Document	Document Title
US08403512B2	Illumination apparatus and display apparatus [Object] To provide an illumination apparatus capable of reducing a view angle dependency of a chromaticity distribution in a light-emitting surface of a phosphor layer.[Solving Means] A light beam control device (11) that controls emitted light from light-emitting diodes (10) so that a view angle dependency of a chromaticity distribution in a light-emitting surface (22a) of a phosphor layer (22) is suppressed is interposed between the light-emitting diodes (10) and the phosphor layer (22). The light beam control device (11) causes the emitted light from the light-emitting diodes (10) to be bent in a vertical direction or an approximately-vertical direction with respect to the light-emitting surface (22a) of the phosphor layer (22) and thus causes the light to enter the phosphor layer (22). As a result, light that obliquely enters a surface of the phosphor layer (22) is lessened, and the view angle dependency of the chromaticity distribution in the light-emitting surface (22a) of the phosphor layer (22) is reduced.
US08403511B2	Optical assembly, backlight unit and display apparatus thereof The present invention relates to an optical assembly, a backlight unit, and a display apparatus thereof. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical assembly includes a first layer; a plurality of light sources disposed over the first layer; and a second layer that is disposed above the first layer and cover the plurality of light sources on the first layer, wherein the plurality of light sources are disposed as a first light source array and a second light source array, the first light source array including first lines of light sources among the plurality of light sources, the second light source array including second lines of light sources among the plurality of light sources, the first and second lines being alternatively disposed.
US08403508B2	Keypad with a light guide pad The present disclosure relates to a keypad, wherein the keypad includes a light guide pad, a light source allowing light to be incident on the light guide pad, a sensor detecting quantity of light having passed the light guide pad, and a light quantity changer changing the quantity of light having passed the light guide pad.
US08403506B2	Projector probing method, control device, and storage medium A method of probing a projector performed on a projector system including a plurality of projectors and a control device adapted to control at least one of the projectors, the method includes the steps of: wherein the projectors, storing information indicative of time when the projector is powered on; and transmitting the information indicative of the time to the control device; and wherein the control device, probing the projectors to obtain the information indicative of the time when the projector is powered on; identifying the projector with the latest time when the projector powered on among the plurality of projectors based on the information indicative of the time, and displaying the identification information of the projector identified.
US08403505B2	Projector for adjusting projection direction A projector includes a main body and an optical assembly. The main body forms an image and projects the image to a first screen through a lens of the main body. The optical assembly is detachable from the light path of the lens, and is used for reflecting light beams emitted from the lens to project an image on a second screen when the optical assembly is in the light path of the lens. When the optical assembly is detached from the light path of the lens, the optical assembly projects the image on the first screen. The first screen and the second screen are on two adjacent perpendicular surfaces, such as a wall and a ceiling.
US08403503B1	Freeform optical device and short standoff image projection A freeform optical device is disclosed which has an at least partially curved surface with a surface geometry. Surface normals at multiple locations on the surface geometry can be computed to define the surface geometry with respect to multiple focal points corresponding to the surface normals at the locations in order to correct optical aberrations otherwise occurring at the focal points.
US08403482B2	Fundus oculi observation device and program controlling the same [Task] To provide a fundus oculi observation device capable of effectively performing dispersion compensation.[Means for Resolution] A fundus oculi observation device 1 functions as an optical image measurement device that splits a broadband light into a signal light LS and a reference light LR, superimposes the signal light LS propagated through a fundus oculi Ef and the reference light LR propagated through a reference mirror 174 to generate an interference light LC and forms an image of the fundus oculi Ef. The device 1 corrects the influence of dispersion of the reference light LR based on ocular information 212a, generates the interference light LC after the correction, detects this interference light LC, and forms an OCT image.
US08403471B2	Defoaming mechanism and liquid ejecting apparatus There is provided a defoaming mechanism that is used for eliminating air bubbles from a liquid flowing through the inside of a liquid supply path included in a liquid ejecting apparatus. The defoaming mechanism includes a defoaming chamber that has a side wall extending in the vertical direction and is used for capturing the air bubbles contained in the liquid and a communication portion that allows the defoaming chamber and the liquid supply path to be communicated with each other in the side wall.
US08403463B2	Continuous stream ink jet printhead A continuous stream ink jet print head comprising: a droplet generator (1) for generating a continuous stream of ink droplets; a charging electrode (40) for selectively charging the ink droplets; deflection electrodes (4) for deflecting the charged ink droplets; and a catcher (7) for collecting uncharged ink droplets, wherein the deflection electrodes are contained within a surrounding structure (2) that both (i) provides surfaces (41) which are contoured to the shape of the main bodies of the deflection electrodes such that the main bodies may be mounted against the surfaces to correctly position the deflection electrodes within the print head, and (ii) serves as a manifold for fluid in operation of the print head, wherein the print head includes a cover (10) for the surrounding structure, the cover forming a wall of the space between the deflection electrodes, the wall extending along the stream of ink droplets.
US08403460B2	Printhead module A printhead including a body; an actuator attached to the body, and an enclosed space between the actuator and the body forms a chamber; an opening defined by the body for releasing pressure in the chamber; and a seal attached to the opening to seal the chamber while permitting pressure to be released.
US08403458B2	Latching assembly for a printhead A latching assembly for mounting a printhead to a plate assembly of a printing machine includes a first elongated actuator and a second elongated actuator defining a bore to slidably receive the first actuator. A first spring is disposed between the heads of the first and second actuators, while a second spring is disposed between the second actuator and the printhead to exert a clamping force. A cam mechanism is defined between the plate assembly and the ends of the actuators that is configured to draw the head of the first actuator toward the plate assembly upon rotation of the first actuator and to independently draw the head of the second actuator toward the plate assembly upon rotation of said second actuator. Movement of said first actuator exerts an initial clamping force while movement of the second actuator produces a final clamping force on the printhead.
US08403457B2	Waste ink reclamation apparatus for liquid ink recirculation system An ink reclamation receptacle receives ink purged from an inkjet printing apparatus. Ink in the reclamation receptacle wets a porous membrane positioned in the reclamation receptacle, and flows into a flow channel. Negative pressure applied to a port that is placed in fluid communication with the flow channel withdraws ink from the flow channel for use in the inkjet printing apparatus, while ink wetting the pores in the membrane resists a flow of air into the flow channel.
US08403455B2	Fluid ejecting apparatus A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a fluid ejecting head having nozzle rows formed by a plurality of nozzles, in which a fluid is ejected from the nozzle rows. The fluid ejecting apparatus includes an absorbing member which extends along the nozzle rows in a movable manner, a moving mechanism which moves the absorbing member in a direction intersecting the nozzle rows, and a running mechanism which runs the absorbing member. The moving mechanism includes a moving member movably provided, a positioning member movably provided on the moving member and having the absorbing member in a movable manner, and a first biasing member for biasing the positioning member in a predetermined direction. A tension applying mechanism apply a tension to the absorbing member is provided.
US08403446B2	Printing apparatus and control method thereof A printing apparatus and control method thereof are provided that make it possible to recycle or replace an intermediate transfer member at optimal timing through early detection of changes in a surface characteristic of the intermediate transfer member, and make it possible to create high quality printed materials with good productivity. An application amount of reaction solution applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member is detected, and notification is given of a comparison result when that detected application amount of reaction solution is compared with a specified threshold value.
US08403437B2	Versatile refrigerator crisper system A refrigerator includes a multiple slide crisper system. More specifically, a universal crisper pan and support frame for a refrigerator can be used with various, distinct glide arrangements, including friction, roller or ball bearing glides. For frictional sliding movement, crisper pan side walls slide directly upon molded inner rails on the frame. With the roller system, various rollers are fitted to a rear portion of the crisper pan through the use of pins, while commensurate rollers are mounted at front portions of the frame. When using ball bearing glides for a precision slide support, the glides are preferably mounted to the support frame at an acute angle to the axis of travel of the friction and roller glide systems.
US08403436B2	Slide rail assembly A slide rail assembly includes an outer rail, an intermediate rail, an inner rail, and a latch member pivotably mounted to the intermediate rail. The outer rail includes a support bar and a holding portion. The inner rail includes a stop portion. The latch member includes a first lock tongue and a second lock tongue. When the support bar supports the first lock tongue of the latch member to keep the latch member at a locking position, the second lock tongue of the latch member abuts against the stop portion, to enable the intermediate rail to slide in synchronization with the inner rail. When the latch member slides along the support bar to engage with the holding portion of the outer rail, the latch member is biased to pivot to an unlocking position, the second lock tongue of the latch member disengages from the stop portion.
US08403433B2	Slide assembly with quick-mount system A slide assembly with quick-mount system includes an outer rail, an intermediate rail, an inner rail and a ball bearing retainer. The intermediate rail has a notch. The inner rail has a first slot and a second slot to accommodate first and second mounts of an installed member. The ball bearing retainer has an upper member and a bottom member. The upper and bottom members each have retaining sections. Each retaining section has a ball bearing. The distance between adjacent retaining sections is larger than the diameter of the first mount. When the inner rail is pulled out relative to the intermediate rail, the first slot is located corresponding to the notch and between any two of the retaining sections, the first mount extends through the notch and enters into the first slot to be positioned. The second mount is engaged with the second slot of the inner rail.
US08403432B2	Latch and release device for slide assembly A latch and release device for a slide assembly includes first and second rails slidably movable relative to each other. An engaging member includes a resilient arm and an engaging portion is connected to the resilient arm and faces the first rail. The engaging portion can be engaged with a latch which is fixed to the second rail to restrict the second rail to move relative to the first rail. An operation member includes a first end, a second end and a body which is pivotably connected to the second rail and the first end of the operation member contacts the resilient arm. When the second end of the operation member is shifted, the resilient arm is moved by the first end of the operation member to disengage from the latch.
US08403426B2	Automobile wheel An automobile wheel includes: a wheel rim 2 including a circumferential positioning fitting groove 32 formed circumferentially around the center axis of the wheel rim 2 in the front surface of a circumferential bent portion 31 at which a front bead seat portion 13 and a front rim flange portion 11 are formed continuously with each other; and a wheel disc 3 including a circumferential insertion edge 36 formed circumferentially around the center axis of the wheel disc 3 on the back surface of an outer peripheral edge portion 24. The wheel rim 2 and the wheel disc 3 are welded to each other for integration with the circumferential insertion edge 36 fitted in the circumferential positioning fitting groove 32. The respective center axes of the wheel rim 2 and the wheel disc 3 are aligned with each other with high precision, achieving an advantageous effect that vibration that occurs while an automobile is running is suppressed to improve the operation stability and achieve high durability.
US08403422B2	Stool A stool includes a polygonal fixing portion, a plurality of supporting portions, and a combining portion. The polygonal fixing portion includes a plurality of inserting slots, and each of the inserting slots is located between two adjacent sides. Each of the supporting portions includes a supporting sheet and two inserting flaps, and the inserting flaps extend from two sides of the supporting sheet and are inserted into the adjacent inserting slots to position the supporting portions at a side of the polygonal fixing portion. The combining portion includes a plurality of positioning slots. The positioning slots of the combining portion are fastened to the inserting flaps to combine the supporting portions to form a polygonal column.
US08403420B2	Reversible footrest A reversible footrest includes an upper mounting device having attachment mechanisms mountable to either side of a wheelchair. An upper mounting device is connected to the lower mounting device which has a first support member that is capable of supporting a foot of a wheelchair user. A second mounting device having a support rod and supporting mechanism may be used to allow the reversible footrest to be raised or lowered. A second support member may also be used to support the lower leg of the wheelchair user. The attachment mechanisms and leg supporting components of the footrest are capable of being reversed to allow use on either side of the wheelchair.
US08403417B2	Armrest structure An armrest structure includes a cover and a controlling member which has a pressing portion and a rack portion respectively formed on two sides thereof. A sliding plate has a sliding protrusion and multiple teeth which are engaged with the rack portion. A fixing plate has a sliding groove and the sliding protrusion is slidably engaged with the sliding groove. A fixing device has a sliding area and two first rails. The sliding plate is engaged with the first rails. The fixing device has a recessed area in which the fixing plate is located. The fixing device has multiple engaging teeth engaged with the rack portion, and two guide grooves. A base is connected with the cover and has two second rails which are engaged with the two guide grooves. A height adjustment device is connected to a slot of the fixing device and fixed to the fixing plate.
US08403415B2	Aircraft passenger seat recline mechanism An adjustable passenger seat having a seat recline mechanism and including a seat base having first and second non-intersecting seat path guide slots for guiding the travel of a translation guide assembly interconnected to a linear translating seat pan drive rail through the seat pan such that translational movement of the drive rail with respect to the seat base causes movement of the seat pan and the seat back between upright and flat seating positions.
US08403411B2	Detachable seat mounted audio-visual entertainment system with locally storable, selectable, and updatable content A detachable seat mounted audio-visual entertainment system. The system has locally storable, selectable, and updatable content. The passenger in-flight entertainment device terminal has passenger selectable controls, a video display, an audio output, storage media such as a magnetic or “hard disc”, and a payment interface device such as a card swipe, all located in a seat which has been wired with power, local network, and audio wiring. A local, transport vehicle mounted local host computer provides supports the local network, and may be used to collect revenue slips resulting from passenger input to the payment interface device. Revenue slips may be posted to a remote server during a trip segment via satellite or direct radio frequency communication to receiving facilities providing connection to the internet, or alternately collected and posted batch wise.
US08403410B1	Vehicle seat assembly with occupant pack support A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom, seat back, and occupant pack support. The seat bottom is adapted for use in a substantially horizontal position. The seat back resides adjacent the seat bottom, and comprises a back support surface adapted for use in a substantially upright position. The occupant pack support resides adjacent the back support surface of the seat back, and defines a generally flat inwardly-projecting shelf for vertically supporting an equipment pack carried on a back of an occupant seated in the assembly.
US08403400B2	Air flow guide for a tractor trailer gap An apparatus for affecting airflow in a gap between a lead vehicle and a connected trailing vehicle, includes a guide vane having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a gap side surface, and an outward facing surface, and a support apparatus mountable on a vehicle for supporting the guide vane in a vertical orientation relative to the vehicle with a space between the vehicle and the guide vane gap side surface and with at least a portion of the vane extending beyond an end of the vehicle. The flow guide divides an air flow at the trailing edge of a vehicle to avoid the creation of turbulence in the air flow as it encounters the gap between the vehicle and the trailing vehicle.
US08403396B2	Roller carriage for a sliding bow roof for a truck or truck trailer The invention relates to a roller carriage for a sliding bow roof for a truck or truck trailer. The roof encompasses guidance and runner rails, extending on the cargo surface of the truck along the longitudinal sides of the cargo surface. Roller carriages, which comprise rollers and on which retaining bows, embodied in gantry fashion and having a roof tarpaulin mounted thereon, are displaceably guided. At least one roller carriage is equipped with a securing device for preventing inadvertent shifting of the roller carriage along the rails. The securing device encompasses a wedge element associated with a roller, which element is shiftable between a release position and a secured position. In its release position it has no contact with the roller. In its secured position a portion of the wedge element is between the roller and the corresponding guidance and runner rail.
US08403390B2	Vehicle panel assembly and method of attaching the same A sound-damped vehicle panel assembly, such as a dash panel, is attached to a structural member with one or more weld joints. The vehicle panel assembly may include a main panel member, a sound-damping patch, and a sound-damping adhesive layer arranged therebetween, where the patch covers at least a portion of an acoustically active region of the main panel member. The weld joints that attach the vehicle panel assembly to the structural member are preferably located at weld openings formed in the sound-damping patch and/or the sound-damping adhesive layer so that the weld joint can be formed without melting and vaporizing the adhesive during the welding operation, as such an operation would likely require additional ventilation equipment and could impact the quality of the weld joint.
US08403387B2	Gripping apparatus, robot system and gripping method A gripping apparatus includes a palm and a plurality of fingers having joints to grip a tool with the palm and the plurality of fingers. A palm side contact surface is provided on the palm and brought into contact with a tool side contact surface of the tool, and holes are provided in the palm side contact surface into which projections provided on the tool side contact surface of the tool can be inserted. Engagement of the projections in the holes determines a position of the tool in a tangential direction of the palm side contact surface and a position of the tool in a rotational direction around a normal line of the palm side contact surface which is a rotary shaft center.
US08403380B2	Cover closure for housing cover of laboratory devices and the like A cover closure for housings of laboratory devices and the like, in particular for centrifuge housings, in which a cover hook is engaged by a closure hook and brought into a closing position, and the closing and opening movement of the closure hook essentially being caused by an eccentric in connection with a crank guide and a guide path.
US08403377B2	Cab front window locking device A locking device includes a lock body that includes an engagement groove with or from which the closing-side and opening-side lock receivers are engaged or disengaged, the lock body being variable between a neutral posture in which the closing-side and opening-side lock receivers are allowed to be engaged with or disengaged from the engagement groove; a closing-side locking posture in which the closing-side lock receiver that is engaged with the engagement groove is regulated so as not to be disengaged from the engagement groove; or an opening-side locking posture in which the opening-side lock receiver that is engaged with the engagement groove is regulated so as not to be disengaged from the engagement groove; a holding member and a release operation lever.
US08403370B2	Pipe coupling device A pipe coupling device includes a body part, fastening parts, and pressurizing parts. The body part has a multi-stepped insertion hole penetrating the central portion thereof, a stepped latching portion formed on the inner circumference of the insertion hole, and first projections continuously formed on the upper surfaces of the externally threaded portions. Each of the fastening parts has an internally threaded portion formed on the inner circumference thereof and is screwed onto the externally threaded portion, a coupling hole penetrating the central portion thereof so as to be in communication with the insertion hole, a first inclined plane formed around the boundary between the internally threaded portion and the insertion hole. Each of the pressurizing parts has a stepped foot portion formed on the outer circumference of one side thereof.
US08403364B2	Adjustable steering column for motor vehicles An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle has a support assembly intended to be fixed to a chassis of a vehicle, a tubular body slidably mounted in the support assembly, adjustment and locking devices able to switch from a state of a adjusting the position of the tubular body in the support assembly to a state of immobilizing the tubular body in a desired adjusted position within the support assembly, a plastically deformable energy-absorbing element collaborating with a deformation member secured to the tubular body so that it undergoes plastic deformation as the tubular body retracts inside the support assembly following an impact transmitted to the tubular body when the adjustment and locking devices are in the locked state and a ratchet mechanism for securing the plastically deformable element to the support assembly during plastic deformation of the plastically deformable element.
US08403361B2	Activation systems for inflatable personal restraint systems Systems for indicating the status of a seatbelt buckle prior to a protective response are disclosed herein. An airbag activation system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a normally closed magnetically operated reed switch. The reed switch is attached to a connector carried on one portion of a seatbelt, and a magnet is attached to a buckle carried on another portion of the seatbelt. Coupling the connector to the buckle causes the magnetic field of the magnet to move the reed switch from the normally closed position to an open position, thereby enabling the activation system to inflate the airbag in the event of an accident.
US08403357B2	Passenger air-bag door The present disclosure provides a passenger air-bag door. The passenger air-bag door includes a chute frame located in an instrument panel, a door plate located in an opening of the chute frame, and a hinge part rotatably connecting the door plate to the chute frame and comprising a scrim.
US08403356B2	Clip structure and holding structure for interior member of vehicle Provided is a clip structure which can prevent components from falling off an attaching body or an attached body with a simple structure. Further provided is a holding structure for an internal member of a vehicle which can prevent the components from falling off an exterior member or an interior member with a simple structure. A clip assembly (11) includes a first clip having a clip (34) attached to a bracket (25), and a joint (36) as a removable portion connected to the clip 34; and a pin (38) as a second clip connected to the joint (36) and sandwiching a roof head lining (14) between the pin (38) and the joint (36). A holding load (F5) for releasing connection between the clip (34) and the joint (36) is sufficiently small compared to a holding load (F6) for releasing connection between the joint (36) and the pin (38).
US08403354B2	Emergency release device for winter sports equipment The invention relates to an emergency release system for one or more pieces of winter sports equipment, such as skis, ski poles, snowboards, bindings and/or boots for skis or snowboards. It is equipped with a connection mechanism for detachably connecting at least two elements of one or more pieces of winter sports equipment, wherein the connection mechanism is supported substantially radially in or on one of the two elements, and a drive mechanism, which can be activated from outside and is suited for cancelling the radial support of the connection mechanism, accordingly causing the two elements to separate. The invention also relates to a release method and a manufacturing process for such an emergency release system.
US08403349B2	Hand/foot powered bicycle A hand/foot powered bicycle includes a pedal power mechanism as a power source for driving the bicycle. A user can pedal a first pedal and a second pedal with both feet to drive a front sprocket. Via a first chain, the front sprocket drives and rotates the rear wheel. The hand/foot powered bicycle further includes a handlebar power mechanism having a handlebar structure as a power source for driving the bicycle. The hand/foot powered bicycle further includes a power transmission assembly for transmitting power to the front sprocket of the bicycle to drive and rotate the front sprocket. By means of continuously rotating the handlebar structure, the power transmission assembly is driven to transmit power to the front sprocket to drive and rotate the rear wheel via the first chain. A user can drive and make the hand/foot powered bicycle advance with hands and/or feet.
US08403342B1	Bicycle ski attachment assembly A bicycle ski attachment assembly provides a ski vehicle that positions a rider similar to being on a conventional bicycle including similar rider height and movable pedals. The assembly includes an elongated front ski and an elongated rear ski. A front ski support has a front hub. A front axle assembly is coupled to the front hub and is configured for coupling to front forks of a bicycle. A rear ski support has a rear hub. A rear axle assembly is coupled to the rear hub and is configured for coupling to rear dropouts of the bicycle. A chain pulley is coupled to the rear axle assembly. The chain pulley is configured for receiving a chain from the bicycle under tension whereby the chain pulley provides resistance to pedaling pedals on the bicycle.
US08403321B2	Paper-feeding apparatus for printing apparatus A paper-feeding apparatus for a printing apparatus includes a paper input port, a first paper holding tray and a second paper holding tray. The paper input port curves the sheets of paper fed into it so as to increase the rigidity of the stack and the friction between each sheet. The additional rigidity of the stack allows the use of a lightweight paper tray in holding the stack.
US08403315B2	Film transfer frame A system for retaining a film on a single-piece frame includes a frame having a shape with a center open area larger than the film, the frame comprising a plurality of fingers on the frame extending into the open area, and a barb positioned on an end of each of the plurality of fingers, wherein the barbs retain the film. The system also includes an end effecter comprising a first and second plurality of vacuum line openings, wherein the end effecter holds onto the film with the first plurality of vacuum line openings and holds onto the frame with the second plurality of vacuum line openings, wherein the end effecter picks up the film with the first plurality of vacuum line openings and presses the film onto the frame, wherein pressing the film onto the frame will retain the film on the barbs.
US08403311B2	Fence lifter and leveler Devices that are useful for constructing fences. Such devices are comprised of a combination of a fence lifter and leveler and a holding apparatus so that only one person can construct the fence.
US08403308B2	Tailgate stabilizer A counterbalance for use in a motor vehicle that is connected to a tailgate to at least partially control the movement of the tailgate. The counterbalance is made of a spring that counters the load applied to the tailgate, a flexible material strap that provides a stop for the counterbalance, a protective housing that covers the spring, and a flexible material strap. The counterbalance has a fully extended length that is greater than twice the length of the counterbalance when non-extended.
US08403307B2	Gas spring assembly and method of manufacture A flexible wall and end structure assembly includes a flexible wall and an end structure. The flexible wall is formed from an elastomeric material and a filament structure. A bead wire is formed into an open end of the flexible wall. The end structure is received along the open end of the flexible wall and forms a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith. A portion of the filament structure is compressed between the bead wire and the end structure and extends therefrom in radially-outwardly spaced relation to said end structure. A gas spring assembly including such a flexible wall and end structure assembly is included. A method of manufacture is also included.
US08403293B2	Axially energisable ball valve A ball valve (10) for sealing a conduit (12) is described. The ball valve includes a housing having a throughbore and a valve seat. An apertured ball element (18) is mounted within the housing and is rotatable about an axis of rotation (38) between a throughbore open and a throughbore closed position. The apertured ball element (18) has a first portion (20) and a second portion (22) coupled together which are rotatable and moveable relative to each other. The first portion has a sealing surface for engaging with the valve seat. In use, in the throughbore closed position, the second portion is moveable relative to the first portion to axially displace the first portion from the axis of rotation towards the valve seat such that the sealing surface on the first portion of the apertured ball forms a seal with valve seat.
US08403284B2	Pallet assembly A pallet assembly and a method for disassembling a pallet assembly into smaller, easy-to-store pieces. In one example implementation, a pallet assembly may be disassembled and re-assembled as equipment having an alternative function. In an example implementation, a pallet assembly having a pallet support structure formed by beam members connected to transverse members and a plurality of pallet surface components attached to intersecting areas of the transverse members and the beam members is disassembled by detaching the pallet surface components from the intersecting areas. The extension members may be attached to conversion enabling structure on the pallet surface components to assemble a selected piece of equipment. The pieces of equipment may be any type of equipment including furniture (tables, chairs, shelving units, bar stools, etc.).
US08403280B2	Microphone mounting apparatus A microphone is mounted to apparatus in order to receive sound from a sound source. The apparatus has a microphone clamp to secure different microphones to a variety of musical instruments and other sound sources and may be used to directly mount a microphone to a variety of clamping surfaces. The mounting apparatus incorporates a dual jaw design to allow for easy, fast, and secure mounting to the clamping surface. The apparatus supports a quick release mechanism for easy and fast engagement and disengagement of the dual jaws, consequently reducing time needed to securely clamp and remove the mounting apparatus with the clamping surface. The release mechanism may include a dowel release having a hole through which the jaw stud is situated. The hole has two curved surfaces so that one of jaws may be moved without turning the jaw stud when the dowel release is depressed.
US08403278B1	Magnetic portable firearm or sporting instrument holding device A magnetically mountable firearm or sporting instrument holding device of relatively small compass which is readily removable and portable, and can be utilized for providing a convenient place for hunters and sporting enthusiasts to rest their guns and sporting instruments upright on the outside of their car or other metal surface, and to protect that surface from scratches. The magnetic portable firearm or sporting instrument holding device generally includes a universal retaining member for supporting firearms and other sporting instruments having two opposite ends, the first end of which constitutes a recessed receiving end with inwardly tapered arms for guiding the instrument in place, and the second end comprising a common or multi-component magnetic mounting base. The mounting base may include a joining platform collar to orientate, mount, secure, and support the retaining member, and prevent twisting of the magnetic element of the mounting base. One or a plurality of such mounting bases, with or without platform collars, can be mounted to one or more retaining members.
US08403277B2	Electrical box mounting bracket A bracket is disclosed for mounting an electrical box on a mounting bar. The bracket comprises a front jaw and a rear jaw. The jaws are movable toward an open position for allowing movement of the bracket relative to the mounting bar and toward a closed position for gripping the mounting bar at a selected position along the mounting bar. The jaws are biased toward the closed position. An electrical box is attached to the front jaw. In one embodiment, the front jaw, rear jaw and a spring for urging the jaws closed are integrally formed from a single piece of sheet metal.
US08403274B1	Adjustably positionable display and lighting arrangement An electronic display and lighting arrangement for viewing by, and illumination for, a person in a resting position includes: an electronic display assembly including a first carriage movable along a translation axis, a first pivot arm coupled to the first carriage with the first pivot arm pivotable about a first pivot axis, and an electronic display coupled to the first pivot arm; and a lighting assembly including a second carriage movable in a direction parallel to the translation axis, and a light coupled to the second carriage and adjustably positionable by movement of the second carriage. The electronic display is adjustably positionable both along the translation axis by movement of the first carriage, and about the first pivot axis by movement of the first pivot arm about the first pivot axis.
US08403273B2	L-character stand There is provided an L-character stand. The L-character stand is provided with columns supporting one electronic product; a base combined with the columns like an L-character; one fixture provided on the columns; and another fixture provided on the rear face of another electronic product, wherein the one fixture and the another one can be engaged with each other at a first position and at a second position, at assembly, another electronic product can be fixed to the column by engaging at the first position, and, at wiring between one electronic product and another one, the products can be fixed by engaging them at the second position in a state in which the rear face of the another electronic product is turned upward.
US08403271B2	Passive robust flow control micro device A tapered micro-plow, or a series of tapered micro-plows, are submerged in a boundary layer just upstream of a reflection point of an oblique shock. Each micro-plow develops a beneficial pair of vortices which redistribute high energy flow within the boundary layer such that flow separation is prevented or delayed. The beneficial vortex pairs rotate about an axis that is parallel to the flow of fluid, and together rotate such that they induce a velocity on one another which tends to hold them near the surface and delay vortex lift-off.
US08403268B2	Pilot chute device A pilot chute device is connected to a parachute canopy for deploying the parachute canopy out of a container adapted to be closed and opened and within which the parachute canopy is foldable. The pilot chute device includes an inflatable pilot chute adopted to assist the deployment of the parachute canopy, the inflatable pilot chute being foldable into the container, and a spring device adopted to push the inflatable pilot chute outside the container when the container is opened. The spring device is dispensed apart from the inflatable pilot chute, between the pilot chute and the parachute canopy.
US08403266B2	Attachment structure for affixing interior equipment components of an aircraft passenger cabin An attachment structure is provided by which interior equipment components of an aircraft passenger cabin can conveniently be affixed. The attachment structure includes, but is not limited to at least one system support that above the cabin floor extends at least along the spacing of two frame elements. The system support has a longitudinal extension along which it comprises a plurality of attachment means, evenly spaced apart from each other, for affixing interior equipment components, wherein the spacing of the attachment means is smaller than the spacing of the frame elements.
US08403263B2	Composite and structure, particularly in the aerospace sector The present invention provides a composite, in particular in the field of aviation and aerospace, comprising an omega-stringer that comprises a comb portion, and a connecting member that is connected at one end to the comb portion of the omega-stringer and can be connected at its other end to a standard coupling member. The idea underlying the present invention consists in forming omega-stringers with a connection zone that, on the one hand, is coupled to the comb portion of the omega-stringer and therefore makes it possible to transfer comparatively high loads and, on the other hand, can be connected to a standard coupling member so as to utilize the advantages of standard coupling members of this type when connecting omega-stringers to other stringers, for example T-stringers or other omega-stringers.
US08403260B2	Airship handling devices and associated systems and methods Airship handling devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An airship handling device in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, for example, can include a first support member mountable to a ground vehicle. The device can also include a second support member operably coupled to the first support member and configured to rotatably move relative to the first support member about a support member axis. The second support member is out of contact with the ground vehicle. The device can further include a line attachment portion carried by the second support member and positioned to releasably couple a flexible handling line from an airship to the second support member. The handling line is not coupled to a winch.
US08403255B2	Compound aircraft with autorotation A compound aircraft features variable incidence wings, a thruster, a rotor and a clutch connecting the engines to the rotor. Upon reaching a suitable forward speed, the control system of the compound aircraft unloads the rotor and disengages the clutch, disconnecting the rotor from the engines. The control system configures the cyclic and collective pitch effectors to cause the rotor to autorotate. The control system selects an autorotation rotational speed that is adequately rapid to prevent excessive deformation of the rotor blades due to aerodynamic forces acting on the blade and that is adequately slow to prevent excessive compressibility effects.
US08403251B2	Tension control system for fiber bundles in filament winding apparatus A filament winding apparatus detects that a fiber bundle is likely to break and prevents generation of defective products. The filament winding apparatus applies a prescribed winding tension to the fiber bundle unwound from a fiber bundle feeding package and winds the tension-applied fiber bundle around a mandrel. A tension applying portion applies the winding tension to the fiber bundle at a position that is immediately before a side of the mandrel between the fiber bundle package and the mandrel. A tension sensor detects the tension of the fiber bundle between the fiber bundle feeding package and the tension applying portion. A determination means determines a tension abnormality of the fiber bundle by comparing pre-set reference information with the tension measured value measured by the tension sensor.
US08403248B2	System and method for storage and temporary installation of secondary flooring surface Systems and methods of rolling and unrolling secondary flooring surfaces, such as tall pile turf, are provided. The system includes a core onto which the secondary flooring surface is rolled, the core being coupled on both ends to a frame that moves along a primary surface. The system includes a drive system that allows for the conversion of the primary surface into a secondary flooring surface in a relatively short period of time. The drive system includes core adjustable speed drive units for controlling the speed and torque of the motors that drive the core, as well as frame adjustable speed drive units for controlling the speed of the movement of the frames along the primary surface. The core adjustable speed drive units control the torque of the core motors during roll up and control the speed of the core motors during roll out.
US08403246B2	Shredder and method of shredding paper Provided is a paper shredder. The paper shredder includes a paper support part including a first paper support part having a first length, a second paper support part having a second length greater than the first length, and a paper feed slot between the first paper support part and the second paper support part, a first roller in which a portion thereof is exposed upward from the second paper support part through an opening defined in the second paper support part, a second roller in which a portion thereof is exposed upward from the first paper support part through an opening defined in the first paper support part, a cutter disposed below the paper feed slot to shred an introduced paper, and a motor operating the first roller, the second roller, and the cutter. The first paper support part and the second paper support part are reduced in height as being adjacent to the paper feed slot.
US08403243B2	V-blade grater A food grater having an improved cutting surface with teeth that are configured to prevent or reduce the sideways pull against a food item as it travels along the cutting surface. In a preferred version, the blades are formed with a V-shape that improves the ability of the user to push a food item straight down the cutting surface.
US08403235B2	Leveling rail joints with plane support for different profile sections A leveling joint between connected ends of two rails of different profiles is provided with a connector/juncture bar members which is configured to fit with and engage corresponding surfaces formed on the rails when the rails are connected together. The leveling joint so formed is one with increased strength, with ease and accuracy of alignment during assembly. The leveling joint is formed of several structural members, yet functions as and affords the strength and stability of a solid, unitary assembly.
US08403213B1	Time analysis at a banking system controlled by data bearing records A banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records utilizes a communication system in acquiring, communicating, and/or processing time analysis data related to the duration of financial transaction activity in a drive-through lane of a bank facility. Vehicle sensors sense arrival and departure of vehicles in the drive-through lane. The system can calculate and store time data corresponding to each vehicle.
