of the predetermined rules by receiving additional rules relating to formatting violating media items. The media items are searched and the violations addressed by reformatting the media items for voice-activated access. The media items are outputted to the MIIRS. |
| US08352276B1 |
Script compliance and agent feedback
Systems and methods are provided for using automatic speech recognition to analyze a voice interaction and verify compliance of an agent reading a script to a client during the voice interaction. In one aspect of the invention, a method may include conducting the voice interaction between the agent and a client, wherein the agent follows the script via a plurality of panels. From there, the voice interaction is evaluated via the plurality of panels employing panel-by-panel playback with an automatic speech recognition component adapted to analyze the voice interaction. As such, it may be determined, via generating a score using confidence level thresholds of an automatic speech recognition component such that confidence level thresholds are assigned to each of the plurality of panels and evaluating the score against at least one of a static standard and a varying standard, whether the agent has adequately followed the script. |
| US08352274B2 |
Sound determination device, sound detection device, and sound determination method for determining frequency signals of a to-be-extracted sound included in a mixed sound
A sound determination device (100) includes: an FFT unit (2402) which receives a mixed sound including a to-be-extracted sound and a noise, and obtains a frequency signal of the mixed sound for each of a plurality of times included in a predetermined duration; and a to-be-extracted sound determination unit (101 (j)) which determines, when the number of the frequency signals at the plurality of times included in the predetermined duration is equal to or larger than a first threshold value and a phase distance between the frequency signals out of the frequency signals at the plurality of times is equal to or smaller than a second threshold value, each of the frequency signals with the phase distance as a frequency signal of the to-be-extracted sound. The phase distance is a distance between phases of the frequency signals when a phase of a frequency signal at a time t is ψ(t) (radian) and the phase is represented by ψ′(t)=mod 2π(ψ(t)−2πft) (where f is an analysis-target frequency). |
| US08352273B2 |
Device, method, and program for performing interaction between user and machine
There is provided a device for performing interaction between a user and a machine. The device includes a plurality of domains corresponding to a plurality of stages in the interaction. Each of the domains has voice comprehension means which understands the content of the user's voice. The device includes: means for recognizing the user's voice; means for selecting a domain enabling the best voice comprehension results as ht domain; means for referencing task knowledge of the domain and extracting a task correlated to the voice comprehension result; means for obtaining a sub task sequence correlated to the extracted task; means for setting the first sub task of the sub task sequence as the sub task and updating the domain to which the sub task belongs as the domain; means for extracting a behavior or sub task end flag correlated to the voice comprehension result and the subtask; and means for causing the machine to execute the extracted behavior. |
| US08352271B2 |
Facilitating text-to-speech conversion of a username or a network address containing a username
To facilitate text-to-speech conversion of a username, a first or last name of a user associated with the username may be retrieved, and a pronunciation of the username may be determined based at least in part on whether the name forms at least part of the username. To facilitate text-to-speech conversion of a domain name having a top level domain and at least one other level domain, a pronunciation for the top level domain may be determined based at least in part upon whether the top level domain is one of a predetermined set of top level domains. Each other level domain may be searched for one or more recognized words therewithin, and a pronunciation of the other level domain may be determined based at least in part on an outcome of the search. The username and domain name may form part of a network address such as an email address, URL or URI. |
| US08352260B2 |
Multimodal unification of articulation for device interfacing
A system for a multimodal unification of articulation includes a voice signal modality to receive a voice signal, and a control signal modality which receives an input from a user and generates a control signal from the input which is selected from predetermined inputs directly corresponding to the phonetic information. The interactive voice based phonetic input system also includes a multimodal integration system to receive and integrates the voice signal and the control signal. The multimodal integration system delimits a context of a spoken utterance of the voice signal by using the control signal to preprocess and discretize into phonetic frames. A voice recognizer analyzing the voice signal integrated with the control signal to output a voice recognition result. This new paradigm helps overcome constraints found in interfacing mobile devices. Context information facilitates the handling of the commands in the application environment. |
| US08352256B2 |
Adaptive reduction of noise signals and background signals in a speech-processing system
An audio input signal is filtered using an adaptive filter to generate a prediction output signal with reduced noise, wherein the filter is implemented using a plurality of coefficients to generate a plurality of prediction errors and to generate an error from the plurality of prediction errors, wherein the absolute values of the coefficients are continuously reduced by a plurality of reduction parameters. |
| US08352255B2 |
Method for speech coding, method for speech decoding and their apparatuses
A high quality speech is reproduced with a small data amount in speech coding and decoding for performing compression coding and decoding of a speech signal to a digital signal. In speech coding method according to a code-excited linear prediction (CELP) speech coding, a noise level of a speech in a concerning coding period is evaluated by using a code or coding result of at least one of spectrum information, power information, and pitch information, and various excitation codebooks are used based on an evaluation result. |
| US08352252B2 |
Systems and methods for preventing the loss of information within a speech frame
A method for preventing the loss of information within a speech frame is described. A first speech frame to be encoded is selected. A determination is made as to whether or not a second speech frame is a critical speech frame based on the information within the second speech frame and one or more adjacent speech frames. At least a part of an encoded version of the second speech frame is created according to a selected forward error correction (FEC) mode if the second speech frame is a critical speech frame. The first speech frame and the at least a part of the encoded version of the second speech frame are transmitted. |
| US08352247B2 |
Statistical stemming
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating suffix rewriting rules. A method includes obtaining a plurality of canonical suffix-rewriting rules each associated with one or more words, generating a suffix tree from the words, selecting a minimum colored subset of the nodes and leaves in the suffix tree, and generating a plurality of final suffix-rewriting rules from the nodes in the minimum colored subset. Another method includes receiving applicable and non-applicable words for a suffix-rewriting rule, generating a suffix tree from the applicable words and the non-applicable words, selecting a minimum colored subset of the nodes and leaves in the suffix tree, and generating a plurality of suffix-rewriting rules, wherein each rule corresponds to a node in the minimum colored subset with a valid status. |
| US08352243B2 |
Multi-language translator for specific fields of knowledge
The present invention relates to techniques for translating documents characteristic for a specific field of knowledge from a source language in a target language. Elements causing translation errors in exemplary documents translated by a machine translator (e.g., Internet-based translator, etc.) are used to compile databases of such elements or untranslatable symbols thereof and their equivalent constructs in the source and target languages. Then, using the databases, the elements causing translation errors are substituted in the being translated documents with the corresponding equivalent constructs. |
| US08352241B2 |
Emulating legacy hardware using IEEE 754 compliant hardware
Emulating legacy hardware using IEEE 754 compliant hardware is disclosed herein. In some aspects, the emulation includes locating an instruction that includes NaN (not a number) as at least one of an operand or a resultant. The emulation adjusts the resultant of the instruction, via additional code, to produce a final resultant of non-compliant (legacy) hardware. Legacy software, which was written in anticipation of processing by legacy hardware, may then be processed using compliant hardware. |
| US08352235B1 |
Emulation of power shutoff behavior for integrated circuits
A method for modeling power management in an integrated circuit (IC) includes: specifying a circuit design and a power architecture for the IC, the power architecture including a plurality of power domains for specifying power levels in different portions of the IC; determining an emulation module for the IC by including one or more hardware elements for modeling the power architecture in the emulation module; and using the emulation module to simulate changing power levels in one or more power domains of the IC including a power shutoff in at least one power domain. |
| US08352224B2 |
Stripwise construction of 3D curved surfaces
A 3D structure approximating a 3D curved surface having non-zero Gaussian curvature over a portion of the surface. The structure is formed of a plurality of thin strips (10) which are simply deformed and aligned adjacent one another to approximate the 3D curved surface. Each strip has: zero Gaussian curvature; a strip width which varies by no more than ±10% along a longitudinal axis of the strip; and a predetermined flat shape such that, after simple deformation, adjacent edges of adjacent strips can be aligned substantially parallel to one another separated by a substantially small gap. The aligned, simply deformed strips appear straight when viewed from a preferred viewing direction. The strips can be attached to a rigid support (12) at selected mounting points such that natural equilibrium deformation between the mounting points holds the aligned simply deformed strips in a desired approximation of the 3D curved surface. |
| US08352222B2 |
Methods and systems for efficient analysis of hybrid systems using template polyhedra
In accordance with aspects of the present principles, an over-approximation of reachable states of a hybrid system may be determined by utilizing template polyhedra. Policy iteration may be utilized to obtain an over-approximation of reachable states in the form of a relaxed invariant based upon template polyhedra expressions. The relaxed invariant may be used to construct a flowpipe to refine the over-approximation and thereby determine the reachable states of the hybrid system. |
| US08352220B2 |
Automated solar collector installation design including ability to define heterogeneous design preferences
Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and/or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. Embodiments may also include definition of one or more design apertures, each of which may correspond to boundaries in which solar collector layouts should comply with distinct sets of user-defined design preferences. Distinct apertures may provide heterogeneous regions of collector layout according to the user-defined design preferences. |
| US08352218B2 |
Active building information modeling apparatus and method
An apparatus for coordinating building including a data memory for storing a three dimensional building model, the three dimensional building model having a plurality of elements, each element having a plurality of attributes. An element ownership processor for assigning ownership of each of the plurality of elements to one of a plurality of users, wherein each of the plurality of users has ownership of a subset of the plurality of elements. A model modification processor for receiving the three dimensional building model and for allowing a user to modify only elements that they have ownership of. A model synchronization processor for receiving only modified elements from the model modification processor and updating the three dimensional building model to include the modified elements. |
| US08352216B2 |
System and method for advanced condition monitoring of an asset system
A method for advanced condition monitoring of an asset system includes sensing actual values of an operating condition for an operating regime of the asset system using at least one sensor; estimating sensed values of the operating condition by using an auto-associative neural network; determining a residual vector between the estimated sensed values and the actual values; and performing a fault diagnostic on the residual vector. In another method, an operating space of the asset system is segmented into operating regimes; the auto-associative neural network determines estimates of actual measured values; a residual vector is determined from the auto-associative neural network; a fault diagnostic is performed on the residual vector; and a change of the operation of the asset system is determined by analysis of the residual vector. An alert is provided if necessary. A smart sensor system includes an on-board processing unit for performing the method of the invention. |
| US08352211B2 |
Activity monitoring systems and methods
An activity monitor, comprises housing for attachment to a person; at least one accelerometer disposed within the housing; and a processor disposed within the housing, for processing signals from the accelerometer to assess activity of the person. A method assesses activity of a person, including: sensing acceleration at a first location on the person; processing the acceleration, over time, to assess activity of the person; and wirelessly communicating information indicative of the activity to a second location. |
| US08352210B2 |
Multiple accelerometer apparatus for counting rotations of an object, and methods of use
A system determines the revolutions of an object using multiple accelerometers. A difference vector between at least 2 multi-axis accelerometers spaced some distance apart is used to calculate the two-dimensional or three-dimensional centripetal acceleration vector. The centripetal acceleration vector is then used as a rough estimate for the sampling rate for a digital tracking bandpass filter. This bandpass filter extracts angular orientation data leading to a sampling rate and to a revolution totalizer. The number of revolutions of the object, along with a known diameter of an attached object, such as a vehicle wheel, may be used to calculate distance traveled by the object. |
| US08352205B2 |
Multivariate optical elements for nonlinear calibration
The present subject matter is direct to methodologies for calibrating data obtained from an optical analysis system. An initial calibration matrix of sampled analyte concentrations is modified using mean-centering techniques and selection of low and high analyte concentration spectra to produce a two-point calibration. A modified calibration matrix is produced by generating a non-linear calibration matrix by multiplying the initial calibration matrix by the two-point calibration. In an alternate embodiment, an initial multivariate optical element design is modified by iteratively adjusting the design based on standard error of calibration determination based on non-linerly fitted functions. |
| US08352203B2 |
Digital implementation of a tracking filter
Methods and systems for tracking an electronic signal corresponding to an operating frequency of an electronic component are provided. A method may include sampling the signal to determine previous and current time samples of the signal. A frequency of interest in the signal may also be pre-warped to decrease adverse warping effects resulting from processing signals having relatively higher operating frequencies. The previous and current time samples of the signals, along with the pre-warped frequency of interest, may be input into a digital tracking filter. The digital tracking filter may be configured to execute one or more algorithms on the previous and current time samples and the pre-warped frequency of interest to estimate a current operating frequency. |
| US08352201B2 |
Integrated circuit system for controlling structural health monitoring processes
A structural health monitoring system using ASICs for signal transmission, reception, and analysis. Incorporating structural health monitoring functionality into one or more ASICs provides a durable yet small, lightweight, low cost, and portable system that can be deployed and operated in field conditions. Such systems provide significant advantages, especially in applications such as armor structures. |
| US08352198B2 |
Sensing sensor and concentration measuring device
A user, when measuring a sensing target substance in fluid using a crystal sensor (sensing sensor) using a crystal vibrator whose natural frequency is varied by an absorption of the sending target, is able to easily and accurately grasp information peculiar to the crystal sensor, for instance, information regarding a quality thereof. An IC chip in which the information peculiar to the crystal sensor is stored is provided to the crystal sensor, and the peculiar information is read out at a side of a concentration measuring device when the crystal sensor is inserted into the concentration measuring device, and then displayed. |
| US08352193B2 |
Methods for deriving a cumulative ranking
