Document	Document Title
US08550128B2	Fluid flow control valve with upper bleed port and system A refilling system for use in refilling a container with a fluid from a fluid source. The container having air space above a fluid space. The fluid having a fluid level within the container. The refilling system comprising a fluid flow control valve connected via a bleed line to a fluid level sensor.
US08550127B2	Catalyst loading system A reformer tube processing and filling system is provided for ensuring uniformity of reformer tube flow rates and reactivity. The disclosed invention provides a system for detecting and removing tube obstructions, as well as an automated process for verifying the flow rate for each tube and identifying tubes with abnormal flow rates to remove a source of human error and conserve labor costs. An automated tube filling system provides a calibrated fill mechanism coordinated with a calibrated loading rope withdrawal mechanism to ensure loading consistency. A lack of vibrating parts ensures a low dust count, and what little dust is present is removed via a built-in vacuum outlet in the loader.
US08550120B2	Apparatus and method for oscillating fluid jets A method of causing a fluid flow to oscillate between two exit directions. The method comprises causing a primary flow of fluid through a conduit, the conduit characterized by two exit directions and providing first and second oscillation control ports, the first and second oscillation control ports transverse to the conduit and connected to one another by a feedback tube.
US08550107B2	Ventilation device for the fuel tank of a vehicle A ventilation device includes a ventilation opening closable by a float in a valve housing interior, an inflow opening in an upper portion, at least one outflow opening in a lower portion that can be closed by a sealing element of a shut-off valve. A storage container is connected through a conduit to the valve housing interior so that fuel can flow from the housing interior into the storage container.
US08550102B2	Easily replaceable valve assembly for a high pressure pump A valve assembly for use in high pressure pumps is designed for easy replacement for example in the suction inlet here for a high pressure pump. The design utilizes a combination of screw threads and a locking member to provide structural strength for the valve to be placed in and withdrawn from the inlet bore.
US08550097B2	Dental floss holder A dental floss gripper has a ring-shaped base element and a clamp that is pivotally coupled to the ring for movement between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the clamp grips a length of dental floss supported on the external surface of the ring. The clamp and the ring are configured so that the clamp snap-fits to the base element and securely holds the dental floss in use.
US08550094B2	Pubic patches A pubic patch is provided to apply to the public area of a woman, particularly the mons pubis (Pubic Mound) area of the pelvic region. The pubic patch includes an adhesive base with a front side and a back side with decorative material attached to the front side, and the back side attached to human body. The pubic patch may further comprise fragrances and/or illuminating devices. The decorative material may be hairs attached to supporting sheet or LED material. Further, a products kit is provided which contains a plurality of pubic patches. The product kit may include an instruction booklet. A method of using the pubic patch is also provided comprises the steps of selecting a pubic patch and applying the pubic patch to the human surface in the pubic area.
US08550079B2	Respiratory nasal filter A respiratory nasal filter including an outer ring having concentric outer periphery and inner periphery sized to the periphery of a user's nasal orifice, a filter layer having an outer periphery larger than the inner periphery of the outer ring, but smaller than the outer periphery of the outer ring and an adhesive applied to said outer ring for bonding the filter layer concentrically to the outer ring and for bonding the outer ring to the columella, a nasal sill, an alar sidewall and the facet of the user's nose.
US08550070B2	Powder inhaler An inhaler device includes an air conduit including a mouthpiece and a dosing means adapted to provide a dose of powder to the air conduit for entrainment in the stream of air. In the area downstream from the dosing means the wall of the air conduit is provided with a secondary air inlet extending to the direction of the mouthpiece such that the entry of secondary air occurs over an extended length of the air conduit downstream from the dosing means.
US08550067B2	Visual indicator for an aerosol medication delivery apparatus and system A delivery system includes a holding chamber with first, second and third openings, and independently moveable first, second and third flow control members. A delivery system includes a holding chamber and a flow control member including a flap pivotable from an at rest position in a direction toward an outlet of a user interface and away from an output end of the holding chamber in response to a pressure being applied thereto.
US08550066B2	High efficiency furnace/air handler blower housing with a side wall having an exponentially increasing expansion angle An air distribution blower housing for an air handler such as a residential furnace is designed with a volute-shaped outer wall that has an exponentially increasing expansion angle in the direction of air flow through the blower housing for at least a portion of the volute-shaped outer wall length. This results in the blower housing having an enlarged air outlet opening that slows down and spreads out the air flow from the blower housing over a greater area of the furnace heat exchanger. The blower housing thereby enables less air pressure drop through the heat exchanger, which increases the efficiency of the blower motor operation. The design of the blower housing also efficiently turns the velocity head of the air flow through the housing to usable static air pressure at the housing air outlet.
US08550060B2	Glow plug heater control Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, current supplied to a glow plug can be controlled to promote combustion stability of a cylinder after an engine start. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons may be reduced during conditions where combustion stability may be otherwise reduced in order to reduce tailpipe emissions.
US08550056B2	Electric circuit for triggering a piezoelectric element, in particular a fuel injection system of a motor vehicle An electric circuit for triggering a piezoelectric element, in particular of a fuel injection system of a motor vehicle. Two transistors connected in series and triggerable using a clock pulse are provided, whose shared connecting point is coupled to the piezoelectric element and one of which is provided for discharging the piezoelectric element. In the event of an error, the transistor provided for discharging can be triggered using the clock pulse.
US08550053B2	Exhaust flap housing as well as an exhaust flap means An exhaust flap housing in which an exhaust flap can be disposed comprises at least one stop element for defining end positions of the pivotable exhaust flap. To simplify the production, the stop element is preferably produced by remodeling and thus forms part of the exhaust flap housing.
US08550051B2	Engine combustion chamber features for camshaft with differential valve lift An engine assembly includes an engine structure including an engine block defining a cylinder bore and a cylinder head, a piston located in the cylinder bore, and a camshaft assembly. The piston, cylinder head, and cylinder bore cooperate to define a combustion chamber including first and second longitudinal end surfaces defined by the cylinder head and the piston. A first protrusion may extend longitudinally from one of the first and second longitudinal end surfaces and radially inward from a circumference of the combustion chamber to a location between a first intake port and a first exhaust port in communication with the combustion chamber. The camshaft assembly may include a first intake lobe that opens a first intake valve and a second intake lobe that opens a second intake valve. The first intake lobe may be rotationally offset from the second intake lobe in a rotational direction of the camshaft assembly.
US08550050B2	Carburetor and general purpose engine A carburetor provided on an intake pipe is disclosed. The carburetor includes a rotary cock attached to a fuel chamber. The cock is used for opening and closing fuel channels and drain channels. The cock has a rotational axis inclined relative to the central axis of the intake pipe.
US08550049B2	Cover with integrated braces A composite material intake manifold cover includes braces integral to the outside surface of the cover to stiffen the cover and reduce noise and vibration associated with the cover. The cover has a flange around the periphery with a raised weld bead, the weld bead provided for welding the cover to a mating piece. The flange extends outwardly from the cover for a first distance over most of the periphery and a second distance to support the braces over the remainder of the periphery. The braces extend upwardly from the upper surface of the flange at the sections of the flange extending out the second distance and may be placed between adjacent intake runner ports. By providing portions of the flange extending out a greater distance, a more substantial brace can be supported, thereby improving the noise and vibration characteristics relative to conventional stiffening ribs.
US08550048B2	Corona ignition device What is described is a corona ignition device for igniting fuel in an internal combustion engine by generating a corona discharge, said corona ignition device comprising a housing, an insulator, which is held in the housing, a center electrode, which is held in the insulator, and at least one ignition tip at an and of the center electrode. The housing surrounds an interior, which has a cylindrical portion in which a cylindrical portion of the insulator sits. A widened interior portion adjoins at the end of the cylindrical interior portion remote from the ignition peak. The insulator has a thinner portion in the widened interior portion. The cylindrical portion of the insulator carries an electrically conductive coating, which ends before the thinner portion.
US08550040B2	Cooling apparatus for internal combustion engine An object of the present invention is to ensure appropriate cooling amounts for two exhaust ports, respectively, in an internal combustion engine in which an exhaust port that communicates with an inlet of a turbine of a turbocharger and an exhaust port that does not communicate with the inlet of the turbine are formed in a cylinder head. A cooling apparatus for an internal combustion engine of the present invention has a first exhaust port and a second exhaust port formed in a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. The first exhaust port communicates with an inlet of a turbine of the turbocharger. The second exhaust port does not communicate with the inlet of the turbine. Each cylinder of the internal combustion engine includes a first exhaust valve that communicates with the first exhaust port and a second exhaust valve that communicates with the second exhaust port. A first cooling water passage through which cooling water that cools the first exhaust port passes and a second cooling water passage through which cooling water that cools the second exhaust port passes are formed in the cylinder head.
US08550036B2	Animal restraint system A method and apparatus for restraining an animal such as a dog within an automotive vehicle equipped with a personal (human) belt-type restraint system having an inertia brake. A tether is attachable at one end to an animal harness and at the other end to a section of human restraint system webbing, the latter attachment being achieved by way of a spring biased clamp having friction pads on the inside surfaces of two complemental clamp elements. The clamp elements are closed and secured by means of a buckle or clasp such as a loop/spring bayonet clasp.
US08550035B2	Method of shipping livestock Methods for transporting livestock and livestock feed in shipping containers and for separating the shipping containers into a livestock storage areas and feed storage areas for the measured distribution of feed throughout shipment.
US08550021B2	Cap-frame setting frame A cap-frame setting frame to which a cap frame holding a cap with a part on which embroidery is sewn by an embroidery sewing machine is detachably attached. The cap-frame setting frame includes a base frame having a distal end and a proximal end and including a fixing mechanism which is located at the proximal end side and is to be fixed to a predetermined work table, a rotating frame located at the distal end side of the base frame and having a cylindrical mount portion to which the cap frame is mounted so as to be positioned, a disc-shaped support secured to the base frame and configured to rotatably support the rotating frame, and a fitting portion located on the base frame to be fitted with an outer periphery of the disc-shaped support, thereby being rotatably supported on the base frame.
US08550020B2	Variable pressure control system for dual acting actuators A variable pressure control system for varying pressures in the fluid circuits of a dual acting actuator over a range of pressures. The variable pressure control system includes a controller that cooperates with pressure regulators for regulating the desired pressure in the fluid circuits.
US08550009B2	Diesel-electric locomotive The diesel-electric locomotive (10) includes: a diesel engine (12), an alternator (20) mechanically coupled for driving thereof to the diesel engine (12) and connected as output to a direct current bus (26) through a rectifier (22), at least one electric traction motor (14) connected to the bus (26) through a traction inverter (34), at least one piece of auxiliary equipment (16, 18) with a power supply, powered from the diesel engine (12). It includes, to power the or each piece of auxiliary equipment (16, 18), a chain (80) for shaping the current connected as input to the direct current bus (26).
US08550000B2	Printing plate unloading apparatus and method Apparatus for removing printing plates (8) having leading and trailing edges located in a lock-up slot in a plate cylinder (2) of a rotary printing press, from said plate cylinder (2) is disclosed. The apparatus comprises means for extracting the trailing edge from a lock-up slot which is also operable to partially extract the leading edge from a lock up slot. The apparatus further includes an extraction member for engaging, as the printing cylinder rotates, a portion of the leading edge (8a) of the printing plate protruding from the lock up slot (9) following its partial extraction, to complete the removal of the printing plates from the printing cylinder and leave the removed plates, hanging by their leading edge (8a), on the extraction member. A method of loading printing plates onto a plate cylinder (2) is also disclosed.
US08549998B2	Portable electromechanical Braille label maker A portable apparatus to electromechanically emboss Braille patterns includes a user input, such as a six-key with spacebar keyboard, actuators that drive embossing pins via cam shafts coupled to servo or stepper motors, a tape advancing mechanism, and a cutting and scoring assembly. Three actuators, such as servo or stepper motors, may each be coupled to one shaft on which two or more cams drive two or more embossing pins for each row of two dots in the six dot Braille cell.
US08549997B2	System and method for compacting materials in open top transport conveyance A compacting system compacts particulate matter in open-top railroad gondola cars rolling on rails. The compacting system comprises a compacting station adjacent the rails and a scanning system that scans the gondola cars as they move along the rails toward the compacting station. The scanning system transmits data of the gondola car to an electronic control system. The compacting station has at least one compaction member, e.g., a plate structure or a roller, configured to contact an upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola cars. The electronic control system controls the compacting station so that the compaction member engages with and applies force to the upper surface of the particulate matter in the gondola car so as to compress the particulate matter in the gondola. A method for compacting particulate matter in a gondola car is also shown.
US08549972B2	Flat paper punch A punch for punching a sheet of material is provided. The punch has a body with a fissure, a pivot shaft defining a pivot point and a lever retainer secured to said body. The lever is pivotably mounted about the pivot point and has an open position and a closed position. A block is positionable between the lever and the body. The body has longitudinal support ridges and side ridges with the pivot point being positioned in substantially the same plane as the longitudinal support ridge so that when the punch is closed, the side ridges of the lever pass outside of the support ridges of the body in a nesting relationship, allowing the punch to form a flat profile when closed.
US08549971B2	Laminate flooring saw A laminate flooring saw system which can be used for both rip cuts and miter cuts in one embodiment includes a fence, a base including a first locking member configured to cooperate with the fence to lock the fence along a first fence axis, a second locking member configured to cooperate with the fence to lock the fence along a second fence axis, the second fence axis perpendicular to the first fence axis, and a support arm system positioned above the base for supporting a power tool.
US08549966B2	Output conveyor for a food article slicing machine An output conveyor for a high speed slicing apparatus having four deceleration conveyors that receive slices from a jump conveyor. Each deceleration conveyor laterally position slices in an output lane. The deceleration conveyors have a pivotal axis for matching an elevation of an end of said deceleration conveyor with an elevation of an upstream conveyor. The output conveyor also comprises four weighing conveyors for weighing slices received from upstream components. The weighing conveyors each comprise a removable carrying unit for turning a conveyor belt and a drive unit for driving the carrying unit.
US08549963B2	Torque socket The present invention relates to a torque socket, which comprises a shaft rod and a shaft cylinder. Two ends of the shaft rod are respectively axially formed with an insertion tenon and a core shaft having at least a cut groove transversally on a surface. Two axial ends of the shaft cylinder are respectively formed with a shaft slot and a sleeve slot, wherein the shaft slot allows the core shaft to be inserted therein and is formed with a buckle part corresponding to the location of the flange part; the interior of the shaft slot is radially and protrudingly formed with a friction segment for tightening the core shaft, thereby forming a preset torque value between the core shaft and the shaft slot. When the socket is used to fasten a connection unit, if the preset torque of the socket is exceeded, an idle rotation state is formed.
US08549960B2	Tool for adjusting military phone jack Various embodiments of the invention provide a tool for adjusting a military phone jack. A tool for adjusting a military phone jack, the tool comprising a modified head cap screw, an expanding split collet, a collet receiver shaft, and a jam nut driver. The modified head cap screw has an edge of the head cap machined to an angle between 1 and 89 degrees with respect to the unmachined portion of the head cap which is further from the screw shaft. The expanding split collet comprises a central hole throughout its longitudinal axis with the hole of sufficient diameter to receive the modified head cap screw, two or more slits through the exterior wall of the collet and extending from one end of the collet, and a machined inner diameter of the end of the collet having the slits, the angle of the machined inner diameter matching the angle on the head cap of the modified head cap screw. The collet receiver shaft has an internal thread drilled into one end of the shaft, the internal thread receiving the thread end of the modified head cap screw. The jam nut driver comprises a central hole throughout its longitudinal axis, the hole of sufficient diameter to receive the expanding split collet and the collet receiver shaft, the jam nut driver having a grip end and a nut end, the nut end machined to receive a jam nut.