US08403207B2	Transaction recordal method A method of recording a transaction relating to a security document is disclosed. Coded data portions are provided on the security document, with each coded data portion encoding an identity of the security document and part of a signature. The signature is a digital signature of the identity. A sensing device senses at least one coded data portion. From the coded data portion sensed by the sensing device a determined identity and a determined signature part are determined. The security document is authenticated using the determined identity and the determined signature part. Transaction data associated with the security document, stored in a data store, is updated upon successful authentication.
US08403199B2	Localized jet soldering device and partial jet soldering method To enable the molten solder to be partially spouted onto a component-mounting member in a stable state without decreasing the revolutions of a pump which is difficult to set a spouted amount of molten solder, even if a nozzle having a small spouting opening is used in a partial-jet-solder bath.As shown in FIG. 3, an automatic partial-jet-soldering apparatus 100 is provided with a solder bath 4 that has a nozzle base portion 44 and contains molten solder 7, a pump 5 that supplies the molten solder 7 contained in the solder bath 4 under a predetermined pressure to the nozzle base portion 44, plural nozzles 8a and the like that have predetermined solder-spouting areas and connect the nozzle base portion 44 to spout the molten solder 7 supplied from the pump 5 under the predetermined pressure so that it rises by its surface tension, and a dummy nozzle 32 that has a solder-spouting area more than that of any of the nozzles 8a and the like and connects the nozzle base portion 44 to spout the molten solder 7 supplied from the pump 5 under the predetermined pressure, wherein the dummy nozzle 32 is positioned on a position which is nearer the pump 5 than the nozzles 8a and the like.
US08403197B2	Surgical instrument having an articulated jaw structure and a detachable knife A surgical instrument with articulated jaw structure includes a frame and two jaws. The jaws have proximal portions that are mounted to each other for movement in a substantially parallel relation between a fully open position wherein the jaws are separated for receiving tissue therebetween and an approximated position wherein the jaws are closer together. Preferably, the jaws are in the fully open position when the distal portion of at least of the jaws is located in an extended position and are in the approximated position when the distal portion of the extended jaw or jaws is located in a retracted position. The surgical instrument may further include a detachable knife assembly and knife actuating mechanism.
US08403195B2	Dissection tip and introducer for surgical instrument The present disclosure describes a surgical fastener applying apparatus that includes an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends, an end effector including a first movably coupled to a second jaw that is positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion, and an introducer member. The introducer member has proximal and distal portions, and is configured and dimensioned for releasable connection with the end effector. The introducer member is at least partially formed from a flexible material, and is configured and dimensioned to separate target tissue from collateral tissue prior to positioning of the target tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector.
US08403193B2	Shoulder strap chest system for a pack A shoulder strap chest system for a pack including at least one shoulder pad, includes: at least one slot on the shoulder pad, at least one hook hooked at the slot detachably, and at least one connection strap, at least one end of which is attached to the hook in a length-adjustable way, wherein the width of the hook matches that of the slot so that the hook is prevented from sliding when the hook is hooked at the slot.
US08403190B2	Tray assembly for vehicle Disclosed is a tray assembly. The tray assembly may include a tray having a guide slot, a hinge arm including a cam-shaped portion and rotably coupled to the tray, a cover fixed to an end portion of the hinge arm, a drawer box storable in the tray and having a guide pin at a side portion thereof, the guide pin passing through the guide slot of the tray and being movable along the guide slot by selectively engaging with the cam-shaped portion of the hinge arm.
US08403188B2	Dosing device for powder A dosing device for powder has an inlet and an outlet for powder. A dosing disc rotatable from inlet to outlet has a dosing area of sintered material, which is provided with cavities for the volumetric dosing of the powder. A dosing body having open dosing cavities is provided which is movable from the inlet and outlet. By changing the speed of rotation of the dosing disc the quantity of powder to be discharged can be set in a wide range.
US08403185B2	Auto-vented automatic stop flow pouring spout The pouring spout has an inlet tube detachably connectable to a liquid-storage container and an outlet tube slideably connected to the inlet tube. A liquid duct and an air duct are defined into the inlet tube and the outlet tube. A valve system is provided for opening the liquid duct and the air duct when the outlet tube is slideably moved relative to the inlet tube. The liquid duct and the air duct open separately into the liquid-storage container. When pouring, the liquid flows through the liquid duct and air separately enters into the liquid-storage container via the air duct.
US08403181B2	Water-ingress-preventing mechanism for lotion pump The invention provides a water-ingress-preventing mechanism for a lotion pump. The mechanism is mainly used for a lotion pump mounted on a container with a liquid therein and is able to effectively prevent foreign liquids from entering the container. According to one aspect of the invention, in the locking tube portion (13) of the press head (10) is formed at least one longitudinal slot (15) which extends upwards from the lower end edge of the locking tube portion over at least part of the length of the locking tube portion. The slot is disposed such that the upper end of the slot is at a position above the top surface (25) of the cylinder cover (20) when the press head is pressed down to and at the lower stop position of its press stroke with respect to the cylinder cover. According to another aspect of the invention, the external thread (14) on the locking tube portion extends helically upwards from the lower end edge of the locking tube portion, whereas the internal thread (26) in the central through-hole (21) in the cylinder cover extends helically downwards from the upper end edge of the central through-hole. The features in the both of the two aspects effectively prevent foreign liquids from being sucked into the container during operation of the lotion pump.
US08403163B2	Protection and containment system for co-packaged containers A protection and containment system for co-packaged containers is provided which includes a hollow primary container, a top protector complementally configure to fit atop the primary container, and at least one retainer coupled to the top protector for holding a secondary container. The primary container has a circumscribing upright sidewall and an opening configured for receiving material to be stored in the container. The top protector includes a side wall and at least a pair of spaced-apart opposed risers, most preferably provided as one of four corner modules, the risers extending upwardly from the primary container above the opening and presenting a gap between the risers which is sized and configured for receiving the secondary container. Several retainers can be provided, either to hold the secondary containers in different gaps, or provided in tandem to hold two secondary containers adjacent to one another in or proximate a single gap.
US08403160B2	Container with audible freshness locking system The present invention concerns a container comprising a container body with bottom and side walls and a container opening, and a container closure (1), said body and closure comprising corresponding screw threads (3) to allow releasable attachment of the closure onto the body in order to open/close the container opening, characterized in that the container body comprises at least one cam-like means (4) located on the external surface of the container body walls, and the closure comprises at least one engagement means (5) corresponding to the cam-like means of the container body, said engagement means being located at the internal surface of the closure walls, so positioned that during the screwing operation of said closure onto said container body, said cam-like and engagement means cooperate in a audible manner at the time said closure is sufficiently engaged onto the body to ensure gas and/or liquid tightness of the closed container.
US08403156B1	Canister organizer An organizer for storing and displaying a plurality of canisters along a vertical surface includes a support structure and a plurality of wall-mounting brackets. The support structure includes a large rectangular body with a plurality of equally-spaced circular apertures on front and back surfaces, allowing for the insertion of desired cylindrical objects for storage and display. Each of the wall-mounting brackets further provides an outwardly extending tabs facing upwards, thereby allowing a user to set the apertures of the shelf on the brackets for secure mounting.
US08403153B2	Adsorbent filter media for removal of biological contaminants in process liquids Adsorbent filter media particularly suited for removal of biological contaminants in process liquids. A porous fixed bed of adsorbent material is formed, using only a granular adsorbent and a water-insoluble thermoplastic binder. The resulting composite filter allows for a higher amount of adsorbent with smaller adsorbent particles than conventional depth filters. Elimination of cellulose fiber, as well as the elimination of the thermoset binder, results in reduced contamination of the process liquid.
US08403149B2	Cyclone classifier, flash drying system using the cyclone classifier, and toner prepared by the flash drying system A cyclone classifier for classifying a particulate material, including an outer cylinder having a waistless part and an inverted-cone part vertically connected to an underside of the waistless part, and an inner cylinder which includes an exhaust opening such that the inner cylinder has a position-adjustable bottom end.
US08403142B2	Container for shipping fragile products and method for making the same A container for transporting glass sheets includes a bottom structure having a front edge and a back wall and first and second side walls extending upwardly from the bottom structure. The container also includes a floor support mechanism coupled to the bottom structure. The floor support mechanism includes a floor support member extending substantially horizontally from the back wall a first distance proximate to the front edge of the bottom structure. The floor support mechanism also includes a foam rail support member coupled to the floor support member. The foam rail support member extends substantially horizontally from the back wall a second distance proximate to the front edge of the bottom structure. The floor support mechanism further includes a foam rail coupled to the foam rail support member. The foam rail extends substantially horizontally from approximately the back wall a third distance that is less than the second distance.
US08403125B2	Hanging chute A hanging chute with a rib cage is described. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a chute constructed from flexible wear material with a rib cage to reinforce the chute. In particular, several ribs are dispersed throughout the length of the flexible sheet for support. A flexible sheet has a reinforced edge with varying thicknesses to accommodate different weight loads and abrasive conditions. Furthermore, the chute has interlocking edges for ease of constructing long lengths from a series of shorter sections. These shorter sections are easier to transport to a processing plant or other site where the chute is to be installed. Preferably the chute is easily maintainable and can incorporate wear inserts for additional wear resistance.
US08403124B2	Residual magnetic devices and methods Residual magnetic locks, brakes, rotation inhibitors, clutches, actuators, and latches. The residual magnetic devices can include a core housing and an armature. The residual magnetic devices can include a coil that receives a magnetization current to create an irreversible residual magnetic force between the core housing and the armature.
US08403119B2	Device and method for actuating a clutch In a device and a method for actuating a clutch of a transmission for transmitting a torque from at least one drive shaft to at least one driven shaft, at least one hydraulically triggered piston acts on a clutch spring element, and a pump that is hydraulically connected to the piston. A reservoir is provided, which is filled with hydraulic fluid and hydraulically connected to the piston and the pump in such a way that the piston is actuated either by the pump or by the reservoir.
US08403115B2	Dual rate gas spring shock absorber Apparatus and methods for providing a biasing force to a vehicle suspension. The apparatus includes a hydraulic shock absorber that coacts with a gas spring. In some embodiments, the gas spring is externally adjustable with regards to gas pressure, and also with regards to the amount of internal travel possible by a floating gas piston.
US08403111B2	Lubricant applicator for golden finger interface A lubricant applicator includes a base, a plurality of elastic members, and a plate member. The base includes a hollow space for receiving lubricant. The elastic support member is mounted within the hollow space of the base. The plate member is received in the hollow space and supported by the elastic support member. The plate member comprises a first slot and a plurality of through openings formed in an upper surface thereof. The first slot is shaped to accommodate a golden finger interface.
US08403109B2	Tracking gate for extended gangway An apparatus for providing safe access to a top of a mobile container. The mobile container has a top, a longitudinal dimension, and a plurality of hatches arrayed along the longitudinal dimension on the top. The apparatus has a raised platform and an extended cage attached to the raised platform wherein the extended cage extends along the longitudinal dimension. A tracking gate, attached to the extended cage, is adapted to vary an effective interior size of the extended cage.
US08403107B2	Ceiling loudspeaker system The present invention comprises a tile-mounted ceiling speaker that combines the ease of installation of a lay-in speaker system with the visual appearance of a tile-mounted speaker system. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus of the present invention includes a support frame and back box assembly configured for installation on top of a ceiling tile and a loudspeaker cartridge configured to be mounted to the support frame through an appropriately-sized hole in the ceiling tile. In one or more embodiments, the invention comprises a peripheral flange and a plurality of flip dogs for mounting the cartridge to the support frame that are configured to be disposed in the interior of the back box when engaged.
US08403100B2	Vehicle and vehicle exhaust pipe A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can include an exhaust pipe connected to a back or rear side of an engine of the vehicle. An intermediate portion of the exhaust pipe can extend along a side of the engine from a rear portion connected to the rear side of the engine. A front portion of the exhaust pipe can extend from the intermediate portion along a front of the engine, and an exhaust portion can extend from the intermediate portion along a side of the engine opposite to the intermediate portion side.
US08403091B2	Pneumatic-IC engine based power management system for automobiles and the like A pneumatic-internal combustion (IC) engine based power management system with improved energy efficiency for automobile application. More particularly, the pneumatic IC engine based power management system comprises a compressor, a pressure vessel, a pneumatic motor and related control mechanisms to provide energy on demand and reduce environmental pollution. The compressor is driven by the IC engine during low power demand by the vehicle. The lightweight pressure vessel wrapped with high strength metal wire and/or fibers provide impact resistance adequate to store compressed air at rated pressure. For low/no load condition of engine or compressor, the IC engine will shut off rather than idling to save fuel. The stored compressed air drives the air motor that powers the vehicle's initial motion and then starts the IC engine to provide continuous power. A controller monitors the power demand and actuates different system components accordingly through sensors. The system also supports accessories such as air conditioning, heater etc. and a wheel-rim system for inflation maintenance and easy change over of tires.
US08403090B2	Power supply apparatus for vehicle A power supply apparatus includes a plurality of battery modules, a support plate, a plurality of first reinforcing projections, and a plurality of second reinforcing projections. The support plate supports the battery modules and includes a first plate and a second plate. The first plate thermally contacts bottom surfaces of the battery modules. The second plate is placed on a bottom surface of the first plate to define cooling spaces between the first and second plates. A coolant is to flow in the cooling spaces. The plurality of first reinforcing projections is provided on at least one of the first and second plates. The first reinforcing projections project into the cooling spaces and extend in a first direction. The plurality of second reinforcing projections is provided on a top surface of the first plate and extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.
US08403085B1	Power application device A power application device (PAD) (10) designed to operate in combination with a four-wheeled vehicle (110) such as a skateboard (112). The PAD (10) includes an attachment tube (12) having a front end (14) and a rear end (16). Between the front and rear ends (14,16) are located a front body support (32) and an optional rear body support (38). To the front end (14) of the attachment tube (12) is attached a handle bar (22) and to the rear end (16) is attached a drive wheel (90). The drive wheel (90) is rotated by a drive-wheel powering means (40) that consists of either a d-c motor (50) or an internal combustion engine (80). The motor (50) or engine (80) is operated respectively by a variable resistor (56) or a throttle control (86) located on the handle bar (22). To operate the PAD (10) a rider stands on the skateboard (112) and the PAD (10) is activated causing the drive wheel (90) to rotate, thereby causing the PAD (10) to move forward in unison with the skateboard (112).
US08403081B2	Foot for humanoid robot A foot for a humanoid robot includes a sole having an upright secured thereto, toes, a motorized connection, independent of the ankle, in rotation between the sole and the toes, wherein the toes are able to move on an angular travel about an axis of the connection, an actuator formed of a linear jack coupled to the upright and the toes, allowing the connection to be motorized, and means for controlling the actuator in a standalone manner. The foot is of particular utility in the production of humanoid robots coming as close as possible to the human morphology.
US08403078B2	Methods and apparatus for wellbore construction and completion The present invention relates methods and apparatus for lining a wellbore. In one aspect, a drilling assembly having an earth removal member and a wellbore lining conduit is manipulated to advance into the earth. The drilling assembly includes a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path. Fluid is flowed through the first fluid flow path, and at least a portion of which may return through the second fluid flow path. In one embodiment, the drilling assembly is provided with a third fluid flow path. After drilling has been completed, wellbore lining conduit may be cemented in the wellbore.
US08403075B2	Wobble drive of a hand-held power tool The invention relates to a wobble drive of a hand-held machine tool, particularly a drilling or chipping hammer, having a drive shaft, a wobble bearing disposed on the drive shaft, and a wobble plate supported on the wobble bearing. At least two wobble fingers having wobble finger axes being provided on the wobble plate. The invention provides that the axes of the wobble fingers form an angle different from 180°.
US08403074B2	Output device for power tool having protection mechanism An output device for a power tool includes an output unit, a stationary ratchet gear unit, a spring disposed between the output shaft unit and the stationary ratchet gear unit, a locking member having pawls, a case accommodating the aforementioned parts and a control device threadedly connected to the case. The output unit includes an output shaft with a first bearing and a movable ratchet gear which have movable ratchet teeth facing stationary ratchet teeth of a stationary ratchet gear. The stationary ratchet gear includes ribs and each rib has an inclined surface. When the pawls are not engaged with the ribs, the output shaft can outputs power in a form of rotation in both directions. When the pawls are engaged with the ribs, the output shaft outputs power in a form of rotation in a forward direction combined with vibration or rotation in a reverse direction without vibration.
US08403064B2	One trip retrieval of a multi-zone fracturing system A completion assembly of a top packer and zone isolation packers separated by screens has a disconnect in a selected zone to be fractured or gravel packed that is armed before such a procedure starts. Initially when the assembly of the outer completion and the inner string are properly located and all the screens valved off, all the packers are pressure set and the packer set release device associated with each packer is armed. Before starting a fracturing or gravel packing operation from a given zone isolation packer, a disconnect for that zone packer is armed so that if the inner string sticks in that packer, the inner string is sheared and removed and another trip is used to grab the top packer and pick up. Such picking up releases all the packers down to the one armed disconnect. The disconnect releases bringing up the remnant of the inner string stuck in the packer just above the actuated disconnect.
US08403061B2	Method of making a flow control device that reduces flow of the fluid when a selected property of the fluid is in selected range A method of making a flow control device for controlling flow of fluid between a formation and a wellbore is provided, which method in one aspect may include: providing a member suitable for placement in a wellbore for receiving formation fluid; selecting a geometry for a flow-through region configured to substantially increase value of a selected parameter relating to the flow-through region when a selected property of the formation fluid is in a first range changes and maintain a substantially constant pressure drop across the flow-through region when the selected property of the fluid is in a second range; and forming the flow-through region on the member to provide the flow control device.
US08403060B2	Wellhead tree pressure limiting device A pressure relief device is used to relieve pressure in a void within a wellhead housing. In one embodiment, the pressure relief device includes a plunger having a stepped plug, wherein the plug can be fully open to allow flow from the void, restricted to allow a predetermined flow to relieve pressure, or closed to prevent flow from the void. In another embodiment, the pressure relief device includes a vacuum puller that creates negative pressure in a vessel. As fluid in the void expands, it is able to enter the space formerly occupied by the plunger. In yet another embodiment, a rupture disc is used to prevent fluid from flowing from the void, through a passage, to the wellbore. If pressure in the void exceeds a predetermined value, the rupture disc yields and allows the trapped fluid to flow to the wellbore.
US08403058B2	Offshore unit and method of installing wellhead platform using the offshore unit An offshore unit includes a hull and/or a deck frame, a mat attached to at least one connecting leg or a spud can attached to each of at least one connecting leg or lower hull attached to at least one connecting means. A wellhead deck is removably attached to the hull and/or deck frame and a sub-sea clamp in conjunction with a caisson or a sub-sea conductor frame is removably attached to the mat or to the at least one connecting leg, where a spud can is attached to each of the at least one connecting leg, or to the lower hull. The offshore unit is relocatable and is a platform or a rig capable of performing drilling, production, construction, accommodation, hook-up and commissioning or a combination of any of these functions thereof. The offshore unit is a self-elevating mobile platform or submersible platform or semi-submersible platform.
US08403053B2	Circuit functional test system and method Method and deadman test circuit for testing a functionality of a shearing blowout preventer. The circuit includes a solenoid valve configured to be electrically controlled and to receive a fluid under a first pressure; a sub plate mounted valve configured to be hydraulically controlled by the solenoid valve and to receive the fluid under a second pressure; and a selector valve fluidly connecting an output of the sub plate mounted valve to a shearing blowout preventer and to a device. The selector valve is configured to be operated by an operator.
US08403040B2	Method for pre-treatment of subterranean sites adjacent to water injection wells A method to improve the effectiveness of MEOR or bioremediation processes. In this method toxic chemicals accumulated in subterranean sites adjacent to the water injection wells are either dispersed or removed prior to introduction of microbial inocula for enhanced microbial oil recovery or bioremediation of these sites.
US08403034B2	Device and method for maintaining constant pressure on, and flow drill fluid, in a drill string A device is described for maintaining a predominately constant pressure on, and flow of drilling fluid in, a drill string (100) where drilling fluid is supplied via a circulation system for drilling fluid. The device comprises a mainly elongated, internally hollow body (10) arranged to surround the drill string where the hollow body (10) comprises at least an upper pressure chamber (40a) and a lower pressure chamber (40b) connected with respective inlet and/or outlet (50a, 50b) for drilling fluid from or to the drilling fluid circulation system, as said pressure chambers (40a, 40b) are able to be closed and separated by an intermediate valve (70) arranged for circulation of drilling fluid into or out of the drill string (100) during coupling up or disconnecting of a new length of drill string (100). A method to maintain the mainly constant pressure of drilling fluid in a drill string is also described.
US08403032B2	Structure of heat plate A structure of heat plate includes a hollow portion formed adjacent to a side edge of a plate body or in a corner of the plate body. A seal tube is received in the hollow portion so that the plate body provides complete protection to the seal tube against deformation or damage of the seal tube caused by external impact or hit and offers the advantages of simple structure, excellent durability, being easy to practice, and flexibility of arrangement.
US08403029B2	Vehicular air conditioning apparatus A casing comprises substantially symmetrical first and second divided casings. A second blower unit is provided at a joined region of the first divided casing and the second divided casing. Air is supplied from a first blower unit into the casing, and then, the air cooled by an evaporator and the air heated by a heater core are mixed and supplied to front seats in the vehicle. Air supplied from the second blower unit into the casing is directed toward the front seats and adjusted at a given temperature by a second cooling section of the evaporator and a second heating section of the heater core, and thereafter, supplied to rear seats in the vehicle from a third rear passage which extends so as to surround a first rear passage.
US08403023B1	Self resetting cover system and method A self resetting cover system includes two oppositely positioned guide rails with a chamber. A movable cover with a first end, a second end, a first edge and a second edge is provided where the first edge is connected with the chamber of one of the two oppositely positioned guide rails and the second edge is connected with the chamber of another of the two oppositely positioned guide rails. The first edge and the second edge include at least some portion that is enlarged and the enlarged portion of the first edge and the second edge is a deformable, resilient edge material. The enlarged area deforms upon impact to the movable cover such that the first edge and the second edge are not movable within the chamber and the enlarged area then resets to an original form after impact to the movable cover such that the first edge and the second edge are movable within the chamber. A cover roll is connected with the first end.
US08403020B2	Device for fine adjustment of roller blinds A roller blind device includes a drive shaft and two neighboring roller blinds on the drive shaft that are adapted to be adjustable with respect to each other. At least one of the roller blinds may be uncoupled from the drive shaft without the use of tools. Once uncoupled, the roller blinds may be adjusted with respect to each other. The roller blind may then be coupled to the drive shaft, allowing for the two neighboring roller blinds to be lowered and raised.
US08403019B2	Ultrasonic welding assembly and method of attaching an anvil to a bracket of the assembly An ultrasonic welding assembly having an ultrasonic horn and an anvil having first, second, and third plate portions is provided. The third plate portion is coupled between the first and second plate portions. The first plate portion has a first knurled region on a first side disposed proximate to the ultrasonic horn, and the second plate portion has a second knurled region on a second side. The third plate portion has a first aperture extending therethrough. The assembly includes a bracket that receives the second side of the anvil for holding the anvil thereon. The bracket has a second aperture that aligns with the first aperture, such that a coupling member extending through the first and second apertures removably couples the anvil to the bracket.
US08403017B2	System, method and apparatus for making tapered looped suture A system and method for forming a looped suture having a tapered cut is provided. The system includes a base for selectively retaining a portion of thread, a clamping device for receiving a first end of the thread, a tensioning device for receiving a second end of the thread, and a welding/cutting assembly configured to join a first section and second section of the thread to form a loop and to form a tapered end on the first section of the thread. A die for forming a looped suture having a tapered cut is also provided.
US08403015B2	Laminating device A laminating arrangement includes a laminating roller, a heat source for heating the laminating roller, the heat source being powered by an AC power supply, and a heat source intensity control system for controlling the intensity of the heat source. The intensity control system includes a processor and a triode for alternating current communicating with the processor. The triode for alternating current is turned on and off by the processor to control the AC power supply to the heat source to vary the intensity of the heat source.
US08403014B2	Motorcycle tire for uneven terrain travel A motorcycle tire for uneven terrain travel including two carcass plies, at least one of which is aramid ply 16 using aramid fiber cord 17 obtained by subjecting N (2 to 4) bundles 18 of aramid fiber “f” to final twist, the aramid fiber cord 17 having a total fineness D of 2,200 to 5,010 dtex and a twist factor T represented by the equation (1): T=n×(√{square root over (D)})×10−3 (1) in which n is the number of final twists per 10 cm of the cord (unit: time), and D is a total fineness of the cord (unit: dtex), the twist factor falling within the range of: in the case where the aramid ply 16 is inner carcass ply 6A, from 2.8 to 3.2 when the number of filament bundles 18 is 2, and from 2.4 to 3.2 when the number of filament bundles 18 is 3 or 4, and in the case where the aramid ply 16 is outer carcass ply 6B, from 2.4 to 3.2 when the number of filament bundles 18 is 2, and from 2.2 to 3.2 when the number of filament bundles 18 is 3 or 4.
US08403011B1	Interchangeable flap handbag An interchangeable handbag system. The system includes a handbag body having an open top and an interchangeable flap. The interchangeable flap may be removeably attached to the handbag body to cover an opening of the handbag body. In other embodiments, the interchangeable flap may be removeably attached to itself to form a separate handbag.
US08403010B2	Tablet filling device There is provided a tablet filling device, which can smoothly supply vials without any stop of the device even if the vials cause a jam within a stocker. The tablet filling device is related to removing a vial 9 from a stocker 21 accommodating a large number of vials 9 according to a prescription data, dispensing tablets into the vial 9 to fill the vial, and discharging the vial 9 filled with the tablets. The stocker 21 includes: a vial removing device 24 configured to scoop the vial 9 accommodated in the stocker 21 upward to remove the vial; and a vial conveying device 23 configured to convey the vial 9 toward the vial removing device 24. When a jam of the vial 9 occurs, the vial conveying device 23 is reversely driven.
US08403006B2	Kit for fastening and locking of components A stack or assembly of fluid, mechanical, and/or electrical components permits removal of some components for maintenance, without compromising the fluid integrity of the remainder of the assembly. A fastening bolt, attached to at least one fluid component, is screwed into a stacking bolt, attached to another fluid component, the bolts being screwed together inside the bore of an adapter plate. A resilient insert sits between the head of the stacking bolt and the bore. At least a portion of the bore has a continuous taper, such that the diameter of the bore decreases in the vicinity of the insert. The taper creates a reduced diameter hole on one surface of the adapter plate, thus preventing interference between fluid ports on an adjacent fluid component. The taper also prevents loss of the insert during transportation and storage, and prevents undesired extrusion of material of the insert when the components are fastened together.
US08402999B2	Liquid dispensing tap, in particular for liquids with higher density A tap (1) is disclosed for delivering liquids, particularly for delivering high- and medium-density liquids from rigid vessels, comprising: a body (3); stem means (9); and elastic actuating means (11) of the stem 26 means (9); air inlet/outlet means (13, 25, 28) in the body (3) and inside the vessel; valve means (7) for passing air; and non-return valve means (26) placed between the air inlet and outlet means (13, 25, 28) and the vessel interior and adapted to be guided and driven by the pressure difference between outside the tap (1) and inside the vessel.
US08402996B2	Adjustable choke for oil and gas industry The disclosure provides a choke with an actuator that contains various components within an actuator housing to adjust the choke, and the housing is configured to be fixedly attached with a relatively large shearing connection on an actuator adapter to resist large overpressure surges within the housing and around the components. The actuator further includes a thrust bearing mounted adjacent a shoulder in the housing and supporting a worm gear, so that any overpressure loads are directed to the shoulder of the housing and retained within the housing while the housing is retained by the shearing connection to the remainder of the choke.
US08402992B2	Branching unit for boring without stopping passage of fluid A gear case part (70), which has an upper aperture that opens upward and which forms a recess that houses a portion of a drive gear device (63) and for which the drive gear device (63) can be inserted from the upper aperture and assembled, is provided integrally on the upper part of a first or second divided case (21, 22); a cover (66) that blocks the upper aperture of the gear case part (70) is fastened to the gear case part (70); an operating part (67) protrudes upward from a through-hole (66a) that vertically penetrates the cover (66); and by removing the cover (66) from the gear case part (70), the drive gear device (63) can be extracted from the gear case part (70) through the upper aperture.
US08402984B1	Flood preventing system, and method of use The present invention is a system and method for detecting water in locations in homes and buildings etc. where it should not be present, and responding by terminating water inlet access to plumbing in the home or building etc., and by opening a pressure dump valve to relieve leak promoting pressure remaining in the plumbing.
US08402977B2	Tobacco smoke filter A tobacco smoke filter which gives an acceptable vapor phase filtration and flavor delivery in the presence of a volatile flavorant (e.g. menthol), the filter containing activated carbon in which (1) pores of under 2 nm pore diameter (micropores) provide a pore volume of at most 0.3 cm3/g (NZ); and (2) (a) pores of 2 to 50 nm pore diameter (mesopores) provide a pore volume of at least 0.25 cm3/g (N2) and/or (b) pores of 7 to 50 nm diameter (larger mesopores) provide a pore volume of at least 0.12 cm3/g (Hg).
US08402968B2	Respiratory system for inducing therapeutic hypothermia The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a patient's body temperature and in particular for inducing therapeutic hypothermia. Various embodiments of the system are described. The system includes: a source of breathing gas, which may be in the form of a compressed breathing gas mixture; a heat exchanger or other heating and/or cooling device; and a breathing interface, such as a breathing mask or tracheal tube. Optionally, the system may include additional features, such as a mechanical respirator, a nebulizer for introducing medication into the breathing gas, a body temperature probe and a feedback controller. The system can use air or a specialized breathing gas mixture, such as He/O.sub.2 or SF/O.sub.2 to increase the heat transfer rate. In addition, the system may include an ice particle generator for introducing fine ice particles into the flow of breathing gas to further increase the heat transfer rate.
US08402963B2	Container with in situ food product mixing and heating A container for housing and producing a liquid comestible product and in situ heating or cooling thereof is constructed for rotation of the lid to release a comestible powder into water. Rotation of the base causes a chemical reaction to be initiated for heating or cooling the comestible powder/water blend.
US08402962B2	Apparatus for supply mixed gas for gas burners of radiant heating type Device for supplying mixed gas to gas burners of radiant heating type including a plurality of burner assemblies (310) in the housing (301) for combustion of the mixed gas therein, each with a burner chamber (312) for supplying mixed gas of fuel gas and air thereto, a glass plate (302) placed on top of the housing (301), a plurality of mixing tubes (321) respectively in communication with the burner chamber (312) for supplying the fuel gas and the air thereto, a plurality of gas nozzles (322) for respectively spraying the fuel gas into the mixing tubes (321), a plurality of air supply tubes (323) for respectively spraying the fuel gas into the mixing tubes (321), a plurality of air supply tubes (323) each spaced a distance away from the other end of one of the mixing tubes (321), for supplying air toward the one of the mixing tubes (321), and a fan unit (330) connected to an end of one of the air supply tubes (323) for supplying air thereto.
US08402961B2	Insulation configuration for thermal appliances An insulation system for a thermal oven. The insulation system comprises a cabinet and a liner positioned within the cabinet. The liner defines an oven cavity. The liner includes opposing sides, a top, a bottom, a front and a back. A layer of insulation is positioned between the cabinet and the outside of the opposing sides, top, bottom and back of the liner. The layer of insulation is positioned to create an air gap between the insulation and the opposing sides, top, bottom and back of the liner. The insulation has a thermal energy reflective facing attached to an interior surface facing the liner.
US08402960B2	Archery bow In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a riser, a first limb and a second limb. A drawstring extends between the first limb and the second limb, for example extending between rotatable members supported by the limbs. A first cable, such as a power cable, also extends between the first limb and the second limb. A cable guard is attached to the riser, which comprises a body portion and a cable engaging portion. The cable guard biases a portion of the first cable in a direction away from the riser.
US08402947B2	Fuel rail for attenuating radiated noise A fuel rail includes an elongated tube having an inlet and a plurality of outlets. The elongated tube defines a fuel passageway for directing fuel toward the plurality of outlets. The fuel rail also includes a plurality of immovable baffles positioned within the elongated tube to divide the fuel passageway into a plurality of chambers such that each outlet is positioned in one of the plurality of chambers. The plurality of baffles restricts fluid flow between adjacent chambers. A majority of the plurality of outlets are located essentially at an acoustic node of each corresponding chamber to reduce noise generated by the fuel rail.
US08402945B2	Injector and method for making the same An injector includes a nozzle hole, a metal body including a high pressure passage inside the body, and a fuel pressure sensor attached to the body to detect fuel pressure. The sensor includes a metal flexure element resiliently deformed upon application of fuel pressure to the flexure element, and a sensor element that converts flexure in the flexure element into an electrical signal and outputs the signal as a pressure detection value. The body includes a sensor high pressure passage communicating with the flexure element, and a body side sealing surface on which the flexure element is pressed and closely-attached so that a clearance between the body and the flexure element is metal-to-metal sealed on the sealing surface. Carburizing treatment is performed on at least a part of the body that defines the sensor high pressure passage. The carburizing treatment is not performed on the sealing surface.
US08402943B2	Method for controlling spark for particulate filter regenerating A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine spark is controlled such that soot held by a particulate filter may be oxidized even during low engine loads.
US08402939B2	Method and device for optimizing combustion of diesel fuels with different cetane numbers in a diesel internal combustion engine The invention relates to a method and a device for optimizing combustion of diesel fuels with different cetane numbers in a diesel internal combustion engine. It is provided that cylinder pressures are measured in at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine during the combustion period, that at least one part of the measured cylinder pressures is evaluated in order to derive a characteristic value for the diesel fuel that is fed into the cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and that the characteristic value is used to change parameters that determine the combustion in the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.
