Document Document Title
US08453942B2 Thermostatic single-unit faucet and method for making such a single-unit faucet
The invention relates to a single-unit faucet that comprises a tubular faucet body (2) and a thermostatic cartridge (3) defining a pre-assembled assembly provided inside the faucet body and including a hollow shell (4) made of a plastic material, in which is provided a thermostatic means (5) for adjusting the temperature of a cold-fluid and hot-fluid mixture. In order to firmly and simply secure the shell in the faucet body, a rigid part (6) is provided between them, and is capable of movement along a movement axis (Z-Z) transverse to the longitudinal axis (X-X) of the faucet body, while being kinematically connected to the shell both in the direction of the axis of the faucet body and in rotation about said axis. The rigid part includes a bore (63) centred on the movement axis and opening on a face (62B) of the rigid part oriented towards the faucet body, in order to interact by screwing with the threaded rod (71) of a screw (7) for moving the rigid part until a bearing portion of said face is pressed against the lower face (2A) of the faucet body when the screw is inserted from outside the faucet body into a transverse through hole (21) of the faucet body, which is smaller than the head (72) of the screw.
US08453941B2 Security campaign and method of creating the same
A method for creating a security campaign includes generating, via a first source, a first security deterrent for at least one non-security purpose; and generating, via a second source, a second security deterrent for a security purpose. The first and second deterrents are incorporated into a single security campaign.
US08453930B2 Reading device
A reader device (1) includes a mounting surface (5) on which a passport (7) with a page to be read (9) is placed, a light source (21, 31) for illuminating the page to be read (9), and a camera (13) for picking up an image of the page to be read (9). The light source (21, 31) is arranged outside a front area of the page to be read. The page to be read (9) contains a near-edge code positioned close to an edge of the page to be read (9). The light source (21, 31) includes an infrared LED array (23) and a white LED array (33). An infrared LED (25e) and a white LED (35f) included in the infrared LED array (23) and the white LED array (33), respectively, and located at a near-edge code position corresponding to the near-edge code are arranged closer to the page to be read than the other infrared LEDs (25a to 25d) and white LEDs (35a to 35e) in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface (5). Thus, a reader device is provided which allows a good image to be obtained even if a relevant page of an object to be read is deformed.
US08453929B2 Producing a microtag identifier
A system for producing rugate tags comprises a processor and an etcher. The processor is configured to determine an identifying data value. The etcher is for producing an identifier. The identifier comprises a rugate phase tag. The rugate phase tag encodes the identifying data value at least in part using a calculated rugate phase information.
US08453922B2 Method for one-step document categorization and separation using stamped machine recognizable patterns
A method for separating and categorizing documents includes receiving a scanned batch of documents. The batch includes scanned documents to which document separator stamps have been applied before scanning. Each stamp includes machine recognizable patterns applied on a same page of a document, spaced by a designated field for receiving a user-applied category code. The scanned batch of documents is processed to identify pages that contain a document separator, including identifying at least one of two spaced patterns. For a document page for which a document separator is identified, the the corresponding designated field is located and the category code associated with the designated field identified. The document containing the is separated from other documents in the batch based the identified separator and a document category is assigned to the document, based on the identified category code.
US08453920B2 Carton handle with bottle neck avoidance
A carton is defined for packaging a plurality of articles. The carton includes a plurality of carton walls at least one of which includes a slot handle that comprises at least one foldable hand flap. The at least one foldable hand flap has an article receiving section for receiving a portion of an article in the carton when the at least one foldable hand flap is folded inwardly of the carton.
US08453914B2 Motor-driven surgical cutting instrument with electric actuator directional control assembly
A motor-driven surgical instrument having a control assembly for controlling a switch of the instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise a motor control circuit, a drive member, and a slider. The drive member comprises a first shoulder at a first position and a second shoulder at a second position. A first portion of the slider interfaces the drive member such that the slider is moveable in a direction of movement of the drive member when either the first shoulder or the second shoulder of the drive member engages the first portion of the slider. A second portion of the slider actuates a switch of the motor control circuit when the drive member moves the slider to a first position relative to the first switch. In various embodiments, the switches of the control circuit are not embodied as a part of an IC.
US08453911B2 Surgical stapler
A surgical stapler includes a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, and a head portion disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. The shell assembly includes a pusher movable distally to advance staples from the shell assembly into contact with the anvil assembly. First and second alignment pins operatively associated with the pusher have distal ends positioned distally of the pusher, the alignment pins movable between a first non-engaged position spaced from the anvil assembly and a second position in engagement with the anvil assembly.
US08453907B2 Motor driven surgical fastener device with cutting member reversing mechanism
A surgical fastener apparatus including a handle, an elongated shaft having a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end extending therefrom. An end effector comprising a pair of jaws pivoted at a proximal end thereof and movable between an open and closed position, and a cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, the cartridge attached to the end effector. An electrically powered actuator for deploying the surgical fasteners. An electrically activated reverse mechanism for moving the elongated member from a distal most position within the end effector to a proximal position, the electrically activated reverse mechanism moves the elongated member proximally after the elongated member has moved to the distal most position by moving the trigger to the open position, and wherein after activation of the reverse mechanism proximal movement of the elongated member can be stopped by returning the trigger to its closed position.
US08453904B2 Apparatus for supplying surgical staple line reinforcement
An apparatus for supplying surgical buttress material to a surgical stapler is provided. The apparatus has a pivotable area for attaching surgical buttress material. The apparatus may also have an adhesive and a release liner disposed over the buttress material.
US08453895B2 Rear-mounted bike rack for supporting grocery bags and similar items
The rear-mounted bike rack has a platform on which an upright post is pivotable to a stored position. The handles of grocery bags can be engaged on the post. The bike rack has skirts which hang down outside the wheel to prevent the grocery bags from engaging on the rear wheel of the bicycle. The skirts can be folded up onto the platform when not needed. An optional carrier box can be mounted on the platform.
US08453892B2 Method and system for the controlled dispensing of mercury and devices manufactured through this method
A method for a controlled dispensing of mercury by mercury sources that release mercury at a temperature Te, the sources being kept at a conditioning temperature TcTe by means of displacement of the mercury sources.
US08453891B2 Pump-less toner dispensing cap
A valve assembly is disclosed comprising an elongate body comprising a lumen and an output aperture near a distal portion thereof, a plunger positioned in the lumen and movable to a first position and a second position, and a toner path formed at least partially within the lumen and extending from a toner input to a toner path end located proximate the output aperture. When the plunger is in the first position, the output aperture is not fluidly coupled to the toner path. When the plunger is in the second position, the outlet aperture is fluidly coupled to the toner path such that a toner in the toner path can exit the valve assembly.
US08453886B2 Device and method for discharging constant amount of high-viscosity material
A device for discharging a constant amount of a high-viscosity material, capable of accurately discharging the material even if the material is sent under high pressure. A device for discharging a constant amount of a high-viscosity material, provided with: a discharge unit (400) having a discharge opening which discharges the high-viscosity material; a holding unit (300) having a holding area which holds the high-viscosity material, a receiving opening which supplies the high-viscosity material to the holding area, and a delivery opening which delivers the high-viscosity material to the discharge unit; and a high-pressure supply pump (100) for supplying to the holding unit under a first pressure the high-viscosity material having been filled into a container. A liquid sending unit (200) having a pump mechanism and a valve mechanism is provided in the flow path for connecting the high-pressure supply pump (100) and the holding unit (300), and the liquid sending unit sends the high-viscosity material to the holding unit by a second pressure adjusted to a lower pressure than the first pressure.
US08453878B2 Liquid level measuring device
A liquid level sensing and reporting system for bar keepers is proposed, having a liquid level sensor in wireless communication with a remote computer having software algorithms for calculating and reporting volume. The sensor is substantially in the form of a liquor bottle spout, and includes a means for measuring the height of the liquid in a bottle, sensing inversion of the spout, and sending the data wirelessly to a receiver. The receiver is associated with the computer, and transmits the data to the computer which calculates liquor volumes based on the changing height of the liquid in a bottle from pre-pour to post-pour status. The software extrapolates this information to produce a variety of real-time beverage consumption reports, including error reports caused by over pours, under pours, and skimming.
US08453871B2 Vacuum release systems
Vacuum release systems that allow rapid, uninterrupted flow of a liquid through a first opening in a container when the container is inverted are disclosed. The vacuum release systems includes a holes punch and can be secured to the outer surface of the container. When the liquid-filled container is inverted, pressure is applied to the hole punch to form a second opening in the side of the container. The second opening releases the vacuum by allowing air to flow into the container, which, in turn, allows rapid, uninterrupted flow of the liquid through the first opening in the container.
US08453864B2 Spill inhibitors for containers
A spill inhibitor for a container includes a spill inhibitor body configured to be releasably secured to or integral with a container. The spill inhibitor body defines an opening therethrough and has a plurality of compliant finger projections extending from the spill inhibitor body. The finger projections are arranged to impede movement of an item through the opening of the spill inhibitor body for controlling passage of the item through a mouth of the container.
US08453855B2 Turning device for hoist
A turning device for a hoist is disclosed, in which a weight thing with a narrow width can be stably turned with a stable support. A rope end unit or an upper sheave unit is easily installed at a hoist frame. A rope end unit or an upper sheave unit is installed in a hoist frame and is freely movable in opposite positions.
US08453850B2 Product management display system with trackless pusher mechanism
A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed. The pusher mechanism of an exemplary embodiment includes a pusher surface and a pusher floor that extends forward of the pusher surface. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element may be operatively connected behind the pusher mechanism and extend across a divider and to the front of the shelf In use, the product to be merchandised may be placed on the pusher floor. With this configuration, the pusher surface is prevented from tipping or bending backwards during operation. In an alternative aspect, the end of the coiled spring may be mounted to a retainer, or alternatively, may be mounted to a divider.
US08453824B2 Connection arrangements for mine conveyor sections
Arrangements are for use with interconnected conveyor sections, such as push beams, commonly found in mining applications. In one embodiment, a mechanism includes an elongated dog-bone shaped coupler having a first and second end for insertion between the conveyor sections. A first end of the coupler is secured to a first conveyor section, while a second end of the coupler is received in a recess formed in a second conveyor section. A pivotally mounted cam includes a recess for mating with the upwardly projecting, flared portion of the second end of the coupler. The cam pivots automatically upon being engaged by a free end of the coupler to allow it to pass and then pivots to capture it in place, thereby simply establishing a secure manner of connection. In another, the ends of the conveyor sections are specially adapted to form an articulating joint.
US08453822B2 Apparatus and method for loading food articles
A loading head for use with food articles has a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of food articles, an indexing conveyor positioned beneath the main conveyor, and a transfer member positioned between the main conveyor and the indexing conveyor. The transfer member is adapted to transfer each food article from the main conveyor to the indexing conveyor. A buffering mechanism is adapted to move the transfer member between a first position and a variable second position. A pusher mechanism is associated with the indexing conveyor to raise and lower gates from an open position permitting food article transfer to a closed position prohibiting food article transfer. The pusher mechanism includes a cam operably associated with the gates to open and close the gates.
US08453799B2 Actuator for a speed governor of an elevator system
An actuator for a speed governor of an elevator system includes a governor wheel equipped with at least two flyweights. The governor wheel can be driven by a governor cable looped around it. An actuator wheel is stationary in a basic position. A coupler engages the actuator wheel when the governor wheel attains an actuation speed and thus couples with the governor wheel so that the actuator wheel is caused to rotate. An elastic material, preferably transmitting a high degree of friction, is provided between the coupler and the actuator wheel. The actuator wheel has a lining or tire of the elastic material and/or the coupler is equipped with the elastic material.
US08453792B2 Exhaust system and corresponding support structure
An exhaust system (3) of an internal combustion engine (2) is provided in a support structure (1), especially in a motor vehicle (1), with at least one exhaust pipe (8), which guides exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine (2) to the environment (4) of the support structure (1). At least one exhaust muffler (5) is provided which has at least one resonance volume (6) and at least one connection line (7), via which the respective resonance volume (6) is connected to the respective exhaust pipe (8) for transmitting airborne sound. A space-saving accommodation is obtained if at least one such resonance volume (6) is formed in a resonance chamber (9) arranged rigidly in or at the support structure (1) and if the respective connection line (7), with which the respective resonance chamber (9) is connected to the respective exhaust pipe (8), is designed as a flexible connection line and permits relative movements between the respective resonance chamber (9) and respective exhaust pipe (8).
US08453790B1 Fan coil ceiling unit with closely coupled silencers
A low-profile, compact fan coil ceiling unit with closely coupled silencers includes a heating and cooling section, a closely coupled inlet silencer, and a closely coupled outlet silencer. The inlet silencer has a rectangular housing with a downwardly facing entry opening and a side facing exit opening attached to the inlet end opening of the heating and cooling section. The outlet silencer has a rectangular housing with a downwardly facing exit opening and a side facing entry opening attached to the outlet end opening of the heating and cooling section. Baffles to control the flow of air and reduce noise in the inlet silencer and the outlet silencer are provided.
US08453787B2 Apex internal mounting arrangement for a V-configuration torque rod
A V-shaped torque rod includes an apex joint assembly that is attached to a component of a vehicle using only a single fastener. The apex joint assembly includes a housing, an inner metal, an elastomeric member disposed between the housing and the inner metal and a post that engages the inner metal. The single fastener extends through the inner metal and through the post to secure the apex joint assembly to the vehicle. The post can be a tapered post or the post can be a non-tapered post.
US08453785B2 Lift arm assembly for a power machine or vehicle
The application discloses embodiments of a universal pinning system for lift arms of a power machine or vehicle. In embodiments disclosed, the universal pinning system includes a universal shaft. Lift arms are coupled to the universal shaft to provide a common pivot axis for the lift arms. The universal shaft is coupled to a frame or support of the power machine or vehicle via a pinning assembly. As disclosed, the universal pinning system has application for radial lift arms operable along a radial path or vertical lift arms operable along a vertical path.
US08453780B2 Electrical component attachment structure for two-wheeled motor vehicle
An electrical component attachment structure for a two-wheeled motor vehicle includes a main frame supporting components of a vehicle body such as an engine, a center frame extending vertically behind the engine, and a pair of right and left seat rails detachably attached to the center frame, the seat rails being attached with a bracket which supports an electrical component, in which the bracket is formed in an approximate U-shape and is arranged with an opening section of the U-shape directed towards the front of the vehicle body, so that the bracket is configured to support the electrical component inside the approximate U-shape and to allow the electrical component to be taken out towards the front of the vehicle body from the opening section.
US08453776B2 Trapezoidal cooling package
A vehicle is provided having at least one swing-out cooling assembly. A method of assembling the at least one swing-out cooling assembly on the vehicle is further provided.
US08453772B2 Manually operated electrical control and installation scheme for electric hybrid vehicles
A hybrid vehicle system facilitates operator control over electric power generation and use. The system features a motor/generator that can be mounted to an output of a transmission of the vehicle.
US08453769B2 Compact pulling apparatus
The apparatus includes a watertight elongate housing extending along a longitudinal axis and defining an inner chamber, a track disposed around the housing on its longitudinal axis and enabling the apparatus to move when the track is rotatably driven around the housing, a handlebar connected to the housing and extending rearward, and a track-driving motor. The motor is located within the inner chamber of the housing and includes an output shaft mechanically connected to the track. The apparatus can also include a ventilation circuit for ventilating the inner chamber of the housing and a generator for producing electricity.
US08453767B2 Angular offset PDC cutting structures
A drill bit with a drill bit body having a cutting structure face. A pin is formed on the drill bit body for attaching the drill bit body to a drill string. The pin has a first central axis to be aligned with the drill string when attached and the cutting structure face has a second central axis. The second central axis is misaligned relative to the first central axis.
US08453764B2 System and method for monitoring and controlling underground drilling
A system and method for monitoring underground drilling in which vibration is monitored by creating a model of the drill string using finite element techniques or finite difference techniques and (i) predicting vibration by inputting real time values of operating parameters into the model, and then adjusting the model to agree with measured vibration data, (ii) predicting the weight on bit and drill string and mud motor speeds at which resonance will occur, as well as when stick-slip will occur, so that the operator can avoid operating regimes that will result in high vibration, (iii) determining vibration and torque levels along the length of the drill string based on the measured vibration and torque at one or more locations, (iv) determining the remaining life of critical components of the drill string based on the history of the vibration to which the components have been subjected, and (v) determining the optimum drilling parameters that will avoid excessive vibration of the drill string.
US08453763B2 Expandable earth-boring wellbore reamers and related methods
Expandable reamer tools include an outer body, a fluid passageway extending through the outer body, and at least one blade configured to slide relative to the outer body between a retracted position and an expanded position. In some embodiments, the tools may include a formation-engaging surface comprising a gage area. In other embodiments, the tools may include a radially recessed area extending from a back edge of the formation-engaging surface. Methods for removing such expandable reamer tools from a borehole are also disclosed.
US08453762B2 Regenerative drive mechanism for hydraulic feed cylinders in hydrostatic or hydraulic circuits
Methods and systems for storing kinetic energy in a fluid-base power circuit. A regenerative control valve manifold diverts fluid flow from a hydraulic device performing a first operation into an accumulator. The accumulator stores a fluid volume sufficient to perform a second operation. The regenerative control valve manifold connects the accumulator to the power circuit providing a fluid flow and charge pressure sufficient to perform the second operation.
US08453747B2 Method for liquid control in multiphase fluid pipelines
A method for control of liquid or liquid slugs in multi phase fluid pipelines, including a multiphase pipeline for the transportation of a fluid, consisting of mainly gas and some liquid such as water an/or gas condensate. The gas is evacuated via a gas separation unit connected to the multiphase pipeline to a second gas transport pipe, and the liquid is fed to a dedicated pipeline section acting as a buffer volume pipeline. The separation unit includes one or several vertical pipes connected at a distance from one another along the multiphase pipeline, whereby the gas is transported separately to a downstream processing facility on a platform or onshore or the like, and whereby the liquid proceeds to the loop which may preferably be an extension of the multiphase pipeline, or the liquid and gas may be re-combined and led in a common transport pipeline to the desired destination.
US08453745B2 Vortex controlled variable flow resistance device and related tools and methods
A vortex-controlled variable flow resistance device ideal for use in a backpressure tool for advancing drill string in extended reach downhole operations. The characteristics of the pressure waves generated by the device are controlled by the growth and decay of vortices in the vortex chamber(s) of a flow path. The flow path includes a switch, such as a bi-stable fluidic switch, for reversing the direction of the flow in the vortex chamber. The flow path may include multiple vortex chambers, and the device may include multiple flow paths. A hardened insert in the outlet of the vortex chamber resists erosion. This device generates backpressures of short duration and slower frequencies approaching the resonant frequency of the drill string, which maximizes axial motion in the drill sting and weight on the bit. Additionally, fluid pulses produced by the tool enhance debris removal ahead of the bit.
US08453743B2 Methods of fracturing an openhole well using venturi section
Methods of fracturing a well can include the steps of: (A) obtaining a fracturing job design having at least one treatment interval; (B) running a tubular string into the treatment interval; (C) before or after the step of running, forming one or more tubular string openings in the tubular string, wherein after the step of running, the one or more tubular string openings are positioned in the treatment interval; (D) except for the axial passageway of the tubular string, blocking at least 86% of the nominal cross-sectional area of the treatment interval that is between one of the ends of the treatment interval and the axially closest of the one or more tubular string openings, and, except for the axial passageway of the tubular string, leaving unblocked at least 4% of the nominal cross-sectional area of the treatment interval; and (E) pumping a fracturing fluid through the one or more tubular string openings at a rate and pressure sufficient to initiate at least one fracture in the subterranean formation surrounding the treatment interval.
US08453736B2 Method and apparatus for stimulating production in a wellbore
In an aspect, method for stimulating fluid flow in a wellbore is provided, the method including placing a fluid jetting valve in a tubular, conveying the tubular in a wellbore with the fluid jetting valve in a closed position and changing a pressure within the tubular to move the fluid jetting valve to an open position. In addition, the method includes directing a stimulation fluid through the open fluid jetting valve into a wall of the wellbore and moving the fluid jetting valve to a permanently closed position via a passive control device.
US08453731B2 Apparatus and method for estimating formation properties using nanoexplosive elements
In one aspect a method of estimating a property of interest of a formation is provided, which method in one embodiment may include: injecting nanoexplosive elements into the formation, detecting signals responsive to explosion of the nanoexplosive elements by one or more sensors, and processing the detected signals by a processor to estimate the property of interest of the formation.
US08453729B2 Hydraulic setting assembly
Novel hydraulic actuators and hydraulic setting assemblies are provided for use in downhole, oil and gas well tools. The novel hydraulic actuators include a cylindrical mandrel and an annular stationary sealing member connected to the mandrel. A hydraulic cylinder is slidably supported on the mandrel and stationary sealing member and is releasably fixed in position on the mandrel. The stationary sealing member divides the interior of the cylinder into a bottom hydraulic chamber and a top hydraulic chamber. An inlet port provides fluid communication into the bottom hydraulic chamber, and an outlet port provides fluid communication into the top hydraulic chamber. A balance piston is slidably supported within the top hydraulic chamber of the actuator. The piston includes an axially extending passageway. Fluid communication through the piston and between its upper and lower sides is controlled by a normally shut valve in the passageway. In the absence of relative movement between the mandrel and cylinder, the balance piston is able to slide in response to a difference in hydrostatic pressure between the outlet port, is which is on one side of the piston, and the portion of the top hydraulic chamber that is on the bottom side of the piston.
US08453726B2 Corrugated settling cup and a multi-cup uniform flux gas anchor
A corrugated settling cup (5) is provided, wherein the cup has a cup body, an opening and a location step (52) are provided at the bottom (55) of the cup body, several location holes (53) are formed at the top of the location step (52), location projections (54) corresponding to the location holes (53) are formed at the bottom (55) of the corrugated settling cup (5), wherein the external profile of the corrugated settling cup body rises along the axial direction in a corrugated shape. A multi-cup uniform flux gas anchor is provided, wherein the gas anchor includes a central pipe (7), several corrugated settling cups (5), several settling cups protection bodies (6) and a well-flushing valve (9), wherein the external profile of the corrugated settling cup body rises along the axial direction in a corrugated shape.
US08453725B2 Compliant packers for formation testers
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a base plate having a first aperture to receive an inlet in fluid communication with a downhole tool; a compliant outer cover having a first end terminating at the base plate and a second end terminating adjacent a forward opening of the inlet, the compliant outer cover having a first surface configured to engage a borehole wall and a second surface forming an inner cavity with the base plate; and a core disposed within the inner cavity and having a second aperture forming at least a portion of the inlet, wherein the outer cover comprises a first material and the core comprises a second material more compliant than the first material.
US08453716B2 Heat dissipation device
An exemplary heat dissipation device includes a heat pipe and a fin unit. The heat pipe includes an evaporation section and a condensing section formed at opposite ends thereof, respectively. The fin unit includes plural stacked parallel fins. Each of the fins defines a through hole therein for receiving the condensing section of the heat pipe. A flange extends from a periphery of the through hole. The flange defines two slits to divide the flange into two separate portions. The slits communicate with the through hole. A compressible structure is formed in each fin at opposite sides of the through hole. The compressible structure is aligned with the slits such that when the fin is compressed along a direction transverse to the alignment, the compressible structure is compressed and the separate portions of the flange move toward each other and closely contact the condensing section of the heat pipe.
US08453713B2 System and method for implementing a front door air to water heat exchanger
A system for cooling electronic equipment is provided. The system includes enclosures with front and rear doors for holding assemblages of electronics, front and rear heat exchangers housed within each of the front and rear doors, respectively, a series of separate supply lines configured with control valves and flow control sensors that provide liquid coolant to each of the heat exchangers, a series of separate return lines configured with temperature sensors for exiting coolant from each of the heat exchangers, separate air purging valves for each of the supply and return lines and a series of spray shields. The spray shields prevent coolant leaks from entering an inlet airflow and protect the electronics from coolant leaks. The control valves are actuated by a controller in response to readings from the temperature and flow control sensors to separately control coolant flow to each of the front and rear heat exchangers.
US08453712B2 Method and twin roll caster for the production of strip cast from a molten metal
A twin roll caster and a method for operating comprising two casting rolls that delimit a casting gap on its longitudinal sides; two side plates that delimit the casting gap on its narrow sides; and at least one axial actuator associated with one of the side plates and impacting the respective side plate on its rear turned away from the front sides of the casting rolls with a force axially aligned toward the casting gap pressing the side plate against the front sides of the casting rolls. An axial actuator acts on the rear side of the side plate by means of a joint provided to adjust an angular offset between the normal level relative to the effective direction of the force applied by the axial actuator to the side plate and the normal level relative to the axes of rotation of the casting rolls.
US08453700B2 Continuous motion label transferring apparatus
Continuous motion label transferring apparatus includes a non-stick surface between a peel point and a pinch point. A label unwinder continuously passes a first web along a path towards the pinch point. The first web includes a series of spaced labels having pressure sensitive self-adhesive on a surface to which a liner of release material is releasably attached. As the release liner travels around the peel point, the labels continue to move toward the pinch point, passing over the nonstick surface as they approach the pinch point. A target mover passes a succession of spaced targets through the pinch point adjacent the self-adhesive surface of the labels, so that the labels are individually adhered to the targets. A control system for the label unwinder monitors the target mover, and synchronizes the labels and targets in a desired manner. The distance between the peel point and the pinch point is set so that the labels can be fed continuously into the pinch point in registration with the targets.
US08453697B2 Device for attaching one-way pouring nozzle
There is provided a device for attaching a one-way type pouring nozzle, which includes a simple and small-size mechanism capable of efficiently fusion-joining the one-way type pouring nozzle to a film for package bag. In this device, a nozzle template film formed with a plurality of one-way type pouring nozzles templated by tear-inducing flaws is fed to a continuously running film for package bag to fusion-join a base portion of each of the one-way type pouring nozzles through its outer sealant layer to an inner sealant layer on one-sided portion of the film for package bag, while an unwanted portion of the nozzle template film is cut out and removed. The device also includes a pair of fusion rollers pushing and fusion-joining the one-way type pouring nozzle in the nozzle template film to the running film for package bag under the running at equal speed, and the fusion roller pair is constituted with a heating roller always energizing toward the side of the running path of the film for package bag, and a heat roller for attachment provided with protrusions intermittently pushing the film for package bag to positions of one-way type pouring nozzles in the nozzle template film on the heating roller.
US08453696B2 Automated edge wrapping of a panel
A self-contained, portable and automated apparatus and method for wrapping edges of a panel with a protective and/or decorative laminate material comprises conveying means for moving the panel from an entry end of the apparatus to an exit end of the apparatus, lifting means for transversely deflecting the flap upward to a position substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the panel as the panel is conveyed, adhesive application means for applying an adhesive to a back surface of the panel proximate the edge substantially throughout the length of the panel as the panel is moved past the adhesive application means, a folding bar positioned downstream from the adhesive application means at an angle of about 135 to 170 degrees relative to a trailing part of the edge to transversely deflect the flap downward toward the adhesive on the back surface of the panel, and a roller positioned downstream from the folding bar and arranged to spin inwardly over the flap at an angle of about 130 to 150 degrees relative to the trailing part of the edge to cause the flap to stretch inwardly and be secured to the back surface of the panel.
US08453695B2 Portable applicator
There is disclosed an applicator and method for applying transfers such as heat transfers, decals or labels to transfer-receptive materials. The applicator has a lightweight, T-shaped, sheet metal support or frame having an applicator station. A motorized supply roll unwind and a motorized take-up roll rewind are mounted on the support to hold supply and take-up rolls, to tension the transfer-containing web and to advance the web onto the take-up roll after the transfer has been applied at the applicator station.
US08453690B2 Tire chain tightening apparatus and method
A tire chain tightener for use on automotive, truck, or other vehicle traction chains and similar devices. The tire chain tightener has an length of elastic material with a hook attached to each end. Intermediate hooks are spaced along the elastic material between the two ends. One of the ends may be uniquely marked with instructions for correct installation of the tire chain tightener. When correctly installed, a tire chain tightener with N+1 hooks will form a symmetrical N pointed star inscribed in the circumference of the tire chains. The star is further centered about the tire. The tire chain tightener exerts a centering force on the tire chains. Since only one hook at a time is installed, the effort to install the tire chain tightener is reduced, enabling people of limited strength to install them.
US08453685B2 Fuel transfer coupling
Provided herein are couplings useful in the transfer of liquid fuels from a remote storage reservoir to an on-board fuel tank of a motorized vehicle. There is provided a first coupling which is configured to be in fluid communication with the interior of a vehicle's fuel tank, and a second coupling which is intended to be in fluid communication with the contents of a remote fuel storage reservoir. The disclosure also includes a process for charging a fuel reservoir on board of a motorized vehicle from a remote reservoir, wherein the vapor in the fuel reservoir is displaced by an equal volume of fuel delivered from said remote reservoir, and wherein the vapor in said fuel reservoir is simultaneously caused to be transferred to said remote reservoir, thus permitting no escape of the vapor from said fuel reservoir to the surrounding atmosphere. Through use of the present disclosure, spills of fuel are essentially eliminated, and the escape of vapors from the vehicle's fuel tank are prevented, thus preventing atmospheric hydrocarbon pollution.
US08453664B2 Portable shelter
A portable shelter may be provided with ground assembly, flex poles, and a cover assembly. The ground assembly may include a ground sheet or pad having rigid elements, such as metal ground poles along opposite sides. The ground poles may extend through sleeves on the ground sheet. The ends of the flex poles can be attached to fittings on the ends of the ground poles, with the flex poles flexed into an arc when the shelter is set up. The cover assembly includes a flexible cover made for example of fabric effective at blocking sunlight. Flex pole attachment devices, such as snap-on clamp fittings, may be spaced apart along opposite ends of the cover for attaching the cover onto the flex poles. Ground pole attachment devices may be spaced apart along opposite sides of the cover for attaching the cover to the ground poles.
US08453661B2 Safety cane strap
A safety strap for a cane handle portion of a cane includes a strap piece extending between a first end and a second end, a first connection arranged at the first end, and a second connection arranged at the second end, the first and second connections being connectable to the cane at opposing ends of the cane handle portion. The cane strap supports a weight of the cane when the first and second connections are connected to the cane and a user's hand is inserted between the strap and cane handle portion, so that the cane handle is maintained proximate the user's palm if the user's grip on the cane handle portion is inadvertently released. Furthermore, at least one of the first and second connections is releasable when a predetermined pulling force is exceeded, so that the cane is allowed to fall away from the user in a situation in which retaining the cane is likely to cause injury.
US08453655B2 Surface treatment apparatus
Inside a single apparatus main body (100), a surface treatment apparatus includes: a treatment cell (11); a vertical rotation shaft (12); an attachment/detachment device; a receiving tank (15); a cover body (16); a plurality of tanks (21); a plurality of surface treatment liquid supply devices (22); a cleaning water supply device; a drain device (3); and a first cleaning device. Upon operation of the surface treatment liquid supply device while the treatment cell (11) containing small objects is rotated by the vertical rotation shaft (12), a surface treatment is carried out on the small objects, upon operation of the cleaning water supply device, the small objects inside the treatment cell (11) are cleaned, and upon operation of the first cleaning device, the inner face of the cover body and the outer face of the treatment cell are cleaned, thus providing circulation use of surface treatment liquids in the tanks.
US08453649B2 Apparatus for positioning a nasal cannula
A harness for securely positioning a nasal cannula on the face of a person for orally administering oxygen and other gases is described. A flexible chin strap adapted for placement around the chin of the person may be attached to adjustable, flexible straps effective for draping around the ears of the person, which are in turn attached to a central, cannula attachment portion disposed between the cannula and the face of the person. The gas delivery tubes of the cannula are also disposed behind the ears, essentially following the path of the flexible straps of the harness. Once placed on a person, the harness holds the nasal cannula such that the nasal prongs may disposed facing toward the mouth opening in the vicinity of the lower lip thereof, and may deliver gases to a mouth-breathing individual. Another embodiment of the harness may be utilized to position a nasal cannula for nasal administration of gas.
US08453634B2 Initial velocity accelerating tube
An initial velocity accelerating tube includes an outer pipe. Two ends of the outer pipe are connected with a stop member and a connection member, respectively. An inner pipe is provided in the outer pipe. Two ends of the inner pipe are inserted in the stop member and the connection member, respectively. When the initial velocity accelerating tube is mounted on a toy gun, one end of the inner pipe is against the front end of the barrel of the toy gun by the elastic force of the elastic member so as to tightly connect the barrel, providing an airtight effect. The barrel can be lengthened. To have a shoot with the long-barreled gun, the bullet can have a longer route to accelerate for getting a higher initial velocity.
US08453632B2 Bowstring drawing and release assist apparatus and method thereof
An apparatus for one-handed operation of archery equipment may facilitate drawing and firing of an arrow from a bow. The apparatus may comprise a release aid having jaws for selective engagement and disengagement of a bowstring and a trigger mechanism operable to open and close the jaws. Head gear may be configured for attachment to the head of an archer and may be coupled to the release aid with a connection mechanism such that the archer may resist a tension in the bowstring with the headgear. An alternative apparatus comprises an automatic drawbar and engagement head such that an archer may manipulate drawbar controls to draw and release an arrow from a bow.