Methods and apparatuses for deriving the sequence of an oligomer. In one exemplary method for deriving the sequence of a polypeptide, a predetermined set of mass/charge values for amino acid sequences is stored. An abundance value from mass spectrum data for each mass/charge value in the predetermined set is determined to produce a plurality of abundance values. A first ranking, based on the plurality of abundance values, is calculated for each sequence of a set of amino acid sequences having a first number of amino acids. A second ranking, based on the plurality of abundance values, for each sequence of a set of amino acid sequences having a second number of amino acids is calculated. A cumulative ranking, based on the first ranking and the second ranking, is calculated for each sequence of a set of amino acid sequences having at least the second number of amino acids. |
| US08352191B2 |
Seismic detection in electricity meters
An arrangement for recording seismic events includes an electricity meter sensor circuit, a digital processing circuit, and an accelerometer operably connected to the digital processing circuit. The accelerometer is configured to provide signals representative of seismic information to the digital processing circuit. A memory is configured to store data records relating to at least some of the seismic information. |
| US08352187B2 |
Method and system for monitoring parameters of an aircraft
A monitoring system including two laser anemometers and a selection logic device able to select, on the one hand, a value of the IAS air speed to be displayed on first display means and, on the other hand, another value of the IAS air speed to be displayed on second display means. |
| US08352185B2 |
Method, navigation device, and server for determining a location in a digital map database
A method is described for locating a destination in a digital map database using a query. If the query does not find the destination, the method queries a second, more recently updated, database for the destination. If a destination is found in second database, then the location of the destination that was found is used to find a destination in the original database that is nearby to the location of the destination found in second database. |
| US08352180B2 |
Device with camera-info
The present application relates to a device, such as a navigation device, for vehicular and non-vehicular use, e.g. by pedestrians. The device is arranged to receive a feed from a camera. The navigation device is further arranged to display a combination of a camera image from the feed from the camera and virtual signage on the display. The virtual signage relating to roads, buildings, points of interest and the like. |
| US08352178B2 |
Method and device for generating and communicating geographic route information between wireless communication devices
Provided is a method, wireless communication device and computer program product for generation and communication of a geographic route from a first device to a second device. The method involves presenting a reference map using the first device; receiving route input using the first device, said route input indicative of the geographic route relative to the reference map; processing said route input with respect to a reference coordinate system to generate processed route information indicative of the geographic route; and communicating said processed route information to the second device. The method may further involve receiving and processing processed route information, using the second device, the processing performed at least in part based on the reference coordinate system and an output reference map to generate route output indicative of the geographic route relative to the output reference map; and presenting said route output using the second device. |
| US08352169B2 |
Method for assisting in the management of a flight in order to keep to a time constraint
Method for assisting in the flight management of an aircraft aiming to reach a constraint point on a predetermined lateral trajectory that is assumed to have to be followed by the aircraft, at a required time of arrival RTA, said aircraft occupying a current position defined by a current altitude with a current horizontal speed. The method including, when it follows a rallying flight plan, calculating a new rallying flight plan following the lateral trajectory to be followed and including a new estimated speed profile different from the estimated speed profile over at least one update area, the new estimated speed profile including, over said update areas, either a value greater than that of the estimated speed profile, if the arrival time difference is positive, or a value less than that of the estimated speed profile, if the arrival time difference is negative. |
| US08352159B2 |
Fuel based engine operation control
Methods are provided for operating an engine with a variable fuel blend in a cylinder, where the variable fuel blend varies a peak achievable engine torque for a given operating condition. One example method comprises selectively operating an engine actuator that affects engine torque and engine fuel economy at the given operating condition, and extending operation of the actuator to higher engine torques as a peak engine torque for the given operating condition increases. |
| US08352158B2 |
Method and system for compensating engine thermal conditions
A method for compensating for thermal transient conditions of an engine that can cause valve growth or contraction is disclosed. In one example, the method provides cylinder air amount compensation during non-blow-through and blow-through conditions. The approach may improve cylinder air amount estimates, thereby improving engine emissions. |
| US08352155B2 |
Engine for an agricultural harvester having isochronous torque curve with power bulge
A method of operating an IC engine in an agricultural harvester includes the steps of: operating the IC engine in a normal mode with a base torque curve as a function of engine operating speed and engine power output, the base torque curve being generally isochronous at a rated operating speed over a power output range terminating at a rated power output; and operating the IC engine in a boost mode with a boost torque curve when a power boost is required above the rated power output, the boost torque curve having a power output which is above the base torque curve over a predefined range of the operating speed. |
| US08352154B2 |
Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine in the context of a combined direct and manifold injection, a computer program, a computer program product
In a control unit, a method, a computer program and a computer program product for operating an internal combustion engine in the context of a combined direct and manifold injection, fuel is injected by at least one first injection valve into an induction manifold and/or by at least one second injection valve directly into a combustion chamber for combustion. In at least one predefined operating state of the internal combustion engine, fuel is only injected by the at least one first injection valve into the induction manifold for a predetermined number of successive combustion cycles. In a subsequent combustion cycle, fuel is injected by the at least one first injection valve into the induction manifold and by the at least one second injection valve directly into the combustion chamber or only by the at least one second injection valve directly into the combustion chamber. |
| US08352151B2 |
Electric current supply control apparatus for glow plug, and glow plug and electric current supply apparatus connected to the glow plug
An electric current supply control apparatus for a glow plug, and glow plug and the electric current supply control apparatus connected to the glow plug. In a transition state in which the load acting on an engine increases such as at the time of acceleration (S14: YES), an instruction signal which instructs increasing of an EGR amount is transmitted to an ECU (S18). Further, electric current is supplied to a heat generation resistor of a glow plug through resistance PI control (S20), whereby the temperature of the heat generation resistor is stably maintained at a target temperature, and stability of combustion is enhanced. Thus, even at the time of acceleration, generation of NOX can be suppressed effectively by increasing the EGR amount without lowering the engine output. |
| US08352148B2 |
System for controlling input profiles of combined cycle power generation system
A control system for a combined cycle power generation system including a gas turbine engine (GT), a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and a steam turbine (ST) includes a display wherein an operator may observe information about predicted operating parameters; a user interface wherein an operator may provide additional operating constraints; and a controller configured to generate input profiles of the GT, the HRSG, and the ST that satisfy the nominal constraints and any additional constraints and to generate the information about the predicted operating parameters. The controller may be configured to detect a stage transition of power generation system operation and update the input profiles. The controller may be configured to generate alternative operating scenarios by mapping alternative control actions to an operating constraint of at least one of the system components. |
| US08352139B2 |
Vehicular power transmission control apparatus
An apparatus comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. When a kick-down-condition is satisfied, a changeover operation for changing an electric motor connection state to the OUT-Connection State is firstly performed. Thereafter, a gear position shifting operation for increasing a transmission reduction ratio is performed. After the kick-down-condition satisfied, an E/G side output torque Te and a M/G side output torque Tm is adjusted in such a manner that a sum Ts of Te and Tm continues to increase. |
| US08352126B2 |
Assistance system for driving in slopes for automobiles
The system of the invention includes sensors (11, 12, 13) for measuring physical values useful for driving assistance, a path correction electronic calculator (20) including a Hill Assist (HA) module for hill start assistance and a Hill Descent Control module for limiting the downhill speed, and actuators (31 to 35) controlled by said calculator for acting on the different driving parameters. The calculator further includes a Hill Assist Descent Control (HADC) for driveability control assistance in slopes, that enables or disables the Hill Assist (HA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) modules based on specific control rules for managing intermediate life situations between the situations managed by the Hill Assist (HA) module and those managed by the Hill Descent Control (HDC) module. The invention also relates to automobiles and to automobile driving assistance systems. |
| US08352124B2 |
Steering control device
A steering control device for a vehicle includes a steering characteristic setting unit setting the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle in a predetermined range (near an induction target tire angle for guiding to a target locus), which is determined on the basis of the target locus upon vehicle traveling, to be wider than the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle outside of the predetermined range. A reduction gear ratio of a steering mechanism in the predetermined range increases. |
| US08352116B2 |
Tilt and/or acceleration sensing apparatus and method
A tilt or acceleration sensing apparatus and method that allows a tilt or acceleration sensing device of a vehicle to determine: 1) a maximum fall angle of the vehicle, regardless of the orientation of the vehicle and the vehicle's tilt sensor(s) to the incline; or 2) the downward acceleration of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method of determining a maximum fall angle of a vehicle includes sensing tilt angles of two sensing axes of the vehicle relative to a horizontal reference plane and calculating the maximum fall angle of the vehicle based on the tilt angles. The apparatus and method may also include comparing the maximum fall angle to predetermined values and generating output signals when the maximum fall angle exceeds the predetermined values. In another embodiment, a method of determining when a vehicle is sliding downhill includes sensing the accelerations of three sensing axes. |
| US08352114B2 |
Method and apparatus for docking a robotic device with a charging station
A docking system includes a mobile robotic device and a charging station to which the robotic device is to dock. The robotic device is comprised of sensors to capture a homing signal emitted by the charging station, docking logic that processes the homing signal so that it can be used to control the movements of the robotic device towards and dock with the charging station, and it is comprised of a mechanism for receiving a cylindrical charging post. The charging station is comprised of a circular platform in the center of which is located the charging post that is generally cylindrical in shape. The charging post includes a charging contact, ground contacts and an IR emitter. The geometry of the receiver mechanism elements and the shape of the charging post and geometry of the charging station generally permits the robotic device to approach the charging station and to dock with the charging station from any angle. |
| US08352113B2 |
Robotic mower boundary coverage system
A robotic mower boundary coverage system includes a vehicle control unit on the robotic mower commanding a traction drive system to drive the robotic mower at a specified yaw angle with respect to a boundary wire, and a boundary sensor on the robotic mower signaling the distance between the boundary wire and the vehicle control unit. The vehicle control unit alternates commands to direct the traction drive system toward and away from the boundary wire based on the distance of the robotic mower to the boundary wire. |
| US08352109B2 |
Vehicle control device
A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle drive apparatus, the vehicle control device configured with a release control mechanism that provides feedback controlling supplied oil pressure to a release side element, and an engagement control mechanism that increases supplied oil pressure to an engagement side element as an engagement element on a side to be engaged in a state that the differential rotation speed is substantially constant. The control device is further configured with a phase determining mechanism that determines if the torque phase has started when a condition that a phenomenon accompanying a change of the differential rotation speed due to increase of the supplied oil pressure to the engagement side element is detected is met. |
| US08352104B2 |
Method and device for servocontrolling an aircraft speed-wise in an approach phase
A method and device for servocontrolling an aircraft speed-wise in an approach phase. The device can adapt to the estimated time of passage of the aircraft at a particular point of the approach trajectory, the position of the start of deceleration of the aircraft in the approach phase. |
| US08352103B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a runway landing system
One non-limiting but advantageous aspect of the present invention relates to improved airport efficiency and capacity through higher utilization of a primary runway. The improvements derive from the use of one or more high-speed exit ramps that interconnect the primary runway to a high-speed landing way running parallel to the primary runway. The high-speed exit ramp(s) enable a landing aircraft to negotiate a high-speed transition from the primary runway to the high-speed landing way, so that the aircraft completes its landing roll out and transition to taxiing speeds on the high-speed landing way rather than the primary runway. In at least one embodiment, a computerized landing controller indicates to pilots of landing aircraft whether their aircraft are permitted to take a high-speed exit ramp via control of an associated high-speed exit lighting system. |
| US08352099B1 |
Varying engine thrust for directional control of an aircraft experiencing engine thrust asymmetry
Technologies are described herein for providing additional yaw control to a multi-engine aircraft experiencing engine thrust asymmetry. A primary flight control system of the aircraft is configured to limit the operational thrust of an operating engine of the aircraft to provide additional yaw control when the aircraft is experiencing thrust asymmetry. The system includes a thrust limit module for calculating the maximum engine thrust limit to be imposed on an operating engine. The maximum engine thrust limit is calculated using inputs corresponding to the sideslip angle and the roll rate of the aircraft. The maximum engine thrust limit is imposed on the operating engine of the aircraft such that the operational thrust generated by the operating engine is limited to the maximum engine thrust limit. By reducing the operational thrust generated by the operating engine, the yawing caused by the thrust asymmetry is likely to be reduced. |
| US08352095B2 |
Electric power generation device, electric power demand device, and electric power control system, and method of controlling electric power
An electric power generation device includes: a storage unit that stores information about the electric power generation device; a transmitting unit that transmits information about the electric power generation device to a neighboring electric power demand device; a receiving unit that receives an electric power demand request from the neighboring electric power demand device; and an allocation unit that allocates electric power according to the electric power demand request. |
| US08352093B2 |
Intra-area environmental control system and intra-area environmental control method
An environmental control system according to the present invention is a system for controlling environmental devices by which a work status and a behavior status are monitored and the environmental devices are finely controlled in accordance with the statuses to improve comfort. The environmental control system includes a communication unit, a unit for detecting environments, a unit for detecting a work status, a unit for obtaining power consumption, a unit for determining the control of a device, and a unit for transmitting a control signal, and enables fine control in accordance with a work type. |