US08402936B2	Vehicle control device and method for idle stop control for the same A vehicle control device for a vehicle system automatically stops an internal combustion engine of a vehicle when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied and automatically starts the automatically stopped internal combustion engine when a predetermined start condition is satisfied. A stop point detection unit detects a stop point, at which the vehicle possibly stops, while the vehicle travels based on map information stored in a map information storage unit. A traveling information control unit stores traveling information, which includes a state of the vehicle stopping at a stop point and a state of the vehicle passing by the stop point, in the traveling information storage unit. A stop determination unit determines whether to stop the internal combustion engine when the vehicle stops at a stop point based on the traveling information of the stop point stored in the traveling information storage unit.
US08402920B2	System and method for cleaning teats of a milk-producing animal An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system for cleaning teats of multiple milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started. The system comprises an aqueous chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution source provided at the parlor area; and, a hand-held applicator having a housing volume within which one or more scrubbing elements are positioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the volume for cleaning. The hand-held applicator is remotely operable relative to the disinfectant solution source.
US08402913B2	Drywall mud hopper for inside and outside corners A drywall hopper assembly that contains a double blade that can apply drywall mud to both interior and exterior drywall corners with no blade change. A zigzag blade can contain two grooves, one for interior corners and one for exterior corners. With this blade arrangement, an operator can quickly move from one type of corner to another without using multiple tools, multiple blades or hand application methods to apply mud. The present invention can contain a pliable release port to present mud equally to an interior or an exterior corner. There can be such a port on both the top and bottom of the blade so that mud is smoothly applied as trim moves through the hopper or the hopper is moved along the trim.
US08402897B2	Projectiles with sealed propellant Projectiles with sealed propellant are described herein. In one embodiment of the invention, a projectile includes a chamber having a propellant charger, an exit from the chamber for release of propellant gases into a barrel when the propellant is ignited to fire the projectile, and a seal to block the exit which is opened by ignition of the propellant within the chamber but is resistant to ignition of other propellant in the barrel, where the seal is carried from the barrel by the projectile after the ignition. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08402891B2	Methods for printing a print medium, on a web, or a printed sheet output A method for printing a print medium applies ink to a surface and ejects drops of an aqueous solution onto the print medium to define image and non-image areas. The ejection of each drop is individually controlled. Ink from the surface is transferred to the image areas of the print medium. Methods of printing on a web and for printing a printed sheet output of a press are also disclosed.
US08402890B2	Self-inking hand stamp A self-inking hand stamp comprising a frame made of metal and having two side walls which are interconnected by an upper cover wall, and further comprising an actuating bow made of metal which, when used, is downwardly movable relative to the frame against a spring force. The actuating bow has two legs which are displaceable along the side walls of the frame; said legs are coupled to a type unit that is displaceable and turnable within the frame; resting projections are provided in the upper region of the frame for an insertable ink pad holder, said resting projections protruding inwards from the inner side of the side walls of the frame; the resting projections are provided on carrying members provided on the outer sides of the side walls and extend through openings in the side walls.
US08402883B2	Capsule with delaminatable injection means The present invention proposes a capsule for containing beverage ingredients comprising a sealed ingredient compartment, an inlet face, an outlet face, an aperture in the inlet face of the capsule, a membrane attached to the inner side of the portion of the inlet face surrounding the aperture, wherein the membrane is attached to the inlet face by a first circumferential section in a detachable sealing engagement.
US08402866B2	Open end wrench capable of fast driving An open end wrench (10) includes first and second jaws (23, 24) formed on a jaw portion (22). The first jaw (23) includes an arcuate sliding groove (27) having two support walls (272, 273) and an arcuate sliding wall (271) between the support walls (272, 273). A slide (30) is received in the sliding groove (27) and includes an arcuate sliding face (31) slideable along the sliding wall (272). An arcuate guiding slot (35) is formed in the slide (30). A guide (28) is fixed in the sliding groove (27) and received in the guiding slot (35). The guiding slot (35) includes a pressing end (352). An elastic device (40) has two ends respectively abutting the guide (28) and the pressing end (352) of the guiding slot (35) for biasing the slide (30) to a natural position. The slide (30) includes a first wrenching face (32) having two wings (36). A spacing (L) is formed between each wings (36) and one of the support walls (272, 273).
US08402862B2	Wire stripper Provided is a wire stripper, and more particularly to an apparatus for easily removing a sheath of a metal wire. The wire stripper effectively and quickly removes the sheath, wherein a sheath of only a required region of the wire is removed.
US08402846B2	Sample trituration vessel, tool and method using the same There is provided a sample trituration vessel that even when the sample is relatively hard, enables triturating of the sample easily and with high efficiency. The sample trituration vessel includes a tubular body having an opening at one end and having a bottom part at the other end thereof. The tubular body is furnished with a rugged portion there-inside so as to be able to meet another rugged port formed on a trituration rod. The sample trituration vessel itself can exert shearing effect on the sample. The tubular body is formed of flexible material, and upon application of external force from outside of the tubular body, the tubular body is deformed, thereby breaking down the sample held within the tubular body.
US08402841B2	Apparatus and method for sensing fluid flow in a pipe with variable wall thickness A method and apparatus for sensing a fluid flow within a pipe is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing an ultrasonic sensor having a transmitter operable to transmit ultrasonic signals through the first pipe wall, the fluid flow disposed within the pipe, and the second pipe wall, and a receiver operable to receive the transmitted signal after the signal has passed through the pipe walls and fluid flow; b) disposing the transmitter adjacent the first wall and the receiver adjacent the second wall; c) disposing at least one acoustic member between at least one of the transmitter and the first wall, and the receiver and the second wall, which acoustic member has acoustic properties such that the combined respective member and pipe wall have half wave resonant frequencies that substantially match the half wave resonant frequencies of the opposite wall, or opposite wall and respective member; and d) sensing the fluid flow through the pipe walls and structure using the ultrasonic sensor.
US08402838B1	Nutplate tester A nutplate tester is provided. The nutplate tester includes a main body and a holder coupled to the main body. The holder is configured to hold a probe. The nutplate tester also includes a pneumatic actuator coupled to the holder, and an extension frame coupled to the main body. The extension frame includes an attachment portion configured to attach to a post foot that engages a structure that a nutplate is fastened to. The pneumatic actuator is configured to apply pressure against the holder relative to the extension frame to engage the nutplate by the probe held by the holder. The nutplate tester also includes a feed control coupled to the pneumatic actuator. The feed control is configured to control fluid to be supplied to the pneumatic actuator to apply the pressure by the pneumatic actuator against the holder according to at least one of a controlled speed and a controlled pressure.
US08402817B2	Method and apparatus for monitoring for leaks in a stage II fuel vapor recovery system A system and method for detecting a leak in a Stage II vapor recovery system is disclosed. The system may monitor the Stage II vapor recovery system for the occurrence of quiet times and record pressure data during those quiet times. The system may make a determination of a leak based on the evaluation of the pressure data from a plurality of the quiet times.
US08402813B2	Sensor element of a gas sensor A sensor element for determining a gas component or particles in a measuring gas, having a first and a second measuring electrode, the measuring electrodes being developed as interdigital electrodes having a row of intermeshing branches as well as a main conductor each, to which the branches are connected in an electrically conducting manner; and the branches of the interdigital electrodes being aligned essentially in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sensor element.
US08402807B2	Blind-rivet gun A blind-rivet gun includes a gun header, a cylinder, a piston, and a tube. The cylinder is separated from the gun header. The piston includes a piston header. The piston header and an inner surface of the cylinder form a seal to divide the cylinder into a first air chamber and a second air chamber. The cylinder includes a first gas hole and a second gas hole. The first gas hole is connected to the first air chamber, and the second gas hole is connected to the second air chamber. The piston is adapted to slide in the cylinder to generate inner high pressure gas by alternatively supplying outer high pressure gas to the first gas hole or the second gas hole. The tube is connected to the gun header and the cylinder. The tube transmits inner high pressure from the cylinder to the gun header.
US08402804B2	Method and apparatus of forming tailored blank plate A device for forming a tailored blank plate 12 having a thick plate 14 connected to a thin plate 16 to a desired configuration is provided with a press device 10 and a re-strike device 100. The press device 10 is provided with a first punch part 18, a first die part 20 and holder parts 22 and 22. Between the first punch part 18 and the first die part 20, the tailored blank plate 12 is mounted and positioned so that a stepped part 12b intersects orthogonally to punch protruding parts 50a and 50b of the first punch part 18 and punch recessed parts 72a and 72b of the first die part 20 to press-form the tailored blank plate 12. Then, the press-formed tailored blank plate 212 is moved to the re-strike device 100 to carry out a re-striking process by a second punch part 102 and a second die part 104, so as obtain the tailored blank plate 300 of a final shape.
US08402802B2	Conveying device, hot rolling apparatus, conveying method, and hot rolling method A conveying device includes a plurality of conveying rollers supported in parallel at predetermined intervals, and conveys a workpiece to a heat-retaining/heating furnace from a rolling mill by the conveying rollers. The conveying device includes an impact prediction data collecting unit and a control unit. The impact prediction data collecting unit acquires data on the upstream of the heat-retaining/heating furnace. The data is used to predict the magnitude of an impact applied to rollers in the furnace, which are positioned in the heat-retaining/heating furnace, of the conveying rollers by the workpiece. The control unit predicts the magnitude of an impact from the data, which is acquired by the impact prediction data collecting unit, and adjusts the conveying speed of the workpiece in the heat-retaining/heating furnace according to the magnitude of the impact.
US08402798B2	Locking clamp A locking clamp device is provided with first and second clamping members. The first clamping member includes a base member with a first clamping surface and a locking member movable with respect to the base member between a securing position and a releasing position. The second clamping member is slidably engaged with the first clamping member and selectively movable to a plurality of clamping positions. The second clamping member includes a second clamping surface opposite the first clamping surface. The lockout device further includes a means for preventing movement of the locking member from the securing position to the releasing position. The locking member is configured to secure the second clamping member in one of the plurality of clamping positions when the locking member is in the securing position.
US08402797B2	Tub having structurally strengthened rear wall and washing machine with the same therein A tub having a structurally strengthened rear wall and a washing machine with the same therein are disclosed. A washing machine includes a bearing housing having a flange part and a tub injection-molded with the bearing housing inserted into a wall thereof, the wall having a recessing part and a projecting part formed on an inner or an outer surface thereof along a circumferential direction, and a circumferential rib or a radial rib formed on the recessing part.
US08402794B2	Hinged knitting loom Disclosed is a convertible knitting loom that includes a first body and a second body that are connected via a hinge so that the bodies can rotate relative to each other and used in more than one configuration. Each body includes knitting pegs for weaving and knitting yarn. The first and second bodies are configured to be provided in at least first (closed) configuration such that the first body and the second body are parallel to each other and a second (open, linear) configuration such that the bodies are substantially linearly aligned. A removable fastener or lock pin can be used to lock the bodies of the loom in either the first or second configuration.
US08402793B2	Transverse row bushings and methods with freedom of movement An exemplary bushing systemutilizes a bushing having a bottom plate having a plurality of holes from which filaments are drawn, and a plurality of support-receiving elements that are each configured to receive an elongated support. The support-receiving elements extend through the bushing generally along a longitudinal axis. A frame supports the bushing and includes a pair of horizontal rails upon which the supports rest. The horizontal rails comprise a treated surface that permits movement of the elongated supports relative to the frame in the longitudinal direction as the bushing expands and contracts due to thermal heating and cooling.
US08402789B2	High temperature stable fiber grating sensor and method for producing same A method of producing a thermally stable grating allows the grating to be placed in environments where temperatures reach 1000° C. These gratings may be concatenated so as to form a sensor array. The method requires a step of lowering the characteristic intensity threshold of a waveguide by at least 25%, followed by irradiating the waveguide with femtosecond pulses of light having a sufficient intensity and for a sufficient duration to write the grating so that at least 60% of the grating remains after exposures of at least 10 hours at a temperature of at least 1000° C. Pre-writing a Type I grating before writing a minimal damage Type II grating lowers the characteristic threshold of the waveguide so that a stable low damage type II grating can be written; alternatively providing a hydrogen or deuterium loaded waveguide before writing the grating lowers the characteristic threshold of the waveguide.
US08402787B2	Molten glass delivery and refining system Methods and apparatus for refining and delivering a supply of molten glass include melting a supply of glass in a melter and discharging a stream of molten glass. A refining section is provided to refine the molten glass discharged by the melter and to deliver the molten glass downstream to a glass forming apparatus. The refining section is mounted for movement into and out of contact with the stream of molten glass to connect and disconnect the glass forming apparatus with the stream of molten glass.
US08402773B2	Two-stage cooling system A two-stage cooling system configured to cool an interior of an enclosure includes a cabinet, a first vortex tube secured within the cabinet, and a second vortex tube secured within the cabinet. The cabinet defines a venting chamber. The first and second vortex tubes each include a hot pipe within the venting chamber and a cool gas delivery pipe extending outwardly from the cabinet. The first and second cool gas delivery pipes are configured to deliver cold gas to the interior of the enclosure. A separate thermostat may be operatively attached to each vortex tube and extend outwardly from the cabinet to be positioned within the interior of the enclosure. Additionally, first and second dampening sleeves may be secured around at least a portion of the first and second hot pipes, respectively, such that the dampening sleeves dampen noise produced by the vortex tubes.
US08402765B2	Translating variable area fan nozzle providing an upstream bypass flow exit A variable area fan nozzle assembly for a turbofan engine includes a nacelle having an aft edge and a translating nozzle segment having a forward edge and a first end. The nozzle segment is movably disposed behind the aft edge such that an upstream bypass flow exit is defined between the aft edge and the forward edge when the nozzle segment is in a deployed position. A deflector is disposed between the aft edge and the forward edge proximate to the first end. The deflector substantially prevents bypass flow from exiting the upstream bypass flow exit in a region that is proximate to the first end.
US08402764B1	Transition duct with spiral cooling channels A transition duct for a gas turbine engine of the kind with can combustors, the transition duct is formed from an inner section and an outer section that form a cooling passage in-between. Each section includes spiral shaped ribs that form spiral shaped cooling channels in which the channels are angled so that a high degree of turbulence is produced within the cooling air flow.
US08402759B2	Drive having an energy storage device and method for storing kinetic energy The invention relates to a drive (1) having an energy storage device and a method for storing brake energy. A drive (1) has an energy storage device having a hydrostatic piston engine (9) and a storage element (11) which is connected thereto. In a high-pressure storage line (10), an adjustable throttle location (15) is arranged between the piston engine (9) and the storage element (11). During the braking operation, the adjustable throttle location (15) is adjusted in accordance with a detected requested brake torque. The pressure medium is conveyed from the hydrostatic piston engine (9) via the adjustable throttle location (15) into the storage element (11).
US08402758B2	Exhaust diffuser A flow diffuser for vehicles of the type having an engine and an exhaust pipe generally includes a body including a plurality of inner diffusion ports extending through the body, wherein the body may be attached to an exhaust pipe at or near the exit plane of the exhaust pipe, wherein the body is sized to have a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the exit plane of the exhaust pipe to create a plurality of outer diffusion ports around at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the body when coupled to the exhaust pipe, and one or more extension flaps extending from at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the body.
US08402754B2	Apparatus for purifying exhaust gas An apparatus for purifying exhaust gas may include a CPF device primarily oxidizing hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide in the exhaust gas by using a first DOC, and trapping and regenerating particulate material (PM), a DOC device mounted downstream of the CPF device, secondarily oxidizing the HC and the CO in the primarily oxidized exhaust gas by using a second DOC, and oxidizing nitrogen monoxide into nitrogen dioxide by using the second DOC, a nozzle mounted downstream of the DOC device, and dosing a reducing agent to the exhaust gas secondarily oxidized by the DOC device, and a selective catalytic reduction device mounted downstream of the nozzle, and reducing nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas into nitrogen gas) by using the NO2 generated in the DOC device and the reducing agent.
US08402749B2	Control method of spark-ignition engine and spark-ignition engine system In a specified operating area including a low engine-speed and low engine-load area, an excess air ratio λ is set at a specified ratio which is two or greater and three or smaller and an ignition timing θig of a spark plug is set at a timing of MBT to provide the maximum torque as a normal combustion control (S4). In case a catalyst temperature Tc is lower than a predetermined first temperature T1 in this area, a control of retarding the ignition timing from the MBT timing and/or a control of decreasing the excess air ratio λ to a ration below the above-described ratio are executed (S6, S8, S9). Accordingly, the temperature of the catalyst can be prevented simply and effectively from decreasing excessively, maintaining combustion conditions to provide a properly high thermal efficiency.
US08402745B2	Pulse jet engines A pulse jet engine comprising a quarter wave gas resonator (1) which is arranged to cycle at an ultrasonic frequency, wherein the resonator (1) is closed, or substantially closed, to gas flow at the pressure antinode (4) thereof. The shape and dimensions of the quarter wave gas resonator (1) at least partially determine the ultrasonic frequency at which the resonator (1) cycles.
US08402743B2	Actuating of a thrust reverser in a turbomachine A turbomachine including at least one thrust reverser and a device for actuating the thrust reverser, which includes at least one hydraulic engine supplied with pressurized fluid by a fuel circuit of the turbomachine, is disclosed.
US08402734B1	Linkage assembly A device for recovery of physical objects includes a chain having two ends and a retriever attached to one of the ends. The retriever is configured to locate the object to be recovered and to grasp and retrieve that object once located. The retriever includes transducers that detect acoustic frequencies propagating in a fluid medium. Independent transponders, which can be deployed from the retriever; are provided for deployment in an area to be searched. Each transponder emits a predetermined acoustic frequency that is detectable by the transducers. The transducers signal movement of the recovery device for retrieval of the object.
US08402730B2	Multi-axis floating merger suspension A crop merging machine includes a trailer frame, a drawbar assembly coupled to an axle, and a header assembly including a frame and a wheel. The merging machine further includes a pick-up assembly coupled to the header frame and a cross-conveyor assembly coupled to the header frame adjacent to the pick-up assembly. The pick-up and cross-conveyor assemblies are configured to cooperate to lift crop materials off the field surface and move the crop materials laterally to discharge onto the field surface to form a windrow. The merging machine includes a suspension assembly disposed between the trailer frame and header assembly, the suspension assembly being coupled to the header assembly and trailer frame and configured to allow the header assembly to pivot, relative to the trailer frame, about a first axis of rotation and to pivot about a second, distinct axis of rotation to follow a contour of the field surface.
US08402725B2	Apparatus and method for inserting a postal item into an envelope and moistening the flap of the envelope In an apparatus for inserting postal items into an envelope, the envelope is brought in an inserting position where the flap of the envelope is held open. A postal item is transported along a postal item transport path towards the inserting position and inserted into the envelope in the inserting position. The envelope with the postal item inserted therein is transported away from the inserting position and closed. A gummed portion of the flap is moistened, wherein the moistening is at least started before the transportation of the envelope away from the inserting position. An apparatus for carrying out such a method is also described.
US08402723B2	Vacuum skin packaging method and apparatus A method for the manufacture of a vacuum skin package where the lower support member is formed in a suitably selected shape which process comprises feeding a flat lower web (3) of thermoplastic material with the product (6) to be packaged loaded thereon and an upper thermoplastic web (27), to a vacuum chamber (8) for skin packaging that comprises an upper element (9) comprising a heated upper concavity (11) and a lower element (10) comprising a female vacuum forming mould (16) suitably shaped to match the desired shape for the support member of the end package, closing the vacuum chamber (8) and drawing the upper web (27) toward the upper concavity (11) by differential pressure; evacuating air or gases from the space between the lower web (3) and the upper web (27), in the closed vacuum chamber (8), while maintaining the vacuum from above the upper web and from below the lower supporting web; and reintroducing air from above the upper film, thus moving the heated upper web (27) against the product (6) and the lower supporting web (3), thereby vacuum forming the lower supporting web (3) against the suitably shaped female mould cavity (19) in the lower element and bonding the upper web (27) to the lower supporting web (3) all around the product (6) to form a hermetically sealed skin package.
US08402722B2	Method for manufacturing a container assembly A container assembly stores a potable liquid and is adapted for storing a second consumable. The container assembly includes a primary container adapted for storing the potable liquid therein. The primary container includes a container top, a container bottom, and a container side. The container assembly also includes a cup defining a cup bottom, a cup side extending up from the cup bottom, and a cup lip removably engagable with the container side to seal the cup prior to use. The cup stores the second consumable between the cup side and the container side. The cup side defines a radius of curvature longitudinally from the cup bottom up toward the cup lip such that the cup side magnifies the second consumable stored therewithin as viewed from outside the cup.
US08402720B2	Machine for manufacturing pouches containing a tobacco mixture In a machine (1) for manufacturing pouches (2) filled with portions (36) of a tobacco mixture, comprising a rotating drum (8) on which a continuous stream (5) of the mixture is formed and conveyed to a station (13) where the portions (36) are divided from the stream, and where the portions (36) are transferred by a pneumatic ejection and feed system (21) to a wrapping station (7), moisturizing substances are added to the mixture by a dispensing system (22) associated with the ejection and feed system (21).
US08402709B2	Flooring panel or wall panel and use thereof A building panel, such as a flooring panel or wall panel and a method of assembling the same into a floor, wall cladding, etc. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. In a preferred embodiment, the groove (6) and the tongue (7) are made of water resistant material and formed with a snap-together joint.
US08402707B2	Interlocking panel system A panel system includes elongated panels coupled together at a seam portion with respective interlocking portions at corresponding vertical ends to provide a substantially planar surface. In siding panel systems, joined siding panels are provided in vertically arranged rows that further couple together along adjacent horizontal edges of the respective rows of siding panels.
US08402706B2	Pillar part for modular construction A multi-purpose part (32), comprising: a frusto-conical projection (322′) in a lower end INF; a frusto-conical housing (322) in an upper end SUP, arranged to match the frusto-conical housing (322′); a falling mortar pipe (326) extending from the upper end SUP to the lower end INF of the pillar and having, at the lower end (INF), a portion (326″) which curves from a downward vertical plane toward a front face of the frusto-conical projection (322′) for the introduction of mortar; a rising mortar pipe (327) extending from the lower end INF to the upper end SUP of the pillar and having, at the lower end INF, a portion (327″) which is bent from a horizontal plane toward an upward vertical plane so that the mortar introduced rises until a cavity defined by the mortar pipes (326, 327), the frusto-conical housing (322) and the frusto-conical projection (322′) is filled.
US08402696B2	Weather strip A weather strip includes a trim portion that is a substantially U-shaped, that is mounted on a flange portion provided along a door opening circumference portion of a vehicle, and that is equipped with a vehicle outer-sided side wall portion, a vehicle inner-sided side wall portion, and a coupling portion for coupling the side wall portions to each other, and a seal portion including a hollow portion. The seal portion includes a first elongated portion which is elongated to a vehicle outer side from a portion located in a vicinity of a boundary portion between the seal portion and the coupling portion of the vehicle outer-sided side wall portion, a second elongated portion which is elongated to a vehicle outer side from a portion located in a vicinity of a tip portion of the vehicle outer-sided side wall portion, and an expanded portion having substantially an arc shape.
US08402694B2	Sheave supporting element for use in window regulator guide sections The invention relates to a supporting element which takes the form of an angle bar. Suitable means are used to provide the bar with a cable guide sheave and the supporting element and the sheave, together with the aforementioned means, are mounted on a guide section of the type used in window regulators. Preferably, a supporting element and a sheave are provided close to each of the ends of the above-mentioned section.
US08402693B1	Transparent window for storm shutters A window made from a transparent material is designed to fit through a slat of a accordion type of storm shutter that is capable of being mounted when the storm shutter is mounted to the window, door and the like of a premise. The window includes a large diameter portion that is larger than the cut-out in the slat and a smaller diameter portion with outside threads fits through the cut-out. A ring on the other side of the slat engages the threads to thread the window to the slat. Other fitting on the window are contemplated by this invention.
US08402691B2	Insect trap The invention resides in an insect trap (10) comprising a housing (14) which has one or more access apertures (19) to permit entry of insects into a hollow interior (19B) of the housing (14) and a catchment tank (20) located below the one or more access apertures (19) for trapping of insects characterized in that there is provided an air diffuser (30) above one or more access apertures (19) and an air blower (37) or fan located adjacent to the air diffuser (30) for generating circulating air within the housing (14). Circulating air is then confined mainly to the housing interior (19B) and does not escape through the access apertures (19).
US08402687B1	Artificial lure with adjustable, exchangeable provisions An artificial fishing lure has adjustable body parts, or in the alternative, interchangeable body parts, so that the swimming action of the lure can be altered among distinct swimming patterns by adjustments that for the most part eliminate, after the lure has been fully rigged onto fishing line with terminal tackle, the need for the angler from having to cut the line. That way, anglers can variously alter the swimming pattern of the lure among several distinct patterns without having to cut the line to do so.
US08402684B1	Bipod firearm support A bipod for supporting the forward portion of a firearm includes a clamp portion, a pivot body and a pair of leg assemblies. The clamp portion is adapted for clamping to a firearm and is pivotably mounted to the pivot body for pivoting about a vertical axis and a longitudinal axis. The pivot body includes a pair of leg mounting surfaces. A pair of leg assemblies are pivotably mounted to the mounting surfaces of the pivot block so that each leg assembly may be pivoted about an axis that is generally normal to the mounting surface and such that each leg assembly can be adjustably positioned in one of at least two positions.
US08402681B2	Cloth piece treating apparatus A cloth piece treating apparatus includes a spreading device for spreading a large area cloth piece, a press device, a folding device for folding the cloth piece into a predetermined small size and a cloth piece length measuring device having a cloth piece detector. The spread cloth piece is folded in the folding device on the basis of the length of the spread cloth piece. The cloth piece detector is disposed in the press device so that the horizontal length of a receiving conveyor of the folding device is minimized, whereby the total length of the cloth piece treating apparatus is shortened.
US08402679B2	Remote control snow remover A self propelled snow remover machine with a computer control panel a camera, a funnel design snow brush. The computer control panel controls the snow remover machine through a downloaded application with cloud technology and is access through many different electronic devices.
US08402678B1	Orthopedic shoe/boot for use with foot wounds and for post op ambulation A shoe and boot, particularly for post-surgery, diabetic, or post-trauma use. It is intended to be worn by a patient who has a wound located on the forefoot and midfoot regions of the foot. An upper assembly and a lower assembly including a raised platform and a base platform. The raised platform has less longitudinal extent than the base platform. A gap is formed when a foot rests primarily upon the raised platform between the base platform and the bottom of the foot. A removable soft, cushioning insert may be placed into the gap. The inset can vary in height and density in order to provide optimum comfort throughout the various stages of the healing process.
US08402653B2	Solar energy converter assembly incorporating display system and method of fabricating the same According to one embodiment, a method of forming a solar energy converter assembly disclosed herein includes providing a solar energy converter configured to convert light incident on a light-receiving surface thereof into another form of energy and providing louver elements adjacent to the light-receiving surface such that light is transmittable between the louver elements to the light-receiving surface along a plurality of directions. Display surfaces of the louver elements are visible along a predetermined direction different from the plurality of directions and non-display surfaces of the louver elements reflect light to the light-receiving surface.
US08402639B2	Electronic component mounting system It is an object to provide an electronic component mounting system capable of concurrently, efficiently subjecting a plurality of substrates to component mounting operation and accomplishing both high productivity and a capability of addressing production of multiple products. An electronic component mounting system is configured by arranging, on an upstream side of a component loading unit having a plurality of substrate conveyance mechanisms, a screen printer M2 having a plurality of individual printing mechanisms and a coating and inspection machine M4 that applies a coat of a resin for use in boding an electronic component and that inspects a coated state. The coating and inspection machine M4 is equipped with a coating head 15 that performs operation for coating substrates conveyed by substrate conveyance mechanisms 12A and 12B from the screen printer M2 with the resin and an inspection head 16 that performs pre-coating inspection and post-coating inspection.
US08402629B2	Method of manufacturing hollow microneedle structures Provided is a method of manufacturing a hollow microneedle structure. The method includes coating a hollow core having a predetermined section and being long in a lengthwise direction with a coating solution, and solidifying the coating solution to form a coating layer, depositing a metal seed layer on the coating layer, plating the seed metal layer with a metal to form a plated layer, cutting the hollow core having the plated layer at an inclination angle with respect to the lengthwise direction for form a surface inclination, and removing the hollow core and the coating layer to form a hollow microneedle structure. Thus, the hollow microneedle structure can be manufactured to have such diameter, length, hardness, and inclination angle as to minimize pain. By use of the hollow core, the microneedle structure can have vertical microneedles with a uniform inner diameter.
US08402624B2	Blank arrangement The invention relates to a blank arrangement, with a blank (12) that is to be machined, in particular for the production of dental restoration parts. The blank is connected to a holder (16), which is fixedly connected to the blank (12), and to an adapter (22), which releasably bears the holder (16) and the blank (12), the adapter (22) having an effective surface by means of which the blank unit can be mounted in or on the work holding fixture of a machining device.
US08402618B2	Fastening device A fastening device of locking press button type includes a first element (1) which in use is present at a substrate and a second element (9) which, to fasten an object (10) to the substrate, can be releasably fastened to the first element by way of a to a snapping part (2) of the first element snapping snapping part (11) of it and wherein the elements (1, 9) remote from their snapping part (2, 11 respectively) have a hooking part (3, 8 respectively) such that the elements (1, 9) first have to be mutually engaged making a mutual angle by the hooking parts (3, 8) and then are pivoted onto each other to subsequently be fixed snapped to each other.
US08402610B2	Detachable handle The invention relates to a detachable handle to hold a wall element (3) comprising a main body; a clamping arrangement connected to the main body; an operating member (30) mounted for pivoting on the main body and adapted to move the clamping arrangement between a free, non-clamping state and a clamping state in which the clamping arrangement clamps the wall element (3); and a transmission arrangement adapted to move the clamping arrangement when the operating member is pivoted, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a transmission element (39) having an axis of rotation in longitudinal direction, and wherein the transmission arrangement is adapted to convert a pivoting movement of the operating member (30) into a rotational movement of the transmission element (39).
US08402606B1	Door closer with buffer mechanism for a sliding door A door closer for a top hung sliding door has a buffer mechanism and a trolley hanger. The buffer mechanism includes a stationary base, a sliding block, a hook, two buffers and two resilient members. The sliding block is slidably mounted on the stationary base. The hook is pivotally mounted on the sliding block. The buffers are mounted on the stationary base and each buffer has a piston rod secured to the sliding block. The resilient members are mounted on the stationary base and each resilient member has one end secured to the sliding block. The trolley hanger has at least one engaging recess selectively engaging the hook. Therefore, the buffers can provide a buffering force and the resilient members can release a resilient force to reduce a moving speed of a door panel.
US08402604B2	Combined crevice tool and dusting brush A combined crevice tool and dusting brush includes a main body having a first end including a first suction inlet, a side wall including a second suction inlet, a second end including a discharge outlet and an internal air path. The combined tool and brush further includes a valve body that is received in that air path. The valve body includes a closed end, a discharge end including a discharge opening and a wall including a suction opening. The discharge opening is aligned with the discharge outlet. Further, the valve body is displaceable between two different operating positions.
US08402596B2	Directional atomizer system for cleaning chandeliers An apparatus for cleaning chandeliers includes a hand-held jet gun having a proximal end connected to a source of hot water under positive pressure and a distal end having a spray head for discharging hot water under pressure in a spray pattern. A hand-held vacuum shield has at least one vacuum inlet connected to a source of negative pressure. Hot water discharged from the spray head is attracted to the hand-held vacuum shield when the spray head and the hand-held vacuum shield are held in relatively close proximity to one another and the hand-held vacuum shield is in fluid communication with the source of negative pressure. An object disposed between the spray head and the hand-held vacuum shield is cleansed by the action of hot water under positive pressure impinging against it. The hand-held vacuum shield protects objects not disposed between the spray head and the hand-held vacuum shield.
US08402591B2	Toothbrush having improved tuft retention and anchor wire An ansate implement, especially a toothbrush, having improved tuft retention and a staple for use therewith. The staple has a specially designed topography that provides reliable anchoring and creation from cost effective materials. In one embodiment, the invention is an ansate implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to said handle and having at least one hole extending into the head from a surface; at least one cleaning element positioned in the hole; and a staple located in the hole anchoring the cleaning element in the tuft hole, the staple having a longitudinal axis and a first major surface, wherein a plurality of spaced apart grooves are formed into the first major surface, each of the grooves extending along a linear axis from a bottom edge of the staple toward a top edge of the staple, the linear axis intersecting the longitudinal axis at an acute angle of 40 to 70 degrees.
US08402590B1	Push broom head A push broom head is provided having a substantially rigid base, leading edge, upper and lower surface, central vertical axis, plurality of rows of seats, and a plurality of tufts of bristles. The head includes a leading edge row(s) of tufts of a first type closest the leading edge and a plurality of rows of a second type. The length of the second type of tuft bristles is longer than the length of the first type and the number of rows of tufts of the second type exceeds the first type. The axis of each tuft forms an angle relative to the base's central vertical axis. Preferably, when not in contact with the sweeping surface, the angle of attack of the second type of bristles differs by row and/or the angle of the leading row of tufts exceeds 10 degrees in a forward direction relative to the central vertical axis.
US08402586B2	Motorised robot for cleaning swimming pools or the like, which operates when submerged in a fluid The invention relates to a motorized robot for cleaning swimming pools, including: means (2) for moving the robot, having a surface (3) for making contact with a movement surface submerged in the swimming pool; means (4) for generating a circulation of fluid in the robot, including an opening for the suction (5) of said fluid, and an opening for the backflow (6) of the aspirated fluid; a conduit (7) of fluid connecting the suction and backflow openings; means for generating (8) a flow of said fluid in the conduit; a strut for lifting at least part of the contact surface (3) from the movement surface, said strut being mobile between a first inactive position in which the strut is retracted inside the robot and a second active position in which the strut projects past the contact surface of the movement means in such a way that part of said contact surface can no longer be in contact with the movement surface; and means for controlling (10) the movement of the strut between its active and inactive positions, said means being activated by a movement of the fluid in the fluid conduit, and including means (11) for opposing the movement of the fluid in the fluid conduit (7), which are mobile in said conduit in such a way as to at least partially block the conduit or release it, and connected to the strut in such a way that the strut takes on its active or inactive position according to the position adopted in the fluid conduit by the opposition means.