US08549957B2	Rotation angle detecting apparatus A rotation angle detecting apparatus to detect a rotation angle of a rotating member, including a housing, the rotating member being disposed so as to be rotatable relative to the housing; a fixing member to fix a magnet to the rotating member; and a sensor, fixed to the housing, to detect a rotation angle of the magnet, the rotating member including an abutting part with which the magnet abuts in a direction of a rotation axis of the rotating member, and a supporting part that faces the abutting part with the magnet interposed therebetween to support the fixing member located between the magnet and the supporting part, and the fixing member presses the magnet against the abutting part by coming into contact with the supporting part and the magnet without allowing a section contacting the supporting part and a section contacting the magnet to overlap with each other.
US08549944B2	Multi-stage transmission A multi-stage transmission includes both a drive and a driven gear shaft. A plurality of driven gears are mounted on the driven gear shaft for engagement and disengagement from the driven gear shaft individually by an engaging member that is changed over to make a gear shift. The engaging member includes swing pawl members swingably supported by pivot pins on the driven shaft. End parts of the swing pawl members, extending from the pivot pins are engaging claw parts engageable with engaging surfaces of engaging projections formed on the inner circumferential surfaces of the driven gears. The other end parts of the swing pawl members are acted upon to be pushed up by pin members which are operated to be advanced and retracted by gear shifting operation. The pin members operate to release engagement of the engaging claw parts with the engaging projections of the driven gears.
US08549928B2	Weld strength test A push test fixture having a cradle and a load pin is provided along with a test sample that reasonably represents the strength and quality of the original welds that hold the wrap wires and axial wires of the sample together. The test sample is placed in the push test fixture such that a particular weld on the test sample is aligned between the cradle and the load pin. A load is applied through the weld using the load pin, and a strength property such as the ultimate strength or the yield strength of the weld is determined. The cradle helps maintain the original, as-wrapped curvature of the wrap wire. The test samples can come, for example, from direct wrap filters or wire-wrap jackets. The strength property can be determined for at least every third wrap wire of the test sample.
US08549926B2	Testing apparatus A testing apparatus is provided that includes a carrying construction for supporting a road section, and a frame for positioning a test wheel on the surface of the road section. During operation of the apparatus the test wheel, by a tread thereof, describes a circular path over the road surface. The frame is provided with a sensor for measuring a force exerted on the measuring wheel by the road surface.
US08549921B2	Sensor for detecting acceleration Exemplary embodiments relate to a sensor for detecting an acceleration acting on the sensor, having: a substrate, a mass unit, which acts as an inert mass in the event of the presence of an acceleration, a fixing structure, wherein the mass unit is articulated on the substrate in such a way that at least one pivot axis is defined, about which the mass unit can perform a rotation relative to the substrate as a result of an acceleration acting on the sensor, and the mass unit has an interial center of gravity, which is at a distance from the respective pivot axis, and at least one detection unit, with which a change in position between the mass unit and the substrate may be detected. The detection unit is arranged with respect to the mass unit in such a way that a deformation of the mass unit cannot be transferred to the detection unit.
US08549920B1	Acceleration strain transducer with increased sensitivity An accelerometer has a substantially linear strain sensor with a transducer joined to the strain sensor. The transducer has a base that provides rigidity perpendicular to a preferred measurement direction. A plurality of outer flaps are joined to the base supporting the strain sensor. The outer flaps are capable of translating acceleration in the predefined direction to strain in the strain sensor. Two centermost flaps are positioned on either side of the center line of the transducer. Struts are joined between a lower portion of one the centermost flap and an uppermost portion of the nearest outer flap. The struts enhance strain by linking outer flap motion to the centermost flaps. Bridges are joined between each two adjacent outer flaps supporting the strain sensor.
US08549919B2	Micromechanical rotation rate sensor with a coupling bar and suspension spring elements for quadrature suppression A micromechanical rotation rate sensor including at least one substrate, wherein the base surface of the substrate is oriented parallel to the x-y plane of a Cartesian coordinate system, at least two seismic masses and in each case at least one suspension spring element for suspending the seismic mass from the substrate, wherein the at least two seismic masses are coupled to one another by at least one coupling bar, and at least one of the suspension spring elements includes at least two bar sections, which, in the undeflected state, are oriented essentially parallel to one another or are at an angle of less than 45° with respect to one another, and one or more connecting sections, which connect the bar sections to one another, wherein the bar sections can be displaced relative to one another in their longitudinal direction.
US08549917B2	Microelectromechanical gyroscope with enhanced rejection of acceleration noises An integrated microelectromechanical structure is provided with a driving mass, anchored to a substrate via elastic anchorage elements and designed to be actuated in a plane with a driving movement; and a first sensing mass and a second sensing mass, suspended within, and coupled to, the driving mass via respective elastic supporting elements so as to be fixed with respect thereto in said driving movement and to perform a respective detection movement in response to an angular velocity. In particular, the first and the second sensing masses are connected together via elastic coupling elements, configured to couple their modes of vibration.
US08549915B2	Micromachined gyroscopes with 2-DOF sense modes allowing interchangeable robust and precision operation A z-axis gyroscope design is presented with a 2-degree of freedom (DOF) sense mode allowing interchangeable operation in either precision (mode-matched) or robust (wide-bandwidth) modes. This is accomplished using a complete 2-DOF coupled system which allows for the specification of the sense mode resonant frequencies and coupling independent of frequency. By decoupling the frame connecting the sense system to a central anchor, x-y symmetry is preserved while enabling a fully coupled 2-DOF sense mode providing control over both the bandwidth and the amount of coupling independent of operational frequency. The robust mode corresponds to operation between the 2-DOF sense mode resonant frequencies providing a response gain and bandwidth controlled by frequency spacing. Precision mode of operation, however, relies on mode-matching the drive to the second, anti-phase sense mode resonant frequency which can be designed to provide a gain advantage over a similar 1-DOF system.
US08549907B2	Fluid distribution device, micro plant, method of designing fluid distribution device, and method of detecting blockage of flow channel The present invention provides a fluid distribution device for uniformly distributing and outputting a fluid, which is supplied to an input flow channel, into at least three output flow channels, comprising a plurality of branch flow channels, at least three fluid bifurcation portions, and at least one fluid converging portion, wherein the fluid distribution device is configured to correspond to a pressure drop compartment connection model composed of a fluid balance equation and a pressure balance equation. Furthermore, the present invention provides a micro plant using the fluid distribution device, a method of designing the fluid distribution device and a method of detecting blockage of flow channels of the fluid distribution device.
US08549905B2	Simulating downhole flow through a perforation A method of testing a core sample is provided. The method comprises determining an impedance map, attaching a sleeve to the core sample, and measuring a flow performance of the core sample. An impedance of each of a plurality of portions of the sleeve is based on the impedance map.
US08549899B2	Surface texture measuring instrument A surface texture measuring instrument includes a force sensor (1), an actuator (11) and a detector (12). The surface texture measuring instrument further includes: a scanning controller (54) that collects a detection signal from the force sensor (1) and drives the actuator such that the detecting signal coincides with a target measurement value; a touch signal generator (51) that generates a touch signal when the detection signal from the force sensor (1) coincides with the target measurement value; and a measurement value collecting unit (55) that collects a measurement value from a counter (26) at a predetermined time interval in a state where a fluctuation range of the detection signal from the force sensor (1) is within a preset range when a scanning controller is in operation, the latch counter (52) collecting a measurement value from a latch counter (52) each time the touch signal is generated in a state where the detection signal from the force sensor (1) oscillates and an amplitude exceeds the preset range.
US08549897B2	System and method for screening liquid compositions Disclosed herein is a system and method for screening a liquid composition. The system includes (a) a test cell having a top portion and a bottom portion, the test cell comprising (i) a test panel removably mounted to the top portion of the test cell at an angle of between about 10 to about 45 degrees to the horizontal of the test cell; (ii) a reservoir for holding the liquid composition; and (iii) a means for applying a substantially uniform coating of the liquid composition from the reservoir to at least a portion of the test panel; (b) a means for heating the test panel according to a first temperature control program; (c) a means for heating the reservoir according to a second temperature control program; and (d) a means for supplying an oxidizing gas to the test cell.
US08549894B2	Gas chromatography with ambient pressure stability control In a gas chromatography apparatus, a carrier gas is flowed from a carrier gas supply toward an analytical column at a carrier gas pressure. A sample is added to the carrier gas to form a sample gas. The sample gas is flowed through the analytical column to a gas detector that includes a sample gas outlet communicating with a gas buffer vessel. The carrier gas pressure is controlled relative to a buffer pressure of the gas buffer vessel.
US08549893B2	System and method for a gas chromatograph to mass spectrometer interface A system for interfacing a gas chromatograph (GC) to a mass spectrometer the GC comprising a GC column partially contained within a GC oven, the mass spectrometer comprising a housing enclosing an interior having an ion source, the system comprising: a conduit extending from the GC oven to the mass spectrometer and comprising an interior volume that is contiguous with an interior volume of the GC oven; and a duct extending from a region of relatively high or relatively low pressure within the GC oven to the conduit interior volume and operable so as to transmit a flow of air or gas between the region of relatively high or relatively low pressure and the conduit interior volume, wherein a portion of the GC column extends through the conduit interior volume to the ion source.
US08549891B2	Scratch resistance test methods and apparatus The apparatus and methods disclosed may be utilized for the scratch/mar testing of various materials and components that provide improved correlation between the simulated damage modes and those reasonably expected to be encountered by the final components. The apparatus includes both a fixture configured for receiving and holding the material under test (MUT) and a tool holder that is arranged and configured for supporting and holding a variety of test tools in one or more orientations relative to the MUT. The tool holder and/or the fixture are, in turn, supported by one or more assemblies arranged and configured for bringing the tool into contact with the MUT and providing for movement of the tool relative to the MUT. The apparatus is then used for collecting data from a series of tests that can be used to compare the performance of different MUT compositions and configurations.
US08549888B2	System and device for designing and forming a surgical implant A method is provided for determining the shape of a surgical linking device that is to be attached to a bony body structure such as the spinal column based on digitized locations of a plurality of attachment elements engaged to the bony structure. The method is implemented by a computer system through a GUI to generate an initial bend curve to mate with the plurality of attachment elements. The initial bend curve may be simplified based on user input to the GUI to reduce the number of bends necessary to produce a well-fitting linking device and may be altered to help obtain the goals of the surgery.
US08549883B2	System and method for controlling temperature in a forehearth Systems and methods are provided for controlling temperature in a glass forehearth. In one implementation, a system includes at least one burner disposed in said forehearth, a manifold coupled to said burner, a combustion fuel supply coupled to said burner, a combustion air blower for delivering ambient air under pressure to said manifold, and a controller coupled to said burner for controlling operation of said burner. The system may include a temperature sensor operatively coupled downstream of the blower for providing to the controller a temperature signal indicative of temperature of air delivered to the manifold by the blower. The controller may be responsive to the temperature signal for controlling operation of the burner as a function of current temperature of air fed to the manifold. Operation of the burner may also be controlled as a function of an average air temperature over a preceding time duration.
US08549874B2	Refrigeration system A refrigeration system (10) includes: a refrigerant circuit (11) performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle by including a compressor (30), a utilization side heat exchanger (24) configured to allow refrigerant to perform heat exchange with air, and a heat-source side heat exchanger (25) configured to allow refrigerant to perform heat exchange with water; and a casing (14) housing the utilization side heat exchanger (24). The casing (14) contains a power supply (31) including a power semiconductor device and configured to supply electric power to the compressor (30), and also contains a cooler (19) configured to cool the power supply (31) by supplying air to the power supply (31).
US08549869B1	Modular data center Modular data centers with modular components suitable for use with rack or shelf mount computing systems, for example, are disclosed. The modular center generally includes a modular computing module including an intermodal shipping container and computing systems mounted within the container and configured to be shipped and operated within the container and a temperature control system for maintaining the air temperature surrounding the computing systems. The intermodal shipping container may be configured in accordance to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) container manufacturing standards or otherwise configured with respect to height, length, width, weight, and/or lifting points of the container for transport via an intermodal transport infrastructure. The modular design enables the modules to be cost effectively built at a factory and easily transported to and deployed at a data center site.
US08549860B2	Method for combusting hydrogen-rich, gaseous fuels in a burner, and burner for performing said method A method for the combustion of hydrogen-rich, gaseous fuels in combustion air in a burner of a gas turbine includes injecting the hydrogen-rich, gaseous fuel at least partially isokinetically with respect to the combustion air such that the partially hydrogen-rich, gaseous fuel is injected at least partially in the same direction and at least partially at the same velocity as the combustion air.
US08549857B2	Methods and/or systems for magnetobaric assisted generation of power from low temperature heat Methods and/or systems using magnetically assisted pressurization of a gas for the generation of useful power from heat transfer using heat sources at lower temperatures in a manner that does not require the emission of CO2.
US08549856B1	Energy harvesting systems and methods of assembling same A method of assembling an energy harvesting system is provided. The method includes coupling at least one energy storage device in flow communication with at least one apparatus that is configured to generate thermal energy and to transfer the thermal energy into at least one fluid stream. The energy storage device is configured to store the fluid stream. Moreover, the method includes coupling at least one fluid transfer device downstream from the energy storage device. The fluid transfer device receives the fluid stream from the energy storage device. A bladeless turbine is coupled in flow communication with the fluid transfer device, wherein the bladeless turbine receives the fluid stream to generate power.
US08549849B2	Insulated main NH3 cartridge system with separate start-up unit A system and method relate to a reductant dosing for use in the reduction of NOx in an exhaust stream is disclosed. The system and method incorporates a separate first or start-up cartridge and an insulated mantel or housing containing at least one to a plurality of main cartridges. The first and main cartridges store an ammonia adsorbing/desorbing material, which releases ammonia gas upon application of sufficient heat. The start-up cartridge permits the initial release of ammonia gas into the exhaust stream even during start-up of an engine, and because it is separate from the main cartridge, the first cartridge cools faster than the main cartridge and can be replenished with ammonia sooner than the main cartridge. The start-up cartridge is housed in or surrounded by a non-insulating debris shield.
US08549841B2	Method and device for the controlled feeding of a reducing agent A method and a device provide for the controlled feeding of a reducing agent into an exhaust gas treatment unit with a storage capability for an exhaust gas component to be reduced which is generated from a mobile internal combustion engine. The method includes at least the following steps: a) determination of a quantity of the exhaust gas component to be reduced which is generated by the mobile internal combustion engine, b) determination of a storage capability of the exhaust gas treatment unit for the exhaust gas component to be reduced, c) determination of a metering of the reducing agent into the exhaust gas treatment unit as a function of steps a) and b), and d) feeding the reducing agent into the exhaust gas treatment unit.