US08453617B1 Method and device for controlling air-fuel intake of an internal combustion engine
One embodiment of a device and method for controlling or restricting the air-fuel mixture into an internal combustion engine having a body member rigidly mounted between the air-fuel metering device and the engine intake, a slidably insertable restrictor plate, and a retaining and sealing cover. The body member may contain a single spacer or two spacers and may contain either a slot or a groove that communicates with the plate. The plate may contain a plurality of bore holes and multiple distinct plates can be made in order to achieve various and linear amounts of restriction. The plate can be easily and quickly changed depending on the amount of restriction desired. One or more embodiments of the device can be used on engines in various motorized vehicles and in various motorsports, such as drag racing. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US08453616B2 Vane-type motor cam phaser with a friction disc and mounting method
The invention relates to a vane-type motor cam phaser with a rotor and a camshaft. Between this rotor and the camshaft, a friction disc is braced axially by means of a central screw. Accordingly, this friction disc transmits a drive torque in a frictionally engaged manner. For pivoting the rotor in two oppositely lying directions of rotation, at least two oil channels (A, B) run through the camshaft and a hub of the rotor. At least the one oil channel (A or B) is sealed hydraulically radially inward by an inner ring part of the friction disc and radially outward by an outer ring part of the friction disc. The inner ring part and the outer ring part are joined to each other by means of a crossarm.
US08453615B2 Adjustable camshaft
The present invention relates to an adjustable camshaft (1), wherein inner and outer shafts (4, 2) connected securely with cams (5, 6) can be rotated relative to each other. In order to obtain this relative movement, at least one hydraulic adjusting device (3) is provided at one end of the camshaft (1), wherein a rotor (2) is rotatable in relation to a stator (19), and the rotor (20) and the stator (19) are each connected securely with one of the two shafts (2, 4). It is essential to the invention that the camshaft (1) is part of a prefabricated camshaft assembly, comprising at least the following components oriented relative to each other: camshaft (1) comprising inner shaft (4), outer shaft (2), cams (5, 6) and adjusting device (3) and a chain wheel (10).
US08453613B2 Valve actuation system with valve seating control
A variable valve actuation system to actuate and control the seating velocity of an internal combustion engine valve is disclosed. The system comprises: a housing having a bore formed therein; an outer piston slidably disposed in the bore, the outer piston having an orifice formed therein; a catch piston slidably disposed in the outer piston; and an cone-shaped extension extending from the inner piston, wherein the cone-shaped extension is adapted to provide a variable flow area through the outer piston orifice to provide improved engine valve seating.
US08453602B2 Combination storage, dispensing and feeding device for domestic animals
A feeding device that is comprised of an outer containment module and inner compression device, so configured that a multiplicity of disposable liners can be nested within the device and then be individually dispensed as required for each new feeding. The disposable liners are held inside the bowl without need for mechanical hinges, moving rims or retaining devices, but rather by a very careful cooperation between the size of the liners and an inwardly extending retaining flange or lip on the top inner edge of the containment module. This unique design allows the user to simply press liners into the device or peel them out, whenever the circumstances require it. The compression device in the bottom of the containment module supports the liners and continuously keeps the supply of disposable liners conveniently staged at the top edge of the module, as well as keeps them from moving during feedings.
US08453597B2 Paint shop and corresponding method of operation
The invention relates to a paint shop, especially for elongate components, such as e.g. motor vehicle bumpers, motor vehicle sillboards or for components of aircraft and windpower installations. Said paint shop comprises a transport path (4) for transporting components (2) to be painted through the paint shop, a painting robot (13, 16) for painting the components (2) and a travel path (12, 15) for positioning the painting robot (13, 16) along the travel path (12, 15). The invention is characterized in that the travel path (12, 15) of the painting robot (13, 16) extends at a right angle to the transport path (4) for the components (2) to be painted. The invention also relates to a corresponding method of operation.
US08453593B1 Emission attenuated lining apparatus and methods for structures
The invention provides an improved method and robotic apparatus for preparing and applying a structural member while significantly mitigating hazardous emissions. The remotely controlled robot comprised a series of expandable and interchangeable chambers that allow of site-specific customization. The chambers are linked together by means of flexible interface that allow for the apparatus to conform to the tank radius. A set of synchronized steerable tractor drives are at each end of the apparatus and provide motion across the surface. The chambers have a flexible vacuum seal for the mitigation of harmful emissions. A detachable umbilical with product delivery lines, pneumatic lines, electrical power and signal and video lines contained within remains attached to the robot during the lining operation. The system is suspended from the surface by means of a support structure and center trunnion.
US08453591B2 Marine vessel with extendable and retractable surface effect wings
A mono boat hull power boat with extendable and retractable surface effects wings. The boat hull has wing cavities housing the wings inside the hull. At the front of wing cavity wing pivots are located, and at the rear of the wing cavities extending mechanisms are located, allowing for the pivotal extension and retraction of the wings in to the hull cavities.
US08453588B2 Float structure for storing liquids
The float structure is constructed with a bottom structure providing buoyancy to the float structure, an upper deck and a number of support columns that connect the bottom structure and the equipment deck which is to be positioned above the surface of the water in which the float is arranged to operate. The float structure is characterized in that at least one of said support columns comprises a liquid storage column which is placed in the middle section of the float structure with the remaining support columns are positioned in the outer sections of the float structure. Active ballast tanks are disposed in the middle section of the bottom structure adjacent the liquid storage column and secondary ballast tanks are disposed in the outer part of the bottom structure.
US08453585B2 Oxy-combustion coal fired boiler and method of transitioning between air and oxygen firing
A new and unique boiler and method of transition between air and Oxy-combustion in a coal fired combustion process wherein near pure oxygen may be introduced to the boiler furnace in several locations including directly into the flame through the burner and/or directly into the furnace as nearly pure oxygen, and/or into the recycle flue gas streams to the burners, including both primary and secondary streams.
US08453580B2 Magnetic suspension system with integrable propulsion
A method and system for magnetically levitating a load is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is a system for magnetically levitating a load, the system comprising at least two lift generators, each comprising a source of magnetic flux configured to induce a magnetic flux in a rail via a leg on either side of the rail, at least one magnetically permeable beam connecting the lift generators, and control circuitry configured to generate and modulate a magnetic current flux through the crossbeam so as to maintain gaps between the legs and rail, wherein the gaps defined by the legs on either side of the rail are of unequal size.
US08453566B2 Screen-printing frame
A system for attaching mesh to a frame and applying tension to the mesh is described. The system includes a locking strip slot in a movable frame member that permits mesh and an attached locking strip to be inserted into the slot from the top. The locking strip may be asymmetric. The system further includes a rigid frame that can hold the movable frame member under tension. The system also includes gripping the movable frame member at the locking strip slot to apply tension to the mesh. A simple hand tool may be used for engaging the locking strip slot and leveraging against the rigid portion of the frame to apply the tension. A simple hand tool may be used for separating the movable frame member from the rigid frame to remove the mesh.
US08453553B2 Radially orthogonal, tubular energetically rotated armor (ROTERA)
A reactive armor that includes a tube having a substantially central longitudinal axis, and at least two force reaction faces that are parallel to the axis; a casing that includes a back, at least two sides, and at least two end blocks; wherein the sides extend away from the back, the blocks are fastened to the sides at edges opposite of the back, and the tube is positioned between the blocks to form a cover to the casing; initiators included between the end blocks and the force reaction faces; a sensor subsystem that detects a threat, wherein the sensor subsystem is coupled to the initiators, and the sensor subsystem generates an initiation signal in response to the detection of the threat; and when the initiators receive the initiation signal, the initiators substantially simultaneously generate a force such that the tube is rotated about the axis to rotationally defeat the threat.
US08453547B2 Method and device for trimming at least one side edge of a bound printed product
A device for trimming at least one side edge of a bound printed product including a trimming table to receive the printed product and a press die arranged to press the printed product against the trimming table. The press die is operative to rise and fall with respect to the trimming table and the press die includes an elastic surface in a region approximately near the side edge of the print product. The elastic surface is operable to expand in a direction approximately transverse to the pressing direction. The device also includes a trimming knife positioned to trim the side edge. The trimming knife is operable to move between a starting position away from the trimming table and an ending position at the trimming table. The device also includes counter blade or a cutting bar mounted to limit a cutting stroke of the trimming knife.
US08453542B2 Wrench for use with drilling apparatus
The invention relates to a wrench for use with drilling apparatus and which serves for loosening adjacent drill bit segments of a drill bit during drilling of extended holes into the ground and where this involves the insertion of, or the removal of, extension segments from the drill bit. The wrench includes a pair of carrier members whereby it is supported on the support structure of a drilling apparatus, as well as a pair of gripping members, displaceably supported between the carrier members and between which a drill bit segment can be gripped, and piston/cylinder mechanisms whereby the carrier members, and hence the wrench, can be displaced between an inoperative stowed configuration and an operative configuration and whereby the gripping members can be displaced for gripping a drill bit segment and for loosening the segment with respect to an adjacent segment.
US08453538B2 Cartridge bottom bracket for a bicycle
A cartridge bottom bracket is for a bicycle having a tubular shell with a bore. The bottom bracket includes a spindle having opposing ends and a sealed cartridge disposed within the shell bore and about a central portion of the spindle so as to define opposing free end portions of the spindle. The cartridge includes a pipe having opposing ends, two rolling contact bearings disposed within the pipe adjacent to a separate one of the pipe ends and rotatably coupling the spindle with the pipe, and a tubular spacer disposed about the spindle and extending between the two bearings so as to establish a spacing distance between the bearings. Further, two shaped caps are each mounted on a separate one of the free end portions of the spindle and are disposed axially against a separate one of the bearings to enclose the free end portion of the spindle.
US08453534B2 Braking handlebar for bicycle
A braking handlebar for a bicycle includes a combining device, one end thereof being axially mounted to a handle; a braking handlebar, having a pressing section, a pivoting section and an accommodating section, wherein the pivoting section is pivotally connected to one end of the combining device opposite to the handle, and the accommodating section is in parallel to an axial direction of the handle; and a screw adjusting element, movable mounted to the accommodating section of the braking handlebar and connected to one end of a braking cable; wherein the braking cable is loosened or tightened by using the screw adjusting element. Since the screw adjusting element offers the function of being able to rotate, the braking cable can be prevented from being bent excessively, further from generating friction which may results in brake failure.
US08453525B2 Plasma sample collection device
A plasma sample collection device includes an elongated blood separation strip having a constant width and a relatively narrower end portion. A support base is located under the plasma separator strip and a cover is positioned superincumbent with respect to the blood separator strip. The cover defines an elongated observation window extending along the length of the plasma separator strip. An oblong collection port is adjacent to but spaced from one end of the observation window. The oblong collection port exposes the separator strip end portion and has a chief axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the blood separation strip. In one embodiment, the collection port has a teardrop configuration, and in another embodiment it has an obovate-cuneate configuration.
US08453521B2 Bicycle force sensing device
A bicycle force sensing device is basically provided with an attachment member, a translation detecting structure and an orientation detector. The attachment member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle bottom bracket hanger and is configured to receive and rotatably support a crank axle. The translation detecting structure is coupled to the attachment member such that the translation detecting structure senses strain on the attachment member in a first strain measurement direction and in a second strain measurement direction that is nonparallel to the first strain measurement direction. The orientation detector is coupled to the attachment member such that the orientation detector detects an orientation of the attachment member.
US08453517B2 Pressure guiding tube blockage diagnosing device and blockage diagnosing method
A differential pressure transmitting device detects, through two pressure guiding tubes, a differential pressure that is generated when that which is to be measured, such as a liquid, a slurry, or a gas, that has fluctuation in the pressure thereof, passes through a differential pressure generating mechanism. A pressure guiding tube blockage diagnosing device comprises: a rising/falling frequency detecting portion for segmenting the differential pressure values detected by the differential pressure transmitting device into a plurality of intervals, and for detecting, for each interval, the rising/falling frequency of the fluctuation of the differential pressure; and an evaluating portion for comparing the rising/falling frequency of the fluctuation to a specific threshold value to evaluate the state of blockage of the pressure guiding tubes.
US08453515B2 Apparatus and method for fatigue testing of a material specimen in a high-pressure fluid environment
The invention provides fatigue testing of a material specimen while the specimen is disposed in a high pressure fluid environment. A specimen is placed between receivers in an end cap of a vessel and a piston that is moveable within the vessel. Pressurized fluid is provided to compression and tension chambers defined between the piston and the vessel. When the pressure in the compression chamber is greater than the pressure in the tension chamber, the specimen is subjected to a compression force. When the pressure in the tension chamber is greater than the pressure in the compression chamber, the specimen is subjected to a tension force. While the specimen is subjected to either force, it is also surrounded by the pressurized fluid in the tension chamber. In some examples, the specimen is surrounded by hydrogen.
US08453514B2 Method and device for ascertaining the deformation of a fuel assembly in a pressurized-water reactor
A method and a device measure for a deformation of a fuel element of a pressurized water reactor having a plurality of control rod guide tubes. A probe displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the control rod guide tube is inserted in the interior of at least one control rod guide tube having at least one reference axis, and supported in at least one section of the control rod guide tube on the interior wall thereof, such that the orientation of the at least one reference axis is unambiguously a function of the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the control rod guide tube in the section. The orientation of the at least one reference axis in the section of the control rod guide tube is determined relative to the orientation of the or a further reference axis of the probe in a different section.
US08453509B2 Method for the non-destructive testing of a test object by way of ultrasound and apparatus therefor
A method for the non-destructive testing of a test specimen by means of ultrasound and a corresponding device, the method including insonification of directed ultrasonic pulses into the test specimen 100 at an insonification angle β, wherein the insonification angle β is adjusted electronically, a. recording echo signals that result from the ultrasonic pulses insonified into the test specimen 100, b. calculation of an ERS value of a flaw 102 in the volume of the test specimen from echo signals that can be assigned to the flaw 102 for a plurality of insonification angles β, and c. generation of a graphic representation of the flaw 102, from which the dependence of the calculated ERS values of the flaw on the insonification value βcan be read off at least qualitatively.
US08453503B2 Vibrating reed, vibrator, physical quantity sensor, and electronic apparatus
A resonator element includes: drive beams including a first beam and a second beam that vibrate in torsional vibration modes and are elongated side by side in a first direction; support parts that couple one ends and the other ends of the first beam and the second beam; and detection arms elongated from the respective first beam and second beam in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in a plan view, wherein, in a drive mode, the first beam and the second beam torsionally vibrate in opposite directions to each other, the respective detection arms vibrate in a normal direction of a plane containing the first direction and the second direction, and the detection arm elongated from the first beam and the detection arm elongated from the second beam vibrate in the same direction as each other.
US08453502B2 Micromechanical structure and method for operating a micromechanical structure
A micromechanical yaw rate sensor includes a substrate having a main plane of extension and two Coriolis elements. The first Coriolis element may be driven to a first vibration along a second direction which is parallel to the main plane of extension. The second Coriolis element may be driven to a second vibration which is antiparallel to the first vibration. A first deflection of the first Coriolis element and a second deflection of the second Coriolis element, in each case along a first direction which is parallel to the main plane of extension and perpendicular to the second direction, may be detected. The micromechanical sensor also has a rocker element indirectly or directly coupled to the first Coriolis element and to the second Coriolis element, which rocker element has a torsional axis essentially parallel to the second direction.
US08453496B2 Rheometer and rheometric method for testing samples
A method for testing samples uses a rheometer in which a measuring shaft bearing a first measuring part is rotated by a motor and the sample is introduced into a measuring gap between the first measuring part and a further measuring part. The further measuring part is mounted on a further, driven measuring shaft and the two measuring parts are rotated or oscillated at a predetermined speed independently of one another, or brought to a standstill. At the same time or in rapidly succeeding intervals during the same measuring process, the torque and the normal force are determined by a first moment detector and the first measuring unit, and the normal force exerted by the sample on the further measuring part and/or the further measuring shaft and the torque exerted on the further measuring shaft by means of a further separate motor rotating said measuring shaft are determined by means of a further measuring unit and a further moment detector and in that said simultaneously determined measured values are supplied for evaluation.
US08453488B2 Apparatus for bending resilient tab
An apparatus for bending a resilient tab, includes a chassis to support the tab, a securing element to hold the tab and a sliding element for pressing the tab. The securing element has a clamping portion pressing against a base of the tab and a blocking portion extending towards the sliding element. The sliding element includes a base, a pressing element and a bending element slidably connected to the base. The pressing element is pivotably connected to the bending element. The sliding element can move towards the securing element. As the sliding element moves towards the securing element, the pressing element is pressed by the blocking portion to move relative to the bending element. The bending element is driven by the pressing element to raise and presses the free distal end of the tab at a required angle.
US08453487B2 Circular groove pressing mechanism and method for sputtering target manufacturing
A method of making metal target blank using circular groove pressing includes pressing a metal or metal alloy target blank in a first circular grooved pressing die set into a first concentric corrugated shape while maintaining an original diameter of the target blank to create concentric rings of shear deformation in the target blank. Forces are then applied to the concentric corrugated target blank sufficient to substantially flatten the target blank with a flat die set while maintaining the original diameter of the target blank to restore the target blank to a substantially flat condition. The target blank is pressed in a second circular grooved die set into a second concentric corrugated shape while maintaining the original diameter of the target blank, wherein the second die set has a groove pattern offset from a groove pattern of the first die set so as to create concentric rings of shear deformation in areas of the target blank which were not previously deformed. Forces are again applied to the concentric corrugated target blank sufficient to substantially flatten the target blank with a flat die set while maintaining the original diameter of the target blank to restore the target blank to a substantially flat condition.
US08453481B2 Padlock
An electromechanical lock includes a lock body and a locking mechanism disposed in the lock body. The locking mechanism includes a blocker, first and second cams, and a motor. The blocker is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The first cam is rotatable about a first axis between a blocker obstructing position and a blocker clearance position. The second cam is rotatable about a second axis, spaced apart from the first axis, to move the first cam between the blocker obstructing position and the blocker clearance position. The motor is coupled to the second cam to rotate the second cam in response to an electrical authorization signal supplied to the motor.
US08453475B2 System and method for making ice
A system and method for making ice is provided. The system may include a tray for containing a water to be used for making ice, and a refrigerant pipe positioned so that at least a portion thereof is submerged in the water contained in the tray. A refrigerant of relatively low temperature flows through the refrigerant pipe to cause ice to be formed on surfaces thereof. A heater may be provided on the refrigerant pipe and operated during an ice-releasing process. This system and method may eliminate the need for an additional duct to supply cold air to the ice maker, thus simplifying a manufacturing process and reducing manufacturing costs.
US08453472B2 Rapid chilling apparatus for beverages and method for controlling the same
Rapid chilling apparatus for beverages including a receptacle (2) accommodating beverage containers (3) of differing length, and cooling structure cooling said receptacle (2), wherein said receptacle (2) includes a plurality of electrodes (4), an inner surface (5) supporting a container (3) such that the electrodes (4) turn out as being distributed along the whole length of the container (3), the electrodes (4) being connected to circuit structure (6) detecting and measuring the capacitance value on each electrode (4) due to the presence of a container (3) made of a conductive or non-conductive material in proximity of the same electrode (4) so as to determine the actual length of the container (3), control structure (7) operating said cooling structure in response to the capacitance values detected by said circuit structure (6) for a period of time, the duration depending on the so determined length of the container (3).
US08453466B2 Heat-power conversion magnetism device and system for converting energy thereby
The invention discloses a heat-power conversion magnetism device. The heat-power conversion magnetism device includes a magneto caloric effect material so that the magnetic field thereof can be changed according to a temperature difference. The heat-power conversion magnetism device is rotated by changing the magnetic field of the magneto caloric effect material. A system for converting energy by use of the heat-power conversion magnetism device is also disclosed.
US08453460B2 Apparatus and method for cooling a combustor
A combustor includes a combustion chamber and an interior wall circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the combustion chamber and defining an exterior surface. A plurality of turbulators are on the exterior surface. The combustor further includes means for preferentially directing fluid flow across a predetermined position of the turbulators. A method for cooling a combustion chamber includes locating a plurality of turbulators to an exterior surface of the combustion chamber and preferentially directing fluid flow across a predetermined position of the plurality of turbulators.
US08453444B2 Power plant using compressed or liquefied air for energy storage
Apparatus (100) comprising a power plant or air motor utilizing compressed air or liquid air for energy storage. The apparatus includes an electrical plant (200), a mechanical plant (300), and a pneumatic plant (400). When operating as a compressor, the plant receives electrical and/or direct mechanical power as an input to drive the plant, compress air, and store its output in the form of compressed or liquefied air. When operating as an engine, the plant consumes the compressed or liquid air to drive a mechanism of the engine and deliver mechanical power and/or electrical power as an output.
US08453440B2 Drive device for a vehicle
A drive device for a vehicle having an automatic transmission, which has a hydrodynamic torque converter. The transmission oil of the automatic transmission is used as the operating medium for the hydrodynamic torque converter. In addition, the drive device has a heat exchanger for cooling the operating medium. It is provided that additional apparatuses (heat exchangers) are provided for the direct cooling of the hydrodynamic torque converter using a cooling medium.
US08453439B2 Torque converter turbine side bearing centering and retention on the stator
A torque converter, including: a washer for a thrust bearing, the washer including a first circumferential surface facing radially outward; a stator hub with a second circumferential surface facing radially inward and free of an interlocking engagement with the first circumferential surface; and a shell for a turbine, the shell including a third circumferential surface facing radially inward. The washer is radially inwardly retained by contact between the first circumferential surface and the second or third circumferential surface. In a preferred embodiment, the washer is radially centered by contact between the first circumferential surface and the second or third circumferential surface. In another preferred embodiment, the hub includes at least one radially inwardly extending protrusion and the washer is retainable in an axial direction by the at least one protrusion.
US08453438B2 Exhaust control device for vehicle engine
An exhaust control device for a vehicle engine wherein an exhaust pipe forms an exhaust passage along with an exhaust port is connected to a cylinder head via the exhaust port. A rotary valve is capable of changing the opening area of the exhaust passage. The rotary valve being disposed in approximately the middle of the exhaust passage. The opening area of the exhaust passage is made controllable by the rotary valve while avoiding an increase in the number of component parts. A rotary valve having a turning axis located at a position offset from the center of the exhaust port is housed in a valve housing provided integrally with a cylinder head.
US08453431B2 Engine-out NOx virtual sensor for an internal combustion engine
A method for controlling an internal combustion engine includes monitoring engine operation including a parameter descriptive of NOx generation within the engine, determining a fast transient NOx estimate with a dynamic model based upon the monitored engine operation, and during a fast transient engine operation including an increase in an operating state of the engine and a substantial closing of an exhaust gas recirculation valve, controlling an engine system based upon the fast transient NOx estimate.
US08453430B2 Configuration and method for cleaning an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine by separating particles and motor vehicle having the configuration
A configuration for purifying or cleaning an exhaust-gas flow of an internal combustion engine includes at least an ionization device, an agglomeration device, and a (catalytically active) radial honeycomb body around a duct. The exhaust-gas is diverted from the duct into the radial honeycomb body, while the agglomerated particles are caught in a particle separator of the duct. A method for purifying or cleaning an exhaust-gas flow of an internal combustion engine and a motor vehicle including an exhaust system having the configuration, are also provided.
US08453423B2 Manual round hay bale wrapper
This is a machine to allow a single individual to manually wrap round hay bales with any type of film or net wrap. It allows the operator to position a round bale suspended on a bale spear and centered within the bale wrap ring to turn the ring which contains the wrap material clockwise or counterclockwise about the bale as the wrap covers the bale about its circumference. The ring can also be moved left and right to ensure full coverage of the bale in spite of widths and the ring is large enough to accommodate bales of any diameter up to six foot and can be easily adapted to bales of even larger diameter if round balers are produced in excess of six foot in diameter.
US08453418B2 Document inserting apparatus
An apparatus for inserting a document into an envelope. The apparatus includes a mechanism for holding an envelope at an insert station; pivotally mounted fingers for opening the envelope; and a platform for guiding the document over the fingers and into the envelope. The platform is pivoted at an upstream end and upwardly spring biased so that the platform is depressed against the spring bias, by an amount dependent on the weight of the insert document moving over, so that a light insert document follows a path which subtends a steeper angle to the horizontal compared to a heavy insert document.
US08453415B2 Spacer profile for a spacer frame for an insulating window unit and insulating window unit
A spacer profile (50) for a spacer profile frame mountable in the edge area of an insulating window unit for forming an intervening space (53) between window panes (51, 52), has a profile body (10) made of synthetic material and comprises one or more chambers (20) for accommodating hygroscopic material. A metal film (30) encloses the profile body on three-sides such that, in the bent/assembled state of the spacer profile, the non-enclosed inner side of the profile body is directed towards the intervening space between the window panes. The not-enclosed inner side of the profile body comprises openings (15) for moisture exchange between hygroscopic material accommodated in the chamber(s) and the intervening space between the window panes. The metal film comprises a profile (31a-g, 32a-g) on each end directed towards the intervening space of the window panes. Each profile has at least one edge or bend.
US08453408B2 Pre-assembled hip, ridge or rake shingle
A hip, ridge or rake shingle is provided, in which a pair of substantially rigid panel portions are connected by a hinge portion, and wherein the shingle is pre-assembled, but can conform to a variety of different angles to accommodate different angular relationships between surfaces of a hip, ridge or rake of a roof.
US08453392B1 System for positioning and holding ceiling panels
An overhead panel installation system consisting of three components that hold drywall or other panels onto ceiling joists thereby allowing workers to place the panels and let go while they nail or screw the panels to the joists. Component “A” is placed over two top plates of a wall whereby a bent portion of component “A” extends away from the wall and creates a first ledge for a first panel to be held in place. Component “B” is subsequently placed over the end of the secured first panel opposite the wall and creates a second ledge for a second panel to be placed and held. Lastly, component “C” is fitted under a ceiling joist, turned, and locked in place to create a third ledge to further support the second panel. Each of the three components can be simply removed with a twist of the handle.
US08453376B2 Full spectrum sunshine simulation apparatus for developing biological growth
Disclosed is a full spectrum sunshine simulation apparatus for developing biological growth which comprises a full spectrum light emitting diode module and a photoperiod controller. Therein, the full spectrum light emitting diode module includes a printed circuit board and a plurality of full spectrum light emitting diodes, wherein the luminescence spectrum of the full spectrum light emitting diodes has a wavelength range of 350 nm to 800 nm. The photoperiod controller, connected to the full spectrum light emitting diode module, is in charge of lighting periods of the plurality of full spectrum light emitting diodes, color temperatures and emitting angles of the lights emitted from the plurality of full spectrum light emitting diodes, thereby simulating a environment under artificial sunlight.
US08453357B2 Article of footwear incorporating illuminable strands
An article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes at least one illuminable strand located to be visible from an exterior of the article of footwear. In some configurations, the upper includes a power source at least partially embedded within the upper and electrically-coupled to the illuminable strand. In another configuration, the upper includes a foundation layer and a cover layer that are secured to each other, and the illuminable strand is located between the foundation layer and the cover layer.
US08453352B2 Supportive sport boot made of rigid materials
A sport boot, such as a snow ski boot, that includes a shell having a rigid foot portion. The foot portion includes a heel pocket and an instep region that is largely immovable relative to the heel pocket due to the rigidity of the foot portion. The boot also includes a highback support region that snugly engages the leg of a user during use. A heel-track is located on the dorsal side of the boot between the highback support region and the heel pocket. The heel-track provides a concave space that receives the user's heel when the user is putting-on and taking-off the boot to counter the relative immovability of the instep region of the boot against the engaging action of the user's foot. The sport boot can also include a special boot liner having an expandable dorsal region, and, optionally, other features that compliment the heel-track of the shell.
US08453347B2 Footwear sole insert and footwear
To provide a footwear sole insert and footwear that would allow performing the fundamental motion of grasping through regulation and promotion of the formation of a functional fundamental arch line linking the cuneocuboid joint areas at cuboidal bone edges of the foot parts with the second and third MP joint areas thereof to thereby making it possible to basically solve alignment abnormality and functional failure. A sole insert is provided with a raised ridge face brought into contact with the region of the foot part extending from the vicinity of the cuneocuboid joint area at edges of cuboids to the vicinity of the proximal phalanxes at the MP joint area between second metatarsals and third metatarsals so as to elevate the region and hold the same in archlike form.
US08453338B2 Coordinate measuring machine with rotatable grip
A portable coordinate measuring machine (PCMM) can have one or more rotatable grip assemblies to provide a location for an operator to grasp the PCMM. A rotatable grip assembly can include a rotatable sleeve, a grip portion disposed over the sleeve, and one or more retaining rings to prevent the rotatable grip from axially sliding along one or more members of an articulated arm PCMM. A PCMM can include two rotatable grips to allow an operator to grasp the PCMM with both hands for positioning and repositioning operations. One rotatable grip can be positioned on an arm member most distant the PCMM base, and another rotatable grip can be positioned on a housing at least partially encasing an articulating joint assembly coupled to the arm member most distant the PCMM base. Other numbers of and locations of rotatable grip assemblies can be used in PCMMs.
US08453334B2 Fuel cell plate measurement features
A method for measuring a plate for a fuel cell stack includes providing a model of the plate including a first axis and a second axis. The model has at least one theoretical measurement feature with a theoretical set of coordinates. The plate is also provided with at least one measurement feature. The first axis and the second axis are established relative to the plate. The at least one measurement feature of the plate is then located relative to the first axis and the second axis. The at least one measurement feature is measured to determine a first set of coordinates for the at least one measurement feature. The first set of coordinates of the plate is compared to the theoretical set of coordinates of the model to determine a displacement of the first set of coordinates from the theoretical set of coordinates.
US08453327B2 Sprayed skin turbine component
Fabricating a turbine component (50) by casting a core structure (30), forming an array of pits (24) in an outer surface (32) of the core structure, depositing a transient liquid phase (TLP) material (40) on the outer surface of the core structure, the TLP containing a melting-point depressant, depositing a skin (42) on the outer surface of the core structure over the TLP material, and heating the assembly, thus forming both a diffusion bond and a mechanical interlock between the skin and the core structure. The heating diffuses the melting-point depressant away from the interface. Subsurface cooling channels (35) may be formed by forming grooves (34) in the outer surface of the core structure, filling the grooves with a fugitive filler (36), depositing and bonding the skin (42), then removing the fugitive material.
US08453326B2 Method for assembling radially loaded vane assembly of gas turbine engine
A method for assembling a vane ring with a vane support of a vane assembly in a gas turbine engine is described, and includes flexing each of the radial loading elements into the resiliently flexed state simultaneously by sliding the radial loading elements against corresponding lead-in tapers. This can be achieved, for example, using a guide tool which includes a plurality of segments bearing the lead-in tapers and which is previously assembled to the vane support.
US08453317B2 Magnetic write head fabrication with integrated electrical lapping guides
Methods of fabricating magnetic write heads and electrical lapping guides (ELG's) using a split gap deposition process is described. A removal process is performed on a magnetic material to define a main write pole and to define a corresponding ELG for the main write pole. A first non-magnetic gap layer is deposited. A mask and liftoff process is performed to deposit an electrically conductive material on the first gap layer disposed along a front edge of the ELG. A second non-magnetic gap layer is then deposited and a shield is fabricated for the write pole.
US08453312B2 Method of manufacturing vibrating micromechanical structures
A method for fabrication of single crystal silicon micromechanical resonators using a two-wafer process, including either a Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) or insulating base and resonator wafers, wherein resonator anchors, a capacitive air gap, isolation trenches, and alignment marks are micromachined in an active layer of the base wafer; the active layer of the resonator wafer is bonded directly to the active layer of the base wafer; the handle and dielectric layers of the resonator wafer are removed; viewing windows are opened in the active layer of the resonator wafer; masking the single crystal silicon semiconductor material active layer of the resonator wafer with photoresist material; a single crystal silicon resonator is machined in the active layer of the resonator wafer using silicon dry etch micromachining technology; and the photoresist material is subsequently dry stripped.
US08453305B2 Peen finishing
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for processing a metallic gear comprising providing a gear, directing a first peening media at the metallic gear thereby exposing a plurality of surfaces on the metallic gear to the first peening media whereby the strength and wear properties of the teeth roots of the gear are enhanced, directing a second peening media at the metallic gear thereby exposing a plurality of surfaces on the metallic gear to the second peening media whereby the KSI of the surface of the gear is enhanced, providing a container, placing a fine finishing medium in the container, placing the gear with the fine finishing medium in the container, coupling vibrations to the container to vibrate the fine finishing medium with the wetted gear, removing the gear from the container, washing the gear and rinsing the gear with rust inhibitor.
US08453304B2 Device for covering a machine in a production line comprising a plurality of machines
An arrangement for covering a machine having a machine frame, includes a covering device adapted to be attached to the machine frame above the machine. The covering device has opposite sides corresponding to opposite sides of the machine frame. Hinges are respectively connected at the opposite sides of the covering device about which the covering device can be selectively swiveled to an open or a closed position relative to the machine. Each one of the respectively arranged hinges at opposite sides of the covering device is selectively coupled to the machine frame and has a parallel-extending swiveling axis. Respectively the non-selected hinge that does not form the swiveling axis for opening the covering device is arranged to be detachable from the machine frame.
US08453302B2 Slider for slide fastener
A slider for slide fastener has a handle attachment/detachment column part projected upward from an upper face of a slider body and a pair of cantilever engagement pieces formed in a window part of a handle, and they are snap-engaged. An attachment/detachment part of the cantilever engagement piece and the handle attachment/detachment column part is provided with a head storage space (PS) storing and engaging an attachment/detachment head at the time of engaging the cantilever engagement piece and the attachment/detachment head. Thus, attachment/detachment of the handle attachment/detachment column part and the cantilever engagement piece becomes easy and the cantilever engagement piece of the handle is difficult to be damaged. Uncomfortable feeling by a projected end of the handle attachment/detachment column part and hooking of fiber do not exist and durability is given.
US08453300B1 On demand handling apparatus
A handling apparatus comprising an object, at least one band, and at least one detachable handle. A desired number of the handles can be put on any of the bands, and positions of the handles may be adjusted within the bands. The handles put on each of the bands are secured to the object simultaneously and without user intervention when user secures the band to the object. The handles may comprise detachable gripping members which can be oriented differently about the object after the handles are secured to the objects by the bands. The handles and the bands may be reused with differently configured objects. As the result, the device is economic, ergonomic, and easy to use.
