Document Document Title
US08505101B1 Thin client for computer security applications
A system for scanning a file for malicious codes may include a client agent running in a client computer and a scan server running in a server computer, the client computer and the server computer communicating over a computer network. The client agent may be configured to locally receive a scan request to scan a target file for malicious codes and to communicate with the scan server to scan the target file using a scan engine running in the server computer. The scan server in communication with the client agent allows the scan engine to scan the target file by issuing file I/O requests to access the target file located in the client computer. The client agent may be configured to check for digital signatures and to maintain a file cache of previously scanned files to minimize network traffic.
US08505091B2 Method of protecting against denial-of-service attacks
An apparatus and method of protecting against a denial-of-service (DoS) attack are described. The apparatus comprises a classification engine, a meter engine, and a copy engine. The method comprises assigning a received packet to a meter based upon a classification of the network packet, determining that a DoS attack is in progress based upon a meter count, copying at least one packet from the meter to a processor; and suppressing the copying of subsequently received network packets to the processor.
US08505072B2 Network apparatus, assessment method, program, and integrated circuit
A network device restricts functions thereof in a special case such as theft, and comprises: an acquisition unit for acquiring one or more identification information pieces corresponding to one or more local devices in a communicable state; a calculation unit for calculating an index value for each local device; a holding unit for holding, for each local device whose identification information piece was acquired in the past, the identification information piece of the local device and the index value thereof; a difference specifying unit for specifying a difference between (i) one or more identification information pieces currently acquired and (ii) the one or more identification information pieces acquired in the past, thereby specifying a local device as the difference; and a judgment unit for judging whether to restrict the access based on the index value of the local device specified as the difference.
US08505065B2 Access control policy in a weakly-coherent distributed collection
A system is disclosed for creating and implementing an access control policy framework in a weakly coherent distributed collection. A collection manager may sign certificates forming equivalence classes of replicas that share a specific authority. The collection manager and/or certain privileged replicas may issue certificates that delegate authority for control of item policy and replica policy. Further certificates may be signed that create one or more items, set policy for these one or more items, and define a set of operations authorized on the one or more items. The certificates issued according to the present system for creating and implementing a control policy framework cannot be modified or simply overridden. Once a policy certificate is issued, it may only be revoked by the collection manager or by a replica having revocation authority.
US08505062B1 Method and system for enabling users to suggest changes to video captions over the web
This invention relates to systems and methods for enabling users to create, to edit and to rate online video timed text over the web. A system embodiment of this invention includes a permission requester that enables a first user to make a permission request. The permission request requests permission from a second user to create a timed text track for a video. A permission granter enables the second user to make a permission response according to the permission request from the first user. A timed text editor enables the first user to create a timed text track for the video based on the response to the permission request and upload the timed text track to a server.
US08505061B2 Mobile terminal and method of reproducing broadcast data using the same
The present invention relates to reproducing broadcast data in a mobile terminal. The present invention comprises receiving broadcast data through a broadcast channel, storing a part of the received broadcast data, receiving a command to reproduce the broadcast data, and reproducing the stored broadcast data from a past time point while continuing to store the part of the received broadcast data.
US08505060B2 Use of a feedback channel for image broadcasting
A method for broadcasting images from a video sequence, the method comprising, at the level of broadcasting equipment: including images in an output stream for transmission to at least one restoration equipment, receiving feedback from said restoration equipment of error messages relating to the restoration of the images from the video sequence, analyzing the error messages in order to identify images or parts of images not restored or badly restored and determining response messages including correction images or image parts. The method furthermore comprising determining a level of seriousness for each error message according to the analysis performed and deciding to return a response message relating to an error message according to the level of seriousness of that error message.
US08505047B2 Method and system for policy-based re-broadcast video on demand service
A content provider broadcasts content to subscribers through a content distribution system. The content distribution system operator can capture broadcast content in accordance with policies established by the content provider and make the content available subsequent to the original broadcast in accordance with applicable business policies. Business policies are created by the content provider by modifying template information models which have associated rules. The content distributor stores the business policies and evaluates rules indicated by the business policies against attributes of a content asset to determine availability of the content asset.
US08505045B2 Systems and methods for providing advertisements in a fantasy sports contest application
Systems and methods are presented for presenting advertisements to users of a fantasy sports contest application. Advertisements are displayed in conjunction with fantasy sports contest information and may be interactive in nature. The advertisements may be used to inform the user of prizes being awarded for performance in the fantasy sports contest, including prizes being awarded for performing in an instant scoring opportunity based on real-time action in a related sports broadcast. The advertisements may be intelligently scheduled around certain events in a related sports broadcast to take advantage of user purchasing habits. The advertisements may be selected according to a user profile. The user profile may include information on the user's demonstrated interests, which may be determined using the user's preferences in the fantasy contest, prior television viewing habits, and other suitable information. The advertisements may be targeted to the user's specific geographic location. The advertisements may also be used to inform a user of an awarded prize, and to enable the user to claim the awarded prize.
US08505033B2 Universal registration in broker-based messaging systems and methods
An exemplary method includes a global directory service subsystem receiving a request for a software application to be temporarily registered with a message broker in accordance with a universal registration heuristic, authorizing, in response to the request and in accordance with permission information associated with the software application and maintained by the global directory service subsystem, the software application to be temporarily registered with the message broker; and dynamically updating, in response to the authorizing, software application registration data maintained by the global directory service subsystem to indicate that the software application is temporarily registered with the message broker. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.
US08505031B2 Method for sharing data
A method for sharing data includes creating a socket serviced by a server application executing within a central operating system environment and creating another socket serviced by a client application executing within a virtualized operating system environment. The central operating system environment and virtualized operating system environment run on a single computer and are separated by a secure boundary. The central operating system environment has administrative control over the virtualized operating system environment. The method also includes establishing a communication link across the secure boundary and between the sockets, requesting at least one element of a server array existing in a memory space of the server application and passing the at least one element to the client application via the communication link to mirror the server array into a memory space of the client application.
US08505026B2 Service enablement based upon microformats
Computer applications commonly have various services that improve application functionality for a user. Different services can be applied to other sources, such as other applications, and users can perform functionality upon the other sources. This not only provides a user with greater options in using a source, but can also provide a user with a more familiar context when using the source.
US08505023B2 Method and system for analyzing a sequence relation between a plurality of jobs across a plurality of time segments
A job analyzing method includes classifying jobs in log data in accordance with a time segment to which an end time of each of the jobs belongs; generating, for first jobs included in a first time segment, first data indicating an execution sequence relation between the first jobs based on end time of the jobs, and generating, for second jobs included in a second time segment succeeding the first time segment, second data indicating an execution sequence relation between the second jobs based on end time of the second jobs; and analyzing an execution sequence relation between the first and second jobs based on the end time of the first jobs and the end time of the second jobs, and generating data indicating the execution sequence relation between the first and second jobs across the first and second time segments.
US08505017B1 Method and system to protect multiple applications in an application server
A method for processing a first request including receiving the first request, determining a first application associated with the first request, determining a first filter instance parameter associated with the first application, instantiating a first filter instance using the first filter instance parameter, and processing the first request using the first filter instance.
US08505015B2 Placing a group work item into every prioritized work queue of multiple parallel processing units based on preferred placement of the work queues
A “group work sorting” technique is used in a parallel computing system that executes multiple items of work across multiple parallel processing units, where each parallel processing unit processes one or more of the work items according to their positions in a prioritized work queue that corresponds to the parallel processing unit. When implementing the technique, one or more of the parallel processing units receives a new work item to be placed into a first work queue that corresponds to the parallel processing unit and receives data that indicates where one or more other parallel processing units would prefer to place the new work item in the prioritized work queues that correspond to the other parallel processing units. The parallel processing unit uses the received data as a guide in placing the new work item into the first work queue.
US08504986B2 Calling functions as methods
A method and apparatus for converting a method call to a function call. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an argument list from a function that has been called by a subroutine call. The method further comprises determining whether the subroutine call is a method call from the argument list. In response to a determination that the subroutine call is the method call, the method comprises converting the method call into a function call.
US08504984B1 Modifying grammars to correct programming language statements
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for selecting a first grammar rule in a programming language grammar. The grammar is used for determining a syntax validity of a programming code statement in a text editor and the first grammar rule includes a hard-to-type symbol that is syntactically correct for the programming code statement. A second grammar rule for the grammar is created. The created second grammar rule is substantially identical to the first grammar rule but the hard-to-type symbol is replaced with an easy-to-type symbol that is syntactically incorrect for the programming code statement. An action is associated with the grammar and is performed upon satisfying the second grammar rule. Performance of the second grammar rule causes the easy-to-type symbol in the programming code statement in the text editor to be replaced with the hard-to-type symbol.
US08504983B1 System and method for generating source code from a graphical model
A graphical user interface that enables a user to create and specify the properties of custom storage classes is disclosed. The characteristics of each storage class are specified via parameter settings accessible from the graphical interface. Each custom storage class designed through the interface is defined by a combination of parameter settings. A code preview window in the graphical interface displays salient aspects of the source code references to model data given the selected parameter settings. The display is shown dynamically and adjusted to reflect subsequent changes in parameter settings.
US08504982B2 Declarative aspects and aspect containers for application development
An aspect container being operable to generate an instance of itself at run time is provided. The aspect container comprises logic operable to create an instance of the aspect container by reading configuration information specifying a sequence of one or more aspects from an aspect container configuration file corresponding to the aspect container. The logic is also operable to generate instances of the aspects in the sequence, configure each aspect instance with its configuration information from an aspect configuration file corresponding to the aspect, and chain the aspect instances according to the specified sequence, such that the chain of aspect instances preamble and postamble activities of a class or method.
US08504978B1 User interface for timing budget analysis of integrated circuit designs
In one embodiment of the invention, a method includes reading an automatically generated timing budgeting file, including timing budget information for a plurality of partitions of an integrated circuit design; graphically displaying a time budgeting debug window on a display device; and graphically displaying a timing budget analyzer window on the display device in response to selection of a selected signal path in a path list window pane. The timing budget analyzer window graphically displays timing budgets and timing delays of a selected path for visual comparison. The time budgeting debug window includes a button with a path category menu to display one or more signal paths meeting a selected path category, and a path list window pane to display a list of one or more signal paths through one or more ports of the plurality of partitions in response to the selected path category in the path category menu.
US08504977B1 Electronic device and method for generating electrical rule file for circuit board
A method of generating electrical rule file for circuit board by using an electronic device. The electronic device acquires a component file, a wiring file, a wiring group file, a first electrical rule file, and a second electrical rule file from a storage device. The electronic device integrates the component file and the wiring file to be an integrated file according to wire names, acquires group names and inserts the group names into the integrated file according to the wire names, acquires first electrical rules and inserts the first electrical rules into the integrated file according to the group names, acquires second electrical rules and inserts the second electrical rules into the integrated file according to the group names, to complete the integrated file, and saves the completed file to the storage device.
US08504972B2 Standard cells having flexible layout architecture/boundaries
An integrated circuit layout includes a standard cell, which includes a first gate strip and a second gate strip parallel to each other and having a gate pitch; a first boundary and a second boundary on opposite ends of the first standard cell; and a third boundary and a fourth boundary on opposite ends of the first standard cell and parallel to the first gate strip and the second gate strip. A cell pitch between the third boundary and the fourth boundary is not equal to integer times the gate pitch. A PMOS transistor is formed of the first gate strip and a first active region. An NMOS transistor is formed of the first gate strip and a second active region.
US08504965B2 Method for non-shrinkable IP integration
A method of designing integrated circuits includes providing a design of an integrated circuit at a first scale, wherein the integrated circuit includes a shrinkable circuit including a first intellectual property (IP); and a non-shrinkable circuit including a second IP having a hierarchical structure. A marker layer is formed to cover the non-shrinkable circuit, wherein the shrinkable circuit is not covered by the marker layer. The electrical performance of the non-shrinkable circuit is simulated using a simulation tool, wherein the simulated non-shrinkable circuit is at a second scale smaller than the first scale.
US08504956B1 Calculation of integrated circuit timing delay using frequency domain
Accurate circuit and system timing analysis is a critical tool for designing and analyzing complex modern semiconductor chips. While the accuracy and detail of dynamic electrical simulation may be desirable in theory, such analysis is not feasible due to extreme computational complexity and open-ended simulation times. Improved circuit modeling and timing analysis tools that can provide both accuracy and computational efficiency are required. Table look-up (TLU) and other techniques provide computationally efficient timing analysis but may be undertaken at the expense of simulation accuracy. Instead, the use of current waveform moments representing the frequency domain equivalents of signals can provide the required simulation accuracy and computational efficiency.
US08504955B2 Timing adjustment device and method thereof
A timing adjustment device includes a plurality of receive circuits that receive an input signal based on mutually different timings, a determination circuit that determines a first transition and a second transition of the input signal based on a received result by receive circuits, among the plurality of receive circuits, that receive the input signal with adjacent timings among different timings of the plurality of receive circuits, and an adjustment circuit that adjusts the receiving timing of the input signal so that the receiving timing of the input signal becomes close to a central timing of a period according to the first transition and the second transition.
US08504952B2 Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit and method for designing thereof for protection of millimeter wave electrical elements
A miniaturized electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit designed for millimeter wave electrical elements, wherein the ESD protection circuit is fabricated on a multilayer substrate. The ESD protection circuit comprises a metal line being connected at one end to a ground and at other end to a connective strip, wherein a length of the metal line is a maximum length that achieves a resistance value defined for the ESD protection circuit and a width of the metal line is set to a maximum width allowed for the multilayer substrate, wherein the metal line introduces a inductance value into the ESD protection circuit; and a capacitor being connected in parallel to the metal line and having a capacitance value resonating the metal line at an operating frequency band, thereby the ESD protection circuit shunts ESD pulses to the ground and passes signals at the operating frequency band.
US08504947B2 Deletion gestures on a portable multifunction device
Deletion gestures for use on a portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display are disclosed. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with the portable multifunction device comprises displaying a list of items on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a first gesture on the touch-sensitive display to edit the list of items, responding to the first gesture by displaying a first icon next to each deletable item in the list, detecting a second gesture on the touch-sensitive display to select one of the deletable items, and responding to the second gesture by displaying a second icon next to the selected item. If a third gesture on the second icon is detected, the selected deletable item is deleted. If a fourth gesture on the first icon next to the selected deletable item is detected, the second icon is deleted.
US08504938B2 Graphical user interface component that includes visual controls for expanding and collapsing information shown in a window
A graphical user interface component includes visual controls for expanding and collapsing a subset of content inside of a desktop widget, an application side pane, or other software.
US08504937B2 Computer interface having a single window mode of operation
A computer-human interface manages the available space of a computer display in a manner which reduces clutter and confusion caused by multiple open windows. The interface includes a user-selectable mode of operation in which only those windows associated with the currently active task are displayed on the computer monitor. All other windows relating to non-active tasks are minimized by reducing them in size or replacing them with a representative symbol, such as an icon, so that they occupy a minimal amount of space on the monitor's screen. When a user switches from the current task to a new task, by selecting a minimized window, the windows associated with the current task are automatically minimized as the window pertaining to the new task is displayed at its normal size. As a result, the user is only presented with the window that relates to the current task of interest, and clutter provided by non-active tasks is removed.
US08504936B2 Changing stack when swapping
A dual-screen user device and methods for revealing a combination of desktops on single and multiple screens are disclosed. Specifically, a determined number of desktops and/or running applications can be selectively displayed on dual screen displays conditioned upon inputs received and the state of the device. Desktop displays and applications can be selectively shifted between the screens by a user gesture in the form of a pinch gesture. This single user gesture prevents the user from having to open and close the running desktops and applications, or to execute multiple other user commands that otherwise would result in a laborious effort by the user to manage the multiple desktops and applications.
US08504932B2 Image collage builder
A computer-implemented method includes providing a collage layout comprising one or more image receiving areas on a user interface, moving an image symbol representing a digital image into a first image receiving area in the collage layout; and storing a data structure comprising digital data associated with the digital image and digital data defining the one or more image receiving areas in the collage layout.
US08504927B2 E-mail processing apparatus, e-mail processing method and recording medium
An e-mail processing apparatus, comprising: a communication part that receives e-mails; an accumulator that accumulates the e-mails received via the communication part; a display; and a controller that makes the display display in tree structure, cross relationships between the accumulated e-mails, based on past data of the accumulated e-mails.
US08504921B2 System and method for home automation
A home automation system and method are disclosed for configuring a device state including but not limited to receiving an input from the client device at the server, configuring the device state in the database at the server in accordance with the input, and sending the configured device state from the server to the client device.
US08504920B2 Systems and methods for efficiently managing and configuring virtual servers
The present invention is related to providing faster and more efficient ways to deploy and manage virtual server configurations in a hosted virtual server service. Broadly, a web interface allows a user to set conditions upon which specific types of virtual servers will be instantiated or terminated on a third-party hosted virtual server service. For example, the user may wish to instantiate a new virtual server each time the load on existing virtual servers exceeds a predetermined threshold. The web interface may also allow a user to select from among a plurality of hosted virtual server services. The web interface may further allow a user to incorporate dynamic variables into configurations of instantiated virtual servers.
US08504916B2 Managing presentation and storing of multi-language fonts
Methods and structures for improved font management providing for selection of one or more subsets of a selected typeface font in a font management program. A user is presented with information identifying one or more subsets of related code points in a selected typeface in a font management program. By selecting one or more subsets from the presented information, the user may reduce wasted presentation or management of code points in the typeface that are not presently of interest to the user. For example, when managing a Unicode typeface, a user may be prompted to select one or more language subsets prior to printing/displaying a matrix of the glyphs of the selected typeface. The presentation of glyphs or other code point information may then be limited to only the selected one or more subsets.
US08504912B2 System to forecast performance of online news articles to suggest the optimal homepage layout to maximize article readership and readers stickiness
A system that supports the editor of an journal web site into deciding the layout of the homepage of the journal web site; the homepage is divided into a set of zones, and each zone consists of several locations; articles are published into each location; and the system suggests ways to rearrange the articles published in the homepages into different locations within the same zone, in order to maximize the total number of clicks generated by the homepage of the journal web site.
US08504901B2 Apparatus, method, and computer program product for detecting embedded information
A control unit extracts partial information containing embedded information from a partial area of a content, and controls decoding of the embedded information. A decoding unit performs a decoding process of decoding a plurality of code words contained in the embedded information from the partial information. When the decoding process is successfully performed, the decoding unit notifies the control unit of completion of the decoding process so that each of the control unit and the decoding unit perform a parallel processing in an asynchronous manner. The control unit repeatedly extracts the partial information and sends extracted partial information to the decoding unit until the decoding process is successfully performed.
US08504897B2 Memory controller
A memory controller carries out error detection on a wide range of area of a memory cell array, which includes not only readout addresses but also non-readout addresses. Thus, by carrying out error detection at an address at which an error occurs without accessing the address for readout, it is possible to detect occurrence of an error at the address. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a “read disturb phenomenon” in which repetition of access to a readout address for readout may probably cause an error at a non-readout address other than the readout address.
US08504893B1 Error detection or correction of a portion of a codeword in a memory device
Example embodiments described herein may relate error detection and correction on a portion of a codeword in a memory device.
US08504892B2 LDPC decoder and method for LDPC decoding based on layered algorithm applied to parity check matrix
A low density parity check decoder for performing LDPC decoding based on a layered algorithm applied to a parity check matrix, the decoder including a channel memory, a metrics memory, first and second operand supply paths each arranged to provide operands based on channel values and metrics values; a processor block including a plurality processing units in parallel and arranged to receive operands from the first supply path and to determine updated metric values, a buffer arranged to store at least one of the operands from the first supply path; and an adder coupled to an output of the processor block and arranged to generate updated channel values by adding the updated metrics values to operands from a selected one of the buffer and the second supply path.
US08504890B2 Scheduling for LDPC decoding
A codeword is decoded by receiving a codeword representation that includes a plurality of soft bits and iteratively updating the soft bits. Whether each soft bit participates in at least some iterations is determined according to a selection criterion, e.g., probabilistically, or according to iteration number, or according to the soft bit's iteration history. For example, each soft bit might participate in some or all iterations with a probability that is a function of both the iteration number and a reliability measure of that soft bit. Preferably, the iterations are LDPC iterations in which variable nodes are addressed sequentially for exchanging messages with corresponding check nodes.
US08504886B2 Method for partitioning scan chain
A system and method for scan partitioning for testing an embedded logic circuit in an integrated circuit (IC) device is provided. One or more scan partitions in the embedded logic circuit are identified. Each scan partition includes one or more scan chains of scan registers. One or more interacting registers connecting scan registers of a first scan partition and scan registers of a second scan partition are identified and combined to form an interacting scan chain. The embedded logic circuit is tested by selectively activating the scan chains of the first and second scan partitions and the interacting scan chain.
US08504883B2 System and method for testing integrated circuits
A method of testing a semiconductor memory device includes reading previously written test data from the semiconductor memory device simultaneously through at least two data I/O connections, e.g., pins or pads, of the semiconductor memory device. The signals from the two data I/O connections are combined to produce a compound output signal. The compound output signal is received by a single I/O channel of a tester. The tester compares the compound output signal to a predetermined voltage level, and determines whether the semiconductor memory device is operating properly based on the comparison of the compound output signal to the predetermined voltage level.
US08504882B2 Circuitry on an integrated circuit for performing or facilitating oscilloscope, jitter, and/or bit-error-rate tester operations
An integrated circuit (“IC”) includes circuitry for use in testing a serial data signal. One such IC includes circuitry for transmitting the serial data signal with optional jitter, optional noise, and/or controllably variable drive strength. One such IC also includes circuitry for receiving the serial data signal and performing a bit error rate (“BER”) analysis in such a signal. Such an IC provides output signals indicative of results of its operations. One such IC operates in various modes to perform or at least emulate functions of an oscilloscope, a bit error rate tester, etc., for testing signals and circuitry with respect to jitter-tolerance, noise-tolerance, etc.
US08504877B2 Method and system for platform independent fault management
A method for fault management. The method includes generating, in firmware of a computer system, a physical resource inventory (PRI) of a plurality of hardware components of the computer system, wherein the PRI defines a hierarchy of the hardware components. The method further includes traversing, by an enumerator executing in a fault manager, the PRI to generate a topology of the plurality of hardware components. The topology is used for fault management of the computer system.
US08504869B2 Kernel swapping systems and methods for recovering a network device
In certain embodiments, a method is disclosed for recovering a failed client device in a network. The method includes booting a failed one of a plurality of client devices in the network with a generic image having a generic kernel usable with each of the plurality of client devices. The method further includes downloading, using said generic kernel, from at least one backup server an abbreviated kernel uniquely associated with the failed client device, the abbreviated kernel comprising substantially less data than an original kernel of the failed client device immediately prior to failure of the failed client device, the abbreviated kernel comprising a boot kernel image and at least one device driver. The method includes swapping the abbreviated kernel with the generic kernel; restoring, using said abbreviated kernel, remaining backup data from the at least one backup server to the failed client device; and rebooting the failed client device.
US08504867B2 High resolution clock signal generator
A clock signal generator having first and second coarse delay circuits connected in series delays pulses of a reference signal having period TP to produce pulses of the clock signal. The first coarse delay circuit delays pulses of the reference signal with a delay resolution of TP/N seconds over a range spanning TP seconds to produce pulses of an output signal. The second coarse delay circuit delays pulses of the output signal of the first coarse delay circuit over a range spanning TP seconds with a delay resolution of TP/M seconds to provide pulses of the clock signal with a timing resolution of TP/(M*N) seconds when the integers N and M are relatively prime.
US08504860B2 Systems, methods and devices for configurable power control with storage devices
Power is routed from one or more power supplies. As consistent with one or more example embodiments, a data storage device senses and/or is informed of the availability and voltage level of one or more power supplies. Based upon the availability and voltage level of power supplies, circuits in the memory device are powered using one or more of the sensed power supplies. In some applications, the power is drawn in a manner that emulates the behavior of one or more circuits that are respectively powered.
US08504856B2 Communication apparatus with power saving
A communication apparatus that is to be connected to a network includes: a first processing unit configured to transition between a sleep state and a non-sleep state and configured to process a packet received via the network when the first processing unit is in the non-sleep state; and a second processing unit configured to process a packet when the first processing unit is in the sleep state, wherein the second processing unit is capable of executing packet-processing for sequentially processing of unprocessed packets, wherein the second processing unit includes a detecting section that detects a reception of the unprocessed packet, wherein, when the first processing unit is in the sleep state and the reception of the unprocessed packet is detected, the second processing unit starts the packet-processing, and wherein, the second processing unit terminates the packet-processing if a continuous packet-processing period exceeds an allowable time period.
US08504845B2 Protecting states of a cryptographic process using group automorphisms
In the field of computer enabled cryptography, such as a keyed block cipher having a plurality of rounds, the cipher is hardened against an attack by a protection process which obscures the cipher states and/or the round keys using the properties of group field automorphisms and applying multiplicative masks (instead of conventional XOR masks) to the states of the cipher, for encryption or decryption. This is especially advantageous in a “White Box” environment where an attacker has full access to the cipher algorithm, including the algorithm's internal state during its execution. This method and the associated computing apparatus are useful for protection against known attacks on “White Box” ciphers, by eliminating XOR operations with improved masking techniques and increasing complexity of reverse engineering and of attacks.
US08504838B2 Integrity protected smart card transaction
Systems, methods, and technologies for configuring a conventional smart card and a client machine, and for performing a smart card authorization using the configured smart card and client. Further, the combination of methods provides for mutual authentication—authentication of the client to the user, and authentication of the user to the client. The authentication methods include presenting a specified token to the user sufficient to authenticate the client to the user and thus protect the user-provided PIN. Security is strengthened by using an integrity key based on approved client system configurations. Security is further strengthened by calculating a PIN′ value based on a user-specified PIN and a modifier and using the PIN′ value for unlocking the smart card.
US08504821B2 Encrypted optoelectronic module
Methods and systems for encrypting and decrypting data are described. An exemplary system includes an optical transceiver that includes at least one of an encryption block and a decryption block. The optical transceiver also has at least one encryption and decryption key stored at the transceiver. The encryption block receives unencrypted data and performs encryption operations on the data using the encryption and decryption key. The decryption block receives encrypted data and performs a decryption operation using the encryption and decryption key.
US08504820B2 Method for improving network application security and system thereof
The invention, related to information security field, discloses a method for improving network application security and a system thereof. The method comprises that client terminal application generates protocol message and disassembles the protocol message to plural IP packets and sends the plural IP packets; network filter driver receives and caches the plural IP packets and assembles the plural IP packets to obtain the protocol message and determines whether critical information is in the protocol message; if so, the network filter driver sends the protocol message to a smart key device; the smart key device analyzes the protocol message to obtain the critical information and sends the critical information to the user for confirming, if the user confirms that the critical information is correct, the network smart key device signs the protocol message and returns the signature data, the network filter driver generates new protocol message according to the signature data and the protocol message and disassembles the new protocol message to plural IP packets and sends the plural IP packets to the server via network card driver; if the user confirms that the critical information is not correct or no confirmation is received from user in predetermined time period, the smart key device performs exceptional operation. The system comprises a smart key device and network filter driver of client terminal computer. With compatibility and usability, the invention enhances network application security without modifying the client terminal.
US08504810B2 Remote PC bootup via a handheld communication device
A method computer usable medium and computer system circuitry are disclosed for starting or “booting up” a computer from a remote location using a remote command device such as a cellular telephone. The method and system includes a secure means for remotely storing and transmitting security passwords.
US08504809B2 Automated communication configuration
A method for use at a user device of a communications network include utilizing a configuration file obtained from a remote device to configure a communication of an application executed at the user device without requiring user input, the configuration file including logic applied by the application to identify, from a plurality of data bearers available to the user device, a select data bearer for use in conducting the communication based on one or more parameters representative of the current operational context of the user device. The user device includes a storage module to store a configuration file obtained from a remote device and a processing module to execute an application, wherein during execution the application is to utilize logic of configuration file to identify, from a plurality of data bearers available to the user device, a select data bearer for use in conducting a communication of the application.
US08504803B2 System and method for creating and executing portable software
This invention generally relates to a process, system and computer code for creating a portable unit on a first computer to be executed on remote computers including creating an execution file having one or more tasks for deployment, said tasks having command line arguments executable as variables by the remote computer, assembled into a single execution file, validating the tasks and organizing nested tasks, said organizing step including collecting nested task information for each task and accounting for all dependencies to insure that files, tasks, and environments for running on one or more remote computers are present in the portable unit, said step of creating an execution file further including, reading the task file, scanning for event dependencies and embedding files and links needed for remote execution of the execution file, storing the dependencies in a dependency file, scanning for security, verifying the task file for proper formatting.
US08504799B2 ROM data patch circuit, embedded system including the same and method of patching ROM data
A read only memory (ROM) data patch circuit replaces ROM data stored in N modified ROM data blocks with patch data stored in N random access memory (RAM) patch blocks based on patch information. The ROM data patch circuit includes a data patch detecting unit, a RAM address generating unit, and an address selecting unit. The data patch detecting unit generates N offset select signals and an address select signal. The N offset select signals indicate which block a read ROM address belongs to, and the address select signal represents whether the read ROM address belongs to any of the N modified ROM data blocks. The RAM address generating unit generates a read RAM address corresponding to the read ROM address based on the offset select signals. The address selecting unit outputs one of the read ROM address and the read RAM address based on the address select signal.
US08504798B2 Management of non-volatile memory systems having large erase blocks
A non-volatile memory system of a type having blocks of memory cells erased together and which are programmable from an erased state in units of a large number of pages per block. If the data of only a few pages of a block are to be updated, the updated pages are written into another block provided for this purpose. The valid original and updated data are then combined at a later time, when doing so does not impact on the performance of the memory. If the data of a large number of pages of a block are to be updated, however, the updated pages are written into an unused erased block and the unchanged pages are also written to the same unused block. By handling the updating of a few pages differently, memory performance is improved when small updates are being made.
US08504792B2 Methods and apparatuses to allocate file storage via tree representations of a bitmap
Methods and apparatuses that search tree representations of a bitmap for available blocks to allocate in storage devices are described. An allocation request for a file may be received to initiate the search. In one embodiment, the bitmap may include an array of bits corresponding to blocks in the storage devices. Each bit may indicate whether one of the blocks is available. The tree representations may include at least one red-black tree having nodes corresponding to one or more consecutive bits in the bitmap indicating an extent of available blocks. One of the tree representations may be selected according to a file associated with an allocation request to identify an extent of available block matching the allocation request. The tree representations may be synchronized as the bitmap is updated with changes of block allocations in the storage devices.
US08504789B2 Bridging device having a frequency configurable clock domain
A composite memory device including discrete memory devices and a bridge device for controlling the discrete memory devices. A configurable clock controller receives a system clock and generates a memory clock having a frequency that is a predetermined ratio of the system clock. The system clock frequency is dynamically variable between a maximum and a minimum value, and the ratio of the memory clock frequency relative to the system clock frequency is set by loading a frequency register with a Frequency Divide Ratio (FDR) code any time during operation of the composite memory device. In response to the FDR code, the configurable clock controller changes the memory clock frequency.
US08504781B2 Methods and systems for inter-processor communication under a multiprocessor environment
A method is provided for sending and receiving data between a first processor including a first cache memory and a second processor including a second cache memory via a shared memory. The method includes classifying, by the first processor, a transfer data area that stores data transferred between the first and second processors in the shared memory as a first area filling one cache line and a second area not filling one cache line, copying, by the first processor, data in the second area into a divided data area in the shared memory, the divided data area being aligned with a cache line in the first cache memory, and processing, by the second processor, the data in the first area and the data in the divided data area as data from the first processor.
US08504779B2 Memory coherence directory supporting remotely sourced requests of nodal scope
A data processing system includes at least a first through third processing nodes coupled by an interconnect fabric. The first processing node includes a master, a plurality of snoopers capable of participating in interconnect operations, and a node interface that receives a request of the master and transmits the request of the master to the second processing unit with a nodal scope of transmission limited to the second processing node. The second processing node includes a node interface having a directory. The node interface of the second processing node permits the request to proceed with the nodal scope of transmission if the directory does not indicate that a target memory block of the request is cached other than in the second processing node and prevents the request from succeeding if the directory indicates that the target memory block of the request is cached other than in the second processing node.
US08504770B2 System and method for representation of target devices in a storage router
The present invention provides an improved device, system and method for representation of target devices in a storage router. In one aspect, a device, system and method are provided for predictive representation of SAS/SATA-based target devices in a storage router corresponding to the physical layout of the target devices. In another aspect, a storage router is communicatively connectable to a plurality of target storage devices. In one embodiment, a router discovery manager or module is configured to discover the physical layout of the target storage devices; a host system interface receives and responds to data storage commands; a computer bus interface connects/communicates with SAS and SATA storage; and a plurality of host system interface to target storage device maps correspond to the physical layout of the target storage devices.
US08504766B2 Methods and apparatus for cut-through cache management for a mirrored virtual volume of a virtualized storage system
Methods and apparatus for cut-through cache memory management in write command processing on a mirrored virtual volume of a virtualized storage system, the virtual volume comprising a plurality of physical storage devices coupled with the storage system. Features and aspects hereof within the storage system provide for receipt of a write command and associated write data from an attached host. Using a cut-through cache technique, the write data is stored in a cache memory and transmitted to a first of the plurality of storage devices as the write data is stored in the cache memory thus eliminating one read-back of the write data for transfer to a first physical storage device. Following receipt of the write data and storage in the cache memory, the write data is transmitted from the cache memory to the other physical storage devices.