US08549838B2	System, method, and apparatus for enhancing aftertreatment regeneration in a hybrid power system A method includes providing an internal combustion engine having an output shaft and producing an exhaust gas stream, providing an electric motor operatively coupled to the output shaft, and determining a regeneration state of an aftertreatment component that treats the exhaust gas stream. The method further includes determining an engine torque requirement such that, when the internal combustion engine achieves the engine torque requirement at a present set of operating conditions, a temperature of the exhaust gas stream will achieve an exhaust gas temperature threshold. The method further includes commanding the electric motor to apply a counter torque to the output shaft in response to the regeneration state indicating an active thermal regeneration event, where the counter torque comprises is high enough for the internal combustion engine to achieve the engine torque requirement. The exhaust gas temperature threshold may be a hold-warm temperature and/or a regeneration temperature.
US08549832B2	Turbomachine nacelle and anti-icing system and method therefor An anti-icing system and method for an aircraft engine nacelle. The nacelle has an inlet lip that defines a leading edge of the nacelle and has a cross-sectional shape and oppositely-disposed exterior and interior surfaces. An anti-icing system contacts at least the inlet lip of the nacelle. The anti-icing system includes at least one heating element having a cross-sectional shape that conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the inlet lip and in which carbon nanotubes are oriented and arranged to conduct electrical current through the heating element. Passing an electrical current through the heating element causes Joule heating of the heating element and heating of the inlet lip by thermal conduction.
US08549829B2	Silver yarn, plied yarn silver yarn, functional fabric using same, and method for producing same The present invention relates to plied silver yarn using silver wire as thread, wherein the silver wire is entirely made of silver (Ag) or a silver alloy, to achieve antimicrobial properties and conductivity, as well as to functional fabric using same and to a method for producing same. The plied silver yarn of the present invention uses, as a core yarn, any one of at least one strand of silver wire and fiber yarn made from natural fiber or synthetic fiber, and uses the other as winding yarn covering the core yarn, wherein said one strand of silver wire is produced by casting a silver alloy containing pure silver or copper into a wire rod through directional solidification, and making the wire rod into a microfiber having a diameter of 0.015 to 0.05 mm through a pulling process.
US08549827B2	Rotary cutter for mower A rotary cutter for a mower has a cord for cutting grass and the like by rotating itself; a reel for housing the cord and feeding the cord while intermittently rotating; a case for housing the reel; a cover for covering the case; and a pressing body protruding from the case. The pressing body is axially movable by being pressed, and intermittently rotating the reel. The reel and the pressing body are integrally constructed. Concave grooves for inserting the cord are provided in the reel in a radial direction and the cord is wound by fitting it to the concave grooves.
US08549815B2	Drilling rig masts and methods of assembly and erecting masts Methods for connection parts of a mast of a drilling rig without using a crane or other lifting machine are disclosed. In certain aspects, these methods include moving parts of a mast to be assembled with trucks and positioning the parts with the trucks to facilitate their connection. This Abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
US08549814B2	Bamboo frame member mounting structure A bamboo frame member mounting structure includes multiple bamboo frame members that are respectively bonded to one another at a predetermined angle with an adhesive, one or a plurality of pin holes obliquely extending through each bamboo frame member, and one or a number of pins peripherally coated with a layer of an adhesive and respectively fitted into the pin hole or pin holes on each of two bonded bamboo frame members to enhance the connection of each two bonded bamboo frame members.
US08549806B2	Insulative and weather-resistant building construction A building structural component, such as a wall, roof, ceiling, floor, or the like, is resistant to weather and moisture while facilitating the drying and elimination of water vapor and liquid water. The component includes a vapor-permeable membrane that resists penetration of liquids including water, but that permits gases including water vapor to pass through the membrane to resist buildup of moisture in the building component. A batten, such as an insulated batten, forms a cavity in the building component to facilitate air circulation, and reduces heat flow through structural studs of the building component to increase the overall insulation value of the finished component.
US08549805B2	Grid-type drop-panel structure, and a construction method therefor A latticing drop panel structure includes a plurality of columns (100 or 101) or walls, and a connecting member (210) including a concrete drop panel (219) having a cross-section area larger than that of the column (100 or 101) or the wall, wherein the connecting member (210) having four unit rods 212, surrounded around the drop panel (219) in a latticing form, wherein the unit rods (212) are parallel with the respective sides of the column and cross at the same level, whereby sagging displacement of the slab is reduced due to the existence of the drop panel.
US08549802B2	Ridge cap with asphaltic foam materials A ridge cap includes a lower surface adapted to be placed in contact with a roof of a building, a weather protective upper surface, and first and second side sections connected to each other. The first side section is disposed at one side of a longitudinal axis and the second side section is disposed at the other side of the longitudinal axis. The ridge cap further includes an elastomeric strip and a metal strip. The elastomeric strip extends along the longitudinal axis and connects the first side section and the second side section to be of unitary construction with the first and second side sections. The metal strip backing extends along the longitudinal axis and supports the elastomeric strip.
US08549801B1	Energy-efficient dwellings Dwellings made from energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly materials, and having optional provision for storing and charging an electric vehicle. Dwellings according to some embodiments comprise a backbone cable having a microprocessor attached thereto, as well as a plurality of functional devices in communication with the microprocessor via the backbone cable. A plurality of photovoltaic panels are present on the roof of the dwelling in some embodiments, and the power generated by the photovoltaic panels is sufficient to completely, or nearly-completely, supply all electrical power needs for the dwelling. Financing methods are also provided.
US08549794B2	Shade shelters and systems and methods therefor Shade shelters for reducing air conditioning loads of an associated shelter are provided. The shade shelters aim to reduce the thermal radiation effects of the sun on associated shelters, such as temporarily erected shelters. The shade shelters can be configurable so that natural convection is advantageously utilized for aiding in reducing heat transfer into the interior space of the associated shelter. The natural convection can be in the form of the “chimney effect” for reducing heat transfer into the interior space of the shelter.
US08549792B2	Protective shelter A protective shelter offering opposite outer supports and a roof structure extending between the supports, wherein the roof structure comprises a plurality of tray members arranged to receive earth, sand or aggregate material defining an inner skin to provide a first level of protection in the roof structure, and the tray members are arranged to be supported by transverse beams, wherein the transverse beams are arranged to be supported at their respective ends by the opposite outer supports and wherein the transverse beams form a transverse beam bridge across the shelter such that the height of the shelter centrally, and away from the opposite supports is substantially the same as the height of said supports.
US08549785B2	Pistol cocking assistive device At least one cam lock and an opposing structure form a compression channel for receiving and engaging a pistol slide. When the pistol is moved in a certain direction through the compression channel, the one or more cam locks and opposing structure engage the pistol's slide and translate some of the forward motion force into a compressive force on the sides of the slide. At a point where the compressive force overcomes the force of the main spring of the pistol, the pistol frame driven by the user moves forward relative to the slide, thereby racking the slide of the pistol.
US08549784B2	Bayonet This invention provides a bayonet (10) comprising an attachment portion (12) having a first opening (16) for receiving the muzzle of a gun. A second opening is also provided that is aligned with the first opening to allow the passage of a bullet therethrough. An extension portion (14) extends from the attachment portion in the opposite direction of the gun barrel and terminates in a point (24). The attachment portion (12) substantially comprises a polymer and the extension portion (14) has a non ferrous structural core substantially over-molded with a polymer.
US08549772B2	Footwear construction eliminating the use of a foxing or a foxing-like band Embodiments of the present invention provide a footwear construction and method of constructing footwear that may include an outsole having a sidewall that defines a perimeter of the outsole. The footwear construction may also include an upper coupled to the sidewall around the perimeter of the outsole, wherein the sidewall overlaps the upper by less than the critical distance for at least 60% of the perimeter of the outsole.
US08549764B2	Fluid tilt sensor within ink tank supply item for micro-fluid applications A container for holding a volume of fluid and having a housing defining an interior for retaining the volume of fluid; at least one in-tank tilt sensor connected to a controller and disposed inside the housing for generating a signal corresponding to a level of fluid inside the housing; and a support material attached to the housing and connected to the at least one in-tank tilt sensor to mechanically support the at least one in-tank tilt sensor such that the at least one in-tank tilt sensor is not in direct contact with the fluid inside the housing. The in-tank tilt sensor detects a change in fluid level which may only be caused by tilting of the imaging device. When tilting is registered, protective action is taken to prevent fluid from leaking.
US08549762B2	Linkage drive mechanism for a reciprocating tool Preferred embodiments of a reciprocating drive apparatus are disclosed that comprise a housing, a rotatable drive shaft assembly located in the housing an elongated plunger located in the housing for reciprocating motion, the plunger having a front end portion for attaching a tool thereto, a rotary joint rocker mechanism supported in the housing and operatively connected to the plunger and the drive shaft assembly so that rotation of the drive shaft assembly produces reciprocating motion of the plunger. Another preferred embodiment includes a reciprocating counterweight.
US08549739B2	Method of making circuit board module A circuit board module includes a circuit board and a heat-dissipating device. The circuit board includes a ceramic substrate, and a circuit pattern formed on a surface of the ceramic substrate. The circuit board is sinter-bonded to a main body of the heat-dissipating device. A method of making the circuit board module is also disclosed.
US08549735B2	Component-mounting device, component-mounting system, and component-mounting method A challenge to be met by the present invention is to provide a component mounting device, a component mounting system, and a component mounting method that make it possible to correctly position a substrate at a working location and mount components on the substrate even when components mounted on the substrate project outside from an end of the substrate in a direction parallel to a substrate conveyance path. When a front end portion (PbT) of a substrate (Pb) conveyed by a substrate conveyance path (13) is detected to have reached inspection light (L), operation of the substrate conveyance path (13) is immediately halted. When a front end portion (PtT) of a projecting portion H of a component (Pt) mounted on the substrate Pb is detected to have reached the inspection light (L), the substrate conveyance path (13) is activated in such a way that the substrate (Pb) moves in the direction of projection of the projecting portion (H) over a distance equivalent to a projection length (α) of the projecting portion (H) reached the inspection light (L) and is subsequently stopped, thereby positioning the substrate (Pb).
US08549727B2	Punch-down tool blade with extended reach Disclosed is a punch-down tool blade suited for seating, and seating and cutting data transmission and telephony wires into crowded patch panels. Also disclosed are embodiments of an elongated punch-down tool blade having a slidable locking collar which may be used in reversibly locking a punch-down tool blade with either the seating tip being used as the working tip or the seating and cutting tip used as the working tip without compromising both the ability of the tool tip to gain access to terminating clips or the tradesman's visibility of terminating clips so that patch panels may be efficiently and accurately wired while providing enhanced safety and decreased worker fatigue.
US08549718B2	Ferroelectric oxide structure, method for producing the structure, and liquid-discharge apparatus A ferroelectric oxide structure includes a substrate and a ferroelectric thin-film deposited on the substrate. The ferroelectric thin-film has a thickness of greater than or equal to 200 nm and a tetragonal crystal system. The ferroelectric thin-film has (100) single-orientation crystal orientation.
US08549709B2	Button activated spring-loaded hinge assembly A hinge assembly includes a receiving seat, a control member, a clutch member, a follower, a main shaft and an elastic element. The receiving seat includes a first cam surface. The control member is releasably latched with the receiving seat. The cam includes a second cam surface. The follower includes a third cam surface engaging with the first cam surface or the second cam surface. The receiving seat, the control member, the cam and the follower are placed around the shaft. The elastic element provides an elastic force for the follower. After the control member is unlocked, the second cam surface engages with the first cam surface.
US08549699B1	Illuminated leaf blower An illuminated leaf blower having a light disposed upon a handle, the handle disposed upon a pipe section of a blower tube at an angle deviant from the perpendicular by means of a pivotally securable attachment member, the attachment member disposed upon a lockable collar, said lockable collar securably moveable along the pipe section to position the handle as desired for a particular person wielding the device, the handle having a switch disposed on a rearward haunch of a head piece, said head piece disposed atop the handle configured to be ergonomically accessed by means of a thumb of the person wielding the device, whereby the light selectively illuminates an area over which an airflow from the illuminated leaf blower is directed.
US08549698B1	Vacuum cleaner with wind-driven lighting equipment A vacuum cleaner with wind-driven lighting is characterized in that an interior of an ordinary vacuum cleaner is installed with a wind-driven power generation device constituted by fan blades, an acceleration gear set and a generator. When the vacuum cleaner is operating, a suction force of the vacuum cleaner is converted into wind-driven power to provide electricity needed by an LED. Therefore, at a same time when the vacuum cleaner is operating, by this energy-saving device for the generation of wind-driven power, light can be illuminated on blind spots inside a house where a light intensity is insufficient.
US08549695B2	Window wiper device for a vehicle A window wiper device for a vehicle has a driving motor, the motor shaft of which is kinematically coupled to an output shaft, wherein the motor shaft and output shaft are releasably drive-connected via a connecting means.
US08549692B2	Brush for applying a cosmetic composition and having synthetic hairs A brush for applying a powdered cosmetic composition, comprising: a tuft of synthetic hairs comprising at least two groups of hairs having, at their free ends, cross-sections of different surface area; and a handle supporting the tuft of hairs from a connecting portion of the hairs, characterized in that the groups of hairs have, in cross-section, the same surface area along their connecting portion.
US08549686B2	Adjustable bed An inflatable bed having a primary body, a backrest selectively inclinable relative to the primary body, a slit defined at a junction of the primary body and the backrest, and a pouch received in the slit to be selectively inflatable to move the backrest relative to the primary body. The slit is defined in a manner that when the pouch is inflated and the backrest is lifted by the pouch, friction of a bottom face of the backrest to a top face of ground where the inflatable bed is rested is minimized so as to facilitate the inclinable movement of the backrest relative to the primary body.
US08549682B2	Duvet cover assembly A duvet cover assembly includes a duvet and duvet cover that appear like a traditional duvet and duvet cover but are connected into a single unit that is entirely machine washable. The duvet cover assembly prevents the duvet from clumping or pooling within the duvet. The duvet cover assembly is useable in home and commercial (e.g. hotel) settings. The duvet cover assembly improves hygiene and shortens the time taken for changing the bedding.
US08549675B2	Toilet bowl cleaning device including dual activation mechanism A device for spraying an inner surface of a toilet bowl with a cleaning and/or deodorizing chemical is disclosed. The device includes a container for the chemical, a container holder, a sprayer through which the chemical can be sprayed laterally at least halfway around a perimeter of the sprayer, means for attaching the sprayer near a rim of the toilet bowl, and a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the container and the sprayer. The toilet bowl cleaning device can include a hand or foot actuated lever for releasing a fluid from the container into a fluid delivery system, and a clip for mounting the sprayer adjacent an inner wall of the toilet bowl wherein the clip can be adjusted to fit different size toilet bowls.
US08549670B2	I-pocket for an accessory item The present invention is a securing pocket for attachment to an accessory article that supports a small hands-free electronic device. The pocket further comprises an opening within the accessory article for supporting the pocket. The opening is dimensioned and contoured to support the electronic device. The pocket further comprises a first covering and a second covering dimensioned and contoured to support the electronic device. The second covering overlays the first covering and have a seamless attachment thereto with an edge being left unattached for receiving and removing the electronic device. Cut out openings extend through the base material of the accessory article and first covering1.