US08453296B2 Ergonomic handle system for work tool
An ergonomically maneuverable vacuum cleaner has: a vacuum cleaner head moveable across a floor and a motor to create a vacuum on the vacuum cleaner head. There is a relatively upright single stem handle for gripping and moving of the vacuum cleaner with a single hand of a user. Releasably attached to the upright single stem handle is a dual grip handle positioned relatively perpendicular to the upright stem handle. The dual grip handle has a central handle bar that lies relatively horizontal to the floor when the vacuum cleaner is in use, and the handle bar having two cushion grips, one each on ends of the handle bar. There is a connecting element between the central handle bar and the upright single stem handle.
US08453294B2 Upright vacuum cleaner having path switching apparatus
An upright vacuum cleaner having a path switching apparatus are provided. The upright vacuum cleaner may include: a cleaner body, a hose which introduces air including dust into a dust collection unit, an extension pipe which is connected to the hose and is attached to/detached from the cleaner body, a suction port assembly connected to a bottom of the cleaner body, and a path switching apparatus installed in the cleaner body. The path switching apparatus includes an actuator, a rotary valve which pivotally rotates when the actuator operates, and a valve housing in which the rotary valve is built, wherein the rotary valve is curvedly formed so that the rotary valve forms a duct along with an inner circumferential surface of the valve housing to select a first path or a second path.
US08453289B2 Gutter cleaning robot
A gutter cleaning robot can traverse rain gutters to agitate and remove debris. The gutter cleaning robot is equipped with a debris auger at a front end that contacts and ejects the debris, and has a drive system for propelling the gutter cleaning robot along the rain gutter. The debris auger can include a spiral screw or various other forms of auger, and may be interchangeable by the user so as to enhance the effectiveness of the gutter cleaning robot in various environments or modes of operation.
US08453285B2 Vibrating toothbrush and a replaceable brush head for use with the same
A vibrating toothbrush comprising a handle including a body with a tubular member extending outwardly from one end. A replaceable sleeve slides over the tubular member and detachably engages the body. One or more of the sleeve, tubular member and body incorporates a vibration damping zone for reducing vibration transmission from the sleeve to the handle. The damping zone is one of a material that differs in damping properties to the material of the rest of the toothbrush; a hole defined in the one of the sleeve, tubular member and body, and a toothbrush where that hole is filled with an elastomeric material.
US08453284B2 Swimming pool cleaner
A suction powered swimming pool cleaner connected to the filtration pump by a hose of varying length according to the size of the pool that need be cleaned. Unit comprises of a interruption type valve member moving forward in a stepwise manner thereby cleaning the pool surface. Valve oscillation and debris controlled by means of a flow-control-debris-diverter with aided waterbuffer technology for quiet operation.
US08453278B2 Infant support structure with accessibility feature
The present invention relates to an infant support structure. In particular, the present invention relates to an infant support structure with a movable portion that facilitates access to a particular area or portion of the infant support structure.
US08453276B2 Patient positioning device
A patient positioning device for restoring a patient to a desired position in a hospital bed. An example patient positioning device may include a flexible track positioned along each of the lateral edges of a sleep surface and extending substantially the entire length of the sleep surface, a sheet including beaded edges for slidably engaging the tracks such that the sheet spans between the first track and the second track on the sleep surface, and/or a drive mechanism located proximate a head end of the sleep surface and configured to pull the sheet towards the head end of the bed.
US08453269B2 Strap attachment for a sports helmet
A strap attachment for a helmet with a chin strap, a male quarter turn fastening member, a female quarter turn fastening member, a female fastening member cover plate and a polyfoam padding block. The chin strap has a plurality of apertures. The male fastening member has a dome shaped top portion and a centrally located post attached to its underside. The dome shape is trimmed inwardly creating a secure finger gripping location. The post terminates in an arrow shape. The female fastening member is attached to the inside wall of the sports helmet. The helmet wall has an aperture aligning with the male and female fastening member location. The cover plate placed over the female fastening member. The padding block covers the female fastening member cover. The male fastening member inserted into the female member and turned ninety degrees to lock the two fasteners together.
US08453263B2 System to improve swinging motion
A shirt for improving a swinging motion of a user wearing the shirt includes front and rear panels each having corresponding top, bottom and generally opposing side edges, wherein the front and rear panels are adjoined to each other by the top and side edges, defining an interior space of the shirt. The front and rear panels include sleeve cutouts formed on each side edge adjacent the top edge, and a neck cutout formed on the top edges of the front and rear panels. At least one tubular sleeve is permanently joined to the front and rear panels of at least one of the sleeve cutouts, the tubular sleeve defining an inside area, the inside area being fluidly connected to the interior space of the shirt. A member is substantially adjacent to the sleeve cutout and the side edges of both the front and rear panels.
US08458811B2 Micro/nano devices fabricated from Cu-Hf thin films
An all-metal microdevice or nanodevice such as an atomic force microscope probe is manufactured from a copper-hafnium alloy thin film having an x-ray amorphous microstructure.
US08458808B2 Premium access to open application programming interface systems and methods
A method and system for granting premium access to a service application stored within a service provider (SP) computer system through an open API platform is provided. The method includes receiving a request for premium access to the service application from a developer of a developer application wherein the developer application is configured to request data from the service application, assigning a production key to the developer application, sending an electronic message to a service owner (SO) associated with the service application requesting premium access to the service application, granting premium access to the service application by the SO for the developer application, updating the production key at the open API platform to include premium access to the service application, and notifying the developer of the granting of the premium access to the service application for the developer application.
US08458807B2 Image processing apparatus and copy machine control method
An image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus capable of reading a security paper document that has a ground design pattern and performing image processing, and is provided with: a second modification processing unit that visualizes a latent image included in the ground design pattern; a first modification processing unit that performs a modification process so that the latent image included in the ground design pattern is not visualized; a CPU that performs authentication regarding whether or not a user of the security paper document is an authorized user; and a CPU that performs control so that the first modification processing unit performs modification processing and the latent image is not visualized, or performs control so that the latent image is not visualized by the second modification processing unit, in the case where the user has been authenticated as an authorized user of the security paper document.
US08458803B2 Global account lockout (GAL) and expiration using an ordered message service (OMS)
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Global Account Lockout (GAL) using an Ordered Messaging Service (OMS) is presented. A database operation is received from a client, and a determination made regarding whether the operation contains an authentication mechanism. When the operation does not contain an authentication mechanism, then the operation is returned from. When the operation does contain an authentication mechanism, then the following steps are performed: locating the entry and checking its authentication mechanism, determining whether the authentication mechanism in the operation is good, sending a bind message to a GAL manager, checking and updating GAL state, committing updates to GAL state, and returning operation to the client.
US08458801B2 High-assurance secure boot content protection
A method and apparatus for high assurance boot processing is disclosed. A trusted processor is used to authenticate a trusted boot program and in conjunction with a selector, to provide the authenticated boot program to a boot memory where it can be accessed by a main processor to execute the bootup sequence. The trusted processor also provides a command for the main processor to write a data sequence to a hard drive or similar device, and monitors the data written by the main processor to verify that the data has not been tampered with or otherwise compromised.
US08458798B2 Detection of vulnerabilities in computer systems
Systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer program products, for detecting a presence of at least one vulnerability in an application. The method is provided that includes modifying instructions of the application to include at least one sensor that is configurable to generate an event indicator, wherein the event indicator includes at least some data associated with the event; storing the event indicator with other stored event indicators generated by the at least one sensor during the execution of the application; analyzing the stored event indicators; detecting a presence of at least one vulnerability in the application based on the analysis of the stored event indicators; and reporting the presence of at least one vulnerability.
US08458794B1 System, method, and computer program product for determining whether a hook is associated with potentially unwanted activity
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining whether a hook is associated with potentially unwanted activity. In use, a hook is identified in a data section or a code section. Additionally, a first enumeration of objects associated with the data section or the code section is performed, and a second enumeration of objects associated with the data section or the code section is performed. Further, results of the first enumeration and results of the second enumeration are compared for determining whether the hook is associated with potentially unwanted activity.
US08458788B2 System and method for authentication of input devices
Systems and methods are provided for authenticating an input device subsystem for operation with a host. One method includes storing a table comprising challenges and a plurality of values indicative of authentic responses to the plurality of challenges. A selected challenge is then communicated between the input device subsystem and the host. A challenge response is derived based on the selected challenge and a hashing algorithm, and the challenge response is communicated between the input device subsystem and the host. The challenge response and one or more of the values is used to determine whether the challenge response is authentic. Functionality of the input device subsystem with the host is selectively enabled if the challenge response is authentic.
US08458782B2 Authenticated session replication
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive, at an authentication agent in a first local area network (LAN), a virtual proxy authentication identification from a virtual proxy serving as a single point of trust for a second LAN across a wide area network. The virtual proxy authentication identification may be included in a modified session message originated within the second LAN. As a result, the apparatus, systems, and methods can operate to transmit content associated with the modified session message to a first plurality of individual proxy modules in the first LAN. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08458781B2 Method and apparatus for token-based attribute aggregation
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may store a plurality of tokens. The apparatus may receive a subject token indicating an attempt to authenticate a user. The apparatus may determine at least one token-based rule based at least in part upon a token in the plurality of tokens and the subject token. The at least one token-based rule may indicate a plurality of attributes required to access a resource. The apparatus may determine a second plurality of attributes represented by the plurality of tokens and the subject token. The apparatus may determine at least one missing attribute, which may be in the plurality of attributes but not in the second plurality of attributes. The apparatus may then request the at least one missing attribute, and in response, receive at least one token representing the at least one missing attribute.
US08458779B2 System and method for handling personal identification information
A system, method, and client registration and verification device for handling personal identification information. The client device collects from an individual, a sufficient amount of biometric information to uniquely identify the individual, as well as historical mobility information providing a history of locations where the individual has lived. A caching manager stores the collected biometric information at a selected cache node in a hierarchical database having a plurality of cache nodes at multiple levels of the database. The caching manager selects the cache node based on the historical mobility information collected from the individual. The client device sends subsequent requests to verify the identity of the individual to a local cache node where newly input biometric information is compared with the cached information. When the individual's biometric information is not stored in the local cache node, the request is forwarded upward in the database until the cached information is found and compared.
US08458767B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enhanced service detection and policy rule determination
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enhanced service detection and policy rule determination are disclosed. According to one method, a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node requests, from a deep packet inspection (DPI) node notification of detection of traffic relating to a service. The DPI node identifies at least one traffic classifier usable to detect traffic corresponding to the service, uses the traffic classifier to detect traffic corresponding to the service, and notifies the PCRF of the detection and of the traffic classifier. The PCRF node receives the at least one traffic classifier, determines a policy rule based on the at least one traffic classifier, and communicates the policy rule to a policy enforcement node.
US08458764B2 Serialization of XACML policies
A computer implemented access control system, the system includes a database for storing a serialized version of an XACML permissions hierarchy. The system also includes a memory for storing an original version of the XACML permissions hierarchy, and an XACML serialization engine configured to convert the XACML permissions hierarchy into the serialized version, wherein the serialized version contains a listing of at least a portion of the predicates possible in the XACML permission hierarchy and the effect on each of the portion of the predicates.
US08458762B2 Program replacing method
A program replacing method and apparatus replaces a program in a broadcast receiving terminal apparatus. A first program is registered so that message transmission is enabled between the first program and a POD (Point of Deployment), the first program having an identifier identifying a program type of the first program. If a second program exists in a broadcast receiving terminal apparatus, the second program is notified that message transmission between the second program and the POD is to be terminated. The method receives approval for terminating the message transmission between the second program and the POD, from the second program, terminates the message transmission between the second program and the POD, and notifies the first program that message transmission between the first program and the POD has been enabled.
US08458757B2 Method and system for region-based monitoring of video assets
A method and system for monitoring video assets provided by a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes an expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) configured to emulate MCDN client systems at a facility of an MCDN service provider. The ETMP may be used to test monitor MCDN performance by acquiring a baseband video signal and performing a test operation including at least one check point condition. The check point condition may be associated with a masked region of the video signal and may also involve a test of an audio channel. A plurality of test operations and/or check point conditions may be defined and executed on the baseband video signal, while the results of the test operation may be logged.
US08458755B2 System for the delivery and dynamic presentation of large media assets over bandwidth constrained networks
Media content, based on a predetermined set of constraints, from a content provider is delivered to a local cache of a user device before viewing the media. A client asset manager process resides in the user device, an asset list at the content provider site, and the media assets are located at a remote site.
US08458746B2 Meta channel caching and instant viewing related technology
Caching related technology, in which a time needed to begin rendering network-based video content without caching a decoded version of the content is determined and, the determined time to begin rendering the network-based video content is compared to a threshold time. When the determined time to begin rendering the network-based video content exceeds the threshold time, an initial portion of the network-based video content is pre-transcoded to a faster video codec format, and the pre-transcoded initial portion of the network-based video content is stored in electronic storage associated with a media system of a user.
US08458744B2 Method for reducing channel change times and synchronizing audio/video content during channel change
A digital A/V apparatus provides reduced channel changes times and maintains synchronization between audio and video content during a channel change event. According to an exemplary embodiment, the digital A/V apparatus includes at least one signal receiver for receiving a first audio stream, a first video stream and a second video stream, wherein the first and second video streams represent the same program and the first video stream has at least one characteristic different from the second video stream; a first audio signal processor for processing the first audio stream to generate a first processed audio stream; a first video signal processor for processing the first video stream to generate a first processed video stream; a second video signal processor for processing the second video stream to generate a second processed video stream having a delay with respect to the first processed video stream; a first buffer for buffering the first processed audio stream to provide de-jittering; a renderer for rendering the first processed audio stream and the second processed video stream in response to a channel change command; a switch for switching from the second processed video stream to the first processed video stream after the renderer begins rendering the second processed video stream, and thereby causing the renderer to begin rendering the first processed video stream; and whereby synchronization between the first processed audio stream and the first processed video stream is maintained during a channel change event.
US08458732B2 Inmate information center for correctional facility processing
A platform application and methods of operation that integrate both native and third-party modules into an integrated environment on an inmate computing device is disclosed. Third-party modules or systems are applications meant to operate independent from the platform application. Information is communicated between the platform application and third-party module or system to add audit, alarm and other functions across all modules or systems controlled by the platform software. The third-party module or system is audited to allow triggering of rules that cause remedial action to be taken. Triggers can be on actions not monitored by a particular third-party module or system.
US08458730B2 Multi-level driver configuration
A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided in which the Operating System (OS) driver is divided into two parts, viz. an upper level OS driver and a lower level OS driver. The lower level OS driver sets up the adapter hardware and any adapter hardware work-around. The upper level OS driver is interfaced to the OS communication stack and each can be compiled separately. The upper OS driver is compiled and shipped with the OS to make sure it is compatible with the OS communication stack. The lower OS driver, in an exemplary embodiment, is compiled and stored in an adapter flash memory. The OS dynamically combines the upper and lower OS drivers together during the load time.
US08458727B2 Asynchronous client to server updates
Methods and apparatus are provided which enable client-server communication during the execution of a web application to be batched, so as to manage the processing load on server-side components of the web application and the transmission load on the network(s) coupling the client and server. In some embodiments, client-side components of the web application are operable to capture processing events in a change log on the client, and transmit at least a subset of the entries in the change log to the server upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, such as a passage of time since a previous transmission.
US08458724B2 Automatic mutual exclusion
An automatic mutual exclusion computer programming system is disclosed which allows a programmer to produce concurrent programming code that is synchronized by default without the need to write any synchronization code. The programmer creates asynchronous methods which are not permitted make changes to shared memory that they cannot reverse, and can execute concurrently with other asynchronous methods. Changes to shared memory are committed if no other thread has accessed shared memory while the asynchronous method executed. Changes are reversed and the asynchronous method is re-executed if another thread has made changes to shared memory. The resulting program executes in a serialized order. A blocking system method is disclosed which causes the asynchronous method to re-execute until the blocking method's predicate results in an appropriate value. A yield system call is disclosed which divides asynchronous methods into atomic fragments. When a yield method call is made, shared memory changes are committed if possible or reversed and the atomic fragment is re-executed.
US08458723B1 Computer methods for business process management execution and systems thereof
In one embodiment, the instant invention includes a method of executing computer instructions having steps of: a) receiving, by a first computer, an instruction to perform a task b) executing each thread of a process, corresponding to the task, to time stop point when each thread requires data from a second computer system; maintaining a data structure that identifies a state information of each thread at the time stop point, and ii) whenever each thread reaches its own stop point, each thread gives up its execution in favor of an execution of another thread; c) requesting, from the second computer system, the data needed to continue the execution of the process; d) receiving, from the second computer system, the requested data; and e) resuming the execution of the process based on the state information for each thread stored in the data structure at the time stop point.
US08458721B2 System and method for implementing hierarchical queue-based locks using flat combining
The system and methods described herein may be used to implement a scalable, hierarchal, queue-based lock using flat combining. A thread executing on a processor core in a cluster of cores that share a memory may post a request to acquire a shared lock in a node of a publication list for the cluster using a non-atomic operation. A combiner thread may build an ordered (logical) local request queue that includes its own node and nodes of other threads (in the cluster) that include lock requests. The combiner thread may splice the local request queue into a (logical) global request queue for the shared lock as a sub-queue. A thread whose request has been posted in a node that has been combined into a local sub-queue and spliced into the global request queue may spin on a lock ownership indicator in its node until it is granted the shared lock.
US08458714B2 Method, system and program products for managing logical processors of a computing environment
The configuration of the logical processors of a logical partition is managed dynamically. A logical partition is initially configured with one or more logical processors. Thereafter, the configuration can be dynamically adjusted. This dynamic adjustment may be in response to workload of the logical partition.
US08458706B2 Methods and apparatus for parallel pipelining and width processing and configured to process a multiple task processes apportioned a different section of memory
A computer apparatus is provided for use with a database management system. The computer apparatus is instructed to carry out a first task and a second task in series on a section of data, by: (a) instructing the first task process to begin the first task on a first part of the section of data in the database, and (b) after the first task process on the first part of the section of the data is complete, instructing the first task process to carry out the second task on the first part of the section of data on which the first task has already been carried out, or carry out the first task on the second part of the data, or pipeline the second task to a third task process, or carry out the first task on a second part of the section of data.
US08458705B2 Method and apparatus for preventing the omission and repeated execution of schedule information due to a time change
Provided is a method and apparatus for managing a schedule of a terminal based on a local time. It is possible to prevent schedule information from a schedule of a terminal from being repeatedly processed or from being missed, when the local time changes due to the movement of the terminal into another time zone or due to daylight saving time. It is also possible to manage a schedule by determining if the schedule has changed during a period between a time before the change and the changed time.
US08458689B2 Method and apparatus for reprogramming engine controllers
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for altering the software of engine controllers. The method comprises determining a version of the current software in the engine controller, identifying one or more data blocks of upgraded software associated with the current software and replacing portions of the current software with the data blocks of upgraded software. The apparatus comprises an interface, a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to determine the version of the current software in the engine controller and replace one or more data blocks of the current software with one or more data blocks of upgraded software stored in the memory.
US08458687B1 Assisting a basic input/output system
In one or more embodiments, system(s), method(s), integrated circuit(s), physical layer(s), apparatus(es), System-on-Chip (SoC), various other hardware, computer-readable and/or executable instructions, and/or technique(s) are described that assist a host BIOS, such as by offloading operations from the host BIOS to a remote entity. By so doing, a BIOS's resources may be conserved or more complex or resource-intensive tasks may be performed than may otherwise be possible for some traditional BIOS.
US08458680B2 Systems and methods for dynamically choosing a processing element for a compute kernel
A runtime system implemented in accordance with the present invention provides an application platform for parallel-processing computer systems. Such a runtime system enables users to leverage the computational power of parallel-processing computer systems to accelerate/optimize numeric and array-intensive computations in their application programs. This enables greatly increased performance of high-performance computing (HPC) applications.
US08458678B2 Compiler supporting programs as data objects
A compiler supporting a language in which selected semantic objects are represented as data objects. The data objects may be used in multiple ways to expand the capabilities of the programming language. Data objects may be passed to applications and used to create executable instructions for that application. In this way, instructions written in the native language of the compiler may be used to control applications that accept programs in a language inconsistent with the native language of the compiler. The syntax checking and variable binding capabilities of the compiler may be used for those instructions that will be executed by an application separate from the object code generated by the compiler. The semantic objects represented as data objects may be selected based on express operations included in the source code or may be based on implicit type conversion.
US08458676B2 Executing platform-independent code on multi-core heterogeneous processors
A virtual machine can be extended to be aware of secondary cores and specific capabilities of the secondary cores. If a unit of platform-independent code (e.g., a function, a method, a package, a library, etc.) is more suitable to be run on a secondary core, the primary core can package the unit of platform-independent code (“code unit”) and associated data according to the ISA of the secondary core. The primary core can then offload the code unit to an interpreter associated with the secondary core to execute the code unit.
US08458674B2 Method and apparatus for handling exceptions during binding to native code
A target computing system performs program code conversion from subject code, executable by a subject computing architecture, into target code executable by the target computing system, and then executes the target code. The target system handles exceptions during binding to native code. Native code binding executes a portion of native code in place of translating a portion of the subject code into the target code. Upon an exception during execution of the portion of native code, the target system saves a target state representing a current point of execution for the portion of native code, and creates a subject state representing an emulated point of execution in the subject architecture. A subject exception handler handles the exception with reference to the subject state. Upon resuming execution from the exception using the subject state, the saved target state is restored to resume execution in the section of portion of native code.
US08458673B2 Computer-implemented method and system for binding digital rights management executable code to a software application
A computer-implemented method and system for binding digital rights management executable code to a software application are disclosed. The method and system include selecting a memory page of host application code, translating the contents of the selected memory page of host application code, saving the translated contents of the selected memory page into a stub code area, overwriting the selected memory page of host application code; removing host page permission for execution of code in the selected memory page of host application code, and emulating the translated contents of the selected memory page when an exception is raised as a result of attempted access to the selected memory page of host application code.
US08458669B2 Automated test system
A mechanism is provide for optimizing an automated test system during a problem determination phase of the test system in a distributed environment. A centralized execution controller receives first test suite comprising at least a first and second test fragment. The centralized execution controller receives at least one breakpoint definition comprising a condition for pausing the first test suite. The centralized execution controller sends the first test fragment and an execution command of the first test fragment to the distributed environment. The centralized execution controller receives an event definition and a hierarchy of event definitions describing the executed command. The centralized execution controller compares the at least one breakpoint description to the received event definition. The centralized execution controller pauses the test suite execution if the executed event definition matches one of the at least one breakpoint definition.
US08458667B2 Debugging a statechart for a real time target
System and method for debugging a statechart on a target device. The statechart may be created or displayed on a display and may include a plurality of state icons connected by wires. One or more debugging operations may be specified for the statechart. The statechart may be executed on the target device. The target device may provide debugging information to a computer during execution of the statechart. The debugging information may be displayed on the computer and may be usable to aid in debugging the statechart.
US08458665B2 Debugger with audiation
A method and computer program product are provided for audiating the occurrence of debugger events within a software debugger. The method begins by assigning a sound characteristic to a debugger event occurring within a software program under debug. Next, the audiation of the sound characteristic associated with the event is optimized to maximize performance of the debugger. Finally, the optimized sound characteristic associated with the event is played upon the occurrence of the event.
US08458664B2 Command line interface permutation executor
A method according to one embodiment includes receiving a command dataset of command data; generating command permutations using the command data; sequentially inputting the command permutations to a command line interface of an application; receiving results of execution of the command permutations; generating a log of at least one of the results and a derivative thereof; and storing the log on a data storage device or medium.
US08458661B2 Distributed parallel build system
This document describes, among other things, systems and methods for managing distributed parallel builds. A computer-implemented method to manage parallel builds, comprises identifying one or more software components in a software project, wherein each software component includes an executable binary file; determining a build configuration for each software component, wherein the build configuration includes a mapping from each software component to one or more build servers; and building each software component using the mapped one or more build servers in the corresponding build configuration, wherein the building includes compiling one or more source files associated with each software component to one or more object files, by distributing the one or more source files to one or more compilation machines.
US08458657B2 Documentation roadmaps and community networking for developers on large projects
A version control system includes a mechanism for a learning roadmap based on information available from a source repository. More particularly, the mechanism generates an easily understandable timeline of a project and a directory of developers based on information available in the version control system that contains the source content of a project. The timeline for the project may be tied to the directory of developers. Under each date in the timeline, a list of developers and their roles and commits may be listed.
US08458640B2 Routing using a dynamic grid
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that routes connections in an integrated circuit (IC) chip design. The system includes a representation mechanism which is configured to represent routing resources in the IC chip design as a 3-dimensional (3D) grid. This 3D grid further includes: static grid lines which do not change while the system routes the connections; and dynamic grid lines which are created for routing a connection that includes pins which are not located on a static grid line. Note that the dynamic grid lines can be removed after the connection is routed. The system also includes a search engine which is configured to search for a path in the 3D grid between a first set of vertices and a second set of vertices.
US08458634B2 Latch clustering with proximity to local clock buffers
A method, system, and computer usable program product for latch clustering with proximity to local clock buffers (LCBs) where an algorithm is used to cluster a plurality of latches into a first plurality of groups in an integrated circuit. A number of groups in the first plurality of groups of clustered latches is determined. A plurality of LCBs are added where a number of added LCBs is the same as the number of groups in the first plurality of groups. A cluster radius for a subset of the first plurality of groups of clustered latches is determined, a group in the subset having a cluster radius that is a maximum cluster radius in the subset. The plurality of latches are reclustered into a second plurality of groups responsive to the maximum cluster radius exceeding a radius threshold, the second plurality of groups exceeding the first plurality of groups by one.
US08458633B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit design apparatus and method for analyzing a delay in a semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit design apparatus for analyzing a delay in a semiconductor integrated circuit. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a delay analysis unit, a noise generation unit, a voltage fluctuation level analysis unit and a timing verification unit. The noise generation unit generates noise information based on a predetermined noise definition and the voltage fluctuation level analysis unit analyzes a voltage fluctuation level of the semiconductor integrated circuit when the noise is applied based on the generated noise information. Further, the timing verification unit makes the delay analysis unit analyze the static delay based on the analyzed voltage fluctuation level, to verify timing for operation of the semiconductor integrated circuit based on a result of the static delay analysis.
US08458630B1 Supporting dynamic aspects of polymorphism in high-level synthesis of integrated circuit designs
A method for integrated circuit design is disclosed including determining if at least one dynamic class and at least one virtual function are present within a chip program description of an integrated circuit design; and if so then converting the at least one virtual function into a non-virtual function, generating at least one virtual pointer for the at least one dynamic class, converting at least one function calling the at least one virtual function into at least one conditional function responsive to a value of the at least one virtual pointer, and generating dataflow graphs of the at least one dynamic class and the at least one conditional function that can be transformed into a synthesizable design description of the integrated circuit design.
US08458623B1 Mitigation of mask defects by pattern shifting
An image of a mask pattern is overlaid on an image of a mask blank annotated with the center location and dimensions of each measured mask defect. Design clips centered at the measured defects are generated with lateral dimensions less than allowable movement of the mask pattern over the mask blank. Each design clip is converted into a binary image including pixels corresponding to defect-activating regions and pixels corresponding to defect-hiding regions. Each pixel region representing the defect-activating region is expanded by laterally biasing peripheries by one half of the lateral extent of the defect located within the corresponding design clip. Biased design clips are logically compiled pixel by pixel to determine an optimal pattern shift vector representing the amount of pattern shift.
US08458622B2 Photo-mask acceptance technique
A technique for calculating a second aerial image associated with a photo-mask that can be used to determine whether or not the photo-mask (which may include defects) is acceptable for use in a photolithographic process is described. In particular, using a first aerial image produced by the photo-mask when illuminated using a source pattern and an inspection image of the photo-mask, a mask pattern corresponding to the photo-mask is determined. For example, the first aerial image may be obtained using an aerial image measurement system, and the inspection image may be a critical-dimension scanning-electron-microscope image of the photo-mask. This image, which has a higher resolution than the first aerial image, may indicate spatial-variations of a magnitude of the transmittance of the photo-mask. Then, the second aerial image may be calculated based on the determined mask pattern using a different source pattern than the source pattern.
US08458615B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing folders
A multifunction device displays a plurality of selectable user interface objects on the display. In response to detecting the first input, the device moves a first object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects across the display to a location on the display that is proximate to a second object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects. In response to detecting that the first input meets predefined folder-creation criteria while the first object is proximate to the second object, the device creates a folder that contains the first object and the second object.
US08458611B2 Displaying a map on a handheld wireless telecommunication device
Tickers are populated with location-based information that is selected according to the geographic location of communication devices. The location of a communication device is identified based on a GPS system, proximity to transmitters in a wireless network, user input, or using other techniques. Location-appropriate content is obtained either in real-time from the network or from a local data store at the communication device. In general location-based, context-aware content can be displayed on tickers associated with a variety of communication devices, including mobile communication devices and “immobile” or stationary personal computers. When a ticker item is selected from the ticker, a location associated with the selected ticker item and/or a location of the communication device is used to generate a map that is displayed on the display of the device to the user.
US08458609B2 Multi-context service
A multi-context service is described. In embodiments, a first input on a touch-screen of a portable device is detected as a selection of an object icon displayed on the touch-screen. A second input on the touch-screen is detected as a selection of an application icon displayed on the touch-screen. The object icon is associated with a content object, and the application icon is associated with a command provider that performs one or more actions on the content object. The content object is associated with the command provider to initiate the command provider to perform at least one of the actions on the content object based on the content object being associated with the command provider.
US08458607B2 Declarative method for handling defaults
According to various embodiments, methods, systems, and configuration applications for handling defaults and/or choices in a product configuration are provided. An exemplary method of handling defaults in a product configuration comprises presenting a product configuration to a user via a user interface. The method further comprises receiving a selection from the user of a configuration option via the user interface. The method further comprises determining, using a configuration engine implemented using instructions stored on one or more non-transitory computer-readable media and executable by one or more processors, at least one set of conflicting choices relating to a conflict resulting from the user selection of the configuration option and one or more constraints of the product configuration. The set of conflicting choices includes choices directly contributing to the conflict such that dropping any choice will resolve the conflict. The method further comprises determining, using the configuration engine, a strength level associated with each default selection in the minimal set of conflicting choices. The strength level of each default selection is based on an authority associated with a source of the default selection. The method further comprises determining, using the configuration engine, a default selection to drop based on its strength level. The method further comprises dropping, using the configuration engine, the determined default selection.
US08458605B2 Image file as container for widgets in GUI authoring tool
A method for authoring a graphical user interface (GUI) includes providing a widget builder interface for editing a template widget and receiving user input of widget properties for the template widget. The widget properties including a widget type, one or more widget parameters, and one or more images. The method further includes saving the widget properties and the one or more images into a widget file conforming to a standard image file format.
US08458603B2 Contextual templates for modifying objects in a virtual universe
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for modifying object styles in a virtual universe. An object is rendered in accordance with a first contextual style template from a plurality of contextual style templates. The first contextual style template comprises first geometric and texture data to display the object with a first style. In response to detecting a set of contextual changes associated with the object, a second contextual style template is identified from the plurality of contextual style templates. The set of contextual changes triggers implementation of the second contextual style template to change the first style of the object to a second style. The object is rendered in accordance with second geometric and texture data in the second contextual style template to form a modified object, wherein the modified object is displayed with the second style.
US08458599B2 Multi-user interactive web-based searches
A method for multiple users to jointly interact with web-based search results is provided. Selections of the search results by a user are immediately communicated to other users. Viewing options may be customized on a per-user basis for greater individual control over viewing the results. Results may be further acted upon to complete transactions. Individual results are easily referenced in chat windows. Status of query and transactions are communicated to all users.
US08458593B2 Method and apparatus for modifying attributes of media items in a media editing application
Some embodiments of the invention provide novel methods for editing the value of an attribute of a media item (e.g., a media content or a media operation) for a media editing application. Such attributes of a media item can include scale, rotation, opacity, pan, volume, etc. In some embodiments, a media editing application represents the changing value of such an attribute over a duration (e.g., a duration of time, a duration of frequencies, etc.) as a key-indexed geometry. A user of the media editing application can manipulate these geometries to change the attribute value over a duration. Such geometries may include graphs and shapes. For such applications, some embodiments provide novel compressed geometric representations (i.e., collapsed views) of one or more uncompressed key-indexed geometries (e.g., graphs or shapes). Additionally, other embodiments provide a novel method for editing the value of one or more attribute directly in a preview display area used to view the composite presentation created in the media editing application.
US08458580B2 Magnetic disc controller and method
A magnetic disk controller includes an error check code generating unit that generates error check codes associated with the encoded pieces of writing data; a first buffer that stores a first encoded piece of writing data and a first error check code associated with the first encoded piece; a second buffer that stores a second encoded piece of writing data and a second error check code associated with the second encoded piece; and a buffer control unit that, in a first period, substantially concurrently with a writing of the first encoded piece and the first error check code from the first buffer into a first sector of the magnetic disk, stores the second encoded piece and the second error check code into the second buffer.