US08504752B2 Virtual machine control device, virtual machine control program, and virtual machine control circuit for managing interrupts of plural virtual machines
The interrupt level storing unit (16) stores one or more interrupt levels indicating the priority of a generated interrupt and stores the interrupt level having the highest priority among the stored interrupt levels as a second interrupt mask level. The second interrupt type determination unit (13) sets an interrupt level corresponding to the interrupt type of a newly generated interrupt. The priority determination unit (14) notifies the interrupt to the virtual machine control unit (20) when the interrupt level of the newly generated interrupt is higher than the stored second interrupt mask level. As a result, the priority of the virtual machine can be determined according to the task priority and the switching of virtual machines can be adequately controlled even if the virtual machines cannot notify the task priority.
US08504737B2 Serial line protocol for embedded devices
Described embodiments provide a transceiver for transferring data between a media controller and a host device through a communication link. The transceiver includes a first interrupt generator configured to i) generate a first interrupt when a command is received from the host device and ii) provide the received command to a receive buffer. A command processing module i) retrieves the received command from the receive buffer, ii) processes the received command, and iii) provides data request data in response to the received command to a transmit buffer. A datagram generator is configured to provide datagram data to the transmit buffer and a second interrupt generator is configured to generate a second interrupt when data in the transmit buffer is ready for transmission. The transmit buffer interleaves i) the data request data in response to the received command and ii) the datagram data, when provided to the communication link.
US08504732B2 Administering connection identifiers for collective operations in a parallel computer
Administering connection identifiers for collective operations in a parallel computer, including prior to calling a collective operation, determining, by a first compute node of a communicator to receive an instruction to execute the collective operation, whether a value stored in a global connection identifier utilization buffer exceeds a predetermined threshold; if the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer does not exceed the predetermined threshold: calling the collective operation with a next available ConnID including retrieving, from an element of a ConnID buffer, the next available ConnID and locking the element of the ConnID buffer from access by other compute nodes; and if the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer exceeds the predetermined threshold: repeatedly determining whether the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer exceeds the predetermined threshold until the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer does not exceed the predetermined threshold.
US08504730B2 Administering connection identifiers for collective operations in a parallel computer
Administering connection identifiers for collective operations in a parallel computer, including prior to calling a collective operation, determining, by a first compute node of a communicator to receive an instruction to execute the collective operation, whether a value stored in a global connection identifier utilization buffer exceeds a predetermined threshold; if the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer does not exceed the predetermined threshold: calling the collective operation with a next available ConnID including retrieving, from an element of a ConnID buffer, the next available ConnID and locking the element of the ConnID buffer from access by other compute nodes; and if the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer exceeds the predetermined threshold: repeatedly determining whether the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer exceeds the predetermined threshold until the value stored in the global ConnID utilization buffer does not exceed the predetermined threshold.
US08504723B2 Routing proxy for resource requests and resources
A device receives, from a client device, a request for a resource, where the request provides an identifier of the client device. The device selects a target device for the resource, connects with the selected target device, and provides a proxy of the request to the selected target device, where the proxy of the request hides the identifier of the client device. The device receives the resource from the selected target device, where the resource provides an identifier of the target device. The device provides a proxy of the resource to the client device, where the proxy of the resource hides the identifier of the target device.
US08504712B2 Method and apparatus for managing multi-streaming contents and for controlling of changing players during playback of multi-streaming contents
Methods and apparatus for managing multi-streaming contents and for controlling of changing media players (media renderers) during playback of the multi-streaming contents are disclosed. An exemplary of the method of controlling for changing a media player from a first player to a second player, in a control device is disclosed. The method can include receiving multi-streaming capability from the second player, the multi-streaming capability including information about at least one of multi-streaming contents performable in the second player. The method can also include receiving streaming content information and playing status information from the first player, wherein the playing status information includes playing time information of streaming content being performed at the first player. The method can also include determining streaming content desired to be performed at the second player by comparing the multi-streaming capability of the second player with streaming content information of the first player. The method can also include generating current playing information of the streaming content that is determined to be performed at the second player, based on the playing time information. The method can also include transmitting the current playing information of the streaming content to a media server which is able to communicate with the second player.
US08504704B2 Distributed contact information management
A method and system for interaction with webservices and for performing distributed contact management use standard interfaces to communicate with other entities in an identity management network. The use of homesites as user data stores allows for homesite to homesite communication to allow for distributed contact management, and the generic interface allows for homesite to webservice interaction.
US08504699B2 Invitation to bind to a device
A server device sends a list of account holders together with an invitation to bind to the server. A client device can decide to present the invitation to a user for decision only if the client device finds a match between the list and the user.
US08504698B2 Fast setup response prediction
Mechanisms are provided to accelerate Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) setup messages. A client transmits an RTSP request to a server. The server responds to the request and preemptively responds with acknowledgements for messages not yet received. For example, a server responds to an RTSP describe message with an RTSP describe acknowledgement, an RTSP setup acknowledgement, and an RTSP play response before setup and play messages are received by the server or even transmitted by the client. The client processes the anticipatory responses and transmits setup and play responses when the anticipatory responses are processed.
US08504693B2 Method and apparatus for operating system streaming
A method and apparatus for traversing a firewall between an Intranet and the Internet without the use of a proxy server is provided. Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) streaming over a firewall is provided by tunneling iSCSI over Hypertext Transport Protocol (Security) (HTTP(S)).
US08504692B1 Browser based redirection of broken links
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing correct identifiers for web pages to users. A redirect database with original identifiers and redirected identifiers found to be associated with the original identifiers may be established. A processing device may transmit a first request for a resource located at a location specified by an identifier. The processing device may determine that the resource is no longer located at the location, and may receive a redirected identifier for the resource. The processing device may then transmit a second request for the resource to a location specified by the redirected identifier.
US08504674B2 System and method for high-performance profiling of application events
A system and method for high-performance profiling of web-enabled application events are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes registering a profiler as a provider to an event tracer. Information associated with an event is captured using the profiler, the event is associated with a web-enabled application. A function token is associated with the captured information, which is communicated to the event tracer.
US08504661B2 Apparatus and method for adaptive multimedia reception and transmission in communication environments
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for configuration of adaptive integrated circuitry, to provide one or more operating modes or other functionality in a communication device, such as a cellular telephone, a GSM telephone, another type of mobile telephone or mobile station, or any other type of media communication device, including video, voice or radio, or other forms of multimedia. The adaptive integrated circuitry is configured and reconfigured for multiple tasks, such as channel acquisition, voice transmission, or multimedia and other data processing. In the preferred embodiment, the configuration and reconfiguration occurs to adaptively optimize the performance of the particular activity over time, such as to increase the speed of channel acquisition, increase throughput rates, increase perceived voice and media quality, and decrease the rate of dropped communication sessions.
US08504656B2 Systems and methods for collecting and storing network traffic data
Systems and methods are disclosed for collecting network traffic logs from a plurality of network servers, such as DNS name servers, and storing extracted data from the logs in a central repository. In one implementation, a system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that cause the processor to retrieve PCAP files from a plurality of servers and extract data from the PCAP files. The data comprises header data and digest data. The processor stores the header data and the digest data in a header/digest pair. In another aspect, the processor retrieves a sample of the PCAP files from each of the plurality of servers rather than retrieving all PCAP files.
US08504627B2 Group based spam classification
An e-mail filter is used to classify received e-mails so that some of the classes may be filtered, blocked, or marked. The e-mail filter may include a classifier that can classify an e-mail as belonging to a particular class and an e-mail grouper that can detect substantially similar, but possibly not identical, e-mails. The e-mail grouper determines groups of substantially similar e-mails in an incoming e-mail stream. For each group, the classifier determines whether one or more test e-mails from the group belongs to the particular class. The classifier then designates the class to which the other e-mails in the group belong based on the results for the test e-mails.
US08504625B2 Method for transmitting messages using the multimedia message service (MMS)
The invention relates to a method for transmitting messages from a user application of a subscriber to a user application of another subscriber with the aid of the Multimedia Messaging Service MMS, the message being in the format of an external application and is identified as such by an application identifier that is transmitted along with the message. According to the invention, the multimedia message service is used by the external application as a transport system for transmitting the message. The message is identified by a network element of the Multimedia Messaging Service using the application identifier and is transmitted in an unmodified state via the Multimedia Messaging Service and forwarded to the external application. The invention also relates to a subscriber terminal and a communication system for carrying out said method.
US08504623B2 System and method for distributing electronic information
The present system for distributing electronic information includes a central email client connected to an email sending server, the central email client connected to an addressee's computer operating an addressee's email client connected to a email receiving server, the email sending server and the email receiving server utilizing a common email system protocol to send an email over the network; and a first selectable link displayed on the email, the first selectable link associated with an Internet portal containing one of a second selectable link and a first set of information categories, the second selectable link and the first set of information categories stored on an Internet server connected to the network, the second selectable link and the first set of information categories displayed to the addressee's computer when the first selectable link is selected.
US08504618B2 Dynamic mailbox size configuration by self modification based on historical behavior
The present invention relates generally to call control system sub-processes for a telephone private branch exchange, and, more particularly, to the configuration of mailboxes for those sub-processes. A call control system comprising a plurality of processes, a mailbox for each of said processes, and wherein one of said processes, is responsive to a fullness measure of corresponding said mailbox, for altering the size of said corresponding mailbox during run time is provided.
US08504613B1 Reduction of perceived DNS lookup latency
Perceived domain name service (DNS) lookup latency can be reduced for the user of a browser program. A server determines domain names that the user is likely to request in the future. In one implementation, a list of these domain names is transmitted to the browser program as a separate command. The browser program may then lookup up the domain names in the background before the user selects a link corresponding to the domain names. In another implementation, the domain names are transmitted to the browser program by embedding the domain names in a web document, in which the embedded information is not visible in the rendered version of the web document.
US08504607B2 Information processing device, information processing method, recording medium, and program
An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a recording medium, and a program that can run an application for playing an optical disc and an application that provides a unique function of the apparatus in cooperation with each other. A JVM converts JAVA™ bytecode into native code and executes the native code. An API library is a set of commands and functions that can be used when developing a navigation program and a set of protocols defining procedures. The navigation program is a program that reproduces data recorded on an optical disc and can control hardware of a reproducing apparatus only within the range of the API library. An application program provides a function unique to the reproducing apparatus. The navigation program and the application program execute a process in cooperation with each other using IXC.
US08504606B2 Learner for resource constrained devices
Methods, apparatuses, and articles for registering votes to predict an attribute value for a received instance are described herein. In one embodiment, the registering is performed in a weighted manner based at least on a weight and predicted target values associated with at least one of one or more rules whose antecedent has been met. The meeting of the antecedent is determined based at least on one or more attributes values of one or more other attributes of the received instance. Further, determining whether the predicted target value for which votes are registered correctly predicted the attribute value of the received instance is performed. The associated weight of the rule is adjusted accordingly, for instance, by incrementing the weight if the predicted target value correctly predicted the attribute value of the received instance, and by decrementing the weight if the predicted target value incorrectly predicted the attribute value of the received instance.
US08504604B2 Multimeter with filtered measurement mode
A multimeter with filtered measurement mode is disclosed. The multimeter includes a signal conditioning circuit, a low-pass filter, a microprocessor, a measurement circuit, a root-mean-square (RMS) converter, a display unit, and an external rotary switch. The signal conditioning circuit receives a control signal to select an operation mode of the multimeter. The low-pass filter is electrically connected to the signal conditioning circuit. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the signal conditioning circuit. The measurement circuit is electrically connected to the microprocessor and the RMS converter to measure a signal outputted from the RMS converter. The display unit is electrically connected to the microprocessor and the measurement circuit. Also, the external rotary switch is optionally connected to the microprocessor. Whereby rotating the external rotary switch to generate the control signal and perform a low-pass filtering mode to communicate the low-pass filter with the RMS converter.
US08504596B2 Extended garbage collection
Extended garbage collection is disclosed. It is determined, based at least in part on data stored in a data structure accessible to the respective garbage collecting entity of each of a plurality of runtime systems, that a local object is associated with one or more external objects. The local object is retained, even if the local object has been determine to be unreachable locally in a local runtime system with which the local object is associated, if at least one of said one or more external objects has been determined to be reachable within an external runtime environment with which the at least one external object is associated.
US08504592B2 Data organization tool and apparatus for remotely managing a meeting
The system, method and computer readable medium that facilitates selection of a meeting participant, and the creation of a first data structure based on the selected meeting participant. Data may be collected in response to the selection of the meeting participant. A second data structure may be generated for the collected data, and the data in the second data structure may be linked to the first data structure and the selected meeting participant.
US08504591B2 Data generating device and data generating method, and data processing device and data processing method
Disclosed herein is a data generating device including: a coding section coding a plurality of kinds of data, and generating coded data; an information generating section generating a plurality of pieces of group information indicating combinations of a plurality of kinds of the data; and a file generating section generating a coded data storage file including the coded data of the plurality of kinds of the data and the plurality of pieces of the group information.
US08504587B2 Content access and annotation system and method
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for controlling access to content, and/or regions thereof, as well as controlling access to annotations to the content, or regions thereof. An audience can be specified for a region of content and one or more associated annotations. In response to a request for a content region, a content region definition, an audience definition for the content region, and at least one annotation for the content region and audience can be obtained, and the content region and the at least one annotation can be transmitted in response to the request if it is determined that the request is from a member of the audience, so that the content region and annotation can be experienced at an audience member's device.
US08504584B1 Systems and methods for providing search query refinements
A system and method for generating query refinement suggestions may include collecting refinement data for at least one received source query. The collected refinement data is then clustered to form at least one cluster. At least one potential refinement query suggestion is identified from the refinement data within the at least one cluster.
US08504583B1 Multi-domain recommendations
Methods, computer systems, and computer-readable storage media for generating and presenting multi-domain recommendations to a user viewing a Web page are provided. A topic-of-interest is identified on the Web page being viewed by the user. The topic-of-interest is mapped to an entity ID in a multi-domain recommendation data structure. The multi-domain recommendation data structure is used to identify entities, uniform resource locators, and search queries mapped to the entity ID. Multi-domain recommendations are generated using the entities, uniform resource locators, and search queries; the multi-domain recommendations are presented on the Web page being viewed by the user.
US08504581B2 Multiple criteria decision analysis
Embodiments of the present disclosure set forth a method for selecting a preferred data set. The method includes generating a candidate data set based on a first data set having a first join attribute, and a first aggregate attribute and a second data set having a second join attribute compatible with the first join attribute, and a second aggregate attribute, wherein the candidate data set includes a total attribute having a value that is based on aggregating a value associated with the first aggregate attribute and a value associated with the second aggregate attribute; and selecting the preferred data set from the candidate data set based on the total attribute.
US08504580B2 Systems and methods for creating an artificial intelligence
A computer system implemented method of creating and using artificial intelligence wherein the system includes a first table including at least one textual portion and at least one context phrase contained in the textual portion and the computer system is capable of communication via a network with the user using at least one electronic device, the method comprising: receiving at least one textual input from the user, extracting at least one portion of the textual input from the user and at least one context phrase therefrom, comparing each portion extracted from the textual input from the user to other portions extracted from the textual input from the user according to a first matching algorithm that utilizes the context phrases of each respective portion, and storing in the first table, the portions and respective context phrases that were extracted from the textual input from the user that satisfy the matching algorithm.
US08504578B2 System and method for near and exact de-duplication of documents
A system, method and computer program product for identifying near and exact-duplicate documents in a document collection, including for each document in the collection, reading textual content from the document; filtering the textual content based on user settings; determining N most frequent words from the filtered textual content of the document; performing a quorum search of the N most frequent words in the document with a threshold M; and sorting results from the quorum search based on relevancy. Based on the values of N and M near and exact-duplicate documents are identified in the document collection.
US08504576B2 Technique for processing data in a network
A technique for processing data in a network is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for processing data in a network having a plurality of network stations. The method comprises receiving a first representation of data at a first of the plurality of network stations, processing the first representation so as to generate a second representation of the data, and transmitting the second representation from the first network station to a second of the plurality of network stations for storage therein, wherein the second representation is stored at an address within the second network station. The method also comprises receiving the address at the first network station, and transmitting the address from the first network station to a third of the plurality of network stations for storage therein.
US08504571B2 Directed placement of data in a redundant data storage system
A data processing apparatus, comprising a metadata store storing information about files that are stored in a distributed data storage system, and comprising a class database; one or more processing units; logic configured for receiving and storing in the class database a definition of a class of data storage servers comprising one or more subclasses each comprising one or more server selection criteria; associating the class with one or more directories of the data storage system; in response to a data client storing a data file in a directory, binding the class to the data file, determining and storing a set of identifiers of one or more data storage servers in the system that match the server selection criteria, and providing the set of identifiers to the data client.
US08504568B2 Collaborative workbench for managing data from heterogeneous sources
Disclosed is an exemplary computer program application, system and method for a unified approach to managing data from heterogeneous sources. The system includes a central, semantic data storage basing on a directed labeled graph model, a module for accessing data sources by drawing access and mapping configuration from the data storage and loading the resulting data into the data storage and a unified user interface that treats each graph node in the data storage as a separate term, visualizes and modified the term's context in the data graph using configurable user interface widgets.
US08504567B2 Automatically constructing titles
An information retrieval system and computer-based method provide constructing a title for a search result summary of a document through title synthesis, wherein the title is suitable for use in assessing the relevance of the summarized document to a query. Meaningful keywords or key phrases (title components) about the document are Obtained. The title components are classified into pre-established title component classes. When a query is input to which the document is relevant, a title for the document is constructed by arranging title components selected from title component classes to maximize a title utility function. The title utility function may be a query-dependent grade. In addition to the query, the title utility function may also account for constraints under which the title is to be presented to a user.
US08504566B2 Method of providing a number of search results for a handheld electronic device, and system and handheld electronic device employing the same
A method provides search results for a handheld electronic device including an input apparatus having a plurality of input members, each of at least a portion of which have a plurality of characters assigned thereto. A type of the input apparatus is sent from the device to a server. The device receives a number of activations of a number of the input members, and sends the received number of activations to the server. The server determines a number of possible combinations of the characters based upon the received input apparatus type and the received number of activations, searches for a number of search results as a function of the number of possible combinations of the characters, and sends the number of search results to the device. The device receives the number of search results, and displays at least a portion of the number of search results.
US08504565B2 Full text search capabilities integrated into distributed file systems— incrementally indexing files
A hierarchical distributed search mechanism is integrated into a distributed file system. Traditional file system APIs (create, open, close, read, write, link, rename, delete, . . . ) and the over-the-wire protocols employed to project these APIs into remote client sites (CIFS, NFS, DDS, Appletalk) are extended to enable the dynamic creation of temporary directories containing links to objects identified by search engines (executing at sites “close” to “their” data) as meeting the search criteria specified by the first parameter of a search function call. The search function, derived from the standard file system API function create, is added to the file system API.
US08504556B1 System and method for diminishing workload imbalance across multiple database systems
Various embodiments of a system and method for diminishing workload imbalance across multiple database systems are described. Embodiments may include a resource balancer configured to, for each of a multiple database systems hosting database resources assigned to different user entities, generate a system usage score for that database system based on database usage scores of respective database resources hosted by that database system. Each usage score of a given database resource may indicate a quantity of work performed by the respective database system to process one or more requests directed to that database resource. The resource balancer may also be configured to generate one or more instructions to move a database resource from a first database system having a first system usage score to a second database system having a smaller system usage score in order to diminish an imbalance of workload across the database systems.
US08504555B2 Search techniques for rich internet applications
A computing device includes one or more rich internet application (RIA) client engines. Each RIA client engine includes a corresponding private RIA storage area. The computing device also includes a per-RIA public storage area for each RIA. The per-RIA public storage area including a subset of data items in the private RIA storage area of the corresponding RIA client engine. A search engine of the computing device may search the data items in the one or more per-RIA public storage areas and link to content in the private RIA storage area of the corresponding RIA client engine at a given data item matching a search request.
US08504537B2 Signature distribution in a document registration system
A document accessible over a network can be registered. A registered document, and the content contained therein, is not transmitted undetected over and off of the network. In one embodiment, the invention includes a manager agent to maintain signatures of registered documents and a match agent to detect the unauthorized transmission of the content of registered documents.
US08504526B2 Failover systems and methods for performing backup operations
In certain embodiments, a tiered storage system is disclosed that provides for failover protection during data backup operations. The system can provide for an index, or catalog, for identifying and enabling restoration of backup data located on a storage device. The system further maintains a set of transaction logs generated by media agent modules that identify metadata with respect to individual data chunks of a backup file on the storage device. A copy of the catalog and transaction logs can be stored at a location accessible by each of the media agent modules. In this manner, in case of a failure of one media agent module during backup, the transaction logs and existing catalog can be used by a second media agent module to resume the backup operation without requiring a restart of the backup process.
US08504524B1 Reclaiming space from a file system
Technologies are provided for reclaiming a file system coupled to a block device. In these technologies, a dummy file is created. The dummy file is expanded to fill a volume in the block device. A mapping of the dummy file to locations in the volume is retrieved. When the mapping of the dummy file to the locations in the volume is retrieved, corresponding space in the volume is reclaimed. This space may include the locations in the volume corresponding to the mapping of the dummy file. When this space in the volume is reclaimed, the dummy file is deleted.
US08504523B2 Database management system
A multi-user, elastic, on-demand, distributed relational database management system. The database is fragmented into distributed objects called atoms. Any change to a copy of an atom at one location is replicated to all other locations containing a copy of that atom. Transactional managers operate to satisfy the properties of atomicity, consistency, isolation and durability.
US08504522B2 Automated topology-based statistics monitoring and performance analysis
A computer is programmed to parse a network that interconnects databases in a distributed database system, into a number of paths, wherein each path starts in a source database that is a source of changes and ends in a destination database that uses the changes to replicate the source database. The computer identifies databases that occur within each path in the network, and queries the identified databases to obtain statistics for each path. Statistics along each path are analyzed automatically, to identify a component in each path as a candidate for further investigation. The identified component may be marked as a bottleneck e.g. if there are no other paths connected to it. Alternatively the identified component may be a source of changes for another path that has a bottleneck or that has another candidate for further investigation. The identified bottleneck is displayed to the user with recommendations for improvement.
US08504515B2 Stubbing systems and methods in a data replication environment
Stubbing systems and methods are provided for intelligent data management in a replication environment, such as by reducing the space occupied by replication data on a destination system. In certain examples, stub files or like objects replace migrated, de-duplicated or otherwise copied data that has been moved from the destination system to secondary storage. Access is further provided to the replication data in a manner that is transparent to the user and/or without substantially impacting the base replication process. In order to distinguish stub files representing migrated replication data from replicated stub files, priority tags or like identifiers can be used. Thus, when accessing a stub file on the destination system, such as to modify replication data or perform a restore process, the tagged stub files can be used to recall archived data prior to performing the requested operation so that an accurate copy of the source data is generated.
US08504512B2 Identifying geospatial patterns from device data
Determining geospatial patterns from device data collected from a plurality of computing devices. The devices represent, for example, a plurality of sources providing the device data. The device data describes the computing devices and/or environments thereof. Some embodiments present the determined patterns to users for editing, update maps with the edited patterns, and distribute the maps to the users. The maps are stored to create a searchable map library.
US08504505B2 System and method for controlling an autonomous worksite
A control system is disclosed for providing a control decision to an autonomous worksite. The control system may include a communication interface configured to collect information related to an index of the autonomous worksite. The control system may also include a storage device configured to store the collected information and a plurality of constraint models. Each constraint model may characterize the mathematical relationship between the index and at least one control variable. The control system may further include a processor coupled to the communication interface and the storage device. The processor may be configured to build an optimization model for optimizing the index, based on the plurality of constraint models and the collected information. The processor may be further configured to determine the at least one control variable associated with the autonomous worksite by solving the optimization model. The processor may also be configured to make a control decision based on the determined control variable, and provide the control decision to the autonomous worksite.
US08504498B2 Method of generating an optimized, diverse population of variants
The present disclosure relates to methods of rapidly and efficiently searching biologically-related data space to identify a population set maximally diverse and optimized for sets of desired properties. More specifically, the disclosure provides methods of identifying a diverse, evolutionary separated bio-molecules with desired properties from complex bio-molecule libraries. The disclosure additionally provides digital systems and software for performing these methods.
US08504493B2 Self-organizing sequential memory pattern machine and reinforcement learning method
A self-organizing computing machine utilizes a method for mapping from a plurality of patterns contained within provided inputs to an invariant perception, distinguishable by a name or a label. The self-organizing computing machine includes a network of at least three nodes arranged in at least two hierarchical levels, at least one feature extractor, and at least one output unit arranged to interface the invariant perception. The nodes may include a reinforcement learning sub-network combined with an ensemble learning sub-network. The reinforcement learning sub-network may be arranged to receive at least two correlants, to determine a plurality of output values and to output the output values to the nodes of the higher level and the nodes of the lower level. Also, the ensemble learning sub-network may be arranged to receive and to combine output values from nodes of the higher level and nodes of the lower level.
US08504490B2 Web-scale entity relationship extraction that extracts pattern(s) based on an extracted tuple
Methods and systems for Web-scale entity relationship extraction are usable to build large-scale entity relationship graphs from any data corpora stored on a computer-readable medium or accessible through a network. Such entity relationship graphs may be used to navigate previously undiscoverable relationships among entities within data corpora. Additionally, the entity relationship extraction may be configured to utilize discriminative models to jointly model correlated data found within the selected corpora.
US08504489B2 Predictive coding of documents in an electronic discovery system
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for improved electronic discovery. More specifically, embodiments relate to computer program products for predictive and automated coding of identical or highly similar documents for the purpose of limiting the volume of documents requiring review and thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the document review process.
US08504488B2 Network data mining to determine user interest
Mining information from network data traffic to determine interests of online network users is provided herein. A data packet received at a network interface device can be accessed and inspected at line rate speeds. Source or addressing information in the data packet can be extracted to identify an initiating and/or receiving device. The packet can be inspected to identify occurrences of keywords or data features related with one or more subject matters. A vector can be defined for a network device that indicates a relative rank of interest in various subject matters. Furthermore, statistical analysis can be implemented on data stored in one or more interest vectors to determine information pertinent to network user interests. The information can facilitate providing value-added products or services to network users.
US08504485B1 Adaptive regionalization for transit characteristic prediction
A method and system for transit characteristic prediction. In one embodiment, a method may include determining respective transit latencies from a source location to a number of destination locations, and grouping the destination locations according to a fitness function into a number of subsets corresponding to respective geographical regions. The grouping may involve a series of divisions and combinations of potential regions to form a plurality of sets of potential regions. Each set of potential regions may be evaluated using the fitness function, and the set with the better fitness score may be selected. The method may also include dynamically updating the respective transit characteristic, regrouping the regions, and reselecting a set of potential regions based on empirical transit data.
US08504483B2 Electronic trading system supporting anonymous negotiation and indications of interest
A system conducts anonymous negotiations and supports indications of interest in trading stock. The system includes a database for storing public orders received from a public stock trading system; and a server for receiving hidden orders from a plurality of users and for conducting anonymous negotiations between first and second users with the hidden orders. The server repeatedly accesses the database to determine a match of any one of the hidden orders with any one of the public orders, and to execute a pair of orders selected from the hidden orders and the public orders. The system also transmits indications of interest (IOI) into a trading environment using the server for processing a trading order from a first user and for maintaining a profile of a user. The profile includes a current IOI setting for controlling transmission of the IOI from the user. The server responds to a toggle command from the first user to control transmission of the IOI opposite to the current IOI setting. The server responds to the IOI setting being set to allow transmission by transmitting the IOI of the first user associated with the trading order.
US08504480B2 Creation of signatures for authenticating applications
A method and system for authenticating applications. The system includes a plurality of portable electronic devices, at least one process organizer, at least one module developer, at least one task performer and a workflow server. The process organizer generates an application. The process organizer can request modules from module developers that are incorporated into the application. Alternatively, the process organizer makes an agreement with a task performer to perform tasks to complete the application. The application is transmitted to the workflow server, which includes an online marketplace for displaying and selling the applications. A user purchases the application through the store. A routing module generates a signature and compares the signature to application, module or document metadata and a secret to determine consistency of the data before the application, module or document is routed.
US08504471B2 Facilitating the ownership of solar-powered electricity-generating systems
Methods of facilitating a party's purchase of an electricity-generating solar power system are disclosed. The methods may comprise entering into, by the lender, an agreement with the party whereby, in exchange for a payment amount paid by the lender to a seller of the solar power system, the lender owns and is to sell up to 100% of the electricity generated by the party's solar power system after installation for a contract time period defined by the agreement. The methods may also comprise paying, by the lender, the payment amount to the seller for the solar power system. The contract time period may extend, for example, until sales of the electricity by the lender after installation generate an aggregate payment amount that meets or exceeds a specified level. The contract time period or unit quantity might also be fixed. The lender may also receive environmental attributes from the party.
US08504468B2 System and method for compiling information for resolving transactions
A system and method for gathering information pertinent to a transaction for purposes of compiling an offer set of at least one offer for settling the transaction is presented. The design comprises a server configured to seek information, the server configured to seek at least one from a group comprising information related to personal data regarding a user, information related to account data regarding a user account, information related to macroeconomic data, and information related to the transaction. The server seeks all information from a source separate from the server and the user.
US08504464B2 Trading in multi-modal freight shipment derivatives
A method for facilitating freight shipment between a first geographic location and a second geographic location is disclosed. The method comprising displaying in a first data section of a browser window derivative contract data pertaining to shipment capacity offered by carriers between the first geographic location and the second geographic location, the derivative contract data being associated with at least shipping mode. The method further comprising displaying in a second data section of a browser window forecast data pertaining to demand forecasts between the first geographic location and the second geographic location, the forecast data being provided by shippers, the second data section being configured to be viewed simultaneously with said first data section, the browser window being configured to be accessible via a computer network. The method further comprising receiving shipper assessment of accuracy of the forecast data from the shippers.
US08504454B2 System and method for purchasing a financial instrument indexed to entertainment revenue
A method for purchasing a securities bundle indexed to entertainment revenue comprises selecting a securities bundle offered by a special-purpose entity. The securities bundle comprises a first security and a second security and the securities bundle is associated with a closing date. The first security is associated with a first entertainment event and the second security is associated with a second entertainment event. The method continues by identifying a return value associated with the securities bundle, and by identifying a purchase price associated with the securities bundle. The method concludes by purchasing the selected securities bundle at least partially based on the purchase price and the return value.
US08504450B2 Mobile remittances/payments
A method and a system for mobile remittance and/or payment are provided. Example embodiments may include receiving a request, at a financial entity and from a first party, to remit an amount from an account, associated with the first party to a mobile account associated with a phone number of a second party; notifying the second party of the amount to be remitted and an identity of the first party; receiving a personal identification component from the second party; accessing the mobile account based on the personal identification component; and depositing the amount into the mobile account. A request may be received from the second party to transfer a portion of the amount to a third party.
US08504433B2 Transaction split fees
A transaction fee imposed by a payment provider may be allocated between the parties to an on-line transaction in any way and at any time. This adds flexibility to the transaction and allows the parties to allocate the transaction fee on a per transaction basis that best suits the parties.
US08504431B2 Method and system for monitoring forestry products
A method and system for monitoring forestry products are provided in the present invention, wherein at least one active communicating device is disposed on a forestry product, and reading and transmitting devices are also disposed in specific locations for building a monitoring and management mechanism to protect the forestry products from stealing. By means the method and system of the present invention, it is capable of providing real-time monitoring information and collecting evidence of illegal actions immediately so that the management staff can control the situation and status of the forestry products, which is useful for improving the efficiency of forestry management. Meanwhile, the present invention may also help to find those lawless persons who steal and fell illegally the forestry resources so as to ensure the safety of working environment for forest managing staff and sustainable management of forest and natural resources.
US08504429B2 System and method of displaying information by an electronic price label
A system and method of displaying information by an electronic price label which uses thresholds to minimize the number of messages to an electronic price label. The system includes a record for an item associated with the electronic price label which contains the thresholds. The thresholds divide the information into a number of ranges including a first range of information and a second range of information. The system further includes a computer for scheduling messages for transmission to the electronic price label, wherein the computer obtains first information associated with the first range and displayed by the electronic price label, obtains second information which is more recent than the first information, determines whether the first information equals the second information, and if the first information does not equal the second information, obtains the second range, determines whether the first information is within the second range, and sends a message to the electronic price label containing the second information and a command to display the second information instead of the first information if the first information is outside the second range.
US08504405B2 Accelerated process improvement framework
The present invention relates to a method and related system for assisting and expediting an organization production of a more mature product. The method and system may include implementation of processes using a combination of both electronic hardware and software and implementation locally or over a network such as an intranet or the Internet. In another embodiment, the method may be implemented using a document management system to administer files related to the steps in the method. These files may assist a user in the creation of required documentation. A document management tool may be integrated with the document management system to associate documentation with steps in the method. A navigator tool may be employed to create a graphical display of the steps in the method using data contained in the files. Another embodiment of the present invention uses WebDAV-based communication to coordinate access to multiple document repositories.