US08549667B1	Articles of clothing with a bottle opener A functional article of clothing is provided with a pocket preferably on the interior surface of the article of clothing with an access opening and a transverse slot; and a bottle opener disposed within the pocket. The mouth of the opener is oriented with the transverse slot of the pocket so that the mouth of the opener is open to the outside of the pocket when the bottle opener is disposed within said pocket and the opener can engage a bottle without being removed from the pocket. In one embodiment the pocket is formed with a rectangular sheet with a slot that is folded lengthwise over a lower hem and the sides are secured to the clothing by stitching or fasteners. The opener and the pocket may include advertising indicia.
US08555406B2	Remote viewing of multimedia content A method and system for remote viewing of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to duplicate multimedia content displayed on a first MCDN terminal device and route the duplicate multimedia content to a second MCDN terminal device. The MCDN terminal devices may be coupled to a local network at an MCDN client premises. The MCDN terminal devices may also include wireless telephony devices for mobile remote viewing functionality. The method may include transcoding of the multimedia content into a format suitable for the second MCDN terminal device.
US08555402B2	Dynamic selection of authorization processes Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for licensing applications using a preferred authorization process dynamically identified based on conditions associated with an initiation of an application. Authorization is then attempted using the preferred authorization process. In some examples, the preferred authorization process is selected from at least a keyless authorization process and a key-based authorization process.
US08555399B2	Information processing apparatus and method and storage medium An information processing apparatus capable of preventing user's personal information from leaking even when transmission destination information managed in a user-specific address book is transferred to an apparatus users' shared address book. The apparatus is equipped with a function for managing destination information n on a destination indicative of an external apparatus to which data is to be transmitted. An apparatus users' shared address book area stored destination information available to any user. A user-specific address book area stores destination information which can be accessed only by a specific user. When the destination information stored in the user-specific address book is transferred to the apparatus users' shared address book in response to a user's operation, user's personal information included in the destination information is deleted before the transfer.
US08555396B2	Authenticatable displayed content Embodiments include a method, a computing device, and a computer program product. An embodiment provides a method implemented in a computing environment. The method includes receiving an indication of a selected watermark. The method also includes incorporating a human-perceivable manifestation of the selected watermark in each visual area of at least two human-visual areas displaying an output of an authorized program running in the computing environment.
US08555386B1	System and method for countering detection of emulation by malware Instructions of an application program are emulated such that they are carried out sequentially in a first virtual execution environment that represents the user-mode data processing of the operating system. A system API call requesting execution of a user-mode system function is detected. In response, the instructions of the user-mode system function called by the API are emulated according to a second emulation mode in which the instructions of the user-mode system function are carried out sequentially in a second virtual execution environment that represents the user-mode data processing of the operating system, including tracking certain processor and memory states affected by the instructions of the user-mode system function. Results of the emulating of the application program instructions according to the first emulation mode are analyzed for any presence of malicious code.
US08555375B2	Configuration method for control units The invention relates to a configuration method for a control unit of a machine, the control unit having a data memory and being mounted in a machine control system having at least one already configured control unit with a data memory, the to-be-configured control unit communicating via a data connection with the already configured control unit of the machine control system and retrieving therefrom configuration data for its own configuration.
US08555371B1	Systems and methods for management of nodes across disparate networks The present invention is directed generally to systems and methods for management of nodes, such as multimedia communication endpoints and/or intermediary devices, residing across disparate networks. Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for managing by a centralized management system nodes residing on disparate protected networks, such as for managing such operations as scheduling, configuring, updating software, etc., nodes such as multimedia communication endpoints (e.g., videoconferencing endpoint devices and/or other multimedia communication devices) and/or intermediary devices (e.g., routers, switches, hubs, etc.). Further, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for transmitting management data between a centralized management system and nodes on disparate protected networks without sacrificing security desired by each network and in a manner that is not administratively burdensome.
US08555370B2	Microchips with an internal hardware firewall A microchip for a computer configured to connect to at least one network of computers. The microchip includes at least a first internal hardware firewall configured to deny access to at least a first protected portion of said microchip from said network, and at least one general purpose microprocessor including at least two general purpose core or general purpose processing units. At least a first core or processing unit is located within the first protected portion of the microchip. At least a second core or processing unit is located within a second portion of the microchip that is not protected by at least said first internal hardware firewall. At least the second core or processing unit is separated from the first core or processing unit by at least the first internal hardware firewall and is located between at least the first internal hardware firewall and the at least one network.
US08555369B2	Secure firewall rule formulation A kernel extension is configured to intercept a call to associate a socket with a port of a node in a network. The call originates from a kernel of the node. The kernel extension is configured to determine the port from the call. The kernel extension is configured to determine that the port is one of a plurality of ports for which the node has authority to modify firewall rules of a firewall of the network. The kernel extension is configured to modify firewall rules maintained by the firewall to allow communications for the port to the node through the firewall.
US08555362B2	Lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) proxy Two factor LDAP authentication systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment, implementation of a method for authenticating a user through a two factor process includes: at an LDAP proxy server, receiving a BIND request from a client, wherein the BIND request is for authenticating a user associated with a username to an LDAP server, and wherein the BIND request comprises a password comprising a first factor security code and a second factor security code; stripping the second factor security code from the password; reconfiguring the BIND request with the password that is stripped of the second factor security code; forwarding the reconfigured BIND request to the LDAP server for authentication of the username using the first factor security code; performing authentication of the second factor security code; and positively authenticating the username to the LDAP server when the first factor security code and the second factor security code are authenticated in connection with the username.
US08555358B2	System and method for secure telephone and computer transactions using voice authentication A secure electronic payment system and method for conducting a secure transaction using voice authentication is provided. A merchant's computer transmits an authorization request to an access control server. The access control server places a telephone call to the purchaser and performs voice authentication to confirm the identity of the purchaser. The access control server then transmits a response to the merchant's computer. If the purchaser is authorized to access the account, payment is processed by the merchant and the transaction is completed.
US08555353B2	Methods and apparatuses for controlling access to computer systems and for annotating media files Methods and apparatuses for controlling access to computer systems and for annotating media files. One embodiment includes a method including generating a challenge to a user, wherein the challenge includes a verify part and a read part. The methods also includes prompting the user to solve both the verify part of the challenge and the read part of the challenge; receiving input from the user; determining if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge; and identifying the input from the user relative to the read part of the challenge as an answer to the read part of the challenge, if the input from the user relative to the verify part of the challenge corresponds with the known answer for the verify part of the challenge.
US08555339B2	Identifying guests in web meetings A technique that identifies registered or guest users in web meetings of the type wherein users must follow a supplied URL to attend the meeting. Registered and guest users are provided different forms of the meeting invite URL. Each registered user receives a common web meeting link (a URL) that he must follow to join the meeting. This link forces the registered user to authenticate to the service when used. A guest user invitee receives a unique URL for the meeting that is generated with a nonce value associated with the guess user's contact information. The nonce value does not expose the contact information. To join the meeting, each registered user must follow the common web meeting link and authenticate to the service. True identities of the web meeting participants are displayed.
US08555338B2	Apparatus and method for retrieving a boarding pass The subject matter discloses a computerized apparatus having a processor configured for providing an access to an authentication token, the authentication token is generated by a remote computing device, wherein a link to the remote computing device is embedded in a message sent to the computerized apparatus. the apparatus comprises a message detecting module configured for detecting the message; a transmitting module configured for sending a request to the remote computing device for receiving the authentication token, wherein the request is according to the link being extracted; a downloading module configured for downloading the authentication token being returned from the remote computing device; a storing module configured for storing the authentication token downloaded by the downloading module in a storage of the computerized device; and an access module configured for accessing the authentication token, stored in the storage, according to predetermined rules.
US08555337B2	Method and arrangement for user friendly device authentication The present invention relates to fraud prevention and authentication of a device to a user. The method of authenticating a personal device according to the invention comprises a set up sequence, wherein at least a first preferred output format is selected by the user, and a device configuration verification sequence. In the device configuration verification sequence a checksum is calculated and converted to a user friendly output format based on the user selected preferred output format. In addition the checksum may be calculated based on variable, and user selectable, keying material. The personal device, after being authenticated according to the above, may be used to authenticate a second device.
US08555330B2	System for managing media services A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Media Content Processor (MCP) having a controller to detect a communication device roaming into a personal area network, receive a communication identifier from the communication device, authenticate the communication device responsive to validating the communication identifier, and enable the communication device to manage operations of the MCP according to a profile of a subscriber of said communication device responsive to a successful authentication of said communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08555325B2	Systems, methods and apparatus for testing a data connection provided over a power supply line Systems, methods and apparatus are described for testing a data connection provided over a power supply line. A testing apparatus is coupled to a socket of the power supply line. The AC power supply line communicatively couples the testing apparatus to a communication device or another testing apparatus. The testing apparatus identifies the signal strengths of signals received by the testing apparatus and identifies the signal strengths of signals received by the communication device. The testing apparatus outputs an indicator of the first signal strength and the second signal strength to a user and this information may be utilized to detect noise or other problems in the data connection provided over the AC power supply line.
US08555321B2	Series reminders and series recording from an interactive program guide An interactive media guidance system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. Options may be provided that allow the user to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all or selected channels for some or all episodes including reruns, new episodes, network or syndicated episodes, on all or only on selected days.
US08555311B2	Methods and devices for presenting guide listings and guidance data in three dimensions in an interactive media guidance application Methods and devices for presenting guide listings and guidance data in three dimensions in an interactive media guidance application are provided. In some embodiments, methods for presenting guide listings and guidance data in three dimensions in an interactive media guidance application are provided, the methods comprising: presenting guide listings in a two-dimensional configuration; receiving a user selection of at least one of the guide listings in the two-dimensional configuration; identifying guidance data related to the selection; and presenting the guidance data so that the guidance data appears to be in a third dimension relative to the two-dimensional configuration.
US08555307B2	Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US08555305B2	Incentive rewards obtainable automatically by an audience tuned to a broadcast Providing a reward as an incentive for a person to become an audience member of at least one program being performed by reproduction equipment. A programming signal used for broadcasting the program with a programming signal source is encoded with discrete code signals, such that a preset number of the code signals occur within a given period of time, to produce an output signal which is broadcast. The broadcast output signal is received, and the code signals therein are detected. The number of the code signals detected while the person is an audience member of the at least one program is compared with predetermined reward issuance criteria. A reward is issued when the reward issuance criteria are met by the number of detected code signals.
US08555304B2	Methods and apparatus to collect audience information associated with a media presentation Methods and apparatus to collect audience information associated with a media presentation are described herein. In an example method includes counting a first number of individuals proximate to a media presentation device, counting a second number of signals received from one or more portable devices, each of which is associated with a respective one of one or more monitored individuals, comparing the first number of individuals to the second number of signals, and determining a third number of unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device based on the comparison of the first number of individuals to the second number of signals.
US08555297B1	Techniques for performing a remote procedure call using remote procedure call configuration information Described are techniques for performing remote procedure calls (RPCs). An RPC API is described which provides for using an optimized technique and an unoptimized technique for performing RPCs. The optimized technique includes a client container performing a call to obtain RPC configuration information which is then stored by the client container and may be used by the client container in connection with multiple RPC invocations. Techniques are also described for communicating parameter information between containers executing in different address spaces by forming parameter information on the client side using embedded lists, encoding the parameter information on the client side prior to transmission to the server, and transmitting the encoded parameter information to the server which determines output parameters and returns the output parameters to the client.
US08555296B2	Software application action monitoring A system and method for collecting runtime resource information generated by an active software application is provided and includes identifying an occurrence of a function event generated for a software application operating on a predetermined platform, determining a duration of a monitored function called in response to the function event, comparing the duration with a threshold to determine if the duration exceeds the threshold, wherein if the duration is greater than or equal to the threshold then collecting runtime resource information responsive to the monitored function and processing the runtime resource information responsive to the monitored function.
US08555292B2	Synchronizing communication over shared memory Two threads may communicate via shared memory using two different modes. In a polling mode, a receiving thread may poll an indicator set by the sending thread to determine if a message is present. In a blocking mode, the receiving thread may wait until a synchronization object is set by the sending thread which may cause the receiving thread to return to the polling mode. The polling mode may have low latency buy may use processor activity of the receiving thread to repetitively check the indictor. The blocking mode may have a higher latency but may allow the receiving thread to enter a sleep mode or perform other activities.
US08555280B2	Terminal device of non-android platform for executing android applications, and computer readable recording medium for storing program of executing android applications on non-android platform Provided is a terminal device having a VM-based layer structure for executing heterogeneous applications. The terminal device includes: an application layer module including a first application and a second application; a platform layer module connected to a terminal processor and configured to operate the first application; and a middleware module configured to connect the platform layer module and the second application.
US08555277B2	Method and apparatus for activating a virtual machine in a virtual solution Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for activating virtual machines in a virtual solution, including: for each virtual machine, activating activation items in a first activation item set independently of other virtual machines; and for at least one virtual machine, activating activation items in a second activation item set in coordination with activation of activation items of at least another virtual machine. There is further provided an apparatus for activating virtual machines in a virtual solution, including: a first activator for activating, for each virtual machine, activation items in a first activation item set independently of other virtual machines; and a second activator for activating, for at least one virtual machine, activation items in a second activation item set in coordination with activation of activation items of at least another virtual machine.
US08555275B1	Method and system for enabling an application in a virtualized environment to communicate with multiple types of virtual servers A method and system are introduced to enable an application in a virtualized environment to communicate with multiple types of virtual servers (e.g., VMware ESX server, Microsoft Virtual Server, etc.), yet without making any source code change to the application. An interface is provided so that an application (e.g., a storage management application) running in a virtual machine is able to communicate with the underlying virtual server to receive information regarding some physical hardware that are not virtualized by the virtual server. For example, such physical hardware may be an iSCSI Host Bus Adapter (iSCSI HBA) or a Fiber Channel Protocol Host Bus Adapter (Fcp HBA). After receiving such information, the application can access the physical hardware to provide services to other applications, such as storage management services.
US08555267B2	Performing register allocation of program variables based on priority spills and assignments A mechanism for performing register allocation based on priority spills and assignments is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes repetitively detecting fat points during a compilation process of a software program running on a virtual machine of a computer system, each fat point representing a program point having a high register pressure, the high register pressure occurs when a number of live program variables of the software program living at a given program point of the software program is greater than a number of available processor registers of the computer system. The method further includes choosing a fat point with a highest register pressure, selecting a live program variable having a lowest priority at the chosen fat point, and spilling the lowest priority live program variable to memory of the computer system.
US08555261B1	Object-oriented pull model XML parser A system and method for parsing XML is provided. The method includes associating an input stream with a pull model parser, accepting requests to selectively parse out XML items from the input stream and retrieving metadata information associated with the parsed out XML items. The method further includes checking the pulled XML item to determine whether it conforms to XML syntax and/or semantic standards and validating the pulled XML item to determine whether it conforms to a selected DTD.
US08555260B1	Direct hardware processing of internal data structure fields In some embodiments, the execution of load and store instructions for internal fields of data structures is accelerated by using on-chip template registers and appropriate machine code instructions. A load/store machine code instruction comprises an identifier of a memory address offset of an internal field word relative to a base address of the data structure, an identifier of an intra-word start bit of the internal field, and an identifier of an intra-word length of the internal field. The three identifiers may coincide, for example if the three identifiers are represented by an identity of a template register storing a template entry including the memory address offset, the start position, and the field length. The three identifiers may also be provided as part of a machine code instruction itself. Further provided are compilers, compiler methods, and hardware systems for implementing accelerated internal-field load and store operations.