US08458577B2 Encoder, decoder, encoding method, and decoding method
There is provided an encoder that provides a termination sequence with a simple structure for LDPC-CC encoding and reduces an amount of the termination sequence transmitted to a transmission line. The LDPC-CC encoder (200) connects a first encoder (230) to a second encoder (240) to perform encoding and thereby carry out LDPC-CC encoding, the first encoder (230) performing encoding based on an partial parity check matrix for information bits (110) obtained by extracting a sequence corresponding to the information bits in a parity check matrix (100) and the second encoder (240) performing encoding based on a partial parity check matrix for parity bits (120) obtained by extracting a sequence corresponding to the parity bits in the parity check matrix (100). A termination sequence generator (210) generates a termination sequence including the same number of bits as the memory length of the first encoder (230) and provides the generated termination sequence as an input sequence.
US08458568B2 Systems and methods for memory devices
A method for writing data to a memory array includes receiving a write request including data from a processor, compressing the data, assigning a page strength to the compressed data, the page strength defined by a compression ratio used to compress the data, generating a parity data block associated with the compressed data, and saving the compressed data and the parity data block in a page of the memory array, the page of the memory array having a page strength corresponding to the assigned page strength of the compressed data.
US08458564B2 Programming management data for a memory
Methods, apparatus, systems, and data structures may operate to combine block management data with a portion of data, to generate error correction data for the combined portion, and to store the data, the block management data, the error correction data for the combined portion, and error correction data for the data in a memory. Methods, apparatus, systems, and data structures may operate to generate or store error correction data for each of a plurality of sectors of a page except for a particular sector in the page and combine block management data with the particular sector to generate a modified sector. Additionally, various methods, apparatus, systems, and data structures may operate to generate or store error correction data for the modified sector and combine the plurality of sectors, the error correction data for each of the plurality of sectors other than the particular page, and the block management data and the error correction data for the modified sector.
US08458563B2 Reading a flash memory by joint decoding and cell voltage distribution tracking
To read a plurality of memory cells, each cell is assigned to a respective cell population. A respective value of an operational parameter of each cell is measured. Each cell is assigned an a-priori metric based at least in part on one or more CVD parameter values of the cell's population. The a-priori metrics are decoded. Based at least in part on the resulting a-posteriori metrics, the CVD parameter values are corrected, without repeating the measurements of the cell operational parameter values. The operational parameter values are indicative of bit patterns stored in the cells, and the correction of the CVD parameter values is constrained by requiring the bit patterns collectively to be a valid codeword.
US08458549B2 Data transmission method, data reception method, mobile terminal and radio communication system
A data transmission method according to the present invention includes the steps of: (A) adding a first CRC code to transmission data; (B) dividing the transmission data to which the first CRC code has been added into a plurality of encoded bit sequences; (C) adding a second CRC code to at least one of the divided encoded bit sequences; (D) performing error correction encoding processing on the encoded bit sequences; and (E) transmitting the encoded bit sequences on which the error correction encoding processing has been performed.
US08458548B2 Adaptive H-ARQ using outage capacity optimization
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a data packet comprising a first number of bits encoded over a first number of symbols is transmitted to a receiver. If the receiver did not successfully decode the data packet, a negative acknowledgment message is received along with metric information for the transmission. The data packet encoded with a varying number of symbols and transmitted to the receiver, wherein the varying number of symbols is a function of the metric information for the first transmission.
US08458544B2 Multiple-capture DFT system to reduce peak capture power during self-test or scan test
A method for providing ordered capture clocks to detect or locate faults within N clock domains and faults crossing any two clock domains in an integrated circuit or circuit assembly in scan-test or self-test mode, where N>1, includes the steps of: (a) generating and shifting-in N test stimuli to all scan cells within the N clock domains during a shift-in operation; (b) applying an ordered sequence of capture clocks to all scan cells within the N clock domains, the ordered sequence of capture clocks including a plurality of capture clock pulses from two or more selected capture clocks placed in a sequential order such that all clock domains are never triggered simultaneously during a capture operation; and (c) analyzing output responses of all scan cells to locate any faults therein.
US08458536B2 Data recovery in solid state memory devices
Embodiments herein provide data recovery techniques and configurations for solid state memory devices. For example, a method includes identifying a hard error associated with a cell of a solid state memory device, providing a location of the cell having the identified hard error to a decoder to recover data originally programmed to the cell, and recovering the data originally programmed to the cell using the decoder. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08458528B1 Comprehensive end-to-end storage area network (SAN) application transport service
Disclosed is a method and system for transmitting data on a data channel from a source to a destination. The data channel has a plurality of wavelength channels and a throughput. The system and method include a storage application for multicasting data on each of the plurality of wavelength channels, a storage protocol extension device using buffer credits to adjust the throughput during the multicasting, and an application optimization device for managing data channel latency to achieve asymmetric mirroring behavior at the same time as the multicasting.
US08458526B2 Data storage device tester
A data storage device (DSD) tester for testing a DSD is disclosed. The DSD tester comprises control circuitry operable to receive a DSD log from the DSD, wherein the DSD log comprises at least one entry identifying at least one error condition. A sequence of commands associated with the error condition is executed in order to determine whether the DSD is defective.
US08458520B2 Apparatus and method for verifying training data using machine learning
An apparatus for verifying training data using machine learning includes: a training data separation unit for separating provided initial training data into N training data and N verification data, where N is a natural number; a machine learning unit for performing machine learning on the separated training data to generate a training model; an automatic tagging unit for automatically tagging an original text of the verification data using the generated training model to provide automatic tagging results; and an error determination unit for comparing the verification data to the automatic tagging results to determine error candidates of the training data.
US08458519B2 Diagnostic data set component
Various embodiments for retaining diagnostic information for data in a computing storage environment are provided. In one such embodiment, a diagnostic component associated with a base data set via a catalog association record is initialized. The diagnostic component configured to retain base data set-specific diagnostic information retrievable by the computing storage environment to assist in error diagnosis.
US08458513B2 Efficient failure recovery in a distributed data storage system
A method is provided for efficiently recovering information in a distributed storage system where a list of values that should be stored on a storage device is maintained. A first convergence round is scheduled to be performed on the list of values to bring each value to an At Maximum Redundancy (AMR) state. A second convergence round is scheduled to be performed on the list by selecting a wait time interval from a predefined range of wait time intervals between starts of convergence rounds.
US08458512B2 Variable-length data storing method and variable-length data storing device
In order to enable a rewrite of stored data to be omitted and to reduce a processing time of error concealment even if an error is detected in a process for sequentially storing variable-length data in a memory and the rewrite of the stored data is necessary, variable-length data from which an error is not detected is sequentially stored at and after a predetermined position in the memory, and error information that includes a restoration address that corresponds to an area in which variable-length data from which an error is detected is to be stored and that specifies variable-length data stored earliest in the memory from among data to be replaced with error concealment data is stored at a position preceding the predetermined position, when the error is detected.
US08458510B2 LPAR creation and repair for automated error recovery
Various embodiments for automated error recovery in a computing storage environment by a processor device are provided. In one embodiment, pursuant to performing one of creating a new and rebuilding an existing logical partition (LPAR) operable in the computing storage environment by a hardware management console (HMC) in communication with the LPAR, at least one failure scenario is evaluated by identifying error code. If a failure is caused by an operation of the HMC and a malfunction of a current network connection, a cleanup operation is performed on at least a portion of a current HMC configuration, an alternative network connection to the current network connection is made, and a retry operation is performed.
US08458509B1 Multipath failover
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for processing data. In some embodiments, this includes detecting a faulty interface, removing outstanding jobs from the faulty interface, distributing the outstanding jobs to other interfaces. In some embodiments, distributing the outstanding jobs includes distributing a first outstanding job to a first lowest counter interface. In some embodiments, a second outstanding job is distributed to a second lowest counter interface.
US08458507B2 Bus frequency adjustment circuitry for use in a dynamic random access memory device
A clock divider circuitry and method for use in a dynamic random access memory device. The method may include receiving a clock input signal having a first frequency from a clock input receiver at clock divider circuitry, the clock divider circuitry including a flip-flop configured to generate an output signal, based at least in part, on an inverted output signal and the clock input signal. The output signal may have a second frequency that is a fraction of the first frequency. The method may further include receiving the clock input signal and the output signal at a multiplexer and generating a multiplexed output. The method may additionally include receiving the multiplexed output at a first bus configured to receive the multiplexed output and to reduce an operational frequency of the first bus in response to an increase in an operational frequency of a second bus associated with the memory device.
US08458504B2 Peer-to-peer group owner enhanced power management
A device includes a peer-to-peer group owner processor. The device also includes a memory coupled to the peer-to-peer group owner processor. At least one client associated with the device is a legacy client, and the peer-to-peer group owner processor enters a listening state after a dozing state. The device consumes less power in the listening state than in an awake state.
US08458503B1 Connected standby sleep state
Power consumption and dissipation during sleep states of processors is reduced using a novel connected standby sleep state. In the connected standby sleep state a dedicated power plane is used to maintain processor context. To conserve power, unnecessary components on the processor are powered down, including all of the clock components, and wakeup sources previously directed to the processor are directed to a platform control hub. The platform control hub sustains certain architectural functions for the processor during connected standby sleep state, and manages the wakeup logic for returning the processor to the preceding sleep state.
US08458501B2 Measuring data switching activity in a microprocessor
A mechanism is provided for approximating data switching activity in a data processing system. A data switching activity identification mechanism in the data processing system receives an identification of a set of data storage devices and a set of bits in the set of data storage devices in the data processing system to be monitored for the data switching activity. The data switching activity identification mechanism sums a count of the identified bits that have changed state for the data storage device along with other counts of the identified bits that have changed state for other data storage devices in the set of data storage devices to form an approximation of data switching activity. A power manager in the data processing system then adjusts a set of operational parameters associated with the data processing system using the approximation of data switching activity.
US08458496B2 Systems and methods for control of integrated circuits comprising body biasing systems
Systems and methods for control of integrated circuits comprising body-biasing systems. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable power condition of a computer system comprising a microprocessor is determined. Body biasing voltage information corresponding to the power condition is accessed. A voltage supply coupled to a body terminal of the microprocessor is commanded to generate a voltage corresponding to the body biasing voltage information corresponding to the power condition.
US08458491B1 Cryptographically scrubbable storage device
A cryptographically scrubbable disk performs erasure of a cryptographic key covering a body of data to render the body of data unintelligible. A scrub controller interfaced between a computing appliance and a storage volume generates a scrub key and encrypts each block of data written to the storage volume using the scrub key. Data read commands decrypt using the same key. The scrub controller is an electronically separate conduit having independent memory and power, thus the scrub key remains within the scrub controller and unexposed, and is thus inaccessible via the processor of the computing appliance. The scrub key remains in the scrub controller such that the scrub key never leaves the scrub controller and is also inaccessible to retrieval since the scrub controller does not share memory or access with the computer and is thus electronically separate from the supported computing appliance.
US08458490B2 System and method for supporting full volume encryption devices in a client hosted virtualization system
A client hosted virtualization system includes a full volume encryption (FVE) storage device, a processor, and non-volatile memory with BIOS code and virtualization manager code. The virtualization manager initializes the client hosted virtualization system, authenticates a virtual machine image, launches the virtual machine based on the image, receives a transaction from the virtual machine targeted to the FVE storage device, sends the transaction to the FVE storage device, receives a response from the FVE storage device, and sends the first response to the first virtual machine. The client hosted virtualization system is configurable to execute the BIOS or the virtualization manager.
US08458479B2 Verification apparatus
An integer partitioning unit inputs an order p of a finite group G and an integer e, and calculates an integer e1 and an integer e2 that satisfy e1·e≡e2 (mod p) based on the order p of the finite group G and the integer e which are input. A verification value calculation unit inputs an element s of the finite group G and an element h of the finite group G, and calculates an element a (=e1·h−e2·s) of the finite group G based on the element s and the element h which are input and the integer e1 and the integer e2 which are calculated by the integer partitioning unit in the integer partitioning process. A verification judging unit judges, based on the element a calculated by the verification value calculation unit, whether or not the element a is an identity element O of the finite group G. Hence, whether or not h =e·s is judged at high speed.
US08458468B2 Method and system for protecting information exchanged during communication between users
A system includes a sending terminal and at least one receiving terminal, the terminals capable of being connected to a communication network for transmitting an information item from the sending terminal to the at least one receiving terminal. The sending terminal is linked via a secure channel to a unit adapted to encrypt sensitive data using a first encryption/decryption mechanism, the sensitive data being used to protect the information item, and the at least one receiving terminal capable of interacting with a SIM module storing a second encryption/decryption mechanism identical to the first encryption/decryption mechanism, for decrypting the sensitive data.
US08458467B2 Method and apparatus for adaptive application message payload content transformation in a network infrastructure element
Application message payload data elements are transformed within a network infrastructure element such as a packet data router or switch. The network element has application message transformation logic for receiving one or more packets representing an input application message logically associated with OSI network model Layer 5 or above; extracting an application message payload from the input application message; identifying one or more first content elements in the application message payload; transforming the first content elements into one or more second content elements of an output application message; and forwarding the output application message to a destination that is identified in the input application message. Transformations performed in the network element can include field reordering, field enrichment, field filtering, and presentation transformation.
US08458463B2 Method for safe operation and a system thereof
The present invention relating to computer security field provides a method for safe operation and a system thereof. The method includes: loading the compressed kernel of a safe operating system to a memory of a computer, decompressing the driver of a security device to the memory of the computer; a security master process inquiring the security device and determining whether the security device is legitimate, and if so, the safe operating system creates a security sub-process with which the safe operating system performing information interaction with the security device; verifying whether a user is legitimate, if so, permitting the safe operating system to run properly; otherwise, performing exception handling. The system includes an operating system storage device, a security device and a computer. The presented invention provides a solution that a kernel program of a safe operating system is cooperated with a security device by starting the safe operating system. In the whole process of the computer operation, the kernel of the safe operating system works with the security device, and the security device completes the verification of the user ID and the processing of file data encryption/decryption, which assures the security of the computer operation.
US08458447B2 Branch target buffer addressing in a data processor
A data processor includes a branch target buffer (BTB) having a plurality of BTB entries grouped in ways. The BTB entries in one of the ways include a short tag address and the BTB entries in another one of the ways include a full tag address.
US08458441B2 Vector extensions to an interpreted general expression evaluator in a database system
The subject disclosure is directed towards technology by which an expression in a database engine is executed against stacks of data. Each instruction of the expression is evaluated against the data stacks until completed against each data stack, such as by iterating to execute an instruction through the data stacks before executing the next instruction. The data may be arranged in the data stacks (in memory) in various ways, such as to have each data stack contain the data of one database row, (e.g., with the data stack elements comprising column data. Data may be grouped, such as to put the data from different rows into the same data stack.
US08458440B2 Deferred complete virtual address computation for local memory space requests
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for computing virtual addresses for accessing thread data. Components of the complete virtual address for a thread group are used to determine whether or not a cache line corresponding to the complete virtual address is not allocated in the cache. Actual computation of the complete virtual address is deferred until after determining that a cache line corresponding to the complete virtual address is not allocated in the cache.
US08458439B2 Block driven computation using a caching policy specified in an operand data structure
A processor has an associated memory hierarchy including a cache memory. The processor includes an instruction sequencing unit that fetches instructions for processing, an operand data structure including a plurality of entries corresponding to operands of operations to be performed by the processor, and a computation engine. A first entry among the plurality of entries in the operand data structure specifies a first caching policy for a first operand, and a second entry specifies a second caching policy for a second operand. The computation engine computes and stores operands in the memory hierarchy in accordance with the cache policies indicated within the operand data structure.
US08458430B2 Configurable and scalable storage system
The system utilizes a plurality of layers to provide a robust storage solution. One layer is the RAID engine that provides parity RAID protection, disk management and striping for the RAID sets. The second layer is called the virtualization layer and it separates the physical disks and storage capacity into virtual disks that mirror the drives that a target system requires. A third layer is a LUN (logical unit number) layer that is disposed between the virtual disks and the host. By using this approach, the system can be used to represent any number, size, or capacity of disks that a host system requires while using any configuration of physical RAID storage.
US08458428B2 Method of allocating storage space from storage devices within a computer system
A method and system for allocating storage space from storage devices within a computer system. The storage devices are grouped into respective homogeneous sets in which identical storage devices are included in the same homogeneous set. In accordance with the method and system, following receipt of an allocation request for storage space one or more stored response values are checked, the response values associated with at least one homogeneous set. The stored value or values represent the average response time of storage devices within the set. The homogenous set with the lowest average response time is selected. One or more stored allocation values are then checked that are associated with at least one storage device within the selected homogeneous set. The stored allocation value or values represent the current allocations of the associated storage device. The storage device is selected with the lowest current allocations and the storage space is allocated in the first available location on the selected device.
US08458423B2 Data processing apparatus and data processing method of data processing apparatus
When one of a plurality of storage units is not available, execution of operation modes can be switched according to an option status. A data processing apparatus that can respectively store data to a first storage unit and a second storage unit, includes a control unit configured to execute a first operation mode for limiting data processing using the second storage unit and enabling data processing using the first storage unit in a case where the second storage unit is not available and an option for storing encrypted data in the second storage unit is not used, and execute a second operation mode for limiting the data processing using the first storage unit and the data processing using the second storage unit, in a case where the second storage unit is not available and the option is used.
US08458417B2 Garbage collection in a storage device
In general, this disclosure relates to garbage collection in a storage device. Aspects of this disclosure describe techniques to identify one or more candidate memory storage blocks that should be recycled during garbage collection. The one or more candidate memory storage blocks may be identified based at least on monitored soft metrics of the candidate memory storage blocks. During garbage collection, the identified one or more candidate memory storage blocks may be recycled to free up storage space.
US08458415B2 Flexible selection command for non-volatile memory
Some embodiments of the invention pertain to a memory system containing multiple memory devices, in which one or multiple ones of the memory devices may flexibly be selected at one time for a common operation to be performed by all the selected devices concurrently.
US08458409B2 Access controller
An access control apparatus receives access requests from one or more regular masters and an irregular master and sequentially selects an access allowable target. Additionally, the access control apparatus calculates an amount of unused resources based on an amount of resources used by a regular master and a maximum amount of resources to be used by the regular master, and manages the unused resources. The access control apparatus selects an access request of an irregular master as an access allowable target when the irregular master makes the access request during a unit period and access based on an access request of at least one of the regular masters that has not been executed. The managed amount of unused resources is equal to or larger than an amount of resources which is to be used based on the access request of the irregular master.
US08458406B2 Multiple critical word bypassing in a memory controller
In one embodiment, a memory controller may be configured to transmit two or more critical words (or beats) corresponding to two or more different read requests prior to returning the remaining beats of the read requests. Such an embodiment may reduce latency to the sources of the memory requests, which may be stalled awaiting the critical words. The remaining words may fill a cache block or other buffer, but may not be required by the sources as quickly as the critical words in order to support higher performance. In some embodiments, once a remaining beat of a block is transmitted, all of the remaining beats may be transmitted contiguously. In other embodiments, additional critical words may be forwarded between remaining beats of a block.
US08458400B2 Storage apparatus and cache control method
Optimizing cache-resident area where cache residence control in units of LUs is employed to a storage apparatus that virtualizes the capacity by acquiring only a cache area of a size that is the same as the physical capacity assigned to the LU. An LU is a logical space resident in cache memory is configured by a set of pages acquired by dividing a pool volume as a physical space created by using a plurality of storage devices in a predetermined size. When the LU to be resident in the cache memory is created, a capacity corresponding to the size of the LU is not initially acquired in the cache memory, a cache capacity that is the same as the physical capacity allocated to a new page is acquired in the cache memory each time when the page is newly allocated, and the new page is resident in the cache memory.
US08458399B2 Methods and structure for determining cache size in a storage system
Methods and structure for automated determination and reconfiguration of the size of a cache memory in a storage system. Features and aspects hereof generate historical information regarding frequency of hits on cache lines in the cache memory. The history maintained is then analyzed to determine a desired cache memory size. The historical information regarding cache memory usage may be communicated to a user who may then direct the storage system to reconfigure its cache memory to a desired cache memory size. In other embodiments, the storage system may automatically determine the desired cache memory size and reconfigure its cache memory. The method may be performed automatically periodically, and/or in response to a user's request, and/or in response to detecting thrashing caused by least recently used (LRU) cache replacement algorithms in the storage system.
US08458396B2 Sharing resources within a robotic media library amongst a plurality of connected servers
The present invention provides an apparatus, method, and computer program product for sharing resources within a robotic media library having multiple media types and multiple device types amongst a plurality of connected servers.
US08458393B2 Flash memory and operating system kernel
A memory system is provided. The system includes an operating system kernel that regulates read and write access to one or more FLASH memory devices that are employed for random access memory applications. A buffer component operates in conjunction with the kernel to regulate read and write access to the one or more FLASH devices.
US08458391B2 Library apparatus and method for controlling the same
A library apparatus includes a medium name storage unit that stores medium name conversion information in which a virtual medium name specifying a storage medium in a read/write request from a host is related to a real medium name specifying the storage medium in the library apparatus, a conveying mechanism unit that conveys the storage medium, a drive that reads/writes data from/to the storage medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism unit in response to the received read/write request, a conversion unit that converts the virtual medium name included in the received read/write request to the real medium name on the basis of the medium name conversion information stored in the medium name storage unit, and a conveying mechanism control unit that controls the conveying mechanism unit to convey the storage medium having the real medium name converted by the conversion unit to the drive.
US08458387B2 Converting a message signaled interruption into an I/O adapter event notification to a guest operating system
One or more message signaled interruption requests from one or more input/output (I/O) adapters are converted to I/O adapter event notifications while retaining the message vector indication. An I/O adapter event notification may be routed and presented to a host or to a guest that the host is executing. To present the notification to the correct host or to the correct guest, various data structures in host and/or guest memory are used.
US08458386B2 Atomic interrupt masking in an interrupt controller to prevent delivery of same interrupt vector for consecutive interrupt acknowledgements
In one embodiment, an interrupt controller may implement an interrupt distribution scheme for distributing interrupts among multiple processors. The scheme may take into account various processor state in determining which processor should receive a given interrupt. For example, the processor state may include whether or not the processor is in a sleep state, whether or not interrupts are enabled, whether or not the processor has responded to previous interrupts, etc. The interrupt controller may implement timeout mechanisms to detect that an interrupt is being delayed (e.g. after being offered to a processor). The interrupt may be re-evaluated at the expiration of a timeout, and potentially offered to another processor. The interrupt controller may be configured to automatically, and atomically, mask an interrupt in response to delivering an interrupt vector for the interrupt to a responding processor.
US08458379B2 Information processing program, method, and transfer processing device
An information processing method includes calculating a reception estimated time when the data are received based on a last reception time of the data and a reception time interval of the data for transfer source devices; calculating a shift completion estimated time based on a shift time period necessary to shift an assignment of a data transfer process of a transfer source device of the plurality of the transfer source devices from the transfer processing device to another transfer processing device; and transferring the assignment of the data transfer process from the transfer processing device to the another transfer processing device, the assignment of the data transfer process being relevant to a transfer source device having the calculated reception estimated time later than the shift completion estimated time and closer to the shift completion estimated time than any other transfer source devices.
US08458370B1 Method and system for supporting multiple display interface standards
A method and system for supporting multiple display interface standards are disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a computing device, which includes a processing unit and a display interface. The display interface further includes a formatting logic and a set of output pins, wherein the formatting logic is configured to derive a first set of output signals conforming to a first display interface standard from a data stream, drive the first set of output signals via a set of output pins to a first display device supporting the first display interface standard, support a second display interface standard instead of the first display interface standard in response to a state change and derive the first set of output signals conforming to the second display interface standard, and drive the first set of output signals via the same set of output pins to a second display device supporting the second display interface standard.
US08458369B2 Automatic peripheral discovery, authorization, and sharing across an internet protocol network
A wireless mesh includes a plurality of user devices. A list is formed that includes information regarding peripheral devices associated with the user devices. One of the user devices identifies one or more of the peripheral devices that correspond to a particular type of peripheral device and selects, from the identified peripheral devices, a particular peripheral device. The particular peripheral device is associated with another user device, and the user device forms a session, with the other user device, that enables the user device to provide commands to the particular peripheral device via the other user device.
US08458362B2 Delivering content in multiple formats
Content may be received at an edge location in one format, but delivered to a terminal on an access network in another format. The received content may be transcoded at the edge location. The transcoded content may be stored, or immediately delivered. The transcoded content may be fragmented prior to storage. Multiple copies of the transcoded content may be maintained in multiple formats. These formats may be aligned with one another such that delivery of the content can include delivering portions of the content in one format and other portions of the content in another format.
US08458360B2 Request routing utilizing client location information
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for request routing based on client location information are provided. A content delivery network service provider receives a DNS query from a client computing device. The DNS query corresponds to a resource identifier for requested content from the client computing device. The content delivery network service provider transmits an alternative resource identifier in response to the client computing device DNS query. The alternative resource identifier is selected as a function of client location information. The client location information is obtained from information corresponding to a mapping of at least partial IP addresses to known locations. The client computing device then issues a second DNS query to the same content delivery network service provider. The content delivery network service provider can then either resolve the second DNS query or transmit another alternative resource identifier.
US08458354B2 Multi-pattern matching in compressed communication traffic
A method for processing data includes accepting a specification of a plurality of patterns, each pattern defining a respective uncompressed sequence of symbols. Multi-pattern matching is applied to an incoming stream of compressed communication traffic containing compression metadata so as to identify the patterns occurring in the stream while using the compression metadata to skip over parts of the stream.
US08458345B2 Method and apparatus for frequency reuse in a multi-carrier communications system
Systems and methods are described that facilitate evaluating conditions of nodes (e.g., access points, access points, access terminals, etc.) in a wireless communication environment having a plurality of carriers to determine a level of disadvantage for a given node relative to other nodes. The node may transmit a resource utilization message (RUM) that represents the level of disadvantage for the node and request other interference nodes to back off on one or more carriers. This would allow frequency reuse if nodes vary the power of transmission for particular carriers, in conjunction with neighboring nodes.
US08458340B2 Distributed cache for state transfer operations
A network arrangement that employs a cache having copies distributed among a plurality of different locations. The cache stores state information for a session with any of the server devices so that it is accessible to at least one other server device. Using this arrangement, when a client device switches from a connection with a first server device to a connection with a second server device, the second server device can retrieve state information from the cache corresponding to the session between the client device and the first server device. The second server device can then use the retrieved state information to accept a session with the client device.
US08458326B2 Sampling from distributed streams of data
The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for sampling from distributed data streams. Data elements are received at site servers configured to collect and report data to a coordinator device. The site servers assign a binary string to each of the data elements. Each bit of the binary strings can be independently set to a 0 or a 1 with a probability of one half. The binary string is used to sample from the received data elements, and the data elements and/or the sampled data elements can be transmitted to a coordinator device. The coordinator device can examine one or more bits of the binary string to draw samples of the received data elements in accordance with desired probabilities.
US08458307B2 Method and apparatus for self-assigning network identification codes
A method and apparatus for self-assigning network identification codes to a network device. In one embodiment, a method comprises determining if the network device comprises a default network identification code. If the network identification code comprises a default network identification code, transmitting a first network identification code and determining whether a first response was received to the first network identification code transmission. If no response was received, assigning the first network identification code to the network device. If the first response was received, transmitting a second network identification code and determining whether a second response in response to the second network identification code transmission was received. If so, assigning the second network identification code to the network device.
US08458301B1 Automated configuration of network devices administered by policy enforcement
A system and method for dynamic device configuration enabling network and security administrators to define policies that indicate event and alert conditions within their networks. The policies incorporate information about network devices, endpoints connected to those devices, input from external security systems, local endpoint policy compliance, and date/time-of-day to determine whether to generate an event or alert. Events and alerts can be associated with actions that effect changes to network device configurations in order to maintain a desired operational state of the network.
US08458295B1 Web content distribution devices to stage network device software
A computer network is provided that includes a wide area network and a local area network. The local area network includes an application server, a plurality of client computers, a content delivery server, and a network-attached storage device. The content delivery server has data storage capacity. The content delivery server is operable to be implemented as a supplemental application server when the file server is inoperable. The network-attached storage device has data storage capacity wherein the wide area network transmits data for storage by the network-attached storage device through the content delivery server during a period of low demand for bandwidth between the local area network and the wide area network.
US08458294B2 System and method for adding targeted content in a Web page
A network (20) includes a first processor (22) for maintaining a Web page (34) having an embedded first code module (36) and accessible through a Web address (38). A second processor (24) supports a Web browser (52) for receiving transmission of the Web page (34) and executing the first code module (36). When executed, the first code module (36) issues a first command (93) to retrieve a second code module (90) from a server system (26). The server system (26) includes a database (68) having a service response (162, 176, 186) associated with the Web address (38). A processor (62) assembles the second code module (90) having the service response (162, 176, 186). When the second code module is retrieved, the first code module (36) issues a second command (106) to initiate execution of the second code module (90) to provide added function to the Web page (34).
US08458279B2 Advertisement and distribution of notifications using extensible authentication protocol (EAP) methods
An Authorization, Authentication and Accounting (AAA) server acting as a first Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) peer advertises the availability of notifications, and this advertisement may be received and interpreted by a mobile station acting as a second EAP peer. Upon being informed of the availability of the notification message, the mobile station may take action in order to receive the notification message from the AAA server. Alternatively, the mobile station may be able to identify the notification message by analyzing the advertisement. If the contents of the notification message comprise a control message, the mobile station may act on the control message in a way that influences the mobile station's behavior.
US08458273B2 Content rights management for document contents and systems, structures, and methods therefor
A document comprises a body having at least one defined portion therein, each defined portion being represented in the body of the document as a body object, each of the document and each body object therein being rights-managed as protected content based on license terms specified in a digital license. A recipient of the document can render the protected content of each of the document and each body object therein by acquiring the digital license and satisfying the license terms set forth in the digital license.
US08458272B2 Presence system and information processing equipment, dynamic buddy list generation method in presence system, and presence notification destination controlling method and its program for use with presence system
A presentity service client has a presentity that issues presence information to a presence service and a watcher which observes presence information for other presentities; a presence change rule holding part holds a presence change rule; and a presence calculating part changes the presence information for the presentity, using as a trigger a change in presence information of other presentities, based on the presence information of other presentity acquired by the watcher and in accordance with the presence change rule held by a presence change rules holding part.
US08458255B2 Data output device, data providing device, data output system, data output device control method, and data providing device control method
An operation target device (200) includes: a reproducable data information transmitting section (2) for transmitting, to a remote operation device (300), reproducable data information indicative of a file format that the operation target device (200) can output; a data sharing process section (3) on the operated side for requesting the remote operation device (300) to transmit data identification information of data that the operation target device (200) can output, the data being selected according to the reproducable data information, from among data that the remote operation device (300) can provide; and a slide-show executing section (6) for outputting the data received from the remote operation device (300). With this configuration, it is possible to avoid such a case where data that the operation target device (200) cannot output is transmitted to the operation target device (200) from the remote operation device (300).
US08458254B2 Peer-to-peer network system, proxy service peer, and method for peer interworking between overlay networks
The present invention relates to a P2P network system. The P2P network system includes: multiple local overlay networks, each comprising multiple proxy service peers; a global overlay network composed of the proxy service peers of all local overlay networks. The proxy service peer is adapted to respond to the request of the requesting peer, query the local overlay network or global overlay network, and return the address information of the requested peer or the requested proxy service peer to the requesting peer. The present invention also relates to a proxy service peer applicable to the foregoing network system, and a method of peer interworking between P2P overlay networks based on the foregoing system. The present invention relieves the load of the proxy service peer, avoids blindness of the requesting peer in selecting the proxy service peer, and achieves load balance between proxy service peers.
US08458248B2 System and method for enabling VPN tunnel status checking
A method and apparatus for virtual private network (‘VPN’) liveness checking, the method, upon expiration of a timer, sending, over a VPN tunnel, a request to a server located behind a terminator of the VPN; checking whether a response to the request is received within a time interval; if a response to the request is received, resetting the timer; and if a response to the request is not received within the time interval, resending the request if a request count is less than a set number of requests; or providing an inactive tunnel indication to a VPN client manager if the request count equals the set number of requests.
US08458241B2 Memory address generating method and twiddle factor generator using the same
The present invention relates to a memory address generating method and a twiddle factor generator using the memory address generating method in a fast Fourier transform (FFT) system. In the memory address generating method for generating a memory address of a twiddle factor in a fast Fourier transform (FFT) system according to an embodiment of the present invention: a) a temporary address value of a second twiddle factor is induced and generated based on a first twiddle factor; b) a control signal for controlling the system is generated based on the generated temporary address value; and c) a memory address value of the second twiddle factor is generated from the temporary address value.
US08458240B2 Signal processing with fast S-transforms
The ability to examine the frequency content of a signal is critical in a variety of fields, and many techniques have been proposed to fill this need, including the Fourier and wavelet family of transforms. One of these, the S-transform, is a Fourier based transform that provides simultaneous time and frequency information similar to the wavelet transform but uses sinusoidal basis functions to produce true frequency and globally referenced phase measurements. It has been shown to be useful in several medical imaging applications but its use is limited due to high computational requirements of the original, continuous form. The described embodiments include a general framework for describing linear time-frequency transforms, using the Fourier, wavelet and S-transforms as examples. As an illustration of the utility of this formalism, a fast discrete S-transform algorithm is developed that has the same computational complexity as the fast Fourier transform.
US08458236B2 File system interface for CIM
Systems and methods for managing systems using common information models (CIM) are presented. According to a method embodiment, CIM functions are provided, and a file system interface for the CIM functions is provided. An embodiment of a method receives file operation commands through a client interface and performs CIM functions corresponding to the received file operation commands based on a mapping of the file operation commands to the CIM functions.
US08458234B2 Data management method
A data storage or management method is provided which allows both a content object-based access and a file-based access. A first request for storing a content object in accordance with the processing of an application program executed in a host is sent to an object archive control functionality executed in the host, an intermediate server, or a storage apparatus. The object archive control functionality generates an object identifier corresponding to the content object received in response to the first request, a directory name corresponding to the object identifier, and a plurality of file names corresponding to a plurality of fields contained in the content object. The storage apparatus stores a directory having the directory name and the plurality of files having the plurality of file names in accordance with the second request.