| US08352092B2 |
Method and system for workload balancing to assist in power grid load management
A method and system for workload balancing to assist in power grid load management. The method includes receiving a request to perform a task at a site powered by connection to an AC power grid, the task comprising either data processing or manufacturing an article; measuring an AC frequency of the AC power grid to obtain a current AC frequency; and performing or not performing the task at the site based on the current AC frequency. |
| US08352091B2 |
Distributed grid-interactive photovoltaic-based power dispatching
In one embodiment, each of a plurality of sites may produce surplus power. All or a fraction of the surplus power may be supplied to the power grid according to an agreement between the user of a site and an electric utility. A computer of the utility is in communication with a computer at each of a plurality of sites having a local power source. Terms of power provision that include an amount of power to be provided during a specified time of day is communicated between a site and the utility. |
| US08352075B2 |
Apparatus and method for extracting feature information of object and apparatus and method for creating feature map
Technology for creating a feature map for localizing a mobile robot and extracting feature information of surroundings is provided. According to one aspect, feature information including a reflection function is extracted from information acquired using a 3D distance sensor and used as a basis for creating a feature map. Thus, a feature map that is less sensitive to change in the surrounding environment can be created, and a success rate of feature matching can be increased. |
| US08352069B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and display method for substrate processing apparatus
During a carrying operation, the position, transportation origin, and transportation destination of a carrier or a boat can be easily checked. A carrying system is configured to carry a substrate, a manipulation unit is configured to display an operation state of the carrying system on a manipulation screen, and a control unit is configured to control an operation of the carrying system. The manipulation unit displays a carrying system icon indicating the carrying system which is a carrying target object and a carrying-out icon at predetermined positions of the manipulation screen corresponding to a transportation origin of the carrying system, and a carrying-in icon at a predetermined position of the manipulation screen corresponding to the transportation destination of the carrying system. |
| US08352064B2 |
Revert blend algorithm and apparatus using the algorithm
A revert alloy is used in the manufacture of a target alloy having a different composition. The weight percent of the elemental constituents of this first alloy and a second or target alloy are obtained, and the ratio of the percentage by weight of each elemental constituent in the first alloy to the second alloy is determined. The lowest ratio is used to determine the amount of the first alloy that is melted and the necessary elemental constituents that are added to the melt to produce the desired composition of the target alloy. The melt is solidified to produce the target alloy. |
| US08352060B2 |
Computer-aided fabrication of a removable dental prosthesis
A method and system for fabricating a dental prosthesis are provided. High resolution digital scanned images of a patient's oral structures are acquired. Three dimensional (3D) cone beam X-ray images of hard and soft oral tissues are acquired. The scanned images are integrated with the 3D cone beam X-ray images in a 3D space to obtain combined three dimensional images of the oral structures. The occlusal relationship between upper and lower oral structures are digitally simulated using the combined three dimensional images. The dental prosthesis is digitally modeled for planning intra-oral positioning and structure of the dental prosthesis. The digital dental prosthesis model is refined based on simulated force tests performed for assessing interference and retention of the digital dental prosthesis model. A prospective dental prosthesis model is created based on the refined digital dental prosthesis model. The dental prosthesis is fabricated based on a verified prospective dental prosthesis model. |
| US08352058B2 |
Office automation device for preloading content on memory cards and processing method thereof
An OA device for preloading content on memory cards is disclosed. A handler control module of a control unit performs a preloading process which comprises a preload check, preloading content based on digital content stored in buffers, and a preloaded content comparison, wherein memory cards at the initial column of a tray are checked, preloaded, and compared with the preloaded digital content using probes of a probe module. When the preloading content for the memory cards at the initial column of the tray is complete, the tray module or the probe module is moved by a stepper module by a predetermined distance, or the moving arm moves the probe module with a predetermined distance, to enable the memory cards at the next column of the tray to be checked, preloaded, and compared with the preloaded digital content using the probes while a sorting module picks up failed memory cards from the previous column based on records and instructions from the handler control module of the control unit. |
| US08352053B2 |
Audio signal processing system
An audio signal-processing system has signal-processing units connectable to a transmission line. Each signal-processing unit has channels for applying a signal process to input audio signals. A control unit is connectable to the transmission line for operating a target channel belonging to one of the signal-processing units. The control unit has color pallets different from each other and previously selected in correspondence to the signal-processing units. When the control unit detects an instruction to display an operation screen of the target channel, the control unit renders the operation screen of the target channel using the color pallet corresponding to the signal-processing unit to which the target channel belongs, so that a background color of the operation screen of the target channel displayed on a display part of the control unit is different from a background color of an operation screen of another channel belonging to another signal-processing unit. |
| US08352047B2 |
Approaches for shifting a schedule
An approach for making shifted schedules from a regular or master schedule of a building automation system. Shifted schedules may be obtained by applying shifts to the scheduled-on and scheduled-off periods of the days in the master schedule. One set of shifts may apply uniformly to all days of the week or several sets of different shifts may apply to various days of the week. Special events with certain scheduled-on and scheduled-off periods and assigned to particular days may override the regular scheduled-on and scheduled-off periods of those days. The shifted schedules may also contain special events with their periods shifted. The master schedule may govern the regular operating hours of a building and the shifted schedules may control, for example, HVAC equipment in particular zones, certain employee areas, parking lot lights, and so on. Changes to the master schedule may be applied as updates to the shifted schedules. |
| US08352042B2 |
Remote controls and ambulatory medical systems including the same
A method of preventing inadvertent signal transmission sent from a remote control for controlling the operation of an implantable infusion device. The method includes maintaining the remote control in a locked state prior to a user intentionally unlocking the remote control in order to generate transmission of a signal from the remote control to the implantable infusion device. The unlocking of the remote control can include moving a button control element, unlocking a button lock, pressing a button other than the signal generation button, pressing the signal generation button in a specific sequence or shaking the remote control. |
| US08352041B2 |
Remote controls and ambulatory medical systems including the same
Remote controls, including a communication device, a button or other communication device actuator and a movable structure that allows actuation of the actuator in one position and prevents actuation of the actuator in another position to prevent inadvertent signal transmission. |
| US08352040B2 |
Diversity antenna system for communication with an implantable medical device
A system for communicating with an implantable medical device via RF telemetry is disclosed which mitigates the effects of nulls caused by, e.g., multi-path distortion. In one embodiment, signals transmitted by the implantable device to an external device are simultaneously received with a pair of separate spaced apart first and second antennas. The antennas may provide spatial and/or polar diversity. The presence of nulls in the implantable device's transmission pattern can be determined by detecting an error rate in the signals received from the implantable device with each antenna. |
| US08352036B2 |
Respiratory muscle activation by spinal cord stimulation
A method of electrically stimulating the inspiratory muscles in a subject is provided. The method includes positioning one or more electrodes at one or more levels of the upper thoracic spinal cord of the subject and operating the electrode to deliver high frequency electrical stimulation to the spinal cord tracts at the level or levels. The high frequency electrical stimulation of the spinal cord results in the coordinated activation of the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and accessory muscles in the subject to effect artificial ventilation in the subject. |
| US08352035B2 |
Connector assemblies for implantable stimulators
Exemplary systems include a stimulator configured to be implanted within a patient, the stimulator having a body defined by at least one side surface disposed in between distal and proximal end surfaces, and a connector assembly configured to be coupled to the stimulator and extend parallel to the at least one side surface of the stimulator. The connector assembly is further configured to facilitate removable coupling of a lead having one or more electrodes disposed thereon to the stimulator. |
| US08352031B2 |
Protein activity modification
A method of treating a cardiac arrhythmia, comprising: determining a desired arrhythmia control; selecting an electric field having an expected effect of modifying protein activity of at least one protein as a response of a cardiac tissue to the field, said expected effect correlated with said desired arrhythmia control; and applying said field to said cardiac tissue. |
| US08352026B2 |
Implantable pulse generators and methods for selective nerve stimulation
An Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) includes a surgically implantable housing, a battery, a first waveform generator, a second waveform generator, a modulator, and electrodes. The IPG produces a pulse envelope, a carrier waveform, and a modulated waveform. The pulse envelope is a low frequency waveform with specific pulse width, amplitude and shape to selectively stimulate a target nerve or body part. The carrier waveform is a high frequency waveform with properties such as amplitude, frequency and the like chosen so as to overcome tissue impedance and the stimulation threshold of the target nerve. The modulated waveform is the waveform obtained by modulating the carrier waveform by the pulse envelope. |
| US08352018B2 |
Multi-tier system for cardiology and patient monitoring data analysis
In a multi-tier patient monitoring data analysis system, an algorithm server is positioned as a middle tier between an acquisition device, such as a cardiograph or patient monitor that can be seen as a lower tier, and a storage device for a database, such as that of a central computer for a hospital or clinic that can be seen as an upper tier. The algorithm server gathers current data from the real time acquisition device and obtains previously stored ECG signal data from the database. The algorithm server contains ECG analysis algorithm(s) and runs one or more algorithms using the current and previously acquired ECG signal data. Analysis algorithms may also be run on the acquisition device. The system provides the rapid, extensive, and thorough ECG analysis that is critical to patient welfare. |
| US08352008B2 |
Active noise cancellation in an optical sensor signal
A medical device system and associated method are used for monitoring tissue oxygenation. An optical sensor produces a signal corresponding to tissue light attenuation. A processor receives the optical sensor signal and computes a first measure of light attenuation at a first light wavelength and a second measure of light attenuation at a second light wavelength. In one embodiment, noise cancellation circuitry receives the first measure and the second measure and generates a guessed ratio of the first and second measures. Using the first measure, the second measure and the guessed ratio, the noise cancellation circuitry provides a peak output power when the guessed ratio corresponds to an actual ratio of the first and second measures. |
| US08352003B2 |
Sensor unit and biosensor
A highly miniaturized biosensor and a sensor unit, which can meet a demand for further miniaturization. With this invention, miniaturization is possible, and the number of production steps including those for assembling individual parts can be reduced. Accordingly, mass production will be possible, and cost reduction and high reliability will be achieved. A light emitting unit (21) and a light receiving unit (22) are disposed in a same recess (24) formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate (23), and a light shielding cover substrate (27) having a first light guide section (25) and a second light guide section (26) is disposed on an upper side of the semiconductor substrate (23). Since the light receiving unit (22) is formed with arrayed light receiving elements (28), the same number of the second light guide sections (26) as the light receiving elements (28) are provided on the light shielding cover substrate (27), and the light receiving surfaces of the light receiving elements (28) are connected to one end of each of the second light guiding sections (26) so as to conform to each other without any gap. |
| US08352002B2 |
Superconductor cooling system and superconductor cooling method
A superconductor cooling system has: a first superconductor; a first cooling conductor used for cooling the first superconductor; a first cooling unit configured to cool the first cooling conductor to a first temperature; and a current lead configured to supply a current to the first superconductor. Here, a part of a path of the current is formed of a second superconductor. The superconductor cooling system further has: a second cooling conductor used for cooling the second superconductor; a second cooling unit configured to cool the second cooling conductor to a second temperature; and a first thermal conduction switch connected between the first cooling conductor and the second cooling conductor to ON and OFF heat transfer between the first cooling conductor and the second cooling conductor. |
| US08351992B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus, and a method of controlling a user interface thereof
A portable electronic apparatus (300) has a display (320) and a keypad (340) with a plurality of keys (342), the keys being distributed within a keypad area (341) in at least a first plane, and the keys being arranged for key-pressing user actuation transversally to the first plane so as to provide a first type of user input. The apparatus also has sensor means (430, 450, 348) positioned to sense navigating user actuation at the keypad area in or coincident with said first plane so as to provide a second type of user input, and a controller (301) configured to control a focus position (323) on the display (320) in response to user input of the second type. The controller (301) is configured to associate a plurality of display subareas (321) of the display with respective keys (342) of the keypad (340) and to accept, for user input of the second type, a key-pressing user actuation of an actuated key among said keys as a selection of a selectable item presented at the focus position (323) in a particular display subarea (321d) associated with the actuated key. |
| US08351991B2 |
Mobile terminal and computer program including a touch-sensitive internal state indicator
A mobile terminal, including a touch panel detecting a touch position; a vibration generation device configured to generate vibration; an assignment device configured to assign different vibration area patterns that define vibration areas generating the vibration on the touch panel, to a plurality of internal states, respectively; and a control device configured to activate, according to a current internal state, the vibration area pattern assigned to the internal state and to control the vibration generation device so as to generate the vibration while the vibration area is being touched. |
| US08351987B2 |
Wireless network communication apparatus, methods, and integrated antenna structures
Wireless mesh network communication apparatus and methods are disclosed. Directional antennas are respectively operatively coupled to dedicated communication devices to provide multiple independent wireless communication links. Exchange of communication traffic through the wireless communication links provided by the communication devices and the antennas is controlled by a switch. Any or all of the antennas may be adjustable so as to provide for flexibility in antenna beam alignment. Beam alignment may be physically or electronically adjustable. Radio units including the communication devices and the antennas, and possibly also the switch, may be enclosed in a single housing. The housing may be shared with other components such as wireless communication network base station antennas. |