US08555258B2	Software performance analysis using data mining A system, method, and computer program for analyzing code execution and software performance characteristics are disclosed. Samples of code during run-time or from crash logs can be displayed as both a top-down tree of calls from a particular function and a bottom-up tree of calls to the particular function. Data mining techniques, including filtering and focusing, remove code that is not of interest and display code that is more relevant to performance analysis. In particular, functions contained in libraries such as system libraries can be stripped from view. The cost associated with an excluded function can be propagated to a calling function, in either the top-down or bottom-up tree.
US08555256B2	Pass-by breakpoint setting and debugging method and device A method and device for pass-by breakpoint setting and debugging. The pass-by breakpoint setting method comprises: receiving a breakpoint setting command; determining an instruction at a breakpoint in a source program code according to the breakpoint setting command; if one of the instruction at the breakpoint and an instruction prior to the instruction at the breakpoint is a relative jump instruction, setting an instruction duplicate, and setting the instruction at the breakpoint in the source program code as a first abnormal instruction.
US08555251B2	Signal processing apparatus with user-configurable circuit configuration A signal processing apparatus for performing signal processing including a plurality of steps in data units by software signal processing includes signal processing modules performing the steps, a circuit configuration information storing and managing unit storing the signal processing modules and circuit configuration information, a signal processing order determining unit determining a signal processing order by performing path routing, a signal processing executing unit executing the signal processing in the determined order, and a circuit configuration changing unit changing circuit configuration information and causing the signal processing order determining unit to re-execute path routing to determine a signal processing order for the changed circuit configuration information during a period from the end of the software signal processing in the data unit to the beginning of the subsequent data unit. Software signal processing from the beginning of the subsequent data unit is performed with the changed circuit configuration.
US08555242B2	Decentralized system services A Decentralized System Services (DSS) architecture defines a framework for building fault-tolerant distributed applications across decentralized and heterogeneous systems. DSS enables “complexity through composition” by defining distributed designs as compositions of limited function and observable services which may be quickly and dynamically assembled to perform higher level functions. DSS defines a standardized interaction between distributed services using sessionless, asynchronous communications with explicit failure semantics. Accounting for latency, failure and state management all become a natural part of the design process. DSS includes a runtime implementation for managing concurrent services—the Common Concurrency Runtime (CCR), a protocol for service interactions—the Web Services Application Protocol (WSAP), and a set of required service behaviors which provide for composibility, location independence, and fault tolerance—Distributed Protocol Oriented Programming (DPOP). DSS also includes a set of base level infrastructure services which make it easy to communicate, secure, distribute, debug, and store content across devices.
US08555238B2	Programming and development infrastructure for an autonomic element Programming and development infrastructure for an autonomic element is provided. The system includes a control plane (ISAC), a host server, a management console, and a module development environment. The ISAC contains an Autonomic Controller Engine (ACE) and management module(s). The management module is comprised of a set of scenarios. The ISAC is embedded in a control plane.
US08555237B1	Method and apparatus for design rule violation reporting and visualization An apparatus and method for reporting design rule violations of an integrated circuit design includes collecting data from a design rule checker module, processing the data, and displaying design rule violations onto the layout. The display of the design rule violations may be interactive by including hypertext links to specifications, text bubbles with violation explanations, measurements, highlighting areas of the layout corresponding to a particular rule, and providing hierarchically expandable nodes for constraint violations in a browser.
US08555227B2	Clock tree for pulsed latches The invention concerns a computer implemented method of circuit conception of a clock tree (200) comprising: a plurality of pulse generators (202) each being coupled to the input of one or more pulsed latches and being arranged to generate a pulsed signal (PS); and a tree of buffers (204) for supplying a clock signal (CLK) to the pulse generators, the method comprising: the conception of the clock tree without pulse generators based on a timing analysis by the computer of the propagation of clock edges in the clock tree; and replacing by the computer in the clock tree at least one buffer, coupled to the input of each pulsed latch, by a pulse generator.
US08555224B2	Circuit simulation method and semiconductor integrated circuit The present disclosure provides a method of performing circuit simulation of electrical characteristics of a transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate using calculators, each of which includes a memory. A first calculator receives mask layout data and distance-dependent data indicating a distance from the target transistor. Then, a second calculator calculates an area ratio of a layout pattern of a predetermined mask from the received mask layout data, and calculates a parameter α based on the area ratio and the distance-dependent data. Then, the second calculator B calculates a change ΔP in the electrical characteristics of the transistor based on the parameter α. This configuration provides highly accurate circuit simulation of the electrical characteristics of the transistor, which depend on variations in temperature distribution of the semiconductor substrate during heat treatment due to the mask layout pattern around the transistor.
US08555223B1	Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing a physical design of an electronic circuit with automatic snapping Disclosed are methods and systems for providing a constraint-driven environment for implementing a physical design of an electronic circuit with automatic snapping. In some embodiments, the method identifies or creates an incomplete layout. The method identifies an object and constraints for the object. The method then identifies an approximate position for the object in the layout and automatically snaps the object to a drop location based on the approximate position while complying with relevant constraint(s). The method may further align an object with another object with some spacing in between in some embodiments. The method may also perform automatic layer-to-layer snapping between two sets of objects such as cell instances, each having at least one object on multiple layers.
US08555222B2	Statistical corner evaluation for complex on chip variation model The invention provides a method for performing statistical static timing analysis using a novel on-chip variation model, referred to as Sensitivity-based Complex Statistical On-Chip Variation (SCS-OCV). SCS-OCV introduces complex variation concept to resolve the blocking technical issue of combining local random variations, enabling accurate calculation of statistical variations with correlations, such as common-path pessimism removal (CPPR). SCS-OCV proposes practical statistical min/max operations for random variations that can guarantee pessimism at nominal and targeted N-sigma corner, and extends the method to handle complex variations, enabling graph-based full arrival/required time propagation under variable compaction. SCS-OCV provides a statistical corner evaluation method for complex random variables that can transform vector-based parametric timing information to the single-value corner-based timing report, and based on the method derives equations to bridge POCV/SSTA with LOCV. This significantly reduces the learning curve and increases the usage of the technology, being more easily adopted by the industry.
US08555218B2	Decision modules An abstract decision module primitive for placement within a logical representation (i.e., a netlist) of a circuit design is described. The decision module primitive receives as inputs alternative solutions for a given function or segment of a netlist. The alternative solutions include functionally equivalent, but structurally different implementations of the function or segment of the netlist. The decision module primitive alternatively selects between connecting one of the inputs to the netlist to provide a complete functional definition for the netlist based on constraint information. The selected input of the decision module may be updated as additional constraint information is determined throughout the various stages of the design process. In addition, alternative solutions for a given function or segment of the netlist may be added to and/or removed from the inputs of a decision module as additional constraint information is identified.
US08555212B2	Manufacturability Techniques are disclosed for modifying an existing microdevice design to improve its manufacturability. With these techniques, a designer receives manufacturing criteria associated with data in a design. The associated design data then is identified and provided to the microdevice designer, who may choose to modify the design based upon the manufacturing criteria. In this manner, the designer can directly incorporate manufacturing criteria from the foundry in the original design of the microdevice.
US08555210B2	Systems and methods for stochastic models of mask process variability Systems and methods are disclosed for a stochastic model of mask process variability of a photolithography process, such as for semiconductor manufacturing. In one embodiment, a stochastic error model may be based on a probability distribution of mask process error. The stochastic error model may generate a plurality of mask layouts having stochastic errors, such as random and non-uniform variations of contacts. In other embodiments, the stochastic model may be applied to critical dimension uniformity (CDU) optimization or design rule (DR) sophistication.
US08555207B2	Enhanced input using recognized gestures Enhanced input using recognized gestures, in which a user's gesture is recognized from first and second images, and a representation of the user is displayed in a central region of a control that further includes interaction elements disposed radially in relation to the central region. The enhanced input also includes interacting with the control based on the recognized user's gesture, and controlling an application based on interacting with the control.
US08555201B2	Wireless communication device having deterministic control of foreground access of the user interface A wireless communication device that has one or more applications resident on a computer platform, a wireless communication interface, a display, and a user interface that, at least, appears on the display and through which a user of the wireless communication device interacts with the computer platform. The display is configured to be selectively controlled by the specific user interfaces of one or more applications resident on the computer platform, and the one or more applications and/or an arbiter that is resident on the computer platform will determine which user interface of the one or more applications resident on the computer platform controls the display based upon a predetermined criteria when the user interfaces compete for control of the display.
US08555197B2	System and process for prioritizing overlapping windows An information-processing device stores information as assignment information to assign associated hardware or software to each window that displays processing details of an application. An association between a window and hardware or software is different for each application (in other words, for each window). If plural overlapping windows are displayed, the information-processing device determines a window to be displayed in the foreground, on a basis of the association. For example, in a case where window w1 of a game and window w2 of another game overlap each other, if the information-processing device has hardware or software associated with game A, window w1 is displayed at the front; and meanwhile if the device has hardware or software associated with game B, window w2 is displayed at the front.
US08555181B2	Method and system for constructing business rules in a business software system using intelligent tiles Methods and systems for constructing rules enable a simultaneous display of multiple windows on a display screen of a computer system. The multiple windows include a first window configured as a library and a second window configured as a canvas. Custom configuration of tiles in the library is enabled, and each tile corresponds to a term. Further, selection of the tiles from the library for placement in the canvas is enabled, and the placement reflects a logical statement, which corresponds to one or more instructions capable of being executed by a computer to perform a business function.
US08555180B2	Smart peripheral architecture for portable media players A new peripheral architecture is provided that allows a UI document to be embedded into a peripheral. The UI document is sent to a portable media player when the peripheral is plugged into the portable media player. The portable media player interprets this UI document to allow a user to interact with the accessory. The peripheral does not interpret this UI document but it does respond to interactions with the portable media player as the portable media player interprets the documents in response to user interactions.
US08555171B2	Portable virtual human-machine interaction device and operation method thereof A portable virtual input control device and a method thereof are provided, which can achieve a purpose of human-machine interaction and remote control. The portable virtual input control device comprises a main body, an operation interface display unit connected to the main body, an image capturing module adjacent to the main body, and a central processing module, built in the main body. The operation interface display unit is movably disposed in front of a head of the user for displaying an operation interface corresponding to a controlled device. The image capturing module captures a position image of a hand of the user outside the operation interface display unit. The central processing module transmits display data to the operation interface display unit to display the operation interface, and connected to the image capturing module for receiving the position image of the hand of the user captured by the image capturing module, and determining a control command input by the user according to the display data and the position image of the hand of the user.
US08555170B2	Tool for presenting and editing a storyboard representation of a composite presentation Some embodiments provide a storyboard tool for displaying and editing a storyboard representation of a set of clips that forms a composite presentation in a media-editing application. For the set of clips in a composite display area, the tool displays a set of thumbnails corresponding to the clips in a storyboard display area. Each thumbnail in the storyboard display area respectively represents a particular clip of the composite presentation and is respectively associated with the particular clip in the composite display area. The tool allows a user to visualize the entire context of the composite presentation as a storyboard representation of the clips in the composite display area. Some embodiments provide for non-destructive editing that modify the order of the thumbnails in the storyboard display area without affecting the clips in the composite display area. The storyboard tool can synchronize the edited order of clips to the composite display area.
US08555164B2	Method for customizing avatars and heightening online safety The present invention, a method for a customizing and determining how a multimedia character or avatar is animated. The method provides a user with interaction with the avatar that involves animation of the face of the multimedia character. In addition, the method further comprises offering the multimedia character or avatar with a default setting for a mechanism of muscle movement and interacting with the mechanism of muscle movement. Further, the method is preferably used in a stand-alone mode and with multimedia communication, such as Internet, email and wireless applications. Furthermore, the method comprises a set rules and intelligent systems for analyzing, displaying and capturing messages and alerting the user to these messages in real time.
US08555160B2	Apparatus and methods for creating and/or editing color-image processing files A file editing apparatus is provided that edits a color-image processing file in which limitations can be imparted on the display of edit history information that corresponds to a new shooting mode. The apparatus includes an editing unit that edits a color processing file; a display control unit; and a storage unit that stores the color-image processing file including edit history information of the color processing file edited by the editing unit, and edit history display control information for the display control unit to control display of the edit history information.
US08555152B2	Document management system and its method An electronic pasting method for pasting electronic data in consideration of printed and written data, including updating pasted data when electronic data is updated after it is pasted. The electronic pasting method uses a detecting unit and a paste information updating unit. The detecting unit detects a paste stroke made over two print sheets filled to denote a user's pasting action with which part or whole of a printed matter of electronic document information is pasted on printed matter, then detects the pasting action from a set of paste strokes, thereby obtaining a paste-from document, a paste-to document, and a paste position according to the pasting action detected by the detecting unit. The paste information updating unit updates the e-document, the printed matter information, and the written information according to the above paste information.
US08555149B2	Systems and methods for protecting DSL systems against impulse noise Systems and methods for protecting DSL systems against impulse noise are provided. Disclosed herein are example embodiments of a retransmission technique located above the gamma interface (i.e., in the network processing layer). Such a retransmission technique can be combined with standard RS coding with standard erasure-decoding & triangular interleaving at the PMS-TC layer. Example embodiments of the technique involve using the RS code to protect against REIN noise, and using γ-layer retransmission for protecting against error events not corrected by the RS code, e.g. a SHINE noise in the presence of REIN. Both techniques are used jointly in the case of combined REIN and SHINE noise.
US08555142B2	Verifying integrity of data stored in a dispersed storage memory A method for verifying integrity of data stored in dispersed storage memory begins by a processing module retrieving integrity information of the data that is stored as a set of forward error correction (FEC) encoded words in the dispersed storage memory and continues with the processing module receiving FEC encoded words of the set of FEC encoded words from the dispersed storage memory to produce received FEC encoded words and decoding a unique subset of the received FEC encoded words to produce recovered data. The method continues with the processing module generating recovered integrity information from the recovered data and comparing the recovered integrity information with the integrity information. The method continues with the processing module indicating that at least one of the received FEC encoded words of the unique subset of the received FEC encoded words is corrupt when the recovered integrity information compares unfavorably with the integrity information.
US08555130B2	Storing encoded data slices in a dispersed storage unit A method begins by a processing module receiving a write request that includes a batch of encoded data slices and a corresponding batch of slice names, wherein the batch of encoded data slices includes encoded data slices that have slices names that have a common data object storage name, a common slice storage name, and a different data segment storage name. The method continues with the processing module determining whether a storage file exists based on the common data object storage name. The method continues with the processing module creating the storage file based on the common data object storage name when the storage file does not exist. The method continues with the processing module storing the batch of encoded data slices in the storage file based on the corresponding batch of slice names.