US08458227B1 URL rescue by identifying information related to an item referenced in an invalid URL
A server system is disclosed that is capable of providing responsive content to a user when a request for an invalid URL is received. In a preferred embodiment, the server system implements multiple rescue strategies for attempting to rescue the invalid URL. One such rescue strategy involves repairing the URL by correcting for encoding errors, such as errors introduced by some web clients. Another rescue strategy involves determining that the URL contains an obsolete or outdated item identifier (e.g., product identifier) that renders the URL invalid, and returning information regarding one or more related items to the user. Another rescue strategy involves mining the invalid URL for one or more text strings reflective of the type of content desired, and then using the one or more text strings to execute a keyword search to identify content to provide to the user. The various rescue strategies may be attempted in sequence according to a hierarchy.
US08458216B2 Client-based caching of remote files
A lease system is described herein that allows clients to request a lease to a remote file, wherein the lease permits access to the file across multiple applications using multiple handles without extra round trips to a server. When multiple applications on the same client (or multiple components of the same application) request access to the same file, the client specifies the same lease identifier to the server for each open request or may handle the request from the cache based on the existing lease. Because the server identifies the client's cache at the client level rather than the individual file request level, the client receives fewer break notifications and is able to cache remote files in more circumstances. Thus, by providing the ability to cache data in more circumstances common with modern applications, the lease system reduces bandwidth, improves server scalability, and provides faster access to data.
US08458215B2 Dynamic functional module availability
The present invention generally is directed to a system, method and article of manufacture for accessing data independent of the particular manner in which the data is physically represented. In one embodiment, a data repository abstraction layer provides a logical view of the underlying data repository that is independent of the particular manner of data representation. A query abstraction layer is also provided and is based on the data repository abstraction layer. A runtime component performs translation of an abstract query into a form that can be used against a particular physical data representation.
US08458204B2 System and method for customized file comparison
A method and related data processing system and computer readable medium. A method includes receiving, in a data processing system, a first file and a second file, and receiving comparison rules. This method includes comparing the first file and the second file, by the data processing system, according to the comparison rules, and producing an output report corresponding to the comparison.
US08458198B1 Document analysis and multi-word term detector
A term analyzer receives an ordered collection of text-based terms. The term analyzer analyzes groupings of consecutive text-based terms in the ordered collection to identify occurrences of different combinations of text-based terms. In addition, the term analyzer maintains frequency information representing the occurrences of the different combinations of text-based terms in the collection. The frequency information can then be used to determine relatively significant keywords and/or keyword phrases in the document. In an example configuration, the term analyzer creates a tree in which a first term in a given grouping of the groupings is defined as a parent node in the tree and a second term in the given grouping is defined as a child node of the parent node in the tree. The method of the analyzer generalizes to create a tree of multi-word terms in which the terms can be efficiently ranked by occurrence.
US08458193B1 System and method for determining active topics
A method for determining active topics may include receiving topic information for a document, the information including at least one topic and a weight for each topic, where the topic relates to content of the document, and the weight represents how strongly the topic is associated with the document. User activity information for the document, including a user activity value including at least one of a number of viewers and a number of editors of the document may be received. A topic intensity for each topic may be generated and stored by multiplying the user activity value for the document by the weight of the topic in the document. The topic intensity may be monitored over time. An alert may be generated based on the topic intensity.
US08458181B2 Distributed free block map for a clustered redirect-on-write file system
In a cluster that distributes fileset management, fileset managers will maintain a free block map and an in-flight block map to allocate blocks to clients writing to a relevant fileset. A fileset manager managing free block allocation for cluster clients that write to a fileset managed by the fileset manager. Since a clustered file system manager manages an initial free block map for the cluster (“cluster free block map”), the clustered file system manager provisions free blocks to fileset managers from the cluster free block map. The fileset manager then allocates free blocks from the provisioned free blocks to cluster clients that write to the fileset managed by the fileset manager.
US08458180B2 Information exploration
Information exploration is described. For example, a user provides gathering terms to an information exploration system which uses those terms to generate many composite items formed from content of different media types obtained from a web search engine. For example, the composite items are displayed simultaneously on a user interface and provide a user with a partial map of information “territory” accessible through the system. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in the same direction by generating more composite items using related gathering terms. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in a manner indirectly related to the selected composite item. In examples the composite items may be saved in scrap books, sent to other users or used to access content.
US08458176B2 Method and system for providing a directory overlay
According to one embodiment, a method for providing an enhanced directory service includes providing a supplemental layer between a user and a reference layer, the supplemental layer providing the user with any directory functionality provided by the reference layer as well as additional directory functionality.
US08458172B2 Method and apparatus for automated end to end content tracking in peer to peer environments
A method, computer readable medium and system for automatically tracking content in a peer-to-peer environment are disclosed. For example, the method monitors a number of times each content title of a plurality of content titles are downloaded in the peer-to-peer environment, adds one or more content titles of the plurality of content titles that are downloaded above a predetermined threshold to a list, downloads each one of the one or more content titles in the list via the peer-to-peer environment and verifies that each one of the one or more content titles that are downloaded matches at least one content title in the list.
US08458171B2 Identifying query aspects
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating aspects associated with entities. In some implementations, a method includes receiving data identifying an entity; generating a group of candidate aspects for the entity; modifying the group of candidate aspects to generate a group of modified candidate aspects comprising combining similar candidate aspects and grouping candidate aspects using one or more aspect classes each associated with one or more candidate aspects; ranking one or more modified candidate aspects in the group of modified candidate aspects based on a diversity score and a popularity score; and storing an association between one or more highest ranked modified candidate aspects and the entity. The aspects can be used to organize and present search results in response to queries for the entity.
US08458166B2 Dynamic context definitions in distributed databases
A database query is received including a logical table identifier at a distributed database node within a distributed network of databases. The logical table identifier includes a dynamically-updatable constant column identifier. Local logical table definitions are filtered based upon the logical table identifier and the dynamically-updatable constant column identifier to identify a local logical table associated with the logical table identifier and the dynamically-updatable constant column identifier. A local query response is formed including data retrieved from a local physical database table mapped by the local logical table in response to identifying the local logical table associated with the logical table identifier and the dynamically-updatable constant column identifier. The database query is responded to, in response to forming the local query response, with at least the local query response. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08458165B2 System and method for applying ranking SVM in query relaxation
An enterprise-wide query relaxative support vector machine ranking algorithm approach provides enhanced functionality for query execution in a heterogeneous enterprise environment. Improved query results are obtained by adjusting ranking functions using machine learning methods to automatically train ranking functions. The improved query results are obtained using a list of document-query pairs that are modeled as a binary classification training problem, combination function which requires ranking and learning functions to be implemented representing document attributes and metadata utilizing query relaxation techniques and adjusted ranking functions. Machine learning methods implement user feedback to automatically train ranking functions.
US08458163B2 System and method for enabling website owner to manage crawl rate in a website indexing system
Web crawlers crawl websites to access documents of the website for purposes of indexing the documents for search engines. The web crawlers crawl a specified website at a crawl rate that is based on multiple factors. One of the factors is a pre-set crawl rate limit. According to certain embodiments, an owner for a specified website is enabled to modify the crawl rate limit for the specified website when one or more pre-set criteria are met.
US08458161B2 Method, product, and apparatus for enhancing resolution services, registration services, and search services
A client computing device receives a search request including an identifier and an identifier prefix. The computing device determines the identifier prefix and generates a uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to the identifier prefix by inserting the identifier into a template such that the URL is configured to facilitate a specific request depending on the determined identifier prefix. Alternatively, a client computing device receives a search request and retrieves a search result comprising a uniform resource identifier (URI) having a domain name. The client computing device generates a hyperlink corresponding to the search result, the hyperlink effecting access of additional information related to a resource indicated by the URI having the domain name. The computing device generates enhanced search results by combining the search result and the hyperlink. The additional information could be sitemap information, homepage information, WHOIS information, page source information, meta tag information, or other additional information.
US08458158B2 Regionalizing print media management system and method
Systems and methods are provided for use in managing the regionalization of print media. In one system, a master data file having a plurality of different print features may be examined to identify at least one of the print features as a candidate print feature for possible modification in at least one region. For each candidate print feature, the system may receive user input to selectively establish a secondary data file for a print media campaign targeting at least the region in which the print candidate feature may be modified based, at least in part, on an existing regionalized print feature or on a requested regionalized print feature.
US08458154B2 Methods and apparatus to classify text communications
Methods and apparatus to classify text communications are disclosed. An example method includes determining a first conditional probability of a first feature occurring in a text given that the text belongs to a classification mode, wherein the first feature is included in the text, determining a second conditional probability of a second feature occurring in a text given that the text belongs to the classification mode, wherein the second feature is included in the text, determining a probability of the classification mode occurring, multiplying the first conditional probability, the second conditional probability and the probability of the classification mode to determine a product, and storing the product in a tangible memory as a score that the message belongs to the first classification mode.
US08458147B2 Techniques for the association, customization and automation of content from multiple sources on a single display
Techniques for the association, customization and automation of content from multiple sources on a single display device are described. A method includes storing an association rule as defined by a user, where the association rule defines a main content source and an associated content source. When the user accesses the main content source, automatically receiving content from the main content source and content from the associated content source as defined by the association rule. Then, causing the display of the associated content overlayed on the main content via a user interface on a display device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08458141B2 Based on repeated experience, system for modification of express and negating overload from media and optimizing referential efficiency
Content items are revealed to a user based on whether they have been previously reviewed by the user. A number of content items are thus received over time. The content items may be discrete content items, or may be portions of a content stream, and may be received over different media. For each content item, it is determined whether the content item was previously reviewed by a user. Where the content item was not previously reviewed, the item is revealed to the user, such as by being displayed or announced to the user. Where the content item was previously reviewed, the item is hidden from the user, such as by being deleted, by being replaced with an alternative content item, and so on.
US08458136B2 Scheduling highly parallel jobs having global interdependencies
A method of scheduling highly parallel jobs with global interdependencies is provided herein. The method includes the following steps: grouping input elements, each group being associated with an interdependency tag reflecting a level of interdependency between data associated with different input elements within a group; clustering the groups into collections of groups, wherein the clustered groups are associated with an interdependency tag reflecting a level of interdependency between groups, above a specified value; applying a conflict check to the collections of groups and to active jobs of a working set, to yield a conflict level between each collection of groups and each active job, by analyzing the interdependency tags of the collections of groups vis à vis interdependency tags associated with the active jobs; and adding collections of groups into the working set, wherein added collections of groups are associated with a conflict level below an acceptable conflict level.
US08458132B2 Method and system for deduplicating data
For deduplicating data in a computing environment, a sequence of data is received. The sequence of data is formatted for back-up such that an order of the sequence of data is different than the order of an input sequence of the data. The sequence of data is stored in the same order as the input sequence of the data.
US08458122B2 Document management systems, apparatuses and methods configured to provide document notification
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for providing document management services to a terminal, wherein a document notification is provided to one or more notification destinations.
US08458120B2 Search-based people matching system and method
A people matching system and method matches people in response to a search request. The computer-generated suggested matches may be based on inferences of mutual interests, as well as on factors such as proximity and environmental conditions. The inferences of mutual interest may be based on behaviors such as subscriptions and physiological responses. Explanations for the suggested matches may be delivered to users, including behavioral information on which the suggested matches are based.
US08458118B1 Dynamic configuration for networked imaging devices
The different advantageous embodiments provide a dynamic configuration system comprising a number of networks, a number of imaging devices, and a dynamic host configuration protocol server. The dynamic host configuration protocol server is configured to execute a dynamic configuration process to place the number of imaging devices into the number of networks.
US08458115B2 Mining topic-related aspects from user generated content
Described herein is a technology that facilitates efficient automated mining of topic-related aspects of user generated content based on automated analysis of the user generated content. Locations are automatically learned based on dividing documents into document segments, and decomposing the segments into local topics and global topics. Techniques described herein include, for example, computer annotating travelogues with learned tags, performing topic learning to obtain an interest model, and performing location matching based on the interest model.
US08458100B1 Method and system for matching civilian employers with candidates having prior military experience
A computer method for matching civilian employers with candidates having prior military experience can include identifying an employer profile whose desired level of military service matches a level of military service of a candidate profile. The employer profile can be stored in a memory if the desired level military service for the employer profile matches the level of military service for the candidate profile. Remaining military fields in the employer profile stored in the memory can be compared against remaining military fields in the candidate profile. Weight values can be assigned to military fields of the candidate profile based on a degree of matching between the military fields of the employer profile and the candidate profile. The weight values can correspond to a preferred status and a non-preferred status for a respective field desired by an employer.
US08458089B1 System, method and program product for administering fund movements using depository institution groups
A method, system and program product, the method comprising: obtaining at or before a first source reception cutoff time, first client account transaction information; obtaining a respective net transfer amount; selecting respective aggregated deposit account in depository institution in a first group based on selection rules, first group having recipient cutoff times in a first time range; generating transfer data; obtaining at or before a second source reception cutoff time, second client account transaction information; selecting an aggregated deposit account in a depository institution in a second group to deposit/transferor withdraw/transfer funds, based on selection rules, the second group having respective cutoff times in a second time range different from the first time range; generating transfer data; allocating funds from multiple of the client accounts to the transfers; and updating databases.
US08458086B2 Allocating partial payment of a transaction amount using an allocation rule
A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also enables the allocation of a portion or all of a charge or loyalty points to different transaction accounts issued by different issuers, or to sub-accounts.
US08458085B1 Investor social networking website
A social networking website system for an individual investor to join as a member, to meet online with other investors and discuss investing. The social network facilitates finding and communicating among like-minded individuals by providing the investor with a plurality of searching tools for searching a member profile page, a portfolio, and provides online communication tools such as a chat room, a forum and video posting. The member easily researches important information regarding stocks, commodities, bonds, foreign currency, futures, and other types of financial instruments by entering a ticker symbol that becomes a prefix key linking to an online data synopsis about the investment. The investor social networking system also provides a member a mechanism for placing orders to buy or sell financial instruments through the website.
US08458079B2 Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining liquidity cycle for tradable financial products and for determining flow-weighted average pricing for same
Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining a “liquidity cycle” for a tradable financial product. The liquidity cycle has a liquidity cycle time period that is made up of multiple discrete time intervals, and the liquidity cycle indicates an expected distribution of order flow at each discrete time interval over the liquidity cycle time period. The liquidity cycle is determined based on tick data for the financial product. The tick data can comprise time-stamped indicative price quotes for the financial product and/or time-stamped price data for completed transactions involving the financial product. The liquidity cycle can be used to compute a Flow-Weighted Average Price (FWAP) for the financial product over a specified FWAP trade time window. An investor may agree with the trader to buy or sell (depending on the side of the transaction) the financial product at the FWAP.
US08458072B1 System and method for providing a common data and analytic framework for valuating financial instruments and portfolios
A system for determining the capacity of a geographic area to support a specific product by identifying an index of variables associated with potential buyers in the geographic area. The system includes a data gathering component and a processing component. The data gathering component obtains a profile about the product and additional information about similar products from several of sources. The additional information includes identified characteristics of potential buyers. The processing component processes the data by identifying variables that characterize potential buyer, assigns a score to each variable, assigns the variables to the index, determines a formula for the index, executes the formula against information associated with the geographic area, divides the geographic area into sub-groups and analyzes each sub-group to determine the capacity of the geographic area to support the product.
US08458070B2 System and method for providing customers with seamless entry to a remote server
The present invention provides a seamless entry system that comprises a universal session manager. Users connect to the host service provider with a unique username and password. Then, through a series of data exchanges between the universal session manager, a validation database, and the remote service module, the customer may be transparently logged into remote service providers. Internet banking customers utilize a browser system to connect to a host server providing a range of banking services supported by a remote or distinct server. According to the method, the customer first enters a username and password to gain access to the host service provider. The universal session manager transmits data required for login to the remote service provider. The user is thus able to utilize the remote services with his/her web browser system without having entered a username or password particular to the remote service.
US08458069B2 Systems and methods for adaptive identification of sources of fraud
A fraud detection engine is provided that analyzes transactions for fraudulent transactions. The transactions may include credit card or debit card transactions. The fraud detection engine may identify possible sources of fraud. The fraud detection engine may identify possible phony acceptors that masquerade as genuine merchants. The fraud detection engine may identify compromising points where accounts become compromised and are prone to fraudulent transactions thereafter. The fraud detection engine may receive and analyze transaction data in real-time or in batch mode. The fraud detection engine may use fuzzy logic. The fraud detection engine may use artificial intelligence such as case-based reasoning or business rules.
US08458067B2 System and method for emergency tracking
An emergency tracking system and method is disclosed that determines location information of individuals based upon travel information and financial transaction information, receives crisis information related to a crisis and determines a subset of individuals potentially impacted by the crisis based on the location information. The system may also notify a third party regarding the subset of individuals and send message to the subset of individuals, wherein the message includes alternative arrangements to at least one of minimize or avoid the crisis. The system also allows an employer to enter search criteria to locate certain types of employees and view such employees on a graphical display of a map.
US08458063B2 System and method for profiling consumers and creating a recommended or custom card
A system, computer product and method for profiling consumers to recommend a financial transaction instrument having benefits tailored to psychographic characteristics of the consumer. A set of questions is presented to a consumer, in order to determine the psychographic characteristics of the consumer. At least one subset of questions is presented, based on answers to the set of questions, the at least one subset of questions relating more specifically to available benefits. A tailored financial transaction instrument is recommended, having benefits which are based on answers to the at least one subset of questions.
US08458059B2 Apparatus and method for assessing market conditions
An apparatus and method for assessing market conditions, or for analyzing of other parameters that appear to fluctuate randomly, compare the changing conditions to the changes that would be predicted by Brownian Motion. When the changes exceed those predicted by Brownian Motion, a trend is considered to exist and can be expected to continue, and when the changes are less than those predicted by Brownian Motion, then a congestion condition exists. When enough measurements are taken, the length of the trend or congestion can be predicted. In one embodiment, the computation necessary to analyze the data on the condition being monitored is distributed among computers of subscribers to a monitoring service based on the method.
US08458056B1 Determining criteria for selecting a donor vehicle containing a non-indexed auto part
An apparatus, program product and method to determine criteria for selecting a donor vehicle containing a non-indexed auto part are provided. An index of interchangeable auto parts is utilized to determine the criteria by relying on the interchangeability of indexed auto parts. Once determined, donor vehicles matching the determined criteria may have a higher probability of containing a non-indexed auto part sought by a customer.
US08458055B2 Internet-based method of and system for managing and delivering consumer product information at points along the world wide web using consumer product information (CPI) requesting and graphical user interface (GUI) displaying subsystems driven by server-side objects and managed by consumer product manufacturers and/or authorized parties
Method of and system for delivering consumer product related information to consumers over the Internet. The system and method involves creating a Consumer Product Information (CPIR) enabling object for each consumer service registered within a service-provider managed database management system. The HTML tag associated with each CPIR-enabling object is encapsulated within an executable file and then stored in the database management system. Each CPIR-enabling object is searchable and its HTML tag downloadable and then embedded within an HTML-encoded document. Upon encountering the HTML document, the underlying CPIR-enabling object is automatically executed on an object-oriented server, causing a service-directed search to be performed against the database management system, and the results thereof, from one or more Web-based product information servers, displayed in an independent GUI, without disturbing the consumer's point of presence on the WWW.
US08458049B2 Identifying a secondary designation of an item
An item designation machine receives a seller-generated description of an item available for sale. The description is received from a seller of the item. The item designation machine identifies a proposed designation of the item based on the description of the item and presents the proposed designation to the seller. Where the seller refuses the proposed designation and selects a primary designation of the item distinct from the proposed designation, the item designation machine receives the selection from the seller and identifies the proposed designation as a secondary designation of the item. The item designation machine stores the primary and secondary designations in an item record within an item database of the network-based publication system. The item record indicates that the item is a specimen of the primary and secondary designations. The item designation machine lists the item as available for sale.
US08458045B1 Electronic auction processing and database system
Systems, methods and computer program products for processing inputs of various formats to be used in an auction are described. In some implementations, a conversion application can be used to assist a user in setting a conversion ratio by which a service can be valued (e.g., for converting values between commercial and proprietary currency). In some implementations, a cash value of the service to be rendered can be defined. In these implementations, the conversion application can facilitate the determination of an appropriate conversion ratio by which the cash value can be converted to other currency value (e.g., to other proprietary currency).
US08458040B2 Systems and methods for managing rights to broadband content
Systems and methods for managing rights to broadband content are provided. A request for broadband content may be received by a server. The received request may include a client identifier associated with a customer device from which the request is received and a content identifier associated with the requested broadband content. Based at least in part upon the client identifier, a billing account associated with the customer device may be identified, and one or more users associated with the billing account may be identified. A set of access rights for the one or more users may be determined and, based upon an analysis of the set of access rights, a determination may be made as to whether access to the broadband content is authorized.
US08458039B1 Inclusion of items in a data feed
This document relates to the re-inclusion of items in a data feed. For example, a feed of items is sent to a referral network site. The feed includes some of the items sold through an electronic commerce network site. The referral network site refers a plurality of customers to the electronic commerce network site. One of the items excluded from the feed is identified and a forecast of sales through the electronic commerce network site is generated therefor. The forecast of sales specifies a number of the one of the items projected to be sold that are subject to a referral from the referral network site. A determination is made as to whether to include the one of the items in the feed based at least in part upon the forecast of sales.
US08458037B2 Electronically maintained community escrow
Coin types of coins with which a user is permitted to pay for a transaction are divided into first and second groups. The coin types of the second group are of lower value than those of the first group. A difference in which a total amount of the transaction is a minuend is determined. Where the difference is positive and can only be exactly paid for by the user using just coins of the coin types of the second group, and where a community escrow has a current balance greater than the difference, the following is performed. In response to the user indicating that the difference should be paid for from the community escrow, the transaction is electronically credited from the community escrow by an amount equal to the difference, and the difference is electronically debited from the community escrow.
US08458027B2 System and method for offering multiple products
A system and method for a supplier to offer multiple new products to a first person and multiple pre-owned products to a second person are disclosed. The invention includes a method wherein the supplier receives a request from the first person for a first new product. After accepting the first new product, the supplier stores data identifying the first person and data relating to the first new product in a memory of a computer. Thereafter, the second person queries the supplier about a pre-owned product. The supplier searches the memory of the computer to determine whether the data relating to the first new product satisfies the second person's inquiry for the pre-owned product. If so, the supplier transmits an offer for a second new product to the first person based on the data identifying the first person. If the offer is acceptable to the first person, the supplier provides the second new product to the first person and the pre-owned product to the second person.
US08457992B1 System, method and computer program product for determining compliance with contracted pharmacy reimbursement rates
A computer-based system, method and computer program product for determining compliance with contracted pharmacy reimbursement rates. The computer-based system, method and computer program product includes storing pharmacy reimbursement contract information comprised of information regarding a plurality of contracts between a payor and a pharmaceutical product provider. A plurality of claims are received via an electronic communications network. One or more of the plurality of received claims are compared to at least one of the plurality of contracts by identifying, via computer processor, one or more of the plurality of contracts having pharmaceutical reimbursement contract information that is common with one or more of the received claims. If only one contract is identified, the one contract is associated with the received claims. An indication of the association of the one identified contract with one or more of the received claims is stored in a computer memory.
US08457988B1 Sensitive drug distribution system and method
A drug distribution system and method utilizes a central pharmacy and database to track all prescriptions for a sensitive drug. Information is kept in the database regarding all physicians allowed to prescribe the sensitive drug, and all patients receiving the drug. Abuses are identified by monitoring data in the database for prescription patterns by physicians and prescriptions obtained by patients. Further verification is made that the physician is eligible to prescribe the drug by consulting a separate database, and optionally whether any actions are taken against the physician. Multiple controls beyond those for normal drugs are imposed on the distribution depending on the sensitivity of the drug.
US08457987B2 Satori integrated health and financial benefits system and method
A shared medical savings system and method are provided that allow a patient to participate in the savings generated by selecting to have a medical procedure performed overseas. The system has one or more computing devices, a link that is capable of connecting the one or more computing devices to a medical shared savings unit that is capable of interacting with the computing devices. An employer uses the computing device to elect to participate in a medical savings plan using a Health Reimbursement Account, a patient using the computing device to select an overseas medical procedure that is part of the medical savings plan so that the savings for the overseas medical procedure is divided between the employer and the patient utilizing a medical savings plan.
US08457981B2 Bridged patient / provider centric method and system
A key organization method and system includes receiving a first access key that grants a patient-defined level of access to a first set of medical records, receiving a second access key that grants a patient-defined level of access to a second set of medical records, and storing the first and second access keys in a centralized key repository.
US08457978B2 Systems and methods for creating on-demand routes for powered industrial vehicles
Systems and methods for creating in a facility on-demand routes for powered industrial vehicles to transport cargo efficiently. In one embodiment, an on-demand route generation module receives receiving a request to move cargo. The module analyzes data about the current location, the current tasking, and the driver availability of PIVs in operation. Based on the information, the module creates an on-demand route through the facility and sends a notification to an assigned PIV to pick up the cargo and carry it on the defined on-demand route.
US08457972B2 Methods and apparatus for characterizing media
Methods and apparatus for characterizing media are described. A disclosed example apparatus includes a transformer, a decision metric processor, a signature determiner, and a processor to implement the transformer, the decision metric processor, and/or the signature determiner. The example transformer is to convert at least a portion of a block of audio into a frequency domain representation including a plurality of frequency components. The example decision metric processor is to: define a band of the frequency components; determine a difference in energy between a first convolution of a first complex vector with a first group of frequency bins in the band and a second convolution of a second complex vector with a second group of frequency bins in the band; and determine a decision metric for the band based on the difference. The example signature determiner is to determine a signature based on a value of the decision metric.
US08457970B2 Voice portal hosting system and method
Voice portal hosting system (2) with which a plurality of users (1) in a first voice telecommunication network (10) can establish a connection with a voice equipment (11), comprising a memory (26) in which a plurality of interactive voice response applications have been independently uploaded through a second telecommunication network (3) by a plurality of independent value-added service providers (4), wherein at least a plurality of said interactive voice response applications uses a common speech recognition module (24) run on said system.
US08457969B2 Audio pitch changing device
An effect device may be configured such that when an input audio signal switches from a consonant to a vowel and an input level of the switched vowel is greater than a threshold value Lc (and a variable t is greater than time Ts), an audio effect signal A may be generated. Such an effect device may allow for increasing the occurrences when portamento is simulated, while still sounding natural. In general, a detecting module detects whether an audio signal is a vowel sound or a consonant sound and whether the audio signal changed from a consonant sound to a vowel sound; and a pitch change module changes a pitch of the audio signal and changes, based on a prescribed function, an amount the pitch is changed to produce a modified audio signal, when the audio signal changed from a consonant sound to a vowel sound.
US08457965B2 Method for the correction of measured values of vowel nasalance
A method is described for correcting and improving the functioning of certain devices for the diagnosis and treatment of speech that dynamically measure the functioning of the velum in the control of nasality during speech. The correction method uses an estimate of the vowel frequency spectrum to greatly reduce the variation of nasalance with the vowel being spoken, so as to result in a corrected value of nasalance that reflects with greater accuracy the degree of velar opening. Correction is also described for reducing the effect on nasalance values of energy from the oral and nasal channels crossing over into the other channel because of imperfect acoustic separation.
US08457955B2 Voice reproduction with playback time delay and speed based on background noise and speech characteristics
A voice reproduction apparatus includes an ambient sound analysis unit to analyze a characteristic of an ambient sound, a characteristic analysis unit to analyze an acoustic characteristic of a signal for reproduction, a reproduction timing adjusting unit to record the signal for reproduction and to read the signal for reproduction at a reproduction timing of follow-up reproduction, a reproduction speed changing unit to change a reproduction speed of the read signal for reproduction, and a control unit to control the reproduction timing adjusting unit so that the signal for reproduction is reproduced at the reproduction timing corresponding to an analysis result of the ambient sound analysis unit and to control the reproduction speed changing unit so that the signal for reproduction is reproduced at the reproduction speed corresponding to the analysis result of the ambient sound analysis unit and the acoustic characteristic obtained by the characteristic analysis unit.
US08457950B1 System and method for coreference resolution
According to one aspect, a method for coreference resolution is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a segment of text that includes mentions corresponding to entities. A first feature vector is generated based on one or more features associated with a first mention, and a second feature vector is generated based on based on one or more features associated with a second mention. A measure of similarity between the first feature vector and second feature vector is computed and, based on the computed measure of similarity, it is determined if the first mention and the second mention both correspond to the same entity.
US08457945B1 Processor-in-the-loop co-simulation of a model
A model may be constructed and simulated using processor-in-the-loop co-simulation at a target device. In one implementation, a host environment may provide a graphical environment that facilitates construction of the model defined as a plurality of functional blocks. The host environment may receive, via graphical selection menus associated with the blocks of the model, an indication of which blocks of the model are to simulated at an external target device and which blocks of the model are to be simulated at the host environment. Further, the host environment may receive a command, that may be entered interactively by a user, to start simulation of the model and execute, in response to the command, co-simulation of the model at the host environment and the external target device.
US08457942B1 Exercise monitoring unit for executable architectures
Systems and methods for parallel, discrete, simulations include functional capabilities to incorporate one or more human operators or actors into the simulation process. Such individuals can be presented situations where one or more decisions are necessary with respect to ongoing events. Entered decisions are incorporated into simulated events and activities being simulated. These in turn influence the behavior of those entities and also initiate the occurrence of other time-based processes. An architecture artifact or product can be automatically created or updated by recording how a sequence of events took place. The creation of sections of the DoDAF OV-6C Operational Event Trace architectural diagram, for the executable architecture model, can be automatically performed to dynamically provide event traces in response to a live exercise.
US08457941B2 Method for determining gene knockouts
A method for determining candidates for gene deletions and additions using a model of a metabolic network associated with an organism, the model includes a plurality of metabolic reactions defining metabolite relationships, the method includes selecting a bioengineering objective for the organism, selecting at least one cellular objective, forming an optimization problem that couples the at least one cellular objective with the bioengineering objective, and solving the optimization problem to yield at least one candidate.
US08457930B2 Personalized fit and functional designed medical prostheses and surgical instruments and methods for making
The present invention provides methods, devices, systems, and instruments related to medical implants and surgical instruments produced to precisely fit individual subjects. In particular, the present invention utilizes a combination of medical imaging, quantitative image analysis, CAD, CAM, and additive manufacturing processes to personalized biocompatible devices.
US08457927B2 Method for diagnosing the functional reliability of a lambda probe
In the change from lean to rich exhaust gas or vice versa, signals are recorded by a lambda probe and are used to diagnose the functional reliability of this lambda probe. So that special reliability of this procedure is ensured, the change is triggered by an event. The event can be defined by signals of the lambda probe or can be caused by control actions of the operator in the motor vehicle.
US08457916B2 Method and device for calibrating a magnetic induction tomography system
This invention relates to a method and device for calibrating the offset of an imaging system. The core idea of the invention is to place a reference object in the measurement chamber of the imaging system, measure the signals associated with the reference object at different points of time, calculate the merit function based on changes of the parameters representing the electromagnetic property of the reference object, and derive an optimal set of offset data that minimizes the value of the merit function for compensating the offset of the system in subsequent image reconstructions. In one embodiment, the invention uses a reference object comprising a non-conductive envelope and a cavity which can be filled with a conductive fluid and emptied, and in this way reduces the imaging interference caused by the reference object during monitoring.
US08457909B2 Timing analysis
A method for analysing blade displacements detected by circumferentially-spaced stationary timing probes associated with a rotating blade assembly, the displacements corresponding to times at which the blades pass the probes. The method includes identifying resonant vibration events in the assembly by: for detected blade displacement detected by a probe, determining an associated running average blade displacement from a predetermined number of blade displacements detected by that probe for the same blade at adjacent rotations, and subtracting the associated running average blade displacement from the blade displacement to calculate a corresponding zeroed blade displacement; determining, for successive rotations, correlation factors that quantify the degree of correlation between the zeroed blade displacements for a particular blade on a particular rotation and modelled blade displacements corresponding to possible blade vibrational deflections on that rotation; and identifying a resonant vibration event on a rotation when one or more correlation factors cross a predetermined threshold.
US08457908B2 Sensing events affecting liquid flow in a liquid distribution system
By monitoring pressure transients in a liquid within a liquid distribution system using only a single sensor, events such as the opening and closing of valves at specific fixtures are readily detected. The sensor, which can readily be coupled to a faucet bib, transmits an output signal to a computing device. Each such event can be identified by the device based by comparing characteristic features of the pressure transient waveform with previously observed characteristic features for events in the system. These characteristic features, which can include the varying pressure, derivative, and real Cepstrum of the pressure transient waveform, can be used to select a specific fixture where a valve open or close event has occurred. Flow to each fixture and leaks in the system can also be determined from the pressure transient signal. A second sensor disposed at a point disparate from the first sensor provides further event information.
US08457900B2 Method for identification and sequencing of proteins
Protein samples are processed to create a mixture of modified and unmodified or overlapping peptides which are analyzed using mass spectrometry. Correlations between the MS/MS spectra of peptide pairs allow the noise in individual MS/MS spectra to be greatly reduced. A small number of peptide reconstructions can be generated that are likely to contain the correct one. This allows for the de novo reconstruction of protein sequences and peptide and modification identification through a database search using extremely fast pattern matching, rather than time-consuming matching of spectra against databases.