US08504403B2 Labor resource decision support system
A labor resource decision support system, in which labor resource data is maintained across multiple units within an organization using a standardized data record format. A demand measurement for a first type of labor resource having a unique combination of values for fields of the standardized data record format is determined based on input describing forecasted demand for the first type of labor resource within the organization and a supply measurement for the first type of labor resource is determined based on input describing forecasted supply for the first type of labor resource within the organization and the labor resource data. A gap measurement is calculated based on the determined demand measurement and the determined supply measurement and an output is provided based on the calculated gap measurement.
US08504381B2 Structured data authoring and editing system
The present invention offers an extensive suite of tools that facilitate and enhance the capability within a healthcare institution to establish and maintain an evidence-based best practice approach to providing patient care. Using evidence, term vocabulary and default structured content (order sets) embodiments of the invention enable the localization of said content in a well structured environment.
US08504380B2 Assistance for clinical trial protocols
Roughly described, a user instantiates protocol elements in a structured clinical trial protocol database and then draws from them in the development of one or more protocol related documents. The system helps the user select tasks to be performed during the study by reference to a historical database of tasks previously associated with similar protocols. The system automatically generates complex content from protocol elements in the database, and can render overlapping sets of protocol elements differently at different locations in the document. The system can automatically provide advisories indicating aspects of the document that still require completion or highlighting other issues that a sponsoring authority deems important for the document type. Alter all protocol elements are instantiated in the protocol database, it can then be used to drive the operation of most downstream aspects of the study.
US08504376B2 Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding object-based audio signals
An audio encoding method and apparatus and an audio decoding method and apparatus are provided. The audio signal decoding method includes extracting a downmix signal and object-based side information from an audio signal; generating a modified downmix signal based on the downmix signal and extracted information which is extracted from the object-based side information; generating channel-based side information based on the object-based side information and control data for rendering the downmix signal; and generating a multi-channel audio signal based on the modified downmix signal and the channel-based side information.
US08504373B2 Processing verbal feedback and updating digital video recorder (DVR) recording patterns
A method, a system and a computer program product for using speech/voice recognition technology to update digital video recorder (DVR) program recording patterns, based on program viewer/listener feedback. A speech controlled pattern modification (SCPM) utility utilizes a DVR recording sub-system integrated with speech processing functionality to compare control phrases with phrases uttered by a viewer. If a control phrase matches a phrase uttered by the viewer, the SCPM utility modifies the DVR recording patterns, according to a set of pre-programmed governing rules. For example, the SCPM utility may avoid modifying the recording patterns for programs within a list of “favorite” programs but may modify the recording patterns for programs excluded from the list. The SCPM utility determines priority of the uttered phrases by identifying users and retrieving a preset priority level of the identified users. The priority level is then used to control changes to the recording patterns.
US08504370B2 User-initiative voice service system and method
A voice service system which includes a database storing information and is connected with a plurality of terminals by a communication network, comprising a call connection unit for transmitting-receiving a signal, on a voice service to/from each of the terminals, a voice processing unit for interpreting a voice instruction received from the terminal and converting an internally-created voice service document into a voice message, a recognition management unit for extracting a grammar, which is expected to be spoken by a user, from the database, a document management unit for creating the voice service document including the extracted grammar as a voice anchor, and a control unit for controlling information related to the voice anchor matching with the voice instruction to be provided.
US08504363B2 System and method for unsupervised and active learning for automatic speech recognition
A system and method is provided for combining active and unsupervised learning for automatic speech recognition. This process enables a reduction in the amount of human supervision required for training acoustic and language models and an increase in the performance given the transcribed and un-transcribed data.
US08504359B2 Method and apparatus for speech recognition using domain ontology
A speech recognition method using a domain ontology includes: constructing domain ontology DB; forming a speech recognition grammar using the formed domain ontology DB; extracting a feature vector from a speech signal; modeling the speech signal using an acoustic model. The method performs speech recognition by using the acoustic model, the speech recognition dictionary and the speech recognition grammar on the basis of the feature vector.
US08504358B2 Voice recording equipment and method
In a voice recording equipment and method, voice data from a speaker is received using a microphone. Threshold values T1 and T2 of surrounding environment of the voice recording equipment are determined. If an intensity of the voice data is less than or equal to the threshold value T2, the voice recording is stopped and the speaker is informed that the voice data is not useful. If the intensity of the voice data is greater than the threshold values, the voice data is stored into a storage unit.
US08504355B2 Joint disambiguation of syntactic and semantic ambiguity
Ambiguities in a natural language expression are interpreted by jointly disambiguating multiple alternative syntactic and semantic interpretations. More than one syntactic alternative, represented by parse contexts, are analyzed together with joint analysis of referents, word senses, relation types, and layout of a semantic representation for each syntactic alternative. Best combinations of interpretations are selected from all participating parse contexts, and are used to form parse contexts for the next step in parsing.
US08504353B2 Phrase-based statistical machine translation as a generalized traveling salesman problem
Systems and methods are described that facilitate phrase-based statistical machine translation (SMT) incorporating bigram (or higher n-gram) language models by modeling bi-phrases as nodes in a graph. Additionally, construction of a translation is modeled as a “tour” amongst the nodes of the graph, such that a translation solution is generated by treating the graph as a generalized traveling salesman problem (GTSP) and solving for an optimal tour. The overall cost of a tour is computed by adding the costs associated with the edges traversed during the tour. Thus, the described systems and methods map the SMT problem directly into a GTSP problem, which itself can be directly converted into a TSP problem.
US08504351B2 Simultaneous translation of open domain lectures and speeches
A real-time open domain speech translation system for simultaneous translation of a spoken presentation that is a spoken monologue comprising one of a lecture, a speech, a presentation, a colloquium, and a seminar. The system includes an automatic speech recognition unit configured for accepting sound comprising the spoken presentation in a first language and for continuously creating word hypotheses, and a machine translation unit that receives the hypotheses, wherein the machine translation unit outputs a translation, into a second language, from the spoken presentation.
US08504346B1 Method and mechanism for performing mixed-signal simulation of electronic designs having complex digital signal types or models
Disclosed are methods, systems, and structures for implementing an improved approach for simulating mixed-signal electronic designs. An improved approach for providing seamless interaction between analog and digital blocks during simulation, even if the digital blocks include complex types or models.
US08504345B1 State-space model-based simulators and methods
A simulator includes an analysis module for extracting a state-space model of response of a physical system to an input from a frequency-domain representation thereof, using a SVD, and singular vectors thereof, of a Loewner matrix derived from the frequency-domain representation, and a simulator module for simulating the response of the physical system in the time domain based on the extracted state-space model.
US08504342B2 Modeling and designing of well drilling system that accounts for vibrations
A method and apparatus associated with the production of hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method, which relates to modeling of drilling equipment, includes constructing one or more design configurations for at least a portion of a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and calculating results from each of the one or more design configurations. The calculated results of the modeling may include one or more performance indices that characterize the BHA vibration performance of the design configurations for operating parameters and boundary conditions that are substantially the same or may be different. These results are then simultaneously displayed for a user to facilitate design selection. The selected BHA design configuration may then be utilized in a well construction operation and thus associated with the production of hydrocarbons.
US08504335B2 Robust optimization-based decision support tool for reservoir development planning
A robust optimization-based decision support tool for reservoir development planning can comprise a source of input data, an optimization model, a high fidelity model for simulating the reservoir, and one or more solution routines interfacing with the optimization model. The optimization model can consider unknown parameters having uncertainties directly within the optimization model. The model can systematically address uncertain data, for example, comprehensively or even taking all uncertain data into account. Accordingly, the optimization model can provide flexible or robust optimization solutions that remain feasible over an uncertainty space. Once the reservoir model is optimized, final development plans may be generated.
US08504329B2 Systems and methods for wavefront analysis over circular and noncircular pupils
Systems, methods, and software for determining a set of analytical or numerical polynomials that is orthonormal over circular or noncircular pupils are described. Closed-form orthonormal polynomials for circular, annular, hexagonal, elliptical, rectangular, and square pupils are derived. Such techniques can be applied to ray tracing as in the optical design and wavefront fitting from measurement as in the optical testing. These approaches can also be applied to wavefront reconstruction in adaptive optics.
US08504325B2 Comparable diagnostics for renewable energy power systems
A computer processor implemented method of measuring, monitoring, comparing and diagnosing the power generated of at least two renewable power systems provided to at least two consumers and alerting at least one of consumers in the event of comparative underperformance, the method taking into account at least two diagnostic variables including weather and the renewable power system cover status (such as covered by snow), wherein the at least one data server determines comparative information for a predetermined geographic area based upon at least two diagnostic variables, and at least two normalized performances to provide a comparative value; and informing the consumer of the comparative value in the event of an underperforming comparative value.
US08504321B2 Method and device for determining one or more rotational speeds of a turbocharging device, in particular for an internal combustion engine
A method is described for determining information about a rotational speed of a compressor, in particular a turbocharger, by providing a measuring signal, in particular a microwave measuring signal, which is directed at a compressor impeller of the compressor, so that the measuring signal is reflected on revolving blades of the compressor impeller, detecting the measuring signal reflected by one or more blades, and determining the information about the rotational speed as a function of the reflected measuring signal.
US08504318B2 System, method and computer program for determining fluid flow rate using a pressure sensor and a thermal mass flow sensor
The present invention relates to a system, method, and computer program product for determining the flow rate of a fluid. The system, method, and computer program product generate a thermal sensor based mass flow rate for the fluid, where the thermal sensor based mass flow rate is determined at least in part from the thermal sensor signal (36). The system, method, and computer program product generate a pressure sensor based mass flow rate for the fluid, wherein the pressure sensor based mass flow rate is determined at least in part from the pressure sensor signal (51a). The system, method, and computer program product generate at least one calibration factor (ψ) using the thermal sensor based mass flow rate and the pressure sensor based mass flow rate. The system, method, and computer program product may generate a calibrated pressure sensor based mass flow rate by using the at least one calibration factor (ψ) to modify the pressure sensor based mass flow rate. The system, method, and computer program product may generate a calibrated thermal sensor based mass flow rate by using the at least one calibration factor (ψ) to modify the thermal sensor based mass flow rate.
US08504312B2 Apparatus and method for comparing gas pressure measurements
A singular sealed apparatus and method suitable for confirming pressure measurements in a rebreather prior to use of the rebreather. The singular sealed apparatus may have a canister lid, gas sensors and a processor, all from a rebreather, as well as a pressure sensor, an input device, a processor, an indicator and a pod with a pressure measurement outlet, a gas supply inlet, a relief valve and a gas exit valve. Alternatively, the singular sealed apparatus may have a gas sensor from a rebreather and an analyzer, a pressure sensor, an input device, a processor, an indicator, a lid and a pod with a pressure measurement outlet, a gas supply inlet, a relief valve and a gas exit valve. The inventive method is characterized by assembling the singular sealed apparatus, inputting a concentration of a gas present in a gas mixture, admitting the gas mixture into the singular sealed apparatus, expelling ambient gas present in the singular sealed apparatus, measuring absolute pressure of the gas mixture, calculating partial pressure of the gas, indicating the calculated partial pressure of the gas, measuring partial pressure of the gas, indicating the measured partial pressure of the gas and comparing the calculated partial pressure of the gas to the measured partial pressure of the gas.
US08504296B2 Method for determining an item of travel direction information for a vehicle, and sensor device for a vehicle
A method for determining an item of travel information for a vehicle includes: determination of a speed of the vehicle; comparison of the speed with at least one specified comparison speed; if the speed is greater than the at least one specified comparison speed, determination of a yaw rate of the vehicle and determination of the item of travel direction information on the basis of the determined yaw rate; and, if the speed is less than the at least one specified comparison speed, determination of a first wheel path of a first wheel of an axle of the vehicle and a second wheel path of a second wheel of the axle, and determination of the item of travel direction information on the basis of the first wheel path and the second wheel path.
US08504293B2 Travel guiding apparatus for vehicle, travel guiding method for vehicle, and computer-readable storage medium
A travel guiding apparatus, method, and program for a vehicle store map information and marker pattern identification information used to identify a marker pattern for each road type, wherein the marker pattern is a pattern of a marker included in a lane marking. The apparatus, method, and program determine a type of road on which the vehicle is traveling and detect the maker pattern on the road. The apparatus, method, and program again determine the type of the road based on the detected marker pattern and change the type of determined road from a road other than an expressway to an expressway, if the first detected type of road is a road other than an expressway and the type of road detected based on the marker pattern is an expressway.
US08504280B2 Fuel control diagnostic system and method
A diagnostic system for an engine includes an error detection module and a diagnostic module. The error detection module selectively detects a fuel control error based on a change in a fuel correction value used to determine a quantity of fuel supplied directly to an exhaust system. The diagnostic module identifies a cause of the fuel control error based on a period since a last refueling event. The diagnostic module identifies the cause as one of variation in an actual heating value of the fuel and faulty operation of a fuel injection system that supplies the fuel. The diagnostic module further identifies the cause based on a first amount of the fuel contained in a fuel tank at a start of the last refueling event and a second amount of the fuel added to the fuel tank during the last refueling event. A control system and method are also provided.
US08504279B2 Engine automatic stop and restart apparatus
When an engine automatic stop judgment unit (101) judges that an engine automatic stop condition is satisfied so that a fuel injection control unit (105) stops fuel supply to an engine and an ignition control unit (106) stops ignition of the engine, and when an engine restart judgment unit (102) judges that an engine restart condition is satisfied before the engine stops, the pinion gear is driven to rotate. Then, engagement between the ring gear and the pinion gear is started when a deviation between an rpm of the engine detected by an engine rpm calculation unit (104) and an rpm of the pinion gear becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value. Ignition by an ignition control unit (106) is inhibited during a period from start of the engagement until an engagement completion judgment unit (103) judges that the engagement is completed.
US08504272B2 System and method for verifying the availability of a level of a braking system in a powered system
A verification system is provided for verifying the availability of a first level of a braking system in a powered system. The powered system travels along a route. The verification system includes a controller coupled to an engine and a braking system of the powered system. The controller is configured to predetermine one of an activation level of the engine and/or an activation level of the braking system at a plurality of incremental locations along the route. The controller is further configured to activate the first level of the braking system at an incremental location having a predetermined activation level of the braking system which is lower than the first level of the braking system. A method is also provided for verifying the availability of the first level of a braking system in a powered system.
US08504270B2 Traffic broadcast system
A traffic broadcast system includes a traffic broadcast module, a traffic receiver module, and a display module. The traffic broadcast module includes a traffic database module for gathering traffic data and an electronic device capable of transmitting broadcast signals of the traffic data across a broadcast area. The vehicle having a traffic receiver module that receives and analyzes broadcast signals having traffic data relevant to the vehicle with respect to the vehicle's position and direction. The display module having a key for a speedometer that informs a user of the vehicle a speed range to maintain a right of way through a next upcoming light.
US08504269B2 Driving support system, method, and program
Systems, methods and programs are provided for a vehicle that performs braking by a regeneration brake and a friction brake. The systems, methods, and programs determine that braking by the friction brake has been performed, acquire information indicating a situation in the vicinity of the vehicle, and determine a necessary braking force required for responding to the situation in the vicinity of the vehicle. When it is determined that the braking by the friction brake has been performed in a condition where the necessary braking force is less than or equal to a maximum braking force of the regeneration brake, the systems, methods, and programs, determine energy consumed by the friction brake and communicate notification information indicating the consumed energy to a driver.
US08504261B2 Powertrain control systems and methods with parameter transfer between an ECM and a TCM for ECM and TCM based control
A control system includes an engine control module and a transmission control module. The transmission control module communicates with the engine control module via a network. The transmission control module generates at least one of a back torque signal and a first engine acceleration signal. The transmission control module transmits the at least one of the back torque signal and the first engine acceleration signal to the engine control module via the network. The engine control module controls operation of an engine based on the at least one of the back torque signal and the first engine acceleration signal.
US08504259B2 Method for determining inertia effects for a hybrid powertrain system
A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system based upon determined inertial effects for a continuously variable operating range state includes monitoring an operator torque request and a rotational speed of the output member, determining an inertial effect on an input speed of the input member for a continuously variable operating range state, and controlling motor torque outputs from the electric machines to meet the operator torque request based upon the inertial effect on the input speed of the input member.
US08504256B2 Harvester cruise control
A method of cruise control for a harvester automatically monitors certain operating conditions of the harvester and responsively sets an engine speed value adequate to meet predicted torque demand, and, but not necessarily, automatically varies a propulsion speed of the harvester as required to match the torque demand to the available torque to increase efficiency, and has particular applicability to a sugar cane harvester. Monitored conditions can include certain characteristics or parameters of a pump or pumps powering fluid operated systems of the harvester, in particular, propulsion and harvesting systems. Other conditions can include intake air temperature, coolant, and hydraulic fluid temperature. Rate of change of one or more of the conditions can be used for setting the engine speed and to predict the torque demand.
US08504240B2 Alternator controlling apparatus
Provided is an alternator controller that sets a target current value based on a target voltage as a control reference of an alternator mounted on a vehicle, and controls the alternator based on the set target current value. The alternator controller includes a filter processing unit that performs filter processing of a target power generation torque as a conversion physical amount used until the target current value is set from the target voltage. The filter processing unit performs a filter processing that attenuates or removes a frequency component f of the pitch resonance frequency of the vehicle among the waveforms of the target power generation torque. Thus, it is possible to surely suppress fluctuations of a vehicle behavior attributed to torque fluctuations of an alternator load torque.
US08504239B2 Damping apparatus for reducing vibration of automobile body
A damping apparatus for an automobile is provided, capable of ensuring a high level of reliability while obtaining excellent damping effect with simple configuration. The damping apparatus for an automobile that reduces vibrations of an automobile body may include an actuator that is attached to the automobile body and drives an auxiliary mass; a current detector that detects a current flowing through an armature of the actuator; a section that detects a terminal voltage applied to the actuator; a calculation circuit that calculates an induced voltage of the actuator, and further calculates at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator, based on a current detected by the current detector and the terminal voltage; and a control circuit that drive-controls the actuator based on at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator calculated by the calculation circuit.
US08504238B2 Vehicle stability and steerability control via electronic torque distribution
A system for distributing propulsion to front and rear axles of a vehicle includes: a front axle motor coupled to the front axle and a rear axle motor coupled to the rear axle. An electronic control unit (ECU) electronically coupled to the motors commands the rear axle motor to increase torque supplied to the rear axle during understeer and commands the front axle motor to increase torque supplied to the front axle during oversteer. A method to distribute propulsion to front and rear axles of a vehicle includes estimating actual yaw rate, estimating desired yaw rate, providing electrical energy to the front axle motor during oversteer, and providing electrical energy to the rear axle motor during understeer. Additionally, electrical energy may be extracted from the rear axle motor during oversteer and electrical energy may be extracted from the front axle motor during understeer.
US08504237B2 Device, method, and control unit for identifying a side impact, and pressure sensor
In device for side impact recognition in a vehicle, at least one pressure sensor system that produces a signal is provided in a side part of the vehicle, and an evaluation circuit is provided that recognizes a side impact as a function of the signal. In addition, a test device is provided for the at least one pressure sensor system, the at least one test device being configured such that the at least one test device oversamples the signal and then filters it in order to produce a test signal, the test device comparing the signal with a reference value and, as a function of this comparison, recognizing the operability of the at least one pressure sensor system.
US08504234B2 Robotic pesticide application
The illustrative embodiments provide an apparatus for performing horticultural tasks comprising a processor unit, a first number of communication links from the processor unit to a plurality of databases stored on a number of data storage devices, and a second number of communication links from the processor unit to a diagnostic system. The processor unit is configured to execute the diagnostic system and access the plurality of databases on the number of data storage devices to identify a pest problem and generate a treatment plan to address the pest problem.
US08504233B1 Safely navigating on roads through maintaining safe distance from other vehicles
Methods and devices for controlling a vehicle in an autonomous mode are disclosed. In one aspect, an example method is disclosed that includes obtaining, by a computer system, lane information that provides an estimated location of a lane of a road on which a vehicle is traveling, where the computer system is configured to control the vehicle in an autonomous mode. The example method further includes determining, by the computer system, that the lane information has become unavailable or unreliable and, in response to determining that the lane information has become unavailable or unreliable, the computer system using at least one sensor to monitor at least one neighboring vehicle and controlling the vehicle to maintain a distance between the vehicle and the at least one neighboring vehicle to be at least a predetermined minimum distance.
US08504226B2 Method and system for independent control of vehicle
Methods and systems are provided for controlling movement of a train including a plurality of locomotives along a route. In one example, the method comprises, generating a first plan profile, the first plan profile including synchronous settings for the locomotives over a route, and generating a second plan profile based on the first plan profile, the second plan profile including independent settings for the locomotives over at least one region within the route. The method may further comprise, operating the locomotives based in the first and/or second plan profiles. In another example, the method comprises, generating a plan profile with fully independent settings for the locomotives over the entire route, the fully independent settings based on cost function coefficients of each locomotive.
US08504223B2 Systems and methods for presenting and obtaining flight control information
Systems and methods for presenting and obtaining flight control information are disclosed. In one embodiment, information corresponding to a vertical motion of the aircraft can be displayed between information corresponding to a lateral motion of the aircraft and information corresponding to an airspeed of the aircraft. The information displayed can include a current mode for controlling the motion of the aircraft, a current target to which the aircraft is being directed and, at least proximate to both the current mode and the current target, a subsequent target to which the aircraft will be directed after attaining the current target.
US08504220B2 Systems and methods for providing an in-trail procedure speed director
Embodiments of the present invention enhance existing ITP (In-Trail Procedure) algorithms by providing additional information to the flight crew. The additional information may enable the flight crew to appropriately modify own aircraft airspeed, and thereby, ground speed, in order to qualify for ITP procedures.
US08504211B2 Input dispenser and recorder
An input dispenser/recorder controlled by a computer to dispense a predetermined amount of input or mixture of inputs based on parameters provided by an operator. Specifically, the invention has an inner frame and outer frame associated by load bars connected to the computer. The load bars signal the computer regarding weight change on the inner frame. Associated with the inner frame is at least one major input container having an opening over a conveyor and a valve therebetween controlled by the computer. Associated with the outer frame are minor input containers, each in fluid communication with the conveyor and a flow meter controlled by the computer. The conveyor may be a flighted auger, a belt, or pump and conduit and is also controlled by the computer. The parameters provided by the operator are used by a selected program and the CPU to control the amount and ratio of inputs, speed of conveyor, and mixture thereof.
US08504210B2 Wireless extension to an irrigation control system and related methods
Several embodiments provide wireless extensions to an irrigation controller system and related methods of use, as well as other improvements to irrigation control equipment. In one implementation, an irrigation control system includes a transmitter unit including a controller and having a connector to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors. The controller is configured to receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, and is also configured to cause the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication. A receiver unit is coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, such as an irrigation valve, the actuator configured to actuate the irrigation valve to control the flow of water therethrough. The receiver unit receives the wireless activation signal and in response, causes the actuator to actuate the actuatable device.
US08504209B2 Controlling a device that generates vibrations in a computer system
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that controls a device that generates vibrations in a computer system. During operation, a critical vibration frequency is determined for the computer system. Next, a keep-out zone is generated based on the critical vibration frequency, wherein the keep-out zone specifies a range of frequencies to be avoided. Then, the device is controlled based on the keep-out zone to reduce vibrations generated by the device in the keep-out zone.
US08504206B2 Control apparatus and method for master-slave robot, master-slave robot, control program, and integrated electronic circuit
A control apparatus for a master-slave robot includes a force correction section detecting unit that detects a section at which force information from at least one of force information and speed information is corrected, and a force correcting unit that corrects the force information at a section detected as a force correction section by the force correction section detecting unit. A small external force applied to a slave manipulator is magnified and transmitted to a master manipulator, or an excessive manipulation force applied to the master manipulator is reduced and transmitted to the slave manipulator.
US08504203B2 Manipulator and method of controlling the same
A manipulator is provided with an arm, an arm, a holding section, a first joint section pivotally interconnecting the arm and the arm, a second joint section pivotally interconnecting the arm and the holding section, a first joint driving section capable of driving the first joint section, a second joint driving section capable of driving the second joint section, a member specifying section for specifying one of the arms which has a possibility of collision with an obstacle or which has collided with the obstacle, and a control device for controlling the first joint driving section and the second joint driving section to pivotally move the one of the arms specified by the member specifying section in a direction away from the obstacle, and pivotally move the other of the arms in a direction toward the obstacle.
US08504202B2 Autonomous mobile robot apparatus and a rush-out collision avoidance method in the same apparatus
An autonomous mobile robot apparatus and a method for avoiding collision due to rush-out, being applicable under the circumstances where persons and robots come and go each other, comprises an obstacle detector unit 3, which detects an obstacle, a route producer unit 7, which determines a route for reaching to a destination while avoiding the obstacle detected by the obstacle detector unit upon basis of a predetermined avoiding method, as well as, a velocity thereof, and a moving unit 2, which loads the obstacle detector unit and the route producer unit thereon and moves, thereby operating under circumstances mixing with a human being(s), wherein the obstacle detector unit, further, detects a terminal point of an article lying in an advancing direction of the autonomous mobile robot apparatus, and a distance between the terminal point and the autonomous mobile robot apparatus, and the route producer unit, when the obstacle detector unit detects the terminal end of said article, controls at least either one of the route and the velocity thereof, so as to avoid to collide on the obstacle, which rushes out from the terminal point, in the advancing direction of the autonomous mobile robot apparatus, centering around said terminal point, and thereby enabling quick movement while avoiding collision due to rush-out.
US08504176B2 CPU unit of PLC, system program for PLC, and recording medium storing system program for PLC
A system includes a first execution control instruction to start execution of a first control program every first execution cycle of the same period as a control cycle period and a second execution control instruction to start execution of a second control program every second execution cycle whose period is an integral multiple of at least twice the control cycle period. The second execution control instruction includes an instruction to start, in a control cycle in which a second execution cycle starts, execution of the second control program after the end of execution of the first control program, and if the second control program is not completed before the end of the control cycle, to start execution of an unexecuted part of the second control program after the end of execution of the first control program in the next control cycle.
US08504173B2 Electrode catheter, in particular for cardiac therapy
An electrode catheter, in particular for cardiac therapy, includes an elongate, tubular catheter body, an electrode for delivering or measuring an electrical signal, in particular an electrocardiac signal, via its external electrode contact surface, at least one first supply line for the electrical connection of the electrode, at least one second supply line for the electrical connection of a further electrode, a plug terminal connection between the at least one first supply line and the electrode, and an insulated passage of the at least one second supply line through the electrode.
US08504172B2 Operating room lead connector
An operating room connector is used in conjunction with a multiple electrode SCS system which can easily detach and connect to an external trial stimulator (ETS). By connecting the electrode SCS system to a stylet handle, and then locking the stylet handle within a slot of the connector platform, a user is able to minimize the required steps in connecting the ETS to the implanted SCS lead system. The ETS can then be used to readjust the position of the electrode array(s) previously implanted to deliver an optimal stimulation therapy.
US08504168B2 Implantable lead with coplanar contact coupling
A connection made between a contact and a conductor in an implantable lead assembly includes a slot, formed in the contact, and a crimp sleeve, attached to the contact; wherein the crimp sleeve includes a contact coupling, which rests within the contact slot, and a conductor coupling, crimped around the conductor, within a body of the lead assembly. The conductor coupling of the crimp sleeve may be pushed through the contact slot, anywhere along a length of the slot, so that the contact coupling comes to rest between opposing edges of the slot. A preferred profile of the contact coupling of the crimp sleeve is such that the contact coupling rests within the contact slot, without falling through to the inside diameter of the contact, prior to attachment thereto.
US08504161B1 Modulate vagal signals to reduce inflammation
A medical device is configured to perform a method for modulating vagal nerve signals to reduce inflammation. A sensing module of the medical device is enabled to receive an electrical signal from selected electrodes electrically coupled to the medical device. A controller coupled to the sensing module is configured to determine an inflammation metric from the sensed electrical signal. The metric is compared to an inflammation detection threshold. A pulse generator is controlled to selectively deliver electrical stimulation pulses via the plurality of electrodes in response to the metric meeting the inflammation detection threshold to modulate vagal nerve signals to cause an anti-inflammatory response.
US08504152B2 System and method for estimating cardiac pressure based on cardiac electrical conduction delays using an implantable medical device
Techniques are provided for estimating left atrial pressure (LAP) or other cardiac performance parameters based on measured conduction delays. In particular, LAP is estimated based interventricular conduction delays. Predetermined conversion factors stored within the device are used to convert the various the conduction delays into LAP values or other appropriate cardiac performance parameters. The conversion factors may be, for example, slope and baseline values derived during an initial calibration procedure performed by an external system, such as an external programmer. In some examples, the slope and baseline values may be periodically re-calibrated by the implantable device itself. Techniques are also described for adaptively adjusting pacing parameters based on estimated LAP or other cardiac performance parameters. Still further, techniques are described for estimating conduction delays based on impedance or admittance values and for tracking heart failure therefrom.
US08504148B2 Neural device having via-hole connection and using at least one nano-wire
Provided is a neural device including at least one nano-wire. The neural device includes a nano-wire formed on a base formed on a first surface of a substrate, and an electrode pad formed on a second surface different from the first surface of the substrate and configured to output an electrical signal gained from a neural fiber through the nano-wire or apply a signal for an electric stimulus to the nano-wire. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the nano-wire from becoming embedded in an encapsulation and maximize a contact between the nano-wire and a nerve.
US08504135B2 Traveling-wave antenna
Embodiments of endfire aperture-based traveling-wave antennas are described. For example, an embodiment, including a Vivaldi antenna, may have a director incorporated into the aperture region of the antenna to provide enhanced radiation directivity. The director may be a shaped dielectric that interacts with an electromagnetic field to reduce the divergence of the resultant beam as it exits the antenna. Additional dielectric substrate layers may be stacked on both sides of the antenna in order to balance the dielectric loading between the different conductors. The dielectric substrates may also eliminate contact between the antenna metallization and the lossy environment. Certain disclosed Vivaldi antennas may be used in tissue screening applications.
US08504134B2 Laterally fenestrated cannula
A cannula provides access to a surgical site for a camera instrument and one or more minimally invasive surgical instruments. The cannula may include a curved or flexible section when used with flexible surgical instruments. A service port is defined in a sidewall between proximal and distal ends of the cannula, the service port being large enough to allow an object to be transferred between the instruments and a location outside the cannula. An end effector of the surgical instrument may be positioned within the cannula adjacent the service port. The camera instrument may be positioned to place the end effector within a field of view of the camera. An object may be transferred between a service instrument and the surgical instrument within the field of view of the camera.
US08504124B2 Configuration sensing for a mobile computing device
Techniques for configuration sensing for a mobile computing device are described. A mobile computing device may comprise a housing having a sliding structure arranged to allow a first housing portion and a second housing portion to move relative to each other to form a first configuration or a second configuration. The mobile computing device may include a magnetic sensor disposed in the first housing portion, the magnetic sensor operative to measure a magnetic field strength for a magnet, and output a position signal indicative of the first configuration or the second configuration based on the measured magnetic field strength. The mobile computing device may include a speaker with the magnet disposed in the second housing portion. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08504119B2 Method for efficient assessment of communication service levels in a mobile station having multiple communication interfaces
A method of providing communication services for a mobile station having a plurality of communication interfaces is disclosed. Each communication interface has an active power mode and an inactive power mode. The power consumption of a communication interface in the active power mode is greater than in the inactive power mode. In the method, a first communication interface is activated based on power characteristics of the first communication interface with respect to the plurality of communication interfaces. A communication service level of the activated first communication interface is assessed for a first predetermined time period. The first communication interface is then deactivated. A second communication interface is activated based on power characteristics of the second communication interface with respect to the plurality of communication interfaces. A communication service level of the activated second communication interface is assessed for a second predetermined time period. The second communication interface is then deactivated.
US08504115B2 Automatic sidetone control
An automatic sidetone controller for a digital telecom device, such as a headset or head-set adapter having a transmit (TX) channel, a receive (RX) channel, and circuitry for generating a sidetone signal by coupling a portion of a signal on the TX channel onto the RX channel via a sidetone path, is operable to detect when the TX channel of the device is active and inactive and to respectively activate and deactivate the sidetone path in response thereto without need for manual intervention by the user.
US08504108B2 Base station apparatus, transmission signal generating method, mobile station apparatus, and reception method
A communication system has a base station control device and base station devices. The base station control device totalizes information on the number of base stations as the number of base station devices which can communicate with a mobile station device, makes Nb copies of a data frame, successively assigns integer values from 1 to Nb as stream numbers Ns to the data frames copied, and forms Nb copied data frames including Nb and Ns in header information. Copied data frames having different Ns in the header information are sent to base station devices. According to Ns and Nb, a base station device subjects the data in the copied data frame to temporal/spatial encoding to form a temporal/spatial encoding series. A mobile station device receives the temporal/spatial encoding series signal from each of the base station devices.
US08504102B2 Multimode mobile communication device with configuration update capability
A system and method in a multimode mobile communication device for providing communication configuration update capability. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise establishing a first communication link characterized by a first communication mode of a plurality of communication modes in which the multimode communication device is capable of communicating. Such a first communication link may, for example, be established utilizing a first communication interface module. Communication configuration (or profile) information for a second communication mode may be received over the first communication link. The communication configuration information for the second communication mode may then be utilized to configure the mobile communication device to perform communications in the second communication mode (e.g., utilizing a second communication interface module).