US08555113B2	System and method to manage problems with network-based services A method includes receiving a problem report from a customer via an access interface of a plurality of access interfaces at a first horizontal layer of a problem management system, wherein the problem report indicates that the customer is having a problem with one of the network-based services, receiving a request from the customer for self-service problem resolution via the access interface, identifying a workflow related to the problem, obtaining the workflow from a second layer of the problem management system, providing a diagnostic tool to the customer via the access interface, according to the workflow, and providing the diagnostic tool to an agent via another access interface after the customer contacts the agent.
US08555108B2	Virtual disk drive system and method A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc., remote data storage, and data progression, etc.
US08555105B2	Fallover policy management in high availability systems The method determines whether a particular node of a high availability cluster is functioning properly or is a failed node. The method dumps node process state information as a dump data for the failed or crashed node in a shared storage area of the high availability cluster. A high availability cluster manager identifies the dump data that corresponds to the failed node as the most recent dump data for that failed node. The high availability cluster manager interrogates the dump data using kernel debugger services to identify a process trace and thereby identify the crash-causing application for the failed node. The method determines if the dump data includes a process match for the failed node process. The high availability cluster manager may initiate a crash-causing application notification to administrators or other entities of the high availability cluster. The method provides relocation and restoration capability of applications from the failed node to a fallover node and returns those application resources to the user and other entities using the high availability cluster.
US08555102B2	Method for managing the operation of a remote information sensor, and associated sensor A method for managing the operation of an information sensor for a meter, includes putting the sensor into a deep standby mode, in which a battery of the sensor does not supply electrical power in particular to a module for demodulating signals from the meter; connecting the sensor to the meter; detecting, using a detection module of the sensor, an information signal from the meter; removing the sensor from the deep standby mode in order to put same into an operative mode in which the battery supplies electrical power in particular to the demodulation module.
US08555099B2	Device having multiple graphics subsystems and reduced power consumption mode, software and methods Many computing device may now include two or more graphics subsystems. The multiple graphics subsystems may have different abilities, and may, for example, consume differing amount of electrical power, with one subsystem consuming more average power than the others. The higher power consuming graphics subsystem may be coupled to the device and used instead of, or in addition to, the lower power consuming graphics subsystem, resulting in higher performance or additional capabilities, but increased overall power consumption. By transitioning from the use of the higher power consuming graphics subsystem to the lower power consuming graphics subsystem, while placing the higher power consuming graphics subsystem in a lower power consumption mode, overall power consumption is reduced.
US08555098B2	Semiconductor circuit with load balance circuit A circuit block operates while receiving a clock from an external circuit. A load balance circuit is connected to a shared power supply terminal together with the circuit block, and provides predetermined power consumption. A clock detection unit detects input of the clock from an external circuit. When the clock detection unit detects stopping of input of the clock, the load balance circuit is switched to the active state.
US08555085B2	Enhancing useability of mobile devices that securely store data Methods, computer-readable media, and systems for enhancing useability of mobile devices that securely store data. An input to transfer a computer software application executing on a mobile device from a foreground state of the mobile device to a background state of the mobile device is received. In response, noise data based on application data associated with the application is generated. Both the application data and the noise data are encrypted using the same encryption mechanism, but using different keys. When another input to transfer the application from the background state to the foreground state is received, then the encryption mechanism is executed on the application data and the noise data using a key requested in response to the other input. The application is transferred to the foreground state if the received key matches the key with which the application data was previously encrypted. Other items of data are discarded.
US08555072B2	Attestation of computing platforms A method and apparatus for attesting the configuration of a computing platform to a verifier. A signature key (SK) is bound to the platform and bound to a defined configuration of the platform. A credential (C(SK), CDAA(SK)) for the signature key (SK) is obtained from an evaluator. This credential (C(SK), CDAA(SK)) certifies that the signature key (SK) is bound to an unspecified trusted platform configuration. The platform can then demonstrate to the verifier the ability to sign a challenge from the verifier using the signature key (SK), and demonstrate possession of the credential (C(SK), CDAA(SK)) to the verifier, thereby attesting that the platform has a trusted configuration without disclosing the platform configuration to the verifier.
US08555067B2	Methods and apparatus for delivering electronic identification components over a wireless network Methods and apparatus enabling programming of electronic identification information of a wireless apparatus. In one embodiment, a previously purchased or deployed wireless apparatus is activated by a cellular network. The wireless apparatus connects to the cellular network using an access module to download operating system components and/or access control client components. The described methods and apparatus enable updates, additions and replacement of various components including Electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) data, OS components. One exemplary implementation of the invention utilizes a trusted key exchange between the device and the cellular network to maintain security.
US08555060B2	Managing method, device and terminal for application program A managing method for an application program is disclosed, which includes that: a first terminal converts a file of a specified application program stored by the first terminal per se into an intermediate file in a predetermined intermediate format, wherein the intermediate format can be identified by other terminals having a running environment of the application program (S101); and the first terminal performs backup management on the specified application program by storing the intermediate file into a specified storage location, so as to enable a second terminal to recover the application program that has been made a backup, wherein both the second terminal and the first terminal have the running environment of the application program (S103). A managing device for an application program and a terminal are further disclosed. By means of the solution of the disclosure, performing universal backup management on an application program is realized, such that terminals that need to recover the application program convert a file in the intermediate format into a format required by each terminal, so as to recover and normally use the application program.
US08555044B2	System and method to lock electronic device A method to lock an electronic device comprising an operating system comprises placing the electronic device in a disable state in which the processor is blocked from accessing the operating system, receiving a first unlock password from a remote source during a power-up operation of the electronic device, and placing the electronic device in a temporary unlock state which allows the processor to boot the operating system for a predetermined period of time when the first unlock password matches a password stored in the electronic device. Other embodiments may be described.
US08555043B1	Dynamically updating a computer system firmware image Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer-readable media for customizing a computer system firmware image utilizing a firmware configuration data structure. At least one firmware configuration data structure is created in a firmware image. Each data structure contains configuration data stored within a data field. A data structure signature identifying the data structure is stored within a data field of the data structure. A pointer to the configuration data within the data structure is stored in at least one firmware program module. An application may search for a firmware configuration data structure according to the data structure signature and content signatures corresponding to specific data entries, retrieve the applicable data structure and data entry, and store modifications to data stored therein.
US08555040B2	Indirect branch target predictor that prevents speculation if mispredict is expected In one embodiment, a processor implements an indirect branch target predictor to predict target addresses of indirect branch instructions. The indirect branch target predictor may store target addresses generated during previous executions of indirect branches, and may use the stored target addresses as predictions for current indirect branches. The indirect branch target predictor may also store a validation tag corresponding to each stored target address. The validation tag may be compared to similar data corresponding to the current indirect branch being predicted. If the validation tag does not match, the indirect branch is presumed to be mispredicted (since the branch target address actually belongs to a different instruction). The indirect branch target predictor may inhibit speculative execution subsequent to the mispredicted indirect branch until the redirect is signalled for the mispredicted indirect branch.
US08555038B2	Processor and method providing instruction support for instructions that utilize multiple register windows A processor including instruction support for large-operand instructions that use multiple register windows may issue, for execution, programmer-selectable instructions from a defined instruction set architecture (ISA). The processor may also include an instruction execution unit that, during operation, receives instructions for execution from the instruction fetch unit and executes a large-operand instruction defined within the ISA, where execution of the large-operand instruction is dependent upon a plurality of registers arranged within a plurality of register windows. The processor may further include control circuitry (which may be included within the fetch unit, the execution unit, or elsewhere within the processor) that determines whether one or more of the register windows depended upon by the large-operand instruction are not present. In response to determining that one or more of these register windows are not present, the control circuitry causes them to be restored.
US08555036B1	System and method for performing predicated selection of an output register A system includes a processor having an instruction register for storing an instruction having a predefined opcode, a predicate register for storing a predicate condition to select an output register for a result of the instruction, a first output register, and a second output register. The processor further includes processor circuitry operable to execute the instruction to produce a result, and processor circuitry operable to store the result of the instruction in the first output register if the predicate condition to select the output is true, and to store the second output register if the predicate condition to select the output is false. A single instruction is used to produce the result, and to store the result of the instruction.
US08555034B2	Execution of variable width vector processing instructions A processing unit executes a vector width instruction in a program and the processing unit obtains and supplies the width of an appropriate vector register that will be used to process variable vector processing instructions. Then, when the processing unit executes variable vector processing instructions in the program, the processing unit processes the variable vector processing instructions using the appropriate vector register with the instructions having the same width as the appropriate vector register. The width that the processing unit obtains may be less than an actual width of the appropriate vector register and may set by the processing unit. In this way, many different vector widths can be supported using a single set of instructions for vector processing. New instructions are not required if vector widths are changed and processing units having vector registers of differing widths do not require different code.
US08555033B2	Extending operations of an application in a data processing system A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for extending operations of an application in a data processing system. A primary operation is executed. All extended operations of the primary operation are cached and pre and post operation identifiers are identified. For each pre operation identifier, a pre operation instance is created and executed. For each post operation identifier, a post operation instance is created and executed.
US08555030B2	Creating multiple versions for interior pointers and alignment of an array A device identifies array accesses of variables in a program code that includes multiple arrays, and identifies array access patterns for one of the array accesses. The device also determines an order of the array access patterns identified for the array accesses, and calculates, based on the order, distances between the array access patterns. The device further shares address calculations amongst the array accesses associated with array access patterns with one or more of the distances that are equivalent.
US08555027B2	Semiconductor memory controlling device According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory controlling device includes a write control unit that writes a predetermined number of pieces of first data and redundant information calculated by using the predetermined number of pieces of the first data and used for correcting an error in the first data into different semiconductor storage drives, respectively; a constructing unit that constructs a storage area for storing therein a table by using driver information, the table showing an association between a logical address and a physical address of the first data and identification information for associating the predetermined number of pieces of first data with the redundant information; and a table controlling unit that stores, into the storage area, the table associated with the identification information, the physical address and the logical address of the predetermined number of pieces of the first data, and a physical address of the redundant information.
US08555023B2	Method and system for managing large write-once tables in shadow page databases Methods and systems for managing large write-once tables are described. In some embodiments, a relational database management system includes a space allocation module that utilizes both a logical space allocation scheme, as well as a physical space allocation scheme, to allocate space in units (e.g., pages) having two different sizes—small pages and big pages. For instance, small pages are logically allocated with a conventional converter module, which manages a converter table for mapping logical pages to physical pages, while big pages are physically allocated with an object directory manager, which manages big objects comprised of big pages.
US08555020B2	Reclaiming space occupied by an expired variable record in a non-volatile record storage In a method for reclaiming space occupied by an expired variable record in a non-volatile record storage, a reclaim state data that includes a state of a reclaim operation is maintained. In addition, the state of the reclaim operation is marked to indicate a progress of the reclaim operation at a plurality of stages of the reclaim operation. The reclaim operation is implemented by sliding, one section at a time, the data in a first direction along the plurality of sections and by sliding, one section at a time, the variable records, excluding the expired variable record, in a second direction along the plurality of sections, to thereby remove the expired variable record.
US08555019B2	Using a migration cache to cache tracks during migration Provided are a method, system, and computer program product for using a migration cache to cache tracks during migration. Indication is made in an extent list of tracks in an extent in a source storage subject to Input/Output (I/O) requests. A migration operation is initiated to migrate the extent from the source storage to a destination storage. In response to initiating the migration operation, a determination is made of a first set of tracks in the extent in the source storage indicated in the extent list. A determination is also made of a second set of tracks in the extent. The tracks in the source storage in the first set are copied to a migration cache, wherein updates to the tracks in the migration cache during the migration operation are applied to the migration cache. The tracks in the second set are copied directly from the source storage to the destination storage without buffering in the migration cache. The tracks in the first set are copied from the migration cache to the destination storage. The migration operation is completed in response to copying the first set of tracks from the migration cache to the destination storage and copying the second set of tracks from the source storage to the destination storage, wherein after the migration the tracks in the extent are located in the destination storage.
US08555011B1	Apparatus and method for a synchronous multi-port memory A method of and apparatus for arbitrating a memory access conflict to a memory array. The apparatus may include selection logic coupled with a plurality of ports and a memory array to arbitrate among a plurality of contending memory access requests and to conditionally block write data from accessing the memory array when write data arrives late in time.
US08555004B2	Storage system having function of performing formatting or shredding It is desired to reduce the danger of leakage of data stored in a logical storage device. A storage system has a detection unit and a security processing unit. The detection unit detects a system change, during which it is not possible to perform I/O for a first logical storage device, among a plurality of logical storage devices in the storage system. And the security processing unit takes this type of system change as the opportunity for performing security processing, i.e. formatting or shredding, upon the first logical storage device.
US08555002B2	Asymmetric memory migration in hybrid main memory Main memory is managed by receiving a command from an application to read data associated with a virtual address that is mapped to the main memory. A memory controller determines that the virtual address is mapped to one of the symmetric memory components of the main memory, and accesses memory use characteristics indicating how the data associated with the virtual address has been accessed, The memory controller determines that the data associated with the virtual address has access characteristics suited to an asymmetric memory component of the main memory and loads the data associated with the virtual address to the asymmetric memory component of the main memory. After the loading and using the memory management unit, a command is received from the application to read the data associated with the virtual address, and the data associated with the virtual address is retrieved from the asymmetric memory component.
US08555001B2	Cache memory, including miss status/information and a method using the same A cache memory includes: a plurality of MSHRs (Miss Status/Information Holding Registers); a memory access identification unit that identifies a memory access included in an accepted memory access request; and a memory access association unit that associates a given memory access with the MSHR that is used when the memory access turns out to be a cache miss and determines, on the basis of the association, a candidate for the MSHR that is used by the memory access identified by the access identification unit.
US08554999B2	Methods for providing a response and systems thereof A method, computer readable medium, and system for generating a response includes determining from which of a plurality of levels of cache to retrieve a response. The determination is based on a number of matches between current user session data associated with a current request and stored user session data rewritten into each of one or more metadata data variables for the response when a current request for the response matches at least one prior stored request for the response. The response from the determined level of the plurality of levels of cache is provided.
US08554998B2	Systems, methods, and computer readable media for configuring a rewriteable non-volatile memory for presentation of media by a selected media presentation device model Systems, methods, and computer readable media for managing digital media in a memory storage device associated with a mobile smart device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for configuring a rewriteable non-volatile memory for presentation of media by a selected media presentation device model. The method includes providing a rewriteable non-volatile memory configuration interface through which a user can select at least one media file and one of a plurality of media presentation device models. and providing a rewriteable non-volatile memory configuration manager, which, in response to selection of the at least one media file and the one media presentation device model via the configuration interface, accesses a database including entries corresponding to the plurality of media presentation device models and configures a rewriteable non-volatile memory according to information retrieved from the database to allow presentation of the at least one media file when the rewriteable non-volatile memory is present in the selected media presentation device model.
US08554993B2	Distributed content storage and retrieval Distributed content storage and retrieval is disclosed. A set of features associated with a content object is determined. A storage location is selected to perform an operation with respect to the content object, from a plurality of storage locations comprising a distributed content storage system, based at least in part on probability data indicating a degree to which the selected storage location is associated statistically with a feature comprising the set of features determined to be associated with the content object.
US08554991B2	High speed interface for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) An interface for a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) includes an interface element coupled to a DRAM chip using a first attachment structure, a first portion of the first attachment structure being used to form a wide bandwidth, low speed, parallel interface, a second portion of the first attachment structure, a routing element and a through silicon via (TSV) associated with the DRAM chip being used to form a narrow bandwidth, high speed, serial interface, the interface element configured to convert parallel information to serial information and configured to convert serial information to parallel information.