US08457896B2 Method and apparatus for determining locations of multiple casings within a wellbore conductor
Certain embodiments described herein provide methods, systems and computer-readable media for determining at least one location of at least one wellbore casing within a wellbore conductor. Sensor measurements generated by at least one sensor within the conductor are provided, the measurements indicative of at least one location of the at least one casing within the conductor as a function of position along the conductor. In certain embodiments, a data memory stores the measurements. The at least one location of the at least one casing is calculated using the measurements and at least one geometric constraint. The at least one constraint originates at least in part from at least one physical parameter of the conductor, or at least one physical parameter of the at least one casing, or both. In certain embodiments, a computer system or computer-executable component calculates the at least one location of the at least one casing.
US08457893B2 Methods and apparatus for generating an electronic record of a marking operation including service-related information and/or ticket information
Methods and apparatus for generating electronic records of marking operations for underground facilities/utilities. Electronic records of marking information may be logged/stored in local memory of a marking device, formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed at the marking device itself, and/or transmitted in whole or in part to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. In one example, service-related information and/or ticket information is collected and logged into an electronic record of a marking operation. Such information may in some cases be logged together with actuation data based on one or more actuations of a marking device (e.g., a trigger-pull to dispense marking material).
US08457891B1 Systems and methods for compensating nonlinearities in a navigational model
Systems and methods are provided for compensating nonlinearities in a navigational model. In one embodiment, a system comprises an inertial measurement unit configured to measure inertial motion of a vehicle and an aiding source configured to provide observational measurements of vehicle motion. Further, the system comprises a navigation computer coupled to the inertial measurement unit and the aiding source, wherein the navigation computer is configured to calculate a predicted state and an error covariance data based on the measured inertial motion received from the inertial measurement unit and the observational measurements from the aiding source and calculate variance increments based on attitude uncertainty in the predicted state. Also, the navigation computer is configured to add the variance increments into a process noise covariance matrix for the predicted state and calculate an update for the vehicle motion based on the predicted state, the error covariance data, and the observational measurements.
US08457886B2 Method for operating a navigation system
A device and a method for operating a navigation system having a data receiving device and a memory, map data of a map being stored in the memory, and when updated map data are received, these are entered, the map data being hierarchically organized and information being assigned to the map data regarding the update version of the map data.
US08457884B2 Method for the operation of a navigation system
The present invention relates to a method for operating a navigation system comprising the following method steps: a) calculating a route from a point of departure to a destination, said route being composed of a succession of route segments and junctions between the route segments and being selected by means of a route calculation process from a database in which a geographical region is described by route segments and junctions; b) calculating at least one maneuvering instruction which contains instructions for the user to follow the route starting from the current position; c) optically and/or acoustically outputting the maneuvering instruction in an output device, wherein prior to and/or during the calculation and/or prior to and/or during the output of the maneuvering instruction, a configuration file is read and interpreted by an interpretation module, and wherein configuring preset data for calculating and/or outputting the maneuvering instruction are stored in the configuration file.
US08457882B2 Systems and methods for navigation in a GPS-denied environment
Systems and methods for updating a navigation system are provided. In one implementation, a system includes: a navigation system configured to provide a navigational solution; at least one memory device configured to store a terrain object database, the terrain object database storing information that describes a terrain; a user interface configured to display a terrain model and receive position adjustments from a user; and a processing unit configured to generate displayable information for displaying the terrain model using the information stored on the at least one memory device and the navigational solution, and calculate corrections to the navigational solution from the position adjustments and transmit the corrections to the navigation system.
US08457880B1 Telematics using personal mobile devices
An approach to telematics using mobile devices provides battery-efficient trajectory and mileage inference from inaccurate and intermittent location data. Accurate trajectories of how users or vehicles move in the physical world are formed by processing raw position estimates obtained from noisy, inaccurate, and error-prone position sensors on mobile devices, where the position data may also arrive intermittently with long time gaps. The trajectory is formed using the process of map matching, which determines the trajectory on a map that best explains the sequence of position observations.
US08457878B2 Method and system for automatically creating POI by identifying geographic information on a screen of a portable navigation device
A method for automatically creating points of interest by identifying geographic information on a screen of a portable navigation device. A first geographic information is retrieved from an information page shown in the screen of the portable navigation device and recognized by comparing with the first geographic information with a geographic information of landmarks stored in a map database of the portable navigation device. It is determined whether the first geographic information is in the map database. If the geographic information is in the map database, a first GPS coordinate corresponding to the first geographic information is obtained and stored as a first POI.
US08457876B2 Global positioning tag system and method
A system for determining the location of an object includes an interrogator remote from the object and a transponder located at the object. The interrogator receives GPS signals and transmits pre-positioning data and a tracking signal to the transponder. The pre-positioning data includes pseudorandom noise (PRN) code number, Doppler frequency offset and code phase offset while the tracking signal includes reference time and frequency information. The transponder collects RF samples of at least one of the GPS signals associated with one of the PRN code numbers and correlates the RF samples of the GPS signal against code replicas of the GPS signal based on the Doppler frequency offset, code phase offset and reference time and frequency information for that GPS signal to produce the correlation snapshot. The transponder transmits the correlation snapshot to the interrogator and the interrogator determines the pseudorange associated with the GPS signal using the correlation snapshot.
US08457872B2 Method for managing the flight of an aircraft
The invention relates to a method for managing the flight of an aircraft flying along a trajectory and being subject to an absolute time constraint (on a downstream point) or relative time constraint (spacing with respect to a downstream aircraft), the said aircraft comprising a flight management system calculating a temporal discrepancy to the said time constraint, wherein the said method includes the following steps: the calculation of a distance on the basis of the temporal discrepancy, the modification of the trajectory: if the temporal discrepancy to the time constraint corresponds to an advance, the lengthening of the trajectory by the distance; if the temporal discrepancy to the time constraint corresponds to a delay, the shortening of the trajectory by the distance.
US08457868B2 Lane keeping assist device and lane keeping assist method
Lateral displacement reference positions LXL, LXR are set on left and right from a center in a width direction of a traffic lane L where a vehicle travels. Then, at least in a case where the vehicle is positioned on an inner side of the left and right lateral displacement reference position LXL, LXR, the vehicle is feedback-controlled so as to decrease a yaw angle deviation. Further, in a case where the vehicle is positioned at an outer side of the left and right lateral displacement reference position LXL, LXR with respect to the traffic lane center, the feedback control is performed so as to decrease the angle deviation and a lateral displacement deviation.
US08457865B2 Method for operating an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine (1) has a control arrangement (18) which regulates at least one control parameter for operating the engine (1). The control arrangement (18) includes a non-volatile memory (20) and a main memory (21). During operation of the engine (1), an operating value (xOperating) for the control parameter is continually stored in the non-volatile memory (20). When starting the engine (1), an initial value for the control parameter is determined. According to at least one criterion, a determination is made as to whether the operating value (xOperating) stored in the non-volatile memory (20) or a standard value (xStandard) is used as the initial value for the control parameter.
US08457864B2 Variable valve timing control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A variable valve timing control apparatus for an engine includes a hydraulic variable valve timing unit and an oil pressure control device. The variable valve timing unit has a plurality of control ranges and an ambiguity range. The apparatus learns a hold control amount for each of the plurality of control ranges when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the hold control amount is required to control the oil pressure control device to maintain the actual VCT phase. When the target VCT phase is positioned in the ambiguity range, if a difference between the actual and target VCT phases is stably greater than a predetermined value, the apparatus switches the presently-used hold control amount learning value of one control range into the learning value for the other control range in order to compute the VCT control amount.
US08457861B2 Late lean injection with adjustable air splits
A gas turbine engine is provided and includes a combustor having a first interior in which a first fuel is combustible, a turbine into which products of at least the combustion of the first fuel are receivable, a transition zone, including a second interior in which a second fuel and the products of the combustion of the first fuel are combustible, a plurality of fuel injectors which are configured to supply the second fuel to the second interior in any one of a single axial stage, multiple axial stages, a single axial circumferential stage and multiple axial circumferential stages, a compressor, by which air is supplied to the first and second interiors for the combustion therein, and a control system configured to control relative amounts of the air to the first and second interiors and relative amounts of the first and second fuels supplied to the first and second interiors.
US08457854B2 Method and device for limiting the output signal of a sensor to reduce noise
An algorithm for limiting the output of a master cylinder pressure sensor in an electronic brake control system to a value that is a function of the master cylinder pressure and the travel of the brake pedal.
US08457852B2 Device and method for preventing a motor vehicle engine from stopping in an automatic brake operation
A device and method for preventing a motor vehicle engine from stopping are described, which includes a device for preventing a motor vehicle engine from stopping in an automatic brake operation, the device including the following features of a unit for providing an engine speed signal that corresponds to the speed of the motor vehicle engine, and a brake interruption unit, which is developed to interrupt the brake operation if the engine speed signal assumes a value that lies below a predetermined threshold value, the threshold value being greater than an engine stop threshold value that indicates a minimum speed of the motor vehicle engine.
US08457845B2 Seatbelt control apparatus
A seatbelt control apparatus includes seatbelt control means that controls a motor for retracting a seatbelt; and motor current detecting means that detects a current of the motor. The seatbelt control apparatus further includes jamming determination means, indicator detecting means, and threshold value setting means. The jamming determination means determines whether or not the seatbelt is jammed during take-up operation on the basis of whether or not the motor current detected by the motor current detecting means exceeds a threshold value for jamming determination. The indicator detecting means detects an indicator of a current versus load characteristic of the motor. The threshold value setting means sets the threshold value for jamming determination on the basis of the indicator detected by the indicator detecting means.
US08457839B2 Multi-display vehicle information system and method
Embodiments of the present invention include a vehicle human machine interface (HMI) for control by a vehicle occupant. The HMI may include a first graphical display, a second graphical display, a plurality of input controls, and a vehicle computer communicating with the first and second graphical displays. The vehicle computer may be configured to receive user input defining user instructions for controlling one or more functions of the vehicle. In response to the input, the computer may be configured to present on the first and second graphical displays a vehicle function identifier color associated with the vehicle function.
US08457833B2 Apparatus for tracking and recording vital signs and task-related information of a vehicle to identify operating patterns
An apparatus is provided for diagnosing the state of health of a vehicle and for providing the operator of the vehicle with a substantially real-time indication of the efficiency of the vehicle in performing an assigned task with respect to a predetermined goal. A processor on-board the vehicle monitors sensors that provide information regarding the state of health of the vehicle and the amount of work the vehicle has done. In response to anomalies in the data from the sensors, the processor records information that describes events leading up to the occurrence of the anomaly for later analysis that can be used to diagnose the cause of the anomaly. The sensors are also used to prompt the operator of the vehicle to operate the vehicle at optimum efficiency.
US08457832B2 Vehicle body speed estimating device
A vehicle body speed estimating device. An attitude angle estimating mechanism estimates a roll angle and a pitch angle. A longitudinal speed computing mechanism computes longitudinal vehicle body speed. A vehicle body speed estimator estimates lateral vehicle body speed by using, as state amounts of vehicle motion, the longitudinal vehicle body speed and the lateral vehicle body speed, and on the basis of respective detected values of longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration and yaw angular velocity of vehicle motion, and respective estimated values of the roll angle and the pitch angle, and a product of a computed value of the longitudinal vehicle body speed and a value obtained from an absolute value of the detected value of the yaw angular velocity.
US08457831B2 Power door safety locking system
A safety locking system is provided to detect an open fault or a ground fault condition. The safety locking system includes a central processing unit with an input and an output, and a safety switch electrically connected to the input of the central processing unit. The input receives a low signal when the safety switch is in an enabled state and a pulsed signal when the safety switch is in a disabled state. The central processing unit detects an open fault condition when the input receives a high signal for a time period greater than a threshold time period, and a ground fault condition when the input receives the low signal and the safety switch operates as if the safety switch is in the disabled state.
US08457829B2 System and method for determining characteristics of a physical environment with simple motion patterns
A system and method for determining characteristics of a physical environment with simple motion patterns are provided. A plurality of raw orientation readings are received from a simple motion pattern. A distribution of possible wall orientations upon each raw reading is determined. Wall direction is determined as the mean value of the distribution.
US08457817B2 Distributed train intelligence system and method
A system and method which may include on each locomotive a propulsion system and a braking system; a transceiver for communication between the locomotives; and sensors for sensing operational conditions on the locomotive. A processor receives the sensed operation conditions, communicates information including the sensed operational conditions to the other locomotive, determines a propulsion or braking value or command based on the sensed operational conditions, pre-selected criteria and the information received from the other locomotive, and outputs the propulsion or braking value or command. The present system may include on each locomotive a location determining device and a storage of track topology; and the processor determines and communicates to the other locomotive as information an initial propulsion or braking value using the topology of the present and projected location of the locomotive and pre-selected criteria, determines a final propulsion or braking value or command based on the initial value and the information received from the other locomotive, and outputs the final propulsion or braking value.
US08457789B2 Wall-following robot cleaner and method to control the same
A robot cleaner that cleans a cleaning region while traveling the cleaning region and a method to control the same are provided. The robot cleaner can uniformly clean a cleaning region based on a wall-following technique which allows the robot cleaner to travel along the outline of the cleaning region. The method selects, as a reference wall, a wall at a left or right side of the robot cleaner at a start position of the robot cleaner based on a left or right-based travel algorithm, which allows the robot cleaner to travel along a left or right wall, and controls the robot cleaner to travel the cleaning region in a zigzag travel pattern in which the robot cleaner moves a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the reference wall at specific intervals along the selected reference wall while following the selected reference wall.
US08457788B2 Method for teaching carrier means, storage medium and substrate processing apparatus
In a substrate processing apparatus, before a carrier is carried by a carrier arm, a carrier jig is held by a holding part provided to the carrier arm. First, the carrier arm is actuated to move the holding part of the carrier arm to a preset lowering start position. Then, an image including an opening in a table is taken. Thereafter, a distance between a central position of the opening and a central position of a region of the image is calculated, so as to obtain an amount of horizontal positional shift between the preset lowering start position and an ideal position. The lowering start position of the holding part is corrected by the positional shift as a correction value, whereafter the carrier is placed on the table at the corrected lowering start position.
US08457782B2 Method and system for referencing a specific mail target for enhanced mail owner customer intelligence
The present application relates to the ability to track mail items through a postal authority network with reference to a specific mail target. More particularly, the present application relates to a system and method for enabling tracking of event data by a mail owner of one or more mail items specifically by mail target through a mail delivery network's mail stream.
US08457777B2 Accessor control failover in an automated data storage library
A method, system and a computer program product to increase the availability of an automated data storage library for accessing and storing data storage media are provided. Work requests received by an accessor controller of the library from a host computer are also received and stored by a work request tracking controller. The accessor controller converts the work request into commands necessary to direct an accessor to fulfill the work request, and then sends such commands to an accessor. Upon detection by the work request tracking controller that the so-directed accessor failed to conduct the command issued by the accessor controller, the work request tracking controller reconstructs the work request and sends it to an accessor controller. The provision of a work request tracking controller is a failover mechanism in the event an accessor controller fails to successfully direct an accessor to conduct commands in furtherance of a work request and/or has, for whatever reason, lost the work requests in its queue.
US08457775B2 Method for defining a uniform injection molding interface and an injection molding system using the same
A method for defining a uniform injection molding interface includes selecting at least one common control parameter from multiple injection molding machines, setting at least one standardization page, establishing a uniform injection molding interface by configuring the at least one common control parameter into the at least one standardization page, storing the data related to the uniform injection molding interface into a storage unit, and connecting the uniform injection molding interface to the control device via an input control device to enable the control device to control the multiple injection molding machines in response to the control parameters set via the uniform injection molding interface.
US08457770B1 Ratings-based digital media distribution and reproduction for a wireless network
A digital media distribution system has a wireless network serving a plurality of wireless subscribers wherein the wireless network supports digital media file transfer. A content server is coupled to the wireless network for distributing media items to wireless subscribers upon request. The media items each comprises a plurality of rated versions, wherein the rated versions of each particular media item depict the same media content customized to meet a respective rating from a plurality of ratings. The content server offers each media item for downloading as a single unit containing the plurality of rated versions. A subscriber terminal selects and downloads selected media items as respective single units to be stored in the subscriber terminal. The subscriber terminal includes a trigger stored in the subscriber terminal. The trigger has a value for identifying one of the plurality of ratings to be used by the subscriber terminal for accessing the downloaded media items. A media application on the subscriber terminal activates a downloaded media item according to the rated version specified by the trigger value for the subscriber terminal and ignoring the other rated versions.
US08457769B2 Interactive audio recording and manipulation system
A system for interactive audio recording and manipulation may include a controller having at least one two-axis analog control and plurality of control buttons. The controller may be coupled to a computing device including a processor, a memory, and an audio interface including at least one audio input port to accept an input audio signal and at least one audio output port to provide an output audio signal. The system may perform actions in response to inputs from the controller. The actions may include recording the audio input signal as a recorded track, playing the recorded track to provide an audio output signal, scrubbing the recorded track in response to activation of the two-axis analog control along a first axis, and pitch-shifting one of the input audio signal and the output audio signal in response to activation of the two axis analog control along a second axis.
US08457754B2 Apparatus and method for electrical stimulation of human neurons
An apparatus and method for retinal stimulation are shown. The method comprises varied parameters, including frequency, pulse width, and pattern of pulse trains to determine a stimulation pattern and neural perception threshold, and creating a model based on the neural perception thresholds to optimize patterns of neural stimulation.
US08457742B2 Leadless cardiac pacemaker system for usage in combination with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
A cardiac pacing system comprising one or more leadless cardiac pacemakers configured for implantation in electrical contact with a cardiac chamber and configured to perform cardiac pacing functions in combination with a co-implanted implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The leadless cardiac pacemaker comprises at least two leadless electrodes configured for delivering cardiac pacing pulses, sensing evoked and/or natural cardiac electrical signals, and bidirectionally communicating with the co-implanted ICD.
US08457741B2 Estimation of dedicated bipolar pacing vector threshold
Methods and devices are described that allow estimation of an electrostimulation capture threshold, such as a dedicated bipolar pacing vector threshold. In an example, an equal-energy assumption between first and second pacing vectors can be used to estimate an electrostimulation capture threshold of a second pacing vector from a measured electrostimulation capture threshold of the first pacing vector and impedances of the first and second pacing vectors. In an example, a relationship between first and second pacing vectors can be determined from measured data, and a parameter of the relationship can be used with a measurement of an electrostimulation capture threshold of the first pacing vector to estimate an electrostimulation capture threshold of the second pacing vector.
US08457738B2 Pacing catheter for access to multiple vessels
Cardioprotective pacing is applied to prevent and/or reduce cardiac injury associated with myocardial infarction (MI) and revascularization procedure. Pacing pulses are generated from a pacemaker and delivered through a plurality of pacing leads introduced into a patient's body through a percutaneous transluminal vascular intervention (PTVI) catheter have a plurality of exit ports. In one embodiment, the exit ports are arranged for the pacing leads to enter multiple specified blood vessels.
US08457737B2 Apparatus and method for identifying atrial arrhythmia by far-field sensing
In a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter/defibrillator, cardiac arrhythmias are detected to determine necessary therapeutic action. Cardiac signal information is sensed from far field electrodes implanted in a patient. The sensed cardiac signal information is then amplified and filtered. Parameters such as rate, QRS pulse width, cardiac QRS slew rate, amplitude and stability measures of these parameters from the filtered cardiac signal information are measured, processed and integrated to determine if the cardioverter/defibrillator needs to initiate therapeutic action.
US08457721B2 Apparatus and method for cardiac ablation
Cardiac mapping and ablation include a multi-electrode catheter introduced percutaneously into a subject's heart and deployable adjacent to various endocardial sites. The electrodes are connectable to a mapping unit, an ablation power unit a pacing unit, all of which are under computer control. Intracardiac electrogram signals emanated from a tachycardia site of origin are detectable by the electrodes. Their arrival times are processed to generate various visual maps to provide real-time guidance for steering the catheter to the tachycardia site of origin. In another aspect, the system also includes a physical imaging system which is capable of providing different imaged physical views of the catheter and the heart. These physical views are incorporated into the various visual maps to provide a more physical representation. Once the electrodes are on top of the tachycardia site of origin, electrical energy is supplied by the ablation power unit to effect ablation.
US08457720B2 Apparatus for assisting with the positioning of an implant
An apparatus for assisting with positioning of an implant on a specific point in a vessel of a patient is proposed. A first interventional instrument is inserted in a region of the specific point. A series of 2D x-ray recordings of the vessel with the first instrument are obtained by adjusting an x-ray device. Based on markers of the first instrument mapped in the 2D x-ray recordings, at least two reference lines are defined restricting the specific point. A second interventional instrument is inserted in the region of the specific point. Fluoroscopy images of the vessel with the second instrument are obtained by adjusting the x-ray device. The reference lines in the fluoroscopy images are superimposed as localization aid. The specific point in the vessel can also be restricted by a reference region as a localization aid defined based on x-ray recordings of the specific point obtained using contrast agent.
US08457710B2 Diagnostic imaging method and apparatus for the anatomical region of the pelvic floor
A method for determining information for a diagnosis of pathologic conditions of the anatomical region of the pelvic floor by MRI imaging includes acquiring a sequence of MRI images along one or more predetermined section planes or inside a predetermined three-dimensional area, which planes intersect or which three-dimensional area contains at least a part of the pelvic floor. The image sequence is acquired for a time interval coinciding with or including at least a part of the length of the physiological process evacuating natural solids or liquids carried out on the basis both of a natural stimulation and an induced stimulation or during a simulation of physiological processes evacuating solids or liquids by introducing foreign bodies or substances simulating natural products. The method further includes generating a film of the cinematographic type by using as individual frames one or more images of the sequence and displaying the film for visually verifying the dynamic-morphologic behavior of organs of the pelvic floor.
US08457708B2 Transcutaneous analyte sensor
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
US08457706B2 Estimation of a physiological parameter using a neural network
A neural network is used to combine one or more estimates of a physiologic parameter with one or more associated signal quality metrics, creating a more accurate estimate of said physiologic parameter, as well as a second estimate of the accuracy of said physiologic parameter estimate.
US08457704B2 Single use pulse oximeter
A single use, self-contained, self-powered disposable oximeter, in the form of a patch or a bandage strip, has mounted thereto a light emitter and a light sensor that together measure at least the SpO2 of the patient. Mounted to an electronics layer of the patch is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that has electronics integrated thereto that controls the operation of the light emitter and light sensor, and the algorithm for calculating from the data collected by the sensor at least the SpO2 of the patient. Optionally, a display and an alarm may also be mounted or embedded onto the patch for respectively displaying at least the SpO2, and for informing the caregiver/patient that at least the SpO2 is not within an acceptable range, if such is the case. Also provided in the patch is a battery that powers the operation of the ASIC circuit and the emitter, as well as the display and alarm if such optional components are provided on the patch. An attachment mechanism is also provided on the patch. Such mechanism may be in the form of an adhesive layer that can removably attach the patch to the patient in either a transmissive mode or a reflective mode. The patch oximeter may also be equipped with a transceiver, and the appropriate electronics, for wirelessly transceiving information to/from a remote device or another wireless patch oximeter. In place of a self-contained power source, the power for operating a wireless patch oximeter may be retrieved from a remote power source, provided that the patch oximeter is within a given distance from such remote power source.
US08457701B2 Case for portable electronic device
A case for an electronic device protects the electronic device. The case has a lower case portion and an upper case portion, which assemble together to protect the electronic device. A back of the case can include a back opening to expose a camera lens and flash of the electronic device or first and second back openings. The first back opening exposes the camera lens. The second back opening exposes the flash.
US08457695B2 Mobile communication terminal having fragrance member
A mobile communication terminal includes a fixed body, and a movable body coupled with the fixed body. At least one of the fixed body and the movable body has a fragrance member at a portion thereof that generates friction when the movable body moves.
US08457693B2 Power consumption control apparatus in PDA phone
A mobile device is configured to control power consumption. The mobile device includes a detector configured to detect at least one of an active input or a passive condition. The passive condition is determined to be present based on a comparison of a device state or a change in the device state to a threshold. A controller is configured to respond to the detected active input or passive condition by causing less than all components in the mobile device, including the display screen of the mobile device, to enter a power saving mode from within in a calling mode, where an amount of power supplied to the display screen is reduced in the power saving mode. Operational modes of the mobile device include the power saving mode and the calling mode. The mobile device consumes more power in the calling mode than in the power saving mode.
US08457692B2 Method and system for preventing device operation when driving
A method and system are presented for restricting the use of a portable electronic device by a driver who is operating a vehicle. A body area network (BAN) signal is sent from a vehicle device in the vehicle in close proximity to the driver. The BAN signal is transmitted using the driver's biological body as a signal transmission path. The portable electronic device includes a receiver configured to detect the BAN signal when the device is in close proximity to the driver. The portable electronic device is further configured to disable or restrict at least one function in response to detection of the BAN signal, thereby preventing or restricting use of the portable electronic device when the driver is seated in and operating the vehicle.
US08457689B2 Handheld electronic device with dedicated standby key
A handheld electronic device comprises a dedicated standby key for initiating a standby mode in the handheld electronic device. The handheld electronic device further comprises means for disabling at least a portion of a keyboard and any navigation actuator of the handheld electronic device upon entry into the standby mode. The dedicated standby key is embedded along a first edge of the handheld electronic device.
US08457681B2 Wireless base station, wireless communication system, method for controlling transmission power of wireless base station, and storage medium of program for controlling transmission power of wireless base station
A connection request signal generation unit transmits a connection request signal to a selected neighboring base station selected from neighboring base stations existing around. A common channel reception processing unit, when receiving a response signal which corresponds to the connection request signal, from the selected neighboring base station, stores a value of transmission power with which the connection request signal is transmitted most recently, as a response time transmission power, in correspondence to the selected neighboring base station, and determines a minimum response transmission power of which value is the smallest among at least one response-time transmission power after storing the at least one response-time transmission power for the neighboring base stations; and calculate a transmission power of a common channel with which the own station should transmit, based on the minimum response transmission power. An ordinary processing unit performs a transmission through a common channel by using the common channel transmission power.
US08457676B2 Power headroom reporting method
A method, user equipment, network device, and software product enable a user equipment to determine that at least one of several triggering criterion have been met, in which case the user equipment provides a power control headroom report on an uplink from the user equipment. The triggering criterion includes a threshold having been reached, and the threshold is adjustable via a signal to the user equipment from a base station (such as an eNodeB).
US08457666B2 Interface between web applications for text messaging and packet-switched networks
Systems and methods are disclosed for interfacing SMS/MMS web applications with packet-switched networks. One embodiment comprises a system that handles a Mobile Terminated (MT) text message from a web application to a packet-switched network. The system receives a send command for the MT text message from the web application. The send command is based on a standard used by the web application, such as Parlay X. The system converts the send command for the MT text message to a SIP send request, and transmits the SIP send request for the MT text message to a packet-switched network for delivery to a recipient.
US08457660B2 Methods and apparatus for conserving power in a mobile communication device
A technique for conserving power in a mobile communication device operative in a wireless communication network is described. The mobile device identifies a condition to change a parameter in the wireless communication network. However, the mobile device delays for a period of time until an expected message used for registration is to be sent to the wireless communication network. The mobile device provides the parameter within the expected message used for registration, and causes the expected message used for registration to be transmitted to the wireless communication network.
US08457657B2 Method and apparatus for peer-assisted localization
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for receiving, by a first mobile station, a signal transmitted from a second mobile station and addressed to a communication device (e.g., a communication device having a known location). The signal comprises a location estimate for the second mobile station. A range from the first mobile station to the second mobile station is estimated based at least in part on a measured signal strength of the received signal.
US08457656B2 Wireless tracking system and method utilizing multiple location algorithms
The present invention provides a solution to mistaken location calculations based on multipath effects. The present invention determines a real-time location of an object in a facility using a combination of location algorithms, with a signal characteristic for a wireless signal from a communication device attached to the object received at a sensor of a mesh network. The location algorithms preferably include at least two of a proximity algorithm, a radial basis function algorithm, a maximum likelihood algorithm, a genetic algorithm, a minimum mean squared error algorithm, a radiofrequency fingerprinting algorithm, a multilateration algorithm, a time difference of arrival algorithm, a signal strength algorithm, a time of arrival algorithm, an angle of arrival algorithm, a spatial diversity algorithm, and a nearest neighbor algorithm.
US08457645B2 Channel allocation for channel allocation tiering
A method and device for channel allocation using channel allocation tiering (CHAT), where radio resources are de-coupled from hardware resources and the available hardware resource units in a cell are divided into logical groups, “channel tiers”. Each tier simultaneously utilizes, partly or fully, the same radio resources. There is a first tier and at least a second tier. In accordance with the invention terminals are allocated to the first tier until a radio resource load threshold close to but less than 100% is reached. Terminals are allocated channels on said at least second tier based upon a terminal's interference suppression capabilities, or the radio requirements of the service being used on the terminal, or the radio location of the terminal, or a combination of the above.
US08457642B2 Determining a coordinating set of cells for multipoint reception of uplink transmission from a mobile terminal
Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a set of cooperating cells for a mobile terminal in a mobile communication network for CoMP transmission or reception. A cell map is stored in memory of serving base station. The cell map associates one or more coordinating areas within the serving cell with corresponding sets of neighboring cells. To determine the set of cooperating cells for a given mobile terminal within a serving cell, the serving base station determines the current location of the mobile terminal. The current location of the mobile terminal is compared to the cell map stored in memory to determine the coordinating set for the mobile terminal.
US08457639B2 System and method for providing intelligent cell reselection for delay sensitive data applications
A mobile station for receiving delay-sensitive data from a wireless communications network is provided with a data buffer and cell reselection controller. The data buffer receives data from the network and stores the data for communication to a delay-sensitive data application. The cell reselection controller selectively inhibits cell reselection in order to meet requirements of the delay-sensitive data application. By intelligently controlling cell reselection, delay sensitive data may be received in a more reliable fashion, thereby increasing performance of the data application.
US08457637B2 Mobile communication method, mobile station, and radio base station
A mobile station UE according to the present invention comprising a gist thereof is to include, a measurement configuration acquisition unit 12 configured to acquire a measurement configuration for a second cell #2 frequency f2 from the radio base station eNB#A managing a first cell #1 by transmitting a measurement configuration request to the radio base station eNB#A managing the first cell, when it is determined that it is determined to desire to measure the second cell #2 using a frequency f2 different from a frequency f1 of the first cell #1 in communication and there is not held the measurement configuration for a second cell #2 frequency f2; and a measurement report transmission unit configured to transmit a measurement report including a reception quality in the second cell #2, to the radio base station eNB#A managing the first cell #1, in response to the received measurement configuration for a second cell #2 frequency f2.
US08457630B2 System and method for transferring a device between mobile carriers
There is disclosed a system and method for transferring a mobile handheld device between mobile carriers. In an embodiment, a system for transferring a handheld device between mobile carriers comprises a provisioning system for receiving from a first mobile carrier a request to register the device on the first mobile carrier's wireless network; a database uniquely identifying the device to determine if the device has been previously registered; deactivation means for deactivating the device from the second mobile carrier's wireless network if the device has been previously registered to a second mobile carrier; and registration means for registering the device on the first mobile carrier's wireless network upon confirmation that the device has been deactivated from the second mobile carrier's wireless network. The device may be uniquely identified by a unique electronic serial number (ESN) or a unique product identification number (PIN).
US08457628B2 Wireless network roaming timer method and apparatus
A mobile station in a wireless network includes a roaming timer. The roaming timer is set based on various criteria, and when the roaming timer expires, an attempt to roam is performed.
US08457610B2 System and method for automatically drafting a blog entry
There is disclosed a system and method for automatically drafting blog entries. In an embodiment, the method comprises: defining a triggering event for generating a draft blog entry; detecting the triggering event; and upon detection of the triggering event, automatically generating a draft a blog entry in a predetermined format. The triggering event may comprise, for example, capturing an image, video clip, sound clip, or browsing a webpage having a URL on the wireless mobile device, and the method may further comprise automatically inserting the captured image, video clip, sound clip, or URL into the draft blog entry in the predetermined format together with automatically generated text. Some of the text may be generated in dependence upon the triggering event.
US08457605B2 Method for gender identification of a cell-phone subscriber
The invention relates to a method for gender identification of a cell-phone subscriber. There are two main steps: constructing a general model of female and male calling behaviour from a set of variables obtained for each subscriber; and classifying an individual calling behaviour of a subscriber comparing it with the general model. The method includes the step of constructing the general model comprises obtaining a set of data, that may be obtained from calling detail records, that are saved at a database every time a subscriber makes or receives a phone call; computing a set of variables using a set of instances from subscribers who their gender is already known; and applying an algorithm which generates groups labelled as male or female behaviour. Finally, in the step of classifying, the gender of the subscriber is identified by assigning to the subscriber the label of the closest group.
US08457597B2 Method for authenticating a mobile unit attached to a femtocell that operates according to code division multiple access
The present invention provides a method involving a femtocell in communication with an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. In one embodiment, the femtocell operates according to code division multiple access (CDMA) standards. The method includes receiving, from the femtocell and at a first secure entity in the IMS network, first authentication information generated by the mobile unit using a first random number broadcast by the femtocell in a global challenge. The method also includes receiving, from a second secure entity in the secure network, at least one security key formed based on the global challenge and second authentication information for uniquely challenging the mobile unit. In one embodiment, the second secure entity is a CDMA-based authentication server. The method further includes providing the security key(s) to the femtocell in response to authenticating the mobile unit based upon the second authentication information.
US08457592B2 Configurable communications device
A communications device is configured to receive an input from a user device when the communications device is positioned proximate the user device. The user device includes a data store having at least an identifier. The communications device is configured to adjust at least one operational setting within the communications device upon receiving the input.