| US08351982B2 |
Fully integrated RF transceiver integrated circuit
A radio transceiver device includes circuitry for radiating electromagnetic signals at a very high radio frequency both through space, as well as through wave guides that are formed within a substrate material. In one embodiment, the substrate comprises a dielectric substrate formed within a board, for example, a printed circuit board. In another embodiment of the invention, the wave guide is formed within a die of an integrated circuit radio transceiver. A plurality of transceivers with different functionality is defined. Substrate transceivers are operable to transmit through the wave guides, while local transceivers are operable to produce very short range wireless transmissions through space. A third and final transceiver is a typical wireless transceiver for communication with remote (non-local to the device) transceivers. Additionally, a multi-mode transceiver is operable to configure transmit and receive circuitry based upon transmission path. |
| US08351973B2 |
Short message service (SMS) over service access point identifier 0 (SAPI-0)
A mobile station receives data for sending to a destination device and determines whether to send the data to the destination device via either short message service (SMS) over service access point identifier 0 (SAPI-0) or SMS over SAPI-3, where SAPI-0 and SAPI-3 comprise different service access points associated with a data link layer of a mobile network. The mobile station selectively sends the location information to the destination device via either SMS over SAPI-0, or via SMS over SAPI-3, based on the determination. |
| US08351964B2 |
Message delivery over LTE networks
Communication networks and methods are disclosed for delivering messages over LTE networks. One embodiment comprises a universal message center operable to deliver messages over an LTE network. The universal message center receives a message intended for a destination mobile device, and determines if the destination mobile device is LTE enabled. If the destination mobile device is LTE enabled, then the universal message center identifies a mobile IP address assigned to the destination mobile device in the LTE network. The universal message center then attempts to forward the message to the destination mobile device over the LTE network based on the mobile IP address. If the destination mobile device is not LTE enabled, then the universal message center identifies a store-and-forward (SFD) message center for an originator of the message, and forwards the message to the SFD message center for store-and-forward processing. |
| US08351946B2 |
Method for seamless communications between a communication device and wireless access points
A system and methods (300, 400) are disclosed for seamless communications between a communication device and wireless access points. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a multimode communication device (MCD) (106) having a controller (214) to manage operations of a global position (GPS) receiver (212), and a multimode wireless transceiver (202). The controller can be programmed to authenticate (304) the MCD with a first wireless access point, request and receive (306) a first IP address, establish (308) communications with a network management system (NMS) (100) according to the first IP address, transmit (310) to the NMS a location of the MCD, receive (320) a second IP address from the NMS in response to the NMS determining that the MCD is near a second wireless access point, and establish (330) communications over the second wireless access point according to the second IP address. Embodiments for the NMS are also disclosed. |
| US08351943B2 |
Method and apparatus for handoff in a wireless network
In response to a determination that a received pilot signal identification is not present in a current neighbor list of a mobile station, a network controller identifies one of a plurality of sectors associated with the missing pilot signal identification that is a most likely handoff candidate. In one embodiment, the most likely handoff candidate is determined as the sector that is closest to the mobile station. When the most likely candidate is identified, a handoff may be initiated between the mobile station and the identified sector. The handoff may be accomplished by activating a traffic channel for the mobile station in the identified sector. |
| US08351939B1 |
Pseudo network signal for a wireless communication device
A wireless communication device comprises a processing system and a wireless communication transceiver. The processing system is configured to store in a memory system data that associates a geographic identifier, a pseudo network signal of a first wireless communication network, and a wireless communication channel of a second wireless communication network. The wireless communication transceiver is configured to wirelessly exchange first wireless communications with the first wireless communication network. The processing system is configured to, in response to the wireless communication device entering a geographic region associated with the geographic identifier, process the geographic identifier to identify the pseudo network signal of the first wireless communication network and the wireless communication channel of the second wireless communication network. The wireless communication transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive the pseudo network signal from the first wireless communication network, and in response, wirelessly exchange second wireless communications with the second wireless communication network over the wireless communication channel. |
| US08351938B1 |
System and method for dynamic route-update-radius parameters
System and methods for generating and transmitting dynamic route-update-radius parameters are described. The parameters are dynamic in that the parameters may be modified from time-to-time. Modification of the parameters may be triggered by a radio access network (RAN) determining that a coverage area formed by the RAN is handling more than a threshold amount of communications to and/or from access terminals operating in the coverage area. The RAN may transmit the dynamic route-update-radius parameters so as to prevent some access terminals from registering with the coverage area while the coverage area is handling more than the threshold amount of communications. While the coverage area is handling a reduced amount of communications, such as less than a threshold amount of communications, the access network may transmit default route-update-radius parameters to coverage areas remote from that coverage area. The route-update-radius parameters may include a route-update-radius, a modified route-update-radius, and a route-update-radius offset. |
| US08351933B2 |
Managing sponsored content based on usage history
Improved search capabilities are disclosed for mobile communications devices such as cell phones, as well as improved techniques for delivering sponsored content in a mobile communication environment. |
| US08351930B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing automatic international and local call dialing in a mobile communication terminal
A method and apparatus for providing automatic international and local call dialing in a mobile communication terminal. Country identification information is received from a network in which the mobile communication terminal is currently located. When a request for an outgoing is received from a user, a country code corresponding to the received country identification information is extracted, and the extracted country code is compared with a country code included in a phone number for the outgoing call. Based on the comparison it is determined whether the outgoing call is an international or local call. The phone number is then changed in accordance with the outgoing call being the international or local call. |
| US08351927B2 |
Wireless ground link-based aircraft data communication system with roaming feature
A flight information communication system has a plurality of RF direct sequence spread spectrum ground data links that link respective aircraft-resident subsystems, in each of which a copy of its flight performance data is stored, with airport-located subsystems. The airport-located subsystems are coupled by way communication paths, such as land line telephone links, to a remote flight operations control center. At the flight operations control center, flight performance data downlinked from plural aircraft parked at different airports is analyzed. In addition, the flight control center may be employed to direct the uploading of in-flight data files, such as audio, video and navigation files from the airport-located subsystems to the aircraft. |
| US08351921B2 |
Push notification service
Gateway devices maintain presence information for various mobile devices. Each gateway is associated with a zone and manages presence information only for mobile devices associated with that zone. Courier devices back-propagate presence information for the mobile devices to respective gateways based at least on the respective zone associated with each mobile device. The gateways and couriers are dynamically configured such that messages can be pushed from a provider application to a mobile device via any gateway and any courier. |
| US08351917B2 |
Method of activating a device
A method of activating a device involves establishing communication between the device and another device and receiving, at the other device, a message including activation information from a third party facility. The activation information includes a header and a mobile dialing number. The method further includes using the header to identify the message as an activation message for the device and, via the device, retrieving the identified message from the other device. The mobile dialing number is stored in a memory associated with the device, where the mobile dialing number enables the third party facility to initiate communication with the device. |
| US08351910B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a user input from inertial sensors
A system and method for determining a user input based on movements of a mobile device. In a particular implementation, angular movement of the mobile device about at least one axis of a linear plane is detected. Linear movement of the mobile device along at least one axis of the linear plane is also detected. Finally, a user input is determined based on the detection of the angular movement and the detection of the linear movement. |
| US08351909B2 |
Method and system to automatically park a voice call for data transfer
A system and method to automatically park a voice call on a mobile electronic device so that the device can receive data, comprising a switch for establishing a voice call at the at least one caller device, a database for storing at least one call processing rule, and an enterprise data server for receiving a data message, comparing contents of the data message with at least one rule in the database, and in the event that the contents match the rule then parking the call, switching the mobile electronic device to a data mode of operation, downloading the data message to the device and un-parking the call. |
| US08351908B2 |
System and method for monitoring and maintaining a wireless device
A system is disclosed in which a wireless device is monitored and maintained over a network. One embodiment of the system comprises a wireless device including: a service to maintain data objects, provide messaging capability, and provide data access capability on behalf of a user of the wireless device; and a rules engine communicatively coupled to the service to execute a set of rules transmitted to the wireless device from a server, the set of rules to instruct the rules engine to gather information related to the wireless device and to take action on the wireless device based on the gathered information. |
| US08351897B2 |
Mobile terminal and operation method for the same
A mobile terminal and operational method may store or output log information related to usage histories according to at least one of a condition, location, and status indicated by situation information. The mobile terminal can be conveniently operated on the basis of past usage histories. The operation method for the mobile terminal includes: creating situation information on the basis of at least one of location information, status information and condition information of the mobile terminal; collecting log information related to usage histories of the mobile terminal from the time of situation information creation or within a preset time after situation information creation; linking the situation information with the log information and storing the linked information; and outputting, when new situation information equal to the stored situation information is created, log information linked to the stored situation information. |
| US08351892B2 |
Network detection device power conservation
Methods and devices for determining intervals between mobile device network searches use measured signal power as lookup criteria to obtain a predefined “sleep” duration from a sleep duration data structure. When a network connection is lost the mobile device may compare received signal power to criteria in a data table to determine an appropriate sleep duration during which the receiver is de-energized to conserve battery power. The sleep durations vs. signal power may be predefined to provide performance as good as other sleep duration determining algorithms while providing flexibility for matching network coverage characteristics. An appropriate sleep duration data table for use may be determined based upon device location or user inputs. At the end of a sleep interval, received signal power may be compared to a threshold to determine whether the receiver should return to sleep mode or attempt a network connection. |
| US08351886B1 |
Voltage regulator with a bandwidth variation reduction network
Embodiments of circuits, apparatuses, and systems for a voltage regulator with a bandwidth variation reduction network are disclosed. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08351878B2 |
Radio apparatus, distortion correction device, and distortion correction method
When a distortion correction coefficient, which is calculated according to a signal input to a power amplifier and a signal output from the power amplifier, is larger than a first threshold, a distortion correction coefficient corresponding to the input signal is updated to the first threshold. When the calculated distortion correction coefficient is equal to or smaller than the first threshold, the distortion correction coefficient corresponding to the input signal is updated to the calculated distortion correction coefficient. |
| US08351877B2 |
Multi-band wideband power amplifier digital predistorition system and method
A high performance and cost effective method of RF-digital hybrid mode power amplifier systems with high linearity and high efficiency for multi-frequency band wideband communication system applications is disclosed. The present disclosure enables a power amplifier system to be field reconfigurable and support multiple operating frequency bands on the same PA system over a very wide bandwidth. In addition, the present invention supports multi-modulation schemes (modulation agnostic), multi-carriers and multi-channels. |
| US08351853B2 |
Configurable filter using a transmission line as a delay line
Methods and systems for a configurable finite impulse response (FIR) filter using a transmission line as a delay line are disclosed and may include selectively coupling one or more taps of a multi-tap transmission line to configure delays for one or more finite impulse response (FIR) filters to enable transmission and/or reception of signals. The delays may be configured based on a location of the one or more selectively coupled taps on the multi-tap transmission line. The FIR filters, which may include one or more stages, may be impedance matched to the selectively coupled taps. The multi-tap transmission line may be integrated on the chip, or a package to which the chip is coupled. The multi-tap transmission line may include a microstrip structure or a coplanar waveguide structure, and may include ferromagnetic material. The distortion of signals in the chip may be compensated utilizing the FIR filters. |
| US08351847B2 |
Power balancing in a cooperative communication network
A method of adjusting transmission power for data communicated in a mobile communication system, wherein data is transmitted from a source station to a destination station over a first route and a second route. The method comprises receiving a first transmission power control signal; wherein a destination station generates a second transmission power control signal, in response to receiving a quality measurement signal from the relay station for data communicated to the destination station over a combination of the first route and the second route; and adjusting data transmission power according to the first transmission power control signal. |
| US08351844B2 |
System and method for reliably communicating information without explicit acknowledgements
A system and method communicates commands from a command originator to receiving devices, yet the receiving devices do not confirm receipt of the command. The most current command (e.g. the one with the highest sequence number) is rebroadcast by the command originator and the receiving devices, tending to be more frequent upon detection of an event indicating that the most current command was not received by at least one other device, and less frequently upon detection of an event indicating that the most current command was provided with sufficient duplication that if another device could receive it, the device likely did receive it, subject to a maximum and minimum rate. |
| US08351842B2 |
Filtering circuit with jammer generator
A filtering circuit with a jammer generator cancels a jammer in wireless signals with little degradation of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The filtering circuit may include a jammer generator which acquires information of period and phase of a sinusoidal jammer signal in a composite input sinusoidal signal, which includes the jammer signal and a desired signal, and outputs a pseudo sine-wave with a period and phase corresponding with the period and phase of the jammer signal acquired, and an adder which outputs a difference between the input and output signals of the jammer generator as the desired signal. |