US08554989B2	System, method, and computer program product for analyzing monitor data information from a plurality of memory devices having finite endurance and/or retention A method according to one embodiment includes gathering information about monitor data from a plurality of memory devices having finite endurance and/or retention, the monitor data being (i) data of known content stored in dedicated memory cells of known write cycle count, and (ii) write protected for preventing the monitor data from being overwritten with user data; analyzing the monitor data information; and taking an action relating to at least one of the devices based on the analyzing. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also disclosed.
US08554978B2	Automation appliance and method for accelerated processing of selected process data An automation appliance (6) having at least one field bus interface (12) for connection to a field bus (2) and transmission of data packets (DP) with process data (PD) via the field bus (2) and having at least one local bus interface (21) for connection to a local bus (7) and transmission of process data (PD) between field devices (9a, 9b, 9c) connected to the local bus (7) and the automation appliance (6), and having means for converting the data packets (DP) coming from the field bus (2) into a data stream (DS) for the local bus (7) and for converting the data stream (DS) sent from the local bus (7) to the automation appliance (6) into data packets (DP) for the field bus (2) is described. The automation appliance (6) has an acceleration unit (10) for selecting process data (PDS) that are to be converted in accelerated fashion and for separately converting the selected process data (PDS), which acceleration unit is set up such that the selected process data (PDS) are output at an earlier time than unselected process data (PDN) which are transmitted as well in combination with the selected process data (PDS).
US08554976B2	Single pipe non-blocking architecture A method for processing an incoming command destined for a target is provided, comprising: determining if the incoming command is a data command or a management command; forwarding the incoming command to a storage management component of the target when the incoming command is a management command; when the incoming command is a data command: determining if a disk command queue on the target is full; sending the incoming command to the disk command queue when the disk command queue is not full; when the disk command queue is full: starting a timer, the timer having a predetermined length; sending the incoming command to the disk command queue when the disk command queue becomes not full prior to the expiration of the timer; and sending a rejection of the incoming command to the host only if, upon expiration of the timer, if the disk command queue is still full.
US08554975B2	Mass storage device and mass storage assembly There is disclosed a mass storage device (such as a hard disk drive) comprising an input connector for electrically receiving both a first set of data signals and a second set of data signals. The first set of data signals are used to store or retrieve information on the mass storage device, whereas the second set of data signals are electrically conducted to an output connector on the mass storage device. When an adjacent mass storage device is connected to the output connector, the second set of data signals are used to store or retrieve information on this adjacent mass storage device.
US08554972B2	Logic chip, method and computer program for providing a configuration information for a configurable logic chip A logic chip has a plurality of individually-addressable resource blocks, each comprising logic circuitry. The logic chip also has a bus comprising a plurality of bus information lines. A first of the resource blocks has a coupling between a first strict sub-set of the bus information lines and the logic circuitry of the first resource block. A second of the resource blocks, which is adjacent to the first resource block, has a coupling between a second strict sub-set of the bus information lines and the logic circuitry of the second resource blocks. The first and second sub-sets have different bus lines.
US08554969B2	Electronic device with expansion card An electronic device includes an enclosure and a motherboard arranged at a middle portion in the enclosure. A first conversion card and a second conversion card are electrically connected to the motherboard. A first expansion card is electrically connected to the first conversion card and above the motherboard. A second expansion card is electrically connected to the second conversion card and below the motherboard.
US08554966B2	Method for data exchange A method for data exchange via a bus system, wherein an amount of data determined for data exchange is composed of a plurality of data packets, which data packets are to be transmitted in a predetermined sequence from a second participant of the bus system to a first participant of the bus system, wherein, for data exchange, a first data query is sent from the first participant to the second participant, and wherein, as a reply to the first data query, a first data packet is sent from the second participant to the first participant. Especially after the first participant has received the first data packet, a second data query is sent from the first participant to the second participant via the bus system, and as a reply to the second data query, a second data packet is sent from the second participant to the first participant. The second data packet is either the first data packet or a data packet following the first data packet in the predetermined sequence. The first and the second data query contains, in each case, a parameter with a first or a second parameter value, and in the case in which the parameter values of the first and second data query agree, the first data packet is sent, while, in the case in which the parameter values of the first and second data query differ, the data packet following the first data packet in the predetermined sequence is sent.
US08554963B1	Storage system with multicast DMA and unified address space A system and method for clients, a control module, and storage modules to participate in a unified address space in order to and read and write data efficiently using direct-memory access. The method for reading data includes determining a first location in a first memory to write a first copy of the data, a second location in a second memory to write a second copy of the data, where the first memory is located in a first storage module including a first persistent storage and the second memory is located in a second storage module including a second persistent storage. The method further includes programming a direct memory access engine to read the data from client memory and issue a first write request to a multicast address, where the first location, the second location, and a third location are associated with the multicast address.
US08554960B2	Input device In an input device, a controller for controlling an input portion and acquiring data is connected to a bus. The bus can be connected with an external expansion device via an expansion connector. The connection of the bus from the expansion connector to the controller is switched on and off by a switcher. Data acquired from a sensor having a function equivalent to that of the external expansion device is transmitted to the controller via the bus by a sensor controller which is connected to each of a side of the controller and a side of the expansion connector of the bus without interposing the switcher. The sensor controller switches the connection of the switcher off when an access to itself is made from the controller.
US08554957B1	Method for creation of device drivers and device objects for peripheral devices All steps required to create and operate a peripheral device of an electronic device can be performed without the need to plug in the peripheral device to the electronic device. Setup information for a peripheral device is extracted, modified and stored to fit to a physical existent peripheral device. The modified setup information is used to create a data structure that is passed to the peripheral bus driver. As the data structure contains a hot plug notification the reception causes the peripheral bus driver to initiate the setup process for the peripheral device. As the data structure is built from setup information that is available at the electronic device no additional user action is required. The invention also allows the creation of a device object for existing signed driver packets that may not be altered.
US08554948B2	Methods, systems and computer program products for identifying traffic on the internet using communities of interest Methods for identifying wanted traffic on the Internet are provided. The methods include determining a traffic history for a user of the Internet; identifying wanted traffic in a stream of Internet traffic based on the determined traffic history; and prioritizing the identified wanted traffic such that unwanted traffic is assigned a lower priority than the wanted traffic. Related systems and computer program products are also provided.
US08554932B1	Data exchange management system and method Embodiments of the invention are directed to a computer-implemented system and method for data exchange management. The method may incorporate a physical data exchange management system and/or a logical data exchange management system. The method may include storing a data exchange profile for each communicating entity, receiving a request for data exchange from one of the communicating entities, and processing the request through a request handler for handling receipt of data exchange requests from the communicating entities, wherein the request handler accesses a relevant data exchange profile for the requesting communicating entity. The method may additionally include formatting data for exchange in accordance with the relevant data exchange profile and delivering the formatted data to a destination in accordance with the relevant data exchange profile.
US08554929B1	Connection rate limiting for server load balancing and transparent cache switching Each service in a computer network may have a connection rate limit. The number of new connections per time period may be limited by using a series of rules. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a counter is increased each time a server is selected to handle a connection request. For each service, connections coming in are tracked. Therefore, the source of connection-request packets need not be examined. Only the destination service is important. This saves significant time in the examination of the incoming requests. Each service may have its own set of rules to best handle the new traffic for its particular situation. For server load balancing, a reset may be sent to the source address of the new connection request. For transparent cache switching, the connection request may be forwarded to the Internet.
US08554928B2	Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing origin routing at a diameter node Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing origin routing at a Diameter node are disclosed. One exemplary method includes receiving, at a Diameter message processor associated with a DSR, a Diameter message from a first Diameter node. The method further includes accessing, using the Diameter message processor, Diameter peer routing information that includes Diameter origination information to determine a second Diameter node that is a peer of the DSR and to which the Diameter message is to be forwarded. The method also includes forwarding the Diameter message to the determined second Diameter node.
US08554926B2	Method for establishing data connection on mobile network, mobile network, and policy control entity A method for establishing data connections on a mobile network, a mobile network, and a policy control entity are disclosed. The method includes: establishing a data channel between a user equipment (UE) and a gateway (GW), and allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the UE according to an address allocation request or a data channel setup request sent from the UE; and triggering the policy control entity to establish or update a policy control session according to the IP address. By using the mobile network and the policy control entity under the present invention, after the data channel is established between the UE and the GW, the GW may trigger the policy control entity to establish or update a policy control session.
US08554925B2	Method and device for the bidirectional address conversion in SIP-controlled data streams between IPv4 and IPv6 data terminals The invention relates to a method and to a device for the bidirectional address conversion in SIP-controlled data streams between IPv4 data devices (T2) and IPv6 data terminals (T1) in mixed IPv4 and IPv6 data networks using an address converter (AU) and an address converter (AU) integrated in a SIP server (S1 or S2).
US08554919B2	Automatic preemption in multiple computer systems Placing an application on a node in a cluster. A method includes determining that a first application cannot be placed on a first node in the first node's current running state. The method further includes determining that the first application may be able to be placed on the first node by shutting down or moving one or more other applications running on the first node. The method further includes attempting to shut down or move the one or more other applications on the first node to place the first application.
US08554917B2	Performance isolation for storage clouds Embodiments of the present invention provide performance isolation for storage clouds. Under one embodiment, workloads across a storage cloud architecture are grouped into clusters based on administrator or system input. A performance isolation domain is then created for each of the clusters, with each of the performance isolation domains comprising a set of data stores associated with a set of storage subsystems and a set of data paths that connect the set of data stores to a set of clients. Thereafter, performance isolation is provided among a set of layers of the performance isolation domains. Such performance isolation is provided by (among other things): pooling data stores from separate performance isolation domains into separate pools; assigning the pools to device adapters, RAID controller, and the set of storage subsystems; preventing workloads on the device adapters from exceeding capacities of the device adapters; mapping the set of data stores to a set of Input/Output (I/O) servers based on an I/O capacity and I/O load of the set of I/O servers; and/or pairing ports of the set of I/O servers with ports of the set of storage subsystems, the pairing being based upon availability, connectivity, I/O load, and I/O capacity.
US08554915B2	Management of communication among network devices having multiple interfaces A network element or server that manages name, address and identifying information of network devices that contain at least one Bluetooth interface is described. A Bluetooth Device Address may be queried by a first network device of a second network device to the server and the server may provide additional name, address and identifying information on the queried second network device to the first network device such that the first network device may establish a preferred connection with the second network device.
US08554913B2	Testing policies in a network A device may include first logic configured to receive a data unit and to receive a network policy. The device may include second logic configured to identify how the data unit will be handled by the network policy and to generate a result that includes information about how the data unit will be handled by the network policy.
US08554905B2	Network system, terminal and recording medium A network system includes printers as terminals interconnected via a network. Each of the printers can obtain information on the others, and transmit the obtained information together with information on itself to a browser computer as a controller. Therefore, by obtaining the information only from one of the printers, the computer can obtain together with it the information on the others. In this system, it is possible to obtain the information on the printers efficiently without using a server computer.
US08554901B2	Verification of configuration information in BGP VPNs Described are mechanisms for verifying configuration information in 2547 BGP VPNs. An originating PE generates a first knowledge digest encoding first configuration information associated with a current set of information advertised for a VRF. The originating PE also generates a second knowledge digest encoding second configuration information associated with cumulative information advertised for the VRF. The originating PE is capable of receiving a message from a user PE, the message including a third knowledge digest encoding third configuration information related to the user VRF. The originating PE is capable of comparing the first knowledge digest to the third knowledge digest and producing a first indication if the third configuration information encoded in the third knowledge digest is not a subset of the first configuration information encoded in the first knowledge digest.
US08554895B2	Systems and methods for providing dual-control functionality in a networked digital media device Described herein are systems and methods for providing dual control functionality in a networked digital media device. In overview, a networked digital media device advertises a standard digital media device, which is discoverable and controllable by a standard control device in accordance with a standard media control protocol (also referred to as a Device Control Protocol, or DCP). The networked digital media device also advertises a non-standard digital media playback device, the non-standard device being discoverable and controllable by a non-standard control device in accordance with a non-standard media control protocol. These two devices are manifested in the same device hardware, essentially allowing the device to implement dual-control such that it is able to be controlled both as a standard device and a non-standard device.
US08554885B2	Techniques for evaluating and managing cloud networks via political and natural events Techniques for evaluating and managing cloud networks via political and natural events are provided. Geographical locations for cloud processing environments are combined with attributes and usage metrics to form associations between each cloud processing environment's geographical location and that cloud's corresponding attributes and usage metrics. Some associations and attributes relate to political and natural events. The political and natural events are used to update a proper selection of a particular cloud processing environment to handle targeted services.
US08554880B2	System for classification, location and transmission of music playlists A server (1) transmits playlists, each playlist including a description of content acquisition information, and playlist configuration data represented between playlists in numerical values. A terminal device (2) receives playlists and playlist configuration data from the server (1), and for a reproduction of content, changes a playlist to be used in accordance with playlist configuration data to reproduce a content of playlist after change. This allows the terminal device (2) to reproduce content in accordance with a state of mind a user may have, based on the playlist configuration data.
US08554875B1	Communicating future locations in a social network Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed which include receiving, from a user operating a user interface on a computing device, an indication of a first future date; identifying one or more friends of the user, for each of the one or more friends, gathering future trip information from the social network, determining based on the gathered trip information, whether each of the one or more friends are going to be physically present at the future locations on one of the second future dates that matches the first future date, displaying a geographic map on the user interface including displaying a friend representation corresponding to each of the respective future locations where one or more friends are going to be physically present on the first future date, and dynamically updating the friend representations respectively on the geographic map based on a third future date received.
US08554871B2	Method and system for exchanging location content data in different data formats A method and system for exchanging location content data in different data formats is disclosed. A third-party system makes a request to retrieve, add, modify, or delete location content. The request is made in a first data format. A data exchange system receives the request, converts the request to a second data format supported by a location reference system, and sends the request to the location reference system. The location reference system prepares a response to the request and sends the response to the data exchange system. The data exchange system converts the response to the first data format and sends the response to the third-party system.
US08554866B2	Measurement in data forwarding storage Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for measurement in data forwarding storage. A method includes, in a network of interconnected computer system nodes, receiving a request from a source system to store data, directing the data to a computer memory, storing information about the data in a store associated with a central server, and continuously forwarding the data and the store from one computer memory to another computer memory in the network of interconnected computer system nodes without storing on any physical storage device in the network.
US08554863B2	Master and slave system wherein master interface unit compares parameter from payload of parameter obtaining command with communication capability parameter of parameter display unit A communication system including a master device and one or more slave devices enables parameters of the slave devices to be set in an efficient manner. A master device (2) transmits a parameter setting command as a broadcast command. A slave device (1) receives the parameter setting command, and compares the received parameter value with a parameter value stored in a parameter display unit, and transmits a parameter setting command to which the comparison result has been added. The master device (2) receives the parameter setting command transmitted from the slave device (1) and determines that the parameter setting has been completed.