US08504100B2 System and method for multi-radio control
A system and method for multi-radio control unifies disparate radio technologies and communication protocols and abstracts them such that a user of a personal electronic device having a plurality of disparate radios is not required to know or understand the radio technology needed to connect to a remote wireless device or service. An intermediate layer receives requests from a user interface application, generates specific driver commands to each radio, and returns information received from each radio to the user interface application module. A user interface application module initiates a search for available remote wireless devices, provides the user with information regarding the available remote wireless devices, and establishes a connection to an available remote wireless device in response to a user selection. The user interface application module also presents notifications to the user, and also handles disconnect requests and security credential dialogs.
US08504094B2 Methods and apparatus for selecting a base station transceiver system based on service communication type
Techniques for use in selecting a base station transceiver system for communication with a mobile station are described. The mobile station is connected to a first base station transceiver system, and scans to identify a second base station transceiver system for communication. The mobile station further identifies that the second base station transceiver system provides a predetermined communication service, and that the first base station transceiver system fails to provide the predetermined communication service. In response to identifying, the mobile station causes the second base station transceiver system to be selected for communication over the first base station transceiver system even if the signal quality of the second base station transceiver system is worse than that of the first base station transceiver system. Identifying whether the first and second base station transceiver system provide the predetermined communication service is based on parameters transmitted from the first and second base station transceiver systems.
US08504089B2 Providing a map indicating locations of users in a social network
Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users.
US08504088B2 Method and system for distributed distance-based paging
A distance-based paging system distributes the decision as to which base stations should send a page to a terminal. The Radio Network Controller (RNC) simply stores the location information and paging range (e.g., the route update radius) of the reference sector for each terminal. When a page message needs to be sent to the terminal, the RNC sends the location information and paging range to each base station in a broadcast or a multicast message that includes the location coordinates and route update radius of the reference sector in the message header, and the information to be sent in the over the air page in the message payload. Each base station determines whether one or more of its sectors is located within the paging area, and broadcasts a page based on the payload of the message to the terminal if it is within the paging area or discards the paging message if it is not.
US08504086B2 Method and apparatus for allocating physical cell identifier in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus allocates a Physical Cell Identifier (PCID) in a wireless communication system by considering a PCID reuse factor. An allowable PCID list is acquired from a server. A set of candidate PCIDs is determined from the allowable PCID list according to PCID allocation conditions. A received signal strength of each cell using the determined set of candidate PCID is determined. At least one PCID is selected by using a PCID reuse factor and the received signal strength of each of the cells using the determined set of candidate PCIDs.
US08504071B2 Apparatus and method for use in location determination
An apparatus is provided that includes circuitry configured for location determination arranged to obtain a geographic location of the apparatus; circuitry configured receiving connection point identification data, the connection point identification data useable in providing a wireless communication path to a remote circuitry providing a connection point, and wherein the connection point identification data is associated with a geographic location of the remote circuitry; and circuitry configured for associating one or more instances of the geographic location of the apparatus, as provided by the circuitry configured for location determination, with corresponding instances of the connection point identification data. This associating may be used to cross-check/validate the geographical location provided by the circuitry configured for location determination.
US08504069B1 Proxy server and method thereof for forwarding location requests to a position determining entity
A method, system and server comprise forwarding data from a packet data serving node (PDSN) to a server, determining, at the server, an appropriate Position Determining Entity (PDE) to forward the data to based on a network in which a mobile station is roaming and forwarding the data from the server to the PDE.
US08504066B1 Reducing power consumption of mobile device through automated environment awareness
A computer-implemented method is provided for reducing power consumption of a power source used by a mobile device. The mobile device monitors aspects of its environment to determine if some or all of the device's computing functionality can be handled seamlessly by another nearby device. For example, phone calls can be directed to a landline phone nearby the mobile device. A device usage policy defines how certain functions are to be handled by the mobile device, for example, at a given location or amongst two devices. The mobile device can then disable functionality that is being handled by nearby devices, thereby reducing power consumption by the mobile device.
US08504061B2 Multi-tier geofence detection
Methods, program products, and systems for multi-tier geofence detection are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a mobile device can be configured to perform a task when the mobile device enters a geographic region. The mobile device can monitor a current location using a multi-tier approach. A baseband subsystem can monitor a coarse location of the mobile device using various course location parameters, such as a mobile country code (MCC), a location area code (LAC), or a cell identifier (cell ID), as the mobile device moves closer to the geographic region. Upon determining that the mobile device is in a cell that intersects the geographic region, the baseband subsystem can transfer the monitoring to the application subsystem. The task can be performed when the application subsystem determines that the mobile device is currently located in the geographic region.
US08504059B2 Location filtering using mobile country code
Methods, program products, and systems for location filtering using mobile country code (MCC) is described. A mobile device can determine its geographic location using locations of access points of a wireless communications network to which the mobile device is connected. The mobile device can wirelessly receive identifiers of one or more access points of the wireless communications network and a current MCC through a cellular network. The mobile device can identify a polygon that is a bounding box of a geographic area that corresponds to the current MCC. The mobile device can select a set of access point locations from a location database using the received identifiers, where the access point locations are inside the identified polygon. The mobile device can determine a current location of the mobile device based on an average location of the selected set of access point locations.
US08504058B2 Method and arrangement for high precision position reference measurements at indoor locations
The present invention addresses generating of feasible high precision indoor positioning measurements. A positioning server sets up an interface to which ordinary users may connect with their cellular phones. Using this interface the user can select one out of a plurality of indoor locations where the cellular operator wishes to have high precision position reference measurements performed. The user moves to said indoor location and initiates at this location, by interaction with said interface, the reference measurement. By logging an identity of the user or the time of the positioning the selected indoor location can be correlated to a determined tag in the RAN. The tag together with the indoor location that has been selected by help of the interface towards the positioning server constitutes one tagged high precision position measurement.
US08504056B2 Mobile station initiated load balancing in wireless communication networks
Techniques for load balancing across different access networks based on procedures initiated by a wireless terminal or mobile station and examples of using load balancing within the same access network to hand off a mobile station from one base station to another based on procedures initiated by the mobile station.
US08504051B2 Method, system and device for instructing transmission of preamble and for transmitting preamble
A method, a system and a device for indicating and transmitting the preamble are used to solve the problem existing in the prior art, which reduces the resource utilization efficiency due to that the user equipment (UE) sends the preamble to the evolution base station through the physical random access channel (PRACH) selected by itself in the present random access. The method includes: determining the channel signature associated with the PRACH assigned to the terminal side; sending the determined channel signature to the terminal side, and indicating the terminal side to transmit the preamble using the PRACH associated with the channel signature. Adopting said method can improve the resource utilization efficiency.
US08504049B2 Mobile communication system, base station, access gateway, and tracking area setting method
A disclosed mobile communication system includes a newly-installed base station configured to send its identifier and a pilot channel; existing base stations; user devices configured to send reception quality measurements of the pilot channel to the existing base stations; and an upper node. Each of the existing base stations includes a statistical processing unit for performing statistical processing on the reception quality measurements; and a statistical processing result reporting unit configured to send a result of the statistical processing to the upper node. The upper node includes a tracking area selecting unit configured to select a tracking area to be assigned to the newly-installed base station based on the results of the statistical processing; and a tracking area reporting unit configured to report the selected tracking area to the newly-installed base station. The newly-installed base station includes a tracking area setting unit configured to set the reported tracking area.
US08504045B2 Mobile communication method and radio base station
A radio base station (T-eNB) is configured to set up a data forwarding tunnel for forwarding user plane data to the radio base station (T-eNB) only for an access bearer for which the user plane data to be forwarded exists, when receiving a notification from a handover-source radio base station (S-eNB) as to whether or not the user plane data to be forwarded exists for each access bearer. The notification being made by using a handover request message for the mobile station (UE), and the access bearer being set up between the radio base station (T-eNB) and a upper level node (SGW).
US08504039B2 Efficient reselections in the presence of closed subscriber group cells
A mobile station and a method therein for avoiding interference to restricted access cells, including detecting presence of a restricted access cell, determining that a measured path-loss is larger than a path-loss threshold, determining that the mobile station is not allowed to access the restricted access cell, and barring a carrier frequency on which the restricted access cell is deployed when the measured path-loss is larger than the path-loss threshold and when the mobile station is not allowed access to the restricted access cell.
US08504037B2 Handover method and apparatus based on history information in wireless networks
A handover method in a plurality of wireless networks includes selecting one or more candidate networks from the plurality of wireless networks available to a mobile terminal of a user; calculating the latest connection time with a serving network currently serving the mobile terminal; deriving a history utility function based on the latest connection time; deriving system utility functions of the candidate networks in consideration of user and system environments; deriving selection functions for the candidate networks using the history utility function and the system utility functions; and selecting one of the candidate networks as a target network for handover using the selection functions. A target network for handover is selected using not only a system utility function reflecting user and system parameters but also a history utility function reflecting history information, thereby reducing the number of handovers and enhancing service quality.
US08504035B2 System and method for population tracking, counting, and movement estimation using mobile operational data and/or geographic information in mobile network
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed herein for population tracking, counting and/or movement estimation. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving mobile phone operational data indicative of user equipment location, where the event data includes location area update messages and periodic registration messages; and performing travel estimation based on the mobile phone operation data, including performing interpolation on data associated with one or more individuals in a population to estimate intermediate positions of a trajectory of each of the one or more individuals for a specified time period based on a shortest path mesh sequence estimation algorithm.
US08504027B2 Data-communication system scanning method and apparatus of a dual mode mobile device
A data-communication system scanning method and apparatus of a dual mode mobile device. The method includes acquiring a mobile communication system and storing a local time used by the acquired mobile communication system. The method also includes identifying a local time used by a data communication system sensed and determining whether the local time used by the acquired mobile communication system is identical to the local time used by the sensed data communication system. The method further includes scanning, when the local time used by the acquired mobile communication system differs from the local time used by the sensed data communication system, data communication systems by excluding the sensed data communication system from target systems to be scanned. The system scanning method and apparatus can provide precise time information to users and prevents the dual mode mobile device from malfunctioning.
US08504023B2 Method and system for wireless data flow
After receiving a packet data protocol (PDP) activation request signaling from a user equipment (UE), a base station checks whether to activate a local Internet protocol access (LIPA) function for the UE. If yes, the base station informs a core network (CN) for authentication and signaling control. If the user plane data from the UE is allowed to be transmitted via the LIPA, the base station assigns a private IP address to the UE; and the UE access internet via the base station. The base station determines whether user plane data from the UE passes through the CN; and the CN measures Internet service time provided to the UE. If all user plane data transmitted from the UE are allowed to be transmitted via the LIPA, the base station periodically transmits a data packet to the CN to maintain signaling link.
US08504010B2 Distributed power allocation method under service quality constraint
A method of power allocation in a wireless telecommunication system including at least a first couple of terminals, including a first transmitting terminal and of a first receiving terminal, and of a second couple of terminals, including a second transmitting terminal and a second receiving terminal. After a phase of initialization of the allocated powers, a plurality of iterations are carried out, each iteration including a first half-iteration, which is the task of the first couple of terminals, and a second half-iteration which is the task of the second couple of terminals. Each half-iteration includes a step of estimating the signal-to-noise and interference-to-noise ratios by the receiving terminal, and a step of calculating the minimum output power compatible with the treatment of the interference, for the prescribed throughput of the call in question.
US08504008B1 Virtual control panels using short-range communication
In general, techniques and systems for controlling a parameter of a target device are described. In one example, a method includes obtaining, by a computing device, control information from an identification device located remote from a target device, wherein the control information is associated with the target device, and, responsive to obtaining the control information, displaying a control panel at a display of the computing device, wherein the control panel comprises at least one parameter that at least partially defines operation of the target device. The method may also include receiving, by the computing device, an adjustment to the at least one parameter of the control panel, and responsive to receiving the adjustment, transmitting adjustment information to a receiver associated with the target device, wherein the adjustment information is representative of the adjustment.
US08504000B2 Managing connections in a mobile telecommunications network
A method of managing a data transmission in a telecommunications network, said method comprising: monitoring the data transmission associated with a connection; saving information associated with the data transmission; and after a discontinuity in the data transmission, the connection is maintained or released based on the saved information.
US08503988B2 Systems and methods for providing a password reset feature
A method for providing a voicemail password reset feature can include receiving a password reset request message from a mobile device at a voicemail system, resetting a current password to a default password at the voicemail system, and sending a response message request to a short message service center. The response message request can include a request to generate a response message that includes the default password. The method can further include generating the response message at the short message center and sending the response message to the mobile device, wherein the response message includes the default password. A system for providing a voicemail password reset feature and a computer-readable medium for initiating a voicemail password reset from a mobile device.
US08503982B2 Mobile terminal and locked state cancelling method
A mobile phone apparatus is provided with an accelerometer for detecting an attitude and a display for displaying a moving object. Furthermore, a key locked state is set to the mobile phone apparatus for the purpose of preventing an operating error in the key. When an arbitrary key is operated in the key locked state, the moving object and a pocket object representing a predetermined area, etc. are displayed on the display. Then, when the moving object changes in position in correspondence with the change of the attitude of the mobile phone apparatus and is put into the pocket object, the key locked state is cancelled.
US08503977B2 Billing system, billing-information generation apparatus, billing-information generation method, computer readable recording medium recording billing information generation program
An information distribution apparatus creates data to be simultaneously distributed, further adding to the data an identifier which indicates that the data is distributed by a broadcast service, and adding billing class information in accordance with the data amount, and transmits it; a mobile terminal receives the data, creates a reception confirmation message if it is determined from the identifier added to the received data that the received data is distributed by a broadcast service, and further adds the identifier and the billing class information added to the data to the reception confirmation message to transmit it to a billing-information generation apparatus and the information distribution apparatus; and the billing-information generation apparatus generates billing information based on the billing class information added to the reception confirmation message if it is determined from the identifier added to the reception confirmation message that the data is distributed by a broadcast service.
US08503966B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit and receiving apparatus
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit has a transconductance circuit, a first load circuit, and a second load circuit. The transconductance circuit has a first current generator configured to generate a first current depending on an input voltage, and a second current generator configured to generate a second current depending on the input voltage. The first load circuit has a first load configured to output a first output voltage depending on the first current from a first output terminal. The second load circuit has a second load configured to output a second output voltage depending on the second current from a second output terminal. At least one of the transconductance circuit, the first load circuit and the second load circuit comprises an impedance adjusting module configured to adjust impedance.
US08503961B1 Active resistive summer for a transformer hybrid
A system includes a transceiver configured to receive a composite signal. The composite signal is a composite of a transmit signal and a receive signal. A replica transmitter is configured to generate a replica transmit signal based on the transmit signal. A transmit canceller is configured to recover the receive signal at least in part by resistively summing the composite signal and the replica transmit signal.
US08503957B2 Radio data system (RDS) data processing methods and apparatus
A host system for processing radio data system (RDS) data includes a host processor. The host system further includes a data processor configured to receive the RDS data, configured to filter the RDS data to allow the host processor to receive a selected set of the RDS data, and configured to reduce the number of interrupts to the host processor. A method is also provided for processing RDS data within a host system.
US08503955B2 Apparatus and method for detecting signal in common frequency band
An apparatus for detecting a signal in a common frequency band includes: a signal processor configured to extract a selected band signal from received wireless signals by filtering the received wireless signal based on a frequency selection control signal, convert the extracted signal to a baseband signal, and detect a predetermined signal; a sensing signal determiner configured to determine existence of the signal, output a determination result, and outputs a frequency selection generating signal when the predetermined signal is absent; and a frequency selection controller configured to output the frequency selection control signal by selecting a target band among a plurality of previously decided bands.
US08503951B2 Antenna installation method in a multiple input multiple output communication method
A communication system includes a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus. The second communication apparatus transmits different signals from first and second antennas, and first and second antennas of the first communication apparatus receive the signals, respectively. An angle formed by a first line connecting the first communication apparatus and the first antenna of the second communication apparatus and a second line connecting the first communication apparatus and the second antenna of the second communication apparatus is set to be equal to or smaller than 180 degrees. A distance between the first and second antennas of the first communication apparatus is set to a specified value, which is determined by a signal wavelength and the angle formed by the first line and the second line.
US08503943B2 Wireless sensors and applications
Techniques, apparatuses, and systems can include operating a sensor to respond to one or more target environmental inputs to produce sensor data, sampling the sensor data to produce sample values, performing a sample comparison among two or more of the sample values, monitoring a power supply to ascertain a power level; and selectively transmitting measurement data to a server via one or more wireless communication channels based on the power level and the sample comparison, where the measurement data includes one or more of the sample values.
US08503940B2 Reducing signal interference
A method for interference suppression, including receiving a sample of an aggressor communication signal from a sensor embedded in a flex circuit, emulating interference that the aggressor communication signal imposes on a victim communication signal, and suppressing the imposed interference in response to applying the emulated interference to the victim communication signal. In other aspects, the flex circuit comprises a plurality of traces running substantially parallel to one another along a surface of the flex circuit, and the sensor comprises one of the plurality of traces and one of a plurality of traces of another flex circuit. In still other aspects, the flex circuit comprises a plurality of traces running substantially parallel to one another and the sensor comprises a trace of the flex circuit running perpendicular to the plurality of traces running substantially parallel to one another.
US08503931B2 Tuneable NFC-enabled device
An NFC-enabled device configured at least in part as an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit including a controller and a plurality of capacitors. The controller is operable to control one or more of the plurality of capacitors to vary an operating parameter of the NFC-enabled device.
US08503923B2 Image recording apparatus
An image recording apparatus includes a particular tray, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the particular tray to a first conveying path in a feed direction, a recording unit positioned along the first conveying path, and a driving roller positioned along a second conveying path and configured to convey the sheet, after the sheet passes the recording unit, along the second conveying path and back to the first conveying path. The particular tray includes a side guide configured to position the sheets in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The side guide includes a guide member that defines at least a portion of the second conveying path and is configured to guide the sheet along the second conveying path, and a driven roller rotatably supported on the guide member and configured to pinch the sheet against the driving roller as the sheet is conveyed along the second conveying path.
US08503918B2 Image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes a belt unit, a coil unit, a rotatable driving member, and positioning and urging mechanisms. The belt unit includes an endless belt to heat a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion. The coil unit opposes an outer surface of the belt and generates a magnetic flux for heating the belt. The driving member rotates the belt and forms the nip portion with the belt. The positioning mechanism positions the coil unit with respect to the belt unit and includes two positioning portions on each side of the coil unit with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof. The urging mechanism urges the coil unit toward the belt unit. The coil unit is supported by the belt unit at three of the four positioning portions.
US08503914B2 Toner dispensing member and toner dispersing mechanism provided therewith
Provided is a toner dispersing member including a rotary shaft and dispersing protrusions formed of a flexible film member wound along an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft, the flexible film member including a large number of cuts formed on one side thereof and are directed outward. The toner dispersing member is rotated about the rotary shaft so that a lump of toner coming into contact with the dispersing protrusions is dispersed.
US08503912B2 Device for preparing a recording medium for transfer printing toner images in an electro-phoretic printing system
An electrophoretic printing system is provided comprising a transfer printing station for transfer printing charge images developed with liquid toner comprising a carrier fluid and toner and wherein the developed charge images are transferred to a recording medium. A wetting unit provided adjacent to the recording medium before the transfer printing station as viewed in a movement direction of the recording medium wets the recording medium with a fluid.
US08503911B2 Charging member and method of producing the member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image-forming apparatus
Provided are the following charging member and a method of producing the charging member. The charging member has an improved charging ability and hence alleviates, in particular, a positive ghost. The charging member can maintain resistance to the adhesion of toner, a toner external additive, or the like over a long time period. The charging member for an electrophotographic apparatus comprises an electro-conductive support, an electro-conductive elastic layer, and a surface layer, wherein the surface layer comprises a polymer compound having an Si—O—Ti linkage in a molecular structure thereof, and the polymer compound has each of constitutional units represented by a formula (1), a formula (2), and a formula (3) defined in the description. The method is a method of producing the charging member.
US08503897B2 Electrophotographic image forming apparatus with improved image transfer
An image forming apparatus may includes an image carrying body, a intermediate transferring unit which includes an intermediate transferring belt to which a visible image on the image carrying body is transferred, a driving roller to drive the intermediate transferring belt, and a first roller support unit to support a rotation shaft of the driving roller. The image-forming apparatus also includes a medium transferring unit to transfer a visible image on the intermediate transferring belt to a printing medium and includes a transferring roller to move between a pressing position pressing the driving roller to interpose the intermediate transferring belt therebetween and a separated position separated from the pressing position, and a second roller support unit to support a rotation shaft of the transferring roller. The pressing position of the transferring roller can be regulated by a contact of the first roller support unit and the second roller support unit.
US08503891B2 Multirate burst mode receiver
There is a need to provide a multirate burst mode receiver for an OLT to be capable of receiving a high-speed burst signal without the need for a special capability of an ONU in a PON system including a mix of ONUs at different transmission bit rates. A multirate burst mode receiver according to the invention includes a signal input discrimination section and a bit rate discrimination section. The signal input discrimination section detects an average amplitude to discriminate signal input. The bit rate discrimination section detects an envelope curve for a high-frequency component to discriminate a signal bit rate. Based on a discrimination result from the signal input discrimination section and the bit rate discrimination section, the multirate burst mode receiver switches a setting for an optical signal reception section and a serial-parallel converter corresponding to the reception bit rate.
US08503887B2 Pre-equalized optical transmitter and pre-equalized optical transmission system
A pre-equalized optical transmitter includes, a laser source; a duo-binary pre-coder circuit; a pre-equalization circuit for applying an inverse function of chromatic dispersion; at least two D/A converters; and an optical field modulator comprising at least two input terminals for an electric signal. The pre-equalized optical transmitter: converts, by the duo-binary pre-coder circuit, a digital information signal of a predetermined symbol time to be transmitted into a digital complex signal including one sampling point per symbol; equalizes, by the pre-equalization circuit, degradation in transmission of the digital complex signal; converts, by the D/A converters, the equalized digital complex signal into an analog signal; suppresses an analog signal leaking outside a Nyquist bandwidth by at least 23 dB; modulates, by the optical field modulator, light output from the laser source with the analog signal to generate a modulated optical field signal; and transmits the modulated optical field signal.
US08503880B2 Optical transport network decoupling using optical data unit and optical channel link aggregation groups (LAGS)
A network device establishes first and second Ethernet link aggregation groups (LAGs) at a first access site of an optical transport network (OTN), and creates a first optical channel (OCh) LAG subpath from the first Ethernet LAG, via a second access site of the OTN, to an Ethernet LAG at a third access site of the OTN. The network device also creates a second OCh LAG subpath from the first Ethernet LAG, via a distribution site of the OTN, to the Ethernet LAG at the third access site, and creates a first optical data unit (ODUk) LAG subpath from the second Ethernet LAG to an Ethernet LAG at the second access site. The network device further creates a second ODUk LAG subpath from the second Ethernet LAG, via the distribution site and the third access site, to the Ethernet LAG at the second access site.
US08503875B2 Fluidic viewfinder device
A fluidic viewfinder device may include a support member having an opening forming an aperture and a fluidic lens disposed at least partially in communication with the aperture and support member. The fluidic lens may comprise a first optical surface and a second optical surface, one or more of which includes an elastic membrane. A fluid may be enclosed in at least a portion of the fluidic lens. The optical properties of the fluidic lens may be changed by displacement of the fluid, e.g., due to movement of a slide member or a rotating yoke.
US08503874B2 Apparatus for imaging three-dimensional image
A three-Dimensional (3D) imaging apparatus is provided. The 3D imaging apparatus includes a first member including a first region and a second region therein; at least one second member movably coupled to the first member such that the at least one second member is movable out of and into the second region; a plurality of lens units disposed in the first region while the at least one second member is disposed in the second region, wherein, when the at least one second member moves out of the second region, at least one of the plurality of the lens units moves from the first region into the second region.
US08503869B2 Stereoscopic video playback device and stereoscopic video display device
A video plane generation unit decodes stream data into a pair of left-view and right-view video planes, and outputs the pair alternately in a 3D display mode and either of the pair repeatedly in a pseudo 2D display mode. An image plane generation unit generates a pair of left-view and right-view image planes having an OSD at different horizontal locations according to its depth to be perceived, and alternately output the pair of image planes. A pseudo 2D display control unit instructs the video plane generation unit to operate in the 3D display mode and the pseudo 2D display mode in periods where the image plane generation unit does not and does output the image planes, respectively. The adder unit combines a video plane and an image plane generated by the video plane generation unit and the image plane generation unit, respectively, onto a frame, and outputs the frame.
US08503867B2 Playback apparatus, program, and playback method
When playing an AV Clip recorded on a BD-ROM, a judgment is made, for each elementary stream, which of a plurality of predetermined conditions the elementary stream satisfies. The plurality of predetermined conditions include (a) a condition that a playback apparatus has a capability of playing the elementary stream, (b) a language attribute of the elementary stream matches a language setting of the playback apparatus, and (c) a channel attribute of the elementary stream is surround sound and the playback apparatus has a surround output capability. The playback apparatus assigns a priority to each elementary stream based on which conditions the elementary stream satisfies, selects an elementary stream having a highest priority, and plays the selected elementary stream.
US08503866B2 Wish list for television recording
A viewer can enter into a wish list a show listed on an electronic program guide (EPG) that is being shown on a channel not subscribed to by the viewer. Should the show later become available on a subscribed-to channel, it is automatically recorded.
US08503863B2 Image reproduction device, image reproduction method, and image reproduction program
A disc device 11 stores (i) videos and still images, and (ii) for each video/still image, image information including an imaging time at which the video/still image was taken. A time management unit 16 manages a reference time in accordance with playback performed by a display control unit 14. When a reception unit receives, from a user, a switch instruction that causes an image switch to be performed, a search unit 17 refers to the image information pieces to search for (i) from among the videos, a video that was entirely/partially taken during time range Ta, and (ii) from among the still images, a still image that was taken during time range Tb, both of the time ranges Ta and Tb including the reference time. The playback control unit 14 performs the image switch based on a result of the search performed by the search unit 17.
US08503860B2 Method of guiding current reproduction point during integrated reproduction and video device adopting the same
A method of guiding a current reproduction point and a video device adopting the same are provided. The video device includes a reproduction unit; a visual information combining unit; and a control unit which controls the reproduction unit so that a second video file is reproduced after reproduction of a first video file is completed, and controls the visual information combining unit so that current reproduction point guide information for guiding a current reproduction point is displayed on the screen as the visual information. The current reproduction point guide information is information for guiding the current reproduction point, by indicating a specified mark at one point of an integrated graphic into which the first graphic for indicating the reproduction point of the first video file and the second graphic for indicating the reproduction point of the second video file are integrated.
US08503856B2 Imaging apparatus and control method for the same, shooting control apparatus, and shooting control method
An imaging apparatus includes a shooting rate setting unit configured to set a shooting rate, a shooting unit configured to shoot a moving image at the shooting rate set by the shooting rate setting unit, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a shooting duration time from a start of shooting, a calculation unit configured to calculate a playback time based on a playback rate in a case of playing back the moving image shot by the shooting unit, and a display control unit configured to display the shooting duration time acquired by the acquisition unit and the playback time calculated by the calculation unit together on a display unit while the shooting is conducted by the shooting unit.
US08503852B2 System for retaining optical devices
A system for organizing and retaining optical devices and fiber optic cable includes a housing, at least one module, and a tray coupled to the housing and including a first portion defining a receiving area and a second portion defining a track. The at least one module is releasably retained in a selected portion of the receiving area. The track extends along the receiving area and is configured for guiding cable to the retained module.
US08503851B1 Cable management system
A system manages cables to connect to a device provided in a device chassis. The system includes a cable management boom connected to a top portion of the device chassis, cable management shelves connected to a side portion of the device chassis, and a cable management arm connected to and supported by the cable management shelves. The cable management arm is to retain the cables, pivot through an angle to provide access to the device provided in the device chassis, and route the cables from the device to the cable management boom. The cable management boom is to gather the cables, retain the cables, and route the cables above the device chassis.
US08503849B2 Channel assemblies
A method of forming a waveguide is disclosed, as well as the waveguide itself. A multilayer stack of light guiding layers is formed, and the multilayer stack is delaminated between light guiding layers to form a waveguide between the light guiding layers. The multilayer stack is delaminated in a patterned region between light guiding layers. Here a new approach is described, wherein hollow microchannels forming a Bragg waveguide assembly are fabricated by controlled formation of thin film delamination buckles within a multilayer stack. A hollow waveguide is formed by alternating layers of the multilayer stack forming light guiding surfaces. The hollow waveguide is formed between layers that delaminate from each other, as for example under applied stress to one or more of the layers. The multi-layer stack may be formed of alternating layers of low and high index of refraction materials, as for example forming omni-directional dielectric reflectors. Metal cladding of the waveguiding layers is also provided in one embodiment, as for example by providing a metal base layer and a cap layer. Methods of assembly are disclosed, as well as the assemblies themselves.
US08503847B2 Method of arranging cores of multi-core fiber
A multi-core fiber of the present invention employs the multi-core fiber mode, which corresponds to the “uncoupled” operation aspect in which individual cores are used independently for single-mode transmission, to perform space division multiplexing transmission using a multi-core fiber in which multiple single-mode cores are stored in one optical fiber. More specifically, the multi-core fiber of the present invention forms an uncoupled multi-core fiber that makes individual cores correspond to single-mode, independent transmission channels.
US08503844B2 Imaging catheter with integrated reference reflector
In part, the invention relates to a lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a micro-lens; a beam director in optical communication with the micro-lens; and a substantially transparent film. The substantially transparent film is capable of bi-directionally transmitting light, and generating a controlled amount of backscatter. In addition, the film surrounds a portion of the beam director.
US08503843B2 Hybrid integrated optical module
The present invention provides a hybrid integrated optical module having a high coupling efficiency by suppressing a connection loss between waveguides. A hybrid integrated optical module according to an embodiment of the present invention is an optical module which integrates a semiconductor chip and a PLC chip. The semiconductor chip has a semiconductor waveguide and is mounted on a Si bench. The PLC chip includes a PLC substrate and an optical waveguide formed on the PLC substrate. An end face of the semiconductor chip protrudes from an end face of the Si bench toward the PLC chip side by a protrusion amount X. Gap adjustment (adjustment of a distance D) between the semiconductor waveguide and the optical waveguide becomes possible by setting a position where the end face of the semiconductor chip is brought into contact with an end face of the PLC chip to be a reference position (zero point).
US08503835B2 Optical coupler module having optical waveguide structure
The optical coupler module for converting and transmitting electrical/optical signals includes a semiconductor substrate, a first film, a second film, an electrical transmission unit, at least one signal conversion unit and an optical waveguide structure. The first film and the second film are formed on opposite surfaces of the semiconductor substrate. The signal conversion unit and the optical waveguide structure are disposed on opposite sides of the semiconductor substrate. The optical waveguide structure has a reflector and a waveguide body. The optical signal generated from the signal conversion unit sequentially passes the first film, the semiconductor substrate and the second film and enters the optical waveguide structure. Then, the optical signal is reflected by the reflector and transmitted in the waveguide body to be outputted. Alternatively, the optical signal is transmitted in a reverse direction from the optical waveguide structure to the signal conversion unit.
US08503825B2 Method and system for aligning and classifying images
In one embodiment, L dimensional images are trained, mapped, and aligned to an M dimensional topology to obtain azimuthal angles. The aligned L dimensional images are then trained and mapped to an N dimensional topology to obtain 2N vertex classifications. The azimuthal angles and the 2N vertex classifications are used to map L dimensional images into O dimensional images.
US08503822B2 Image quality evaluation system, method, and program utilizing increased difference weighting of an area of focus
Disclosed is a picture quality evaluation system. The system calculates the difference between data that represent a feature value of a pixel set that constitutes a first image and data that represent a feature value of a pixel set that constitutes a second image. The system then uses at least the first image or the second image to determine the main area of focus of an image that has a specific feature and then calculates the main area of focus. The system then weights the difference in the feature value in the pixel set contained in the main area of focus and calculates the picture quality value of the first image, based on the weighted difference.
US08503820B2 Method and apparatus for removing image noise
Provided are a method and apparatus for removing image noise. The method includes: separating an input image signal into a signal component and a noise component; converting the noise component into a decorrelated noise component that is spatiotemporally decorrelated from neighboring pixels; and generating an image signal by adding the decorrelated noise component to the signal component.
US08503812B2 Method and system for motion compensated temporal filtering using both FIR and IIR filtering
Certain aspects of a method and system for motion compensated temporal filtering using both finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering may include blending at least one finite impulse response (FIR) filtered output picture of video data and at least one infinite impulse response (IIR) filtered output picture of video data to generate at least one blended non-motion compensated output picture of video data. A motion compensated picture of video data may be generated utilizing at least one previously generated output picture of video data and at least one current input picture of video data. A motion compensated picture of video data may be blended with at least one current input picture of video data to generate a motion compensated output picture of video data. The generated motion compensated output picture of video data and the generated non-motion compensated output picture of video data may be blended to generate at least one current output picture of video data.