US08402585B2	Convertible pressure/suction swimming pool cleaner A swimming pool cleaner interchangeably usable as a suction cleaner and as a pressure cleaner. The cleaner is of the type movable along an underwater pool surface to clean debris therefrom, the pool cleaner including a body having a debris inlet and a debris outlet. The body is adapted at the debris outlet for securement of either a water-suction hose connected to a remote suction system or a debris-collection device entrapping debris and passing water therethrough back into the pool. A venturi-line structure is secured with respect to the body. The venturi-line structure includes a venturi-line inlet adapted for connection of a water-flow line fed by a remote pump and a venturi jet located at the debris inlet to cause accelerated flow substantially thereacross and into the body when the cleaner is used as a pressure cleaner. The body includes a debris-inlet adjuster configured to reduce the debris inlet to adapt the cleaner for use as a suction cleaner.
US08402584B2	Length changeable ship ramp The invention relates to a device (1) for a length-changeable ship ramp (2). According to the invention, a part (3) of a telescope (4) forms a driveway surface on the ramp. Furthermore, a device (50) for a ship ramp (2), which has turntables (51, 51A, 51B) between ramp parts (10, 11, 12), has means for locking the turntables of the telescopic ramp parts in order of priority.
US08402568B2	System and method for protecting a bodypart A system and a method for protecting the head of a user in case of an abnormal movement, such as a fall or a collision. The system comprises an apparel (1), an airbag (2), an inflator (3), and a trigger. The airbag includes a first part (7) for surrounding the neck and back head portion of the user after inflation, and a second part (8) for forming a hood surrounding the skull of the user after inflation. The first part (7) and second part (8) are folded and arranged in the apparel (1) before inflation. The apparel is arranged around the neck of the user, like for example a collar or a scarf.
US08402567B2	Concealing undergarment A concealing undergarment preserves a user's modesty while allowing the user to wear modern apparel such as low-slung or low-cut pants, jeans, and the like. In general, the concealing undergarment conceals parts of the user's body which may be revealed due to the style or cut of apparel the user is wearing. The concealing undergarment may have the appearance of skin when worn. This allows the user to wear more revealing styles, as intended. The concealing undergarment may conceal the user's midriff and back while preventing rear cleavage from being seen, especially where the user is wearing low-slung pants or jeans. An extension may be provided to present inspirational phrases, positive words, facts, and other information to a user. The extension may be tucked under the user's bra to be close to the user's heart, and be used to hold an upper portion of the concealing undergarment in position.
US08407811B2	Scanning probe microscope and method of observing sample using the same In a scanning probe microscope, a nanotube and metal nano-particles are combined together to configure a plasmon-enhanced near-field probe having an optical resolution on the order of nanometers as a measuring probe in which a metal structure is embedded, and this plasmon-enhanced near-field probe is installed in a highly-efficient plasmon exciting unit to repeat approaching to and retracting from each measuring point on a sample with a low contact force, so that optical information and profile information of the surface of the sample are measured with a resolution on the order of nanometers, a high S/N ratio, and high reproducibility without damaging both of the probe and the sample.
US08407808B2	Security thread for protecting media content Disclosed herein is a system and method for protecting copyrighted media content. The copyright and playback management information is embedded into at least one data field of the media content. The media content is then encoded for a serial copy management system (SCMS) that utilizes the copyright and playback management information to ensure the appropriate copyright protection of the media content based at least in part on the embedded copyright and playback management information.
US08407802B2	Method and system for providing security seals on web pages A method of providing web site verification information to a user includes receiving a DNS query including a host name and a seal verification site name, parsing the DNS query, and extracting the host name from the DNS query. The method also includes accessing a DNS zone file including a list of Trust Services customers and determining if the host name is associated with a Trust Services customer in the list of Trust Services customers. The method further includes transmitting a positive identifier to the requester if the host name is associated with a Trust Services customer and transmitting a negative identifier to the requester if the host name is not associated with a Trust Services customer. In a specific embodiment, the Trust Services include issuance of digital certificates.
US08407801B2	Security countermeasure function evaluation program In a security countermeasure function evaluation apparatus, an estimator operates an input unit, whereby an evaluation point calculation unit makes an evaluation as to whether each item of countermeasure information representing a security countermeasure function in detail satisfies each item of sufficient condition table information, and the evaluation point is calculated from the evaluation result of each item, whereby the transition probability calculation unit calculates a transition probability based on the evaluation point.
US08407792B2	Systems and methods for computer security A method for maintaining computer security comprises receiving an incoming email destined for an email server, determining whether the received incoming email is infected with malicious code and blocking the incoming email determined to be infected with malicious code from reaching the email server.
US08407781B2	Information providing support device and information providing support method It is an object to provide an information providing support device which is capable of encouraging a person having an intention or an obligation to provide information to provide safe and good quality information. An information providing support device of the present invention includes: an information storage unit for memorizing at least information input by a user of the information providing support device; an information providing request receiving unit for receiving the information providing request without intermediation of a user operation; an internal information retrieval unit for retrieving relevant information from the information storage unit in response to the information providing request received by the information providing request receiving unit, the relevant information being information relevant to the information providing request; and an information providing request presenting unit for presenting a predetermined information manager with the information providing request for which the relevant information has been retrieved by the internal information retrieval unit and the relevant information in association with each other, the information manager being authorized to permit the provision of the information stored in the information storage unit.
US08407775B2	Systems and methods for access control The disclosure describes various systems and methods for access control. One such method includes providing an access control module that includes a base portion and an update portion. The update portion is electrically coupled to the base portion via a detachable electrical connector, and wherein operation of the access control module is based at least in part on an interaction between the base portion and the update portion.
US08407773B1	Data and application access combined with communication services An apparatus conveniently provides a user with access to applications and data that the user accesses on other devices in a secure and authenticated manner. The apparatus detects the presence of a second device, such as a mobile phone. The apparatus authenticates a user based at least on identifying information provided by the second device. The apparatus locates one or more applications based on resource access information provided by a server based on the identifying information. While the second device remains present, upon authenticating the user, and further upon successfully locating the application(s), the apparatus provides the user with access to the one or more applications. User data for the one or more applications is made available from the second device and/or a server. The data is synchronized across all sources. The data is encrypted at the apparatus, and rendered unreadable when the second device is no longer present.
US08407767B2	Provisioning of digital identity representations A system and method for provisioning digital identity representations (“DIRs”) uses various techniques and structures to ease administration, increase accuracy, and decrease inconsistencies of a digital-identity provisioning system. Various methods are provided for creating new DIRs, requesting DIRs, notifying principals of available DIRs, and approving issuance of new DIRs.
US08407760B2	Apparatus and method for transitioning access rights for role-based access control compatibility Disclosed is a method for transitioning access rights, in a remote station with role-based access control, for an unknown role having access rights defined by a central access control management module. In the method, a role capability table is maintained in the remote station specifying centrally-defined access rights of roles that are interpretable in the remote station. An access request associated with an unknown role that is not interpretable in the remote station is received. The access request includes a role transition list that relates the unknown role to other centrally-defined roles. At least one of the other centrally-defined roles is interpretable in the remote station. A role is selected, from the role transition list, that is interpretable in the remote station for interpreting the unknown role of the access request. Access is granted based on the access request associated with the unknown role using the access rights of the interpretable role selected from the role transition table.
US08407756B2	Systems and methods for remote web query and image selection exchange to video screen Systems and methods are disclosed which relate to browsing through search results on a handheld communications device, and displaying a desired search result on an external display device. The system includes a handheld communications device having a user interface to search for a plurality of media resources, an application server to deliver the media resources, and a set-top box to receive a request to display a desired media resource on a display device coupled to the set-top box, such as an IPTV. The user interface presents novel methods to send the desired search result to the IPTV via the application server. The user may “throw” the media resource to the set-top box using a hand gesture to invoke an accelerometer in the handheld communications device.
US08407752B2	Synchronizing broadcast content with corresponding network content This disclosure describes methods and systems for synchronizing broadcast and network content, such as web content. It also describes related technology for facilitating linking from broadcast content to related information and e-commerce on a network. One method detailed in this disclosure synchronizes broadcast content with dynamic network content at a network address. This method embeds an identifier in a broadcast, extracts the identifier embedded in broadcast content, and uses the identifier to identify corresponding network content. The method then posts the corresponding network content on a network device located at the network address (e.g., a web page at the URL of the broadcaster). The network device (e.g., web server) is responsive to requests sent to the network address to provide the network content over a network. Using this method, the broadcast content is synchronized with the corresponding network content. This approach enables the content at the broadcaster's fixed web site URL to change dynamically with the broadcast. This approach is transparent to the user, who simply visits the same URL to get more information about current programming or purchase a product currently advertised in current programming.
US08407744B2	Snapshot recognition for TV A system may include logic to provide a video program to a video display, logic to provide interactive content to indicate that a snapshot of the video program can be captured, and snapshot capturing logic to capture a video frame of the video program.
US08407743B2	Method for processing additional information related to an announced service or content in an NRT service and a broadcast receiver A method of processing additional information related to an announced service or content in a Non-Real Time (NRT) service and the broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of providing a Non-Real Time (NRT) service in a broadcasting receiver includes receiving a service map table (SMT) and a first descriptor through a service signaling channel, identifying an image identifier and an image type of an image for an NRT service based upon the first descriptor, receiving the image via a flute session and displaying the image when corresponding service is played, wherein the image is logo or icon data for the NRT service. The method may further include connecting a service signaling channel, parsing the received SMT and the first descriptor, determining whether a service is the NRT service based upon the parsed SMT and storing the received image.
US08407742B2	System and method for reserving preference event of broadcasting program There is provided a preference event reservation system of a broadcasting program including: a head end inserting event information into a broadcasting program sued broadcasting the broadcasting program containing the event information and an event information list; and a client terminal. The client terminal includes a controller displaying the event information list transferred from the head end, controlling a reservation for a preference event out of the event information list, and controlling execution of the reservation when event information that corresponds to the preference event is transferred from the head end; and a memory storing the reservation for the preference event.
US08407738B2	Television tuning on start-up A method includes requesting most-watched program information from a subscription television service and identifying the most-watched program for a current time slot. The method further includes receiving a channel identification for the most-watched program for the current time slot, automatically tuning to the most-watched program based on the channel identification, and displaying the most-watched program. The most-watched program may be tuned at the start of a set-top box initialization sequence to give perception of a fast start time.
US08407723B2	JAVA virtual machine having integrated transaction management system and facility to query managed objects A computing system and method is a specification of user-defined business logic is provided as JAVA program instructions (or another programming language) which does not natively provide for specification of full transactionality, to accomplish a fully transactional application, including executed managed objects. The managed objects are persisted in a shared memory of the computing system, such that a scope of the objects is global to the fully transactional application. Furthermore, a catalog of the managed object is maintained. A query interface is provided for querying the managed objects, in order to receive a query from an application, to process the catalog, and to provide a result indication of at least one of the managed objects back to the querying application. Thus, for example, the application may process the managed objects that are indicated in the query result.
US08407710B2	Systems and methods for dynamically scanning a plurality of active ports for priority schedule of work Systems and methods for scanning ports for work are provided. One system includes one or more processors, multiple ports, a first tracking mechanism, and a second tracking mechanism for tracking high priority work and low priority work, respectively. The processor(s) is/are configured to perform the below method. One method includes scanning the ports, finding high priority work on a port, and accepting or declining the high priority work. The method further includes changing a designation of the processor to TRUE in the first tracking mechanism if the processor accepts the high priority work such that the processor is allowed to perform the high priority work on the port. Also provided are computer storage mediums including computer code for performing the above method.
US08407709B2	Method and apparatus for batch scheduling, and computer product A batch scheduling apparatus that performs a scheduling of a parallel program to be executed as a batch job by a parallel computer includes a priority determining unit that determines a priority of the parallel program based on an index that indicates a level of utilization of the parallel computer by the parallel program; and a scheduling unit that schedules the parallel program based on the priority determined.
US08407701B2	Facilitating quiesce operations within a logically partitioned computer system A facility is provided for processing to distinguish between a full conventional (or total system) quiesce request within a logically partitioned computer system, which requires all processors of the computer system to remain quiesced for the duration of the quiesce-related operation, and a new early-release conventional quiesce request, which is associated with fast-quiesce request utilization. In accordance with the facility, once all processors have quiesced responsive to a pending quiesce request sequence, the processors are allowed to block early-release conventional quiesce interrupts and to continue processing if there is no total system quiesce request in the pending quiesce request sequence.
US08407700B2	Methods and systems for merging virtualization sublayers A computer-implemented method may include identifying first and second sublayers of a virtualized application. The first and/or second virtualization sublayers may include a read-write sublayer, a read-only sublayer, a virtual-reset-point sublayer, and/or a patch sublayer. The computer-implemented method may also include merging an instance of the first virtualization sublayer with an instance of the second virtualization sublayer. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08407694B2	System and method for facilitating installing software A system and method for facilitating installing software includes steps and means for identifying whether the phase of a software installing process changes and, responsive to the identifying a change in the phase of the software installing process, executing an additional task of the current phase of the software installing process.
US08407692B2	Dynamic correction of component manifests Described is processing a manifest associated with a software component (such as for installation purposes) to determine whether the manifest has errors, and if so, providing a corrected manifest. To process the manifest, an identifier associated with the manifest is used to consult a correction data store to determine whether the manifest is known to require correction. The identifier may be generated via a hash (e.g., of the manifest contents) if one is not appropriately associated with the manifest. If the manifest is known to require correction, a corrected manifest is used, such as from a substitute corrected manifest, or a set of deltas that modify the manifest into the corrected manifest. The substitute manifest or deltas may be in the data store or obtained via a link. A corrected manifest may also be provided by evaluating the manifest for rule violations, and fixing any rule violations that are found.
US08407679B2	Source code processing method, system and program A method, system, and computer readable article of manufacture to enable parallel execution of a divided source code in a multiprocessor system. The method includes the steps of: inputting an original source code by an input device into the computing apparatus; finding a critical path in the original source code by a critical path cut module; cutting the critical path in the original source code into a plurality of process block groups by the critical path cut module; and dividing the plurality of process block groups among a plurality of processors in the multiprocessor system by a CPU assignment code generation module to produce the divided source code. The system includes an input device; a critical path cut module; and a CPU assignment code generation unit to produce the divided source code. The computer readable article of manufacture includes instructions to implement the method.
US08407678B2	Method of array interception using data-flow analysis An apparatus and a method for Java array interception using bytecode manipulation and data flow analysis. In one embodiment, a user-provided object class is identified. An array access operation of the user-provided object class is intercepted. The intercepted array access operation is translated with an emulator class of a native Java array. The translated array access operation is sent to an emulator class to determine whether to dispatch to the native Java array or an alternate data source.
US08407669B2	Device based software authorizations for software asset management Software device groups allow owners and administrators to be defined for various intelligent devices, instead of tracking by primary user. A software license compliance management system obtains discovery information for these devices to determine software installed or active on these devices. The management system also obtains the number of licenses for each software package and determines whether the software is in compliance, or if the number of instances exceeds the number of licenses. This determination is flexible and can handle various license types, such as per user, per device, and per processor. For any exception, the group owner is informed and then can re-allocate licenses, purchase additional licenses, or request the uninstalling of a software instance(s). Device groups also can include sub-groups with sub-group owners responsible for handling any exception in that sub-group.
US08407660B2	Interconnect architecture in three dimensional network on a chip The connection architecture of a network on a chip (NoC) is described in which (a) nodes in octahedron sections are connected in an arc Benes network, (b) a hierarchy of node clusters are connected using a globally asynchronous locally asynchronous (GALA) configuration, (c) a double wishbone 2D torus ring is applied to connection between network layers and (d) data is routed using buffer modulation.
US08407658B2	Methods, systems, and computer program products for using direct memory access to initialize a programmable logic device Methods, systems, and computer program products for using direct memory access (DMA) to initialize a programmable logic device (PLD) are provided. A method includes manipulating a control line of the PLD to configure the PLD in a programming mode, receiving PLD programming data from a DMA control at a DMA speed, and writing the PLD programming data to a data buffer. The method also includes reading the PLD programming data from the data buffer, and transmitting the PLD programming data to a programming port on the PLD at a PLD programming speed.
US08407653B1	Method and system of estimating a derating factor for soft errors in a circuit Approaches for estimating a derating factor for a plurality of potential soft errors in a circuit implementation of a circuit design. A plurality of respective estimated toggle rates are determined for a plurality of circuit elements for implementing the circuit design. A derating factor of the circuit design is determined as a function of the estimated toggle rates of the plurality of circuit elements. The derating factor is an estimation of a fraction of the plurality of potential soft errors that would cause functional failure of the circuit design.
US08407652B2	Task-based multi-process design synthesis A task-based multi-process design synthesis methodology relies on a plurality of child processes to assist a parent process in performing optimizations on an integrated circuit design. Objects from an integrated circuit design are grouped into subsets and assigned to child processes, with each child process performing a transform on each of the objects in the subset assigned to that child process and determining which of the objects in the subset are candidate objects for which performance of the transform has been successful. The child processes then notify the parent process of those objects that qualify as candidate objects, so that the parent process only has to perform the transform on the candidate objects, thereby relieving the parent process from the overhead associated with performing the transform on non-candidate objects for which the transform has been determined by the child processes as not being successful.
US08407639B2	Systems and methods for mapping state elements of digital circuits for equivalence verification Systems and methods for mapping state elements of digital circuits for equivalence verification are provided. One method for mapping state elements for equivalence verification between a first circuit and a second circuit includes (a) determining a first sequential depth from primary inputs and primary outputs of the first circuit and the second circuit to each state element thereof, wherein the first sequential depth is a minimum count of state elements along any path between two points of a circuit, (b) identifying and mapping first state elements of the first circuit and the second circuit having a unique first sequential depth, (c) determining a second sequential depth from the identified first state elements of the first circuit and the second circuit to the remaining state elements, (d) identifying second state elements of the first circuit and the second circuit having a unique second sequential depth, and (e) repeating (c) and (d) unless the process is no longer generating new unique mappings of state elements.
US08407638B2	Methods and apparatus for boolean equivalency checking in the presence of voting logic In a first aspect, a first method of designing a circuit is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) providing a model of an original circuit design including a latch; (2) providing a model of a modified version of the original circuit design, wherein the modified version of the original circuit design includes a set of latches associated with the latch of the original circuit design and voting logic having inputs coupled to respective outputs of latches in the latch set; and (3) during Boolean equivalency checking (BEC), injecting an error on at most a largest minority of the inputs of the voting logic to test the voting logic function.
US08407619B2	Method and apparatus for selecting and highlighting objects in a client browser A computer implemented method, apparatus, article of manufacture and storage medium, provide the ability to select and highlight objects. A rendered image (containing one or more rendered objects) is displayed in a client browser on a client computer. A run length encoded (RLE) selection buffer is received, from a server across a network, into the client browser. The selection buffer provides a mapping of each pixel from the rendered image to rendered objects. User input is accepted that identifies a location of a cursor with respect to the rendered image. A determination is made, on the client computer, regarding which of the rendered objects has been selected based on the user input and the RLE selection buffer. The selected rendered object is then displayed in a visually distinguishable manner.
US08407610B2	Executable and declarative specification for graphical user interfaces Techniques for decoupling models created during design-time from the runtime environment. A declarative and executable representation for GUIs for applications is provided that is independent of any particular runtime platform, GUI framework, device, or programming language and which acts as an interface between the design environment and the runtime environment.
US08407604B2	Messaging system and method A method, computer program product, and computing system for defining text to be included within a first text message. One or more tags are assigned to the first text message. The one or more tags are chosen from a plurality of available tags. The first text message, including the text and the one or more tags, is transmitted to one or more recipients.
US08407600B2	Contact picker interface An interface for identifying one or more contacts is used to access and provide contact information to one or more interested parties or applications in a controlled manner. Various criteria can be used to identify which contacts will be presented to a user and how they will be presented in such a way as to facilitate access to the corresponding contact information. An API is used to handle and pass contact information on to requesting applications.
US08407587B2	System of processing a document targeted for one system on another system A document processing system for actively processing a document targeted for one system on another system. The system of processing a document having associated field definitions targeted for a system operating in a first encoding scheme in a text editor operating in a second encoding scheme includes determining if a change to the document in the second encoding scheme violates one of the field definitions associated with the document and providing an indication to the text editor when a field definition violation is determined. The processing functions include creating, inserting, editing, deleting and formatting. The document processing system can be used when editing RPG documents in a Unicode editor for ultimate processing by a non-Unicode system such as EBCDIC DBCS. The indications can include setting a flag, which can be used by the text editor to drive visual indicators of violations, deny changes and the like.
US08407582B2	Browser program for performing table-layout There is provided a method of laying out contents targeted for a first device having a first screen size on a screen of a second device having a second screen size smaller than the first screen size. The method includes analyzing a table width of the table in accordance with a predetermined criterion; and performing in response to a result of the analyzing step one of layout operations of: (p1) laying out the table using a typical technique in accordance with the second screen size, and (p2) laying out a row of cells in the table so that at least two cells arranged adjacently in a horizontal direction in the row of the table are aligned horizontally on the screen of the second device based on a predetermined algorithm.
US08407579B2	System and method for managing a spreadsheet A system and method for managing a spreadsheet are disclosed. The method may include determining a portion of a digital image of a data statement, determining data of the data statement based on the portion of the digital image, and mapping a data cell of a standardized spreadsheet to the portion of the digital image based on the data of the data statement. The data of the data statement may be determined by applying an optical character recognition process to the digital image. The data cell may be mapped to the portion of the digital image based on a label or key included in the data of the data statement, a set of coordinate values, a mathematical equation, and/or the like. The method may further include determining a location of a second data statement based on the mapping data.
US08407570B1	Decoding methods and apparatus for fractional multidimensional trellis coded modulation systems Systems and methods for encoding user information and decoding signal vectors using fractional encoding/decoding and set partitioning. A fractional encoder can select a coset for transmitting or storing user information based on one or more deterministic bits and on encoded user information. The deterministic bits limit the encoder to using only a subset of the available signal vectors in a modulation scheme. A fractional decoder can receive a signal vector, and can find at least two nearest neighbors in each dimension. The fractional decoder can form a set of potential signal vectors using only the at least two nearest neighbors. The decoder may determine which of these potential signal vectors are valid within the fractional signaling scheme, and can decode the received signal vector based on the valid potential signal vectors.
US08407569B1	Error event processing methods and systems Circuitry and methods can be provided to correct errors in decision bits. A plurality of error event syndromes can be computed for a first plurality of error events. For each of a plurality of error event syndromes, two best error events can be selected. A cross-syndrome second best error event can be selected from among the first plurality of error events. A global second best error event can be selected from among the cross-syndrome second best error event and the second best per-syndrome error events. A second plurality of error events can be selected from among the global second best error event and the best per-syndrome error events. The second plurality of error events can be used for data post-processing.
US08407563B2	Low-complexity soft-decision decoding of error-correction codes A system and method for correcting errors in an ECC block using soft-decision data. In an embodiment, a soft-decision ECC decoding method, uses “soft” data indicative of how reliable bits of data are when read out. Such reliability information may be used to identify particular symbols with a higher likelihood of error such that these symbols may be changed in an attempt to reduce the total number of errors in the data. In an embodiment, a soft-decision ECC decoding path may include a reliability checker operable to receive bits of data read from a data store and operable to associate a reliability factor with each bit of data. Then, an update module may iteratively change bits or groups of bits based upon an ordering of the reliability factors.
US08407556B2	LDPC (low density parity check) coding and interleaving implemented in MIMO communication systems LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) coding and interleaving implemented in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems. As described herein, a wide variety of irregular LDPC codes may be generated using GRS or RS codes. A variety of communication device types are also presented that may employ the error correcting coding (ECC) using a GRS-based irregular LDPC code, along with appropriately selected interleaving, to provide for communications using ECC. These communication devices may be implemented to in wireless communication systems including those that comply with the recommendation practices and standards being developed by the IEEE 802.11n Task Group (i.e., the Task Group that is working to develop a standard for 802.11 TGn (High Throughput)).
US08407545B2	Communication device A communication device is provided with a partial Fourier transformation circuit that calculates a correction parameter for quadrature errors correction. The partial Fourier transformation circuit is programmed to calculate a single one of frequency bins.
US08407540B2	Low overhead circuit and method for predicting timing errors A data processing circuitry includes a data input, a data output and a processing path arranged between the data input and the data output. The circuitry includes a plurality of retention circuits arranged in parallel with the processing path. At least one potential error detecting circuit including a potential error detecting path for transmitting the data signal pending at an input of one of a plurality of synchronization circuits to one of the retention circuits where the potential error detecting path includes delay circuitry for delaying the data. Also included is comparison circuitry for comparing a value of the data signal captured by one of the synchronization circuits with a value of the data signal captured by a corresponding one of the retention circuits. A comparison circuitry is configured to signal a potential error in response to detecting a difference in the captured data values.
US08407537B2	Error recover within processing stages of an integrated circuit An integrated circuit includes a plurality of processing stages each including processing logic 1014, a non-delayed signal-capture element 1016, a delayed signal-capture element 1018 and a comparator 1024. The non-delayed signal-capture element 1016 captures an output from the processing logic 1014 at a non-delayed capture time. At a later delayed capture time, the delayed signal-capture element 1018 also captures a value from the processing logic 1014. An error detection circuit 1026 and error correction circuit 1028 detect and correct random errors in the delayed value and supplies an error-checked delayed value to the comparator 1024. The comparator 1024 compares the error-checked delayed value and the non-delayed value and if they are not equal this indicates that the non-delayed value was captured too soon and should be replaced by the error-checked delayed value. The non-delayed value is passed to the subsequent processing stage immediately following its capture and accordingly error recovery mechanisms are used to suppress the erroneous processing which has occurred by the subsequent processing stages, such as gating the clock and allowing the correct signal values to propagate through the subsequent processing logic before restarting the clock. The operating parameters of the integrated circuit, such as the clock frequency, the operating voltage, the body biased voltage, temperature and the like are adjusted so as to maintain a finite non-zero error rate in a manner that increases overall performance.
US08407531B2	Method of collecting and correlating locking data to determine ultimate holders in real time A technique for collecting and correlating locking data collects and correlates information on a plurality of programs waiting on or holding a plurality of resources in a multi-computer database system. The technique identifies a program executing on one computer of the multi-computer database system that is waiting on a resource. The technique also identifies a second program, executing on another computer, as the ultimate holder of the resource. An operator display screen displays information corresponding to the first program and the second program. The operator display screen may be switched between a multiline display format and a single line display format. The collection, identification, and display of the locking data is performed periodically, to allow the operator to discover locking problems and take a desired corrective action.
US08407530B2	Server reachability detection An application attempts to use a first protocol stack to send a first message to a server. After attempting to send the first message to the server, the application attempts to use a second protocol stack to send a second message to the server. After attempting to send the second message to the server, the application performs a timeout activity before a timeout period for the second message expires when the first message timed out. Alternatively, when the timeout period for the second message expires and the first message did not time out, the application performs the timeout activity. When the client device received a response to the second message from the server before the timeout period for the second message expires, the application performs a different activity.
US08407529B2	Trace synchronization A data processing apparatus having one or more trace data sources. At least one of said trace data sources includes a trace data generator responsive to activity in monitored circuitry to generate trace data representing said activity. A synchronization marker generator is coupled to the trace data generator and operates to generate a synchronization marker and insert the synchronization marker into the trace data stream. A controller is coupled to the synchronization marker generator to generate and insert a synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The controller controls initiation in dependence on behavior of the data processing apparatus downstream of the trace data generator. In this way, the downstream behavior of the data processing apparatus can be made to influence the rate and timing of insertion of synchronization markers into a trace data stream.
US08407519B2	Remedying method for troubles in virtual server system and system thereof According to the invention, a managing server, using a snapshot-appended information table which stores management information for identifying snapshots of a virtual server, a setting change table which stores setting change information on the virtual server, and a policy table which stores policies to be met by the virtual server, acquires the setting change information from the setting change table, selects the setting change information items from the acquired setting change information matching policies stored in the policy table, acquires management information on the snapshots of the virtual server from the snapshot-appended information table, identifies a snapshot of the virtual server with reference to the acquired management information, changes the identified snapshot of the virtual server based on the selected setting change information items, and rolls back the virtual server according to the changed snapshot.
US08407509B2	Method for compensating for variations in data timing A method for compensating for variations in timing of data sent to a processor on data bit lines relative to a strobe clock sent to the processor on a strobe clock line that can be used in a dual data rate (DDR) memory identifies discrete minimum and maximum time offset values for test data in selected data bit patterns for the data bit lines. The discrete minimum time offset value is the minimum timing adjustment required to allow the processor to receive the data in a steady-state condition during a data valid window of the strobe clock and the discrete maximum time offset value is a maximum timing adjustment required to allow the processor to receive the data in a steady-state condition during a data valid window of the strobe clock. The discrete minimum and maximum time offset values identify a valid range when the data bit lines supply data in a steady-state condition for latching into the processor by the strobe clock.
US08407508B2	Serial bus clock frequency calibration system and method thereof A serial bus clock frequency calibration system and a method thereof are disclosed herein. The system utilizes a first frequency calibration device, a second frequency calibration device and a third frequency calibration device to share the same oscillator as so to perform multi-stage clock frequency resolution calibrations for different frequency-tuning ranges. This can bring an optimal frequency resolution, greatly reduce system complexity and save element cost.
US08407504B2	Systems and methods for implementing reduced power states In some embodiments, provided is a way for devices to request S0ix (or the like) entry and exit.
US08407503B2	Making read-copy update free-running grace period counters safe against lengthy low power state sojourns A technique for making a free-running grace period counter safe against lengthy low power state processor sojourns. The grace period counter tracks grace periods that determine when processors that are capable executing read operations have passed through a quiescent state that guarantees the readers will no longer maintain references to shared data. Periodically, one or more processors may be placed in a low power state in which the processors discontinue performing grace period detection operations. Such processors may remain in the low power state for a complete cycle of the grace period counter. This scenario can potentially disrupt grace period detection operations if the processors awaken to see the same grace period counter value. To rectify this situation, processors in a low power state may be periodically awakened at a predetermined point selected prevent the low power state from extending for an entire roll over of the grace period counter.
US08407495B2	Information processor and power supply method for an information processor According to one embodiment, an information processor, which is capable of supplying power to an external device, includes a connector, a storage module, and a power supply control module. The connector connects the external device to the information processor. The storage module stores a plurality of power supply modes each defining conditions of respective modules of the information processor to make the external device connected to the connector chargeable. The power supply control module selects a power supply mode effective for the external device from the power supply modes when the external device is connected to the connector, and sets the respective modules of the information processor according to the conditions corresponding to the power supply mode selected.
US08407487B2	Electronic device and method for security monitoring thereof A method for security monitoring of an electronic device includes determining whether a storage system of the electronic device is a secured storage system according to a signal of a first switch of the electronic device, determining whether an encryption key of the secured storage system is modifiable according to a detected signal of a second switch of the electronic device. Decrypting the secured storage system using a decryption key if the decryption key is the same as a preset decryption key in the secured storage system.
US08407481B2	Secure apparatus and method for protecting integrity of software system and system thereof Provided is a secure apparatus for protecting the integrity of a software system and a method thereof. The apparatus comprises: a template repository for storing templates required for generating an agent module; a template generator for randomly selecting one template from said template repository and generating a new agent module according to the selected template; and a transceiver for sending said new agent module to an external apparatus communicating with said secure apparatus to update a current agent module which is running in said external apparatus, wherein said current agent module is used to verify the integrity of said software system running in said external apparatus. The secure apparatus can protect software in an insecure environment with a high software protection level to prevent the software from being tampered or bypassed.
US08407472B2	Mobile content delivery optimization A device receives, from a target user device, a request for encrypted content, where the request is sent via a wireless access network. The device identifies a donor user device that is available to provide the encrypted content via a local wireless network connection, where the donor user device has previously downloaded the encrypted content. The device sends, to the target user device and/or the donor user device, instructions to establish a peer-to-peer connection, via the local wireless network, to provide the encrypted content to the target user device, where the encrypted content is decrypted by the target user device using a license key provided over a different network than the local wireless connection.
US08407471B1	Selecting a network service for communicating with a server The Domain Name System (DNS) can be used to query for security information in real time. A security module on a client detects a network connection and sends a test probe as a DNS resolution request to a DNS server associated with a security server via the network connection. The test probe requests resolution of a domain name for which the DNS server is authoritative. The security module analyzes a response to the test probe to determine whether the response is valid based on testing information included in the DNS response. Responsive to whether a valid response to the test probe is received, the security module selects a network service for subsequent communications via the network connection.
US08407470B2	Control device and controlled device A control device being a control device communicating with a controlled device to control the controlled device includes: a first memory to store first authentication information for authenticating the controlled device; a second memory to store second authentication information for making the controlled device authenticate itself; a determination unit to compare third authentication information sent from the controlled device for specifying the controlled device with the first authentication information; a calculator to perform calculation processing on the first authentication information or the third authentication information using the second authentication information to generate a calculated value; a transmitter to transmit, when the determination unit determines that the first authentication information and the third authentication information are the same, the calculated value to the controlled device; and a memory controller to update the first authentication information.
US08407469B2	Protection against unintentional file changing Files are protected against intrusion. A first embodiment protects certain files against changes. A second embodiment encrypts the files that are stored using user's personal information.
US08407463B2	Method of authentication of users in data processing systems A method of authentication of users in a data processing system is provided. The method includes a “Challenge” univocally associated with a user to be authenticated; processing the “Challenge” to generate an expected answer code, to be compared with an answer code that the user has to provide for authentication; encoding the generated “Challenge” for obtaining an image displayable through a display device; sending the image containing the “Challenge” to the user; displaying the image containing the “Challenge”; through a user device provided with an image-capturing device, optically capturing the displayed image; through the user device, processing the captured image for extracting from the captured image the “Challenge”, and subsequently processing the obtained “Challenge” for generating the answer code; receiving the answer code from the user and comparing it to the expected answer code; and, in case of positive comparison, authenticating the user. One among the actions of generating a “Challenge” and an expected answer code, and the action of processing the captured image that generates the answer code exploit secret information univocally associated with the user.