| US08351832B2 |
Image forming apparatus with recessed transfer roller including grippers
An image forming method includes: feeding a transfer material to a transfer portion by gate rollers; contacting the transfer material with a transfer material grip member that is disposed on a transfer roller; holding the transfer material on an elastic holding portion which holds the transfer material disposed on the circumference surface of the transfer roller; transferring the transfer material held by the holding portion; and transferring an image at the transfer portion. |
| US08351830B2 |
Belt conveying device and image forming apparatus
A belt conveying device includes an endless belt stretched by a plurality of rollers; a drive unit that is connected to one of the plurality of rollers and drives the roller; a plurality of belt velocity detectors that are arranged at a plurality of locations along a belt width direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the endless belt and detect conveyance velocities of the endless belt; and a belt-inclination calculating unit that calculates an inclination of the endless belt in the moving direction from a difference between conveyance velocities of the endless belt detected by the plurality of belt velocity detectors. |
| US08351823B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image bearing member, and method of manufacturing image bearing member
An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member having a photosensitive layer and the surface including concave portions having a concave diameter of from 5 to 200 μm, an irradiation device that irradiates the surface of the image bearing member with light to form a latent electrostatic image thereon, a development device that develops the latent electrostatic image with a development agent containing toner to obtain a visualized image, a transfer device that transfers the visualized image to a transfer medium, a first cleaning brush to which a bias is applied with a polarity reverse to that of the toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member after the visualized image is transferred, and a second cleaning brush to which a bias is applied with the same polarity as that of the toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member. |
| US08351822B2 |
Cover unit and printer
One end of the cover unit of a printer is supported freely rotatably on the device case, and a rotating shaft is disposed with both ends supported freely rotatably on the distal end. A right pressure lever and an operating lever are supported on the right end of the rotating shaft, and a left pressure lever is supported on the left end. When the operating lever rotates, the right and left pressure lever rotate in the same direction through an intervening rotation transfer member extending widthwise to the device. When the operating lever rotates when the cover is closed, the left pressure lever contacts the device case before the right pressure lever . The right and left pressure lever are set so that their rotational positions are the same when the cover starts to rise due to deformation of the rotation transfer member. |
| US08351821B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method, and program
The invention provides a mechanism which allows a common device driver to obtain identification information of a USB device desired by an application that controls a USB device via a common device driver. Furthermore, the invention includes two types of common device drivers to be registered in an OS to have different priorities, and provides a common interface that does not allow the application to recognize their difference. |
| US08351814B2 |
Image forming apparatus with fan for blowing air to transfer sheet
An image forming apparatus comprises a fixing part for fixing a toner image formed on a transfer material to the transfer material, a fan provided on the downstream side of the fixing part, for blowing air to the transfer material having passed through the fixing part, and an airflow control part for controlling the amount of air to be blown from the fan. When the basis weight of the transfer material is larger than a first threshold value, the airflow control part sets the amount of air to be blown to a value smaller than that in a case where the basis weight of the transfer material is smaller than the first threshold value. |
| US08351811B2 |
Image forming apparatus with locking storage for output images
An image forming apparatus includes, an image forming unit configured to fix a developer image on a sheet medium and to output the sheet medium, and an output-image storing unit configured to store, on the inner side of a door involving a lock mechanism, the sheet medium on which the developer image is fixed by the image forming unit. |
| US08351809B2 |
Control apparatus, program, recording medium, and image forming system
When glossiness in an area designated by a user was adjusted, the glossiness adjustment was achieved by exchanging a plurality of toners having different glass transition points. Thus, the user was required to select an appropriate toner when the glossiness in the area designated by the user was adjusted. Further, the user took some time or effort to set the selected toner every glossiness adjustment. In the present invention, how to adjust the glossiness in the area designated by the user is obtained as mode information and on the basis of the obtained mode, control is effected so that a transparent image is selectively formed in the area designated by the user or an image formable area except for the area designated by the user. |
| US08351806B2 |
Image forming apparatus with density detection
An image forming apparatus includes: a developer image carrier movably disposed; a developer image forming device configured to form a developer image; a detector configured to detect a density of the developer image formed on the developer image carrier; a controller configured to control an operation of forming of the developer image by the developer image forming device; an image forming unit configured to control the developer image forming device to form a density detection pattern including the same developer images at at least a first point and a second point with a predetermined distance therebetween; a density detector configured to obtain the density of the first point and the density of the second point of the density detection pattern via the detector; and a calculator configured to calculate a density difference between the first point and the second point based on the densities obtained by the density detector. |
| US08351795B2 |
Optical transmission system and optical transmission method
An optical transmission system, where in an optical transmitter a detection bit having a specific pattern set according to the number of bits to be transmitted within one symbol time, is imparted with respect to a transmission signal in which transmission information has been encoded according to a preset format, and an optical signal generated by modulating light according to the transmission signal is transmitted to a transmission line. In an optical receiver, logic inversion or bit swap of received data is detected and compensated by using the detection bit included in the received signal, a decoding process of the compensated received signal is executed. As a result, when an optical signal capable of transmitting multi-bit information within one symbol time is transferred, it is possible to realize excellent transmission characteristics, by reliably compensating an error in received data caused by the modulation format or the multiplex system of the optical signal. |
| US08351784B2 |
Packet-optical integrated switch without optical transponder
A packet-optical integrated switch without an optical transponder, includes: a packet line card configured to output an Ethernet packet signal to a pre-set output port; a packet switch fabric configured to transfer the packet signal from the packet line card to the output port previously set in a destination address included in the packet signal; a 10 gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE)/optical transport unit level 2 (OTU2) integrated line card configured to convert the packet signal from the packet switch fabric into an OTU2 optical signal having a pre-set wavelength; and a wavelength selection switch fabric configured to allocate the optical signal from the 10 GbE/OTU2 integrated line card to a pre-set wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) port by pre-set wavelength to exchange the optical signal to each port by wavelength, wherein the packet line card, the packet switch fabric, the 10 GbE/OTU2 integrated line card, and the wavelength selection switch fabric perform the reverse operations of the process, respectively. |
| US08351780B2 |
Imaging system for hollow cone spray
An imaging system to collect image data relating to a conical liquid film and its hollow conical spray emanating from an injector with a central spray axis includes a light source for emitting light into the film and spray generated by the injector; and a detector array located downstream from the injector along the central spray axis for panoramically detecting instantaneously for the entire film and spray the emitted light which has interacted with the spray to produce the image data. |
| US08351770B2 |
Imaging station and method for repeatable alignment of images
Embodiments of an imaging station and method for repeatable alignment of images are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the imaging station includes a rotatable stage and a monostand. The rotatable stage may include a structure to support sets of handles for positioning of a subject's hands for at least some of the body poses. A camera is positioned on the monostand for capturing images of the subject and is configured to allow the camera to be repeatably positioned with respect to the rotatable stage for each body pose. |
| US08351760B2 |
Controller, recording device and menu display method
A recording device includes a recording medium operable to store a plurality of program streams and information about recording of each program stream, and a controller operable to control display of the program stream recorded on the recording medium on a display device. When receiving an instruction for selecting a predetermined item from among the plurality of selection items, the controller causes the menu image to be displayed, making the menu image include information representing programs corresponding to at least a part of the plurality of the program streams recorded on the recording medium, in addition to the plurality of selection items. |
| US08351757B2 |
Television broadcast receiving device
Even when a communication state between a tuner device and a display device is deteriorated, a television broadcast receiving device enables a user to view broadcast. The television broadcast receiving device of the present invention has a tuner section that receives a digital broadcast signal, selects the digital broadcast signal to decode the digital broadcast signal, generates video data including a video signal and an audio signal, and converts the video data into processed video data suitable for wireless communication, and a display section that receives the processed video data from the tuner section through wireless communication, and displays a video based on the processed video data. The tuner section has a recording/playback section that records and reads the video data in and from a predetermined recording section according to a change in state of the communication with the display section. |
| US08351749B2 |
Optical fiber coating with a color concentrate having slickness additive
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for coating an optical fiber. The method includes coating an optical fiber with a primary coating, preparing a secondary coating by selectively mixing a concentrate with an ultraviolet (UV) curable diluent coating, wherein the concentrate comprises predetermined amounts of a color agent and a release agent, and applying the secondary coating to the optical fiber and primary coating. |
| US08351748B2 |
Mask-less method and structure for patterning photosensitive material using optical fibers
An apparatus for patterning objects for the manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits includes an optical source, multiple fiber cores coupled to the optical source, each of the fiber cores has an input end and an output end, and each of the input ends is coupled to the optical source. The apparatus further includes an array coupled to each of the fiber cores, the array is configured to allow each of the fiber ends to output toward a common plane, an object having a photosensitive material coupled to the common plane, and a pattern that is exposed onto the photosensitive material. The pattern is composed of a number beams corresponding to a number of fiber cores. |
| US08351747B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying cable connections in a computing system
A system includes a cable having a first end portion, a second end portion and a cable display module mechanically coupled to the first end portion of the cable. The cable has at least one optical fiber extending through the cable between the first end portion and the second end portion. The at least one optical fiber is configured to optically couple a first chassis with a second chassis when the first end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the first chassis and the second end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the second chassis. The cable display module is configured to be electrically coupled to the first chassis when the first end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the first chassis such that the cable display module receives from the first chassis an electrical signal representing an identifier associated with the second chassis. |
| US08351740B2 |
Correlatability analysis for sparse alignment
Disclosed herein is a method of estimating a geometrical relationship between a first image (101) and a second image (102), wherein the second image (102) includes a noise component. The method determines a location and size of each one of a plurality of image patches (201), based on the noise component included in the second image (102) and correlation information derived from the first image (101). The method then identifies a plurality of first image areas in the first image and a corresponding plurality of second image areas in the second image, based on the location and size of each one of the plurality of image patches. Each first image area of the first image (101) corresponds to a related second image area of the second image (102). The method then determines a geometrical relationship between the first and second images (101, 102) by comparing, for each one of the first image areas, information located within the first image area with information located within the corresponding related second image area. |
| US08351738B2 |
Method of estimating at least one deformation of the wave front of an optical system or of an object observed by the optical system and associated device
The invention relates to a method of estimating at least one deformation of the wave front of an observation system or of an object observed by said observation system, characterized in that: at least one diversity image is acquired, in the vicinity of the focal plane of the observation system, in at least one diversity plane, the diversity image comprising a known diversity deformation; and in that in each diversity plane, an image model is determined based on at least one decomposition of the physical pupil of the system into a plurality of subpupils; a decomposition over each subpupil of the sought-after deformation in the form of at least one known deformation weighted by coefficients to be determined; a determination of the transfer function of the system by autocorrelation of its pupil; the linearization of each of the terms of the autocorrelation as a function of the coefficients of the sought-after deformation, the linearization being performed in the vicinity of the known diversity deformation; the object observed and noise; and in that on the basis of the image model(s) determined and of the image(s) acquired, the sought-after deformation(s) or the observed object is (are) estimated. |
| US08351736B2 |
Automatic dust removal in digital images
Methods and a processing device are provided for restoring pixels damaged by artifacts caused by dust, or other particles, entering a digital image capturing device. A user interface may be provided for a user to indicate an approximate location of an artifact appearing in a digital image. Dust attenuation may be estimated and an inverse transformation, based on the estimated dust attenuation, may be applied to damaged pixels in order to recover an estimate of the underlying digital image. One or many candidate source patch may be selected based on having smallest pixel distances, with respect to a target patch area. The damaged pixels included in the target patch area may be considered when calculating the pixel distance with respect to candidate source patches. RGB values of corresponding pixels of source patches may be used to restore the damaged pixels included in the target patch area. |
| US08351734B2 |
Video signal processing device and video display device
In an X-Y conversion chart, a threshold Th is defined as Y=0, that is, defined on the X axis, a range from −Th to +Th is defined as a range in which smoothing processing is performed, and a range outside −Th to +Th is defined as a range in which sharpening processing is performed. Among equations denoted by Y1 and Y2 expressed by two linear straight lines, intersections of both the equations Y1 and Y2 are set to the maximum value and the minimum value of an X-Y conversion equation in this case. The threshold is expressed by an intersection of Y2 and the X axis. This algorithm is formed by three factors of: a coefficient α indicating the strength of smoothing; a coefficient β indicating the strength of sharpening; and a threshold Th on the X axis for determining switching between the smoothing processing and the sharpening processing. |