US08503808B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for compression and decompression of an image dataset
A method for compression and/or decompression of bio-medical images such as DNA sequencing images is provided. The method comprises regeneration of a complete image using multiple distribution functions generated on the fly. The compression ratio achieved is in the order of 10 to 20 times, and is near lossless with respect to the clinically relevant information; which makes it well suited for these DNA sequencing images.
US08503805B2 Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image adaptive to buffer status
A method of encoding an image includes checking a storage status of a buffer storing encoded data, at every data unit equal to or less than at least one macroblock; rearranging information about a macroblock so that encoded data of the macroblock is reduced, based on the storage status of the buffer; and storing data encoded by using data of the image and the information about the macroblock, which is rearranged based on the storage status of the buffer, in the buffer.
US08503804B2 Image signal decoding apparatus and image signal decoding method
A decoding method decodes a base stream generated by encoding a first image signal of a first view and a dependent stream generated by encoding a second image signal of a second view. The method includes detecting, on the basis of a dependent delimiter indicating a picture boundary between pictures in the dependent stream, the picture boundary in the dependent stream configured by inserting the dependent delimiter at the beginning of a picture in the dependent stream. Further, the method includes decoding the base stream and the dependent stream on the basis of the detected picture boundary in the dependent stream.
US08503795B2 Store system, reading apparatus, and sales registration apparatus
A store system includes a reading unit that includes an image acquiring unit and an image output unit, and a sales registration apparatus that includes a similar image detection unit and a sales registration unit. The image acquiring unit acquires an image that is captured by an image capturing unit. The image output unit outputs the acquired image. The similar image detection unit detects an image of a product that is similar to at least a portion of the output image by referencing product management information in which information relating to sales registration of a product and an image of the product are associated for each product. The sales registration unit registers sales of a product based on information relating to the sales registration associated with the image of the detected product.
US08503794B2 Data difference guided image capturing
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed. Previously stored images of one or more geographic areas may be viewed by online users. A new low-resolution image may be acquired and aspects of the new low-resolution image may be compared with a corresponding one of the previously stored images to determine an amount of change. A determination may be made regarding whether to acquire a new high-resolution image based on the determined amount of change and a freshness score associated with the one of the previously stored images. In another embodiment, a new image may be captured and corresponding location data may be obtained. A corresponding previously stored image may be obtained and compared with the new image to determine an amount of change. The new image may be uploaded to a remote computing device based on the determined amount of change and a freshness score of the previously stored image.
US08503773B2 Glyph selection and electronic document generation
An image processing apparatus includes a character recognition unit configured to perform character recognition on a plurality of character images in a document image to acquire a character code corresponding to each character image, and a generation unit configured to generate an electronic document, wherein the electronic document includes the document image, a plurality of character codes acquired by the character recognition unit, a plurality of glyphs, and data which indicates the glyphs to be used to render each of the character codes, wherein each of the plurality of glyphs is shared and used by different character codes based on the data when rendering characters that correspond to the plurality of character codes acquired by the recognition unit.
US08503748B2 Nonlinear recursive filter for medical image processing
A new system and method for medical image processing using a nonlinear recursive filter are disclosed. An input signal including two or more pulses received from a medical imaging system is sampled at a predetermined sampling rate. The maximum magnitude, i.e., peak, and/or the occurrence time of the maximum magnitude of the first pulse of the input signal is/are determined using a nonlinear recursive filter. Predicted magnitude values of the tail of the first pulse can be determined and subtracted from the input signal to correct for pileup before determining the maximum magnitude and/or occurrence time of the next pulses. A medical image can be reconstructed using the determined maximum magnitudes and/or the occurrence times of the maximum magnitudes of the pulses of the input signal. The nonlinear recursive filter can be implemented using one or more look-up tables.
US08503745B2 System and method for automatic registration between an image and a subject
A patient defines a patient space in which an instrument can be tracked and navigated. An image space is defined by image data that can be registered to the patient space. A tracking device can be connected to a member in a known manner that includes imageable portions that generate image points in the image data. Selected image slices or portions can be used to register reconstructed image data to the patient space.
US08503742B2 Method for mass candidate detection and segmentation in digital mammograms
A basic component of Computer-Aided Detection systems for digital mammography comprises generating candidate mass locations suitable for further analysis. A component is described that relies on filtering either the background image or the complementary foreground mammographic detail by a purely signal processing method on the one hand or a processing method based on a physical model on the other hand. The different steps of the signal processing approach consist of band-pass filtering the image by one or more band pass filters, multidimensional clustering, iso-contouring of the distance to centroid of the one or more filtered values, and finally candidate generation and segmentation by contour processing. The physics-based approach also filters the image to retrieve a fat-corrected image to model the background of the breast, and the resulting image is subjected to a blob detection filter to model the intensity bumps on the foreground component of the breast that are associated with mass candidates.
US08503735B2 Image processing to perform grouping based on depth-of-relationship values
An image processing apparatus includes: a depth-of-relationship value calculation unit that regards a person, who appears in any of a plurality of contents, as a specific person, and calculates a depth-of-relationship value, which indicates the degree of depth of the relationship between the specific person and a second person, on the basis of an appearance frequency of the second person or a third person other than the second person in contents in which the specific person appears, and the appearance frequencies of the second person and the third person in contents in which the specific person does not appear; and a priority determination unit that determines a priority, which is assigned to the second person relating to the specific person among the persons appearing in the plurality of contents, on the basis of the calculated depth-of-relationship value.
US08503732B2 Image generating device, static text detecting device and method thereof
An image generating device and a method thereof are disclosed in the present invention. The image generating device and method may find out true motion for static text strings. The image generating device and method detect static text angles from consecutive frames and use a 3D-static text filter to recover correct motion vector fields. After our Static Text Detector fixing, the static text strings like subtitles can get more accurate motion vector and improve video quality.
US08503718B2 Using camera signatures from uploaded images to authenticate users of an online system
Users of an online system are authenticated based on signatures of cameras that were used to capture images uploaded to the online system. Users of an online system upload photos taken from their cameras. The online system extracts characteristic information about the camera that captured the photos. This information includes a mapping of faulty pixels, metadata included with the photos, a naming convention, and the like. The online system stores an association between the user and the camera. This association is used for authentication of the user. For authentication, the user is asked to upload new photos taken from the camera that the user used previously. The information extracted from the newly uploaded photos is matched against stored information of cameras used previously by the user. The user is successfully authenticated if the camera used for the newly uploaded photos matches a previously stored camera.
US08503713B2 Visual aid with three-dimensional image acquisition
The task of providing a device which makes it possible for the natural visual faculty of a partially vision-impaired person to be restored or supported as realistically as possible by means of a visual aid or visual prosthesis is achieved with the visual aid according to the invention in that, beyond the pure acquisition of a two-dimensional image, additional information is included in the image processing. For this purpose, a visual aid system is proposed which, during the reproduction of the processed image, visualizes additional information regarding the spatial position and/or specific attributes of objects in the acquired image which is associated with objects in the acquired image. The present invention thus affords the advantage that a three-dimensional image of the current environment of the user can be acquired owing to the fact that the image visualized to the user by the visual aid system according to the invention comprises additional information, for example, about the relative distance of the objects contained in the image and a depth-selective representation of the acquired image can thus be achieved.
US08503707B2 Sealing retainer for extended wear hearing devices
An embodiment provides a seal for retaining a hearing device within the ear canal comprising a curved shell having an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. An interior surface of a shell wall has a scalloped shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall conforms to the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The scalloped shape can be configured to produce a substantially constant amount of inward deformation of a shell wall independent of a force application point on a shell perimeter. The shell can include a coating to retain the seal in the canal and/or to promote asparagine growth into the coating to fastenly retain the seal in the canal.
US08503702B2 Electret diaphragm and speaker using the same
An electret diaphragm and a speaker using the same are provided. The electret diaphragm includes an electret layer, a bonding layer adhered to a surface of the electret layer, and an aluminum (Al) electrode layer adhered on the bonding layer. The electret layer at least includes ethylene group polymer. A material of the bonding layer is ethylene-ethyl-acrylate (EEA) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).
US08503695B2 Suppressing output offset in an audio device
A digital offset is combined with an audio signal in the digital domain to cancel an output offset caused by one or more analog components processing the same audio signal. In this manner, the offset at the output of the audio signal path (e.g., at a power amplifier output) is reduced or eliminated. Consequently, audible artifacts, such as click-and-pop artifacts, can be reduced or eliminated. In audio devices operating in ground-referenced capless mode, power consumption is reduced because of reduced or eliminated direct current (DC) leakage current through speakers or headsets of such audio devices. In some circumstances, the digital offset in the digital domain may be applied at substantially all times of operation of the audio signal path.
US08503691B2 Virtual microphone arrays using dual omnidirectional microphone array (DOMA)
A dual omnidirectional microphone array noise suppression is described. Compared to conventional arrays and algorithms, which seek to reduce noise by nulling out noise sources, the array of an embodiment is used to form two distinct virtual directional microphones which are configured to have very similar noise responses and very dissimilar speech responses. The only null formed is one used to remove the speech of the user from V2. The two virtual microphones may be paired with an adaptive filter algorithm and VAD algorithm to significantly reduce the noise without distorting the speech, significantly improving the SNR of the desired speech over conventional noise suppression systems.
US08503690B2 Loudspeaker unit
There is provided a loudspeaker unit, in particular a ceiling loudspeaker unit, which has a housing (50) having a front housing portion (60). Arranged in the front housing portion (60) are a woofer unit (10), a baffle panel (70) and a tweeter unit (30) in a 2-way coaxial system. The tweeter unit (30) has a tweeter horn having a plurality of legs (33) and a plurality of openings (31) at the edge of the tweeter horn (30).
US08503688B2 Device to enhance an ear bud
The present invention relates to a device to enhance an ear bud including a headband coupled to one or more ear pads. The ear pad being formed of a material for providing dampening of ambient sound and physiologic compression. For example, the pad can be formed of a visco-elastic foam having a thickness to provide noise reduction and sufficient comfort by avoiding excessive compression on any one part of the ear. The headband and the ear pad provide a force for compressing the tragus and antitragus to partially isolate the ear bud in the external auditory canal.
US08503680B1 Deriving encryption key selection from a data management retention period
The traditional data retention attribute is used to intelligently select appropriate data encryption keys. Key life cycles are calibrated with data retention periods, such that encryption keys and the corresponding data are both available at the same time. A data management system passes a data retention period to a key management system as part of a request for a key. The key management system uses the received data retention period as a factor in selecting a key, such that the key life cycle is calibrated to the data retention period. The data management system then utilizes the key in encryption operations concerning corresponding data.
US08503679B2 Short message encryption
A method and system for securely communicating information via a low bandwidth channel uses encryption that adds comparatively little overhead to the size of the transmission. This method and system efficiently take advantage of the properties of public key cryptography, a shared secret, a traffic key from the shared secret, an abbreviated initialization vector, and an abbreviated whole message signature. The information and the whole message signature are encrypted using the traffic key with a stream cipher.
US08503672B2 Method and apparatus for protecting content consumer's privacy
Provided is a method of protecting a content consumer's privacy. The method includes classifying contents into content groups, encrypting the contents using different encryption keys, generating a plurality of decryption keys each of which can decrypt all contents in each of the content groups, and provides the generated decryption keys to authorized clients, wherein each client is provided with a different decryption key.
US08503670B2 Parallelizable integrity-aware encryption technique
The present disclosure provides a parallelizable integrity-aware encryption technique. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a parallelizable integrity-aware encryption method comprises whitening at least one message block with a first mask value, encrypting the whitened at least one message block using a block cipher and a first key, and whitening the encrypted at least one message block with a second mask value to generate at least one corresponding output ciphertext block. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a parallelizable integrity-aware encryption method comprises applying a XOR function to all blocks of a message to compute a XOR-sum, applying a first mask value to the XOR-sum; encrypting the masked XOR-sum using a block cipher and a first key, and applying a second mask value to the encrypted XOR-sum to generate an integrity tag.
US08503667B1 Detection and prevention of unintentional pulse dialing
Methods, systems and apparatuses can be used to detect and prevent invalid or unwanted pulses. In various implementations, a series of dial pulses received from a telephony device can be counted to determine whether the series is valid. Based upon the count, a determination can be made whether the series of dial pulses is invalid.
US08503657B2 System, method and apparatus for authenticating and protecting an IP user-end device
A system, method and apparatus authenticates and protects an Internet Protocol (IP) user-end device by providing a client-based security software resident on the IP user-end device, authenticating the IP user-end device using the client-based security software and a network security node communicably coupled to the IP user-end device, authenticating a user of the IP user-end device whenever a trigger condition occurs using an in-band channel between the client-based security software and the network security node, and protecting the IP user-end device by: (a) screening incoming IP traffic to the IP user-end device using the client-based security software, and (b) detecting an attack or a threat involving the IP user-end device using the network security node.
US08503655B2 Methods and arrangements for group sound telecommunication
A method of audio scene management in a teleconference or other group sound telecommunication is presented, in which teleconference at least a first transmitting party, a second transmitting party and a receiving party participates. The method comprises receiving of signals representing sound of the first transmitting party and sound of the second transmitting party. The method further comprises obtaining of measures of sound activity for the first and second transmitting parties, respectively and selecting a first angle and/or a second angle based on the obtained measures of sound activity. The method further comprises processing of the received signals into processed signals such that sound from the first transmitting party is experienced by the receiving party as emanating from the first angle while sound from the second transmitting party is experienced as emanating from the second angle, with respect to the receiving party. Finally signals representing the processed signals are outputted.
US08503651B2 Teleconferencing configuration based on proximity information
Teleconferencing systems may adapt to changes associated with participating terminals by monitoring characteristics of the terminals and modifying audio streams in accordance with detected changes. A terminal moving from a location shared with one or more other participating terminals may be detected in a variety of ways. In response to the location change, a teleconference server may modify the audio stream transmitted to the terminal so that audio originating from the one or more other participating terminals is included in the stream. Additionally, audio streams transmitted to the one or more other terminals may also be modified to include audio signals originating from the moved terminal. Other changes to a terminal that may also affect audio processing include activating a muting function. Muting a terminal while the terminal is among a group of participating terminals may cause the audio signals from the other terminals to also be muted.
US08503639B2 Method and apparatus for adaptive message and call notification
Methods and systems for providing a user's preferred device with a notification of an incoming communication for one of a plurality of a user's devices. Notification of an incoming communication is provided to the user's preferred device via a communications service. The communications service receives, from a data or voice network, information representing an incoming communication intended for one of a plurality of a user's devices. The service then provides a notification of the incoming communication to the user's preferred device.
US08503634B1 Systems and methods for treatment of inactive accounts
Methods and systems for treating inactive accounts by designating certain accounts for either unclaimed or escheats treatment are presented. In the unclaimed treatment the remaining balance of funds associated with the account is assigned to a prepaid phone card, whereas in the escheats treatment the remaining balance of funds is remitted to an appropriate authority. In each case the account is declared inactive, and processes are made available to reactivate the account.
US08503628B2 Party information for data-capable communication device
Detailed information about a party can be provided during interparty communication. Data-capable mobile devices query at least a public database to retrieve information about a set of parties engaged in communication. The results of the database query are employed to provide detailed caller identification and detail functionality to telephones or communication devices not utilizing traditional landlines or commercial caller identification service. Storage can be included to include address book function, query caching, and user preferences. An interface can be provided to facilitate display of rich caller identification information. The interface can further update displayed information without user input, or provide user selection control to request more information on a selected portion of displayed information. These features can be applied to determine the information about a party that is either receiving a communication or initiating a communication.
US08503615B2 Active thermal control of X-ray tubes
The present embodiments relate to active thermal control of X-ray tubes. In one embodiment, a system includes an X-ray tube having an electron beam target, a rotary bearing supporting the target in rotation, and a coolant flow passage, at least a portion of the coolant flow passage being disposed in the center of the rotary bearing, and the coolant flow passage is configured to receive a coolant. The system also includes a coolant circulating system coupled to the coolant flow passage and configured to circulate the coolant thorough the coolant flow passage, and a control circuit coupled to the coolant circulating system and the rotary bearing, the control circuit being configured to control heat flow between components of the X-ray tube by regulating extraction of heat from the X-ray tube via the coolant and by regulating a rotation rate of the rotary bearing.
US08503607B2 X-ray imaging apparatus and control method therefor
An X-ray imaging apparatus suppresses X-ray irradiation outside an X-ray detection unit. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to this invention includes an X-ray irradiation unit which irradiates an object with X-rays, an X-ray detection unit movably provided with an imaging unit, a first irradiation field prediction unit which calculates an irradiation field by using the relative positional relationship between generation unit and imaging unit and aperture value of a collimator, a second irradiation field prediction unit which calculates an irradiation field based on the dose of X-rays generated by the generation unit and the X-ray dose distribution detected by the imaging unit, and a predicted irradiation field decision unit which decides, as a predicted irradiation field, a region including one or both of irradiation fields respectively calculated by the first and second irradiation field prediction units.
US08503606B2 Low-cost position-sensitive X-ray detector
A detector and methods for producing x-ray images, more particularly based on x-rays transmitted through an inspected object. A scintillating region is translated along a path within a cross section of a beam, the cross section taken in a plane distal to the object with respect to a source of the beam. Light emitted by the scintillator region is detected, thereby generating a detection signal, the detection signal is received by a processor which generates an image signal, and an image depicting transmitted penetrating radiation is formed on the basis of the image signal.
US08503604B2 Panoramic dental radiology apparatus and associated method of use
A dental radiology apparatus includes an X-radiation generator and a sensor opposite it receiving radiation from the generator. The apparatus produces a panoramic image of an object by displacement of the assembly formed of the generator and the sensor along a given trajectory in a plane, the generator having at least one collimation slit elongated along a z-axis perpendicular to the plane to produce an X-ray beam elongated along this axis in a first mode of operation, the sensor with an array of pixels extending along the Z-axis in correspondence with the beam. The apparatus includes elements for pivoting the sensor by 90° to extend it in a direction parallel to the plane P, switching the generator provided with the collimation slit from the first mode to a second mode of operation to produce an X-ray beam elongated parallel to the direction of the sensor, so that the these positioned sensor is always in correspondence with the beam.
US08503598B2 Initialization circuit for delay locked loop
An initialization circuit in a delay locked loop ensures that after power up or other reset clock edges are received by a phase detector in the appropriate order for proper operation. After reset of the delay locked loop, the initialization circuit assures that at least one edge of a reference clock is received prior to enabling the phase detector to increase (or decrease) the delay in a delay line. After at least one edge of a feedback clock is received, the initialization circuit enables the phase detector to decrease (or increase) the delay in a delay line.
US08503596B2 Wireless clock regeneration and synchronization
A method and apparatus are described for regenerating a local clock within a wireless module and synchronizing the local clock with a wireless host clock. For one embodiment, the wireless module generates a local clock, counts the cycles of the clock during a common timing reference period maintained wirelessly between the wireless module and the host, receives a count of the host clock during the same common timing reference period, and adjusts the local clock signal based upon a comparison of the two counts. For one embodiment, the wireless module further receives timing references from the host and, in addition, receives packets of audio samples from the host accompanied by a timestamp, the timestamp based upon the host timing reference, and outputs the audio sample at the time designated by the timestamp.
US08503594B2 Phase tracking in communications systems
The present invention includes a method of determining a phase estimate for an input signal having pilot symbols. The method includes receiving a plurality of pilot symbols, and then multiplying two or more pilot symbol slots by corresponding correlator coefficients to correct a phase estimate of the input signal.
US08503586B2 Receiving apparatus and method with clock drift estimation and compensation
The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus for receiving signals in a communication system in which the signals are transmitted on the basis of frames. Each frame includes a data part having data blocks, wherein the data blocks are respectively separated by a guard sequence. The receiving apparatus performs a correlation on the guard sequences of a received signal and performs a clock drift estimation in the frequency domain on the basis of the correlation results. The receiving apparatus also compensates the clock drift of the received signal on the basis of the clock drift estimation.
US08503584B2 Efficient implementation of M-algorithm based on QR decomposition for higher-order constellations
A method of detecting received data in a communication system includes the steps of: performing a QR decomposition on a received input vector as a function of one or more characteristics of a communication channel over which the input vector was transmitted; generating a subset of best symbol candidates from a symbol constellation by comparing an input sample (corresponding to an element of the input vector) with one or more prescribed thresholds; identifying at least one symbol satisfying prescribed minimum Euclidian distance criteria among multiple ambiguity symbols in the subset of best symbol candidates; and generating a subset of best symbols including a prescribed number of symbols from the symbol constellation determined to be closest to the input sample. The subset of best symbols is used in a subsequent iteration of the steps of generating the subset of best symbol candidates and identifying at least one symbol satisfying the prescribed minimum Euclidian distance criteria.
US08503581B2 Encoding and decoding method for transmitting and estimating multiple simultaneous channels
An improved encoding and decoding method for the transmission and estimation of multiple simultaneous channels, thereby solving the problem of shortening the time required to measure the attenuation, absorption or distortion of signals passing through a predetermined medium.
US08503575B2 Method and apparatus for receiver pulse response determination
A pulse response for a receiver, as an array PR, is found from the receiver's symbol stream. For a continuous stream of arbitrary data, a value of the array PR[k] can be determined from the signal levels of the symbols received. The stream of received data is input to a FIFO. Between the first and last locations of the FIFO is the symbol referred to herein as Dn. Symbols located in the FIFO before Dn are referred to as Dn−x. Symbols located in the FIFO after Dn are referred to as Dn+x. Dn differs from the other FIFO symbols in that its signal level can be measured with an adjustable error slicer. The ISI effect of any Dn−k upon Dn can be measured, and thus any PR[k] measured, by measuring the average signal level of Dn when only certain types of data streams occur in the FIFO.
US08503571B2 Dual purpose modulator
The present invention provides a single modulator capable of transmitting an input according to a first and a second modulation technique. The first modulation technique represents changes in the input using a first set of carrier waveform parameters, such as phase variations, whereas the second modulation technique represents changes in the input using a second set of carrier waveform parameters, such as alternative phase variations. The present invention performs both modulation techniques by expressing the 10 second set of carrier waveform parameters as a subset of the first set of carrier waveform parameters. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second modulation techniques comprise the π/2-offset 2PSK (a good approximation of differential GMSK) and 3π/8-offset 8PSK (also known as EDGE) modulation techniques.
US08503562B2 Method and apparatus to select coding mode
Briefly, an apparatus and method to transmit data stream by using a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmitters receivers system. The MIMO transmitters receivers system may include a coding mode selector to select a coding mode of each orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) sub-carrier symbol of a first and second sub-carriers of a data stream according to a feedback data packet having coding information of the OFDM subcarrier symbol. The coding mode may be selected from a diversity coding mode and a multiplexing coding mode.
US08503560B2 System and method for performing precoding in a wireless communication system
A base station capable of performing precoding in a wireless communication system is provided. The base station includes a plurality of codebooks and a codebook selector. Each codebook comprises a plurality of composite precoding matrices that are generated based on a corresponding diversity precoding matrix. The codebook selector is operable to select one of the codebooks for use in a communication session with a subscriber station.
US08503559B2 System and method for non-uniform bit allocation in the quantization of channel state vectors
A system and method for non-uniform bit allocation in the quantization of channel state vectors is provided. A method for communications node operation includes receiving a bit-allocation profile for use in quantizing channel state information, measuring a communications channel between the communications node and a controller, generating channel state information based on the measurement, computing a bit representation of the channel state information, transmitting the bit representation to the controller, and receiving a transmission from the controller. The computing makes use of quasi-tail-biting trellis decoding, and the computing is based on the bit-allocation policy. The transmission makes use of the channel state information transmitted by the communications node.
US08503555B2 Feedback of differentially encoded channel state information for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and subband scheduling in a wireless communication system
Techniques for efficiently sending channel state information using differential encoding are described. Differential encoding may be performed across space, across frequency, across space and frequency, across space, frequency and time, or across some other combination of dimensions. In one design, spatial state information may be determined for multiple spatial channels on multiple subbands. The spatial channels may correspond to different antennas, different precoding vectors, etc. Channel quality indicator (CQI) values may be obtained for the multiple spatial channels on the multiple subbands. The CQI values may be differentially encoded across the multiple spatial channels and the multiple subbands to obtain differential CQI information. In another design, CQI values may be obtained for multiple spatial channels on the multiple subbands in multiple time intervals and may be differentially encoded across space, frequency and time. The differential CQI information and the spatial state information may be sent as feedback.
US08503552B2 Method and digital communication device for receiving data using QAM symbols
A digital communication system which applies channel coding and QAM modulation, where in QAM, at the transmitter, a number Q of bits is mapped to one QAM symbol, which is transmitted over the channel, at the receiver side, for each QAM symbol, a de-mapping is performed in order to obtain an L-value for each bit which corresponds to the QAM symbol, such that these L-values provide not only an estimation of the transmitted bits but also give information about their reliability.
US08503550B2 Apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal and method of transmitting and receiving a signal
The present invention relates to method of transmitting and receiving signals and a corresponding apparatus. One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of receiving a signal, which includes interleaving in an appropriate manner for a channel bonding system. The interleaving can allow decoding a user requested service at a random tuner window position.
US08503543B2 Systems and methods for compression, transmission and decompression of video codecs
Embodiments of this invention include computer-implemented mathematical methods to develop software and/or hardware implementations that use wavelet transforms (WT) to pre-process video frames that can then be compressed using a variety of codecs to produce compressed video frames. Such compressed video frames can then be transmitted, decompressed, post-processed using the post-processing methods disclosed in the invention and displayed in their original size and quality using software and/or hardware implementations of embodiments of the invention, thereby producing real-time high-quality reproduction of video sequences. Embodiments of devices that can implement the methods of this invention include mainframe computers, desktop computers, personal computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, wireless computers, television sets, set top boxes, cellular telephones, and computer readable media.
US08503529B2 Interpolation of video compression frames
Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation.
US08503523B2 Forming a representation of a video item and use thereof
Functionality is described for forming a summary representation of a video item to help a user decide whether to obtain a full version of the video item. The functionality operates by: (a) receiving a video item; (b) dividing the video item into a plurality of segments; (c) extracting at least one key frame from each of the plurality of segments to form a plurality of key frames; and (d) organizing the video segments into one or more groups corresponding to one or more respective scenes based on the plurality of key frames, to thereby form the representation of the video item. The functionality can be used to communicate search results to a user, to provide a sample of the video item in a message, etc.
US08503511B2 Method and receiver apparatus for determining a correlation value considering frequency correction
A receiver apparatus for determining a correlation value of a predetermined repetitive chip sequence in a receive signal, the chip sequence having a chip sequence duration and a chip sequence duration cycle. The receiver apparatus has a receive unit for receiving the receive signal and a segmenter for providing receive signal segments from the receive signal, two receive signals representing the same chip sequence in different repetition cycles and having at least one repetition cycle time spacing.
US08503505B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in a communication system
An apparatus and a method for transmitting/receiving data generate main service data of broadcasting data, generate additional data of the broadcasting data, transform the additional data into a parallel type, generate pseudo-random noise sequences as a spreading code of the additional data, select polarities of the pseudo-random noise sequences using any one additional data bits in the additional data in the transformed parallel type, map the remaining additional data bits excluding the one additional data bit from the additional data in the transformed parallel type to a single sequence, multiply a single sequence to which the remaining additional data bits are mapped by pseudo-noise sequences of which the polarities are selected, control mean power of the additional data multiplied by the sequences, couple the additional data of which the mean power is controlled with the main service data, and then, transmit the broadcasting data.
US08503504B2 Method for estimating a carrier-frequency shift in a telecommunication signals receiver, notably a mobile device
This method for estimating a carrier-frequency offset in a telecommunication signals receiver comprises the following steps: computation of the partial correlations relating to several successive portions of a reference binary sequence, each partial correlation being computed between a portion of a signal received by the receiver at said carrier frequency, this signal comprising said reference binary sequence, and a predetermined portion of said reference binary sequence stored and/or generated by the receiver, in several possible relative positions between the received signal and the predetermined portion, and determination of the carrier-frequency offset from the computed partial correlations. It also comprises a step of selecting a synchronization position and the determination step comprises the estimation of a phase shift between computed partial correlations at the selected synchronization position.
US08503496B2 Device for judging state of semiconductor laser and method for judging state of semiconductor laser
A device includes: a providing unit that provides a driving electric current to a semiconductor laser, the electric current being superimposed a first alternating current signal having a first frequency at a low side of an operational range of the semiconductor laser and a second alternating current signal having a second frequency at a high side of the operational range; a first filter that extracts a first component corresponding to the first frequency from a voltage to be applied to the semiconductor laser; a second filter that extracts a second component corresponding to the second frequency from the voltage to be applied to the semiconductor laser; and a judge circuit that judges a state of the semiconductor laser based on a first differential resistance obtained from the result of the extracting by the first filter and a second differential resistance obtained from the result of the extracting by the second filter.
US08503492B2 Mode-locked solid-state laser apparatus
In a mode-locked laser-diode-excited laser apparatus: a solid-state laser medium is arranged at a distance of at most twice the Rayleigh range from a saturable absorbing mirror with a depth of absorbing modulation of at least 0.4%; the total intracavity dispersion is smaller than zero and makes oscillating light have such a pulse bandwidth that the saturable absorbing mirror can suppress a background pulses other than soliton pulses repeated with a fundamental repetition period, and the magnitude of the total intracavity dispersion has a predetermined relationship with a pulse width of the oscillating light; and an output mirror is a negative-dispersion mirror in which high-index layers and low-index layers, having optical thicknesses randomly varying in the range of one-eighth to half of the predetermined wavelength, are alternately laminated, and the negative-dispersion mirror causes a mirror dispersion of −1000 fsec2 to −100 fsec2 and realizes a reflectance of 97% to 99.5%.
US08503491B2 Fiber optic multiplex modem
A fire alarm network fiber optic multiplex modem includes plural local interfaces, a fiber optic interface, a multiplexor, a fiber optic modem, and a demultiplexor. The multiplexor combines data received at the local interfaces into an outgoing data stream. The fiber optic modem transmits, at a first wavelength, the outgoing data stream to the fiber optic interface and receives, at a second wavelength, an incoming data stream via the fiber optic interface. The demultiplexor separates the incoming data stream into separate data streams, and forwards each of the separate data streams to its corresponding local interface.
US08503486B2 Synchronizing wireless local area network access points
In a wireless local area network, a first and second access point in which the RF coverage areas overlap are synchronized by positioning a monitor station within the overlap area. The monitor station receives beacon frames from both access points and records the arrival times. A manager in communication with both access points and the monitor station calculates a retardation interval and issues a control command to the second access point to retard transmission of its beacon frame. The retardation interval is calculated such that the contention-free period of the second access point does not overlap the contention-free period of the first access point. The manager may also issue control commands to the first and second access points to adjust their contention-free periods.
US08503473B2 Wireless network system and method of transmitting and receiving data over the wireless network system
A wireless network system is provided in which time periods during which packets are transmitted or received for bandwidth allocation request and acknowledgement over a network are separately set in a superframe period, and data is transmitted or received through the bandwidths allocation. The wireless network system includes a frame-generation unit which generates a beacon frame for constructing a superframe including one or more channel time blocks, a bandwidth-management unit which sets among the one or more channel time blocks first channel time blocks as a bandwidth allocated period for a particular station on a network and second channel time blocks as packet transmission or reception periods for a bandwidth-use-request packet on the network, and a communication unit which transmits the beacon frame including reservation information for setting the first and second channel time blocks through a communication channel.
US08503468B2 PCI express load sharing network interface controller cluster
Embodiments provide load balancing in a virtual computing environment comprising a plurality of PCI-Express switches (the PCIe switching cloud) coupled to a plurality of network interface devices (NICs). An NIC cluster is added between the PCIe switching cloud and the NICs. The NIC cluster is configured to hide NICs from system images and allow the system images to access functions across multiple NICs. The NIC cluster of an embodiment dynamically load balances network resources by performing a hashing function on a header field of received packets. The NIC cluster of an embodiment performs load balancing and state management in association with driver software, which is embedded in the system image. The driver software adds a tag for flow identification to downstream data packets. The NIC cluster distributes data packets based on information in the tag.
US08503458B1 Methods and apparatus for characterizing adaptive clocking domains in multi-domain networks
An apparatus and method for managing and characterizing clock domains in multi-domain networks are disclosed. A process of clock domain management is capable of receiving a data packet or data stream traveling across CES circuit. Upon obtaining a clock domain hierarchy stored in a storage location, the process identifies a clock frequency in the clock domain hierarchy in accordance with the CES circuit. The clock domain hierarchy, in one embodiment, is a searchable database containing information relating to clock domains. The clock frequency is subsequently assigned to a packet processing unit for data processing.
US08503454B2 Apparatus and method for setting up quality of service in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for setting up Quality of Service (QoS) in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes, during an initial network entry, generating at least one static Service Flow (SF) by receiving a QoS profile from a Base Station (BS), if QoS change is requested for the SF, transmitting by a Mobile Station (MS) to the BS a service change request message which requests a service change and includes QoS change information, and by the BS, determining if the service change request is granted, and, if granted, transmitting a service change response message to the MS, and changing a QoS of the SF.
US08503450B2 TCP receiver acceleration
A method for processing network information may include performing by one or more processors and/or circuits integrated within a single chip, classifying a header portion of a received packet based on connection context information within the received packet. The connection context information may be acquired by the single chip from a memory external to the single chip. The connection context information for the received packet may be updated based on the classifying. At least a payload portion of the received packet may be communicated to a destination, based on the updated connection context information. The classifying, updating and communicating may be performed asynchronously. The header portion of the received packet may be parsed and/or validated. The connection context information of the received packet may be evaluated.