US08407462B2	Method, system and server for implementing security access control by enforcing security policies A method for implementing network security access control is provided, including: receiving and decrypting terminal identity information that is encrypted in a bi-directional encryption mode and forwarded by a switch, and authenticating the decrypted terminal identity information; returning an authentication result to the switch so that the switch controls access of a terminal to a network according to the authentication result; encrypting the decrypted terminal identity information in a solo-directional encryption mode and authenticating the encrypted terminal identity information; returning an authentication result to a security access control gateway so that the security access control gateway controls access of the terminal to network resources according to the authentication result; delivering a security policy to a security control module on the terminal so that the security control module controls the terminal according to the security policy. A server is provided, including a first authentication module and a second authentication module. A system for implementing network security access control is provided, including a server, a switch, a security access control gateway and a terminal.
US08407458B2	Embedded device for implementing a boot process on a host An embedded device, for implementing a boot process on a host, is provided. This embedded device includes servers supporting various industry-standard Internet protocols and services related to the boot process. This embedded device also includes a storage medium that stores boot options for multiple Operating Systems (OSs).
US08407456B2	Method and instruction set including register shifts and rotates for data processing A method includes identifying a first register with M bits and a second register with N bits. The process also includes shifting K bits, where K<=N, from the second register into the first register. The shifting operation executes a left shift operation including reading bits K . . . N−1 from the first register, writing bits K . . . N−1 into bit positions O . . . N−K−1 of the first register, reading K bits from the second register, and writing K bits from second register into bit positions N−K . . . N−1 of first register, or a right shift operation including reading bits O . . . N−K−1 from the first register, writing bits O . . . N−K−1 into bit position K . . . N−1 of the first register, reading the K bits from the second register, and writing K bits from second register into bit positions O . . . K−1 of first register.
US08407454B2	Processing long-latency instructions in a pipelined processor There is provided a method and processor for processing a thread. The thread comprises a plurality of sequential instructions, the plurality of sequential instructions comprising some short-latency instructions and some long-latency instructions and at least one hazard instruction, the hazard instruction requiring one or more preceding instructions to be processed before the hazard instruction is processed. The method comprises the steps of: a) before processing each long-latency instruction, incrementing by one, a counter associated with the thread; b) after each long-latency instruction has been processed, decrementing by one, the counter associated with the thread; c) before processing each hazard instruction, checking the value of the counter associated with the thread, and i) if the counter value is zero, processing the hazard instruction, or ii) if the counter value is non-zero, pausing processing of the hazard instruction until a later time. The processor includes means for performing steps a), b) and c) of the method.
US08407451B2	Method and apparatus for enabling resource allocation identification at the instruction level in a processor system An information handling system includes a processor with multiple hardware units that generate program application load, store, and I/O interface requests to system busses within the information handling system. The processor includes a resource allocation identifier (RAID) that links the processor hardware unit initiating a system bus request with a specific resource allocation group. The resource allocation group assigns a specific bandwidth allocation rate to the initiating processor. When a load, store, or I/O interface bus request reaches the I/O bus for execution, the resource allocation manager restricts the amount of bandwidth associated with each I/O request by assigning discrete amounts of bandwidth to each successive I/O requester. Successive stages of the instruction pipeline in the hardware unit contain the resource allocation identifiers (RAID) linked to the specific load, store, or I/O instruction.
US08407445B1	Systems, methods, and computer readable media for triggering and coordinating pool storage reclamation Systems, methods, and computer readable media for triggering and coordinating pool storage reclamation are disclosed. According to one example, the method includes receiving an issued hint triggered by the execution of a data storage optimization operation applied to a mapped logical unit (MLU), wherein the MLU is one of a plurality of MLUs residing in a storage array, and computing an unused portion amount of an allocated storage space in the MLU, wherein the allocated storage space comprises a plurality of slices. If the unused portion amount exceeds a predetermined threshold value, detecting at least one of the slices to be released from the allocated storage space. The method also includes transferring data contained in a detected slice to at least one of the remaining slices in the allocated storage space, and removing the detected slice from the allocated storage space in the MLU to a common storage pool in the storage array, wherein the removed slice is allocated to any one of the plurality of MLUs.
US08407443B1	Off-chip out of order memory allocation for a unified shader Systems and methods for dynamically allocating memory for thread processing may reduce memory requirements while maintaining thread processing parallelism. A memory pool is allocated to store data for processing multiple threads that does not need to be large enough to dedicate a fixed size portion of the memory pool to each thread that may be processed in parallel. Fixed size portions of the memory pool are dynamically allocated and deallocated to each processing thread. Different fixed size portions may be used for different types of threads to allow greater thread parallelism compared with a system that requires allocating a single fixed portion of the memory pool to each thread. The memory pool may be shared between all of the thread types or divided to provide separate memory pools dedicated to each particular thread type.
US08407440B2	Techniques for scheduling requests for accessing storage devices using sliding windows A system includes a storage device and a scheduler. The scheduler determines if deadlines of requests for accessing the storage device fall within first and second sliding windows. The scheduler issues requests that are in the first sliding window in a first order of execution and requests that are in the second sliding window in a second order of execution.
US08407437B1	Scalable metadata acceleration with datapath metadata backup A system, method and computer program product for scalable metadata acceleration with datapath metadata backup as disclosed includes providing a plurality of metadata comprising variable block pointers for the physical location of system data. The method also includes storing at least a first and a second metadata in two or more solid state memories accelerated with respect to a read and a write of a memory in a datapath, each solid state memory configured as a logical copy of the other. The method additionally includes interleaving a backup metadata in a datapath memory at a variable interval based on a table of block pointers. The method further includes querying the accelerated metadata for an accelerated datapath operation of the system and querying the interleaved metadata and/or a logical mirror of the accelerated metadata for a rebuild operation of the accelerated metadata, each query determinable by the table of block pointers.
US08407433B2	Interconnect implementing internal controls In an embodiment, an interconnect for an integrated circuit communicates transactions between one or more initiator Intellectual Property (IP) cores and multiple target IP cores coupled to the interconnect. Two or more memory channels make up a first aggregate target of the target IP cores. The two or more memory channels populate an address space assigned to the first aggregate target and appear as a single target to the initiator IP cores. The interconnect implements chopping logic to chop individual two-dimensional (2D) transactions that cross the memory channel address boundaries from a first memory channel to a second memory channel within the first aggregate target into two or more 2D transactions with a height value greater than one, as well as stride and width dimensions, which are chopped to fit within memory channel address boundaries of the first aggregate target.
US08407431B2	Computer system preventing storage of duplicate files A storage arrangement including: a first storage system having one or more first logical storage devices and a second storage system having one or more second logical storage devices, configured to: a) determine whether two or more identical contents hash values are contained in a plurality of contents hash values of said plurality of files; and b) change an access destination of a first file corresponding to a first contents hash value from among said two or more identical contents hash values, to a position of a second file corresponding to a second contents hash value if there are said two or more identical contents hash values, c) do not migrate said first file to said second storage system, and migrate said second file to said second storage system to store in any of said one or more second logical storage devices.
US08407426B2	Data storage and access in multi-core processor architectures Technologies are generally described for a system for sending a data block stored in a cache. In some examples described herein, a system may comprise a first processor in a first tile. The first processor is effective to generate a request for a data block, the request including a destination identifier identifying a destination tile for the data block, the destination tile being distinct from the first tile. Some example systems may further comprise a second tile effective to receive the request, the second tile effective to determine a data tile including the data block, the second tile further effective to send the request to the data tile. Some example systems may still further comprise a data tile effective to receive the request from the second tile, the data tile effective to send the data block to the destination tile.
US08407423B2	Automatic determination of read-ahead amount Read-ahead of data blocks in a storage system is performed based on a policy. The policy is stochastically selected from a plurality of policies in respect to probabilities. The probabilities are calculated based on past performances, also referred to as rewards. Policies which induce better performance may be given precedence over other policies. However, the other policies may be also utilized to reevaluate them. A balance between exploration of different policies and exploitation of previously discovered good policies may be achieved.
US08407417B2	Storage system providing virtual volumes Multiple storage area groups into which multiple storage areas provided by multiple storage devices are classified with reference to storage area attributes are managed. The multiple logical volumes to which, in accordance with a write request to at least one address included in multiple addresses in the logical volume, at least one storage area included in the multiple storage areas is allocated are provided. In accordance with the access condition of the at least one address in the logical volume, the data written to the at least one address by the write request is migrated from the at least one storage area included in one of the multiple storage area groups to at least one storage area in another storage area group included in the multiple storage area groups.
US08407410B2	Wear-leveling and bad block management of limited lifetime memory devices Performing wear-leveling and bad block management of limited lifetime memory devices. A method for performing wear-leveling in a memory includes receiving logical memory addresses and applying a randomizing function to the logical memory addresses to generate intermediate addresses within a range of intermediate addresses. The intermediate addresses are mapped into physical addresses of a memory using an algebraic mapping. The physical addresses are within a range of physical addresses that include at least one more location than the range of intermediate addresses. The physical addresses are output for use in accessing the memory. The mapping between the intermediate addresses and the physical addresses is periodically shifted. In addition, contents of bad blocks are replaced with redundantly encoded redirection addresses.
US08407404B2	Record sorting A method, computer program product, and computing system for record sorting is described. The method may comprise splitting an incoming record into a separate key block and payload block. The method may further comprise storing the key block in a first memory. The method may also comprise assigning the payload block an address in a second memory at the beginning of a sort. Moreover, the method may store, with the key block in the first memory, the address of the payload block in the second memory. Additionally, the method may store the payload block at the address in the second memory.
US08407397B2	Block management method for flash memory and controller and storage system using the same A block management method for managing a mapping relationship between a plurality of logical blocks and a plurality of physical blocks of a flash memory is provided. The block management method includes: grouping the logical blocks into a plurality of logical zones; recording the mapping relationship between each logical block in each logical zone and all the data physical blocks among the physical blocks in a corresponding logical zone table in unit of the logical zones; and recording all the no-data physical blocks among the physical blocks with a single no-data physical block table. Thereby, the logical blocks can be mapped to all the physical blocks so that frequent access to specific physical blocks can be avoided when a user writes data into a specific logical zone frequently, and accordingly the lifespan of the flash memory can be prolonged.
US08407395B2	Scalable memory system A memory system architecture has serially connected memory devices. The memory system is scalable to include any number of memory devices without any performance degradation or complex redesign. Each memory device has a serial input/output interface for communicating between other memory devices and a memory controller. The memory controller issues commands in at least one bitstream, where the bitstream follows a modular command protocol. The command includes an operation code with optional address information and a device address, so that only the addressed memory device acts upon the command. Separate data output strobe and command input strobe signals are provided in parallel with each output data stream and input command data stream, respectively, for identifying the type of data and the length of the data. The modular command protocol is used for executing concurrent operations in each memory device to further improve performance.
US08407394B2	System and methods for memory expansion This document discusses, among other things, an example system and methods for memory expansion. An example embodiment includes detecting a memory command directed to a logical rand and a number of physical ranks mapped to the logical rank. The example embodiment may also include issuing the memory command to the number of physical ranks based on determining that the memory command is to be issued to the number of physical ranks.
US08407392B2	Fast unaligned cache access system and method A cache unit multiple memory towers, which can be independently addressed. Cache lines are divided among multiple towers. Furthermore, physical lines of the memory towers are shared by multiple cache lines. Because each tower can be addressed independently and the cache lines are split among the towers, unaligned cache access can be performed. Furthermore, power can be conserved because not all the memory towers of the cache unit needs to be activated during some memory access operations.
US08407391B2	Computer system managing I/O path and port It is provided a computer system comprising a plurality of computers; a PCI switch; and a plurality of I/O devices connected to the PCI switch, wherein the communication path includes a virtual switch and virtual bridges, and the PCI switch comprises a communication path generating module for setting the virtual switches and the virtual bridges, a virtual switch group management module for creating a virtual switch group including the at least one of the virtual switches, and setting an enabled flag to one of the virtual switches included in the virtual switch group, and a port management module for managing relation between each of the generated communication paths and the plurality of ports included in the each of the generated communication paths.
US08407381B2	Keypad de-bouncing apparatus and method An apparatus and method for de-bouncing keypad inputs is disclosed including interrupting a processor upon detecting a key press, reading input signals from the key pad to determine an initial port value and starting a timer. A keypad interrupt is disabled and processing resumes until expiration of the timer. The timer interrupts the processor and the input signals are read a second time and combined with the initial port value to determine a key identifier. The timer is started again and processing resumes. Upon expiration of the timer the processor checks for key release. If release is not detected, the timer is again started. If release occurs, the timer is disabled and the keypad interrupt is enabled.
US08407373B2	Extended input/output measurement word facility for obtaining measurement data An Extended Input/output (I/O) measurement word facility is provided. Provision is made for emulation of the Extended I/O measurement word facility. The facility provides for storing measurement data associated with a single I/O operation in an extended measurement word associated with an I/O response block. In a further aspect, the stored data may have a resolution of approximately one-half microsecond.
US08407371B2	Apparatus and method for producing device identifiers for serially interconnected devices of mixed type A plurality of memory devices of mixed type (e.g., DRAMs, SRAMs, MRAMs and NAND-, NOR- and AND-type Flash memories) are serially interconnected. Each device has device type information on its device type. A specific device type (DT) and a device identifier (ID) contained in a serial input (SI) are fed to one device of the serial interconnection. The device determines whether the fed DT matches the DT of the device. In a case of match, a calculator included in the device performs calculation to generate an ID for another device and the fed ID is latched in a register of the device. The generated ID is transferred to another device of the serial interconnection. In a case of no match, the ID generation is skipped and no ID is generated for another device. Such a device type match determination and ID generation or skip are performed in all devices of the serial interconnection. In cases of different device types being separately provided to the interconnected devices, sequential IDs are generated in each of the different device types and also the total number of each device type are recognized. In a case of a “don't care” code is provided to the interconnected devices, sequential IDs are generated and also, the total number of the interconnected devices is recognized, regardless of the type differences.
US08407369B2	Digitally shredding on removable drives Embodiments provide unique and novel systems and methods for deleting data on removable drives. In embodiments, the removable drives store data that may be erased such that the data is considered destroyed but that allows the removable drive to be reused. The archiving system can determine which data should be erased. Then, the data is digitally shredded on sector boundaries of the removable drives such that the reclaimed memory cannot be read to decipher the erased data. In alternative embodiments, data is written across sector boundaries such that two or more files may occupy a single sector. A journal area allows for copying the data in a sector with two or more files, digitally shredding the sectors in the removable drive, and rewriting the data that was not to be digitally shredded to the original location of the data.
US08407358B1	Buffer management for streaming data A client receives streaming data from a server at a first data rate and buffers the streaming data in a buffer having a finite size. The client consumes the streaming data from the buffer at a second data rate. The second data rate is variable. Based on a data depth of the buffer relative to a reference data depth, the client generates a sequence of signals and sends the sequence of signals to the server to dynamically adjust the first data rate. The sequence of signals influences the data depth of the buffer toward the reference data depth.
US08407357B2	Group management method and system in interworking system of IMPS system and SIMPLE IM system Provided is a group management method and system for group communication in an in-terworking system of an Instant Messaging and Presence Services (IMPS) system and a Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions Instant Messaging (SIMPLE IM) system. In the group management method, a client currently connected to one of the IMPS system and the SIMPLE IM system requests the retrieval of the group properties of a group included in the other system to which the client is not connected. The group property retrieval request is converted into a protocol format supported by the other system and is forwarded to the other system. The other system retrieves the group properties of the group, generates a group property response including the retrieved group properties, and forwards the group property response. The group property response is converted into a protocol format supported by the currently connected system and is forwarded to the currently connected system. The currently connected system forwards the group property response to the client.
US08407356B1	Real time communications system A computerized human communication arbitrating and distributing system, including a controller digital computer and a plurality of participator digital computers, each of the participator computers including an input device for receiving human-input information from a human user and an output device for presenting information to the user, each said user having a user identity. A connection, such as Internet, links the controller computer with each of the participator computers. Controller software runs on the controller computer to arbitrate in accordance with predefined rules including said user identity, which ones of the participator computers can interact in one of a plurality of groups through the controller computer and to distribute real time data to the respective ones of the groups. Participator software runs on each of the participator computers to handle a user interface permitting one said user to send a multimedia information message to the controller computer, which arbitrates which of the participator computers receive the multimedia information message and conveys the multimedia information message to the selected participator computers to present the multimedia information to the respective user.
US08407355B1	Solving timeout issues in backup devices A backup device detects that a session timer associated with a session in a session table of the backup network device has expired and ages out the session from the session table based on whether a first message has been sent to a master network device regarding the session and whether a second message has been received from the master network device regarding the session.
US08407353B2	Method and system for sharing different web components between different web sites in a portal framework The sharing of objects may be executed by performing various share type administrations. Objects may be shared directly to a site or may be made available indirectly for reuse by a site. The objects shared and made available for reuse may be added to the site to which they are shared and made available for reuse. References to the objects shared and made available for reuse are stored in repositories in response to, and in accordance with, the share type administration performed. The storage of the references to objects is based on privileges associated with at least one of a repository, a site and a user. Objects made available for reuse by, and shared to, a site may be made unavailable for reuse by, and unshared to, the site through the execution of a share type administration.
US08407349B2	Discovering and identifying manageable information technology resources A computer-executable method for allocating resource discovery and identification processes among a plurality of management tools and resources in a distributed and heterogeneous IT management system includes providing at least one authoritative manageable resource having minimal or no responsibility for reporting its identity, minimal or no responsibility for advertising any lifecycle-related creation event for the resource, and minimal or no responsibility for advertising any lifecycle-related destruction event for the resource; using a service oriented architecture (SOA) to define one or more services needed to manage the resource within the management system; and using a component model to define one or more interfaces and one or more interactions to be implemented by the manageable resource within the management system.
US08407348B2	Monitoring network usage A method of determining whether a user has complied with a service level agreement (SLA) with a network operator, comprising collecting a set of data values representative of the user's service usage and comparing the set of data values to the service level agreement. The data values collected provide the operator with sufficient information so that it can determine whether a SLA is being complied with and to plan provision of network services. A method of monitoring a user's usage of a network service and a service usage indicator is also disclosed.
US08407331B2	Codeless provisioning Managing resources. A resource manager includes programmatic code for managing resources in the computing environment. Resources available from resource systems within the computing environment are managed. Methods may include receiving user input indicating one or more of that a new entity should be added to the resource manager, that an entity represented by an entity object of the resource manager should have permissions removed at the resource manager, or that an entity represented by an entity object of the resource manager should have permissions added at the resource manager. In response to receiving user input, events may be generated and objects created or removed from the resource manager for from downstream resource systems. The events may specify workflows that should be executed to perform synchronization between objects at the resource manager and objects at a downstream resource system by adding or changing rules in an expected rules list.
US08407322B1	Runtime negotiation of execution blocks between computers Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing software code capable of automated runtime negotiation of computation block execution between different computers. In one aspect, a method includes storing, on each of multiple devices, code blocks for a software application that performs a particular set of functions and assigning at runtime of the software application which of the devices is to execute each of the code blocks. Each of the code blocks is executed on the assigned devices and data is communicated between the assigned devices to facilitate executing different code blocks on different devices.
US08407312B2	Data delivery apparatus The problem to be solved by the invention is to deliver the contents corresponding to the same master content to a plurality of terminals having different display functions, without beforehand preparing a plurality of contents of different protocols (formats) depending on the display functions, respectively. A data delivery apparatus according to the invention converts master content information into respective converted contents by using conversion parameter information selected based on information notified from respective terminals.
US08407311B1	System and method for creating relationships among users of an instant messaging service A computer-implemented method of introducing users of a service includes sending a suggestion to a first user of a service and suggesting an introduction of a second user to a third user of the service. The second and third users are both identified as contacts of the first user in a contact list of the first user and the second and third users satisfy predefined selection criteria with respect to shared contacts, comprising users identified in contact lists of both the second and third users. The method also includes receiving, from the first user, a response to the suggestion; and upon receiving a positive response to the suggestion from the first user, sending the introduction to at least one of the second and third users.
US08407309B1	Techniques for specifying and determining property information for portal entities using attributes Techniques are provided for automating determination of properties information for a portal entity. The properties information for a portal entity is determined from attributes specified for items upon which the portal entity is based. The properties information may be provided to a portal and used by the portal to execute the portal entity.
US08407296B2	Multiple and multi-part message methods and systems for handling electronic message content for electronic communications devices Multiple and multi-part message methods and systems for handling electronic message content for electronic communications devices are presented. An exemplary method for handling electronic message content for an electronic communications device includes: receiving a first electronic message that includes default message content at the communications device; receiving a second electronic message that includes alternate message content at the communications device; determining at the communications device whether the first received message indicates availability of the alternate message content; and if the first received message indicates availability of the alternate message content, automatically providing the alternate message content of the second received message instead of the default message content of the first received message, in response to a user using the communications device to open the first received message indicating availability of the alternate message content or in response to the user using the communications device to open the second received message.
US08407284B2	Systems and methods for cloud data deployment based on preferential and/or existing subscription relationships Embodiments relate to systems and methods for transporting data to a cloud network. In aspects, an administrator of a data payload may wish to transport the data payload from a data distribution service to a candidate cloud provider to leverage cost, security, redundancy, consolidation, or other advantages. The data distribution service can identify candidate cloud providers that are able to host the data payload. Further, the data distribution service can examine any relationships between the administrator and the candidate cloud providers, and, based on the relationships, can present the administrator with respective offers from the candidate cloud providers to host the data payload. The administrator can review the offers, make a selection, and the data payload can be transported to the selected candidate cloud provider for hosting.
US08407283B2	Device and method for disseminating content data between peers in a P2P mode, by using a bipartite peer overlay A method is intended for disseminating content data in a peer-to-peer mode between peers connected to at least one communication network. This method comprises the steps of: i) making peers exchange neighboring information between them to build a bipartite peer overlay comprising a first group, comprising peers having a complete content to be disseminated, and a second group, comprising peers having not this content or only a part of it and having links therebetween, ii) disseminating the data defining the content (and preferably encoded with erasure correcting codes) from peers of the first group to first peers of the second group according to the bipartite peer overlay, iii) disseminating the data received by the first peers to other peers of the second group according to the bipartite peer overlay, and iv) updating the bipartite peer overlay when a peer of the second group has fully completed the content.
US08407280B2	Asynchronous multi-source streaming A method of data streaming over a Peer-to-Peer network including server agents and client agents is provided. The method includes: assigning, responsive of a client agent request for a specified file, a sub streams set, being a set of server agents configured each to partition the specified file into frames whose size is configured based on the specified file, wherein the sub streams set comprises a plurality of active server agents and further includes a plurality of redundant active server agents selected based on network properties, such that a minimal number of excessive packets are sent to the client agent; managing the sub streams set asynchronously such that each server agent streams frames independently on other server agents in the sub streams set; and employing a rate-based congestion control per sub streams set such that a bit rate associated with the sub streams set is maintained above a specified threshold.
US08407279B2	Portable terminal and method for providing social network service using human body communication A portable terminal to provide social network service using human body communication includes a human body communication unit to transmit or receive data through a human body, a memory unit to store at least one of social data, user data, reference data, and any additional data collected, a contact object identifying unit to identify a contact object by using the data received by the human body communication unit, and a pattern analyzing unit to analyze a pattern of contact with the contact object using the data stored in the memory unit. A method for providing social network service using human body communication includes sensing a human body contact, identifying a contact object, and analyzing a pattern of contact with the contact object using at least one of social data, user data, reference data and any additional data collected.
US08407268B2	Method for determining an optimum sampling frequency, and a power analyzer performing the method A method for determining an optimum sampling frequency to be performed by a power analyzer includes the following computer-implemented steps: sampling a time domain signal to obtain a sampling signal according to a predetermined sampling frequency; obtaining two reference sampling signals using higher and lower sampling frequencies compared to the predetermined sampling frequency; transforming the sampling signal and the reference sampling signals to frequency domain signals; computing a sum-of-amplitudes for each of the three frequency domain signals; estimating a minimum sum-of-amplitudes value and a corresponding re-sampling frequency; obtaining a new reference sampling signal using the re-sampling frequency; transforming the new reference sampling signal to a frequency domain signal, and computing a sum-of-amplitudes therefor; and re-estimating the minimum sum-of-amplitudes value and the corresponding re-sampling frequency. The re-sampling frequency that conforms with a predetermined convergence standard is the optimum sampling frequency.
US08407251B2	Promotion infrastructure having dispensing controls An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.
US08407248B2	System and method for authentication using a shared table and sorting exponentiation Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for authentication using a shared table. The method receives an authentication challenge from a first entity including an accumulator with an initial value, lists of elements in a shared table, and a list of sorting algorithms, each sorting algorithm is associated with one of the lists of elements and modified to include embedded instructions operating on the accumulator. The method then generates a temporary table for each list of elements in the shared table by copying elements from the shared table as indicated in each respective list of elements, each temporary table being associated with one sorting algorithm in the list of sorting algorithms. The method sorts each generated temporary table with the associated sorting algorithm, thereby updating the accumulator with the embedded instructions. Finally, the method transmits the updated accumulator to the first entity for verification.
US08407243B2	Device and methods for presenting a scrollable user interface Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting a user interface. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a scrollable list of characters associated with a character set, and detecting a selection of a displayed character of the scrollable list of characters. The method may further include displaying a search query based on the selection, updating a character set of the scrollable list based at least in part on the search query and index elements of a dataset, and displaying a result listing based on the search query, wherein the result listing identifies one or more index elements including a matching character sequence relative to the search query. Generating a search query may be based on adaptive updating of a list of characters that may be employed for generating search queries. Display of a result list may include an identification of matching character sequence.
US08407240B2	Autonomic self-healing network A system and method capable of obtaining information dynamically of assets residing on a network. The system and method further capable of comparing a device identifier to the dynamically obtained information of assets and policies at a time of a request to access the network and determining whether the device identifier matches at least one of the dynamically obtained information of assets and policies. The system and method further capable of quarantining the device from the network or a portion thereof based upon the determining.
US08407236B2	Mining new words from a query log for input method editors Described is a technology in which new words (including a phrase or set of Chinese characters) are mined from a query log. The new words may be added to (or otherwise supplement) an IME dictionary. A set of candidate queries may be selected from the log based upon market (e.g., the Chinese market) and/or by language. From this set, various filtering steps are performed to locate only new words that are frequently in used. For example, only frequent queries are kept for further processing, which may include filtering out queries based on length (e.g., less than two or greater than eight Chinese characters), and/or filtering out queries based on too many stop-words in the query. Processing may also include filtering out a query that is a substring of a larger query, or vice-versa. Also described is Pinyin-based clustering and filtering, and filtering out queries already handled in the dictionary.
US08407235B2	Exposing and using metadata and meta-metadata Concepts and technologies are described herein for exposing and using metadata and for exposing meta-metadata in a tabularized format. Metadata associated with one or more ERP services is collected, parsed, and loaded into one or more sets of tables. The tables of metadata are exposed to software and/or devices to provide various functionality. The tables of metadata and meta-metadata data exposed in tabularized format are used at runtime, design time and/or at other times, and are used to provide various functionality. The tables of metadata and meta-metadata also are used to identify and track modifications made to one or more application objects associated with the ERP services, and to apply the modifications to new versions of metadata associated with the application objects.
US08407232B2	Document search system With respect to retrieving documents of interest using a search system, it is made possible to provide a document search system for retrieving documents of interest efficiently and intuitively. Along with a display of a list of search results, new query candidates as well as the hit counts returned with those queries are presented. Specifically, there is provided: a related word dictionary in which related words of search keywords are gathered; a related word query generation processing part configured to extract from the related word dictionary a related word of a search keyword contained in a first query that has been entered, and to generate a second query, which is a new query, using the related word; a search execution part configured to calculate an increase/decrease between the hit count for search results returned with the first query and the hit count for search results returned with the second query; and a search result display processing part configured to simultaneously display on a display part: the first query; the search results returned with the first query; the hit count for the search results; the second query; the hit count for the search results returned with the second query; and the increase/decrease.
US08407227B2	Method for extracting and storing records of data backup activity from a plurality of backup devices A method and system for requesting, cross-referencing, extracting and storing historical records of data backup activity by using a software component that interfaces to a plurality of data backup software devices is disclosed. In the first aspect, a method of storing automated request-for-historical records of data backup activity schedules is disclosed. In the second aspect, a method for invoking requests through a component that interfaces to a plurality of data backup software devices is disclosed. In the third aspect, a method for receiving historical records of data backup activity from said component is disclosed. In a fourth aspect, a method for making alterations to said historical records of data backup activity is disclosed. In a fifth aspect, a method for inserting said historical records of data backup activity into a data table located in an open, relational database is disclosed. In a sixth aspect, a method for inserting subsets of said historical records of data backup activity into tables related to said central data table is disclosed. In a seventh aspect, a method for removing completed historical records of data backup activity refresh requests is disclosed. Through the use of a system and method in accordance with the present invention, the aforementioned database can be made self-refreshing, requiring minimal ongoing intervention subsequent to initial configuration. In addition, the aforementioned data refreshes can be manually invoked at any time.
US08407225B2	Organizing nearby picture hotspots A method of accessing an image database containing location data and determining one or more clusters of the digital images based on their location data. A hotspot location is determined for representing the cluster of the digital images and the results are stored for later access. The computer is connected to a network and receives data from a device including data identifying a current location. After determining that the device is within a selected notification distance from the hotspot location, a notification is transmitted over the network.
US08407219B1	Collaborative filtering Systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer program products, for collaborative filtering are provided. A method is provided. The method includes clustering a plurality of entities with respect to one or more latent variables in a probability distribution model of a relationship between a set of entities and a set of items, the probability distribution model comprising a probability distribution of the set of items with respect to the latent variables. The method also includes, as new items are added to the set of items, updating the probability distribution of the set of the items with respect to the latent variables, and generating an updated relationship score for an entity with respect to the set of items based on the entity's fractional membership in the clustering with respect to the latent variables and based on the updated probability distribution of the set of the items with respect to the latent variables.
US08407213B2	System and method for identifying a location of interest to be named by a user An apparatus for identifying a location for naming includes a monitoring module that is configured to monitor actions taken by a user via a mobile communication device and to monitor a location of the mobile communication device when an action is taken by the user and at predetermined time intervals. The apparatus also includes a data store for storing user-specific location information and user-specific action information associated with the location monitored by the monitoring module and a location naming module that is configured to calculate a relevance rating of the location based on the user-specific action information associated with the location and on the user-specific location information, and to prompt the user to name the location based on its relevance rating.
US08407208B2	Method for matching queries with answer items in a knowledge base A system for providing answers to questions presented in the form of electronic signals representing natural language words conveyed to said system by way of a network connected to a computer. The system includes a plurality of search indexes relating to a field of knowledge, each in a specific natural language. A store house of natural words is associated with each one of the search indexes, in which a list of natural words is maintained in an order reflecting the usage frequency of said words in that list. In addition, a language storehouse of natural words common to each of the search indexes associated each with a specific natural language. The search index includes a list of score ordered keywords, indexed answer items each associated with an internal list of references (ILOR) pointing to it, and a list of ordered numerical references associated with each of the ordered keywords. Each such reference represents quantitatively an association between the keyword and an indexed answer item.
US08407205B2	Automating sharing data between users of a multi-tenant database service Systems, methods, and apparatus for automating sharing data between subscribers of a multi-tenant database service. Users or customers associated with one organization that is a tenant of the multi-tenant database system are enabled to share data objects such as leads, opportunities, accounts, contacts, cases, tasks and custom objects, (or other data objects) and other information with their business partners (e.g., users or customers associated with a different organization that is a tenant) and get real-time updates on the shared data.
US08407202B2	Embedded business metadata A methodology is disclosed for improving searches of a distributed Internet network. A distributed Internet network is searched for a particular information type, searching for a field identified using a predetermined identifier indicating that the field comprises information of the particular information type. When the field identified using the predetermined identifier is found, an association of the contents of the field with the search results is made, and repeated using the same predetermined identifier. Information of a particular information type may then be served in a field identified using a predetermined identifier that identifies the field as containing information of the particular information type.
US08407196B1	Object-oriented database for file system emulator A system and computer program product for implementing an object-oriented hierarchical database architecture that supports functionality of an emulator. The hierarchical data architecture is created for implementing a files system and/or a system registry inside the emulator, where malware components are emulated and tested. The data architecture supports the emulator and provides for effective recovery of a database fragments after modifications of the fragments by the emulated malware. The non-relational object-oriented database consists of database objects. Each of the database objects has various data fields. Special user types are assigned to the database objects. Each user type is defined by a selected set of data fields. The database objects have a parent-child relationship. Each database object has a unique parent object and a unique set of index fields. The unique set of the index fields is a unique set of data fields of an object. The database has a root object which is unique for the database.
US08407195B2	Efficient multi-version locking for main memory databases A transaction creates a wait for dependency on a version in a main memory database implementing a multi-version concurrency control scheme. The wait for dependency allows the transaction to update the version while other transactions are reading the version. The multi-version concurrency control scheme also allows commit dependencies to be implementing concurrently with wait for dependencies. Commit dependencies allow a transaction to read an updated version before the updated version is committed.
US08407188B1	Methods and systems for providing data form management Providing data form management may comprise receiving form definition data, transforming the form definition data into an internal data structure, and storing the internal data structure in a form definition data table. In addition, providing data form management may comprise creating a form input data table corresponding to the form definition data table and notifying a form datastore that caches the internal data structure stored in the form definition data table. Furthermore, receiving the form definition data may further comprise providing a data page including at least one form component being user arrangeable on the data page and providing the ability to move, add, or delete at least one form component on the data page. The form definition data may define one of the form component or the location of the form component on the data page.