US08457588B2 Method and apparatus for discontinuous reception of connected terminal in a mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for controlling an active time period during a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) operation in a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system. The method includes starting, in the UE, a first timer to monitor control data via a shared control channel, the control data being associated with user data to be transmitted; and starting, in the UE, a second timer, when the control data indicating a new transmission of associated user data is received via the shared control channel while the first timer is running, or restarting, in the UE, the second timer, when the control data indicating a new transmission of associated user data is received via the shared control channel while the second timer is running.
US08457583B2 Wireless communication device, wireless communication method, and wireless communication system
By switching to a method that allocates frequency diversity as an independent signal sequence during the time when an influence of fading is small, adaptively corresponding to an increase and decrease of fading, performs stable wireless communication, and frequency resources are effectively utilized. A wireless communication system selects and performs quadruple diversity which is composed of space diversity using two uncorrelated antennas and frequency diversity using two waves of frequencies f1 and f2 or double diversity of only the space diversity. A matching filter 211 evaluates that the influence of fading is small when all tap information from adaptive matched filters 207 to 210 indicates a value greater than or equal to a threshold, and while switching selector switches 104 and 215 and performing only the space diversity, transmitting and receiving independent two transmission data that is respectively modulated by modulators 102 and 103.
US08457582B2 Adaptive control apparatus using multiple adaptive control methods
In the adaptive control apparatus, a computation unit computes weighting coefficients, using a first adaptive control method in a proportion α of a first computation amount, where the first adaptive control method has a first convergence rate and a first convergence error. Further, a computation unit computes weighting coefficients from initial values of the weighting coefficients computed by the computation unit, using a second adaptive control method in a proportion (1−α) of a second computation amount, where the second adaptive control method has a second convergence rate slower than the first convergence rate and a second convergence error smaller than the first convergence error. A controller controls determination of a ratio α/(1-α) based on a moving speed of a mobile unit, and controls the computation units to perform computing processes.
US08457581B2 Method and system for receiving I and Q RF signals without a phase shifter utilizing a leaky wave antenna
Methods and systems for receiving in-phase and quadrature (I and Q) radio frequency (RF) signals without a phase shifter utilizing a leaky wave antenna are disclosed and may include generating in-phase and quadrature signals using a leaky wave antenna coupled to one or more low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) on a chip and without a phase shifter. The RF I and Q signals may be communicated from the single leaky wave antenna using coplanar feed points and/or feed points on a top surface and a bottom surface of the single leaky wave antenna. The leaky wave antennas may be integrated on the chip, on a package to which the chip is affixed, and/or on a printed circuit board to which the chip is affixed. The RF I and Q signals may be amplified by the one or more LNAs and may down-convert the RF I and Q signals to baseband signals.
US08457578B2 Discrete time receiver
A discrete time receiver includes a low noise transconductance amplifier (LNTA), a discrete time sampler, a passive discrete time circuit, and a switched capacitor amplifier. The LNTA amplifies a received RF signal and provides an amplified RF signal. The discrete time sampler samples the amplified RF signal (e.g., with multiple phases of a sampling clock) and provides first analog samples. The passive discrete time circuit decimates and filters the first analog samples and provides second analog samples. The switched capacitor amplifier amplifies the second analog samples and provides third analog samples. The discrete time receiver may further include a second passive discrete time circuit, a second switched capacitor amplifier, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that digitizes baseband analog samples and provides digital samples. The discrete time receiver can flexibly support different system bandwidths and center frequencies.
US08457573B2 Automatic gain control with state machine controller feedback
An automatic gain control circuit is described including a state machine controller for adjusting intermediate frequency gain and radio frequency gain and a baseband demodulator, wherein the baseband demodulator receives information from the state machine controller regarding status of the state machine controller and further wherein the state machine controller receives correlation information from the baseband demodulator. Also described is a method including detecting a signal, providing state machine controller information to a baseband demodulator, reducing a radio frequency gain, reducing an intermediate frequency gain and receiving correlation information from the baseband demodulator.
US08457572B2 Audio comparison method and apparatus
An audio comparison method and apparatus compares audio streams by measuring the times of volume peaks in the audio streams and identifying correlations between the peaks in the audio streams, subject to possible delay between the streams. The audio comparison allows the identification of audio streams including the same audio content even in the presence of delay and distortion and using low processing power. The audio comparison has particular application in car radios to allow automatic retuning.
US08457565B2 Power amplifier circuit, and transmitter and wireless communication device using the same
To provide a power amplifier circuit, which is capable of amplifying a signal having envelope variation with high power added efficiency, and exhibits low power consumption and high versatility, as well as to provide a transmitter and a wireless communication device using the power amplifier circuit, the power amplifier circuit includes: a constant envelope signal generation circuit (20) for converting an input signal (Si) having envelope variation into two constant envelope signals (Sd1, Sd2); a first and a second amplifiers (11, 12) for amplifying the two constant envelope signals to output two amplified signals (Sh1, Sh2); and an output adder (13) for performing vector addition of the two amplified signals. Further, the power amplifier circuit includes: a power distributor (23) for generating two fundamental signals (Sa1, Sa2) and a fundamental signal for conversion (Sb) from the input signal (Si); and a converted signal generation circuit (30) for generating two converted signals (Sc1, Sc2) from the fundamental signal for conversion, and performs vector addition of the two fundamental signals and the two converted signals to output the two constant envelope signals (Sd1, Sd2).
US08457564B2 Dual-use portable display device
A keyboard extension for a removable, portable display device such as a cellphone that also functions to house the display device. The display device housing is shaped and sized to securely enclose the removable, portable display device. The keyboard extension may have keyboard housing panels that are substantially equal in size to the display device being removably housed. These keyboard housing panels ham be hingeably connected so that in a first configuration, the keyboard extension may function as a portable display device holder, while in a second configuration it may function as a wirelessly connected, split, full size keyboard input to the portable display. The keyboard extension may also include a numeric keypad housing panel that may be hingeably connected to either of the keyboard housing panels.
US08457561B2 Method and system for signal strength measurement
In a radio comprising a transmitter and a receiver, transmission and reception of signals may be controlled based on received signal strength measurements from a signal strength indicator module and transmitted signal strength measurements from the signal strength indicator module. For the transmitted signal strength measurements, the shared signal strength indicator module may measure signal strength of a signal output by a power amplifier. For the received signal strength measurements, the shared signal strength indicator module may measure signal strength of a received signal. A capacitance coupled to an output of the power amplifier may be configured based on a frequency of the signal output by the power amplifier. A gain of the power amplifier may be controlled based on the transmitted signal strength measurements. For the transmitted signal strength measurements, an analog-to-digital converter may process the signal output by the power amplifier.
US08457559B2 Techniques to improve the radio co-existence of wireless signals
Techniques are described that can be used to perform one or more of the following actions in order to reduce signal interference between WLAN and BlueTooth radios that are proximate to one another. One action is to selectively reduce a filter bandwidth in a WLAN radio applied to a received WLAN radio signal to reduce BlueTooth signal interference. An additional or alternative action is to selectively indicate a WLAN radio channel bandwidth larger than a channel bandwidth used for the WLAN radio so that the BlueTooth radio avoids transmitting over the indicated channel bandwidth. An additional or alternative action is to selectively reduce BlueTooth transmitter power in response to antenna isolation between BT and WLAN radio being less than a first threshold in order to reduce the likelihood of WLAN radio front end saturation.
US08457557B2 Wireless synchronization mechanism
A media delivery device that can automatically initiate and establish a secure wireless communication channel with an audio output device comprises a proximity module that recognizes a mutual engagement zone proximate to the media delivery device. The proximity module can detect when the audio output device is within the mutual engagement zone. Moreover, the media delivery device further comprises a communication module wherein upon the proximity module detecting the audio output device within the mutual engagement zone, the communication module automatically initiates and establishes a wireless communication channel with the audio output device. The media delivery device can then wirelessly communicate with the audio output device outside of the mutual engagement zone using the wireless communication channel.
US08457556B2 Apparatus and method for providing wireless communication and global positioning for a wireless computer mouse
Wireless computer mouse operation may be provided by receiving a user detection signal from a sensor of the wireless computer mouse to determine the presence of a user. In one embodiment, an operation mode of the wireless computer mouse may be determined by a controller based, at least in part, on the user detection signal. Thereafter, the controller can enable at least one of a short range wireless communication module and a global positioning receiver of the wireless computer mouse based on the operation mode determined by the controller.
US08457550B2 Wireless communication device and power receiving device
A wireless communication device is provided and includes: a first communication processing unit performing communication in an electromagnetic induction system by using a first antenna unit; a second communication processing unit performing communication at higher speed than the first communication processing unit by a system or a communication frequency different from the electromagnetic induction system by using a second antenna unit; and a power generation unit generating power at least for performing communication operations from a carrier signal received by the first antenna unit. The power is generated in the power generation unit by switching a frequency resonance characteristic of the first antenna unit.
US08457542B2 Image forming apparatus with waste toner bottle
An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing mechanism for opening a lid member when a toner collecting portion including a waste toner bottle and the lid member for the waste toner bottle is mounted into an apparatus main body while closing the lid member when the toner collecting portion is removed from the apparatus main body. The opening/closing mechanism includes a first contact portion provided in a toner discharging portion for discharging toner for rotating the lid member in a first direction by coming into contact with the lid member when the toner collecting portion is mounted into the apparatus main body, and a second contact portion mounted in the apparatus main body for rotating the lid member in a second direction by coming into contact with the lid member when the toner collecting portion is removed from the apparatus main body.
US08457540B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A belt-fixing device to fix a toner image on a sheet includes an endless belt, a first roller disposed inside the endless belt, a second roller disposed in contact with the first roller via the endless belt, forming a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium passes, and a ring shape edge for controlling movement of the belt in an axial direction, provided on an inner surface of the endless belt. The ring shape edge is positioned between the first roller and the second roller.
US08457538B2 Image forming apparatus and method of image forming
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that is rotatable; a transfer member that is rotatably disposed so as to face the image carrier, the transfer member transferring an image carried by the image carrier to a sheet; a leading end gripping member that is attached to the transfer member, the leading end gripping member gripping a leading end of the sheet in the transport direction on an outer peripheral surface of the transfer member; a trailing end holding member that holds a trailing end of the sheet in the transport direction between the trailing end holding member and the outer peripheral surface of the transfer member; and a controller that changes a distance between the leading end gripping member and the trailing end holding member when holding the sheet on the basis of a length of the sheet in the transport direction.
US08457526B2 Image forming apparatus having a sheet conveyance path including a linear path to an image forming portion
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet storage portion, an image forming portion, a sheet ejector, a sheet-reversing unit, first to fourth conveying paths, and a two-sided conveyance unit. The fourth conveying path includes a linear path formed between two conveyance guides constituting the two-sided conveyance unit. The two-sided conveyance unit is supported in a slidable manner along a slider provided to an apparatus main body. One of the two conveyance guides is made of a flat guide plate and is supported in such a manner that it can be opened or closed with respect to the other conveyance guide.
US08457524B2 Developing cartridge, image forming apparatus, and method of mounting/demounting developing cartridge to/from image forming apparatus
A developing unit usable with an image forming apparatus includes a first frame to support a photoconductive medium, a second frame to support a developing member to apply a developer to the photoconductive medium, the second frame movable between a first position in which the photoconductive medium is at a developing gap from the developing member, and a second position in which the photoconductive medium is away from the developing member by a distance exceeding the developing gap, and a positioning unit to move the second frame from a current position in accordance with mounting and demounting of the developing unit to and from the image forming apparatus.
US08457521B2 Method for preventing damage to a photoconductor
An in situ replacement of a cartridge (200) for an electrophotographic printer includes providing a rigid, cylindrical photoreceptive member (206) enclosed in a housing (233), wherein the housing comprises a removable shield (231a, 231b); inserting the housing and photo receptive member into the printer; and removing the shield.
US08457511B2 Image forming method and image forming device
An image forming method includes transferring images carried by an image carrier to a transfer material by a transfer roller coming in contact with the image carrier via the transfer material, the transfer roller having a concaved portion in its circumferential surface and contacting with or being separated from the image carrier due to its rotation, separating the transfer roller from the image carrier by the rotation of the transfer roller after transferring the images to the transfer material, stopping the transfer roller in a state where the transfer roller is separated from the image carrier, and moving the image carrier and cleaning the image carrier using a cleaning member while the transfer roller is stopped.
US08457509B2 Image forming apparatus and detecting method of pattern image regarding image quality adjustment
An image forming apparatus includes: an obtaining unit that radiates light from a light-emitting unit onto the image carrier and that obtains an output value of a light-receiving unit having received the light reflected from the image carrier; a light amount setting unit that calculates a required light amount value and that sets a light amount adjusting value; a detecting unit that detects a pattern image on the image carrier and by judging whether an output value obtained by radiating light of the light amount adjusting value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a controller that controls image formation on the image carrier based on a detected result, wherein the detecting unit reduces the threshold when the required light amount value exceeds the limiting value depending on degree of the excess.
US08457505B2 Image forming apparatus with heater control and error detection, and control method for the same
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a fixing part having a heater; a control part controlling ON/OFF of power distribution to the heater; a power source part generating a voltage for driving the control part; a main switch for turning ON/OFF power supply from outside to the power source part; and an interrupt signal generation part generating a periodical interrupt signal. The control part, based on the interrupt signal, controls ON/OFF of the power distribution to the heater, turns OFF power supply to the heater upon passage of predetermined time since disappearance of the interrupt signal, and judges that an error has occurred, when the control part is still driving after passage of driving stop time from when the main switch is turned OFF to when the control part stops its driving since the disappearance of the interrupt signal.
US08457504B2 Adaptive equalization in coherent fiber optic communication
An embodiment of the invention is a technique to equalize received samples. A coefficient generator generates filter coefficients using an error vector and input samples. A filter stage generates equalized samples from input samples using the filter coefficients. The received samples are provided by a receiver front end in an optical transmission channel carrying transmitted symbols. Other embodiments are also described.
US08457497B2 Optimized directionless optical add/drop module systems and methods
The present disclosure provides optimized configurations for a directionless reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer application. The present invention includes an add module with improved optical signal-to-noise through placing amplifiers prior to a multi-cast optical switch. The present invention includes various drop module configurations utilizing distributed gain, channel selective filters, and bi-directional configurations to reduce power consumption and complexity. Additionally, the present invention includes an integrated broadcast and select architecture.
US08457495B2 Network system, optical network unit and optical line terminal
It is necessary to completely remove overlapping of signals between plural PONs in order to make the PONs coexist. Accordingly, it is required to share or intensively manage bandwidth use conditions over an optical fiber that serves as a common band between plural systems. Therefore, transmission clocks should be synchronized with high accuracy between plural systems. A reference clock is provided from an external device or a representative OLT to the entire systems to perform clock synchronization between plural systems, so that the overall systems are synchronized by synchronizing each OLT with the reference clock. A hierarchical management method is selected that manages ONUs under the control of each OLT by managing band use information arranged for each OLT with respect to an external device or a representative OLT for sharing of bandwidth use conditions between plural systems.
US08457491B2 Allocation of transmission power in an optical communication system
Methods and apparatus for determining transmission power of a plurality of optical channels for transmission of the channels along respective paths obtained through an optical transmission system. Information is obtained indicative of the path of each channel through the optical transmission system, and each channel is allocated to a group of channels in dependence upon the obtained information. A quality metric is determined for each group of channels, and a total transmission power for each group is determined in dependence upon the determined quality metric.
US08457490B2 Use of subcarrier deactivation in a multi-subcarrier channel to improve reach in an optical network
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a method may include determining that a transmission of a data signal over a path of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network using a group of optical subcarriers is not optically feasible; determining that the transmission of the data signal over the path using a subset of the group of optical subcarriers is optically feasible; activating subcarriers for the subset of optical carriers while deactivating one or more optical subcarriers of the group, at least one deactivated subcarrier provided between at least two activated subcarriers of the group; and transmitting the data signal over at least a portion of the path using the activated subcarriers of the group.
US08457487B2 Camera assembly and portable electronic device
A camera assembly includes a camera module, a dustproof cover and a sealing ring. The dustproof cover is assembled in front of the camera module. The sealing ring is hermetically sandwiched between the dustproof cover and the camera module. The camera module, the sealing ring and the dustproof cover cooperatively define a closed chamber. A portable electronic device using the camera assembly is also provided.
US08457486B2 Imaging apparatus with display and image display apparatus
A digital camera is provided with a vertically long camera body having an approximately rectangular solid shape. An LCD panel provided in a rear surface of the camera body is arranged such that longitudinal directions of the display screen and the camera body correspond to each other. The digital camera is operated through a touch panel provided in a lower portion of the display screen. In a taking mode, an image is displayed in a small size on an upper portion of the display screen. In reproducing, the camera body is rotated sideways by 90 degree. Ina reproducing mode, display posture of the image is also rotated by 90 degree, and the image is displayed in a large size on the entire display screen.
US08457478B2 Method and apparatus for receiving, storing, and presenting multimedia programming without indexing prior to storage
A method and apparatus for improved digital recording and presentation of broadcast information is disclosed. Received broadcast data, which may include video, audio, private, or other data, relating to one or more particular content programs, is presented from an input section to a buffer and recorded directly onto a storage device without any intelligent parsing, such as indexing, and without any manipulation by intermediate hardware or software functions. Upon normal presentation, statistics may be generated to determine the ideal number of frames to skip, the number of bytes to seek, and the size of data files to read from the storage device during time-shifted presentation. Algorithms and processes are provided to dynamically optimize time-shifted presentation. In this way, data may be captured to the storage device more efficiently and economically, and the time-shifted presentation operations may be performed in a smoother, more nuanced manner with the application of appropriate probabilistic algorithms.
US08457475B2 Systems and methods for interactive program guides with personal video recording features
Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented. Other PVR related features are also provided.
US08457470B2 Systems and methods for a common image data array file
Image data file systems and methods are operable to generate image data files for a plurality of images having a common image data array, and are operable to generate images from the image data files. An exemplary embodiment stores a common image data array into a master image data file, wherein the stored common image data array corresponds to an image data array of a first image of the plurality of images; and generates a soft link image data file based upon a second image of the plurality of images, wherein an image data array of the second image is the same as the common image data array, and wherein a soft link in the soft link image data file identifies a location of the stored common image data array.
US08457465B1 Optical attenuation system
An optical attenuation system that includes first and second attenuators providing different attenuations of corresponding received optical signals. The first attenuator receives an optical signal emitted by a transmitter of a first transceiver and delivers the received optical signal to a receiver of a second transceiver. The second attenuator receives an optical signal emitted by a transmitter of the second transceiver and delivers the received optical signal to a receiver of the first transceiver. A method may include determining first and second optical attenuations for the first and second attenuators, respectively, and for at least one attenuator, arranging a first fiber optic cable having a first core size in series with a second fiber optic cable having a second core size to provide the determined corresponding optical attenuation.
US08457451B2 Semiconductor optical element
A semiconductor optical element having a mesa structure formed by wet etching, includes a mesa structure having a ridge-type mesa structure or a high-mesa-type mesa structure, the mesa structure being disposed on a semiconductor substrate, and an extended mesa on the semiconductor substrate, the extended mesa being connected to a corner of the mesa structure and being the same material as the mesa structure.
US08457448B2 Removing inserted text from an image using extrapolation for replacement pixels after optical character recognition
A method of removing inserted text from a digital image includes recognizing the inserted text in the digital image using optical character recognition; and replacing pixels of the digital image corresponding to the inserted text so as to remove the inserted text from the digital image. A computer program product for removing inserted text from a digital image includes an inserted text removal program stored on a computer-readable medium, the program including an optical character recognition module for recognizing inserted text in a digital image; and an extrapolation module for replacing pixels corresponding to the inserted text in the digital image with replacement image pixels so as to remove the inserted text from the digital image. A photo printing kiosk includes an interface for receiving a digital image; an optical character recognition module for recognizing inserted text in the digital image; and an extrapolation module for replacing pixels corresponding to the inserted text in the digital image with replacement image pixels so as to remove the inserted text from the digital image.
US08457444B2 Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus includes: a display state detecting unit that detects a display state of an image to be displayed on the basis of a received moving image data; and a control information transmitting unit that transmits, to a transmission source of the moving image data, control information regarding transmission of the image data, in accordance with the display state.
US08457441B2 Fast approximate spatial representations for informal retrieval
A spatial region, such as a geographic region, may be represented by a series of vectors in a binary tree or other binary representation. The binary tree may be generated by successively dividing a region into smaller rectangles or vectors, until either a vector is completely within the region or reaches a size limit. The vectors may be ordered, allowing a linear comparison between two binary trees to determine if one space overlaps the other. Because the comparison between two ordered binary trees results in an ordered binary tree, subsequent comparisons may also be performed linearly.
US08457437B2 System and method for enhancing registered images using edge overlays
The system relates to a method for enhancing an image by extracting edge points from a corresponding image and overlaying the edge points on the image to be enhanced. In one aspect of the method, the first image is of a lower resolution than the second image. The method also contemplates enhancing an image taken with a first modality with a second image taken with another modality.
US08457436B2 Method for processing a digital image, in particular for processing contour regions, and corresponding device
A method of processing a digital image which includes at least one contour zone, including a contour zone sharpness processing. The sharpness processing includes a conversion of the cues regarding level of pixels of the contour zone into initial main cues, lying between zero and a main value dependent on the amplitude of the contour, a sharpness sub-processing performed on these initial main cues so as to obtain final main cues, and a conversion of the final main cues into final cues regarding levels.
US08457430B2 Region-based method for iterative regularization image enhancement, and associated region-based apparatus and associated processing circuit
A region-based method for iterative regularization image enhancement, includes: for each region of a plurality of regions of an image, performing at least one gradient calculation of an objective function of a latest representative function of the region and updating the latest representative function according to the gradient calculation; and for the region of the plurality of regions of the image, when at least one predetermined convergence criterion is not satisfied, iteratively updating the latest representative function according to at least one gradient calculation of the same objective function of the latest representative function. In particular, the region-based method further includes: for the region of the plurality of regions of the image, when the predetermined convergence criterion is satisfied, performing postprocessing on the latest representative function of the region to generate an iteratively regularized partial image corresponding to the region. An associated region-based apparatus and processing circuit are further provided.
US08457414B2 Detection of textural defects using a one class support vector machine
Method for detecting textural defects in an image. The image, which may have an irregular visual texture, may be received. The image may be decomposed into a plurality of subbands. The image may be portioned into a plurality of partitions. A plurality of grey-level co-occurrence matrices (GLCMs) may be determined for each partition. A plurality of second-order statistical attributes may be extracted for each GLCM. A feature vector may be constructed for each partition, where the feature vector includes the second order statistical attributes for each GLCM for the partition. Each partition may be classified based on the feature vector for the respective partition. Classification of the partitions may utilize a one-class support vector machine, and may determine if a defect is present in the image.
US08457413B2 Pattern recognition method, character recognition method, pattern recognition apparatus, and character recognition apparatus
According to one embodiment, a pattern recognition method includes calculating similarities of the input pattern with respect to respective categories, converting the calculated similarities of the input pattern with respect to the respective categories into first evaluation values based on a first table which indicates a relationship between similarities for respective categories and first evaluation values, calculating second evaluation values based on the calculated first evaluation values for the respective categories and prior probabilities for the respective categories stored in a second table indicating prior probabilities of the respective categories, and selecting a category corresponding to a maximum value of the calculated second evaluation values.
US08457410B2 Over-parameterized variational optical flow method
An optical flow estimation process based on a spatio-temporal model with varying coefficients multiplying a set of basis functions at each pixel. The benefit of over-parameterization becomes evident in the smoothness term, which instead of directly penalizing for changes in the optic flow, accumulates a cost of deviating from the assumed optic flow model. The optical flow field is represented by a general space-time model comprising a selected set of basis functions. The optical flow parameters are computed at each pixel in terms of coefficients of the basis functions. The model is thus highly over-parameterized, and regularization is applied at the level of the coefficients, rather than the model itself. As a result, the actual optical flow in the group of images is represented more accurately than in methods that are known in the art.
US08457407B2 Electronic apparatus and image display method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a text recognition module, a group creation module, a group extraction module, an arrangement module, and a movie generator. The text recognition module recognizes a character string in a plurality of still images. The group creation module creates a plurality of groups by classifying the plurality of still images. The group extraction module extracts, from the plurality of groups, groups including a still image which meets a predetermined condition. The arrangement module arranges still images included in the extracted groups in a predetermined order, and inserts a still image included in the extracted groups and including the character string at a predetermined position of the still images which are arranged. The movie generator generates movie data for successively displaying the arranged still images in the extracted groups.
US08457395B2 Image capture and identification system and process
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.
US08457386B2 System and method for generating and regenerating 3D image files based on 2D image media standards
Disclosed are a system and a method for generating and regenerating three-dimensional (3D) images file based on two-dimensional (2D) image media standards, a 3D image file generating device for generating a 3D image file having a data area, which includes first image data and second image data synchronized with the first image data so as to be used for generating a 3D image, a header area including information of the first image data, and a metadata area including information of the second image data, and a 3D image file regenerating device, which parses information of the first and the second image data when a 3D image file is inputted so as to synthesize and regenerate the first and the second image data into a 3D image file.
US08457375B2 Visualization method and imaging system
A method is provided for visualization of hollow organs of a patient. An x-ray image dataset of the hollow organ is recorded and registered. A number of individual x-ray images are recorded during a movement of an instrument with a data capture unit through the hollow organ, with each individual x-ray image featuring time information. Datasets of a data capture unit of an instrument is recorded during the movement of the instrument, with each dataset featuring time information. Position of the instrument is determined based on the individual x-ray images by an image recognition algorithm. The datasets of the data capture unit and the position of the instrument is spatially assigned based on the time information of the datasets of the data capture unit and the individual x-ray images. The datasets of the data capture unit is jointly displayed with the x-ray image dataset.
US08457374B2 System for detecting catheterization devices
A medical image data processing system automatically identifies a catheterization device including marker objects for use in identifying the catheterization device in a medical image for Angiography or another medical procedure. The system includes an image data processor that automatically identifies non-marker objects in a medical image by comparing image data representing individual non-marker objects with image data representing a template non-marker object. The processor automatically identifies catheterization device marker objects by comparing image data representing individual candidate marker objects with image data representing a template marker object and by processing image representative data to provide processed image data excluding image data representing non-marker objects. A user interface generates data representing a display image indicating identified marker objects and an associated catheterization device using the processed image data for presentation to a user.
US08457363B2 Apparatus and method for detecting eyes
An apparatus for and a method of detecting eyes from an input face image. The apparatus for detecting eyes includes: an eye candidate detector which divides an input face image into left and right images and detects at least one eye candidate from limited image regions of the left and right images; an eye candidate evaluator which evaluates the eye candidates by evaluating each combination of the eye candidates using geometric information as to the eye candidates to filter out eye candidates that cannot be eyes; a learning database which stores a plurality of face images in which positions of eyes are arranged and a plurality of face images which do not include eyes or in which positions of eyes are not arranged; and an eye candidate verifier which verifies the eye candidates with reference to the learning database and outputs an eye detection result signal.
US08457359B2 Method and assistance system for detecting objects in the surrounding area of a vehicle
A method for determining relevant objects in a vehicle moving on a roadway An assistance function is executed in relation to a position of a relevant object, and the relevant objects are determined on the basis of an image evaluation of images of a surrounding area of the vehicle. The images are detected by way of camera sensors. By way of a radar sensor positions of stationary objects in the surrounding area of the vehicle are determined. A profile of a roadway edge is determined using the positions of the stationary objects and that the image evaluation is carried out in relation to the roadway edge profile determined. A driver assistance system suitable for carrying out the method is also described.
US08457356B2 Method and system of video object tracking
Methods and systems are provided to determine a target tracking box that surrounds a moving target. The pixels that define an image within the target tracking box can be classified as background pixels, foreground pixels, and changing pixels which may include pixels of an articulation, such as a portion of the target that moves relatively to the target tracking box. Identification of background image pixels improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the image, which is defined as the ratio between the number of pixels belonging to the foreground to the number of changing pixels, and which is used to track the moving target. Accordingly, tracking of small and multiple moving targets becomes possible because of the increased signal-to-noise ratio.
US08457353B2 Gestures and gesture modifiers for manipulating a user-interface
Gesture modifiers are provided for modifying and enhancing the control of a user-interface such as that provided by an operating system or application of a general computing system or multimedia console. Symbolic gesture movements are performed by a user in mid-air. A capture device generates depth images and a three-dimensional representation of a capture area including a human target. The human target is tracked using skeletal mapping to capture the mid-air motion of the user. Skeletal mapping data is used to identify movements corresponding to pre-defined gestures using gesture filters. Detection of a viable gesture can trigger one or more user-interface actions or controls. Gesture modifiers are provided to modify the user-interface action triggered by detection of a gesture and/or to aid in the identification of gestures.
US08457344B2 Speaker device
A flat speaker device capable of emitting loud reproduced sound with a relatively simple configuration is provided. The speaker device includes a diaphragm, a frame supporting the diaphragm vibratably in the vibration direction, a magnetic circuit disposed in the frame, and a driving member for driving the diaphragm. The driving member includes a voice coil movably disposed in a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit, a driving part formed movably in a direction different from the vibration direction of the diaphragm, and an angle conversion and transmission part, one end of which is angle-variably joined to the driving part and another end of which is angle-variably joined to the diaphragm. The angle conversion and transmission part has rigidity and is obliquely disposed with respect to each of the vibration direction of the diaphragm and the moving direction of the driving part.
US08457332B2 Microphone and orientation sensor assembly
A microphone and orientation sensor system includes a microphone and an orientation sensor. The microphone has a diaphragm. The orientation sensor includes an inertial load member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The sensor also includes at least one electrode positioned adjacent to the inertial load member. The sensor further includes a beam. The inertial load member pivots about the beam, and the pivoting of the load member causes a change in a distance between the first end and the electrode resulting in a change in capacitance between the first end and the electrode. The diaphragm and electrode are formed from a common layer of material.
US08457330B2 Method and apparatus for boosting an audible signal in a notification system
The present invention is an apparatus and a concomitant method for boosting the audio signal generated by at least one notification appliance in a supervised emergency voice evacuation system.
US08457327B2 Mixer and communication connection setting method therefor
Mixer and one or more external devices, related to audio signal processing, are interconnected via a communication network, such as a LAN. For a particular one of the external devices for which communication with the mixer via the communication network is to be established, a network address unique to the particular external device and a communication protocol to be used for data communication with the particular external device are designated by entry operation by a user. Logical connection is established such that data communication is performed, in accordance with the designated communication protocol, between the mixer and the particular external device corresponding to the designated network address. Thus, data communication is performed, via the communication network, between the mixer and the particular external device for which the logical connection has been established.
US08457326B2 Output circuit for audio codec chip
An output circuit for audio codec chip includes a noise eliminating circuit electrically coupled to the audio codec chip for eliminating noise signals. The noise eliminating circuit includes a first switch and a second switch. When the audio codec chip output signals jump from low voltage level to high voltage level, the noise signals are grounded via the first and second switches respectively.
US08457320B2 Wind noise classifier
A special purpose machine measures and modulates communication signals that are parsed into frames. Frames of signals modulated and measured to have certain qualities are deemed to be the result of wind noise. Frames of wind noise are cancelled from further use within a communication system.
US08457308B2 Communication system and method for protecting messages between two mobile phones
A communication system and method for protecting messages between two mobile phones are provided. The method sets protective parameters in a first mobile phone, generates an encryption key and a decryption key according to the protective parameters, stores the decryption key into a storage device of the first mobile phone, and registers the encryption key to a second mobile phone through a wireless network. The method further encrypts a short message into an encrypted message in the second mobile phone according to the encryption key, and sends the encrypted message to the first mobile phone through the wireless network. In addition, the method decrypts the encrypted message to a readable message when the first mobile phone receives the encrypted message, and displays the readable message on a display screen of the first mobile phone.
US08457307B2 Method and system for generating implicit certificates and applications to identity-based encryption (IBE)
The invention relates to a method of generating an implicit certificate and a method of generating a private key from a public key. The method involves a method generating an implicit certificate in three phases. The public key may be an entity's identity or derived from an entity's identify. Only the owner of the public key possesses complete information to generate the corresponding private key. No authority is required to nor able to generate an entity's private key.
US08457301B2 Multi-frequency tone detector
A tone detector for detecting a tone having a plurality of targeted frequencies comprises a first filter bank providing frequency estimates for an initial indication of a presence of each of the targeted frequencies; a second filter bank being controlled by the frequency estimates and comprising a plurality of filters operating in different frequency bands, each frequency band comprising at least one of the targeted frequencies, each of the filters providing a modified signal; a third filter bank extracting a noise signal from the input signal; a plurality of level control units (LCU) providing normalized modified signals having a constant amplitude; a power estimation module providing a power estimation parameter for each of the modified signals and the noise signal; and a discrimination module controlling a plurality of demodulator modules, each of the demodulator units providing a fine estimate of one of the targeted frequencies.
US08457297B2 Distributing transactions among transaction processing systems
A method and system to distribute transactions among a plurality of transaction processing systems is described herein. The method includes automatically receiving data from a first transaction processing system; identifying scheduled handling resources for each of the transaction processing systems for a first time interval based on the data from each transaction processing system; determining transaction allocations for each of the transaction processing systems based upon generated forecast data; and distributing transactions among the plurality of transaction processing systems by producing routing decisions based upon the determined transaction allocations and the scheduled handling resources.