US08503445B2 Source specific multicast layer 2 networking device and method
Bridge domain communication methods and devices are presented for efficiently communicating information in a bridge domain based upon group indications and source indications. Packets with a source and destination indication are received. A bridge domain communication process is performed at the bridge level wherein a packet is selected for forwarding based upon a source and group indication. For example, a determination is made if a particular bridge domain corresponds to the group destination indication in the received packet. The source indication in the packet is compared with a tracked source designation indication. Output ports associated with the tracked source designation indication are identified if the tracked source designation indication matches the received source indication. The communication packet is forwarded on identified ports.
US08503444B2 Transmission device, transmission method, and program for the same
A transmission apparatus is provided, including a combination determination unit configured to determine combinations of data packets so that when a data packet in a first frame is missed in transmission, a recover packet (FEC packet) for recovering the missing data packet is generated based on data packets in the first frame and data packets in a second frame, and an error correction coding unit configured to generate a recover packet based on the determination made by the combination determination unit.
US08503443B2 Method of controlling a wind turbine in a wind power plant
A method of controlling a wind turbine in a wind power plant where the wind turbine includes a wind turbine controller and at least one connected wind turbine component. Upon receiving a packet containing a “write/read” instruction, the wind turbine controller effectuates a write instruction by changing a set point associated with an attribute of a component in the wind turbine. The controller retrieves information data resulting from performing the write instruction from the component and transmits the information data to a central controller. The invention performs a fast and simple control loop by means of transmitting both the write and the read instruction within one single data packet.
US08503441B2 Method of managing a call addressed to a terminal associated to an access device
A method of managing a call addressed to a first terminal operating in a telephone system, which includes a mobile network, a packet-switched network and an access device allowing connection of dual mode terminals to the packet-switched network, wherein the method includes: a) providing configuration information by associating information related to a set of terminals to an identifier of the access device, the set of terminals including a dual mode terminal, which is adapted to operate in the mobile network and in the packet-switched network; b) providing status information related to the at least one dual mode terminal; c) upon reception of a request for the call, checking whether the first terminal belongs to the set of terminals; d) in the affirmative, routing the call to at least one selected terminal of the set of terminals, the selection being performed based on the configuration information and the status information; and d) in the negative, routing the call to the first terminal.
US08503436B2 Method of triggering status report in wireless communication system and receiver
A method and apparatus of triggering a status report in a wireless communication system is provided. A duplicated data block is received. A triggering of a status report is suspended if the duplicated data block requests the status report and a sequence number (SN) of the duplicated data block is equal to or greater than a maximum status transmit state variable. Even if a duplicated data block requests a status report, the status report is triggered after hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) reordering is complete.
US08503435B2 Method for controlling IP phone and application program for the same
A method for controlling an IP phone and an application program for the same are disclosed. The application program is installed in a computer for connecting the computer and a proximal IP phone via a wired or wireless network. A subscriber sends data and commands to the proximal IP phone via application programs in the computer for controlling the proximal IP phone. The computer establishes connection with a remote phone via an expanded function of the proximal IP phone controlled by the application program.
US08503433B2 Routing methods and systems using ENUM servers
A method of processing a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call is disclosed. The method includes receiving a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) associated with a destination telephone number from a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server associated with a third service provider. The method also includes receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) server associated with a second service provider in response to a query by a first service provider to a Domain Name Service (DNS) server. The query is based on the URI. Additionally, the method includes contacting the SIP server using the IP address of the SIP server to set up a bearer path of the VoIP call.
US08503432B2 Method and apparatus for signaling proprietary information between network elements of a core network in a wireless communication network
The invention includes a method and apparatus for signaling proprietary information between network elements of a core network (CN) of a wireless communication network. A method for signaling proprietary information within the CN includes encoding the proprietary information in an IPv4 Options field of an inner header of an IP packet, and pre-pending an outer header to the IP packet for Mobile IPv4 (MIPv4) tunneling the IP packet from a first node of the CN to a second node of the CN. The first and second nodes of the CN may include a mobility anchor node and a mobility gateway node, respectively. The first and second nodes of the CN may include a mobility gateway node and a mobility anchor node, respectively. A method for signaling proprietary information includes receiving a tunneled IP packet at a first node of the CN (where the IP packet includes an outer header, an inner header, and a payload), removing the outer header from the IP packet, stripping an IP Options field from the inner header of the IP packet where the IPv4 Options field includes the proprietary information, and propagating the proprietary information from the first node of the CN to a second node. The first node of the CN may be a mobility gateway node and the second node may be a node of a radio access network (RAN). The first node of the CN may be a mobility anchor node and the second node may be another node of the CN.
US08503426B2 Technique for performing a random access procedure over a radio interface
The invention relates to a technique for performing a random access procedure over a radio interface, for example between a mobile terminal and a radio base station of a mobile network. A method aspect of the invention comprises the steps of transmitting a synchronization request for synchronization information; receiving synchronization information in response to the synchronization request; and transmitting, based on at least one transmission parameter adjusted in accordance with the synchronization information, a resource request for data transmission resources.
US08503410B2 Communication apparatus and method of controlling same
The distance to a communicating party is detected using whether or not an electromagnetic-coupled RF field formation is achieved or not as simple measurement means. If the distance to the communicating party is short, i.e., if it is possible to form an RF field, then transmission power is reduced. As a result, power consumption is reduced. Since a reduction in transmission power is accompanied by restriction of the zone in which communication is possible, leakage of information is prevented and security is enhanced.
US08503405B1 Variation in session setup mode based on latency of target device
A method and corresponding device are disclosed for varying setup mode based on reported latency at a target device. The target device or its serving network may report a latency characteristic associated with the target device, such as an indication of the air interface protocol and/or slot cycle being used by the target device, and an initiating device or communication server may use the reported latency as a basis to decide whether to operate in (i) a normal setup mode when setting up a communication session with the target device or (ii) an optimistic setup mode when setting up a communication session with the target device.
US08503393B2 Method, radio system, and base station
There is provided a method including providing a local breakout service to an Internet protocol gateway while retaining user access control and a remote Internet protocol gateway of a packet core network of a radio network for a mobile terminal; providing information on neighboring macro cells in which the local breakout service can continue, the macro cells belonging to a network using another tracking area than that of the serving cell of the mobile terminal; executing a handover process of the mobile terminal from a source base station in the serving cell of the mobile terminal to a target base station in a neighboring macro cell; and providing session continuation of the mobile terminal local breakout service traffic in the neighboring macro cell by controlling user plane tunneling between the target base station and the local packet switched network from which an Internet protocol address for the local breakout service was assigned.
US08503392B2 Method for controlling access of terminal to home (e)NodeB
A method for controlling access of a terminal to a Home (e)NodeB by a network entity, the terminal accessed to the Home (e)NodeB operated in a closed access mode or a hybrid access mode by using a specific closed subscriber group (CSG) ID, the method comprises: recognizing by the network entity, that an allowed access timer of the specific CSG ID with respect to the Home (e)NodeB has expired; transmitting an Update Bearer Request message to other network entity in order to change a membership of the expired CSG ID; transmitting a Bearer Modify Request message to the Home (e)NodeB in order to change a membership of the expired CSG ID; and updating a bearer with said other network entity, and a bearer with the Home (e)NodeB.
US08503386B2 Communications apparatus and communications system using multicarrier transmission mode
A communications system for exchange of information between a base station and a terminal by a multicarrier transmission mode using a plurality of subcarriers. The communication system includes a base station, a transmission data generator configured to generate frequency band information indicating which frequency band is to be used for transmission of data between said communication apparatuses; and a transmitter configured to transmit the frequency band information, using a specific frequency band, set from among a plurality of frequency bands assigned to the communications system, and to transmit data by using at least one frequency band set from among said plurality of frequency bands, and at the time of establishing the wireless channel, the frequency band usable by the communications apparatus is restricted, and said specific frequency band and said at least one frequency band set, other than the specific frequency band, are assigned within that restricted frequency band.
US08503383B2 Method of inter-system coexistence and spectrum sharing for dynamic spectrum access networks-on-demand spectrum contention
This invention relates to cognitive radio based wireless communications of dynamic spectrum access networks, and more particularly to a method of addressing inter-systems (cells) coexistence and spectrum sharing. The described method of spectrum sharing called On-Demand Spectrum Contention, integrates Dynamic Frequency Selection and Transmission Power Control with iterative on-demand spectrum contentions and provides fairness, adaptability, and efficiency of spectrum access for dynamic spectrum access systems using active inter-system coordination.
US08503374B2 Method for scheduling orthogonally over multiple hops
An apparatus, method, and computer-program product are provided for wireless communication between uplink and downlink nodes via a relay. The relay is configured to simultaneously communicate with the uplink and downlink nodes on a common channel. For simultaneous communication, radio resources may be allocated to the relay to maintain orthogonality on both the uplink and downlink.
US08503371B2 Link assignment messages in lieu of assignment acknowledgement messages
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate communication by supplying an immediate re-send of an assignment, when such assignment is not decoded by an access node (“AN”). In one embodiment, the assignment to AT can be re-sent immediately, hence mitigating a requirement for the AT to indicate that “Yes” the assignment was received, or “No” that the assignment was not received. Accordingly, if the AN does not decode the assignment, the assignment is re-sent, and a request latency can be removed.
US08503360B2 Method and apparatus for facilitating multi-user joint transmit-receive beamforming
A method of wireless communication is disclosed that includes receiving detected channel information from a plurality of access terminals; selecting a set of access terminals from the plurality of access terminals based on the received channel information; creating a beamforming vector for each access terminal in the set of selected access terminals; and transmitting a signal using at least one of the created beamforming vectors. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed herein.
US08503351B1 Base station, relay, system and method for packet re-transmission in a multi-hop network
Systems and methods for packet re-transmission in multi-hop wireless networks are provided. RLP packet retransmission only starts from the hop where L1 ARQ fails. This may result in an increased efficiency of radio resource utilization. In particular, the benefit may be greatest for implementations where the last hop is more unstable than the remaining hops. This is the case for the cellular downlink where the last hop is between a relay and a mobile terminal, and this hop is typically the most unstable. However, applications are not limited to this particular case. Any improvement in RLP recovery delay may be translated into an improvement in system capacity and per-terminal throughput.
US08503350B2 Wireless communication system
A communication method in a wireless communication system includes receiving information to determine whether or not to permit a relay of a communication between a first wireless station and a second wireless station, and relaying the communication based on at least the received information.
US08503343B2 Wireless communication system, communication control method and communication node
A technique is disclosed, by which it is possible to achieve the reduction of power consumption of each wireless node and to perform efficient access control in wireless communication system. According to this technique, a given period with a beacon transmitted from a gateway (GW) 100 at the foremost position is divided to an active period where each wireless node (P2P tag) transmits and receives a frame and a sleep period where transmitting and receiving of the frames are stopped. Further, the active period is divided to a plurality of timeslots each with a fixed length, and the period is partitioned to sub-periods where each type of a GW, a fixed node (P2P-S tag), and a mobile node (P2P-M tag) can transmit frames respectively. Each of the P2P tags selects a timeslot at random from the period for each type, and after waiting for a waiting period at random at the selected timeslot, it transmits a frame including information to identify the selected timeslot or the waiting period in addition to its own ID.
US08503334B2 System and method for providing network services over shared virtual private network (VPN)
A method includes tagging core routes of a core network service node associated with the core network service with an assigned core service specific route target, and distributing the core routes tagged with the assigned core service specific route target to one or more customers subscribing to the core network service associated with the core service node, whereby the customers are enabled to reach the core network service node via a core network service VPN. A network architecture includes an edge network having provider edge nodes configured to form a core network service VPN logically between subscribing customer network sites and a core service network, the core service network providing a core network service, the core service network including a core network service node, and a plurality of customer network sites having customer edge nodes attached to associated provider edge nodes of the edge network, wherein each customer edge node is configured to import routes tagged with a core service specific route target, and wherein the core network service node is configured to import routes tagged with a core service specific customer route target.
US08503327B2 Radio frequency module supporting multiple carriers, base station and carrier distribution method
The present invention discloses a radio frequency module supporting multiple carriers, a base station, and a carrier distribution method. The radio frequency module supporting multiple carriers includes a carrier generating apparatus, a carrier distributor, a carrier synthesizer, and at least two transmit channel, where the carrier generating apparatus is connected to the carrier synthesizer, the carrier synthesizer is connected to the transmit channels, and the carrier distributor is separately connected to the carrier synthesizer and the transmit channels.
US08503321B2 Multifunctional control channel for pseudowire emulation
A system advertises a multifunctional control channel (MFCC) in an interface parameter sub-type-length-value (TLV) of an advertisement label mapping message that is dispatched to a network device. The system also processes a reply label mapping message that is transmitted from the network device in response to the advertisement label mapping message and updates a label information base to establish a pseudowire and a MFCC associated with the pseudowire.
US08503315B2 Data network monitoring system and method for determining service quality measure
Methods and systems for deriving measures indicative of application-level quality of service in relation to a client application operating in a data network whereby application data of relevance to the client application is transmitted in packets from node to node over the network by means of a plurality of application flows, each application flow being an exchange of dat between the client application and a serving application; the method comprising: monitoring characteristics of packets containing application data of relevance to the client application and identifying an application flow associated with each packet; determining from monitored characteristics, according to predetermined criteria and individually in relation to each of a plurality of application flows associated with the client application, a flow-level performance measure; and collating the respective flow-level performance measures and deriving an application-level service-quality measure.
US08503312B2 Failure recovery in an IP multimedia subsystem network
A method is provided for facilitating recovery from the failure of a P-CSCF within an IP multimedia Subsystem network. A gateway, such as a GGSN, monitors signals arriving at the gateway from the P-CSCF and provides an indication if the monitored signals become unacceptable, for example because of an interruption in the signals. The gateway responds by signalling the unavailability of the P-CSCF to user equipment, which was associated with the P-CSCF during a previous registration with the IMS network. In response, for example, the user equipment affected by the failure may request re-registration with the IMS network using a different available P-CSCF.
US08503295B2 Base station and access control method for cellular wireless communication
A base station is connected to wired and wireless networks to send a call that is received from the wired network to the wireless network at a predetermined quality of service (QoS), select one or more combinations of a set of modulation and coding scheme, and a radio resource amount that are associated with a QoS set in a newly incoming call, determine the radio resource amount that is equal to or less than a amount of the unassigned radio resources, assign, to the newly incoming call, the combination that is associated with the determined radio resource amount and the QoS set in the newly incoming call, reduce the radio resources assigned to the ongoing call without changing the QoS, and assign, to the newly incoming call, an amount of radio resources released from the ongoing call and modulation and coding scheme associated with this released radio resource amount.
US08503293B2 Health probing detection and enhancement for traffic engineering label switched paths
A method performed by a network device may include establishing performance-based Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) sessions for each link of a primary traffic engineering Label Switched Path (TE-LSP) and establishing performance-based BFD sessions for each link of a secondary TE-LSP. The method may also include, monitoring performance of the primary TE-LSP based on the performance-based BFD sessions for each link of the primary TE-LSP and monitoring performance of the secondary TE-LSP based on the performance-based BFD sessions for each link of the secondary TE-LSP. The method may further include determining that the performance of the primary TE-LSP is degraded based on the monitoring of the performance of the primary TE-LSP and automatically switching a flow of data unit traffic from the primary TE-LSP to the secondary TE-LSP when the performance of the primary TE-LSP is degraded.
US08503288B1 Silent failover from a primary control unit to a backup control unit of a network device
A network device includes a primary control unit that establishes a network tunnel with another network device. The network device applies a silent failover technique to failover from the primary control unit to a backup control unit while maintaining the network tunnel. The network tunnel may be, for example, a Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) tunnel, and the network device may be an L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC) or an L2TP Network Server (LNS). The techniques may prevent abnormal termination of the network tunnel during the failover. Once the failover from the primary control unit to the backup control unit is complete, the backup control unit synchronizes sequence numbers associated with the network tunnel with sequence numbers of the non-failed network device, and resolves inconsistencies between subscriber session databases of the backup control unit and the non-failed network device.
US08503282B2 Communication system and method over local area network wiring
A device for enabling a local area network wiring structure to simultaneously carry digital data and analog telephone signals on the same transmission medium. It is particularly applicable to a network in star topology, in which remote data units (e.g. personal computers) are each connected to a hub through a cable comprising at least two pairs of conductors, providing a data communication path in each direction. Modules at each end of the cable provide a phantom path for telephony (voice band), signals between a telephone near the data set and a PBX, through both conductor pairs in a phantom circuit arrangement. All such communication paths function simultaneously and without mutual interference. The modules comprise simple and inexpensive passive circuit components.
US08503277B1 Photo/light based data storage, distribution and simultaneous data access for multi-processor system
This invention relates generally to a photon/light based data storage, distribution and simultaneous data access system for a multiprocessor computer system.
US08503267B2 Calendar display device and calendar watch
A calendar display device for a mechanical watch piece, including a first disk, the disk of days, carrying multiple series of inscriptions symbolizing the seven days of the week, a second disk, the disk of dates, carrying inscriptions symbolizing the date of the month, a third disk, the disk of months, carrying 12 inscriptions symbolizing the months of the year. One of the disk of days and the disk of dates acts as a dial by being fixed, whereas the other acts as a rotary disk by being arranged concentrically and rotatably in relation to the dial. The dial includes an aperture making it possible to see the inscription of the current month. A hand indicates simultaneously the date and the day of the week; and a direct kinematic link between the disk of months and the rotary disk provides automatic indexing.
US08503263B2 Memory module and power supply system
A memory module includes a ground terminal, a power terminal, a voltage regulator down, and a storing unit. The power terminal and the ground terminal are connected to a power source that supplies a first direct voltage. The voltage regulator down is connected to the power terminal and configured for converting the first direct current voltage to a second direct current voltage. The storing unit is connected the voltage regulator down for storing data and reading or writing data when the storing unit receives the second direct current voltage.
US08503261B2 Semiconductor device
A method of testing a semiconductor device includes providing a first wafer that includes a first surface, a second surface that is allocated at an opposite side of the first surface, a first electrode penetrating the first wafer from the first surface to the second surface, and a pad formed on the first surface and coupled electrically with the first electrode, providing a second wafer that includes a second electrode penetrating the second wafer, stacking the first wafer onto the second wafer to connect the first electrode with the second electrode such that the second surface of the first wafer faces the second wafer, probing a needle to the pad, and supplying, in such a state that the first wafer is stacked on the second wafer, a test signal to the first electrode to input the test signal into the second wafer via the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08503256B2 Column command buffer and latency circuit including the same
A column command buffer includes a variable delay section configured to determine a delay time based on a frequency of a clock, and output a column command after delaying it by the delay time; and a buffering section configured to receive an output of the variable delay section and generate internal column commands.
US08503253B2 Supply voltage generating circuit and semiconductor device having the same
A supply voltage generating circuit includes a first charge pump circuit that generates a first internal supply voltage, and second charge pump circuit that generates a second internal supply voltage. The absolute value of the second internal supply voltage is greater than that of the first internal supply voltage. The output terminal of the first charge pump circuit is connected to a secondary-side charging terminal of the second charge pump circuit. The secondary-side is an output-side of the corresponding charge pump circuit, and the charging terminal is an auxiliary charging terminal that supplies an auxiliary charge to a secondary-side output terminal of the corresponding charge pump circuit. The output terminal of the second charge pump circuit outputs a voltage value that is the result of adding a prescribed voltage value to the value of the first internal supply voltage applied to the charging terminal.
US08503249B2 Semiconductor memory column decoder device and method
Semiconductor memory devices and methods include a flash memory cell array fabricated in a well, with memory cells in the same column connected to each other in series and connected to a respective bit line. The memory devices also include a column decoder, a data register buffer unit, a row decoder, an erase control unit, and an input/output buffer unit. In one or more embodiments, the erase control unit applies voltages to the well to erase the memory cells in a manner that avoids breaking down p-n junctions formed by transistors fabricated in the well. In another embodiment, high voltage transistors are used to selectively isolate the bit lines from and couple the bit lines to a peripheral circuit in pairs so that each high voltage transistor is shared by two bit lines.
US08503239B2 Device for controlling lock state of block in a semiconductor memory and method for controlling the same
A block control device for a semiconductor memory and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, which relate to a technology for controlling a block operation state of a Low Power Double-Data-Rate 2 (LPDDR2) non-volatile memory device. A block control device for use in a semiconductor memory includes a block address comparator configured to compare a first block address with a last block address, and output a same pulse or unequal pulse according to the comparison result, a block address driver configured to output a lock state control signal for driving a block address in response to the same pulse, a block address counter configured to count block addresses from the first block address to the last block address in response to the unequal pulse, and generate a block data activation pulse, and a block address register configured to store a lock state of a corresponding block in response to the lock state control signal and the block data activation pulse.
US08503232B2 Semiconductor memory device and programming method thereof
A programming method comprised of: classifying memory cells to be programmed into first, second and third levels; applying a program inhibition voltage to an unselected bit line, applying a ground voltage to bit lines, which are coupled with memory cells that are to be programmed into the third level, among selected bit lines, and applying a first voltage, which is lower than the program inhibition voltage but higher than a ground voltage, to bit lines coupled with memory cells that are to be programmed into the second level, and applying a second voltage, which is lower than the program inhibition voltage but higher than the first voltage, to bit line coupled with memory cells that are to be programmed into the first level; and supplying a program voltage, which gradually increases, to a selected word line coupled with the memory cells while applying the voltages to the bit lines.
US08503226B2 Programmable phase-change memory and method therefor
A non-volatile memory is disclosed. A contiguous layer of phase change material is provided. Proximate the contiguous layer of phase change material is provided a first pair of contacts for providing an electrical current therebetween, the electrical current for passing through the contiguous layer of phase change material for inducing heating thereof within a first region. Also adjacent the contiguous layer is provided a second pair of contacts disposed for providing an electrical current therebetween, the electrical current for passing through the contiguous layer of phase change material for inducing heating thereof within a second region thereof, the second region different from the first region.
US08503225B2 Multibit cell with synthetic storage layer
Method for writing and reading more than two data bits to a MRAM cell comprising a magnetic tunnel junction formed from a read magnetic layer having a read magnetization, and a storage layer comprising a first storage ferromagnetic layer having a first storage magnetization, a second storage ferromagnetic layer having a second storage magnetization; the method comprising: heating the magnetic tunnel junction above a high temperature threshold; and orienting the first storage magnetization at an angle with respect to the second storage magnetization such that the magnetic tunnel junction reaches a resistance state level determined by the orientation of the first storage magnetization relative to that of the read magnetization. The method allows for storing at least four distinct state levels in the MRAM cell using only one current line to generate a writing field.
US08503218B2 Nonvolatile memory device using resistance material and memory system including the nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device includes: a memory array including a plurality of memory banks which are arranged in a first direction; a write global bit line and a read global bit line extending in the first direction to be shared by the memory banks; a write circuit connected to the write global bit line and disposed on a first side of the memory array; and a read circuit connected to the read global bit line and disposed on a second side of the memory array opposite the first side of the memory array, wherein each of the memory banks extends in a second direction different from the first direction and comprises a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells, each of the nonvolatile memory cells having a variable resistive element whose resistance value varies according to data stored therein.
US08503217B2 Reconfigurable crossbar memory array
A two-dimensional array of switching devices comprises a plurality of crossbar tiles. Each crossbar tile has a plurality of row wire segments intersecting a plurality of column wire segments, and a plurality of switching devices each formed at an intersection of a row wire segment and a column wire segment. The array has a plurality of lateral latches disposed in a plane of the switching devices. Each lateral latch is linked to a first wire segment of a first crossbar tile and a second wire segment of a second crossbar tile opposing the first wire segment. The lateral latch is operable to close or open to form or break an electric connection between the first and second wire segments.
US08503216B2 Resistance change type memory
According to one embodiment, a resistance change type memory includes a memory cell and a capacitor which are provided on a semiconductor substrate. The memory cell includes a resistance change type memory and a select transistor. The resistance change type storage element changes in resistance value in accordance with data to be stored. The select transistor includes a first semiconductor region provided in the semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode facing the side surface of the first semiconductor region via a gate insulating film. The capacitor includes a second semiconductor region provided in the semiconductor substrate, a capacitor electrode facing the side surface of the second semiconductor region, and a first capacitor insulating film provided between the second semiconductor region and the capacitor electrode.
US08503213B2 Memory architecture of 3D array with alternating memory string orientation and string select structures
A 3D memory device includes a plurality of ridge-shaped stacks, in the form of multiple strips of conductive material separated by insulating material, arranged as bit lines which can be coupled through decoding circuits to sense amplifiers. Diodes are connected to the bit lines at either the string select of common source select ends of the strings. The strips of conductive material have side surfaces on the sides of the ridge-shaped stacks. A plurality of word lines, which can be coupled to row decoders, extends orthogonally over the plurality of ridge-shaped stacks. Memory elements lie in a multi-layer array of interface regions at cross-points between side surfaces of the semiconductor strips on the stacks and the word lines.
US08503211B2 Configurable module and memory subsystem
A configurable memory subsystem includes a memory module with a circuit board having a first and a second memory-containing device (MCD) pair mounted thereto. Each MCD pair has a first MCD in communication with a second MCD. Each MCD has an input port, an output port, and a memory each communicating with a bridge. In response to a command, the bridge transfers at least one of a portion of a data packet from the input port to the output port or to the memory, or transfers a portion of a memory packet from the memory to the output port. A loop-back device receives the command and the data packet form the first MCD pair and transmits the command and data packet to the second MCD pair.
US08503200B2 Quadrature-corrected feedforward control apparatus and method for DC-AC power conversion
An apparatus and method for controlling the delivery of a pre-determined amount of power from a DC source to an AC grid includes an inverter and an inverter controller. The inverter includes an input converter, an energy storage capacitor, and an output converter. The inverter controller includes an input converter controller and an output converter controller. The input converter controller includes feedforward controller configured to perform a calculation to determine a value for the duty cycle for the input converter such that: (1) the input converter delivers the pre-determined amount of power and (2) the magnitude of a ripple signal reflected into the input source is attenuated toward zero. The input converter controller may also include a quadrature corrector configured to determine the effectiveness of the calculation in attenuating the ripple and to adaptively alter the calculation to improve the effectiveness.
US08503195B1 System and method for zero volt switching of half bridge converters during startup and short circuit conditions
An open loop half-bridge power converter is provided for effective zero volt switching during all operating conditions, the converter including: an oscillating inverter circuit having a pair of switches coupled to a load circuit; an inverter drive circuit effective to provide driver signals to the inverter circuit; and a control circuit for providing control signals to the drive circuit. The control circuit is configured to increase a switching frequency of the switching devices in response to a predetermined condition such as startup or short circuit conditions. The inverter as a result continues to operate at a full duty cycle in response to the increased switching frequency, and zero volt switching is ensured throughout the duration of the predetermined condition.
US08503188B2 Mountable electronic circuit module
A mountable electronic circuit module which produces appropriate characteristics without a complicated structure can be a DC-DC converter including a baseboard made of a magnetic material. A helical electrode is provided in the baseboard so as to function as a smoothing inductor device. Capacitor devices in addition to a DC-DC converter IC are mounted on a main surface of the baseboard. A circuit electrode arranged to connect the circuit devices is provided to enable the circuit devices to function as the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter is mounted on a motherboard through external connection electrodes of the capacitor devices.
US08503180B2 Variable frequency drive system apparatus and method for reduced ground leakage current and transistor protection
As applications of variable frequency drives (VFD) (50) continue to grow so do challenges to provide VFD (50) systems meeting application specific requirements. For multiple reasons to include safety standards and electromagnetic interference, reduced ground leakage current is desirable. Building high output voltage VFDs (50) using transistors rated at voltages lower than the VFD output voltage is desireable for economic reasons. The apparatus and method described herein meet these challenges and others, in part by placing an electrically insulating plate (cp176) having high thermal conductivity, a low dielectric constant, and high dielectric strength between the heat sink plate of a VFD power semiconductor module and a grounded cooling plate (80 TE). The positive effects of this plate installation include reducing ground leakage current induced by system capacitances to ground upon high frequency voltage steps and increasing the effective dielectric strength of the VFD's (50) transistor modules engaging in high reliable VFD (50) voltage output for a given transistor rating.
US08503175B2 System and method for variable form handheld computer configurable via modular display screen
A variable form handheld computer may be configurable either as a short form handheld computer or as long form handheld computer. The variable form handheld computer comprises a variable form housing frame configurable as either a short form housing frame or a long form housing frame. The variable form housing frame comprises a plurality of handheld computing modules comprising a keyboard module, a circuitry module, a battery module and a variable form display screen. The variable form display screen is configurable either as a short form display screen or a long form display screen. The long form housing frame securely frames the handheld computing modules when the variable form display screen is configured as the long form display screen, and the short form housing frame securely frames the plurality of computing modules when the variable form display screen is configured as the short form display screen. The variable form handheld computer is configurable as the long form handheld computer using the long form housing frame, and is configurable as the short form handheld computer using the short form housing frame.
US08503174B2 Magnetic slider mechanism for electronic devices and methods of use
A portable processing device that includes a base portion and a main portion. The base portion includes a magnet and guides. The main portion includes a magnetic area. The base portion and the main portion are separable and configured to be held together by a magnetic force between the magnetic area and the magnet. The main portion is configured to be slideably movable with respect to the base portion in a sliding direction defined by the guides. The base portion may further include a cavity adjacent to the top end of the base portion, with a second magnet disposed proximate the cavity. At the end of a sliding motion, the bottom of the main portion is pulled into the cavity by magnetic attraction between the second magnet and the magnetic area. In some embodiments, the main portion may be capable of a flip with respect to the base portion.
US08503172B2 Supplementary cooling system
A supplementary cooling system is provided for cooling a computing system. An apparatus may comprise a computing system and a docking system. The computing system has a cooling area and a fan area which is partionable from the cooling area. The docking system has a fan and an airflow outlet which is operably connected to the fan.
US08503170B1 Waterproof and shockproof cover for a PAD computer
A waterproof and shockproof cover for a PAD computer is disclosed. The cover comprises an upper housing, a base housing, a glass, a first rubber ring, a second rubber ring and four shockproof elements. The base housing is corresponding to the upper housing, wherein the upper housing comprises a first connection and the base housing comprises a second connection corresponding to the first connection for fastening with each other. The upper housing comprises a viewing window hole and a first groove formed around the rim of the viewing hole, and the first rubber ring is disposed within the first groove. The glass covers the viewing window hole and the first rubber ring. The four shockproof elements disposed respectively at four corners of a rectangular accommodation space of the base housing for bearing the PAD computer.
US08503166B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor
A solid electrolytic capacitor includes a capacitor element, an anode terminal, and a cathode terminal. The capacitor element includes an anode body, and an anode member buried in the anode body. The anode member includes first and second anode components. At least a lower end portion of the first anode component is exposed at a lower surface of the anode body. The second anode component communicates with the first anode component and extends inside the anode body. The second anode component has a width greater than the width of the first anode component at least in a direction along the lower surface of the anode body. The anode terminal is electrically connected to the lower end portion of the first anode component. The cathode terminal is electrically connected to a cathode layer of the capacitor element at a position below the lower surface of the anode body.
US08503153B2 Lightning protection sheet with patterned discriminator
A lightning protection system is provided, typically for use on an outer surface of an aircraft, which includes the use of a lightning protection sheet that includes an electrically conductive film and at least one patterned, electrically non-conductive discriminator layer.
US08503138B2 Hybrid circuit breaker
A hybrid circuit breaker, including a first circuit that includes: a main current path which includes a mechanical switch element, a commutation path arranged in parallel with the main current path and including a controllable semi-conductor switch element. The breaker also includes a first capacitor provided in the commutation path in series with the controllable semi-conductor switch element, and a second circuit, arranged in series with the first circuit and including a second capacitor and an inductance-generating element arranged in series with each other.
US08503132B2 Head gimbal assembly, slider, and method of manufactuing a head gimbal assembly with reduced lead length
A head gimbal assembly for a hard disk drive includes a head slider having a head element part which performs reading and/or writing of data to/from a magnetic disc and a suspension on which the head slider is mounted. Bonding pads formed on the head slider are formed on a side surface of the head slider except for an air bearing surface (ABS) which faces the magnetic disc and a back surface on a side opposite to the ABS. End peripheries of the bonding pads are arranged to be in contact with an end periphery of the side surface of the head slider which abuts on the back surface of the head slider.
US08503123B2 Optical filter and flat display panel comprising the same
An optical filter including: a base film; and a function incorporation layer on the base film and for shielding electromagnetic interference and absorbing external light, the function incorporation layer having a cross mesh pattern, wherein the cross mesh pattern includes a plurality of pattern lines, and wherein at least a part of the cross mesh pattern protrudes from a surface of the function incorporation layer facing toward the reflection prevention layer.
US08503121B2 Lens driving device capable of suppressing a reduction of magnetic efficiency of a magnetic circuit
A lens driving device includes a ring-shaped driving coil fixed to a lens holder so as to position around a tubular portion thereof and a rectangular hollow cylindrical yoke including a plurality of flat-shaped permanent magnets opposite to the driving coil. Each flat-shaped permanent magnet has both ends in a horizontal direction which extend in the proximity of opposed two sides of the yoke. The driving coil is disposed so as to extend up to the vicinity of the both ends in the horizontal direction of each flat-shaped permanent magnet.