US08407186B1	Systems and methods for data-selection-specific data deduplication A computer-implemented method for data-selection-specific data deduplication associated with a single-instance-storage computing subsystem may comprise: 1) detecting a request to store a data selection to the single-instance-storage computing subsystem, 2) identifying a data-selection-specific fingerprint set associated with the data selection and stored on a storage device, and 3) utilizing the data-selection-specific fingerprint set associated with the data selection for data deduplication associated with the request to store the data selection to the single-instance-storage computing subsystem. Other exemplary data deduplication methods, as well as corresponding exemplary systems and computer-readable media, are also disclosed.
US08407185B2	Computer, its processing method, and computer system When a deletion request to delete a file system is made and a retention period of the file system to be deleted has not expired, the retention period end date and time is displayed at high speed.A CPU 11 gives a retention period attribute to each file of a file system 16 and manages the furthest future retention period end date and time, from among the retention periods of the files, as a retention period end date and time of the file system. If a deletion request to delete the file system 16 is made and the retention period end date and time of the file system 16 is future time ahead of the current time when the deletion request is made, processing for deleting the file system 16 is stopped and the retention period end date and time of the file system 16 is displayed on a screen 235.
US08407184B2	Maintaining applications that are occasionally connected to an online services system In a method for maintaining applications that are occasionally connected to an online services system, metadata describing at least a portion of an online services database is retrieved and the portion of the online services database is authorized for replication at a software application, information for an entity for an application database in accordance with metadata is determined, information is sent for the entity to an application data management service, data for the software application is retrieved from the online services database in accordance with metadata, at least a portion of the data for the software application is sent to the application data management service and the portion of the data for the software application should be synchronized with the online services database, a request for information is received for rendering a component of a user interface, and information is provided for rendering the component of the user interface for the software application.
US08407182B1	Systems and methods for facilitating long-distance live migrations of virtual machines A computer-implemented method for facilitating long-distance live migrations of virtual machines may include: 1) identifying a request for a live migration of a virtual machine from a primary site to a secondary site, the primary site including a primary storage device used for storage by the virtual machine being configured for active-passive replication to a secondary storage device at the secondary site, 2) initiating a failover of the active-passive replication from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device in response to the request, 3) intercepting each write attempt made by the virtual machine at the secondary site to the secondary storage device before completion of the failover, 4) buffering each intercepted write attempt, 5) determining that the failover is complete, and 6) applying each buffered write attempt to the secondary storage after determining that the failover is complete. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08407173B2	System and method for comparing system features Embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods establish quantitative relationships between system features and system objectives. In some embodiments, the features have a plurality of feature values related to the objective and the methods comprise analyzing a mathematical functional relationship between the plurality of feature values and the objective to create a plurality of objective values reflecting the ability of the feature values to satisfy the objective, selecting a feature value and analyzing the relationship to create an objective value; and generating an objective measure reflecting the objective value. In some embodiments, the mathematical function comprises a polynomial interpolation. In some embodiments, the features are a fidelity dimension and the feature values are values of fidelity in a processor based aircraft simulator.
US08407170B2	Root-cause analysis system and associated methods A method for determining a root cause of a problem in a multiple-element system includes correlating an incoming alarm signal with an element x in a multiple-element system and accessing an implication list comprising a list of all elements upstream of element x. At least one element on the implication list is weighted with data relating to the at least one element. Taking into account the weighting step, a probability is calculated that an element on the implication list comprises a most-probable root cause of the subsequent alarm signal. The identified most-probable root cause of the incoming alarm signal is output.
US08407159B2	Automatic batching of GUI-based tasks Described herein are techniques for automatically batching GUI-based (Graphical User Interface) tasks. The described techniques include automatically determining whether a user is performing batchable tasks in a GUI-based environment. Once detected, the described techniques include predicting the next tasks of a batch based upon those detected batchable tasks. With the described techniques, the user may be asked to verify and/or correct the predicted next tasks. Furthermore, the described techniques may include performing a batch and doing so without user interaction.
US08407152B2	Commercial and residential backups A computer system that is configured to: (A) define a geofence surrounding a geographic area; (B) gather information associated with the geofenced area; and (C) assign one or more parameters to the geofenced area based on the information gathered, wherein at least one of the assigned parameters is used to monitor the performance of a delivery vehicle driver while the delivery vehicle driver is operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area. In particular embodiments, the parameters include a backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up while operating the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area (e.g., during a particular delivery cycle). In other embodiments, the parameters include a maximum speed limit for the geofenced area. The system may be adapted to automatically generate an alert in response to the delivery vehicle operating outside of the defined parameters.
US08407151B1	System and method for generating shipment forecasts for materials handling facilities Embodiments may include a forecasting component that, for each of different service levels offered to customers, generates a projection of the quantity of shipments to be shipped according to that service level during a time period. Based on an aggregate quantity of shipments projected to be shipped, projected quantities of shipments for the multiple service levels may be modified. The forecasting component may, for each service level, receive information specifying a distribution of different shipment methods that are projected to be utilized to ship shipments of a particular priority designation to meet requirements of that service level. Based on the distribution for each service level and the modified projected quantity of shipments for each service level, a forecast specifying quantities of shipments that are to be shipped during the time period according to each of the different shipment methods may be generated.
US08407146B2	Secure storage A portable secure storage device provides a means to transport media from one media player to another while maintaining the security of and the rights associated with the content stored in the portable secure storage device. The device contains a security engine for managing digital rights associated with content stored in the device. The device can also include a hard disk drive memory and a real time clock. The hard disk drive memory provides ample storage of media and versatility of digital rights management. The real time clock maintains secure time. The device can be use to provide a thumbnail, a snapshot, a trailer version, or a table of contents of contents stored therein based on the security level of the receiving device. The portable secure storage device can query the receiving device to determine the current status of rights and can provide content in accordance with current rights.
US08407133B2	Live alerts Systems and methods for monitoring the trading of financial instruments are provided. Trading messages are received at a live alert server. The messages are analyzed with a set of predetermined limits and rules. When a predetermined limit or rule is violated, an email message is sent to a regulator or other trading entity. The email message may include a hyperlink that may be selected to generate a real-time report relating to the limit or rule. When hyperlink is selected, a query is sent to a query server where the real-time report is generated and transmitted back to the requesting party.
US08407125B2	System and method for providing financial planning and advice The system facilitates portfolio advising and planning for a client. The system includes a portfolio integration module configured to receive and integrate data, wherein the data includes a client's goals, assets, savings and risk tolerance, wherein the portfolio integration module is further configures to compute a customized strategy based on the received data. The portfolio reconciler module is configured to compare a customized strategy to at least one of the other strategies, based on the received and integrated data in order to further facilitate the financial portfolio planning of the client, wherein the financial portfolio planning analyzes both planned hypothetical events and unplanned hypothetical events. The stochastic modeling module is configures to further analyze proposed situation portfolios based on future uncertainties, wherein future uncertainties include the unplanned hypothetical events. The simulation module is configured to compute the probability of meeting the client's goals.
US08407123B2	Methods and systems for providing a yield curve index An exemplary aspect comprises a computer system comprising: (a) one or more servers that receive electronic data describing prices for a first category of futures positions; and (b) one or more processors that calculate an index value at a specified time based on one or more weighted price changes for said first category of futures positions, wherein said index value has a target exposure to one or more yields for said first category of futures positions. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the computer system further comprises one or more processors that receive electronic data describing prices for a second category of futures positions, wherein the index value at the specified time is based on one or more differences between weighted price changes for the first category of futures positions and the second category of futures positions. Other exemplary aspects comprise related methods and software.
US08407117B2	Mobile terminal with user identification card including personal finance-related information and method of using a value-added mobile service through said mobile terminal The present invention enables a user to receive a financial service anywhere through a mobile terminal equipped with a UIM (User Identification Module) electronic card. In the present invention, a user enters his or her password to a mobile terminal with a UIM card including subscriber telephone number, finance, authorization, and personal information, then, if the entered password is correct, authorization is processed with a remote authorizing server based on the authorization information. After authorization, user's requesting service, e.g., payment service, transaction particulars inquiry service, prepaid card recharging service is conducted through a mobile network.
US08407114B2	Money is time: innovative determination and calculation of paid time off A method to manage employee benefits (100) using a computer (30) in order to reduce employee cost. The method includes establishing an employee cash account (2) on a database (8) for disposing on a medium (31). Benefit hours (4) of the employee are accrued over a period of time to provide earned benefit hours (40). The employee's wage rate (10) during the period of time (6) is multiplied by the earned benefit hours (40) to provide a monetary benefit (12). The monetary benefit (12) is added to the employee cash account (2). When the employee uses the cash account (2), at least a portion of the monetary benefit (12) is subtracted from the employee cash account (12).
US08407111B2	Method, system and computer program product for correlating information and location In one aspect, embodiments of a method of correlating information and location comprise establishing a reference point for an entity. A three-dimensional coordinate is assigned to a device that comprises the entity. The assigned three-dimensional coordinate is relative to the reference point. Information about the device is correlated with the assigned three-dimensional coordinate and stored in a computing device. The computing device receives secondary information, and in response to the secondary information received by the computing device, the computing device provides at least one of the three-dimensional coordinate of the device or at least a portion of the information about the device.
US08407110B1	Method and apparatus for registration of fulfillment services Various embodiments of a method and apparatus whereby a single action may control fulfillment services are described. Various embodiments may include an inventory management system associated with a fulfillment services provider. The inventory management system may be configured to implement a fulfillment services management interface configured to generate a user interface providing an indication of item(s) listed for sale by a merchant. In various embodiments, order fulfillment services for such items may not be provided by a fulfillment services provider. Additionally, the user interface may provide a single action user interface element for the merchant to register the one or more items for fulfillment by a fulfillment services provider. The inventory management system may, in response to receiving an indication of activation of the single action user interface element, register the item(s) for fulfillment by the fulfillment services provider.
US08407108B2	Warehouse management system based on pick velocity A method and system are disclosed for determining the locations of parts in a warehouse. The method comprises the step of generating for each part an associated designator having first and second components, including the steps of, for each of the parts, (i) determining the first component of the associated designator based on physical dimensions of the part, and (ii) determining the second component of the associated designator based on a pick velocity of the part. These designators are used to identify locations in the warehouse for the parts. In a preferred embodiment, the first components of the designators are used to determine the distances of the identified locations for the parts from an entrance/exit of the warehouse, and the second components of the designators are used to determine the heights of the identified locations for the parts in the warehouse.
US08407101B2	Multi-system distributed processing of delivery services Various systems and methods that may relate to referral and/or delivery services are described. Some embodiments may include communication using a payment processing device. Various other embodiments are described.
US08407099B1	Travel suggestions Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing travel suggestions. In one aspect, a method includes the action of providing a travel search interface, the travel search interface including one or more travel parameters and a suggestion of one or more people to visit from among a specified collection of individuals; receiving a user selection of a suggested person; providing one or more date range and price combinations for traveling to a city associated with the selected suggested person; and generating a travel itinerary for the selected travel date range.
US08407093B2	Advertising technique A method for purchase of goods and/or services comprising the steps of,(a) a user placing a personal advertisement through a service provider or vendor with a image or picture which is blurred on partially blurred as to body portions or plurality of body portions, or to which contains text which is strategically blurred, and(b) the service provider or vendor alerting the user to one or more responses to the advertisement or other message, optional with blurred and/or partially obscured images on pictures of a respondent or text by way of e-mail, television, written or printed material, SMS, EMS and/or MMS messaging.
US08407089B2	System and method for receiving and responding to promotional offers using a mobile phone A method and means by which a mobile phone can participate in a promotional offer that is sponsored by an interested party is disclosed. The sponsor creates a promotional campaign and defines its parameters using promotional offer code (POC) data. The POC data is then pre-provisioned into the mobile phone. If a mobile phone user becomes aware of the promotional campaign and wishes to participate, he navigates his mobile phone menu structure to a “promotions” menu and inputs a POC that was included in the sponsor's advertisements. The mobile phone then links the input POC to the pre-provisioned POC data. Another function in the mobile phone then constructs a promotional offer entry (POE) that conforms to the parameters set out in the pre-provisioned POC data. The POE is then transmitted to the sponsor. The sponsor reviews all valid entries and chooses one or more winners. The sponsor can then broadcast a status message to all entrants to inform them whether they won anything from the promotion.
US08407082B2	Aggregation of validated transactions for settlement At each of a plurality of merchant Point Of Service terminals (POS), for each of a plurality of consumers, where each consumer seeks to conduct a transaction with the merchant for a good or service by using a payment device issued by an issuer in a payment system, data is read from the payment device. The data can include an identifier for an account issued by an issuer. The consumer is permitted to receive the good or service from the merchant prior to validating the account with the issuer. Transaction information for each transaction is stored during a predetermined aggregation criteria, such as time period, number of transactions, monetary volume, etc., into an aggregation set of said transactions. During the predetermined aggregation criteria, an evaluation is made, by communication with the corresponding issuer, whether the accounts in the aggregation set of transactions are valid.
US08407080B2	Managing and monitoring continuous improvement in information technology services A method for managing performance of an IT service delivery process to ensure the changes meet service performance objectives. Key performance metrics (KPIs) of a service delivery process are collected in a continuous manner at defined time intervals, both before a change to improve performance is applied to the process (baseline measurements) and after a change is applied to the process (post-change measurements). A process behavior graph is generated comprising each baseline and post-change performance measurement at the time interval collected, the time interval at which the change was applied to the process, and the performance objectives for the process. The graph is displayed to a user to enable the user to determine the impact the change has on the service delivery process in view of differences between the baseline and post-change performance measurements, and to determine whether the process meets performance objectives in view of the performance objectives.
US08407078B1	Method of and system for managing projects, programs and portfolios throughout the project lifecycle In one embodiment, a project-management method includes implementing, on a server computer having a processor and memory, a universal framework for engaging projects within an enterprise. The project-management method further includes optimizing, via the server computer, at least one project via an integration of a standardized set of process-related project-management assets, a standardized set of project-management assets related to at least one of selecting, assigning, developing, certifying, and managing human resources involved in project management, and a standardized set of project-management assets comprising a plurality of technological tools.
US08407072B2	Process for management of complex projects A method for managing a complex project is provided. A plurality of phases is established for the complex project, wherein each phase of the plurality of phases has a definite duration and wherein each phase of the plurality of phases has distinct goals. The complex project is divided into a plurality of sub-projects, wherein the plurality of sub-projects is manageable by a central core team and wherein each sub-project is the responsibility of at least one team. The designation of which team is responsible for the sub-project is dependent upon the particular phase in which the sub-project is being performed.
US08407065B2	Wound care treatment service using automatic wound dressing fabricator A method and/or system allowing patients to receive consistent, effective and convenient reliable wound care by applying customized wound dressings fabricated at automatic wound dressing fabricators deployed in medical facilities. Wound dressing specifications are generated with the aid of a computer-based configuration algorithm based on characteristics of the wounds. The generated wound dressing specifications are communicated between the medical facilities to provide consistent and reliable wound dressings without duplicative diagnosis of the wound. Further, telemedicine for wound care may be implemented by communicating the wound dressing specifications to automatic wound dressing fabricators that are remotely located.
US08407063B2	Multi-user remote health monitoring system with biometrics support A method for monitoring a physiological condition of a user with an apparatus in a computer network is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) storing authorization information in a nonvolatile condition within the apparatus, the authorization information being suitable for identifying at least one of (i) one or more authorized patients among a plurality of medical patients of a health monitoring service and (ii) one or more authorized types among a plurality of patient types of the health monitoring service, (B) sensing biometric data from the user of the apparatus and (C) identifying the user as a particular patient from at least one of (i) the authorized patients and (ii) the authorized types in response to matching the biometric data to the authorization information.
US08407062B2	Anonymity-ensured system for providing affinity-based deliverables to library patrons A system and method for automatically determining library patrons' interests without having to identify the patron or otherwise invade his/her privacy based on the library patron's current use of library assets. The system and method involve categorizing the library's assets using broad mapping user interest categories, associating a user interest category with a specific library asset that is checked out, reserved or otherwise used by a library patron and providing that patron with a confirmation item containing that user interest category, providing the library patron with feedback about the library assets and the broad mapping user interest categories, allowing library patrons to access and register for a library rewards program using the user interest category number and having advertisers provide relevant information and rewards to library patrons who request such additional information.
US08407061B2	Networking methods and systems A network system includes integrated radio transceivers and digitizers, integrated baseband processors and device controllers, digital interfaces there between, and architectures and partitions for same. Licensing methodologies are provided for implementing the features described herein, and for other products and services.
US08407060B2	Audio decoder, audio object encoder, method for decoding a multi-audio-object signal, multi-audio-object encoding method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium therefor An audio decoder for decoding a multi-audio-object signal having an audio signal of a first type and an audio signal of a second type encoded therein is described, the multi-audio-object signal having a downmix signal and side information, the side information having level information of the audio signals of the first and second types in a first predetermined time/frequency resolution, and a residual signal specifying residual level values in a second predetermined time/frequency resolution, the audio decoder having a processor for computing prediction coefficients based on the level information; and an up-mixer for up-mixing the downmix signal based on the prediction coefficients and the residual signal to obtain a first up-mix audio signal approximating the audio signal of the first type and/or a second up-mix audio signal approximating the audio signal of the second type.
US08407059B2	Method and apparatus of audio matrix encoding/decoding A method to audio matrix encode/decode, which encode and decode audio signals of two or more channels into an audio signal of one or more channel while preserving the direction of a sound image includes extracting pieces of sound image information from audio signals of multi channels, encoding and allocating the extracted sound image information to an inaudible frequency domain except an audible frequency domain, and adding the sound image information allocated to the inaudible frequency domain and matrix-encoded stereo signals of the audible frequency domain.
US08407058B2	Food processor with phonetic recognition ability A food processor with phonetic recognition ability is disclosed, which comprises: a phonetic recognition module and a food processing module. The phonetic recognition module is capable of receiving sound signals so as to identify a content of characters containing in the received sound signals. The food processing module is capable of producing food products containing characters corresponding to the phonetic recognition result of the phonetic recognition module.
US08407057B2	Machine, system and method for user-guided teaching and modifying of voice commands and actions executed by a conversational learning system A machine, system and method for user-guided teaching and modifications of voice commands and actions to be executed by a conversational learning system. The machine includes a system bus for communicating data and control signals received from the conversational learning system to a computer system, a vehicle data and control bus for connecting devices and sensors in the machine, a bridge module for connecting the vehicle data and control bus to the system bus, machine subsystems coupled to the vehicle data and control bus having a respective user interface for receiving a voice command or input signal from a user, a memory coupled to the system bus for storing action command sequences learned for a new voice command and a processing unit coupled to the system bus for automatically executing the action command sequences learned when the new voice command is spoken.
US08407049B2	Systems and methods for conversation enhancement This invention description details systems and methods for improving human conversations by enhancing conversation participants' ability to: —Distill out and record core ideas of conversations. —Classify and prioritize these key concepts. —Recollect commitments and issues and take appropriate action. —Analyze and uncover new insight from the linkage of these ideas with those from other conversations.
US08407043B2	Computationally efficient audio coder The present invention provides a computationally efficient technique for compression encoding of an audio signal, and further provides a technique to enhance the sound quality of the encoded audio signal. This is accomplished by including more accurate attack detection and a computationally efficient quantization technique. The improved audio coder converts the input audio signal to a digital audio signal. The audio coder then divides the digital audio signal into larger frames having a long-block frame length and partitions each of the frames into multiple short-blocks. The audio coder then computes short-block audio signal characteristics for each of the partitioned short-blocks based on changes in the input audio signal. The audio coder further compares the computed short-block characteristics to a set of threshold values to detect presence of an attack in each of the short-blocks and changes the long-block frame length of one or more short-blocks upon detecting the attack in the respective one or more short-blocks.
US08407038B2	Method for simulating a communication network that considers quality of service A method for simulating a telecommunications network through objects that model respective network devices provides for simulating through the objects, the supply of network services according to respective quality of service profiles, by selectively identifying at least one quality of service profile, and dynamically configuring the objects to simulate the supply of the service corresponding to the selectively identified quality of service profile. In the simulation of networks having mobile terminals, the quality of service profile preferably has parameters chosen from traffic class, maximum transfer time of a data unit, guaranteed transfer speed for data transmitted by mobile terminal toward the network, maximum transfer speed for data transmitted from mobile terminal toward the network, guaranteed transfer speed for data transmitted by the network toward mobile terminal, and maximum transfer speed for data transmitted by the network toward mobile terminal.
US08407037B2	Methods and apparatus for clock simulation with calibration A method for clock modeling in a simulation tool is described. An internal time (I) may be defined that governs the simulator tool's clock period. An external time (E) may be defined. The internal time may have a smaller resolution than the external time. A calibration period (C) may be defined for the clock. The calibration period may be smaller than 0.5E and greater than I. The largest inaccuracy of any clock edge may be monitored, and the clock may be calibrated if the largest inaccuracy is greater than (C−1).
US08407036B2	Method and apparatus for modeling the modal properties of optical waveguides A method and apparatus models one or more electromagnetic field modes of a waveguide. The method includes calculating a first matrix having a plurality of elements and having a first bandwidth using a refractive index profile of the waveguide. The plurality of elements of the first matrix represents an action of Maxwell's equations on a transverse magnetic field within the waveguide. The method further includes rearranging the plurality of elements of the first matrix to form a second matrix having a second bandwidth smaller than the first bandwidth. The method further includes shifting the second matrix and inverting the shifted second matrix to form a third matrix. The method further includes calculating one or more eigenvalues or eigenvectors of the third matrix corresponding to one or more modes of the waveguide.
US08407032B2	System and method for numerically evaluating thermal comfort inside an enclosure A system and method for assessing thermal comfort in an enclosure is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes performing a numerical analysis on a calibration enclosure including a thermal manikin in a uniform thermal environment to obtain a surface heat transfer coefficient (hcal) for each body part of the thermal manikin. The method also includes performing a numerical analysis on an enclosure including one or more thermal manikins in a non-uniform thermal environment to obtain a total heat flux (q″T) for each body part of the one or more thermal manikins. The method further includes computing an equivalent temperature (teq) of each body part of the one or more thermal manikins using the obtained associated hcal, the obtained associated q″T, and an associated surface temperature of the body part. Furthermore, the method includes evaluating thermal comfort in the enclosure based on each computed teq.
US08407030B2	Method for determining a time course of an accident occurring in a risk-prone installation A method for determining a time course of an accident which occurs inside an installation in which takes place at least one risk-prone process, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a step (MS) for determining a source term (S(t)) which identifies a source at the origin of the accident and which comprises rate data of a harmful substance emitted by the identified source, (b) a step (Mcd) for calculating in real time, amounts of the harmful substance present in different points of the installation, from said rate and from geometrical data (GI1) of the installation, and (c) a diagnostic step (MD) at the end of which a datum (dInt) of feasibility or non-feasibility of intervention in the installation is delivered, after analysis of the time-dependent variations of the amounts calculated in the calculation step.
US08407029B2	Unified graph matching in euclidean spaces and applications to image comparison and retrieval A first graph embedded in a Euclidean space is modeled by a globally rigid first model graph that includes all vertices and edges of the first graph and has a preselected maximum clique size. The modeling is configured to maintain the preselected maximum clique size by employing an edge adding process that replicates a vertex of a vertex pair connected by an edge. A mapping between vertices of the first graph and vertices of a second graph is computed by optimizing a mapping between vertices of the first model graph and vertices of the second graph.
US08407021B2	Delay analysis device, delay analysis method, and delay analysis program A delay analysis device includes an acquisition section that acquires circuit information relating to a path through which signal propagation can be delayed, a determination section that sets up an assumed fault for each of pins disposed in the path, and determines whether a signal change output from a beginning latch can be propagated to an ending latch for each of pins for which the assumed faults are set up, and an analysis section that calculates a delay distribution by accumulating delay distributions expressed by probability density functions of delays that occur in individual delay elements included in the path determined that a signal change output from the beginning latch can be propagated to the ending latch, and by not accumulating the delay distributions at a pin through which it has been determined that the signal change cannot be propagated to the ending latch based on the acquired circuit information.
US08407018B2	Battery life estimation A method of estimating battery lifetime includes monitoring a charge characteristic of a battery during a first time period, monitoring an operating condition of the battery, determining a first battery life value for the first time period based on the operating condition of the battery, the charge characteristic, and a duration of the first time period, determining an overall battery life value using the first battery life value and a second battery life value for a second time period, and estimating a remaining battery lifetime for the battery based on the overall battery life value.
US08407012B2	Methods and systems of DNA sequencing Methods and systems of DNA sequencing that compensate for sources of noise in next-generation DNA sequencers are described.
US08407010B2	Methods for rapid forensic analysis of mitochondrial DNA The present invention provides methods for rapid forensic analysis of mitochondrial DNA by amplification of a segment of mitochondrial DNA containing restriction sites, digesting the mitochondrial DNA segments with restriction enzymes, determining the molecular masses of the restriction fragments and comparing the molecular masses with the molecular masses of theoretical restriction digests of known mitochondrial DNA sequences stored in a database.
US08407009B2	System and method for molecular communication A disclosed molecular communication system includes a molecular transmitter configured to transmit an information molecule in which prescribed information is encoded, a molecular receiver configured to receive the information molecule, and a molecular capsule configured to carry the information molecule from the molecular transmitter to the molecular receiver. Each of the molecular transmitter, the molecular receiver, and the molecular capsule has an artificial cell membrane in which at least one kind of molecular switch is embedded, the molecular switch being responsive to an external input signal so as to control association and separation between the molecular transmitter and the molecular capsule, and association and separation between the molecular capsule and the molecular receiver, upon application of the external input signal.
US08407006B2	Multiple distributed force measurements Methods, computer programs, and systems for detecting at least one downhole condition are disclosed. Forces are measured at a plurality of locations along the drillstring. The drillstring includes a drillpipe. At least one of the forces is measured along the drillpipe. At least one downhole condition is detected based, at least in part, on at least one measured force.
US08407004B2	Airflow detector and method of measuring airflow An airflow detecting device includes a pivot rod, a first vane portion hingedly secured to the pivot rod and a second vane portion hingedly secured to the pivot rod. The airflow detecting device further includes a sensor assembly coupled to the first vane portion and the second vane portion. The sensor assembly generates a signal when the one of the first vane portion and the second vane portion is moved relative to the other of the second vane portion and the first vane portion when effected by airflow. The airflow detecting device further includes a control module secured to the pivot rod and coupled to the sensor assembly to receive the signal from the sensor assembly. The control module is configured to determine the direction and the amount of airflow based on the signal from the sensor assembly. Other embodiments of airflow detecting devices are further disclosed.
US08406997B2	Systems and methods for improved generation of textual directions based on positional information Systems and methods are provided for providing improved generation of textual directions based on positional information. In an implementation, textual directions for traversing a path are generated based on positional information associated with the path. According to a method, positional information that specifies a longitude and latitude at a plurality of times is received and processed to generate a routing graph. The generated routing graph includes nodes and route links that connect the plurality of nodes. Textual directions are generated for traversing a path associated with the positional data, based in part on link information associated with the links of the generated routing graph.
US08406995B2	Providing time table information A method of providing time table information and navigation instructions comprises receiving position data associated with a number of pre-determined positions along a transportation route, receiving time table data, receiving position data associated with a reference position, and determining a number of connection routes from the reference position to at least one of the pre-determined positions. Corresponding device and computer program product are also provided.
US08406993B2	Cart braking control during mechanized cart retrieval A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel may also include a brake mechanism. In one embodiment, the wheels are placed on shopping carts and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. The collected data may be used for various purposes, such as locking the wheel of an exiting cart if the customer has not paid, estimating numbers of queued carts, stopping wheel skid events that occur during mechanized cart retrieval, store planning, and providing location-based messaging to customers.
US08406988B2	Computer-implemented method for ensuring the privacy of a user, computer program product, device A computer-implemented method and product ensures the privacy of a user and the utility of data communicated by a device, such as a vehicle telematics device, to a server, comprising receiving data at the device during the time period; processing, by the device, the received data; summarizing, by the device, the processed data in a matrix, wherein the rows and columns of the matrix define circumstances of movement of the device, wherein the matrix includes a plurality of matrix-entries, and wherein each matrix-entry includes a distance covered by the device during the time period under predefined circumstances of movement; and transmitting the summarized data from the device to the server.
US08406985B2	Method for starting an internal combustion engine A method automatically starts an internal combustion engine having variable valve lift. The internal combustion engine is shut down temporarily in certain driving operating states in order to save fuel and being re-started in the event of a change in the driving operating state. During the engine run-down, the inlet valve is actuated such that the closing time is shifted, with the cylinder being opened via the inlet valve until a pressure compensation has taken place in the cylinder in which an under-pressure would prevail during the engine run-down.
US08406982B2	Fuel injection detecting device A fuel injection detecting device computes a maximum-fuel-injection-rate-reach timing and a fuel-injection-rate-decrease-start timing based on a falling waveform of the fuel pressure and a rising waveform of the fuel pressure. The falling waveform represents the fuel pressure detected by a fuel sensor during a period in which the fuel pressure increases due to a fuel injection rate decrease. The rising waveform represents the fuel pressure detected by the fuel sensor during a period in which the fuel pressure decreases due to a fuel injection rate increase. The rising waveform and the falling waveform are respectively modeled by modeling function. In a case of small fuel injection quantity, an intersection timing at which lines expressed by the modeling functions intersect with each other is defined as the maximum-fuel-injection-rate-reach timing and the fuel-injection-rate-decrease-start timing.
US08406979B2	Method for operating an internal combustion engine, computer program and control unit A method for operating an internal combustion engine, especially an internal combustion engine that is operable, at least in a part-load range, in an operating mode with auto-ignition, in which, at an abrupt change in load and/or at a changeover between an operating mode with auto-ignition and an operating mode without auto-ignition, a parameter of the combustion process correlating with the combustion noise is adapted stepwise over a plurality of combustion cycles from a first parameter value before the abrupt change in load or the changeover to a second parameter value after the abrupt change in load or the changeover, by influencing a combustion position of the combustion process.
US08406978B2	Gas turbine control method and device Provided is a gas turbine control method and control device whereby a design performance and an operating state based on ideal fuel flow rate and air flow rate simulated at the time of designing can be maintained by preventing an operation deviated from an operating condition that is based on ideal fuel flow rate and air flow rate simulated by initial design values, in a gas turbine control method designed to search optimal operating conditions automatically using control inputs such as a pilot ratio. The gas turbine controller comprises a second database that stores load sensitivity, i.e. the correlation between the load amount of a gas turbine and control inputs such as a fuel flow rate, air flow rate, pilot fuel ratio, and top hat fuel ratio in the gas turbine, wherein the amount of load variation for at least one of control inputs, a fuel flow rate or an air flow rate supplied to a combustor is predicted according to operational conditions obtained by searching using the load sensitivity, regulation is made according to the prediction results, and the regulation results are stored in the second database.
US08406973B2	Driving force control unit for vehicle The present invention provides a driving force control unit for a vehicle having an accelerator opening degree detecting unit for detecting accelerator opening degree, a driving condition detecting unit for detecting engine driving condition, a driving force setting unit for setting a driving force indication value according to a plurality of different driving force characteristics based on the accelerator opening degree and the engine driving condition, a selector for selecting a driving force characteristic from the plural of different driving force characteristics by manipulation. The driving force setting unit setting the driving force indication value according to the selected driving force characteristic.
US08406972B2	Device and method for controlling automatic transmission When a read-ahead vehicle speed is calculated using an integrator and a delay element, a predetermined gain used for an integral calculation is made small if a result of the integral calculation greater than a predetermined value based on an actual vehicle speed.
US08406941B2	Adaptive brake scheme during a distributed power communication loss An adaptive brake system for a distributed power train responsive to an interruption in a communication system for the train and a brake application initiated at the lead locomotive, reduces the brake pipe fluid pressure at a lead locomotive and a remote locomotive to a predetermined pressure level to reduce in-train forces that may occur as a result of the pressure differentials in the brake pipe line of the lead and remote locomotives.
US08406939B2	Systems and methods for RTA control of multi-segment flight plans with smooth transitions Methods, systems and device are provided for smoothing a required time of arrival (RTA) speed transition for an aircraft in a multi-segmented speed profile including at least one preceding region with a first predetermined speed pad and at a speed constrained region with a second predetermined speed pad. Exemplary methods include, but are not limited to determining whether a speed constrained region is engaged by a preceding region based at least in part on a speed of an aircraft. If the speed constrained region is engaged, the instructions determine a revised second speed pad for the speed constrained region. If the speed constrained region is not engaged then the instructions assign a default speed pad as the second speed pad for the speed constrained region. The instructions also compile a new speed profile that is defined by one of the revised second speed pad and the default speed pad for the speed constrained region and transmit commands that accelerate the aircraft to a new speed based on the new speed profile.
US08406934B2	System for regulating the active power of a wind farm An active power regulation process and system of a wind farm comprising an array of aerogenerators (AI), a communications network (RS), and a monitoring and control system (ST). The system of the invention comprises: means for connecting to said monitoring and control system (ST), means for receiving data relative to the apparent power Pout put out by the farm at all times, and data relative to variables and states of the aerogenerators (Ai) from said monitoring and control system (ST), means for comparing said output apparent power Pout with a preset apparent power set-point Pcons of the farm, means for continuously adjusting said output apparent power Pout, such that this output apparent power Pout approaches at all times the preset power set-point Pcons.
US08406925B2	Panoramic attention for humanoid robots A robot using less storage and computational resources to embody panoramic attention. The robot includes a panoramic attention module with multiple levels that are hierarchically structured to process different levels of information. The top-level of the panoramic attention module receives information about entities detected from the environment of the robot and maps the entities to a panoramic map maintained by the robot. By mapping and storing high-level entity information instead of low-level sensory information in the panoramic map, the amount of storage and computation resources for panoramic attention can be reduced significantly. Further, the mapping and storing of high-level entity information in the panoramic map also facilitates consistent and logical processing of different conceptual levels of information.