US08457286B2 System, method and apparatus for acknowledging an incoming phone call
An embodiment of a method, system, and apparatus for acknowledging an incoming call includes receiving an incoming call request addressed to a first communication device from a second communication device, and forwarding the incoming call request to the first communication device. The method further includes receiving an acknowledgment indication from the first communication device that the incoming call request has been received by a user of the first communication device. The method still further includes connecting a call between the second communication device and a media server in response to receiving the acknowledgment indication. In at least one embodiment, the media server is configured to play an acknowledgment voice message to the second communication device. A further embodiment includes sending a reminder message to the first communication device if the user of the first communication device has not initiated a return call to the second communication device within a predetermined time period.
US08457260B2 System and method for acquisition in wireless communication systems
Techniques for supporting efficient operation by terminals in a wireless communication system are described. A base station transmits a preamble periodically in each superframe. The preamble includes at least one first OFDM symbol for control information followed by at least one second OFDM symbol for paging information. A terminal receives the first and second OFDM symbols and determines a receiver gain based on the received power of the first OFDM symbol(s), e.g., with an AGC loop having a shorter time constant than the duration of the first OFDM symbol(s). The terminal processes the second OFDM symbol(s) based on the receiver gain to obtain the paging information. The terminal may operate in an idle state, determine superframes assigned to the terminal, sleep between the assigned superframes, and process the first and second OFDM symbols in each assigned superframe to obtain the paging information.
US08457253B2 Apparatus and method for estimating a channel in a broadband wireless communication system
Channel estimation in a broadband wireless communication system is provided. A receiver includes a frequency interpolator for interpolating in a frequency axis using at least one of channel estimation values estimated through pilot signals and channel estimation values generated using a time-axis interpolation, a determiner for determining a compensation coefficient to compensate for edge distortion using the channel estimation values estimated through the pilot signals, and a compensator for generating a completed channel estimation value by multiplying a channel estimation value generated by interpolating in the frequency axis, by the compensation coefficient.
US08457249B2 Method and apparatus for crest factor reduction in telecommunications systems
A method and device for reducing Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) of a transmitted signal in a wireless telecommunication system utilizing CFR technique, the method including performing peak-windowed clipping of a transmitted signal using at least two cascaded clipping stages and individually configuring parameters for each clipping stage before performing the peak-windowed clipping.
US08457248B2 Apparatus and method for mapping symbols to resources in a mobile communication system
A method for transmitting data information and control information by a transmitter in a communication system is provided. The method includes identifying an amount of resources to be used for control channel transmission within a predetermined maximum amount of resources available for control channel transmission among total resources of a subframe; mapping control information onto the identified amount of resources to be used for the control channel transmission; mapping data information onto all remaining resources of the subframe, other than the identified resources used for the control channel transmission among the total resources; and transmitting information related to the amount of resources to be used for the control channel transmission, through a predetermined control channel; and transmitting the mapped control information, and the mapped data information.
US08457243B2 Transmitter comprising a pulse width pulse position modulator and method thereof
A baseband signal generator (102a) provides a polar signal (A, I p) to a processing sub-unit (704p). The processing sub-unit (704p) receives furthermore feedback signals from a down converting unit (704c) which feedback signals are used to determine the magnitude (B) of the amplified output signal and the actual error phase. The magnitude (A) of the polar signal and the determined magnitude (B) are applied to a comparator (710) having its output connected to the input of a predistortion unit (214, 216). The output of the predistortion unit (214, 216) is connected to the input of a pulse width modulating unit (210, 212) which comprises a mapping unit (210) outputting two constant magnitude signals. The actual error phase and the phase component of the polar signal are used to generate a corrected phase component which is applied to a further mapping unit (202) forming part of a phase modulating unit (202, 204). The output signals of this phase modulating unit (202, 204) are applied to the pulse width modulating unit (210, 212) providing finally two pulse width pulse position modulated signals. These signals are applied to the switching amplifier (110).
US08457239B2 Method and device for managing the operation of an apparatus, for example an MB-OFDM apparatus, in presence of an eventual interfering signal
The method is for managing operation of a first apparatus belonging to a first communication system and exchanging within the first communication system a multi-carrier modulated signal on several sub-carriers. The method includes detecting at the first apparatus the presence of an interfering signal emitted from a victim apparatus on a sub-carrier. The method may also include determining at the first apparatus the path loss between both apparatuses, determining from the path loss and from an allowed interference level at the victim apparatus a maximum allowed transmit power on the sub-carrier of a multi-carrier modulated signal to be transmitted from the first apparatus, and adjusting within the first apparatus the processing of the multi-carrier modulated signal to be transmitted in accordance with the maximum allowed transmit power.
US08457231B2 Quasi-orthogonal space-time block encoder, decoder and methods for space-time encoding and decoding orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signals in a multiple-input multiple-output system
Embodiments of quasi-orthogonal space-time encoder, decoder and method for space-time encoding and decoding orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signals in a multiple-input multiple-output (MDMO) system are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a method of decoding received multicarrier signals comprises deriving objective functions from a received signal matrix, minimizing the objective functions to generate decoded hard bits, and solving a set of linear equations of the objective functions to generate decoded soft bits.
US08457216B2 Communication via a multimode constellation
An apparatus includes a digital data transmitter capable of sequentially exciting different sets of one or more propagation modes in a physical communication channel. Each set of one or more propagation modes has a different spatial distribution of transmitted energy in the channel. The digital data transmitter is configured to sequentially change the excited set of one or more propagation modes to transmit a different value of data to the communication channel.
US08457214B2 Video compositing of an arbitrary number of source streams using flexible macroblock ordering
In one embodiment, a system includes a compositor operable to receive a plurality of source video streams, each containing source images, and to convert each of the source video streams into source slice groups using flexible macroblock ordering (FMO). The compositor is further operable to add pad slice groups to the source slice groups to create a composite image, and reorder the source slice groups and pad slice groups into a single composite output stream. A device receives the single composite output stream and displays the composite image as a rectangular picture that has a size larger than that of any of the source images. 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 technical disclosure.
US08457211B2 System and method for image coding
A system and method for image coding with error feedback are provided, including a method comprising receiving image data containing at least one macro block of pixels, and computing an activity indicator for a macro block. The method further comprising computing prediction error values for pixels in the macro block, and scaling the prediction error values based on the activity indicator.
US08457197B2 Adaptive filtering for bit-depth scalable video codec
Adaptive filtering may be used to increase the quality of tone mapped, baseline layer encoded information. As a result, scalable video codecs may be implemented with improved picture quality in some embodiments.
US08457195B2 Video compression system
A video compression system is disclosed that is optimized to take advantage of the types of redundancies typically occurring on computer screens and the types of video loss acceptable to real time interactive computer users. It automatically adapts to a wide variety of changing network bandwidth conditions and can accommodate any video resolution and an unlimited number of colors. The disclosed video compression encoder can be implemented with either hardware or software and it compresses the source video into a series of data packets that are a fixed length of 8 bits or more. Sequences of one or more of these packets create unique encoding “commands” that can be sent over any network and easily decoded (decompressed) with either software or hardware. The commands include 3 dimensional copying (horizontal, vertical and time) and unique efficiencies for screen segments that are comprised of only two colors (such as text). Embodiments are also disclosed that improve the video compression depending on the popularity of pixel colors.
US08457192B2 Pulse width modulator
A switch-modulator for a radio-frequency power amplifier, arranged to modulate the I-signal and the Q-signal of the complex components (I+j·Q) separately in an I-signal part and a Q-signal part in order to create a modulated I-signal pulse sequence and a modulated Q-signal pulse sequence, wherein the modulation comprises a time-shift of the pulse positions within a sample interval.
US08457191B2 Adaptive equalizer and related methods
An adaptive equalizer. Implementations of adaptive equalizers may include implementations of 8-QAM adaptive equalizers that may include a signal filter, an adaptive processor coupled to the signal filter and a slicer coupled to the signal filter and the adaptive processor. The slicer may be configured to utilize a plurality of desired signals corresponding to an 8-QAM signal constellation having four quadrants, four levels disposed along the I-axis, and three levels disposed along the Q-axis. The slicer may also be configured to output an error signal by receiving an equalized output signal, processing the equalized output signal by correlating the equalized output signal with a decision region within one of the four quadrants, selecting one of a plurality of desired signals corresponding to the decision region, and calculating the error signal using the desired signal and the equalized output signal.
US08457185B2 Wireless communication device and wireless communication system
A wireless communication device sets a digital link on a wireless channel between a master device and a slave device, compresses a sound signal in an ADPCM scheme, and carries the sound signal in a sound packet to perform communication. In a master device, a PCM signal is converted into ADPCM data by an ADPCM encoding unit. Next, the least significant bit of n-bits is set according to the number of “1” of the n-bits of the ADPCM data by a transmission conversion table. In a slave device, it is determined whether error has occurred according to the number of “1” of the n-bit data in received data. If error exists, the n-bit sound data is converted into mute data through a reception conversion table. The sound data converted through the reception conversion table is converted into a PCM signal from an ADPCM format by an ADPCM decoding unit.
US08457184B2 Method and apparatus for performing log-likelihood calculations
A method and apparatus for performing calculations relating to the derivation of log-likelihood ratio (LLR) is provided. Coefficients in the use of deriving LLRs are calculated the calculation being applicable to any one of a plurality of constellation diagrams (PAM, QAM, PSK). The coefficients may be stored in a table of coefficients, the table corresponding to a particular constellation diagram and modulation scheme. A number of tables may be stored, each table corresponding to a particular modulation scheme. The coefficients are related to a symbol estimated to be closest to the received sample and the closest symbol to the estimated symbol having a complementary value for a bit for which the LLR is to be calculated. Certain coefficients or parts of coefficients may be omitted where the corresponding constellation diagram has symmetries.
US08457174B2 Spread spectrum wireless communication code for data center environments
A technique for wirelessly transmitting management data without cables in a data center is provided. Management data is obtained at a device in the data center. A wireless management data signal is generated from the management data. The wireless management data signal is configured to be transmitted at frequencies matching an ambient electromagnetic noise emitted by the data center, such that the wireless management data signal is masked in the ambient electromagnetic noise emitted by the data center. The wireless management data signal is wirelessly transmitted to another device.
US08457172B2 Bragg grating structure
A Bragg grating has a local reflection strength which varies with position along the length of the grating so as to generate a non-uniform wavelength reflection spectrum, enabling compensation for a non-uniform gain profile of the gain section of a tunable laser. In another aspect, a Bragg comb grating is modulated by an envelope function which can also compensate for a non-uniform gain profile. The comb grating may be a phase change grating, with the envelope function shape being controlled by the length between phase changes and/or size of the phase changes.
US08457157B2 Digital communications system with variable-bandwidth traffic channels
Electronic devices and equipment may communicate over a wired communications path. The wired communications path may include one or more wires and may be associated with a headphone cable. Data may be conveyed in the form of a digital data stream containing multiple traffic channels. The digital data stream may include superframes, each of which has multiple frames of data. The frames of data may each contain a number of data slots. Some of the slots in a superframe may be used exclusively by a particular one of the traffic channels. Boundary slots may be shared between traffic channels. Data interface circuitry may implement a data dispersion algorithm that determines the pattern in which data from each traffic channel is distributed within each boundary slot. Transmitting data interface circuitry may merge traffic channels into a single data stream. Receiving data interface circuitry may reconstruct the traffic channels.
US08457156B2 Wideband cable system
A wideband cable modem system increases available bandwidth of a single channel by encoding a data stream into wideband packets. The wideband packets are associated with a logical wideband channel that extends over multiple physical downstream cable channels.
US08457149B2 Data processing apparatus, control method therefor and storage medium
A data processing unit to that reliably avoids a deadlock condition regardless of status of a ring bus occupied with normal data packets. The data processing unit comprises ring bus, a plurality of data processing units connected to the ring bus, for mutually performing data exchange using a packet circulated on the ring bus and a injection unit for injecting a special packet distinguished from the packet on the ring bus so as to circulate the special packet on the ring bus, wherein the plurality of data processing units respectively comprise for confirming whether or not a transmission destination data processing unit of the data is capable of receiving data by using the special packet, and a transmission unit for transmitting the data to the transmission destination data processing unit using the special packet.
US08457131B2 Dynamic table sharing of memory space within a network device
A network device for processing data on a data network includes a port interface configured to receive a data packet from a data network and to send a processed data packet to an egress port of the plurality of ports, a packet evaluation module configured to parse the received data packet and modify the received data packet to form the processed data packet and a search engine configured to perform searches of lookup tables using parsed data packet values and to return search results to the packet evaluation module to assist in modifying the received data packet. At least one lookup table shares at least two different types of entries in that same at least one lookup table, where the search engine is configured to distinguish between the at least two different types of entries in that same at least one lookup table.
US08457116B2 Mobile technology
Apparatus for enabling interworking of Circuit Switched video calls with video calls using IP multimedia protocols, comprising: a MGW; and a MGCF; wherein the apparatus is arranged to use MONA functionality to accelerate the set-up of video calls.
US08457114B2 Method to optimize call establishment in mobile satellite communication systems
Call placement to or from satellite UEs is optimized by reducing IMS message exchanges, the originating party has control over QoS parameters; a HPA subscription service is made available, and calls to a terminating satellite UE that is shielded from satellite coverage are completed by selectively employing HPA pages. For a call request without preconditions, an IMS node associated with an originating UE uses the NRSCPA on Offer instead of using the standard terminating node initiated NRSCPA on Answer. An IMS node associated with a terminating UE checks for HPA subscription by the user. If subscribed, the terminating INVITE request is for a “Conversational” or “Interactive” service, and the terminating UE is in PMM_IDLE state, the satellite RAN pages the terminating UE using HPA.
US08457113B2 Branch calling and caller ID based call routing telephone features
A caller ID based call routing feature is described for blocked and non-blocked caller ID's. A processing system in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) receives first identifying information for identify the source of a telephone call and associates additional information stored in a memory with the first identifying information. The additional information may be information about the calling party initially downloaded to the memory by a subscriber. Once retrieved from the memory by the processing system, the additional information may then be transmitted to the subscriber via the Internet for display on a monitor or to the subscriber's telephone for display on a telephone display. Another feature described is a branch calling feature where the subscriber may program a processing system within the PSTN to forward an incoming call to two or more end units (e.g., telephones) simultaneously. If the call at an end unit is answered, answer supervision signaling is transmitted back to the processing system which then terminates all other calls. The processing system then connects the calling party to the subscriber. The branch calling may be made for any combination of local, long distance, and cellular telephone numbers.
US08457112B2 Radio link performance prediction in wireless communication terminal
A wireless communication terminal includes a controller coupled to a transceiver wherein the controller is configured to determine a synchronization based on a mapping of channel state information to decoder error rate corresponding to a hypothetical control code word, to attempt to decode a control codeword in a received signal, and to conclude that an out of synchronization event has not occurred if the control codeword is decoded successfully regardless of an indication of the mapping.
US08457103B2 Method and system for synchronization of at least two terminal communication systems and at least one counterpart communication station within a multi-standard wireless communication system
A method synchronizes plural terminal communication systems and a counterpart communication station connected via a radio link within a multi-standard wireless communication system, wherein a counterpart transmission signal is transmitted from said counterpart communication station to the corresponding terminal communication system. A common reference clock signal is generated and supplied to a signal generation unit within said terminal communication system, wherein each terminal communication system comprises a conversion ratio unit having a conversion ratio. An accurate frequency datum is derived from each counterpart transmission signal in the terminal communication systems and a frequency control signal is determined from said accurate frequency datum. A synchronization between said terminal communication stations and counterpart communication station is obtained by adjusting the frequency of the common reference clock signal and/or the conversion ratio of said conversion ratio units according to the frequency control signal.
US08457100B2 Mobile wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication apparatus and communication processing method
Both a pre-word (PW) and a sync word (SW) are used to establish a synchronization or only the sync word (SW) is used to establish a synchronization in accordance with an operational status related to the synchronization in a mobile wireless communication apparatus. For example, during an initial synchronization with a control channel (110) being received, both the pre-word (PW) and the sync word (SW) are used to establish a synchronization when a calculation result in a synchronization calculating part exceeds a predetermined threshold value only once. During an initial synchronization with a direct communication channel (112) being received, both the pre-word (PW) and the sync word (SW) are used to establish a synchronization when the calculation result exceeds the predetermined threshold value once; or alternatively, only the sync word (SW) is used to establish a synchronization when the calculation result successively exceeds the predetermined threshold value twice. According to the present invention, the sync word is shortened so as to quickly establish a communication link, and the sync detection can be performed with high precision.
US08457096B2 Beam steering in a mesh network with repetitions
The device for steering a beamforming antenna (500) comprises a module (511) for calculating antenna steering coefficients and a repetition detection module (516, 517) adapted to detect the repetition of a sequence of payload data in the signal received by said antenna. The module for calculating antenna steering coefficients is adapted to calculate said coefficients on the basis of the signals received by the antenna at the time of said repetition.In particular embodiments, the device further comprises an OFDM wireless receiver (501 to 503) and the module for calculating antenna steering coefficients employs each sub-carrier of the signal received by the antenna.
US08457091B2 Fast control channel feedback for multiple downlink carrier operations
A method and apparatus for fast control channel feedback for multiple downlink carrier operations are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives signals over a plurality of downlink carriers, generates feedback for each of the plurality of downlink carriers based on the received signals, and transmits via a plurality of antennas, the feedback for at least one of the plurality of downlink carriers over a first physical channel and feedback for another of the plurality of downlink carriers over a second physical channel.
US08457090B2 Wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and wireless communication apparatus
A wireless communication system of the present invention achieves improvement of reliability of communication of control data while suppressing the decrease in the communication throughput of data blocks and/or control data. The wireless communication system of the present invention is provided with a base station (1) and a mobile station (2). The mobile station (2) is configured to transmit a plurality of data blocks to the base station (1) at predetermined transmission time intervals. One of the base and mobile stations is configured to generate a plurality of control data used for control of transmission of said plurality of data blocks, to generate a plurality of control messages from said plurality of control data, and to transmit said plurality of control messages to the other of the base and mobile stations. Each of the control data is used for generation of M control messages out of the plurality of control messages, and each of the control messages is generated from M control data out of the plurality of control data.
US08457081B2 Methods and apparatus for power efficient broadcasting and communication systems
A method and apparatus for content multicasting and broadcasting and data unicasting in a broadband multicarrier wireless communication system. A base station is configured to transmit, and a mobile station is configured to receive, a sequence of consecutive frames. The frames comprise two types: frames containing time-frequency resources for content multicasting and broadcasting via a single frequency network, and frames containing time-frequency resources for data unicasting without the use of a single frequency network. The two types of frames are intermixed in accordance with an intermixing configuration pattern. The intermixing configuration pattern is indicated by a bit-map contained in a scheduling signal.
US08457077B2 Communications system employing orthogonal chaotic spreading codes
Systems and methods for code-division multiplex communications. The methods involve forming orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading sequences (CSC1,1, CSCD,1), each comprising a different chaotic sequence. The methods also involve generating an offset chaotic spreading sequence (CSC1,2, CSC1,3, . . . , CSC1,K(1), CSCD,2, . . . , CSCD,K(D)) which is the same as a first one of the orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading sequences, but temporally offset. Spread spectrum communications signals (SSCs) are each respectively generated using one of the orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading sequences. Another SSC is generated using the offset chaotic spreading sequence. The SSCs are concurrently transmitted over a common RF frequency band.
US08457076B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving a RACH signal in SC-FDMA system
Embodiments of the present invention may provide an apparatus and a method for transmitting and receiving a random access channel (RACH) in a single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) system. A frequency domain RACH signal may be mapped to a localized sub-frequency band of an entire frequency band available to the SC-FDMA system. A guard band including at least one sub carrier may be allocated between the RACH signal band and other channel signal bands. A guard time may be allocated between the RACH signal and other channel signals in the time domain. The RACH signal may include a short message including information related to a mobile station. The RACH signal may be detected in a frequency based method, a time based method or a sliding matched filter based method. Receiver complexity can be decreased if the RACH signal includes a CAZAC code sequence for a preamble. In such a case, a receive delay may be simply calculated and then adjusted more accurately.
US08457074B2 Method and apparatus for mobile communication device measurement reporting
A method (300) and apparatus (110) for mobile communication device measurement reporting is disclosed. The method may include receiving (320) an offset value corresponding to a set of a plurality of cells. The method may include determining (330) that a signal strength of a serving cell (130) is higher than a radio link failure threshold of the serving cell by substantially no more than the offset value for measurement reporting. The method may include detecting (340) the presence of a candidate cell (140) that is a member of the set of the plurality of cells. The method may include transmitting (350) a measurement report to the serving cell if the signal strength of the serving cell is higher than the radio link failure threshold of the serving cell by substantially no more than the offset value for measurement reporting and if the candidate cell that is a member of the set of the plurality of cells is present.
US08457073B2 Apparatus and method for relay station handover in multi-hop relay broadband wireless access system
A technique for managing a packet to be transmitted to a Mobile Station (MS) that performs Relay Station (RS) handover in a multi-hop relay Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) system is provided. In the BWA system, a Base Station (BS) includes a controller for determining whether to perform activecasting on an MS upon receiving an activecast request message; a scheduler for allocating a resource by taking into consideration a channel condition between the MS and a serving RS when activecasting is determined to be performed; and a transmitter for multicasting a packet, which is to be transmitted to the MS, to a target RS and the serving RS by using the allocated resource.
US08457072B2 Supporting enhanced uplink transmission during soft handover
An enhanced uplink user equipment is in soft handover. A radio network controller selects a primary Node-B out of a plurality of Node-Bs supporting the soft handover. The radio network controller receiving successfully received enhanced uplink data packets from the plurality of Node-Bs. The radio network controller reordered the successfully received enhanced uplink data packets for in-sequence deliver. The primary Node-B sends specified scheduling information to the user equipment that the other Node-Bs does not transmit. At least the primary Node-B transmits acknowledgements and negative acknowledgements to the user equipment.
US08457047B2 Multiple pans conflict resolution method in zigbee
Disclosed is a method of preventing overlap of multiple PANs in a ZigBee network. According to the method of preventing overlap of multiple personal area networks (PANs) in the ZigBee network, a first node included in a first PAN of the ZigBee network verifies whether overlap of the multiple PANs occurs by verifying packets received from neighbor nodes, identifies beacon information of a neighbor node that causes the overlap of the multiple PANs by gradually adjusting radio frequency (RF) transmission wave, and adjusts a communication range based on the beacon information.
US08457044B2 Selective review of bundled messages from a wireless communication device
A system, method, and computer device that allow a wireless communication device to selectively bundle messages in an access channel communication packet being sent to another computer device on the wireless communication network, such as a base station are disclosed. The bundled messages are typically sent in response to a request sent to the wireless communication device for response to a specific event, such as the setup of a group communication call. The receiving computer device determines if the access channel communication packet contains data indicating one or more bundled messages are therewithin such that resources only then will expended to review the bundled messages to check for the availability of the requested resources.
US08457043B2 Method and system for sending, routing, and receiving information using concise messages
A system and method are provided for communication between a communication device and a content provider associated with an internet domain name and a server. The system includes a network with a user interface, an internet connection, and an interface to the content provider's internet domain. A communication device user enters a concise message request which includes a channel, a designator and, optionally, a request instruction. The combination of the channel and the designator specify a location on the internet at which routing instructions reside for responding to the concise message request and generating a concise message response for output to the communication device. Concise message documents can be generated for effecting financial transactions such as purchases and payments via SMS. CMRL can also be used to route person-to-person messaging through a content provider's internet domain at which the users may be registered.
US08457039B2 Random access channel design with hybrid CDM and FDM multiplexing of access
A method of establishing communications with a remote receiver (300) that receives data signals (612, 614) from other transmitters is disclosed. The method includes producing a preamble (602) and producing guard bands (800, 802) between the preamble and the data signals. The preamble is transmitted (111) to the remote receiver.
US08457034B2 Airborne communication network
According to one embodiment, an airborne communication network includes a node configured on an aircraft having one or more communication devices that communicate using a native communication protocol. The node includes an information conversion system that receives information formatted according to the native communication protocol from the communication devices, encapsulates the information in packets according to a common communication protocol, and stores the packets in a mass storage device. The packets may then be published for receipt by other nodes configured on other aircraft. The information conversion system may also subscribe to packets stored in the nodes of other aircraft.
US08457033B2 Method and apparatus for handling MBMS dynamic scheduling information
A method for handling MBMS dynamic scheduling information in a network terminal of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes steps of generating an MAC Control Element for carrying an MBMS dynamic scheduling information; and applying an MCCH specific Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) for transmitting the MAC Control Element on a corresponding Physical Multicast Channel (PMCH).
US08457031B2 System and method for reliable multicast
A technique for reliable multicast involves identifying a client as an acknowledger of a wireless multicast packet, and having the acknowledger acknowledge receipt of the multicast packet. An example of a method according to the technique may include receiving a multicast packet, selecting a client associated with a destination of the multicast packet, identifying the client in the multicast packet, forwarding the multicast packet to wireless, and retrying forwarding the multicast packet with the client identified in the multicast packet if no acknowledgement is received from the client. An example of a system according to the technique may include a means for identifying a client, a means for putting the client mac in the header of a multicast packet, a means for sending the multicast packet with the client mac to a wireless multicast destination, and a means for receiving acknowledgement from the client associated with the client mac.
US08457022B2 Method and apparatus for providing signaling of redundancy versions
An approach is provided for efficient signaling of redundancy version information. A redundancy version signaling module detects the start of a system information radio transmission window and assigns a redundancy version sequence at the start of the transmission window.
US08457012B2 Packet transfer apparatus and packet transfer method
Disclosed herewith is a packet transfer apparatus that carries out 1+1 protection switching for traffics to be received variably in both length and cycle. The apparatus enables flows to be multiplexed and the link usage efficiency to be improved without generating any buffer overflow errors. The data transfer apparatus, upon receiving the third sequentially numbered data from the first communication route before receiving the preceding second sequentially numbered data, stores the received third data in a buffer. And upon receiving the second sequentially numbered data from the second communication route, the apparatus sends the second and third data sequentially. Then, upon receiving the third sequentially numbered data from the second communication route before receiving the second sequentially numbered data, the apparatus sends the third data when a predetermined waiting time expires.
US08456992B2 Low-power policy for port
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a method may include determining, by a port processor, a buffer length based on an amount of data stored in a port controlled by the port processor, comparing the buffer length to a low-power buffer threshold, determining a link utilization based on a number of packets transmitted by the port, comparing the link utilization to a link utilization threshold, and placing the port into a low-power state based on the comparison of the buffer length to the low-power buffer threshold and the comparison of the link utilization to the link utilization threshold.
US08456984B2 Virtualized shared protection capacity
The present disclosure relates a network, a network element, a system, and a method providing an efficient allocation of protection capacity for network connections and/or services. These may be for services within a given Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Virtual Machine (VM) instance flow. Network ingress/egress ports are designed to be VM instance aware while transit ports may or may not be depending on network element capability or configuration. A centralized policy management and a distributed control plane are used to discover and allocate resources to and among the VPNs or VM instances. Algorithms for efficient allocation and release of protection capacity may be coordinated between the centralized policy management and the distributed control plane. Additional coupling of attributes such as latency may provide more sophisticated path selection algorithms including efficient sharing of protection capacity.
US08456982B2 System and method for fast network restoration
An approach is provided for enabling fast network restoration. A node, within a network of multiple protocol label switching (MPLS) nodes, detects a failure condition affecting the node. A micro-loop with a neighboring node of the affected node is detected. A label is determined for a subsequent hop from the neighboring node to break the micro-loop for redirecting of traffic to a destination node in the network, wherein the subsequent hop does not create a loop with respect to the affected node.
US08456975B2 Phase error detection apparatus, phase error detection method, and reproduction apparatus
A phase error detection apparatus includes: a sampling block; a first phase error calculation block; a second phase error calculation block; and a selective output block.
US08456969B1 Laser integrated recording head for heat assisted magnetic recording
A magnetic stack includes a self-supporting substrate that carries first and second layer(s). The first layer(s) comprise a magnetic write pole, and the second layer(s) comprise a semiconductor laser. At least one of the second layer(s) is monocrystalline and incompatible with epitaxial growth on the substrate. No support substrate other than the self-supporting substrate attaches to the second layer(s). The magnetic stack may include a near field transducer (NFT) disposed to receive light emitted by the laser. A waveguide may transmit light from the laser to the NFT, or the NFT may couple to the laser without an intervening waveguide. The magnetic stack may be configured for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR).
US08456967B1 Systems and methods for providing a pole pedestal for microwave assisted magnetic recording
Systems and methods for providing a write pole pedestal for microwave assisted magnetic recording systems are provided. One such system includes a magnetic transducer for microwave assisted magnetic recording, the magnetic transducer including a pole including a leading edge and a trailing edge, a trailing shield positioned closer to the pole trailing edge than the pole leading edge, and an energy transducer positioned between the pole trailing edge and the trailing shield, where a trailing parallel side of the trapezoid is smaller than a leading parallel side of the trapezoid.
US08456964B1 Energy assisted magnetic recording head having a reflector for improving efficiency of the light beam
A method and system for providing an EAMR transducer is described. The EAMR transducer is coupled with a laser for providing energy and has an ABS that resides near a media during use. The EAMR transducer includes a write pole, coil(s) that energize the pole, a near field transducer (NFT) proximate to the ABS, a waveguide, and a reflector. The write pole has a back gap region and writes to a region of the media. The NFT focuses the energy onto the media. The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the NFT at an incident angle with respect to the ABS. A first portion of the energy reflects off of the ABS at a reflected angle. The reflector receives the first portion of the energy from the ABS and reflects a second portion of the energy toward the ABS. The NFT resides between the waveguide and the reflector.
US08456954B1 Holographic navigation
A method and apparatus that coherently correlates, in either the frequency domain, or the real domain, an image of a terrain with an extant holographic image of the terrain. Strong correlations indicates matches between features common between the two holograms, or a hologram and an image, and location of the strong correlations indicates position of the features relative to the imager (e.g. a sonar aboard a ship, or a radar aboard a helicopter). Correlation information can be used for navigation.
US08456949B2 Method for determining signal quality in dual sensor seismic streamer signals
A method for determining quality of signals acquired using marine seismic streamers having pressure responsive sensors and motion responsive sensors includes cross ghosting pressure responsive seismic signals and contemporaneously acquired motion responsive seismic signals. First filters are determined that cause the cross ghosted pressure responsive signals to substantially match the cross ghosted motion responsive signals. Second filters are determined that cause the cross ghosted motion responsive signals to substantially match the cross ghosted pressure responsive signals. The first and second filters are convolved and the convolution is used to determine signal quality.
US08456947B2 Integrated circuitry, switches, and methods of selecting memory cells of a memory device
Some embodiments include switches that have a graphene structure connected to a pair of spaced-apart electrodes. The switches may further include first and second electrically conductive structures on opposing sides of the graphene structure from one another. The first structure may extend from one of the electrodes, and the second structure may extend from the other of the electrodes. Some embodiments include the above-described switches utilized as select devices in memory devices. Some embodiments include methods of selecting memory cells.
US08456941B2 Table lookup voltage compensation for memory cells
Systems and methods of regulating voltage at a memory cell are disclosed. An address for the memory cell is determined. Table lookups based on the address are performed. The table lookups yield voltage compensation parameters that can be used to set voltages on the terminals (e.g., source and drain) of the memory cell.
US08456939B2 Voltage regulation circuitry
Voltage regulation circuitry is provided comprising a pull-up p-type threshold device connecting a supply voltage node to an output voltage node, the pull-up p-type threshold device configured to be switched off in dependence on a control signal. A pull-down stack connects the output voltage node to a reference voltage node, the pull-down stack comprising a pull-down p-type threshold device and a pull-down n-type threshold device connected in series. An inverter is configured to receive an input from the output voltage node and is configured to generate a cut-off signal, wherein the pull-down n-type threshold device is configured to be switched on in dependence on the control signal and the pull-down p-type threshold device is configured to be switched off in dependence on the cut-off signal.
US08456933B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus and method for generating programming current pulse
A semiconductor apparatus includes a first write control code generation unit configured to generate first write control codes which have fixed value for a first time and are cyclically updated after the first time, a second write control code generation unit configured to generate a second write control code, and a data write unit configured to output a first programming current pulse in response to the first write control codes, or a second programming current pulse in response to the second write control code.
US08456932B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first write control code generation unit configured to generate a first write control code which is updated with different cycles which have different periods, in response to a programming verification flag signal and a programming enable signal, and a data write unit configured to output a first programming current pulse with a magnitude corresponding to a code combination of the first write control code which is updated.
US08456931B2 Data transmission device
A data transmission device in a semiconductor memory apparatus receives input data via a local data input/output line and output s the input data on a plurality of global data input/output lines. The data transmission device includes a write data generation block configured to receive the input data and test data and output one of input data and test data as write data in response to an activation of a test enable signal, and a loading block configured to apply the write data to one of the plurality of global data input/output lines in response to an enable signal.
US08456929B2 Circuits, systems, and methods for dynamic voltage level shifting
Dynamic voltage level shifting circuits, systems and methods are disclosed. A level shifting circuit comprises an input for accepting a first discrete voltage level to be shifted, a level shifting portion coupled to the input and to a second discrete voltage level, an enable portion having an enable input and coupled to the level shifting portion and an output. The level shifting circuit is configured to translate the data input at the first discrete voltage level into a second discrete voltage level. The enable portion is configured to selectively provide either the second discrete voltage level to the output or decouple at least a portion of the level shifting portion from the output based on the enable input.
US08456924B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a data alignment unit configured to align data, which are sequentially inputted, in response to a data strobe signal, a latching operation control unit configured to receive the data strobe signal, and generate a latching control signal after an interval between a write operation and a next write operation elapses, a data latching unit configured to latch output signals of the data alignment unit in response to the latching control signal, and a data synchronization output unit configured to synchronize output signals of the data latching unit in response to a data input strobe signal, and output the synchronized signals to a plurality of data lines.