US08503119B2 Leaf spring with high vickers hardness
A leaf spring supports a pillar shaped movable portion disposed in a center portion with respect to a cylindrical fixed portion disposed around the movable portion in the direction of a center axis shiftably so as to position the movable portion in a radial direction. The leaf spring is made of a material having Vickers hardness which is not less than 500 (HV).
US08503116B2 Lens transferring device
Provided is a lens transferring device including a lens mounting member to which at least one lens is installed; a guiding member that guides movement of the lens mounting member; a driver that moves the lens mounting member and includes a lead screw; an operation member installation unit that is formed at an end of the lens mounting member; an operation member that includes a screw unit contacting the lead screw, an installation unit installed to the operation member installation unit, and a connection unit connecting the screw unit and the installation unit; and an elastic member including a first end that contacts the installation unit and a second end that contacts the operation member installation unit, wherein a first propping member that contacts a portion of the installation unit and prevents tilting of the operation member is formed on the operation member installation unit.
US08503114B2 Lens module with spacers
A lens module includes a lens barrel, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and two spacers. The lens barrel includes an object-side end and an image-side end. The first, second, and third lenses are received in the lens barrel and arranged in that order from the object-side to the image-side. One of the two spacers is positioned between the first lens and the second lens, and the other of the two spacers is positioned between the second lens and the third lens. Each of the spacers is chamfered to prevent the ingress of unwanted light.
US08503104B2 Motor having small size and high output, and light amount adjustment device equipped with the motor
A light amount adjustment device including a motor which can be reduced in size by reducing radial and axial dimensions and makes it possible to increase the motor output. The device has a stator of a motor drive mechanism formed integrally with a holding member fixed to a cam member with aperture blades and a rotary member for driving them sandwiched therebetween. A stator includes a support portion, and first and second magnetic pole portions. The first and second magnetic pole portions extend toward an outer periphery of the rotor and coils are inserted thereon from respective extending ends. The extending ends are disposed in a manner opposed to the outer periphery of the rotor. The two portions are disposed with an angle therebetween such that respective lines extending in the extending directions intersect with each other.
US08503102B2 Wide angle zoom lens
Embodiments of a zoom lens system may comprise at least four lens groups having a NPNP power sequence. The first lens group may include a stationary lens element. The second through fourth lens groups may be movable during zooming. An additional movable N or P lens group on the image side of the system may correct field curvatures or astigmatism. The first lens group may include a stationary, N first lens subgroup and an N second lens subgroup having a movable lens element for focusing. The first lens group may contribute to low focus breathing. Multiple lens groups may have matching movement plans. Some embodiments may be high speed and have a first lens group that can be stationary during zoom. Some embodiments may have only one aspheric surface.
US08503101B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with zoom lens
A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power in order from an object side to an image side. The second and fourth lens units move during zooming, and the first and third lens units do not move for zooming. A focal length fw of the entire zoom lens at a wide-angle end, a focal length ft of the entire zoom lens at a telephoto end, a focal length f1 of the first lens unit, a focal length f2 of the second lens unit, and a focal length f4 of the fourth lens unit are appropriately set.
US08503096B2 Inner focus lens, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
An inner focus lens, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; and a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the second lens unit is moved along an optical axis so that focusing from an infinite-distance object side to a short-distance object side is achieved, the first lens unit includes a bi-convex air lens, and the following conditions: 0.65<|f2/f|<5.00 and 0.5
US08503093B2 Zoom lens, optical apparatus and method for manufacturing zoom lens
A zoom lens ZL comprising a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power, a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power, and a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group G1 includes a first lens having negative refractive power and a second lens which is a plastic lens having positive refractive power, the second lens group G2 includes a third lens having positive refractive power, a fourth lens having positive refractive power and a fifth lens having negative refractive power, the third lens group G3 includes a sixth lens having positive refractive power, and the conditional expressions: 1.50<(−f1)/fw<2.52, 0.4<(−f1)/fL2 <0.8, n2×n2×ν2<77.0 are satisfied respectively.
US08503092B2 Zoom lens, optical apparatus and method of manufacturing zoom lens
A zoom lens having, in order from the object, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power, a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power, and a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power, wherein the second lens group G2 is constituted only by three or more cemented lenses.
US08503089B2 Ocular lens and optical apparatus including ocular lens
An ocular lens used in an optical apparatus, such as a telescope optical system, includes the following lens groups sequentially arranged from the object side: a first lens group G1 having negative refracting power; a second lens group G2 including a lens component having a convex surface facing the viewer's eye side; and a third lens group G3 having positive refracting power. An object-side focal plane of the third lens group G3 is located between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3. The first lens group G1 includes the following lens components sequentially arranged from the object side: a first lens component G1A having a convex surface facing the object side, having negative refracting power, and having a meniscus shape; and a second lens component G1B having negative refracting power.
US08503084B2 Optical arrangement and method for controlling and influencing a light ray
An optical arrangement and a related method for operating this optical arrangement are suggested, particularly in microscopes, for use as at least one of a main beam splitter and a beam combiner. One or more light beams can be coupled into the arrangement and at least one of the light beams that were coupled in can be coupled out again after having passed through the optical arrangement. In the path of the coupled in light beams at least one controllable microstructured element is provided, allowing to switch beam paths within the optical arrangement. This allows controlling or influencing the one or more light beams that are coupled out.
US08503082B2 Optical film
Optical films having anti-Moiré and anti-wetout features are described, along with systems and methods for making these optical films. A master used to make optical films is formed using a single axis actuator cutting along a trajectory that is out of plane with the surface of the master. Movement of the cutting tool along the trajectory cuts grooves having variable depth and variable pitch into the surface. Prisms formed from the master have variable depth, variable height prisms that provide anti-wetout and anti-Moiré features.
US08503079B2 Parallax barrier 3D image display method
A parallax barrier 3D image display method is provided. Particularly, a vertical strip parallax barrier design method is provided to avoid transverse ghost images generated by a conventional parallax barrier and directed to arrangement of sub-pixels on a screen of a flat panel display, which displays multi-view 3D images with minimal ghost images, thereby achieving the purpose of optimum 3D image display.
US08503075B2 High-efficiency device for focusing light to subwavelength dimensions
The general field of the invention is that of devices for focusing light to subwavelength dimensions including at least one focusing structure having a metal film provided with a first aperture that penetrates the film, the aperture having dimensions an order of magnitude smaller than the working wavelength of the focusing device. In the devices according to the invention, the focusing structure has at least one optical cavity placed around the aperture so that, when the structure is illuminated with a radiant flux at the working wavelength of the device, a large part of this flux is concentrated on the aperture by said cavity. Several embodiments are described using various cavities that may comprise plasmon reflectors.
US08503071B2 Optical fiber amplifier having nanostructures
Disclosed is a stimulated Raman scattering effect (SRS), amplifying optical fiber that includes a central core comprising a dielectric matrix that is capable of vibrating at a given frequency (ωRaman) under the effect of a pump signal. The optical fiber includes at least one kind of metallic nanostructure that is capable of generating surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the optical fiber. The metallic nanostructures have a shape and composition such that the frequency of their surface plasmon resonance (ωplasmon) corresponds to the frequency of the pump signal (ωpump) and/or the frequency of the optical signal transmitted in the optical fiber (ωsignal).
US08503070B1 Fiber active path length synchronization
A method of implementing a high-power coherent laser beam combining system in which the output of a master oscillator laser having a linewidth broader than the Stimulated Brillouin Scattering linewidth of the laser signal is split into N signals and fed into an array of N optical fibers. This is a modification of the self-synchronous LOCSET and self-referenced LOCSET phase matching systems in which the optical path length of each optical fiber is matched to less than the signal coherence length of the master oscillator by using a path length matching signal processor to modulate temperature controlled segments of each optical fiber.
US08503063B2 Multicolor display architecture using enhanced dark state
The present invention is directed to a multicolor display comprising a plurality of microcups, wherein (a) the microcups are separated by partition walls; (b) each of the microcups is filled with a display fluid comprising white charged pigment particles dispersed in a solvent of a dark color, (c) the microcups are sandwiched between a first layer and a second layer wherein the first layer comprises a common electrode and the second layer comprises a plurality of pixel electrode, and (d) each of the microcups is capable of displaying the white color state, a dark color state and a medium color state.
US08503054B2 Device for deflecting light beams
A device for deflecting light beams is provided, which includes a swing-mounted light exit segment of an optical waveguide and a swing-mounted mirror. The device features a first rotation device that is set up to rotate the light exit segment of the optical waveguide, from which light is able to strike the mirror, in a rotational plane, and a second rotation device that is set up to rotate the mirror around a rotational axis situated in the mirror plane, which deviates from the vertical to the rotational plane.
US08503047B2 Image reading device and image forming apparatus, and method of controlling image reading device
A controller controls a scanner unit of an image reading device to read a section of an original document that corresponds to an image reading area specified by a user, when a user instruction for setting the image reading area is received. The controller causes the scanner unit to move to an image reading start position in a sub-scanning direction as specified by a user instruction. When a user instruction for starting image reading is received, the controller causes the scanner unit to start reading the section of the original document from the image reading start position.
US08503042B2 Imaging system
An imaging station for processing a media includes a media output for outputting a processed media, a first media delivery station having a first media entrance, a second media delivery station having a second media entrance, and a passive urging device. The second media entrance has a width smaller than a width of the first media entrance. The second media entrance is positioned downstream from the media output and upstream from the first media entrance. The passive urging device is positioned downstream from the media output such that the media is urged towards the second media entrance.
US08503036B2 System and method of improving image quality in digital image scanning and printing by reducing noise in output image data
A system and method of reducing noise in output image data is provided. Grayscale image data having a plurality of pixels is received and processed. During processing, pixels which may produce noise are identified, and a mask associated with the image data is generated. The mask provides information related to the pixels, such as opaque and transparent regions for overlaying the pixels. The image data and the mask are compressed and stored. The mask assists in preventing the identified pixels from being visible when the image data is output, thereby reducing the noise in the image.
US08503024B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus is provided with an area sensor which is formed by arranging sensor components for a pixel in a two-dimensional array and is attached in an inclined manner with respect to a reference installation position. The apparatus has a sensor unit which reads, from the sensor components which are determined based on an inclination angle indicating an inclination of the area sensor from the reference installation position and have been arranged within the area sensor, image data in which the inclination has been corrected; an image obtaining unit which obtains a plurality of frames of image data having a shift of less than one pixel, by scanning an original document image once by the sensor unit; and a high resolution conversion unit which obtains image data with a resolution higher than resolutions of the sensor components by using the obtained image data to perform interpolation processing.
US08503020B2 Document management system, document management method, and storage medium
In a conventional technique, it was impossible to execute processings up to an arbitrary processing among a series of registered processings depending on the situation from time to time. Thus, the only option in such a case was to newly register a new workflow depending on the need changing and depending on time. To solve this, a series of registered processings are displayed as a menu so that a user can select up to which processing in the series of processings should be executed. A not selected remaining processing can be executed by the user by allowing the user to later select a document once subjected to operations.
US08503019B2 Print document conversion apparatus and computer readable medium
A print document conversion apparatus includes plural software-based conversion units and a controller. The plural software-based conversion units perform a software-based conversion process for converting print document data described in a page description language into page image data having a bitmap image format. Each of the software-based conversion units requests a hardware-based image processing apparatus to execute specific image processing in the software-based conversion process, and generates the page image data including a result of the specific image processing in response to the request. The controller activates an additional software-based conversion unit that performs the software-based conversion process when there is a possibility that a state where at least one of the software-based conversion units waits for the hardware-based image processing apparatus to complete the image processing occurs. The controller controls the number of additional software-based conversion units not to exceed a predetermined upper limit.
US08503018B2 Image forming apparatus and method, and apparatus for setting operation conditions of functional unit
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit forming an image on a medium based on image data; a first storage storing image forming conditions; an input device storing image forming conditions set by a user input setting the image forming conditions in the first storage; a second storage storing a history of input operations by the user; a registering device registering, if the history stored in the second storage satisfies a predetermined condition, the image forming conditions stored in the first storage as image forming conditions that can be called by a unique identifier; and a calling device, responsive to a user input designating an identifier, the corresponding image forming conditions from the registering device and storing in the first storage.
US08503014B2 Gateway
A gateway converts a signal between a transmitting terminal capable of transmitting printable print contents in accordance with a FAX protocol and a receiving terminal capable of receiving the print contents in accordance with an HTTP protocol and printing the print contents.
US08503011B2 Printing control apparatus, printing control method, and storage medium for use in printing using a hot folder
When input print data is data for normal printing, a hot folder control manager changes information on the property rights of the print data to a holder to whom a quota of a shared folder is not set (holder on whom use limit is not imposed). Then, the hot folder control manager moves print data changing information on the property rights to a normal printing hot folder.
US08502997B2 Printing control apparatus and printing control method
A printing control apparatus includes a user interface to display at least one of pre-stored hierarchical printing options if a command to print an XPS file is received, an analysis unit to analyze a hierarchical structure of the XPS file, an applying unit to apply a pre-stored hierarchical printing option selected from among the at least one displayed hierarchical printing options to the hierarchical structure of the XPS file, and a communication interface to transmit the XPS file to which the hierarchical printing option is applied to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, a user can hierarchically set frequently used hierarchical printing options in a convenient manner.
US08502996B2 Method and system for matching distributed users with distributed multi-function devices
A method and system for matching distributed users with distributed MFDs is disclosed, which incorporates a MFD cloud, a back end unit, and a client application. The MFD cloud is composed of a large number of geographically distributed MFDs and can be logically divided into a public cloud and a private cloud. The back end unit maintains a persistent state of each MFD associated with the MFD cloud. The client application permits the distributed users to submit a rendering job in association with a job criterion to the back end unit which responds with a sorted list of nearby available MFDs that meet the job criterion. The user can select a MFD from the list and turn-by-turn directions from a user's current location to the selected MFD can be provided for collecting the rendering job. The system data can be kept current by periodically sending a status associated with each MFD.
US08502993B2 Print data generating apparatus
A print data generating apparatus generates print data to be sent to a printing apparatus for printing image data. The print data generating apparatus includes an information storage unit for storing print guarantee area information of the printing apparatus, and an editing unit for editing the image data according to the print guarantee area information stored in the information storage unit. With the configuration, it is possible to generate an image data file according to the printing apparatus and print an image without imperfection.
US08502987B1 Method and apparatus for measuring near-angle scattering of mirror coatings
Disclosed herein is a method of determining the near angle scattering of a sample reflective surface comprising the steps of: a) splitting a beam of light having a coherence length of greater than or equal to about 2 meters into a sample beam and a reference beam; b) frequency shifting both the sample beam and the reference beam to produce a fixed beat frequency between the sample beam and the reference beam; c) directing the sample beam through a focusing lens and onto the sample reflective surface, d) reflecting the sample beam from the sample reflective surface through a detection restriction disposed on a movable stage; e) recombining the sample beam with the reference beam to form a recombined beam, followed by f) directing the recombined beam to a detector and performing heterodyne analysis on the recombined beam to measure the near-angle scattering of the sample reflective surface, wherein the position of the detection restriction relative to the sample beam is varied to occlude at least a portion of the sample beam to measure the near-angle scattering of the sample reflective surface. An apparatus according to the above method is also disclosed.
US08502980B2 Spectral characteristic measuring system, spectral characteristic measuring instrument, and data processing device
A spectral characteristic measuring system includes, a data processing apparatus, and a program, which correct an illumination light variation caused by a temperature rise in a semiconductor light-emitting element due to light emission or in a scanning type color measurement system, which sequentially measures color samples 1n and in which a semiconductor light-emitting element is used as a light source.Spectral distributions of illumination lights which are measured before and after the color sample is measured are interpolated, to estimate a spectral distribution of an illumination light at the time when a spectral distribution of the color sample is obtained. Spectral characteristics of the color sample are identified based on the spectral distribution of the reflected light or the transmitted light reflected by or transmitted through the color sample and the estimated spectral distribution.
US08502979B2 Methods and systems for determining a critical dimension and overlay of a specimen
Methods and systems for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes are provided. A system may include a stage configured to support a specimen and coupled to a measurement device. The measurement device may include an illumination system and a detection system. The illumination system and the detection system may be configured such that the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of the specimen. For example, the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of a specimen including: but not limited to, critical dimension and overlay misregistration; defects and thin film characteristics; critical dimension and defects; critical dimension and thin film characteristics; critical dimension, thin film characteristics and defects; macro defects and micro defects; flatness, thin film characteristics and defects; overlay misregistration and flatness; an implant characteristic and defects; and adhesion and thickness. In this manner, a measurement device may perform multiple optical and/or non-optical metrology and/or inspection techniques.
US08502978B2 Surface position detecting apparatus, exposure apparatus, surface position detecting method, and device manufacturing method
A surface position detecting apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has a light-sending optical system which makes first light and second light from first and second patterns incident at different incidence angles to a predetermined surface to project an intermediate image of the first pattern and an intermediate image of the second pattern onto the predetermined surface; a light-receiving optical system which guides the first light and the second light reflected by the predetermined surface, to a first observation surface and to a second observation surface, respectively, to form an observation image of the first pattern and an observation image of the second pattern on the first and second observation surfaces; and a detecting section which detects a piece of position information of the observation image of the first pattern and a piece of position information of the observation image of the second pattern and calculates a surface position of the predetermined surface, based on the pieces of position information. The light-sending optical system has a sending-side reflecting section which reflects the second light having passed via sending-side common optical members, an even number of times to make the second light incident at the incidence angle smaller than that of the first light to the predetermined surface.
US08502964B2 Chaotic optical time domain reflectometer method and apparatus
In a method and a corresponding apparatus for performing chaotic optical time domain reflectometer, the chaotic laser signal, generated by the chaotic laser transmitter, is split into probe signal I and reference signal II by a fiber coupler. Through an optical circulator, the probe signal I is launched into the test fiber and the echo light is converted into electrical signal by a photodetector and digitalized by an A/D converter. The reference signal II is converted into electrical signal by a photodetector and digitalized by another A/D converter. Two digital signals received from two A/D converters are correlated in a signal processing device to locate the exact position of faults in fibers. The result output is then displayed on a display device. This invention was developed to overcome the tradeoff problem between resolution and dynamic range of the pulse-based OTDR.
US08502957B2 Pulse to pulse energy equalization of light beam intensity
A system for equalizing pulse to pulse energy of a light beam includes a group of optical devices including an optical device configured to exhibit nonlinear properties, e.g., higher order or third order nonlinear properties. Transmission properties of an unequalized light beam passing through the group of optical devices change such that an output intensity of a resulting light beam output from the optical devices is equalized. One example configuration includes at least first and second prisms having nonlinear properties, i.e., higher order or third order, and configured as a beam steering system.
US08502955B2 Method of determining a characteristic
A plurality of targets including a second population superimposed on a first population are formed. In the first target the second population has an asymmetry with respect to the first population. In the second target the second population has a different asymmetry with respect to the first population. Reflected radiation is detected from both the targets and used to determine different characteristics of the underlying populations.
US08502950B2 Substrate for gate-in-panel (GIP) type liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
A substrate for a GIP type liquid crystal display device comprising MPS wires for inspecting lines after a cell array process is disclosed herein. The substrate comprises a mother substrate comprising a plurality of panel regions defined therein, each of the panel regions including an active area having a thin film transistor array formed therein, a dummy area and a non-display area, a plurality of TCPs disposed in the non-display area of the mother substrate; a GIP gate driver and signal lines to apply various signals to the GIP gate drivers, the GIP gate driver and signal lines being disposed in the dummy area; and a plurality of MPS wires extending from the non-display area of a first panel region to a non-display area opposite to a data pad of an adjacent panel region to inspect for defects of gate lines, data lines, common line, voltage line and the signal lines.
US08502948B2 Active device array substrate
An active device array substrate includes a substrate, first scan lines, second scan lines, data lines, and pixels. The first and the second scan lines are alternately arranged along a first direction. The data lines are arranged in parallel along a second direction. The pixels are arranged to form first pixel rows and second pixel rows alternately arranged in the first direction. The first pixel row includes first and second pixels electrically connected to the first scan lines, the second scan lines, and the data line, respectively. The second pixel row includes third and fourth pixels electrically connected to the first scan lines, the second scan lines, and the data line, respectively. The pixels between two adjacent data lines are arranged in two columns. Among the pixels in the same column, the pixels in odd rows and in even rows are electrically connected to different data lines, respectively.
US08502938B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer which contains a liquid crystal composition; a pair of substrates opposed to each other across the liquid crystal layer; alignment layers placed on liquid crystal layer sides of the pair of substrates, respectively; and polarization plates placed on opposite sides from the liquid crystal layer sides, respectively. The pair of substrates includes a thin-film transistor substrate including a thin-film transistor for controlling molecule alignment of the liquid crystal composition, and a color filter substrate including a color layer containing pixels of different colors. A blue pixel, which is one of the pixels of different colors, is larger in area than any of the pixels of other colors. A loss of light in a short-wavelength range is thus reduced.
US08502935B2 Liquid crystal display device comprising a light guide plate with a light radiation portion and a light incident portion joined by a joint surface and having an inclined surface and projecting portions
In a backlight which arranges light emitting diodes on a side surface of a light guide plate, even when the light guide plate is made thin by further reducing a thickness of the light guide plate and the light emitting diodes having a thickness larger than the thickness of the light guide plate are used, it is possible to manufacture the light guide plate with high accuracy in a short time. In a liquid crystal display device having a backlight which radiates light to a liquid crystal panel, LEDs are mounted on the light guide plate formed on the backlight as a light emitting element, a light radiation portion of the light guide plate is formed by molding by applying pressure and heat to a sheet-shaped resin, and a light incident portion of the light guide plate is formed by injection molding.
US08502930B2 Electrically-driven liquid crystal lens and stereoscopic display device using the same
Disclosed are an electrically-driven liquid crystal lens which includes a light shade to be switched on/off according to whether or not voltage is applied, reducing a cell gap of a liquid crystal layer, and a stereoscopic display device using the same, the electrically-driven liquid crystal lens includes first and second substrates opposite each other and each including plural lens regions and a light shade provided at a boundary of each lens region, first electrodes formed in a given direction on the first substrate in each lens region, a second electrode formed on the second substrate and having an aperture corresponding to the light shade, first and second light shade switching electrodes formed at the light shade and extending parallel to the first electrodes, a liquid crystal layer between both the substrates, and a polarizer plate formed above the second substrate and having a first transmission axis.
US08502929B2 Display apparatus and method for driving the same
A display apparatus and a method of driving the same are provided. The display apparatus includes a backlight module, a liquid crystal panel and a controller. The backlight module has a plurality of light emitting regions capable of emitting light individually. The liquid crystal panel is disposed at a side of the backlight module. The controller is electrically coupled to the backlight module and the liquid crystal panel. When the liquid crystal panel updates a left-eye image to a right-eye image row by row along a column-direction, the controller sequentially turns on and off the light emitting regions along the column-direction, such that a whole region of the liquid crystal panel lighted by light emitting region displays the left-eye image or the right-eye image.
US08502927B2 System and method for integrated timing control for an LCD display panel
A method of displaying an image. The method includes acts of receiving pixel data and pixel timing and control signals corresponding to the image, and formatting the pixel data based on a selected communication standard and a transmitter bit rate that corresponds to a number of pixel data bits to be transmitted each transmitter clock cycle. The method also includes an act of generating a clock signal based on the formatted pixel data, a bit rate of the selected communication standard, and the transmitter bit rate, the generated clock signal identifying a mapped bit rate at which the formatted pixel data is to be received by a television display during each cycle of the generated clock signal and which is different than the transmitter bit rate, and also includes the act of transmitting, at the transmitter bit rate, the formatted pixel data and the generated clock signal to the television display so that the formatted pixel data is received by the television display at the bit rate of the selected communication standard.
US08502925B2 Television programming of a remote control
A television includes a television with a remote control. A user interface running on the television ascertains a brand and model number of a device that is to be operated by the remote control and after responsive to such; the television transmits commands to the remote control to program the remote control, thereby enabling the remote control to control the device.
US08502919B2 Video display device and video display method
Provided is a video display device that quickly determines, when a video signal of unknown resolution is input from the outside, the resolution of the video signal to correctly display a video. The video display device includes: A/D conversion unit for converting an analog video signal into a digital video signal by using a dot clock; clock generation unit for generating a dot clock of a predetermined frequency; phase adjustment unit for adjusting a phase of the dot clock; and control unit for estimating vertical resolution of the analog video signal based on a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal, causing the clock generation unit to generate a dot clock of a frequency that corresponds to each pre-registered horizontal resolution candidate, calculating a maximum total difference value of the digital video signal while causing the phase adjustment unit to adjust a phase of the dot clock, and determining, among all the horizontal resolution candidates, the horizontal resolution, in which the maximum total difference value is largest, to be horizontal resolution of the analog video signal.
US08502905B2 Solid-state imaging device
In one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes: an imaging optical system including: a first and second surfaces facing each other; a flat reflector provided on the first surface and having an aperture in an outer circumferential portion; and a plurality of reflectors provided on the second surface and located in a plurality of ring-like areas, each of the reflectors being inclined in a radial direction, the reflectors having different diameters from one another; and an imaging element module including: an imaging element including an imaging area having a plurality of pixel blocks each including a plurality of pixels, and receiving and converting light from the imaging optical system into image data; a visible light transmission substrate provided between the imaging optical system and the imaging element; a microlens array provided on a surface of the visible light transmission substrate on the imaging element side; and an image processing unit processing the image data obtained by the imaging element.
US08502894B2 Method and apparatus for ringing and halo control
A system is disclosed for reducing artifacts in images and video, such as ringing or halo artifacts. The system may include an edge detector and a gain controller. The edge detector may create an edge image used by the gain controller to create a gain image, and the gain image may be used to reduce artifacts in an image. The gain controller may, for a current pixel in the edge image, compute the maximum value of the edge image over a window containing the current pixel. The gain controller may also perform averaging to determine a maximum edge value and a current edge value, and may also use a ratio of the current edge value and the maximum edge value to determine a gain to be applied to a pixel of an image.
US08502888B2 Image data management apparatus and method, image data search apparatus and method, and recording medium
A data management apparatus capable of managing data stored in a storage unit includes a designation unit, setting, search, management units, and a first display control unit. The setting unit sets, based on predetermined date information included in designated data, information on a date to data to be stored and is other than the designated data. The search unit searches data, from among stored data, based on a date or period search condition. The management unit manages data to add, from among the searched data, data of known predetermined date information to a first result list and data to which the date information has been set to a second result list. The first display control unit causes a display such that each displayed data is accompanied with an identifier for distinguishing whether the data is searched out from among the data of the first or second result list.
US08502884B2 Image processing apparatus, image-capturing apparatus, and recording medium storing image processing program
An image processing apparatus can correct band-like unevenness due to flickering with a simple arrangement. For this purpose, the image processing apparatus includes a detecting unit which detects, in the image to be processed, a band-like unevenness occurring along a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction of the imaging sensor included in the image-capturing apparatus used when performing image-capturing of the image, a calculating unit which calculates a correction amount to correct the band-like unevenness, and a correcting unit which corrects the band-like unevenness in the image based on the correction amount.
US08502877B2 Image pickup apparatus electronic device and image aberration control method
An optical system comprising an aberration control optical system is disclosed. An aberration control optical system is operable to produce an image aberration, and an aperture stop is operable to limit a light beam passing through the aberration control optical system. An image pickup device is operable to capture an object image passing through the aberration control optical system, and the aberration control optical system provides inflection points within a diameter of the aperture stop to obtain a depth extending effect.
US08502875B2 Captured image processing system, portable terminal apparatus, image output apparatus, and method for controlling captured image processing system
A captured image processing system includes a portable terminal apparatus and an image output apparatus. The portable terminal apparatus captures images consecutively while detecting a change in position of the portable terminal apparatus during the image capture, and transmits, to the image output apparatus, (i) a plurality of captured image data and (ii) motion information on the change in position detected for each of the plurality of captured image data. The output apparatus receives, from the portable terminal apparatus, the plurality of captured image data and the motion information, carries out, in accordance with the motion information, a positioning process in which the plurality of captured image data are positionally adjusted, prepares, by use of the plurality of captured image data subjected to the positioning process, high resolution image data, and outputs the high resolution image data prepared or an image displayed based on the high resolution image data.
US08502871B2 Gauge line position measuring device, program for measuring a gauge line position, and gauge line mark
A gauge line position measuring device measures a position of a gauge line provided on a test piece by a non-contact video method. The measuring device includes a gauge line mark adapted to be provided on the test piece and has the gauge line and a first continuous harmonious color density arranged line-symmetrically with respect to the gauge line, and a video camera for taking an image of the gauge line mark on the test piece and outputting gauge line mark image data. A calculation device calculates a gauge line position based on the gauge line mark image data.
US08502857B2 System and method for combining a plurality of video stream generated in a videoconference
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for videoconferencing that allows video images from two or more cameras at the same site to be displayed as a single panoramic image. Accordingly, a conferencing endpoint having a single monitor can display the panoramic image of the two or more video images from an endpoint having multiple cameras, such as a telepresence endpoint. A sliding display area can be used to manually define a zoomed portion of the panoramic image to be displayed. Alternatively, the zoomed portion may be determined automatically. The zoomed portion may be changed during the course of the conference.
US08502856B2 In conference display adjustments
Some embodiments provide a method for modifying a composite display of a first mobile device that is engaged in a video conference with a second device. The method presents, on the first device, the composite display having a first video captured by the first device and a second video captured by the second device. The method receives, at the first device, an input for modifying the composite display during the video conference. The method modifies the composite display based on the received input.
US08502853B2 Single-pass imaging method with image data scrolling for improved resolution contrast and exposure extent
A method for generating an elongated concentrated scan image on an imaging surface of a scan structure (e.g., a drum cylinder) in an imaging (e.g., xerographic or lithographic) apparatus, wherein the imaging surface is caused to move in a cross-scan (process) direction. A spatial light modulator having a two-dimensional array of light modulating elements is used to modulate a two-dimensional light field in response to predetermined scan image data, and then the modulated light is anamorphically imaged and concentrated onto an elongated imaging region defined on the imaging surface. To avoid smearing, movement of the imaging surface is synchronized with the modulated states of the light modulating elements such that image features of the scan image are scrolled (moved in the cross-scan direction) at the same rate as the cross-scan movement of the imaging surface, whereby the features remain coincident with the same portion of the imaging surface.
US08502847B2 Adhesive label issuing device and printer
A printer includes: a cutter unit for cutting a label sheet to obtain an adhesive label with a desired length by allowing the label sheet to pass through the cutter unit; an adhesive strength exhibiting unit for allowing the adhesive label to exhibit adhesive strength by heating the adhesive label; a sheet loosening unit placed on a downstream side of the cutter unit and an upstream side of the adhesive strength exhibiting unit in a sheet transporting direction; and a sheet-passage direction changing unit for changing the sheet-passage direction in the upstream sheet-passage part by changing a direction of the upstream sheet-passage part from a reference position at which a sheet-passage direction in the upstream sheet-passage part is placed on the same line as a sheet-passage direction in the downstream sheet-passage part to an inclined position at which the direction is inclined from the reference position.
US08502841B2 Image display apparatus and method for controlling image display apparatus
An image display apparatus of the present invention includes: a display panel; a storage unit that stores a plurality of correction values which are used for correction processing for decreasing brightness variation; a correction unit; and a control unit, wherein the control unit divides the display panel into a plurality of sub-areas, calculates, for each sub-area, a select block gradation value, and executes, for each sub-area, a control to read correction values, which are used for calculating a correction value corresponding to the select block gradation value, out of the plurality of correction values, using the correction unit, and the correction unit calculates, for each sub-area, a correction value corresponding to the select block gradation value using the read correction values, and converts gradation values of video signals in the sub-area using the calculated correction value.
US08502838B2 Spoke synchronization system with variable intensity illuminator
A spoke synchronization technique allowing for lamp-pulsing synchronizes a spoke based on sub-arrays of a spatial light modulator. The lamp pulsing occurs during the spoke synchronization; and the lamp pulse for pulsing the lamp spans substantially across the entire spoke synchronization time period.
US08502837B2 System and method for activating components on an electronic device using orientation data
The disclosure relates to a system and method for analyzing an orientation of a handheld electronic device. The method comprises: monitoring data from a first sensor for the device; determining an orientation of the device by analyzing at least the data from the first sensor; and activating a first component on the device in view of the orientation of the device. The method may further comprise deactivating a second component on the device in view of the orientation of the device.
US08502831B2 Video memory quality of service
Apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed to manage memory in an embedded system. The system registers video applications and video sources with a memory manager. The memory manager in turn provides memory to the video applications and video sources. The system has an input to receive an output from at least one video source. The memory manager receives a frame from the video source and transfers the frame to memory. Once the frame is in memory the video application may work with the frame. All of these operations are conducted with the memory manager actively managing and allocating the memory resources.
US08502830B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus is configured to rasterize an object into a bitmap using a first memory and a second memory which can be accessed quicker than the first memory. The image processing apparatus includes an extraction unit configured to extract a plurality of objects to be rasterized on the second memory from a plurality of the objects, and a first combination unit configured to combine a plurality of objects which can be rasterized within capacity of the second memory from among the objects extracted by the extraction unit into an object.