US08406922B2	System and method for setting the tool center point of a robotic tool A system for calibrating a robotic tool includes a housing including an aperture for receiving the robotic tool, an image generating device disposed in the housing and positioned to generate an image of the robotic tool received through the aperture of the housing, wherein the image generating device generates an image signal representing the image of the robotic tool, a light source disposed in the housing to backlight the robotic tool received through the aperture of the housing, and a processor responsive to the image signal for calculating and monitoring a configuration of the robotic tool.
US08406912B2	System and method for data mining and feature tracking for fab-wide prediction and control System and method for data mining and feature tracking for fab-wide prediction and control are described. One embodiment is a system comprising a database for storing raw wafer manufacturing data; a data mining module for processing the raw wafer manufacturing data to select the best data therefrom in accordance with at least one of a plurality of knowledge-, statistic-, and effect-based processes; and a feature tracking module associated with the data mining module and comprising a self-learning model wherein a sensitivity of the self-learning model is dynamically tuned to meet real-time production circumstances, the feature tracking module receiving the selected data from the data mining module and generating prediction and control data therefrom; wherein the prediction and control data are used to control future processes in the wafer fabrication facility.
US08406906B2	Baseball event outcome prediction method and apparatus A computer-implemented method of predicting outcomes of hypothetical events which can occur during a game of baseball, includes: accumulating and storing in a computer memory a statistical database of the cumulative effects of latency and engrams specific to an individual batter having individual batter capabilities and an individual pitcher having individual pitcher capabilities; selecting a pitch, by a user, from amongst pitches compatible with the individual pitcher capabilities; selecting a swing, by a user, from amongst swings compatible with the individual batter capabilities; computing in a computer processor a statistical performance of the individual pitcher of the selected pitch; computing in a computer processor a statistical performance of the individual batter of the selected swing; and matching in a computer processor the statistical performance of the individual pitcher with the statistical performance of the individual batter so as to compute an outcome.
US08406905B2	Scaling and parameterizing a controller Controller scaling and parameterization are described. Techniques that can be improved by employing the scaling and parameterization include, but are not limited to, controller design, tuning and optimization. The scaling and parameterization methods described here apply to transfer function based controllers, including PID controllers. The parameterization methods also applies to state feedback and state observer based controllers, as well as linear active disturbance rejection controllers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the application. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08406898B2	Implantable lead with an electrostimulation capacitor One example includes an implantable lead with an elongate lead body including a proximal portion and a distal portion. The lead includes a coupler configured to be coupled to an implantable medical device, a conductor, extending through the coupler, a first electrode, and a first electrostimulation capacitor located at the distal portion of the lead body, the first electrostimulation capacitor including a capacitance value that is large enough to store an electrostimulation charge of an electrostimulation energy that is large enough to perform electrostimulation of tissue. The lead includes a first switch located at the distal portion of the lead body and coupled to the conductor, the first switch configured to selectively couple the first electrostimulation capacitor to the first electrode during a stimulating state and to selectively couple the first electrostimulation capacitor to the conductor during a charging state.
US08406895B2	Implantable electrical lead including a cooling assembly to dissipate MRI induced electrode heat An implantable medical device lead includes an insulative lead body, an outer conductive coil extending through the lead body, and an inner conductive coil extending coaxially with the outer conductive coil. The outer conductive coil is coupled to a proximal electrode at a distal end of the outer conductive coil, and the inner conductive coil is coupled to a distal electrode at a distal end of the inner conductive coil. A cooling assembly is thermally coupled to the distal electrode to dissipate heat generated at the distal electrode during exposure to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fields.
US08406887B2	Package for an implantable neural stimulation device The present invention is an improved hermetic package for implantation in the human body. The implantable device includes an electrically non-conductive substrate with electrically conductive vias. A flip-chip circuit is attached to the substrate using conductive bumps and electrically connected to a first subset of the vias. The flip-chip circuit can contain one or more stacks or a folded stack. A wire-bonded circuit is also attached to the substrate and electrically connected to a second subset of the vias. A cover is bonded to the substrate. The cover, substrate, and vias form an improved hermetic package for implantation.
US08406883B1	Lead assembly for electrical stimulation systems and methods of making and using A multi-contact connector includes a connector body having a substantially-tubular shape with a longitudinal surface and a distal end. The connector body includes at least one lumen and defines at least one port. At least one of the lumens extends from the distal end of the connector body to at least one of the ports disposed on the longitudinal surface of the connector body. The multi-contact connector also includes a flexible-circuit sleeve with a substantially-tubular shape and an exterior surface. The flexible-circuit sleeve includes a plurality of contact terminals disposed on the exterior surface and at least one slot extending through the flexible-circuit sleeve to allow contact with at least one of the contact terminals from inside the flexible-circuit sleeve. The flexible-circuit sleeve is configured and arranged to be disposed over at least a portion of the connector body.
US08406881B2	Variable voltage compliance for current output generator A system for providing stimulation current in implantable medical devices is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus including a power supply terminal adapted to be connected to a power supply. The apparatus embodiment also includes circuitry connected to the power supply terminal and adapted to detect a parameter dependent on tissue/electrode impedance. The apparatus embodiment further includes a current output pulse generator adapted to deliver electrical therapy. The current generator includes an adjustable compliance voltage source connected to the power supply terminal. The compliance voltage source has a programmable amplitude and is adapted to provide different potentials for different tissue/electrode interface impedances. According to various embodiments, the apparatus embodiment also includes at least one stimulating electrode, and the current generator is adapted to deliver electrical therapy using the electrode. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08406876B2	Closed loop neural stimulation synchronized to cardiac cycles Various aspects of the present subject matter relate to a method. According to various method embodiments, cardiac activity is detected, and neural stimulation is synchronized with a reference event in the detected cardiac activity. Neural stimulation is titrated based on a detected response to the neural stimulation. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08406873B2	Methods and systems for implementing a high voltage switching circuit in an IMD A high voltage switching and control circuit is provided for an implantable medical device (IMD). The circuit includes a high voltage positive (HVP) node, configured to receive a positive high voltage signal from a high energy storage source, and a high voltage negative (HVN) node, configured to receive a negative high voltage signal from a high energy storage source. Additionally, the circuit includes first, second and third output terminals that are configured to be connected to electrodes for delivering high voltage energy. First and second SCR switches are connected to the first and second output terminals, respectively. The first and second SCR switches are connected in series with one another and are connected to one of the HVP and HVN nodes. The first and second SCR switches have gating terminals. A control circuit is connected to the gating terminals and delivers first and second gating signals to turn ON the first and second SCR switches, respectively. The control circuit temporally offsets the first and second gating signals to turn ON the first and second SCR switches in a serial delayed manner.
US08406870B2	Treating cancer using electromagnetic fields in combination with other treatment regimens Chemotherapeutic treatment for certain cancers may be combined with low intensity, intermediate frequency alternating electric fields that are tuned to a particular type of target cell. When the tuned fields were combined with Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin or Cyclophosphamide, excellent results were obtained against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and non-small cell lung (H1299) carcinomas in culture. More specifically, cell proliferation inhibition similar to that obtained by drug alone was reached by exposure to the combined treatment at drug concentrations between one and two orders of magnitude lower than for drug-only regimens of treatment.
US08406865B2	Bioimpedance system and sensor and technique for using the same A sensor assembly and/or systems for bioimpedance measurements may provide information related to the lean body water of the patient's tissue. The information related to the patient's lean body water may be determined by spectroscopic methods for determining water fraction. The patient's fat-free hydration levels may be incorporated into determinations of physiological parameters that may be determined by bioimpedance, such as cardiac output, hemtocrit, or body fat percentage.
US08406861B2	Detecting optical properties of a turbid medium A device for measuring light scattering and absorption properties of a tissue, the device comprising: a probe comprising first and second optical fibers for irradiation and detection. The optical fibers are substantially parallel to each other at the distal end, and are separated by a distance of less than 2 mm, wherein said first and second optical fibers are arranged in said probe at an angle, 6=10 deg. to 45 deg., to the plane perpendicular to the distal end of said probe and wherein the tips of the optical fibers at the distal end are polished parallel to the plane perpendicular to the distal end of said probe.
US08406857B2	Apparatus for and method of processing ultrasonic signal RF signals in predetermined time regions are extracted respectively from a plurality of RF signals which are produced when an examinee is scanned by an ultrasonic wave, and respective IB values are calculated in the time regions. A variance value of the calculated IB values is calculated, and information based on the calculated variance value is output.
US08406856B2	Optically characterizing turbid media and substances in turbid media For optically interrogating substances overlaid by turbid media a method of wavefront manipulation by means of binary phase masking is disclosed. Through altering the degree of mode conformity between the fields reaching the collection optics and the field distributions of the propagation modes of optical waveguides the disclosed method can be used to suppress the collection of short-range light originated near the collection optics while permitting unimpeded collection of light originated from sites substantially behind turbid media.
US08406855B2	Computer-operated mammography system with a contrast agent injector, and controller and operating method therefor A controller for a contrast agent-based, dual energy or two-spectrum tomosynthesis, has a control module that is designed for synchronized control of an injector and the mammography system. The control is based on measured, patient-specific values.
US08406844B2	Method for modification of radiotherapy treatment delivery A method of contoured-anatomy dose repositioning (CADR) as a means to automatically reposition a patient to better recover the planned dose distribution without reoptimizinq the treatment plan. CADR utilizes planning CT images, the planned dose distribution, and on-line images for repositioning dose distribution on a given day. Contours are also placed upon the images using manual, automatic, template-based, or other techniques. CADR then optimizes the rigid-body repositioning of the patient so that the daily dose distribution closely matches the planned dose distribution.
US08406843B2	ECG monitoring electrode A self-prepping ECG electrode assembly is provided. The electrode assembly includes an electrode element, an electrode stud, an abrasive member, an electrolyte gel, a cover member and a securing member. The electrode element and electrode stud are adapted to be rotatable within the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly may be used with a drive tool. The electrode assembly may be placed on the skin of a patient. The skin of the patient may be prepped for an ECG by inserting the drive tool into a bore formed in the electrode stud and turning the drive tool to achieve an oscillating rotation. In this manner the abrasive pad preps the patient's skin for the ECG procedure.
US08406839B2	Method and apparatus for determining blood analytes The present invention provides a method of measuring the concentration of a compound and a value of oxygen saturation in the blood of a part of a subject. Also provided is a device for carrying out the disclosed method. The method relates to measuring the concentration of a compound and a value of oxygen saturation in the blood part of a subject, and correlating the measured concentration of the compound and/or the value of oxygen saturation in the blood to a specific clinical condition. The device comprises a polychromatic light source, a receptor, a detector, and a processing system comprising a calibration algorithm.
US08406838B2	Apparatus for evaluating biological function, a method for evaluating biological function, a living body probe, a living body probe mounting device, a living body probe support device and a living body probe mounting accessory The apparatus for evaluating biological function of the present invention has living body probes 1, a behavioral information measuring part 2 and an apparatus body 3, and it utilizes near-infrared spectroscopy to evaluate biological function; apparatus body 3 has a controller 8 for calculating (based on light information from living body probes 1) a variety of parameters derived from two-dimensional diagrams showing relationships between changes in oxyhemoglobin and changes in deoxyhemoglobin and two-dimensional diagrams showing relationships between absolute amounts of oxyhemoglobin and absolute amounts of deoxyhemoglobin, a behavioral information input part for entering behavioral information measured by means of behavioral information measuring part 12, and a display part 10 for performing various types of image displays based on various parameters calculated by means of controller 8 and/or behavioral information entered in the behavioral information input part.
US08406828B2	Mobile terminal Disclosed is a mobile terminal including a terminal main body formed with an accommodation chamber for accommodating a battery, a cover combined with the main body to cover the accommodation chamber and formed with a conductive material to transmit and receive radio electromagnetic waves, a circuit board formed with an electrical ground to process a signal corresponding to the radio electromagnetic waves, a feed connection portion electrically connecting the circuit board with the cover to allow the circuit board to feed power to the cover, and a ground connection portion electrically connecting the cover with the electrical ground to make a ground to the cover.
US08406823B2	Power transmission control device, power transmission device, power reception control device, power reception device, and electronic apparatus A power transmission control device is provided in a contactless power transmission system that supplies electric power to a load of a power reception device such that a primary coil and a secondary coil are electromagnetically coupled to each other so as to transmit the electric power to the power reception device from the power transmission device. The power transmission control device includes a controller that controls the power transmission control device, and a storage section that stores information about a power transmitting side coil. The controller performs a collation process for collating the information about the power transmitting side coil with information about a power receiving side coil received from the power reception device, and determines whether or not the information about the power transmitting side coil is compatible with the information about the power receiving side coil.
US08406809B2	Configuration with the payment button in the mobile communication device, the way the payment process is started On the interface side (7), a removable memory card (2), on which at least one payment card unit is located (5), appears to be a removable memory card (2) for the extension of the mobile communication device's (4) memory capacity up till the moment when the payment purpose button (1) is physically pressed. Then the removable memory card (2) switches into the payment function's access mode and is made accessible on its interface (7) as a card with a Secure Element (3) having at least one payment card unit (5). After the termination and/or interruption of the payment process, the removable memory card (2) switches into the access mode for the memory capacity extension function of the mobile communication device (4). This configuration and method increase the security of the payment process while retaining high level of manipulation comfort. At the mobile communication device with a payment purpose button (1) it is possible to switch the access mode exclusively by physical press of the hardware payment button (1) by which the unauthorized start of the payment application without the user's knowledge is prevented.
US08406799B2	Method and device for establishing an inter-radio frequency subsystem interface (ISSI) group call A hosted inter-radio frequency subsystem interface (HIF) maintains a list of affiliated radio frequency subsystems (RFSSs), the list identifies at least one serving RFSS. An affiliation request is transmitted from the HIF to the home RFSS, which is a home RFSS of the group. The HIF receives from the serving RFSS a request to initiate an inter-RFSS group call to the group using HIF addressing. The HIF transmits a request to the home RFSS to initiate the inter-RFSS group call using serving RFSS addressing. A data packet from the home RFSS or the serving RFSS is received at the HIF. Upon receipt, the HIF transmits a copy of the data packet to the serving RFSS if the data packet was received from the home RFSS; otherwise, the HIF transmits a copy of the data packet to the home RFSS if the data packet was received from the serving RFSS.
US08406788B2	System and method for locating a phone user Systems and methods for locating a user of a wired or wireless communication device allow a communication device to respond to a location request with its current location or a default location. A request for the location of a target wireless communication device is sent to the network where the request is responded to by the network or forwarded to the target device. When the request is received by the target device, the device can deny the location request or respond to the location request with the actual location of the device (as determined by GPS or the network) or with a default, predetermined location. The type of response (denial, actual location, or default location) can be selected by the user of the target device on a granular, per request basis so that the user of the target device can selectively respond to location requests in an appropriate fashion.
US08406785B2	Method and system for estimating range of mobile device to wireless installation A method of and system for estimating the range of a mobile device to a wireless installation is disclosed. A method of estimating the position of a mobile device includes receiving signals transmitted by fixed-position wireless communication stations in range of a mobile device. One of the wireless communication stations from which signals are received by the mobile device is designated as a serving station and location information is retrieved for said serving station and at least one other neighboring station from which signals are received. For each of the at least one other neighboring stations, a corresponding distance between the serving station and said neighboring station is determined based on the location information. A position of the mobile device is estimated based on the location information for the serving station and said neighboring stations and further based on the distances between the serving station and said neighboring stations.
US08406780B2	LTE operation in white spaces One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for efficient reassignment of a secondary communication channel (having a first priority) within a white space, upon arrival of a conflicting primary user signal (having a second priority higher than the first priority). In particular, the method comprises reassigning a secondary communication channel to unused portions of one or more white spaces remaining after the arrival of one or more primary users. For example, in one embodiment wherein one or more secondary communication channels are operated at contiguous secondary frequency ranges within a white space, a primary/incumbent user may arrive at a frequency range that conflicts with the secondary frequency range and that generates unused frequency portions of the white space(s). The secondary communication channel may be reassigned to the unused frequency portions of the white space (e.g., forming a non-contiguous secondary communication channel, forming a secondary communication channel having a reduced bandwidth).
US08406776B2	Method of searching for free band for a cognitive telecommunication terminal This invention relates to a method of searching for free band using a cognitive telecommunication terminal operating in a zone covered by a primary telecommunication system using a plurality of frequency bands (B). The terminal classifies said bands as a function of their conditional probabilities of being available (p(bmax\|Bocc,Bopp)), knowing a first set of bands already occupied by the primary telecommunication system (Bocc) and a second set of bands not occupied by this primary telecommunication system but already used by another cognitive terminal (Bopp), said terminal beginning its search by the band with the highest conditional probability (bmax).
US08406773B1	Adaptive power control based on radio frequency conditions Methods and computer-readable media are provided to enable the selection of a cell tower sector that is used by the mobile device to provide higher quality signals in a current frame. Signal quality data is retrieved for a previous quantity of frames, and indicates the signal quality of signals communicated from multiple sectors to a mobile device during soft handoff. A sector that has been communicating higher quality signals is then selected. Loading, signal-to-noise ratio, and a number of traffic channels may be used independently or in conjunction to determine which sector to select. For time slots of a current frame, an overall power control command is communicated to each sector that corresponds to a power control command assigned to the selected sector.
US08406762B2	System and method of controlling registration on a multi-technology handset Embodiments of the present invention are directed to controlling registration on a multi-technology handset. By controlling registration on a multi-technology handset, efficient handoffs between different technologies can occur. In one embodiment, the multi-technology handset operates using a first technology and at least one second technology. The second technology can be wireless fidelity (WiFi) or worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), for example. The multi-technology handset includes at least a dual mode controller (DMC), a first technology controller, a second technology controller, as well as radios for the first and second technologies.
US08406761B2	Initializing and provisioning user equipment having multi-network connectivity A device includes a first type of cellular capability for connecting to a first cellular network and a second type of cellular capability for connecting to a second cellular network. The device terminates advertising of the first type of cellular capability after determining that the device is not initialized. The device also transmits a request to the second cellular network by using the second type of cellular capability; receives a name of a carrier, associated with the device, from a server and via the second cellular network; and initializes the device based on the name of the carrier.
US08406759B2	Systems and methods for managing radio resources unsing extended management information bases in wireless networks A networked computing system, including multiple radio access nodes (RANs), multiple radio communications controllers (RCCs), and a data communications network facilitating communications amongst the RANs and the RCCs of the system. A regional RAN receives a default eMIB associated with a first type of RAN (e.g., a macrocell, microcell, picocells, or femtocell RAN types) from a RCC, in response to a registration event of a RAN initialization process. The regional RAN maintains a dynamic eMIB comprising network operating parameters determined by various self-optimization processes. The network operating parameters of the dynamic eMIB are selected to fall within a range designated by the default eMIB. During a network failure condition, the regional RAN is configured to use a temporary eMIB comprising failure level operating parameters in order to mitigate network deficiencies caused by the network failure condition.
US08406754B2	Apparatus and method for beamforming using sector common antenna in wireless communication system An apparatus and method for beamforming in a wireless communication system are provided. The base station apparatus includes a calculator, a plurality of formers, and a plurality of adders. The calculator calculates a beam coefficient considering interference to a neighbor sector to be applied to transmission signals to mobile stations. The plurality of formers performs beamforming for a transmission signal to each mobile station within a corresponding sector using the beam coefficient. The plurality of adders adds the sector-based beamformed signals each provided from the plurality of formers, on a per-transmission-antenna basis.
US08406752B2	Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit; a touchscreen configured to display an input menu for inputting information and including an input option displayed as a thumbnail representing input items that can be selected; and a controller configured to automatically provide candidate options to be input into a selected second input field based on characteristics of an input item input into the first input field.
US08406750B2	Method and device for establishing a communication connection between a control center and a terminal A method for establishing a communication connection between a control center and a terminal is described, the control center (preferably a server) transmitting a request to establish a connection to a terminal (preferably a client), and in the case of a correct request, the terminal automatically establishing a connection (client-server communication) to the control center.
US08406747B2	Communication system and a personal communication proxy The communication system has service providers arranged to receive service requests. In order to obtain a user friendly solution the system further has a service gateway that has a data storage configured to route a received service request to one of the service providers based on information included in the service request, a personal communication proxy that has a memory, a receiver for receiving a service request over a short-range radio system, and a processor identifying a service provider selected by the subscriber for the service in question, and for sending the service request to the identified service provider, and at least one subscriber apparatus for transmitting a service request.
US08406746B2	Server and subscriber terminal for voicemail transmissions via packet switched data communication The invention relates to a voicemail short messaging method (10, 20, 30) and means and a subscriber terminal (500). In particular it concerns a method and means for instantaneous packet switched voicemail between Internet compatible computers, personal digital assistants, telephones and mobile stations. In particular the inventive subscriber terminal (500) concerns a hardware and a software setup that allows the combined use of audio and/or video devices (550) with both the normal cellular or fixed telephony network (520) and with an Internet connection (510). The inventive subscriber terminal (500) allows the flexible use of both the Internet and telephony network with numerous advantages, one of which is the inventive voicemail short messaging method under study. The inventive voicemail messaging method (10), comprising at least one subscriber terminal is characterised by server independence.
US08406745B1	Synchronization of voice mail greeting and email auto-reply by a wireless communication device A wireless communication device comprises a processing system, a user interface, and a wireless communication interface. The processing system is configured to receive a first email auto-reply instruction through the user interface, direct the wireless communication interface to transfer the first email auto-reply instruction for delivery to an email server, convert the first email auto-reply instruction into a voice mail greeting, and direct the wireless communication interface to transfer a first voice mail greeting instruction for delivery to a voice mail server. The processing system is further configured to receive a second voice mail greeting instruction through the user interface, direct the wireless communication interface to transfer the second voice mail greeting instruction for delivery to the voice mail server, convert the second voice mail greeting instruction into an email auto-reply, and direct the wireless communication interface to transfer a second email auto-reply instruction for delivery to the email server.
US08406738B2	Mobile terminal authentication method and system A method and system of authenticating a mobile terminal may include using a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) authentication device managed by a mobile virtual network operator, receiving an authentication request sent from the mobile terminal from a relay device via a MVNO base station configured to provide a service of the mobile virtual network operator, where the relay device is located between the MVNO base station or a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) base station configured to provide a service of a mobile network operator and the MVNO authentication device or a MNO authentication device managed by the mobile network operator, and determining whether or not access from the mobile terminal, as a MVNO mobile terminal registered as a user of the mobile virtual network operator, based on the authentication request is permitted.
US08406736B2	System and method for identifying and locating wireless devices that are being operated by unauthorized users A method of locating a wireless device being operated by an unauthorized user is provided. The method comprises examining biometric information of an operator of the wireless device, determining if the operator is authorized based on the biometric information, and transmitting a message to a remote recipient in response to determining the operator is not authorized. In certain embodiments, the message can include the location of the wireless device.
US08406733B2	Automated device provisioning and activation Devices and methods for receiving control-plane communications from a network element over a secure service control link are disclosed. The network element includes a service control server link element that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of servers. The device includes a plurality of device agents communicatively coupled to a service control device link agent through an agent communication bus. The service control device link agent receives an encrypted agent message from the service control server link element over the secure service control link, uses an encryption key to obtain a decrypted agent message comprising a particular agent identifier and message content for delivery to the particular device agent, and, based on the particular agent identifier, delivers the message content to the particular device agent over the agent communication bus.
US08406731B2	Charging efficiency for a mobile subscriber based on pre-paid or flat-rate billing arrangements A method for performing charging in a telecommunications system, comprising: storing at a subscriber information store subscription information including charging arrangement information indicative of the charging arrangement for a first communication terminal operating in the telecommunications system; providing by means of packet data interface apparatus packet data communication services to the first terminal, the packet data interface apparatus being capable of interfacing between the first communication terminal and a packet-switched data link to another communications terminal; generating by means of packet data interface apparatus charging messages indicative of the usage of the packet data communication services by the first terminal; transferring the charging messages to charging apparatus; and performing by means of the charging apparatus a charging operation to attribute to a subscriber for the first communications terminal a charge for use of the communication services by the first terminal; the method further including the steps of: transferring the charging arrangement information to the packet data interface apparatus; and storing at the packet data interface apparatus the charging arrangement information for the first communication terminal; and wherein the stop of generating charge messages comprises generating the said charging messages dependant on the charging arrangement information for the first communication terminal.
US08406729B2	Methods and systems for relaying out of range emergency information A report message may be transmitted with collaborated information related to the occurrence of an emergency event. A plurality of devices, such as mobile communications devices, that are out of range of a communications network can communicate via direct communication, such as device-to-device communication, to corroborate characteristics that are indicative of an occurrence of an emergency event. Information related to the occurrence may be collaborated amongst the plurality of devices. A transmitting device, which may be one of the plurality of devices that corroborates characteristics or collaborates information, may generate and transmit the report message comprising the collaborated information. A receiving device may provide the message over a communications network, or the report message may continue to be handed off between devices capable of direct communication, the message eventually reaching a device that is within range of the communications network.
US08406723B1	Radio frequency filter having an active inductor Systems and methods which provide DC current path circuitry, such as for providing a DC bias, in association with a filter circuit such that parasitic attributes of the DC current path circuitry combines with the filter component attributes are shown. According to embodiments, the parasitic attributes of the DC current path circuitry components are added into the associated filter circuit network design. A parasitic capacitance of the DC current path circuitry may, for example, be aggregated with a capacitor of the filter circuit to eliminate or mitigate the effect of the presence of the DC current path circuitry on the associated filter frequency response. Embodiments implement an active inductor configuration for providing a DC current path in association with a filter circuit. An active inductor of embodiments is provided using a transistor, appropriately biased to actively exhibit low impedance at DC and high impedance at RF frequencies.
US08406722B2	Channel reception characteristics through clock rate adjustment A method, apparatus and system are described for adjusting the frequency of one or more clock signals used by a device. The one or more clock signals are adjusted by a determined amount when a channel quality metric of an RF channel in use by the device indicates a degradation in the reception quality.
US08406715B2	Method and apparatus for dynamically adapting FM tuner sensitivity to a local environment for a single-tuner system A method of operating a single-tuner radio includes tuning into a first frequency. A pause in a first signal associated with the first frequency is detected. Tuning is switched from the first frequency to a second frequency. A signal quality metric for the second frequency is measured. Tuning is switched from the second frequency to the first frequency.
US08406709B2	Carrier recovery in re-modulation communication systems A communication apparatus includes transmission circuitry and a frequency conversion unit. The transmission circuitry is configured to down-convert an input Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal using a transmit (TX) Local Oscillator (LO) signal so as to produce a TX baseband signal, to up-convert the TX baseband signal to produce an output Radio Frequency (RF) signal, and to send the output RF signal to an antenna. The frequency correction unit is configured to estimate a frequency of the TX baseband signal or of the input IF signal, and to adjust the TX LO signal based on the estimated frequency so as to cause the transmission circuitry to down-convert the input IF signal to a predefined target frequency.
US08406705B2	Circuit and method Implementations related to circuits including an oscillator and a switch-mode DC/DC converter are presented herein.
US08406703B2	Sliding hinge and a portable device with the sliding hinge A portable device has lower and upper casings. A sliding hinge has a stationary frame attached to the lower casing, a sliding frame attached to the upper casing and a resilient positioning assembly mounted between the stationary and sliding frames. The sliding frame has multiple pushing pins protruding toward the stationary frame. The resilient positioning assembly has two sliders and multiple resilient elements disposed between and abutting the sliders. When the upper casing slides relative to the lower casing, the pushing pins move along and push corresponding sliders and pressing the resilient elements. As long as the pushing pins are moved to the other sides of the corresponding sliders, the resilient elements push the sliders back and the upper and lower casings of the portable device are open relative to each other.
US08406702B2	Clock signal generating arrangement for a communication device A clock signal generating arrangement for a communication device generates a system clock signal at an output for use as a timing reference. The clock signal generating arrangement comprises a reference clock generator for generating a reference clock signal, a main clock generator for generating a main clock signal having a greater accuracy than the reference clock signal, a clock adjust circuit coupled to the reference clock generator for generating a compensated reference clock signal to compensate for error in the reference clock signal and a clock signal selector coupled to the reference clock generator the main clock generator and the clock adjust circuit. The clock signal selector selectively provides to the output of the clock signal generating arrangement as the system clock signal the compensated reference clock signal when an error in the reference clock signal reaches a first predetermined threshold and until the error in the reference clock signal has been compensated and otherwise the reference clock signal when the communication device is operating in an idle mode or the main clock signal when the communication device is operating in an active mode.
US08406681B2	Sheet processing apparatus capable of performing a punch process and image forming system having same A sheet processing apparatus includes: a punch portion which is capable of punching a hole of a different type in a sheet; a sheet stack portion on which a punched sheet is stacked; and a determining portion which determines the hole type; wherein stack limit number of sheets to be stacked on the sheet stack portion is changed in accordance with the hole type determined by the determining portion.
US08406664B2	Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and developing device An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, a latent image forming unit, and a plurality of developing units. Each of the developing unit forms an image to have a color difference of equal to or less than about five with respect to an initial unicolor image formed by using a toner not containing a reversely-transferred toner of another color when a toner contained in a toner container is consumed by about 70%.
US08406661B2	Developing device and image forming apparatus provided therewith A developing device includes: a developing roller incorporating a fixed magnet body having a plurality of magnetic poles in a circumferential direction; a regulating member for regulating an amount of toner on the developing roller by means of a magnetic field formed by the regulating member and the fixed magnet body; and a magnetic-field generating member for scraping off, on an upstream of the regulating member in a rotational direction of the developing roller, toner which is not used for development on the developing roller. A relation Bm/Br>1 is satisfied, where Br represents a magnetic flux density of a distal end portion of the regulating member facing a surface of the developing roller and Bm represents a magnetic flux density of a distal end portion of the magnetic-field generating member facing the surface of the developing roller.
US08406653B2	Image forming apparatus An image-forming apparatus comprises: a body having a mount/remove opening; a removable component that can be mounted on or removed from the body via the mount/remove opening, the removable component being operable when mounted on the body; a door attached to the mount/remove opening; a mounting unit, on which the removable component is mounted, attached to the body; a connecting member that connects the door and the mounting unit, a position or attitude of the mounting unit in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the door, causes the removable component to move to a first position in which the removable component is operable when the door is closed, and causes the removable component mounted on the mounting unit to move to a second position, which is more easily accessible when the door is opened.
US08406649B2	Apparatus for providing electrical contact between a power supply and a photoconductive drum in an image forming device In an image forming device an apparatus is provided that supplies a continuous flow of an electrical charge between a photoconductive drum and a power supply. In one embodiment, an electrically conductive member receives a shaft of the photoconductive drum. An electrically conductive cap disposed on a first side of the electrically conductive member, aligned with an aperture of the electrically conductive member, and capable of being electrically coupled with the shaft via the electrically conductive member. There is also an electrically conductive resilient member having a leading end and a trailing end electrically couple with the electrically conductive member and the shaft in a manner that the leading end is disposed on the first side of the electrically conductive member and the trailing end is disposed on the second side of the electrically conductive member with at least a portion of the trailing end extending across the aperture of the electrically conductive member.
US08406645B2	Image forming apparatus and image forming method for adjusting developing bias Developing bias is set as follows. An electric field intensity between a developing roller and a photoconductor is set to cause normally-charged toner to fly in an image area and not to cause the toner to fly in a background area. Thus, the normally-charged toner does not fly in the background area. The normally-charged toner caused to fly is therefore unlikely to flick low-charged toner and oppositely-charged toner. The low-charged toner and the oppositely-charged toner will not adhere to the background area and cause image fogging. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus can be provided to prevent the low-charged toner and the oppositely-charged toner from adhering to the background area of an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor and to avoid the occurrence of image fogging in the background area on a printed material.
US08406640B2	Toner cartridge and control method of displaying the residual toner quantity in the same toner cartridge A toner cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes: a toner container; a toner feed port for supplying toner to a developing device; a toner feeding blade structure for feeding the toner from the toner container to the developing device; and a recording chip for recording history information on the toner container. The toner container includes a toner feed motor for rotationally driving the toner feeding blade structure. The recording chip includes a supplied toner quantity totalizer for summing the amounts of toner supplied and a residual toner quantity display controller for displaying the residual toner quantity in the toner container on a display portion of the image forming apparatus.
US08406629B2	Architecture to communicate with standard hybrid fiber coaxial RF signals over a passive optical network (HFC PON) One or more overlay wavelengths are applied to a GPON architecture to provide sufficient, cost-effective forward bandwidth per home for targeted, unique narrowcast services to allow traditional HFC operators to use a PON architecture with their existing HFC equipment. A separate return path capability using a separate coaxial cable with RF signals to the GPON may also be used. This return capability may be provided either by a fiber optic link or coaxial link from the home.
US08406624B2	Degree extending method and optical hub node apparatus An optical hub node apparatus can be configured to include N+1 or more route units (10) by connecting N or less route units (10) selected from among the N+1 or more route units (10) to a route unit (10) including N (N:integer of 2 or more) ports to which other route units (10) are detachably connected. As a result, as compared with a case where N+1 route units (10) are completely interconnected in a meshed manner, the number of the route units (10) can be increased. Thus, the number (degree) of optical transmission apparatuses connectable to the optical hub node apparatus can be increased.
US08406618B2	Camera A camera according to the present invention includes a camera body where an image pickup mechanism is mounted, and a strobe unit is provided in the camera body. A wiring board to which a lead wire to be electrically connected to the strobe unit is connected, and a capacitor connected to the wiring board to feed power to the strobe unit are incorporated in the camera body. The wiring board and the capacitor are provided in a vertically movable manner in the camera body, and a cantilever portion for biasing the wiring board and the capacitor downward, and a lower projection portion for receiving movement of the wiring board and the capacitor due to a biasing force of the cantilever portion are provided in the camera body.
US08406609B2	Method for generating a sound series of photographs and apparatus for the generating and reproducing such sound series The present invention relates to a method for creation of a sound series of photographs. A sound series is produced by a camera and is audible to the user of the device. At various instants of the sound series, the user takes photographs and the device records the instant when the photograph was taken. A table is created associating each photograph with the instant of the sequence when it was taken. The sound sequence terminates then ending the series of photograph takes. Then, the photographs are assembled to form a single panoramic image, a part of the panoramic image is then displayed by an animation. The panoramic image thus created, the sound sequence and the table are assembled to form a panoramic sound image. During the reproduction of the panoramic sound image, each photograph is displayed at the instant associated by the table.