| US08351729B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for image correction
To perform image correction according to the features of an input image and output a fine and conspicuous image corresponding to a variety of scenes; an image correcting apparatus detects, from the pixels of the input image, the dark pixels that have the respective pixel values equal to or smaller than a first threshold value. Then, for each dark pixel having the pixel value equal to or smaller than the first threshold value, the image correcting apparatus detects calculates the shading variation between the dark pixel and the corresponding surrounding pixels, calculates a correction amount based on the calculated shading variation, and performs image correction with the calculated correction amount. |
| US08351727B2 |
Image signal processing apparatus for generating bright signal of high reproducibility
An image signal processing apparatus and method for processing an image signal input from an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a pixel-by-pixel basis and generating a bright signal corresponding to chrominance signals comprise a low pass filter (LPF), an subtractor, an adder, and a bright signal controller. The LPF cancels a high frequency component of the chrominance signals contained in the input image signal. The subtractor generates a high frequency component signal by subtracting an output signal of the LPF from the input image signal. The adder generates the bright signal by adding the high frequency component signal generated by the subtractor to the output signal of the LPF. The bright signal controller increases the high frequency component signal generated by the subtractor if a pixel position of the input image signal is within an object range, and decreases the high frequency component signal generated by the subtractor if a pixel position of the input image signal is out of the object range. |
| US08351719B2 |
Image decoding apparatus, image decoding method, and printing apparatus
An image decoding apparatus which decodes externally received encoded image information includes a storage unit which stores the image information. The image decoding apparatus includes a first decoding unit which receives, from the storage unit, image data to be decoded and reference data, and decodes the target image data. The image decoding apparatus includes a second decoding unit which receives the image data decoded by the first decoding unit, receives, from the storage unit, image data to be decoded based on the decoded image data, and decodes the image data received from the storage unit. The image decoding apparatus includes a decoding control unit which controls the first and second decoding units to repetitively execute decoding of image data in parallel. |
| US08351717B2 |
Dynamic image encoding device, dynamic image decoding device, dynamic image encoding method, dynamic image decoding method, dynamic image encoding program, and dynamic image decoding program
An object of the present invention is to encode and decode image information more efficiently by generating an appropriate predictive signal.The image encoding device of the present invention comprises an input section 201 for inputting an input image constituting an encoding target; a reference image accumulation section 202 for accumulating a reference image; a reference image accompanying information accumulation section 203 for accumulating reference image accompanying information which accompanies the reference image; an encoding section 206 for modifying the reference image and the reference image accompanying information in accordance with the input image, generating a predictive signal for the input image, and encoding the input image; and an output section 209 for outputting, as encoded data, compressed data obtained by encoding by the encoding means together with modification method information indicating a modification method for the reference image. |
| US08351710B2 |
Method and electron microscope for measuring the similarity of two-dimensional images
Disclosed is a method for measuring the similarity of two-dimensional images, at least one image exhibiting an additional signal, the location dependence or symmetry properties of which are known at least approximately. The images are partitioned into mutually identical subimages such that the extension of at least one subimage in the direction of the gradient of the additional signal is smaller than the extension of this subimage in the direction perpendicular thereto. The subimages are compared separately, and the results of all comparisons are combined to form the measurement result for similarity. As a result, the method becomes insensitive to variations in the additional signal. The method is particularly suited for the determination of defocusing and astigmatism of an electron-microscopic image. For this purpose, it is important to compare the similarity of an experimentally measured image to simulated images, which were generated using defined defocusing and astigmatism values. |
| US08351708B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, computer program, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes a storing unit that stores information concerning model feature points and model feature quantities at the model feature points, a first acquiring unit that acquires an input moving image, a first feature-point extracting unit that extracts input feature points for recognizing an action from the input moving image, a first feature-quantity extracting unit that extracts input feature quantities at the input feature points, a feature-quantity comparing unit that compares the input feature quantities and the model feature quantities and generates candidate corresponding feature point pairs, a posture estimating unit that removes outliers from the candidate corresponding feature point pairs, estimates postures of models on the input moving image, and obtains a recognition corresponding feature point pair group corresponding to the postures, and a recognition-result generating unit that generates a recognition result on the basis of the recognition corresponding feature point pair group. |
| US08351707B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing system, and image processing method
Line images in horizontal and vertical directions are detected from input image data, and an intersection of the line images is calculated. the calculated intersection is regarded as a feature point of input image data. Thus, it is possible to easily and promptly extract, from image data, a feature point that allows specifying the image data appropriately. |
| US08351701B2 |
Method for recognizing dice dots
A method recognizing dice dots comprises the steps: projecting at least one dice with a plurality of different angle light sources; capturing a plurality of images of the dice according to the projecting times of the light sources on the dice; and recognizing dice dots based on the images through calculation methods. When recognized results obtained through the calculation methods are judged same by the recognizing module the dice dots are confirmed and accepted. If the recognized results done through the calculation methods are different, the dice is rolled anew. |
| US08351699B2 |
Methods and apparatus for auto image binarization
A threshold determination method is selected from among a plurality of alternative global thresholding determination methods and, optionally, a local thresholding determination method based on characteristics of a histogram of grayscales values representing an image. When it is determined to use a global thresholding method, a single global binarization threshold value is determined using the selected global thresholding method. Various alternative global binarization threshold values include a predetermined constant, an average value of the two grayscale values, an Otsu method based threshold value, a Newton method based threshold value, and an Otsu method based threshold value based on a truncated version of the histogram. When it is determined to use local thresholding, a plurality of local binarization threshold values are determined corresponding to different non-overlapping blocks of the image. The determined binarization threshold(s) are applied to the gray scale pixel values to obtain a set of binary pixel values. |
| US08351688B2 |
Categorization quality through the combination of multiple categorizers
A system categorizes one or more objects based at least in part upon one or more characteristics associated therewith. A first classifier includes a rule set to determine if each of the one or more objects meets or exceeds a quality threshold. A second classifier, orthogonal to the first classifier, includes a rule set to determine if each of the one or more objects meets or exceeds a quality threshold. In one embodiment, the quality threshold associated with the first classifier and the quality threshold associated with the second classifier are less than a predetermined target threshold. The result for each object of the first classifier is compared to the result of the second classifier. The object is categorized if the result of the first classifier and the result of the second classifier match. The object is uncategorized if the result of the first classifier does not match the result of the second classifier. |
| US08351686B2 |
Methods and systems for determining angles and locations of points
An apparatus for determining an azimuth of a target point is provided. The apparatus includes a support structure and an imaging device coupled to the support structure and configured to provide image data. The apparatus also includes a position measuring device coupled to the support structure and configured to determine position information and a processor in electrical communication with the imaging device and the position measuring device. The processor is configured to receive the image data from the imaging device, receive the position information from the position measuring device, determine a baseline between a first position and a second position, determine an orientation between overlapping images, and compute the azimuth of the target point relative to the baseline. |
| US08351680B2 |
Method for operating and/or monitoring a field device, and corresponding field device
The invention relates to a method for servicing and/or monitoring a field device (1) of process and automation technology. The invention includes that at least one photograph is taken of at least one section (2) of the field device (1), that the photograph is evaluated and/or processed in such a manner, that there results at least one piece of information concerning an access location (11) for field device data related to the field device (1), and/or information for identification of the field device (1), that a request for data is made to the access location (11), and that, in response to the request for data, field device data are supplied. Furthermore, the invention concerns a corresponding field device. |
| US08351679B2 |
Exclusion of recognized parts from inspection of a cylindrical object
A surface inspection apparatus, which includes a detecting device of scanning a surface of an inspection object with an inspection light and outputting a signal corresponding to a light amount of refection light from the surface, generates a two-dimensional image of the surface of the inspection object on the basis of the output signal of the detecting device (S1), classifies pixels contained in the two-dimensional image into a first group of pixels having tones corresponding to defects on the surface of the inspection object and a second group of pixels having tones not corresponding to the defects, extracts the first group of pixels as a defect candidate part for each region surrounded by second groups of pixels (S3 to S5), discriminates a defect candidate part larger than a prescribed size as a defect (S6), inspects the two-dimensional image for each specific inspection region, and identifies an inspection region as a defect region, in which density of defect candidate parts that are smaller than the prescribed size is equal to or more than a prescribed level (S7, S8). |
| US08351671B2 |
Motion correction in nuclear imaging
A radiation detection apparatus (100) acquires projection data of an object that is subject to motion during the acquisition. The apparatus includes a motion modeler (142) and a motion compensator (142) that cooperate to compensate for a motion of the object during the acquisition. In one example, the projection data includes list mode positron emission tomography data and the apparatus compensates for cardiac motion. |
| US08351669B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for retinal image analysis
Disclosed embodiments include a method for retinal image analysis implemented in a medical system with one or more processors comprising the method steps of: (a) locating an optical disk on the retinal images and establishing a plurality of circumferences centered at the disk; (b) detecting a plurality of vessels within a region defined by said circumferences' radii using a crease-based algorithm; (c) extracting a plurality of vessel segments based on a deformable models (snakes) algorithm; (d) measuring a plurality of vessel calibers; (e) classifying each vessel as a vein and an artery; and (f) computing an arteriolar-to-venular ratio. |
| US08351664B2 |
Biometric authentication device and biometric authentication method
A biometric authentication device includes an accommodation unit and a detection unit in which the accommodation unit accommodates a card-type recording medium providing alternative information alternative to feature information such that the card-type recording medium is faced to the detection unit, with a biologic object absent, and the detection unit detects the alternative information from the card-type recording medium, thereby collating the feature information extracted from an image of the biologic object with the feature information recorded in a memory in the case of placing the finger into the accommodation unit, and collating the alternative information from the card-type recording medium with the alternative information recorded in the memory in the case of placing the card-type recording medium into the accommodation unit. |
| US08351658B2 |
Eyelid detection apparatus and programs therefor
An eyelid detection apparatus includes a face image storing means storing a plurality of face images of a subject captured at different timings, a change detecting means detecting changes in each face image caused by blinking after processing the plurality of face images stored by the face image storing means, and an eyelid detecting means detecting a position of an eyelid of the subject based on the changes detected by the change detecting means. |
| US08351651B2 |
Hand-location post-process refinement in a tracking system
A tracking system having a depth camera tracks a user's body in a physical space and derives a model of the body, including an initial estimate of a hand position. Temporal smoothing is performed when the initial estimate moves by less than a threshold level from frame to frame, while little or no smoothing is performed when the movement is more than the threshold. The smoothed estimate is used to define a local volume for searching for a hand extremity to define a new hand position. Another process generates stabilized upper body points that can be used as reliable reference positions, such as by detecting and accounting for occlusions. The upper body points and a prior estimated hand position are used to define an arm vector. A search is made along the vector to detect a hand extremity to define a new hand position. |
| US08351644B2 |
Image data processing systems for hiding secret information and data hiding methods using the same
A system for hiding secret data in halftone images is disclosed. The system includes an image input module, a halftoning processing module and an image output module. The image input module reads an original image data and a secret image data. The halftoning processing module is coupled to the image input module and receives the original image data and the secret image data, performs a first error diffusion process to the original image to generate a first halftone image and performs a second error diffusion process to the original image data and the secret image data to generate a second halftone image. The image output image module is coupled to the halftoning processing module and outputs the first halftone image and the second halftone image, wherein the second error diffusion process comprises adding or subtracting a variable noise strength to or from each pixel of the secret image. |
| US08351643B2 |
Media fingerprints that reliably correspond to media content
Quantized energy values are accessed to initially represent a temporally related group of content elements in a media sequence. The values are accessed over a matrix of regions into which the initial representation is partitioned. The initial representation may be downsampled and/or cropped from the content. A basis vector set is estimated in a dimensional space from the values. The initial representation is transformed into a subsequent representation, which is in another dimensional space. The subsequent representation projects the initial representation, based on the basis vectors. The subsequent representation reliably corresponds to the media content portion over a change in a geometric orientation thereof. Repeated for other media content portions of the group, subsequent representations of the first and other portions are averaged or transformed over time. The averaged/transformed values reliably correspond to the content portion over speed changes. The initial representation may include spatial or transform related information. |
| US08351629B2 |
Waveguide electroacoustical transducing
A loudspeaker assembly, including an acoustic waveguide; an acoustic driver mounted in the waveguide so that a first surface radiates sound waves into the waveguide so that the sound waves are radiated from the waveguide; and an acoustic volume acoustically coupled to the acoustic waveguide for increasing the amplitude of the sound waves radiated from the acoustic waveguide. |