US08502829B2 Multi-core geometry processing in a tile based rendering system
A method and an apparatus are provided for combining multiple independent tile-based graphic cores. An incoming geometry stream is split into a plurality of streams and sent to respective tile based graphics processing cores. Each one generates a separate tiled geometry list as described. These may be combined into a master tiling unit or, alternatively, markers may be inserted into the tiled geometry lists which are used in the rasterization phase to switch between tiling lists from different geometry processing cores.
US08502823B2 Method and system for lane graph visualization
A system and method for lane graph visualization are described. In various embodiments, a system includes modules to receive and display nodes in topological order. In various embodiments, the system determines a structure for nodes and sorts the data nodes. In various embodiments, a user interface is provided for displaying the lane graph visualization. In various embodiments, the user interface offers interactivity features responsive to user interface events. In various embodiments, a method for lane graph visualization is presented. The method includes receiving nodes in topological order and displaying the nodes in a lane graph visualization. In various embodiments, the method provides interactivity features for the lane graph visualization.
US08502809B2 Organic light emitting diode display device and method of fabricating the same
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device and a method of fabricating the same is provided. Semiconductor layers of driving transistors located in two adjacent pixels included in the OLED display device may extend in different lengthwise directions. Thus, striped stains of the OLED display device can be improved.
US08502803B2 Drift compensated optical touch screen
An optical touch screen including a display surface, an optical illumination assembly arranged along at least part of a periphery of the display surface, at least one light detector arranged to detect light distribution produced by the optical illumination assembly and changes in the light distribution produced by the presence of an object in predetermined propinquity to the display surface, detection circuitry receiving at least one output from the at least one light detector and providing an output indication of a two-dimensional location of the object relative to the display surface, calibration functionality responsive to changes in light distribution other than changes produced by the presence of an object in predetermined propinquity to a region of the display surface for calibrating the detection circuitry, at least one auxiliary illumination source, and at least one partially transmissive, partially reflective optical element disposed along a light path to the at least one light detector, providing a light transmissive optical path for light to the at least one light detector and a light reflective optical path for light from the at least one auxiliary illumination source.
US08502801B2 Capacitive touch sensor system
A method of matrix sensing using delay-based capacitance sensing, including using X-axis lines as active lines for capacitance measurements and using Y-axis lines as a disturbance to identify the location of a touch in a key matrix is disclosed. A sensing signal is applied to the X-axis lines, and a disturbance signal is applied to the Y-axis lines. If a location is touched, cross-capacitance is reduced, which is measured by sweeping data along the X-axis lines.
US08502796B1 Interpolated single-layer touch sensor
A touch sensor includes a first, second, and third electrode line on one side of a substrate. The first and second electrode lines extend along a first direction, and the third electrode line extends at an angle to the first direction. The first electrode line includes a set of first electrodes that decrease in length along the first direction. The second electrode line includes a set of second electrodes that increase in length along the first direction. The third electrode line includes third and fourth electrodes. A set of the third electrodes decrease in length along the first direction and are interdigitated with the first electrodes. A set of the fourth electrodes increase in length along the first direction and are interdigitated with the second electrodes. The first, second, third, and fourth electrodes are substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
US08502785B2 Generating gestures tailored to a hand resting on a surface
The generation of gestures tailored to a hand resting on a mouse surface is disclosed. Gestures to be made on the mouse surface can be generated based on the natural pose of a hand resting on the mouse surface so that the gestures are comfortable. Fingers that are appropriately posed on the mouse surface to make a gesture can be identified for that gesture. Alternatively, gestures to be made on the mouse surface can be generated based on a user's preference. The user can identify the fingers that the user wishes to use to make a gesture.
US08502782B2 Electronic device for entering password
An electronic device includes an access control module, a plurality of input areas, and a comparing module. The access control module has a predetermined password. The input areas are configured to be tapped to input characters in the electronic device. The number of the input areas is determined by the number of unique characters of the predetermined password. The comparing module is configured to compare a sequence of the characters entered with the predetermined password.
US08502780B1 Head mount display and method for controlling the same
A Head Mount Display (HMD) and a method for controlling the HMD are disclosed. The method includes detecting an external device in an image captured by the HMD, recognizing at least one component from a first User Interface (UI) of the external device, the at least one component including a keypad or a window for outputting data corresponding to an input signal to the keypad, generating a second UI including the recognized at least one component, displaying the second UI in the HMD, wherein the at least one component of the first UI being displayed on the external device is overlaid with the displayed second UI using the image from which the external device is detected, and displaying data corresponding to an input signal currently received at the external device on the second UI in the HMD.
US08502759B2 Light modulation element, driving method and drive apparatus
A method for driving a light modulation element includes: applying light to the light modulation element in accordance with an image to be displayed on the light modulation element while applying a DC voltage between a pair of electrode layers of the light modulation element; and applying a pulse voltage having an opposite polarity to the DC voltage applied so far between the pair of electrode layers with the light being applied, and terminating the applying of the light when the applying of the pulse voltage is terminated. The applying of the light, the applying of the pulse voltage and the terminating of the applying of the light are executed sequentially.
US08502757B2 Organic light emitting display having threshold voltage compensation mechanism and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display (OLED) includes a voltage adjustment unit for adjusting a preliminary control voltage according to a second reference voltage, a couple unit for coupling a change of the preliminary control voltage to adjust a control voltage, a driving unit for providing a driving current and a driving voltage according to the control voltage, a first reset unit for resetting the driving voltage according to a first reference voltage, a second reset unit for resetting the control voltage according to the driving voltage, an organic light emitting diode for generating output light according to the driving current, and an emission enable unit for providing a control of furnishing the driving current to the organic light emitting diode. Through the circuit operation of the reset units and the voltage adjustment unit, occurrences of image retention phenomenon and pixel brightness distortion on the OLED screen can be avoided.
US08502756B2 Image display device with imaging unit
An image display unit comprises a display area including pixels, and an imaging unit disposed at its rear side behind the display area. Light transmissive sections are located within the display area and correspond to the pixels. The light transmissive sections are configured to separately receive light incident upon the image display unit, and pass the received light to the imaging unit.
US08502745B2 Antenna apparatus
An antenna apparatus that may be adapted to various environments. The antenna apparatus includes a radiation unit to transmit and receive in a 360° radius including a plurality of radiators, each radiator configured to radiate a main emission pattern in different direction; and a switch unit configured to selectively operate each of the plurality of radiators.
US08502739B2 Antenna arrangement
An antenna arrangement including a ground plane having an electrical length; an antenna element positioned for coupling with the ground plane; a first conductive element; an interconnecting mechanism, connected to the ground plane and to the first conductive element, having a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the ground plane has a first electrical length when the interconnecting mechanism is in the first configuration and a second electrical length, different to the first electrical length, when the interconnecting mechanism is in the second configuration.
US08502736B2 Electronic device having antenna
An electronic device includes a multi-layer circuit board, a main antenna, and an electronic element. The multi-layer circuit board includes an outer layer, a ground layer, and a plurality of vias defined therein electrically connected the outer layer and the ground layer. The main antenna is mounted on the outer layer and electrically connected to the ground layer by the vias. The electronic element is mounted on the outer layer, soldered on the main antenna, and electrically connected to the ground layer by the main antenna.
US08502730B2 Method for detecting a bird or a flying object
A method detects a bird or an object flying level with a single wind turbine, using a device for radio wave detection of at least one bird or another flying object, in the form of at least one radar. The analog image from each radar is transformed into a digital image and an outer safety area and an inner safety area is defined for the image. A safety space for each radar is defined and an action is performed in the event of a detection within the safety areas.
US08502727B2 Method of correcting reflectivity measurements and radar implementing this method
A method of correcting reflectivity measurements performed by a radar, such as a weather radar, includes a reflectivity measurement being associated with a resolution volume. The method includes acquiring the reflectivity measurement Zm corresponding to the current resolution volume, estimating the attenuation kc introduced by the cloud droplets, said estimating being carried out by using an average vertical profile of the cloud liquid water content, estimating the attenuation kg,O2 introduced by dioxygen, estimating the attenuation kg,H2O introduced by the water vapor, determining the total specific attenuation k of the non-detectable components taking into account the attenuation kc, the attenuation kg,O2 and the attenuation kg,H2O estimated in the preceding steps, and correcting the measured reflectivity taking into account the estimated total specific attenuation k. The method may be implemented by an onboard weather radar.
US08502726B2 System and method for suppressing radio frequency transmissions
A system and method for suppressing radio frequency (“RF”) transmissions includes a transmitter for transmitting electronic signals that suppresses (e.g., prevents, disrupts, jams, interferes with or otherwise disables) RF transmissions. Some embodiments of the invention include a transmitter that suppresses one or more signals transmitted from a target transmitter in an RF transmission system to a target receiver in a wireless device operating in the RF transmission system to prevent, disrupt, jam, interfere with or otherwise disable an RF transmission between the target transmitter and the target receiver in the wireless device (i.e., target wireless device). These systems and methods may be used to interrupt communication, command and control of non-friendly combatant. These systems and methods may also be used to suppress RF transmissions to prevent the detonation of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.
US08502720B1 Parallel digital to analog conversion with image suppression
A digital to analog conversion apparatus includes a plurality of gain/phase adjusters configured to receive a digital signal and to output a plurality of adjusted digital input signals, a plurality of digital to analog converters coupled to respective ones of the plurality of gain/phase adjusters and configured to receive the adjusted digital input signals and to generate respective analog signals representative of the adjusted digital input signals, a plurality of phase shift elements coupled to respective ones of the plurality of digital to analog converters and configured to shift the phases of the analog signals generated by the digital to analog converters, and a combiner coupled to the outputs of the plurality of digital to analog converters and configured to combine the respective phase-shifted analog signals to form an analog output signal.
US08502713B1 Pipelined analog to digital converter and method for correcting a voltage offset influence thereof
A method for correcting a voltage offset influence of a pipelined analog to digital converter is disclosed, in which the method generates a first stage code and a first output voltage according to a first input voltage, generates a second stage code according to the first output voltage, generates a check code according to the first output voltage, determines a first correction code by referring to the first stage code and the check code, and corrects the first stage code with the first correction code when the first stage code is different from the first correction code.
US08502705B2 Hybrid keypad including full travel keys and minimal travel keys
A device for entering information securely in a customer transaction is described. The device may include a keypad comprising a set of full travel keys for transmitting a first set of data and a set of minimal travel keys for transmitting a second set of data. A subset of the full travel keys may be operable to receive numerical entries, and a subset of the minimal travel keys may be customized to perform one or more nonnumeric functions. A controller is connected to and receives data from one or more components of the keypad. The device may be used in a fuel dispenser system or another environment where a customer transaction occurs.
US08502703B2 System and method for assisting with safe driving, computer program for assisting with safe driving, storage medium upon which the computer program is stored, and Navigation Device
Disclosed is a system and method that offer improved assistance with safe driving using navigation devices, incorporating traffic regulations pertaining to route changes into guidance offered by the navigation devices. The system comprises a traffic regulations data memory (21), which associates, with roadways, data on traffic regulations pertaining to route changes, and stores the data so associated, an onboard vehicle locator (11), which locates the driver's vehicle upon the suggested route, a comparison unit (31), which compares the location of the driver's vehicle, as located by the onboard vehicle locator (11), with the traffic regulations data, and an output unit (40), which outputs, based on the determination made by the comparison unit (31), either information that driving regulations apply upon the road currently being traveled, as part of the suggested route, or that driving regulations apply upon roads ahead of the road currently being traveled, again, as part of the suggested route.
US08502702B2 Electronic avionics systems and methods
The present general inventive concept relates to a system of method having an electronic flight display that meets the FAR 23.1311(b) regulatory requirement for redundant backup instruments in the cockpit. The present general inventive concept also provides a system and method to detect failures, obstructions, or improper operation of the aircraft pitot pressure sensing system using a combination of dissimilar sensor data that is independent from each other, e.g., allocated from different sources and employed for different purposes on different displays, and displays information on an avionics display screen.
US08502700B2 Apparatus and method for pressurising an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure
An apparatus for pressurizing an aircraft cabin structure and measuring the amount of leakage of the aircraft cabin structure comprises an air supply line which at a first end is connectable to a pressurized air source and which at a second end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure so as to supply pressurized air from the pressurized air source into the aircraft cabin structure, an air supply valve disposed in the air supply fine, a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure and for providing signals indicative of the pressure inside the aircraft cabin structure, an air discharge line which at a first end is connectable to the aircraft cabin structure and which at a second end is connectable to an air discharge opening so as to discharge air from the inside of the cabin structure to the air discharge opening and an air discharge valve disposed in the air discharge line. An electronic control unit is adapted to control the air supply valve and the discharge valve in dependence on signals provided by the pressure sensor.
US08502690B2 Printer, cash drawer drive device, control method for a cash drawer drive device, and a control program
A printer, a printer control method and control program, a POS terminal device, and a cash drawer drive device detect when a non-standard cash drawer is connected, and prevents a non-recoverable overcurrent protection device from operating (such as a fuse blowing) by preventing an overcurrent from flowing to the cash drawer. A printer 10 that can be connected to and drive a cash drawer 20 has a cash drawer drive circuit unit 12 that supplies drive current for driving a lock release coil 21 to open/close the cash drawer 20, a coil resistance detection unit 14 that detects the resistance of the lock release coil 21, and a drive switching unit 15 that connects the cash drawer drive circuit unit 12 or connects the coil resistance detection unit 14 to the lock release coil 21.
US08502685B2 Anti-theft alarm for a liquid storage tank
An anti-theft alarm for a liquid storage tank, said alarm comprising a housing having means for securing the housing to the storage tank, said housing containing a motion and/or vibration sensor for detecting tampering with the liquid storage tank, an alarm means and a control means for activating the alarm means in response to a signal from the motion/vibration sensor.
US08502683B2 Device and method for remote monitoring
An electronic device and a method for remote monitoring a subject calibrates a permitted activity range of the electronic device and establishes an activity range of the subject. The electronic device captures a thermal image to calculate a current location of the subject, and determines whether the current location of the subject is within the activity range of the subject. The electronic device issues an alarm message if the current location of the subject is not within the activity range of the subject.
US08502674B1 Monitoring the location of an object using a mobile device
A method, system, and medium are provided for monitoring a location of an object using a mobile device, including emitting from the mobile device a radio frequency (RF) signal that activates a radio frequency identifier tag (“RFID tag”) located within a broadcast area (the RFID tag being affixed to the object); receiving at the mobile device an RF signal generated by the RFID tag; determining that the RFID tag is registered among a set of RFID tags that are to be tracked; determining that the RFID tag is not located within the broadcast area; and emitting by way of the mobile device an alert that indicates that the RFID tag is not located within the broadcast area.
US08502673B2 Applications for radio frequency identification systems
The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.
US08502667B2 Activity based management system
The present invention is directed to management of activities by the operation of keys for performing said activities that are monitored for timing of any activity itself, its duration and frequency in predefined intervals and more particularly to an activity based key monitoring and management system. The present system provides a safe and secured manner of management of activities involving key operation whereby it would be possible to value add to the required authentication and performance of key operative activities in variety of applications and end uses.
US08502662B2 Method and system for using status indicators in wireless communication with medical devices
The invention, in general, relates to communications systems for medical devices. In particular, the present invention is directed toward a communications routine for a medical infusion devices and a remote control unit that includes data elements within the transmissions that indicate the operating status of the infusion device.
US08502653B2 Vehicle-use object detection apparatus
The vehicle-use object detection apparatus includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors mounted on a vehicle, each of the ultrasonic sensors being configured to receive a reflected version of an ultrasonic wave transmitted by itself and not to receive reflected versions of ultrasonic waves transmitted by the other ultrasonic sensors, a first determination means to make a determination whether an object is present around the vehicle based on the received reflected versions of the transmitted ultrasonic waves when a first detection condition is satisfied, and a second determination means to make a determination, for each of the ultrasonic sensors, whether there is adhesion of snow around the ultrasonic sensor based on an echo wave received by the ultrasonic sensor when a second detection condition different from the first detection condition is satisfied.
US08502648B2 Remote-control device with directional audio system
A method of directing an audio signal to an intended user by a remote-control device coupled to an audio/video device is described. The remote-control device sends an instruction to the audio/video device to transmit an audio signal. The remote-control device receives the audio signal and processes the audio signal to generate a directional audio. The directional audio is then routed to an intended user such that the directional audio signal is audible to the intended user, but not to other recipients in the vicinity.
US08502642B2 System for controlling the use of electronic devices within an automobile
A system for controlling the use of electronic devices within an automobile includes a control module integrated into the operation of the automobile, wherein the control module is linked to the electrical system of the automobile and is controlled, monitored and updated via a graphical user interface of the automobiles. The control module includes a mechanism for identifying use of electronic devices within the automobile, determining whether the usage is permitted and preventing usage of the electronic device if it is determined the usage is not permitted.
US08502640B2 System and method for transmitting and receiving information on a neighborhood area network
In accordance with the techniques discussed herein, a device can access data stored by other devices or units on a network. Devices recording data can provide the data to another device for display to a user. A user can then use the information to make decisions about how and when to control energy use. A communications logic unit associated with the radio can format messages including data from a data storage unit. Data can be stored in tables and written to or retrieved by reading or writing part of the table or the entire table.
US08502622B2 Apparatus and methods for phase tuning adjustment of signals
Apparatus and methods for tuning the phase of a signal communicated by an electrical conductor by adjustably varying a spacing between the electrical conductor and at least a portion of an electrically conductive ground plane that is disposed in spaced relationship with the electrical conductor.
US08502618B2 Measurement and control of electromagnetic interference
The average EMR emissions of an electronic device may be reduced by implementing an electrically-active modulated termination. For example, the impedance may be continuously varied at one or more termination locations between two metal substructures to cause a like variation in the amplitude of each component of the EMR. According to one approach, cyclically varying the electrical impedance with a period of less than the time interval over which the EMR is measured will result in a reduction in the average measured EMR.
US08502610B2 Cascaded local oscillator synthesizer
A representative integrated circuit comprises a clock signal generator that generates a clock signal, a code pattern generator that generates digital pattern data based on the clock signal, and multiple traversal local oscillator synthesizers that are coupled in a cascaded configuration. Each traversal local oscillator synthesizer includes a transversal digital-to-analog conversion (T-DAC) unit that includes a plurality of registers and a unary modulator (Umod) array. The T-DAC provides frequency selection ranges covering wide operational bands based on the digital pattern data and the clock signal.
US08502607B2 Leakage current reduction in a power regulator
A regulator with decreased leakage and low loss for a power amplifier is described. Switching circuitry is used to connect the regulator input bias to a bias control voltage when the power amplifier is to be operated in an on condition or to a voltage generator when the power amplifier is to be operated in an off condition.
US08502596B1 Filter circuitry
Embodiments provide methods, devices, circuitry and systems for supporting or implementing functionality to provide a filtering circuit, and for providing a transmitter, receiver or transceiver incorporating the same. One embodiment provides a circuit for filtering signals. The circuit outputs a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies, each of the signals being attenuated by an amount determined by the frequency of the signal. The circuit attenuates signals output at a first frequency by an amount which is low relative to the attenuation of signals output at frequencies other than the first frequency. The circuit further attenuates signals output at a second frequency by an amount which is high relative to the attenuation of signals output at frequencies other than the second frequency. Responsive to a change in the control signal, the circuit changes the first and second frequencies while maintaining a fixed ratio between the first and second frequencies.
US08502592B2 Level shift circuit
In a level shift circuit allows satisfactory operation with short delay time in the case of low-voltage setting of a low-voltage source, for example, when a state of an input signal IN transitions from a H (VDD) level to a L level, a node W2 precharged to a H (VDD3) level is discharged to ground (VSS) by a discharge circuit N2, and decreases in potential. The decrease in potential propagates to a latch circuit LA, and an output of the latch circuit LA propagates to an output circuit OC. Further, an inversion signal of the node W2 is input to the output circuit OC by bypassing the latch circuit LA. Thus, the output circuit OC starts operating prior to operation based on an output of the latch circuit LA.
US08502587B2 Fast recovery voltage regulator
This document discusses, among other things, a voltage regulator having a plurality of switching devices, coupled in parallel, and configured to selectively provide a variable available drive current using a comparison of a regulated Dc output voltage to at least one reference voltage.
US08502586B1 Methods of clock signal generation with selected phase delay
In one embodiment of the invention, a method is disclosed to generate a clock output signal with selected phase. The method includes selecting a phase delay for the clock output signal; charging a capacitor with a first weighted current during a first phase input clock, charging the capacitor with a second weighted current during a portion of a second phase input clock, and determining if a voltage across the capacitor is greater than or equal to a threshold voltage to generate a first edge of the clock output signal with the selected phase delay. The first weighted current may have a weighting of N out of M to charge the capacitor with a predetermined rate of change in voltage in response to the selected phase delay. The second weighted current may have a weighting of M out of M to charge the capacitor with a constant rate of change.
US08502567B2 Apparatus and method for protecting a semiconductor junction
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving protection of a semiconductor junction of a semiconductor device. One such apparatus includes a bipolar transistor including an emitter, a base, and a collector; a first junction protection device including a first end electrically coupled to the emitter of the bipolar transistor, and a second end electrically coupled to a node; and a second junction protection device including a first end electrically coupled to a voltage reference, and a second electrically coupled to the emitter of the bipolar transistor. Each of the first and second junction protection devices may have a substantially higher leakage current than the leakage current of the base-emitter junction of the bipolar transistor when reverse biased.
US08502565B2 Low phase noise buffer for crystal oscillator
A buffer for converting sinusoidal waves to square waves with reduced phase noise is described herein. The buffer shunts current from the outputs of a differential amplifier during sinusoidal state transition periods at the differential amplifier inputs to increase the finite slope of square wave transition periods of the output square wave. More particularly, a sinusoidal wave having alternating peaks and valleys connected by sinusoidal state transition periods is applied to differential inputs of a differential amplifier to generate a square wave at the differential outputs, where the output square wave comprises alternating high and low states connected by square wave state transition periods having a finite slope. The output square wave is shaped to increase the finite slope of the square wave transition periods by providing additional paths between the differential outputs and ground that shunt current from the differential amplifier during the sinusoidal state transition periods.
US08502564B2 Adjustable Schmitt trigger
A circuit comprises an inverter, a first transistor, a second transistor, and at least one switching circuit. The inverter has a first node and a second node. The first transistor has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The second transistor has a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, and a sixth terminal. The at least one switching circuit is configured to switch a connection of at least one of the first transistor and the second transistor to the inverter. The second terminal and the fifth terminal are coupled to the first node. The third terminal and the sixth terminal are coupled to the second node. The first transistor and the second transistor are configured to cause a plurality of time delays at the second node.
US08502563B2 Non-binary decoder architecture and control signal logic for reduced circuit complexity
A decoder for sequentially enabling outputs in response to clock signal inputs is described including X number of logic stages corresponding to X number of outputs of the decoder. Each of the logic stages has a plurality of inputs, wherein each logic stage includes fewer than log2X inputs for receiving the clock signal inputs.
US08502557B2 Apparatus and methods for forming electrical networks that approximate desired performance characteristics
Electrical networks are formed to produce an approximation of at least one desired performance characteristic, based on the recognition that fabrication variations introduce slight differences in electronic sub-networks which were intended to be identical. These fabrication differences are turned to an advantage by providing a pool of sub-networks, and then selectively connecting particular combinations of these sub-networks to implement networks that approximate the desired performance characteristics. The sub-networks are of like kind (e.g., resistors) and have a like measure.
US08502548B2 Distance measuring device and method for determining a distance, and suitable reflecting body
A distance measuring device and method for determining distance, and a suitable reflective member are provided. The distance measuring device includes analysis electronics and a sensor device, which has at least one coupling probe for feeding a transmission signal into a line structure. A reflective member is disposed in the line structure which has a base plate with an attached collar forming a cup-shaped element, and a feed block with a recess into which the collar plunges. The recess has a sealing ring which produces airtightness with the collar, wherein the attached collar is provided on the front face with a plastic plate.
US08502547B2 Capacitive sensor
Method and apparatus are provided for a capacitive sensor. In an example, a capacitive sensor can include a first sensing element, a sensing channel operable to generate a first signal indicative of first capacitance between the sensing element and a system ground, and a processor responsive to a change in the first capacitance between the first sensing element and ground. The processor can be configured to adjust a parameter value based on a first duration of the change in the first capacitance.
US08502536B2 Method for accelerated high resolution chemical species separation for magnetic resonance imaging
A method for producing an image of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. Image data is acquired at a sequence of multiple echo times occurring within two or more repetition times (TRs). Odd-numbered echoes are sampled during odd-numbered TRs, and even-numbered echoes are sampled during even-numbered TRs. Images are reconstructed and used to calculate the respective signal contributions of two or more chemical species using, for example, an IDEAL separation technique. The respective signal contributions are then used to produce images that depicts substantially only one of the chemical species. For example, separated water and fat images may be produced.
US08502520B2 Isolated power converter
An isolated power converter that includes, in one embodiment, a first magnetic core having a primary winding and a secondary winding around the first magnetic core. The power converter includes a second magnetic core having a first leg, a second leg coupled to the first leg, and a third leg coupled to the first and second legs, wherein a part of the third leg is equidistant from the first leg and the second leg. The power converter also includes a first winding encircling the first leg, a first end of the first winding coupled to the secondary winding, a second winding encircling the second leg, a first end of the second winding coupled to the secondary winding, and a third winding encircling the third leg, a first end of the third winding coupled to a second end of the first winding and to a second end of the second winding.
US08502519B2 Arrangement and approach for providing a reference voltage
A reference voltage that is consistent over various operational conditions and uses low power is provided. According to an example, an internal temperature-compensated voltage (e.g., vdd_int in 200) is generated from a power supply (e.g., vdd in 200), and a reference voltage (e.g., vref in 200) is generated from the internal voltage. The reference voltage is stored on a storage circuit (e.g., 430) that is coupled (charged) and refreshed under conditions, relative to circuit characteristics, that make low and ultra-low power operation possible.
US08502516B2 Voltage adjustment module and power supply device
A voltage regulation module coupled to a power conversion module to form a closed loop. The power conversion module includes a PWM circuit and a conversion circuit. The conversion circuit includes serially coupled first and second power switches. The PWM circuit outputs a drive signal to control the first and second power switches to cause the conversion circuit to generate an output current. The voltage regulation module includes subtraction and regulation circuits. The subtraction circuit obtains a voltage related to the output current, and performs a subtraction operation on this voltage and a reference voltage to generate a second regulation voltage. The regulation circuit generates a level voltage, which is directly proportional to the output current, according to the second regulation voltage. The PWM circuit adjusts a voltage level of the drive signal according to the level voltage so that this voltage level follows the output current.
US08502496B2 Power charging device for an electric vehicle
The invention relates to a power charging device (10) for an electric vehicle (12) with an electric energy store (14). The power charging device (10) comprises at least one rectifier means (16) for converting a supply voltage (18) into a charging d.c. voltage (20), a contacting means (22) for contacting a plug-in connection supply point (24) of the electric vehicle (12), and a residual current monitoring device (26) for detecting a current difference in the contacting means (22) and/or the electric vehicle (12) during a charging process of the energy store (14) of the electric vehicle (12). The invention is characterized in that the residual current monitoring device (26) is designed at least for detection of a direct current difference ΔI and comprises a cutoff element (28) which can interrupt the charging process when a predeterminable direct current cutoff difference (36) is exceeded over a predeterminable cutoff time.
US08502492B2 Single phase motor energy economizer for regulating the use of electricity
A device for improving efficiency of an induction motor soft-starts the motor by applying a power to the motor that is substantially less than the rated power of the motor then gradually increasing the power while monitoring changes in current drawn by the motor, thereby detecting when maximum efficiency is found. Once maximum efficiency is found, the nominal motor current is found and operating ranges are set. Now, the phase angle between the voltage and the current to the motor is measured and power to the motor is increasing when the phase angle is less than a minimum phase angle (determined during soft-start) and power to the motor is decreased when the phase angle is greater than or equal to the minimum phase angle as long as the voltage does not fall below a minimum voltage determined during soft-start.
US08502481B2 Phase shift controller
A positive counter starts counting, starting with an initial value, upon receiving a positive edge of a dimming pulse signal. A negative edge counter starts counting, starting with an initial value, upon receiving a negative edge of the dimming pulse signal. For each i-th (2≦i≦n) channel, the phase shift amount is calculated by multiplying a period count value that indicates the period of the dimming pulse signal by (i−1)/n. When the count value matches the phase shift amount, a burst control signal is switched to a first level. When the count value matches the phase shift amount, the burst control signal is switched to a second level.
US08502478B2 Variable gate field-effect transistor and electrical and electronic apparatus including the same
Provided are a variable field effect transistor (FET) designed to suppress a reduction of current between a source and a drain due to heat while decreasing a temperature of the FET, and an electrical and electronic apparatus including the variable gate FET. The variable gate FET includes a FET and a gate control device that is attached to a surface or a heat-generating portion of the FET and is connected to a gate terminal of the FET so as to vary a voltage of the gate terminal. A channel current between the source and drain is controlled by the gate control device that varies the voltage of the gate terminal when the temperature of the FET increases above a predetermined temperature.
US08502464B2 Underwater lighting system and method
A lighting system for wirelessly providing power to a lighting assembly across a wall. The lighting system may be used, for example, for powering the lighting assembly positioned on an outside portion of the wall, such as on the outside of a boat hull. An example of the lighting system includes a power transmitter with a multi-frequency generator connected to a power source and a controller. The multi-frequency generator is configured to generate an oscillating signal at a predetermined frequency according to a control signal received from the controller. The power transmitter includes a transmitting coil connected to receive the oscillating signal. A receiving coil is positioned to form an inductive coupling with the transmitting coil. A plurality of conditioning units are connected to the receiving coil to receive the oscillating signal. The plurality of conditioning units are connected to provide power to a corresponding light or set of lights. The conditioning units provide power to the corresponding lights when the selected one of the plurality of frequencies matches a resonant frequency of one of a plurality of resonant circuits formed by the receiving coil, transmitting coil, and a resonant capacitor in each of the plurality of conditioning units.
US08502459B2 Driver IC for electrical load and driving method thereof
A driver IC for electrical loads, suitable for regulating a driving voltage depending upon a feedback signal and supplying a regulated driving voltage to a power supply line to which load strings are connected in parallel. The driver IC includes driving current sources respectively connected to the load strings through regulated voltage nodes and configured to supply driving current to the load strings in response to a control signal; sensing units configured to sense and output a minimum voltage among voltages of the regulated voltage nodes; a sample-and-hold circuit configured to sample, hold and output the minimum voltage in response to the control signal; and a comparator configured to compare an output voltage of the sample-and-hold circuit and a reference threshold voltage and generate the feedback signal.
US08502456B2 Managing light system energy use
A first lighting assembly receives a lighting profile that instructs the first lighting assembly to operate according to the lighting profile over a first period of time. The received lighting profile is implemented, including causing a light of the first lighting assembly to illuminate at a first intensity. An input acquired in proximity to the first lighting assembly and indicating activity in a region proximate the first lighting assembly is received. The received lighting profile is then deviated from, in response to the received input, by increasing the intensity of the light to illuminate at a second intensity for a predetermined period of time. A message is transmitted for receipt by the control center, the message including an indication of the increased light intensity and an identifier associated with the first lighting assembly.
US08502454B2 Solid state semiconductor LED replacement for fluorescent lamps
Various apparatuses and methods for replacing a fluorescent lamp with a non-fluorescent tube are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus for replacing a fluorescent lamp, including an electrical connector adapted to electrically connect to a fluorescent lamp fixture, a DC rectifier connected to the electrical connector, a voltage converter connected to the DC rectifier, and a non-fluorescent light source connected to the voltage converter. The DC rectifier, voltage converter and non-fluorescent light source are substantially contained within a housing that is physically configured to replace the fluorescent lamp in a fluorescent lamp fixture.
US08502451B2 Collector and electron tube
A collector included in an electron tube is covered with a carbon nanotube layer over a required area on the surface thereof.
US08502450B2 Vacuum tube and vacuum tube manufacturing apparatus and method
With respect to a vacuum tube having a reduced pressure vessel containing an electric discharge gas sealed therein, problems such as the lowering of discharge efficiency owing to an organic material, moisture or oxygen remaining in the reduced pressure vessel have taken place conventionally. It has been now found that the selection of the number of water molecules, the number of molecules of an organic gas and the number of oxygen molecules remaining in the reduced pressure vessel, in a relation with the number of molecules of a gas contributing the electric discharge allows the reduction of the adverse effect by the above-mentioned remaining gas. Specifically, the selection of the number of molecules of the above electric discharge gas being about ten times that of the above-mentioned remaining gas or more can reduce the adverse effect by the above-mentioned remaining gas.
US08502441B2 Light emitting device having a coated nano-crystalline phosphor and method for producing the same
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element that emits primary light and a wavelength conversion unit that absorbs part of the primary light and emits secondary light. In the light emitting device, the wavelength conversion unit includes a plurality of types of phosphors that emit secondary light having wavelengths different from each other, and at least one of the phosphors is a covered phosphor covered with a surface film that reflects secondary light emitted from a phosphor other than the covered phosphor.