US08406606B2	Playback apparatus and playback method A playback apparatus that divides the content into scenes; specifies a scene played back after a fast-forward operation or a rewind; calculates a first feature value of the scene specified by the specifying unit; divides content different from the video content into scenes and calculates second feature values, each of which corresponds to one of the scenes obtained by the second feature-value calculation unit; compares the first feature value with the second feature values and extracts a scene whose second feature value differs from the first feature value by a predetermined threshold or less; and outputs the scene extracted by the extraction unit.
US08406605B2	Method for recording and managing a multi-channel stream The present invention relates to a method for recording and managing a multi-channel broadcast stream. The present method records on a recording medium such as a BD-RW a multi-channel broadcast stream where a plurality of channels are multiplexed, and creates and records management information for individual search and reproduction control of the plural channels. Consequently, this method ensures fast random access and various trick play of individual subchannel streams multiplexed in a recorded multi-channel stream at user's request.
US08406603B2	System and method of recording programs of favorite channels Systems and methods for recording of channels are provided. In a particular method, a first window of the plurality of windows is designated to display a first program of a first channel and a second window of the plurality of windows is designated to display a second program of a second channel. The first channel and the second channel are each included in a set of channels. The method also includes automatically recording the first program associated with the first channel while the first program is in progress and automatically recording the second program associated with the second channel while the second program is in progress. The method further includes sending a start of program option to a display device. In response to a selection of the start of program option, a recorded displayed program in progress is automatically replayed from a beginning of the displayed program at the display device.
US08406586B2	Tunable optical group delay This invention provides a balanced thermal approach to the tuning of an optical time delay device in order to eliminate any long-term time response of the device performance due to thermal time constants of the device, its mount, packaging or electronic temperature control circuits. The invention provides multiple ways to improve the thermal tuning speed of the balanced thermal approach. Additionally, the invention overcomes an issue of microresonator non-uniformity by operating a large group of microresonators as a ‘super-ring’ by tuning the large group together to provide a controllable group delay with large bandwidth.
US08406581B2	Photoelectric composite wiring module and method for manufacturing same A photoelectric composite wiring module, being superior in performances and mass-productivity thereof, and a transmission apparatus of applying that therein are provided.Optical devices 2a and 2b are disposed on a circuit board 1, so that they are optically coupled with optical guides 11 formed on the circuit board 1, wherein a filet-like resin is formed on a side surface of a bump, which is formed on side surfaces or/and upper portions of the optical devices, on an upper layer thereof being compressed a resin film to be adhered thereon, thereby forming an insulation film 31, and an electric wiring layer 3 is laminated, so that the electrodes of the optical devices 2 and wirings of the electric wiring layer are electrically connected with, and further thereon is mounted a semiconductor element 4; thereby obtaining the structure for brining the transmission speed to be high per channel, and for preventing the power consumption from increasing. Also, it has the structure of not causing deterioration of the optical devices due to ill influences of moisture, thereby achieving high reliability. Further, it also produces an easy connecting method with a transmission apparatus, and high productivity thereof.
US08406579B2	Wavelength division multiplexing and optical modulation apparatus A wavelength division multiplexing and optical modulation apparatus includes at least two modulation region-added grating-assisted cross-state directional coupler units and a modulation region-added cross-state directional coupler. The modulation region-added grating-assisted cross-state directional coupler units and the modulation region-added cross-state directional coupler unit are connected to one another in serial. Each of the modulation region-added grating-assisted cross-state directional coupler units each includes a modulation region-added cross-state directional coupler, a grating and a modulation region. The modulation region-added cross-state directional coupler unit includes an output waveguide, an input waveguide and a modulation region.
US08406577B2	Optical modulator An optical modulator includes a substrate that is formed of a material having an electro-optic effect, an optical waveguide 2 that is formed on the substrate 1, the optical waveguide 2 having at least an input waveguide 21 leading the optical wave input to the optical modulator, branch waveguides 23, 24, 27, and 28 branching from the input waveguide, and an output waveguide 30 coupling the branch waveguides and leading the optical wave to the outside of the optical modulator, modulation electrodes 61 and 62 that are formed on the substrate to modulate an optical wave propagating on the waveguide, modulation means 25 and 26 that are provided at apart of the branch waveguides to modulate the optical wave propagating on the branch waveguide, where at least a part of the modulation electrodes is provided, polarization plane selection means 4 that is provided at a part of the optical waveguide up to a part where the branch waveguides are coupled, and controls the polarization plane of the optical wave modulated by the modulation means, and polarization plane adjustment means 5 that is provided at a part of the optical waveguide up to a part where the branch waveguides are coupled, and adjusts the polarization planes such that the polarization planes of the optical waves propagating on the branch waveguides are made orthogonal effectively.
US08406576B2	Optical modulator and optical transmitter An optical modulator including: a substrate which has electro-optic effect; a Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer which is formed in the substrate and which includes a first waveguide and a second waveguide; a signal electrode which applies an electrical field to the Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer through being supplied with an electric signal corresponding to a signal for optical modulation; a ground electrode formed apart from the signal electrode; and a conductor section which is narrow in a middle thereof along the light propagating direction and which gradually becomes wider towards the starting end and the terminating ends thereof along the light propagating direction in an interacting portion at which the electric field applied by the signal electrode interacts with light propagating through the first waveguide and the second waveguide.
US08406571B2	Automatic super-resolution transformation for images Disclosed are methods and apparatus for improving images. At an image management system for storing a plurality of images from a plurality of users via a computer network, a new image is received and stored. So as to generate a new improved image, each patch of the new image is changed into an improved image patch based on selecting one or more selected mappings for converting one or more low-quality patches into one or more high-quality patches. The one or more selected mappings are determined from the images stored by the image management system. The new improved image is provided to the user.
US08406568B2	Automatic dominant orientation estimation in text images based on steerable filters Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an image-processing system is capable of receiving an image containing text, applying optical character recognition to the image, and then audibly reproducing the text via text-to-speech synthesis. Prior to optical character recognition, an orientation corrector is capable of detecting an amount of angular rotation of the text in the image with respect to horizontal, and then rotating the image by an appropriate amount to sufficiently align the text with respect to horizontal for optimal optical character recognition. The detection may be performed using steerable filters to provide an energy versus orientation curve of the image data. A maximum of the energy curve may indicate the amount of angular rotation that may be corrected by the orientation corrector.
US08406563B2	Photometric calibration method and device A photometric calibration method includes: obtaining a target image and a reference image by a light field camera and transforming the reference image into a revised target image corresponding to the target image; calculating a photometric calibration ratio according to a function for correlating the target image and the revised target image by using a numerical algorithm; and the intensity of the target image is divided by the photometric calibration ratio to obtain a calibrated target image. A light field of a scene is formed by all of the calibrated target image so as to improve the quality of the light field.
US08406561B2	Methods and systems for estimating illumination source characteristics from a single image Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for determining light source characteristics from an image. An image having pixels is received that is affected by a light source. A silhouette boundary is received. The image may be filtered to decrease diffuse reflectivity. The presence of light sources is estimated by identifying a local maxima pixel around the silhouette boundary. The local maxima pixel may be associated with the light source. A slant angle that is associated with the light source is estimated using the silhouette boundary. A tilt angle associated with the light source is estimated using the slant angle and local maxima pixel intensity. The relative intensity of each light source may be determined. The ambient light intensity of the image may be determined. The characteristics, such as the slant angle and tilt angle, may be provided to a user.
US08406560B2	Apparatus and method for generating high sensitivity images in dark environment There is provided a method of and an apparatus for generating high sensitivity images in a low light level environment, the method including correcting an image acquired through short-time exposure in a low light level environment to an image corresponding to a reference exposure time defined for the low light level environment, the corrected image including a plurality of channels, detecting respective black levels for each of the channels, the detecting of the respective black levels being based on a black level intensity for the reference exposure time, adjusting the respective black levels for each of the channels of the corrected image to respective target black levels for each of the channels, and aligning a value of each of the channels using the respective target black levels.
US08406558B2	Imaging apparatus, image processing apparatus, and image processing method According to one embodiment, an imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a focusing quantity calculating unit, a detail compensation amount calculating unit, and a detail adding unit. The focusing quantity calculating unit calculates a focusing quantity for every position in the subject image from a detail component. The compensation amount calculating unit calculates the detail compensation amount from the focusing quantity. The detail adding unit adds the detail component, which is compensated according to the detail compensation amount, to a low-frequency component of the image data.
US08406553B2	Poisson disk sample maps A map encoding module is described for creating a sample map in which sample values are placed within respective cells of an organizing grid structure, as governed, in part, by a Poisson disk distribution. The map encoding module efficiently represents the locations of the samples using respective integer values. A location determination module can determine a location of a sample value within a particular cell using a decoding algorithm. The decoding algorithm receives selection information and uses a cryptographic hashing algorithm to transform the selection information into location information which identifies the location of the sample value within the particular cell. Various graphics applications can use the map encoding module and the location determination module to reduce aliasing in displayed images.
US08406552B1	Fast in-loop filtering in VC-1 A method of filtering a pixels along a block edge during decoding of compressed VC-1 video includes loading edge segments with pixels along the sides of a block edge into registers, calculating a selection mask for a third pixel pair, and filtering the pixels in the edge segments simultaneously in the registers, if the selection mask meets a predetermined criteria. In another embodiment, a method of filtering pixels along a block edge during decoding of compressed VC-1 video includes loading edge segments with pixels along the side of a block edge into registers, swapping a first pair of the pixels with a second pair of the pixels, where each of the pairs of pixels are third pixel pairs of their respective segments, filtering the pairs of pixels simultaneously in the registers, and filtering the remaining pixels of the respective edge segments, if the results of filtering the third pixels pairs meet a predetermined criteria. The registers may be single instruction multiple data (SIMD) registers used with a Wireless MMX processor.
US08406549B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program An image processing apparatus is disclosed that includes an input unit that inputs data subject to image processing, an input filter that controls data input operations of the input unit, an output unit that outputs processed data resulting from the image processing, an output filter that controls data output operations of the output unit, and at least one processing filter arranged between the input filter and the output filter that processes the input data. An interruption process or a termination process for stopping the image processing is successively performed within the output filter, the processing filter, and the input filter starting with the output filter.
US08406538B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method An image processing apparatus includes: an intermediate code generating unit that, when a data string that matches an input data string of image data is found from data string of the image data input in the past, outputs a length and a position of the found data string and, when a data string that matches with the input data string is not found, outputs the input data string as escape data; and an encoding unit that performs encoding with the length of the found data string, the position of the found data string, and the escape data. When a plurality of the escape data are successively output from the intermediate code generating unit, the encoding unit encodes the plurality of escape data collectively by adding, to the plurality of the escape data, information representing a count value obtained by counting a number of the plurality of the escape data.
US08406536B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer product When encoding each element in numeral string data, a code-string data creating unit creates code string data by assigning a code to a focused element to be encoded based on a magnitude relation between the focused element and an element adjacent to the focused element. An control unit stores primary data and the code string data as registration information in an associated manner into a storage unit. When searching for the primary data, a data extracting unit and the code-string data creating unit create code string data from image data, and a searching unit searches data stored in the storage unit based on the created code string data as search information for data having registration information that matches the search information.
US08406525B2	Recognition via high-dimensional data classification A method is disclosed for recognition of high-dimensional data in the presence of occlusion, including: receiving a target data that includes an occlusion and is of an unknown class, wherein the target data includes a known object; sampling a plurality of training data files comprising a plurality of distinct classes of the same object as that of the target data; and identifying the class of the target data through linear superposition of the sampled training data files using l1 minimization, wherein a linear superposition with a sparsest number of coefficients is used to identify the class of the target data.
US08406523B1	System, method and computer program product for detecting unwanted data using a rendered format A system, method and computer program product are provided for detecting unwanted data. In use, data is rendered, after which it may be determined whether the rendered data is unwanted, utilizing either a neural network or optical character recognition.
US08406520B2	X-ray inspection systems with enhanced brightness control A method for improving detail detectability in x-ray images is provided, whereby by means of an x-ray inspection device a positive x-ray image of an object is made, the x-ray image is subdivided into an object region and an empty region, and the empty region of the x-ray image is darkened.
US08406519B1	Compositing head regions into target images A head image from a source image based on a model of the source image as a mixture of at least two image layers. One or more of the image layers are components of a foreground corresponding to the source head image and one or more other ones of the image layers are components of a background corresponding to parts of the source image outside the source head image. The source head image is color-adjusted based on skin regions of a target head image in a target image. The color-adjusted source head image is geometrically transformed to conform to the target head image in pose and size. A composite image is generated. In this process, the geometrically transformed and color-adjusted source head image is composited into a version of the target image at a location corresponding to the target head image.
US08406508B2	Reproducible three dimensional vacuum forming technique A method of reproducing a three dimensional (3D) image by counter-distorting a two dimensional (2D) image prior to vacuum forming. A captured or obtained image of a subject is digitalized into 3D and 2D formats and used to create a 3D surface using a CNC machine. A standardized grid pattern with numerous reference points is printed on a vacuum formable material and vacuum formed on the 3D surface representing a subject. The reference points on the grid are displaced during the vacuum forming process due to the 3D nature of the surface. If the image of the subject were printed on the vacuum formable material, it would appear distorted. The displaced reference points are observed and the data is entered into the inventive software which generates a new image with compensated morphological changes. When the new image is vacuum formed on vacuum formable material under the same conditions, the new image would not appear distorted and would accurately depict the subject in 3D.
US08406497B2	Method for population-driven identification of body landmarks A new method for the identification of body landmarks from three-dimensional (3D) human body scans without human intervention is provided. The method is based on a population in whom landmarks were identified and from whom 3D geometries were obtained. An unmarked body (subject) is landmarked if there is a landmarked body in the population whose geometry is similar to that of the subject. The similarity between the surface geometry of the subject and that of each individual in the population can be determined. A search is performed using the mesh registration technique to find a part-mesh with the least registration error; the landmarks of the best-matched result are then used for the subject.
US08406490B2	System and methods for determination of procedure termination This invention relates to a system and methods for determining the initiation and/or the termination of an autonomous in vivo imaging procedure, such as by a capsule imaging the gastro intestinal tract.
US08406483B2	Boosted face verification Techniques for face verification are described. Local binary pattern (LBP) features and boosting classifiers are used to verify faces in images. A boosted multi-task learning algorithm is used for face verification in images. Finally, boosted face verification is used to verify faces in videos.
US08406480B2	Visual credential verification A solution for visual credential verification. The solution includes an apparatus, system, and method embodiment. The apparatus for visual credential verification includes an input module, a comparison module, and a response module. The input module receives from a security official an image of an unverified credential, such as a badge, that an individual has presented to the security official. The comparison module determines whether or not the unverified credential is valid or invalid. The determination includes comparing the image of the unverified credential with known good images of valid credentials. The comparison module may also compare authentication information such as a photo of the individual, a name, or a badge number, with known good authentication information. Based on the comparison module's determination, the response module notifies the security official that the unverified credential is either valid or invalid. A system for visual credential verification may be implemented with a server in communication with a security official's electronic device, such as a cell phone.
US08406477B2	System and method for constructing a three dimensional operational graphic from a two dimensional building control subsystem drawing A method includes receiving into a computer processor a building control subsystem design drawing, and identifying a plurality of objects in the building control subsystem design drawing by comparing the objects to a template of objects. The template of objects includes one or more of a representation of a shape, a color, and a texture. A physical relationship among the plurality of objects is determined, and a three dimensional representation of the plurality of objects is retrieved from a three dimensional device library. A three dimensional building control subsystem graphic is generated by mapping the three dimensional representation of the plurality of objects into a three dimensional user interface as a function of the physical relationship. The three dimensional user interface is animated and interactive to monitor and control a building subsystem.
US08406472B2	Method and system for processing image data A method for processing image data representing a segmentation mask, comprises generating two-dimensional shape representations of a three-dimensional object on the basis of a plurality of parameter sets; and matching motion blocks of the segmentation mask with the two-dimensional shape representations to obtain a best fit parameter set. Thereby, for example, a distance between the three-dimensional object and a camera position may be determined.
US08406469B2	System and method for progressive band selection for hyperspectral images Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for progressive band selection for hyperspectral images. A system having module configured to control a processor to practice the method calculates a virtual dimensionality of a hyperspectral image having multiple bands to determine a quantity Q of how many bands are needed for a threshold level of information, ranks each band based on a statistical measure, selects Q bands from the multiple bands to generate a subset of bands based on the virtual dimensionality, and generates a reduced image based on the subset of bands. This approach can create reduced datasets of full hyperspectral images tailored for individual applications. The system uses a metric specific to a target application to rank the image bands, and then selects the most useful bands. The number of bands selected can be specified manually or calculated from the hyperspectral image's virtual dimensionality.
US08406468B2	Image capturing device and method for adjusting a position of a lens of the image capturing device A method for adjusting a position of a lens of an image capturing device obtains a plurality of images of a monitored scene by the lens, detects a motion area in the monitored scene, and detects if a human face is in the motion area. The method further moves the lens according to movement data of the human face if the human face is detected, or moves the lens according to movement data of the motion area if the human face is not detected.
US08406460B2	Automated template layout method A method for producing an image template having one or more openings for displaying images. The openings as well as the images are each associated with a season. The images are automatically analyzed to determine which season they most likely depict. Images are then selected to be placed in a template opening designated for a particular season. This method can be used to automate calendar production.
US08406451B2	Capacitive electroacoustic transducer and microphone There is provided a capacitive electro-acoustic transducer comprising an active diaphragm (20) and a first and a second diaphragm carrier (60). The active diaphragm (20) is accommodated between the first and second diaphragm carriers (60). The first and second diaphragm carriers (60) each have a respective flat electrode (30). The diaphragm carrier and the electrode are connected together in such a way that the diaphragm carrier projects beyond the electrode by a predetermined amount.
US08406450B2	Thermoacoustic device with heat dissipating structure A thermoacoustic device includes at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode, a thermoacoustic element, a base and a plurality of fins. The at least one second electrode is spaced from the at least one first electrode. The thermoacoustic element is electrically connected with the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. The base supports the thermoacoustic element and the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. The fins are in thermal engagement with the base.
US08406443B2	Bone anchored bone conductive hearing aid The invention relates to a bone anchored bone conductive hearing aid which has a bone implantable screw (3) with an implant axis (25) intended to be generally perpendicular to a bone surface at an implant point and a skin penetrating abutment (5) which is connected to the implantable screw (3) through a contact surface (16) at a contra-lateral end thereof where the abutment (5) at a lateral end thereof has a coupling surface (15) whereto a hearing aid is detachably coupled along a hearing aid coupling axis (20) the implant axis (25) and the hearing aid coupling axis (20) are arranged at an angle α with respect to each other.
US08406432B2	Apparatus and method for automatic gain control using phase information An apparatus and a method for automatically controlling a gain using phase information are provided. The apparatus includes a frequency conversion unit converting each of input signals received from a plurality of acoustic input apparatuses to frequency input signals, a factor determination unit determining a scaling factor according to a gain difference between the input signals based on a phase difference of the frequency input signals, and a scaling performance unit performing scaling for gain compensation between the input signals based on the scaling factor.
US08406427B2	Communication network with secure access for portable users A communication network includes a local area network (LAN) and a wireless access point coupled to the LAN. In one embodiment, each access point includes a medium access control (MAC) stage, and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter/receiver for communicating unsecure message data via RF links with users of associated wireless devices. An optical transmitter/receiver in the access point enables the users to communicate secure message data over the LAN via free space optical (FSO) links with the users. The MAC stage operates (i) to direct unsecure data from the LAN to the wireless device users and to direct unsecure data from the users to the LAN, via the RF transmitter/receiver; and (ii) to direct secure data from the LAN to the wireless device users and to direct secure data from the users to the LAN, via the optical transmitter/receiver. An integrated VoIP/FSO portable handset is also disclosed.
US08406426B2	Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving encrypted programming content such that it is accessible to authorized users from multiple set top boxes A set top box is provided that includes a receiver/tuner for receiving programming content over a broadband communications network, an encrypter/decrypter for encrypting and decrypting the programming content, and a secure memory configured to store at least a first cryptography key to be used by the encrypter/decrypter to encrypt and decrypt the programming content. The set top box also includes a digital storage medium for storing encrypted programming content, a multimedia processor operationally associated with the receiver/tuner, the decrypter, and the digital storage medium, and a user interface operationally associated with the multimedia processor. The multimedia processor is configured to: encrypt decoded programming content using the first cryptography key stored in the secure memory and uniquely associated with the set top box; store the encrypted content on the digital storage medium; encrypt the first cryptography key using a second cryptography key to form an encrypted first cryptography key; and store the encrypted first cryptography key on the digital storage medium.
US08406425B2	Method and apparatus for minimizing co-channel interference An approach is provided for minimizing co-channel interference in a communication system is disclosed. A header of a first frame is scrambled based on a first unique word. A header of a second frame is scrambled based on a second unique word. The first frame including the corresponding scrambled header and the second frame including the corresponding scrambled header are transmitted, respectively, over adjacent co-channels of the communication system. Each of the frames further includes a payload and a pilot block. The payload and the pilot block of the first frame are scrambled based on a first scrambling sequence. The payload and the pilot block of the second frame are scrambled based on a second scrambling sequence. The above arrangement is particularly suited to a digital satellite broadcast and interactive system.
US08406423B2	Multi-bit cryptographically secure encryptor for M-ary spectral phase encoder optical code division multiple access A system and methods are provided for transmitting an encrypted data word of two or more bits. This involves identifying a random key word comprising two or more bits for encrypting the data word and identifying a set of unique orthogonal codes. This also involves selecting a code from the set of unique orthogonal codes that corresponds to a result of an exclusive-or (XOR) operation between the two or more bits of the data word and the random key word. This also involves encoding a signal with the code and transmitting the encoded signal as encrypted data.
US08406419B2	Slide hinge apparatus The present invention relates to a slide hinge apparatus and comprises a base frame wherein a space part is formed; a first slider that forms a space part to overlap with said space part of the base frame, and is furnished at the top of said base frame; a second slider that slides following said first slider; a hinge module that connects said first slider with the second slider so that these support each other elastically; a blocking plate furnished between said base frame and the first slider to move following a guide part and block the space part; and a first arm and a second arm that connect said hinge module with the block plate to rotate according to the motion of the hinge module and cause said block plate to slide. According to the present invention, both the slider and the block plate are effectively caused to slide simultaneously using the hinge module and a plurality of arms, thereby closing off the bottom of a liquid crystal screen (FPC) that is opened during sliding.
US08406403B2	Conference call participant management system and method A participant may join a conference call whenever a person specific attribute is read by an interrogator and verified as being authorized to participate in the call. The interrogator may be integrated into a telephone and manually activated or periodically activated. The attribute is an RFID tag, bar code, fingerprint, etc. Conference calls may be joined and rejoined when moving from room to room. Further, real-time participant lists may be accessed during the call and archived.
US08406399B2	Distributed conference bridge and voice authentication for access to networked computer resources A system is disclosed for enabling communication between server resources and a wide spectrum of end-terminals to enable users access to the resources of both converged and non-converged networks via voice and/or electronically generated commands. An electronic personal assistant (ePA) incorporates generalizing/abstracting communications channels, data and resources provided through a converged computer/telephony system interface such that the data and resources are readily accessed by a variety of interface formats including a voice interface or data interface. A set of applications provide dual interfaces for rendering services and data based upon the manner in which a user accesses the data. An electronic personal assistant in accordance with an embodiment of the invention provides voice/data access to web pages, email, file shares, etc.
US08406396B2	Communication system and processing method A communication system shares terminal identification information (TII) used for identifying a terminal that sends a spam phone call, with another communication system belonging to another network provider, and includes: a storage section that stores the TII of a terminal that sends a spam phone call; a transmission section that transmits the TII stored in the storage section to the other communication system; a reception section that receives the TII used for identifying the terminal that sends the spam phone call; a registration section that registers the TII received by the reception section in the storage section; and a spam phone call determination section that determines whether there is a match between terminal information indicating information of an outgoing call terminal that sends a connection request, and the TII stored in the storage section, thereby determining whether the outgoing call terminal sends a spam phone call.
US08406390B1	Pausing a live teleconference call Methods and products are described for facilitating a method of controlling participation in a teleconference call. One embodiment of the method includes connection to a teleconference call so that a user of a communications device is capable of participating in the call. Any real-time inbound audio and real-time outbound audio is recorded and stored. At some point during the call, a pause command is received that indicates a desire to suspend real-time participation in the teleconference call and that starts a pause process. One embodiment of the pause process includes continuing to record the real-time inbound audio but preventing it from being presented via the communications device until a resume request is received, preventing the real-time outbound audio from being sent to other call participants until a resume request is received, and enabling a resume option that allows the user to re-engage in real-time participation in the teleconference call.
US08406387B2	Method for the remote request of information which is stored in a telecommunication entity and a telecommunication entity having remote request functionality for stored information An apparatus and method for the remote request of information stored in telecommunication devices. In operation, an initialization message is transmitted to a telecommunication device, which initiates the remote request of stored information. The initialization message can also be used to notify the telecommunication device of an authorization code authorizing the remote inquiry and dial-in information for providing a transmission address of the requested information. After verifying the authenticating code and evaluating the dial-in information, a telecommunication connection is established to another telecommunication device corresponding to the dial-in information. The stored information is then transmitted to a requester via the telecommunication connection.
US08406386B2	Voice-to-text translation for visual voicemail A system may include servers. The servers may include memories including a first database to store voicemail message information associated with a voicemail mailbox and a user device, and a second database to associate a plurality of user devices with a voice-to-text transcription service; and a receiver to receive a new voicemail message associated with the voicemail mailbox. The servers may also include a processor to query to the second database to determine whether to request a voice-to-text transcription of an audio file associated with the new voicemail message and to determine whether to notify the user device of the new voicemail message before or after receiving the voice-to-text transcription of the audio file. The servers may also include a transmitter to send a notification of the new voicemail message to the user device according to the determination of whether to notify the user device of the new voicemail message before or after receiving the voice-to-text transcription of the audio file.
US08406385B2	Messaging translation services One embodiment of a method for translating a message can be broadly summarized by the following steps: generating an electronic message in an understood language of an originating party; receiving instructions to translate contents of the electronic message to another language; converting the electronic message to the another language in accordance with the instructions; and delivering the converted electronic message to the receiving party. Other methods and devices are also provided.
US08406380B2	Test phone using SIP The invention provides a test phone whereby the test phone comprises means to communicate to a server, means to generate SIP signaling towards the server, whereby the test phone by means for SIP signaling may request the server to set-up a test call using specific resources for routing said test call.
US08406378B2	Thick targets for transmission x-ray tubes This invention relates to the use of thick target materials 50 microns and thicker for an x-ray transmission tube; to possible target material compositions including various elements and their alloys, eutectic alloys, compounds, or intermetallic compounds; and applications for utilizing such thick target transmission x-ray tubes. The target comprises at lease one portion of the target with a thickness of 50 microns or greater. The target can be optionally attached to a substrate end-window essentially transparent to x-rays or be thick enough so that no such substrate is required. Applications include producing a high percentage of monochromatic line mission x-rays of said thick target for use in reduced dose medical imaging and other non-destructive testing applications.
US08406376B2	Radiographic apparatus An air grid is constructed such that absorbing foil strips, which absorb scattered X-rays, are arranged in a direction parallel to the direction of rows of detecting elements, and that spacing between adjacent shadows among shadows of the absorbing foil strips formed on a flat panel X-ray detector (FPD) as a result of the absorbing foil strips absorbing X-rays is larger than spacing between pixels forming an X-ray image. An image data acquiring unit, a transmittance smoothing unit, a grid data acquiring unit, a shadowless pixel calculating unit, a shadow total quantity calculating unit, a transmittance correcting unit and an X-ray image acquiring unit are provided to remove the shadows with high accuracy by using corrected image data (X-ray transmittances) which constitutes a profile of shadows occurring at an actual time of X-ray imaging of a subject.
US08406364B2	Fractional frequency divider PLL device and control method thereof In the following B cycles, the second frequency-divided signal fA is maintained at a low level, while the third frequency-divided signal fB is maintained at a high level. The three-modulus prescaler 13 has a frequency division value (M−1) if the pseudo random values are negative values, and a frequency division value (M+1) if the pseudo random values are positive values, in accordance with the signs of the pseudo random values outputted from the ΣΔ modulator 8. After that, the frequency division value becomes M. A frequency division value of (MN+A+Bx) including the pseudo random value Bx is obtained in the comparison frequency divider 4. A fractional frequency division operation can be realized through ΣΔ modulation by using the pseudo random numbers including negative values, as they are.
US08406361B2	Fast powering-up of data communication system A data communication system has a transmitter with a first clock-generation circuit, and a receiver with a second clock generation circuit. At least a specific one of the clock-generation circuits is powered-down between consecutive data bursts. The system expedites the starting up of operational use of the system upon a power-down of the specific clock-generation circuit. The system presets at a predetermined value an operational quantity of the specific clock-generation circuit at the starting up.
US08406359B2	Method and apparatus for filtering noisy estimates to reduce estimation errors Techniques for filtering noisy estimates to reduce estimation errors are described. A sequence of input values (e.g., for an initial channel impulse response estimate (CIRE)) is filtered with an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter having at least one coefficient to obtain a sequence of output values (e.g., for a filtered CIRE). The coefficient(s) are updated based on the sequence of input values with an adaptive filter, a bank of prediction filters, or a normalized variation technique. To update the coefficient(s) with the adaptive filter, a sequence of predicted values is derived based on the sequence of input values. Prediction errors between the sequence of predicted values and the sequence of input values are determined and filtered to obtain filtered prediction errors. The coefficient(s) of the IIR filter are then updated based on the prediction errors and the filtered prediction errors.
US08406357B2	Filter circuit A filter circuit including first and second real filters of a zero-IF scheme. The first and second real filters receive an I component and a Q component separated from a reception signal, respectively; and a switch section for producing a complex filter by switchably connecting the first and second real filters through interconnection elements. The switch section further receiving a switching signal for connecting the first and second real filters, thereby switching from the zero-IF scheme to a low-IF scheme.
US08406356B2	Self-calibrating continuous-time equalization Embodiments of the invention comprise a continuous-time equalizer for reducing ISI in data received from a communication channel, and methods and circuitry for tuning or calibrating that equalizer. Selected coefficients for a transfer function of the equalizer circuit are fixed, while other coefficients are tuned by an adaptive algorithm. The adaptive algorithm minimizes errors associated with the tunable coefficients based on one or more training signals sent by the transmitter and received by the equalizer circuit at the receiver. The training signals allow for a variety of error terms to be calculated, from which the tunable coefficients are updated so as to iteratively minimize the error terms and simultaneously tune the equalizer to more accurately compensate for the degrading effects of the channel.
US08406352B2	Symbol estimation for chaotic spread spectrum signal A communications system includes RF hardware (104) configured for receiving an input data signal includes a modulated carrier encoded with information symbols and modulated using a sequence of discrete time chaotic samples. The system also includes a chaotic sequence generator (340) configured for generating the sequence of discrete-time chaotic samples and a correlator (328). The correlator is configured for synchronizing the input data signal with the sequence of discrete-time chaotic samples and obtaining normalization factor values for each of the information symbols based on comparing a received symbol energy for the information symbols and a symbol energy of the discrete-time chaotic samples associated with the duration of transmission of the information symbols.
US08406346B2	Code error detecting device, wireless system and code error detecting method A code error detecting device that can more precisely detect a code error due to a delayed wave is disclosed. The code error detecting device includes a receiving antenna (121) for receiving a on-off keying modulated pulse and its code-reversed pulse, a pulse detector (124) for outputting detected data in accordance with the pulses, a code comparing unit (128) for comparing each code of first received data (R1) with one of second received data (R2), wherein the first and second received data are derived from the output detected data, and an error detecting unit (129) for detecting an error of each code from a comparison result (D2) indicative of a result compared in the code comparing unit (128).
US08406339B2	2K mode interleaver with odd interleaving only and per OFDM symbol permutation code change in a digital video broadcasting (DVB) standard A data processing apparatus maps input symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of sub-carrier signals of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbol. The data processor includes an interleaver memory which reads-in the predetermined number of data symbols for mapping onto the OFDM sub-carrier signals. The interleaver memory reads-out the data symbols on to the OFDM sub-carriers to effect the mapping, the read-out being in a different order than the read-in, the order being determined from a set of addresses, with the effect that the data symbols are interleaved on to the sub-carrier signals. The set of addresses are generated from an address generator which comprises a linear feedback shift register and a permutation circuit.
US08406335B2	Multi input multi output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication system The present disclosure includes techniques to process signals in a communication system, in which multiple signal processing units process signals received from multiple antennae. The signal processor units are controlled by operational-mode control signals, which are generated using an estimated Carrier-to-Interference-Noise-Ratio (CINR). The estimated CINR is generated using an equalized and combined signal, which is generated from the received signals and the estimated channel responses using the processed signals according to an operational mode. In another embodiment, a controller generates sub-carrier allocation signals using an allocation base. A channel status information (CSI) and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) controller generates sub-carrier CSI signals and operational-mode control signals using the sub-carrier allocation signals, estimated channel responses, and estimated CINR. The operational-mode control signals select one of multiple antenna paths. A transmitter-diversity processor generates transmitter-diversity signals as a function of at least a mapped signal, sub-carrier CSI signals, and operational mode control signals.
US08406333B2	Method for transmitting signal in multiple antenna system A signal transmission method in a multiple antenna system is described. The signal transmission method includes, upon receiving channel state information from a receiving end, estimating a channel according to the channel state information, determining a precoding matrix according to the estimated channel and modifying the signal of the transmitting end using the precoding matrix in a process of mapping a symbol of the signal to a subcarrier, and transmitting the signal to the receiving end. According to the present invention, pre-equalization of a transmission signal can cause a receiving end to perform coherent combination, reduce pilot density by decreasing unnecessary pilots, and reduce interference within a cell or between cells.

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