| US08351620B2 |
Volume adjuster
The present invention can adjust a volume of a sound on the basis of sound signals to suit a user's preference.The present invention arbitrarily sets movement settable control values application range DR2 for a plurality of continuous preamp control values PD from a desired minimum preamp control value PD to a desired maximum preamp control value PD against a group of preamp control available values PDS. Thus, the present invention can control gains so as to compensate external sound signals with different signal levels supplied from external input terminal OI for difference of signal level according to the external sound signal or can control gains in a predetermined range according to the signal level so that the volume of the external sound on the basis of the external sound signals can be arbitrarily adjusted in a range between a desired minimum value and a desired maximum value. In this manner, a volume of a sound on the basis of an external sound signal can be adjusted. |
| US08351619B2 |
Auditory sense correction device
There is provided an auditory sense correction device capable of adding favorable loudness characteristics to an output sound without depending on sound source characteristics of an audio signal even when a high-frequency band or a low-frequency band of the audio signal has already been subjected to loudness correction. The auditory sense correction device 1 includes: a loudness processing section 2 which applies loudness processing to audio signals on a frequency band basis, a gain calculation section 4 which calculates a level difference between a signal level of each frequency band and signal level of original frequency band; and gain setting section 5 which applies a correction gain of each frequency band to the audio signal of each frequency band that has been subjected to loudness processing. |
| US08351600B2 |
Distributed storage network and method for encrypting and decrypting data using hash functions
A distributed storage network received a data segment. The data segment is partitioned into two or more portions. A first portion hash is calculated from the first portion of data and used to encrypt the second portion of data. A hash of the encrypted second portion of data is then used to either encrypt the next portion of data (in this case, a third portion of data) or to circle back to the beginning and encrypt the first portion of the data if the second portion of data is the last in data segment. This iterative process continues until all portions of the data segment are encrypted in a sequence. In essence, the data portions of the segment are sequentially processed in some order to encrypt the various portions in that progressing order. A reverse order is used to derive the hash values and decrypt the encrypted data portions into decrypted original data to recreate the data segment. |
| US08351594B2 |
System for indicating priority levels for transaction and task engagement in a call center
A call center system has a computerized server executing software (SW) from a machine-readable medium, a data collection function of the SW enabled for collecting data regarding incoming transactions, a data processing function coupled to the data collection engine and enabled for processing the data collected against a set of business rules, the data processing function determining a priority level for individual ones of the incoming transactions, and a distribution function enabled for distributing a priority indication determined by the data processing function to one or more presentation interfaces accessible to agents, at or near the time the associated transaction is engaged by the agent. |
| US08351584B2 |
Least cost call routing
A device receives network information, least cost route (LCR) forecast information, network administrator inputs, and looping exceptions, and receives a call, from an originating location, to a terminating location. The device determines a LCR for the call based on the network information, the LCR forecast information, the network administrator inputs, and the looping exceptions. The device generates routing instructions for the determined LCR, and provides the routing instructions to one or more network elements associated with the determined LCR. The call is routed to the terminating location, via the one or more network elements associated with the determined LCR, and based on the routing instructions. |
| US08351583B2 |
Telecommunication system and method of synchronization
The telecommunication system for communication between PSTN and analog FAXes and/or analog phones by using separated passes for data and synchronization clock flow. |
| US08351582B2 |
Network for telephony and data communication
A service outlet for coupling a data unit to a wired digital data signal and for coupling a service unit to an analog service signal, for use with a service wire pair installed in walls of a building, the service wire pair concurrently carrying a wired bi-directional digital data signal and an analog service signal carried over a service signal frequency band, using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a frequency band distinct from the service signal frequency band. The outlet has a single enclosure and, within the enclosure: a wiring connector; first and second filters coupled to the wiring connector; a service connector coupled to the first filter and connectable to the service unit for coupling the service unit to the analog service signal; a service wiring modem coupled to the second filter; and a power supply coupled to the service wiring modem. |
| US08351579B2 |
System and method for securely authenticating and lawfully intercepting data in telecommunication networks using biometrics
A system and method for securely authenticating and lawfully intercepting data in a telecommunication network using biometrics is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method for securely authenticating and lawfully intercepting data using biometrics, one or more persons associated with a law enforcement agency (LEA) are authenticated by a telecommunication network provider. The authentication is performed upon receiving a request for lawful interception of data from the one or more persons associated with the LEA. Then, the lawful interception request associated with a registered telecommunication network user is activated to obtain the data. The data is intercepted user upon a successful match with a requested registered telecommunication network user by the LEA. Further, intercepted data along with the biometric information associated with the registered telecommunication network user is sent to the authenticated one or more persons associated with the LEA via the telecommunication network. |
| US08351576B2 |
X-ray tube with passive ion collecting electrode
An X-ray tube (1) comprising a cathode (3), an anode (5) and a further electrode (7) is proposed. Therein, the further electrode is arranged and adapted such that, due to impact of 'free electrons (27) coming from the anode (5), the further electrode (7) negatively charges to an electrical potential lying between a cathode's potential and an anode's potential. The further electrode (7) may be passive, i.e. substantially electrically isolated and not connected to an active external voltage supply. The further electrode (7) may act as an ion pump removing ions from within a primary electron beam (21) and furthermore also removing atoms of residual gas within the housing (11) of the X-ray tube (1). In order to further increase the ion pumping capability of the further electrode (7), a magnetic field generator (61) can be arranged adjacent to the further electrode (7). |
| US08351570B2 |
Phase grating used to take X-ray phase contrast image, imaging system using the phase grating, and X-ray computer tomography system
To provide a phase grating capable of acquiring, in photographing of an X-ray phase contrast image by use of X-ray with two wavelengths, an X-ray phase contrast image by a phase grating in the same size as when a single wavelength is used, provided is a phase grating used when an X-ray is directed to take an X-ray phase contrast image, the phase grating including a periodic structure for generating a phase difference between an X-ray transmitted through the structure and an X-ray not transmitted through the structure. The periodic structure has different periods in a plurality of directions in a same surface. |
| US08351568B2 |
Long length multiple detector imaging apparatus and method
An apparatus for obtaining a long length x-ray image of a subject has a first x-ray detector, a second x-ray detector, and an x-ray source having an exposure directing apparatus that is actuable to direct exposure from the x-ray source towards at least a first imaging position during a first interval and a second imaging position during a second interval, with an overlap along a boundary between the at least first and second imaging positions. An x-ray detector holder has a detector translation apparatus that is actuable to translate at least one of the first and second x-ray detectors to an interim position for one of the first and second intervals and to either the first or the second imaging position for the other of the first and second intervals. A host controller is programmed to provide instructions for movement of the x-ray detector holder and exposure directing apparatus. |
| US08351566B2 |
PET device
A gantry has a cylindrical shape and rotates around a subject on a top panel about the body axis. An X-ray irradiating part is arranged inside the gantry and emits an X-ray. An X-ray detector is arranged at a position facing the X-ray irradiating part and detects the X-ray transmitted through the subject. PET detectors are arranged in two separate regions facing the rotation center and detect γ-rays emitted from the positron-emitting nuclides. A moving mechanism moves the top panel and the gantry relatively to each other. An X-ray CT image generator generates an X-ray CT image of the subject based on the result of detection by the X-ray detector. A PET image generator generates a PET image of the subject based on the γ-rays detected by the PET detectors on the circumference in accordance with rotation of the gantry. |
| US08351563B2 |
Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit includes plural shift register stages for providing plural gate signals. The Nth shift register stage of the shift register stages includes an input unit, a pull-up unit and a pull-down unit. The input unit is put in use for outputting an Nth driving control voltage according to an (N−1)th gate signal and an (N−2)th driving control voltage which are generated respectively by the (N−1) th shift register stage and the (N−2) th shift register stage of the shift register stages. The pull-up unit pulls up an Nth gate signal according to the Nth driving control voltage and a system clock. The pull-down unit pulls down the Nth gate signal and the Nth driving control voltage according to an (N+2)th gate signal generated by the (N+2)th shift register stage of the shift register stages. |
| US08351537B2 |
Seamless change of depth of a general convolutional interleaver during transmission without loss of data
Methods and communication systems are presented, in which impulse noise is monitored on a communication channel, and an interleaver depth is adjusted according to the monitored impulse noise without interrupting communication service. |
| US08351536B2 |
Wireless communication of data symbols
A transmitter generates a constellation pattern comprising replications of a first constellation. Each replication has a replication offset relative to a neighbouring replication and alternates between corresponding to the first constellation and an axis mirrored constellation (mirrored around the real and/or imaginary axis). The transmitter selects from the pattern such that a symbol for a data value corresponding to a first constellation point of the first constellation is selected from all replications of this constellation point. The constellation point resulting in the lowest transmit power for a combination of a plurality of antennas may be selected. A receiver receives the selected symbol and provides a folding operation to compensate for replications and mirroring. The replication offset may be lower than the minimum distance between symbols in the first constellation thereby resulting in an improved trade off between transmit power and error probability, e.g. in a Multiple Input Multiple Output system. |
| US08351533B2 |
Group resource allocation techniques for IEEE 802.16m
Group resource allocation techniques for IEEE 802.16m are generally presented. In this regard a method is introduced comprising generating a plurality of bitmaps to identify resource allocations and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) modes for a group of broadband wireless mobile stations, wherein each mobile station in the group is assigned a position within a user bitmap to identify whether the mobile station is allocated frame resources and wherein the position within one or more MIMO bitmap(s) to identify a MIMO mode, and transmitting the bitmaps in a group resource allocation (GRA) information element (IE) of a broadband wireless media access protocol (MAP) frame portion. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08351530B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control signaling for MIMO transmission
A method and apparatus for processing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives downlink control information including WTRU-specific MIMO and transport format information and MIMO information for all other WTRUs assigned to the same resource. The WTRU processes received MIMO data based on the downlink control information. The downlink control information may also include transport format information for all other WTRUs assigned to the same RB. The downlink control information may be transmitted via WTRU-specific control signaling. All WTRUs' MIMO and/or transport format information may be transmitted via resource-specific common control signaling. The downlink control signaling format may include at least one of a number of streams for the WTRU, a number of active WTRUs assigned to the same resource, a spatial channel identity for the WTRU, a MIMO mode, a precoding matrix index and a precoding vector index. |
| US08351526B2 |
Interpolated channel estimation for mobile OFDM systems
In an OFDM system using pilot cells for channel estimation, time interpolation among pilot cells of different OFDM symbols is commonly used to improve the estimate. The estimated channel impulse response is also windowed to further reduce noise and disturbances. However, for a transmission over a time-varying channel, suboptimal time interpolation, implemented with a filter having only a few taps not matched to the maximum Doppler frequency, degrades channel estimation. As aliases can lead to an erroneous estimate of channel duration and consequent errors in windowing, the present invention implements a technique to detect aliases and correct the estimate of channel duration. Parameters of the detection techniques are optimized by an analysis that provides closed-form expressions of the false alarm and miss detection probabilities. |
| US08351524B2 |
MIMO-OFDM communication system and communication method of same
A MIMO-OFDM communication method for transmitting and receiving data using MIMO-OFDM communication has, on the transmitting side, a step of performing precoding processing of transmission data using a prescribed precoding method, and a step of performing OFDM modulation of the precoding-processed data and transmitting the data from a plurality of transmission antennas, and has, on the receiving side, a step of performing MIMO decoding processing of reception signals received by a plurality of reception antennas according to a ZF decoding algorithm or an MMSE decoding algorithm, and outputting the data as a transmission data stream, a step of calculating weighting coefficients according to the precoding method, and a step of performing weighted decoding processing of the transmission data obtained by the MIMO decoding processing, by multiplying path metric of the decoding processing by the weighting coefficients. |
| US08351518B2 |
Wireless transmitting apparatus, wireless receiving apparatus, wireless communication system, wireless transmitting method and wireless receiving method
To enable shared control information to be demodulated without requiring advance information on a MIMO block or non-MIMO block prior to demodulation of the shared control information of the block, and further enable the shared control information to be demodulated early. A wireless transmitting apparatus which performs wireless transmission in MIMO or non-MIMO for each radio frame comprised of a block or a plurality of blocks, and has mapping sections (110-1 to 110-n) that perform mapping of pilot signals to perform propagation path estimation, specific data, and user data, where the mapping sections perform mapping so that the specific data is transmitted in non-MIMO in the block or the radio frame transmitted in MIMO, and that an antenna that transmits the specific data is beforehand associated with an antenna that transmits a pilot signal to perform propagation path estimation. |
| US08351509B1 |
Video codec systems and methods for optimal motion vector with variable size blocks
A codec, systems, and methods for compressing video data includes selecting a current video frame of the video data, dividing the current video frame into multiple blocks, wherein each block has M×N pixels, approximating the blocks of the current frame based on motion vectors associated with corresponding blocks from the previous frame, further refining the blocks of the current frame by determining optimal motion vectors for the blocks of the current frame based on the motion vectors provided (i) by the corresponding blocks from the previous frame, (ii) by the surrounding blocks in the current frame, and (iii) from successively smaller blocks within the current frame, wherein the optimal motion vectors for the blocks of the current frame are optimized to balance distortion and rate and wherein the optimal motion vectors are represented by codewords generated from Huffman tables. |
| US08351504B2 |
Method of deriving a motion vector of a bi-predictive image block by applying a bit operation
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a list0 motion vector of a co-located image block in a reference picture for the bi-predictive image block as a motion vector for deriving motion vectors of the bi-predictive image block regardless of whether the co-located block includes a list1 motion vector. At least one motion vector of the bi-predictive block is derived by applying a bit operation to the selected motion vector. |
| US08351501B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding image information, method and apparatus for decoding image information, method and apparatus for coding and decoding image information, and system of coding and transmitting image information
An image decoding method is for decoding a bit stream in an image decoding apparatus. The method includes receiving the bit stream and a weight parameter that is added to a luma quantization parameter by an addition operation. The method also includes decoding, in a decoding unit in the image decoding apparatus, the bit stream and generating a chroma component of quantized coefficients. In addition, the method includes performing, in a dequantization unit in the image decoding apparatus, dequantization on the chroma component of quantized coefficients using the chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of a luma quantization parameter weighted by the weight parameter. |
| US08351498B2 |
Transcoding video data
A transcoding procedure is shown for decoding coded video data and re-coding the video data. An input device (201) receives coded video data and a distribution device (304) supplies a copy of the input data to each of a plurality of transcoding processors. A control processor (305) is configured to instruct each transcoding processor to transcode a time-based segment of the input data and to combine the transcoded segments to produce transcoded output video data |
| US08351490B2 |
Radio frequency identification transceiver
A radio frequency identification transceiver is disclosed. The radio frequency identification transceiver includes: a transmitter path, including; a pulse shaper to tunably shape the pulse of a signal to be transmitted in different predefined frequency ranges; a modulator to modulate the shaped pulse to be transmitted into one of a plurality of predefined frequency ranges; a receiver path, including: a demodulator to demodulate a received signal from a plurality of predefined frequency ranges. |
| US08351473B1 |
System and method for laser wavelength control
Disclosed are systems and methods for improving wavelength control in tunable laser sources. Embodiments of the systems and methods include delivering a fraction of the light output from the laser to an optical filter subsystem. The optical filter subsystem is capable of outputting at least one filter response signal, and comprises 2 complementary optical etalon filters with nominally identical free spectral ranges but offset by nominally one third of the free spectral range. The filter response signal is processed in a control unit which executes a control algorithm to generate a tuning signal that is used to control the wavelength of the laser. |
| US08351466B2 |
Optimizing video transmission over mobile infrastructure
A method of reducing bandwidth utilization in a cellular network. The method includes receiving packet streams at a suppression unit of a cellular network, identifying a plurality of packet streams carrying the same data content, by the suppression unit; forwarding for packet streams identified as carrying the same data content, fewer packet streams than received, during a period in which the streams are identified to have the same content; regenerating the non-forwarded packet streams of the plurality of packet streams carrying the same data content, by a regeneration unit of the cellular network; and transmitting the plurality of packet streams including the regenerated streams to mobile stations. |
| US08351459B2 |
Communication node, and token issuing method and token-ring communication method in ring communication system
A communication node includes a token-start-right acquisition processor that issues a token-start-right acquisition frame containing specific information, determines a priority based on predetermined reference using specific information for other communication node and the specific information for the own communication node upon reception of a token-start-right acquisition frame from the other communication node, issues the token-start-right acquisition frame at a predetermined time interval when the own communication node has a higher priority than the other communication node, and stops issuing the token-start-right acquisition frame when the own communication node has a lower priority than the other communication node, to forward the token-start-right acquisition frame of the other communication node, and also includes a token start processor that passes the token frame to the ring upon reception of the token-start-right acquisition frame which is issued by the token-start-right acquisition processor and circulates around the ring. |
| US08351458B2 |
Method for allocating radio resources, radio base station, and mobile station
A method for allocating uplink radio resources to a radio communication device includes transmitting a polling signal; allocating radio resources for data transmission based on a response signal to the polling signal; suspending transmission of the polling signal when it is determined that a condition to omit the transmission of the polling signal is satisfied; and allocating radio resources for data transmission while the transmission of the polling signal is suspended. |
| US08351454B2 |
Security system and method for wireless communication within a vehicle
A method for providing wireless communications between nodes of a vehicle includes providing a plurality of frequency channels on which the nodes of a first vehicle may wirelessly communicate. Wireless communication with a second vehicle adjacent to the first vehicle includes assigning a first of the frequency channels to the first vehicle for intra-vehicle transmissions within the first vehicle, and a second of the frequency channels to the second vehicle for intra-vehicle transmissions within the second vehicle. The first vehicle is prohibited from using the second frequency channel and the second vehicle is prohibited from using the first frequency channel. |
| US08351450B2 |
Information transparent adaptation function for packet based network connections
In one embodiment, a rate adaptation device comprises one or more input/output (I/O) ports coupled to a first network operating at a first data transmission rate, a first physical coding sublayer (PCS) receiver to receive a stream of PCS blocks from the first network, an idle symbol remover to remove a sequence of idle symbols from the first PCS block and combine the one or more non-idle PCS symbols in a buffer with one or more non-idle PCS symbols from a second PCS block to form a third PCS block, and a PCS transmitter to transmit the third PCS block to a second network operating at a second data transmission rate. |
| US08351440B2 |
Relay device, communication system, communication method, and computer program
An IP address and a MAC address of each of communication devices connected to a plurality of communication ports provided in a switching hub device are associated in an ARP table. Also, priority information representing the communication priority of each communication device is received, and the received priority information is associated with the MAC address of the communication device. When no IP address of a transmission source included in a data packet received at each communication port exists in the ARP table, the IP address and the MAC address of the transmission source are added to the ARP table and priority information is attached to the ARP table. |
| US08351435B2 |
Method for applying macro-controls onto IP networks using intelligent route indexing
Systems and methods are described that manage routing information in an IP network using extensible indexing and use the indexing to control the network. The indexing and associated controls apply to any router within the routing domain. |
| US08351433B2 |
Intelligent electronic device with segregated real-time ethernet
A system and method for optimizing the handling of data on a priority basis within an intelligent electronic device is disclosed. A FIFO receives messages and the messages are each associated with a subscription identifier. The messages are then routed to and stored in buffers, each associated with a subscription identifier. |
| US08351415B2 |
Dynamic time interleaving method and an associated device
The present invention relates to a time interleaving method (1) and a time interleaver (ETS) for data. The data is intended to be transmitted sequentially by a baseband carrier of a single-carrier transmitter (EM). The method consists in interleaving a block of successive data items according to a particular interleaving law variable in time for a given transmission mode of the transmitter. |
| US08351401B2 |
Code sequence transmission method, wireless communication system, transmitter, and receiver
A code sequence transmission method capable of improving system throughput and user throughput by improving power utilization efficiencies of a control channel and a data channel including a plurality of signals having different required qualities is provided. In a mobile station, a bit sequence of a TFCI is transmitted within one frame a plurality of times repeatedly, the bit sequence of each TFCI is multiplied by one bit of a bit sequence of an SI, a multiplication result is transmitted. It is thereby possible to transmit both the TFCI and the SI without providing a signal field of the SI in each frame. |
| US08351392B2 |
Method for acquiring resource region information for PHICH and method of receiving PDCCH
A method of acquiring information on a resource region for transmitting PHICH and a method of receiving PDCCH using the same are disclosed. The resource region for transmitting the PHICH can be specified by first information corresponding to the per-subframe PHICH number and second information corresponding to a duration of the PHICH within the subframe. The first information can be specified into a form resulting from multiplying a predetermined basic number by a specific constant. And, the specific constant can be transmitted via PBCH. Moreover, the second information can be acquired from the PBCH as well. |
| US08351383B2 |
Carrier group apportionment for a satellite communications system
Satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. In one embodiment, a satellite communications system is configured to dynamically allocate bandwidth and frequencies among different beams. Bandwidth request data may be received and compiled from the terminals. The satellite may be configured with different beam coverage areas, and may dynamically allocate bandwidth and particular frequency channels to different beam coverage areas based on the requests. In each of a series of one or more epochs, and according to the bandwidth requests, there may be allocations among carrier groups, traffic classes, and particular terminals. The setup of slot structure and selection of modes for particular terminals is also addressed. |
| US08351378B2 |
Method for deactivating ISR and a mobility management unit
The present invention discloses a method for deactivating ISR and a mobility management unit. Wherein the above method includes: when an ISR deactivation is needed to be performed, the mobility management unit judging whether to perform the following operation by the S-GW according to reasons of the ISR deactivation: the mobility management unit sends a request message of deleting bearer to the S-GW, and carries, in the request message, an identifier which is used to instruct the S-GW to initiate the bearer deletion to the other mobility management unit associated with the ISR function activation; or the mobility management unit notifies the other mobility management unit associated with the ISR function activation to perform the ISR deactivation. The synchronization between the bearer deletion and the network element state in the ISR function deactivation scenarios can be realized by the above technical scheme. |
| US08351377B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling Dual Band Dual Modem
Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling DBDM including a first modem that performs an EVDO (Evolution-Data Optimized) or a HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) communication, and the second modem that performs a WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) communication, and a method for controlling DBDM, wherein one of the modems selected from the two (first and second) modems that is used for data communication of a user terminal generates a wake up signal to wake up the other modem that is not selected, and the other woken-up modem receives and analyzes communication data, and transmits a data of analysis result to the user terminal and the UART via the one modem performing the data communication. |
| US08351370B2 |
Method of transmitting scheduling request signal
A method of transmitting a scheduling request signal, wherein the scheduling request signal is used to request a radio resource for uplink transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes configuring a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for transmission of a scheduling request signal in a subframe, the subframe comprising two consecutive slots, a slot comprising a plurality of single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols, the scheduling request signal being carried by a presence or absence of transmission of the PUCCH, wherein at least one SC-FDMA symbol is assigned for transmission of a sounding reference signal, and transmitting the scheduling request signal and the sounding reference signal in the subframe. Scheduling request signal can be transmitted without interference with other control signals such as sounding reference signal that are transmitted on the same control channel with the scheduling request signal. |
| US08351366B2 |
CDMA UNII link
Techniques and systems for mediating traffic between a network transceiver and a user transceiver in a wireless communication system are disclosed. A network link with the network transceiver is maintained using a network unit, and a user link with the user transceiver is maintained using a user unit. One or more replicas of a signal received from the network transceiver on a downlink path or from the user transceiver on an uplink path, respectively, are generated. The one or more replicas of the signal wirelessly are then transmitted on a hop between the network unit and the user unit along with a bi-directional control channel. |
| US08351364B2 |
Method for transmitting data in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting data in a wireless communication system provides transmitting a cluster allocation message, which informs at least one user equipment that the user equipment belongs to a cluster, to the at least one user equipment, and receiving a response to the cluster allocation message from user equipments belonging to the cluster. Small envelope correlation coefficient can be obtained without increasing the size of a user equipment. |
| US08351363B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhanced file distribution in multicast or broadcast
In a communication system providing broadcast services in which files for broadcast are accessible by the users. Contents of the broadcast files and the file attributes required to process the broadcast files are separately sent. As arranged, receiving the file attributes ahead of the content files allow more efficient download and processing of the broadcast files. |
| US08351362B2 |
Methods and systems for broadcasting alert and synchronization
Methods and apparatus for waking a mobile station (MS) from a power saving mode to receive a media access control (MAC) management message (e.g., DCD/UCD, MOB_NBR-ADV, and SII-ADV) the MS has not yet received. The MS may wake from the power saving mode after detecting a mismatch between a set of media access control (MAC) management message parameters last received by the MS and the information found in an enhanced broadcast control pointer information element (BCP-IE) transmitted in a downlink map (DL-MAP). In this manner, the MS may be prevented from waking up unnecessarily, thereby providing high power efficiency. |
| US08351351B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating multimedia data having decoding level, and method and apparatus for reconstructing multimedia data by using the decoding level
Provided is a multimedia data generation method which includes allocating one or more pieces of image object information to each of a plurality of nodes, generating a scene tree by linking nodes according to correlation between the object information allocated to each node, and adding an event execution level attribute to each node, wherein the event execution level attribute determines whether to execute an event by using the image object information allocated to each node, thereby generating multimedia data in which the added event execution level attribute is represented with a scene description language and recorded on an area of a scene descriptor. |
| US08351350B2 |
Systems and methods for configuring access control devices
Described herein are systems and methods for configuring access control devices. In overview, some embodiments provide for a method whereby a smartcard is used to configure a disconnected access control device. A user presents this smartcard to a connected access control device which, in response to the presentation of this card, allows the user to download to the smartcard one or more aspects of configuration data for a specified disconnected access control device. The user subsequently presents the smartcard to the relevant disconnected access control device, which uploads and selectively applies the one or more aspects of configuration data. |