US08554853B2	Hiding email identification using a configurable set of domains A method of delivering an electronic mail message. A mail server receives and stores a rule from a first user. Thereafter the mail server receives the electronic mail message from a second user comprising a sender. The mail server compares the rule with an email address in a field of the electronic mail message. Responsive to the rule being satisfied the email server takes an action with respect to the email address or the field to form a modified electronic mail message. Thereafter, the email server delivers the modified electronic mail message to a third user comprising a recipient. The first, second, and third users may all be different from each other.
US08554845B2	Method and apparatus for automatically setting “out of office” greetings A telecommunications method includes setting a media server greeting automatically responsive to detection of a change in setting of an e-mail system default message. The e-mail system default message may be an “out of office” outgoing message. The media server greeting may be a voice greeting.
US08554841B2	Dialog server for handling conversation in virtual space method and computer program for having conversation in virtual space A dialog server which provides dialogs made by at least one user through their respective avatars in a virtual space. A method and a computer readable article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable instructions for executing the steps of the method are also provided. The dialog server includes: a position storage unit which stores positional information on the avatars; an utterance receiver which receives at least one utterance of avatars and utterance strength representing an importance or attention level of the utterance; an interest level calculator which calculates interest levels between avatars based on their positional information; a message processor which generates a message based on the utterance in accordance with a value calculated from the interest levels and the utterance strength; and a message transmitter which transmits the message to the avatars.
US08554839B2	Method and device for intercommunicating address book information between different networks A method for intercommunicating address book information between different networks is provided, which includes the following steps: an interworking request carrying address book information is received, in which the interworking request comes from a network address book system other than a Converged Address Book (CAB) system; the address book information is converted according to an address book format supported by a server of the CAB system; the converted address book information is sent to the CAB system. A device and a system for implementing the method are further provided.
US08554837B2	Automatic moderation of media content by a first content provider based on detected moderation by a second content provider In one embodiment, a method comprises registering content providers, each content provider having a corresponding independent moderation policy configured for selectively providing network access to a media content item supplied by a user; receiving, from a first of the content providers, a first notification that a first media content item has been moderated by the first content provider; and sending a second notification to at least a second of the content providers, the second notification identifying that the first content provider has moderated the first media content item, the second notification enabling the second content provider to moderate the first media content item based on the second notification and according to the corresponding independent moderation policy of the second content provider.
US08554834B2	Short message alert (SMA) The present description refers in particular, to a method, a system, and a computer program product for processing messages in an Outsourcing (BPO) Environment. The method may comprise installing and executing one or more computer programs. The method may also comprise obtaining messages from a shared folder using a network interface. The method may further comprise displaying messages using a display interface. In addition, the method may comprise providing access control, including controlling access to messages and dissemination of messages. The BPO environment may comprise at least one user computer. The network interface and the display interface may be executed separately on the user computer.
US08554818B2	Signal processing method and data processing method and apparatus The present invention discloses a signal processing method and a data processing method and apparatus. A time-domain to frequency-domain signal processing method includes: pre-processing time-domain data; pre-rotating the pre-processed data by using a rotation factor a·WNn+0.5; performing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of N/4 points on the pre-rotated data; and post-rotating the data transformed by the DFT by using a rotation factor b·WNk+0.5 to obtain frequency-domain data. A frequency-domain to time-domain signal processing method includes: twiddling frequency-domain data; pre-rotating the twiddled data by using a rotation factor c·WNk+0.5; performing a DFT of N/4 points on the pre-rotated data; and post-rotating the data transformed by the DFT by using a rotation factor d·WNn+0.5; and post-processing the post-rotated data to obtain time-domain data. The present invention increases the efficiency of signal processing.
US08554811B2	Software routine fingerprints in performance data Program profile data is used to prepare temporal cost-incurrence fingerprints, which show when a given method or method frame incurred specified cost(s) during a period of interest while a program was/is executing. Relationships between methods can be elicited by studying their temporal cost-incurrence fingerprints. Methods which are often good candidates for optimization can be automatically selected by identifying a small set of methods whose amount of cost lies within specified bounds relative to the most costly method, or in absolute terms, and whose respective fingerprints differ from one another.
US08554809B1	Calculating quota usage without impacting file system services An online tree quota check tool computes quota usage of files in a directory tree while the structure of the directory tree keeps changing due to concurrent write access by other applications and clients. The quota check tool computes the quota usage without interfering with the ongoing file access operations that change the directory content and quota usage. A quota check database keeps track of which files have been checked and which have not, so that each file is checked and its quota usage is accumulated once and only once while directories are moved and directory scans are restarted as a result of the changing directory content. File system operations are modified to synchronize with the online tree quota check. The quota check tool can be single threaded or multi-threaded. A multi-threaded tool dispatches idle directory iteration threads to scan subdirectories in the directory tree.
US08554803B2	Systems and methods for facilitating access to documents via a set of content selection tags Systems and methods are provided to facilitate access to documents via a set of content selection tags. According to one embodiment, information is received from a content reader. For example, a content controller may receive information from a content reader via a Web site. A set of content selection tags are then established based on the received information, each content selection tag being associated with a hierarchical tag domain. It is then arranged for the content reader to receive an indication of a document tag in accordance with the set of content selection tags. For example, a content controller may retrieve one or more documents based on a set of content selection tags and document tags and transmit indications of the retrieved documents to a content reader via a Web site.
US08554799B2	Blocks of time with metadata A method of adding and analyzing metadata to discrete variables, such as time intervals and a system to implement to method is disclosed. The metadata can be aggregated and analyzed using analysis operations such as intersection, union, subtraction and inversion.
US08554795B2	Method for writing data and applications into identification media A method of writing data into identification media of various types (IM-X, IM-Y) via assigned write/read stations WR in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a step wherein, a virtual, identification media-independent reference file system RFS is defined. All access keys RKi are replaced by a file system key FSK and all access rights ACi of subsections Bi are suspended and a file system FS, corresponding to the reference file system RFS, is initialized or written into the identification media: (FS(IM-X), FS(IM-Y)). In doing so, a file system starting point (FS-S(IM-X), FS-S(IM-Y)) is defined in the identification media (IM(FS) and in the assigned read/write stations WR(RFS) so that applications (App(RFS) corresponding to the virtual reference file system RFS can be written into the identification media and executed. The method allows for the writing into or execution of generally defined applications (App(RFS) into initialized identification media of various types (IM-X(FS), IM-Y(FS)) without adapting them.
US08554793B2	Methods and systems for providing custom settings in an on-demand service environment In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing custom settings in an on-demand service environment. In an embodiment and by way of example, a method providing custom settings in an on-demand service environment is provided. The method embodiment includes naming the custom object, creating fields for the custom object, assigning a behavior for each field, setting the custom object to a specified type, and if the custom object is of a hierarchical type, then assigning permissions to users with regarding the created fields.
US08554786B2	Document information management system A document information management system in which a search-engine-compatible interface unit makes a word in a document displayed on the screen to be specified, transfers the specified word to a search engine as a keyword to be used in the search engine, receives a search result from the search engine, and displays the search result on the screen, while a browser-compatible interface unit performs a search (a keyword search and/or global search) by using the keyword transferred from a browser and transfers a search result to the browser.
US08554769B1	Identifying gibberish content in resources This specification describes technologies relating to providing search results. One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving a network resource, the network resource including text content; generating a language model score for the resource including applying a language model to the text content of the resource; generating a query stuffing score for the reference, the query stuffing score being a function of term frequency in the resource content and a query index; calculating a gibberish score for the resource using the language model score and the query stuffing score; and using the calculated gibberish score to determine whether to modify a ranking score of the resource.
US08554765B2	System and method for identifying a location of interest to be named by a user A mobile communication device for identifying a location to be named comprising a position locator component configured to determine a location of a user and a communication interface component configured to provide the location for use in determining user-specific location information including at least one of a number of times and an amount of time the user is present at or near the location. The location naming component is configured to receive an identification of the location as a location of interest. The location naming component is configured to provide a prompt for naming the location of interest for presentation by a graphical user interface component in association with received suggested name information. The location naming component is configured to receive name information for naming the location. The graphical user interface component is configured to present the name information for the location of interest on the mobile communication device.
US08554761B1	Transforming a single-table join predicate into a pseudo-join predicate Methods, computing devices, and computer-readable media are provided for transforming an initial query with a single-table outer join predicate to a second, semantically equivalent query that includes a multi-table predicate instead of the single-table outer join predicate. Because the second query does not include the single-table outer join predicate, the second query may be available for further transformations or optimization techniques, may produce a more efficient or otherwise different execution plan, or may be executed more efficiently or differently. The single-table outer join predicate may be in a full outer join ON clause of the initial query or nested in a left outer-joined LATERAL VIEW of the initial query. The multi-table predicate may be in a WHERE clause of the second query. Unlike the initial query, the second query allows use of a temporary organization of data from multiple tables for evaluation of multiple rows of the left outer join.
US08554758B1	Method and apparatus for monitoring and maintaining health in a searchable data service Method and apparatus for monitoring and maintaining group health and membership in a searchable data service. The searchable data service may provide a searchable index to a backend data store, and an interface to build and query the searchable index, that enables client applications to search for and retrieve locators for stored entities in the backend data store. Embodiments of the searchable data service may implement a group health mechanism that may allow one or more components of the searchable data service to identify sets of nodes that the components may monitor. A group health component may be queried by the other components for automatically-refreshed health information about those nodes. The group health component may perform as a node failure detection mechanism. Node health information may be communicated among nodes at least in part using a gossip protocol.
US08554754B2	Skills database management system and method A computer-based on-line skills/résumé management system, the system comprising: (a) a relational database having a plurality of fields wherein a portion of the fields are arranged in a hierarchical relationship; (b) database population mechanism for populating the database with information, the population mechanism interfacing with a first user and prompting the first user for information for at least a portion of the fields arranged in the hierarchical relationship; (c) query generation mechanism for interfacing with a second user and prompting the second user to select a combination of the fields in the hierarchical relationship to form at least a portion of a query for searching the database; (d) search mechanism operatively connected to database for applying the query to the relational database; and (e) output mechanism for providing the second user with results of the search.
US08554746B2	Multiple-source data compression One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for compressing data generated by multiple data sources. The method includes steps of partitioning data generated by the multiple data sources into data partitions, the data included in each data partition containing inter-data-source redundancies and, for each data partition, compressing the data in the data partition to remove the inter-data-source redundancies.
US08554745B2	Nearstore compression of data in a storage system A storage server is configured to receive a request to store a data block from a client. The request to store the data block is serviced by the storage server by compressing the data block into a compression group, which includes a number of compressed data blocks. The storage server stores the compression group in a non-volatile memory and flushes the compression group from the non-volatile memory to a physical storage device in response to reaching a consistency point. By compressing data to be stored in system memory of a storage server, the amount of data that can be processed during a given time period by a data storage system is increased. Furthermore, an increase in performance can be achieved at a lower cost, since the cost of additional physical system memory modules can be avoided.
US08554742B2	System and process for record duplication analysis A system and process for record duplication analysis that relies on a multi-membership Bayesian analysis to determine the probability that records within a data set are matches. The Bayesian calculation may rely on objective data describing the data set as well as subjective assessments of the data set. In addition, a system and process for record duplication analysis may rely on the predetermination of probabilistic patterns, where the system only searches for patterns exceeding a chosen threshold. Work flow may include selecting which fields within each record should be analyzed, normalizing the values within those fields and removing default data, calculating possible patterns and their match probabilities, analyzing record pairs to determine which have patterns exceeding a chosen threshold to determine the presence of duplicates, and merging duplicates, closing transactions reflecting non-duplicates, identifying records having insufficient data to determine the existence or lack of a match, and/or rolling back accidental merges.
US08554733B2	Disaster recovery method, disaster recovery system, remote copy method and storage system A disaster recovery technology capable of achieving the high-speed FO and correctly reading the logs even if the unit of logs written in the main site is large is provided. In the disaster recovery system comprising a main site and a sub-site, when the writing in units of a log block consisting of a plurality of log records is performed in the main site and the logs are applied in the sub-site, the log blocks are read from the sub-storage to verify the consistency, and it is determined whether the reading process conflicts with the writing process through the remote copy operation when reading the logs. Then, only the log blocks in which the reading process does not conflict with the writing process as a result of the determination are applied to the database. Thereby, the logs are applied in the sub-site independently to recover the database.
US08554729B2	System and method for synchronization of actions in the background of an application A background page script is executing on a device. A plurality of webpages are executing on the device. The plurality of webpages register with the background page script. An action generated by one of the plurality of webpages is cached in a database. In response to a determination that the device is in an online state and that the one of the plurality of webpages is no longer registered, the background page script retrieves the action from the database and transmits the action.
US08554719B2	Resolving database entity information Entity resolution in a database comprises receiving imported data comprising imported data entities each having properties each having values; receiving first user input that selects the imported data entities for resolution to existing data entities in a database; receiving second user input that specifies matching criteria for matching the imported data entities to the existing data entities, wherein each of the matching criteria comprises a matching technique; matching the imported data entities to the existing data entities using the matching criteria, resulting in creating and storing matched entity information, wherein the matched entity information is organized in matched entity data sets associated with subsets of the matching criteria that were matched; consolidating the imported data entities into the existing data entities; storing the first user input and second user input as a named criteria set for use in subsequent entity resolution operations.
US08554702B2	Framework for optimized packing of items into a container One embodiment is directed to a method of optimally packing items into at least one resource. The method includes receiving at least one of items, resources, and parameters, and setting up a set partitioning mixed integer programming (MIP) using the received items, resources, and parameters. The method further includes solving liner programming (LP) relaxation of the MIP, generating new packings, and checking whether new packings have been generated. When no new packings have been generated, solving the final MIP and creating a model of at least one resource packed according to the final MIP.
US08554696B2	Efficient computation of ontology affinity matrices In one embodiment, generating an ontology includes accessing an inverted index comprising a plurality of inverted index lists. An inverted index list may correspond to a term of a language. Each inverted index list may comprise a term identifier of the term and one or more document identifiers indicating one or more documents of a document set in which the term appears. The embodiment also includes generating a term identifier index according to the inverted index. The term identifier index comprises a plurality of sections and each section corresponds to a document. Each section may comprise one or more term identifiers of one or more terms that appear in the document.
US08554693B2	Methods, systems and storage medium for providing content notification based on user communities A method of notifying consumers of available content in a content distribution system. The method includes determining the existence of a content event related to content. The content event is associated with a community. A consumer who is a member of the community is notified of the content event by sending a notification to the consumer. Access to content related to the content event is provided upon request by the consumer.
US08554691B2	Sale of footwear by subscription A user enters into a subscription to receive footwear having one or more specified performance characteristics. As the user finishes wearing one set of footwear, the user can obtain a replacement set of footwear that also will have one or more specified performance characteristics. The performance characteristics may be consistent for each set of footwear provided according to the subscription. Alternately, the footwear performance characteristics may vary over the life of the subscription. Thus, the footwear provider may periodically obtain biometric information describing the user's athletic activities or performance. The footwear provider then can tailor the performance characteristics of footwear provided under the subscription to match the user's athletic activities or performance.
US08554690B2	Techniques for using media keys Techniques for processing media data. Techniques are provided for using media keys that have been created for media data. A media key may be used to access media data for which the media key has been created. A media key has information associated with it that may be used to access the media data corresponding to the media key. Various operations may be performed using the accessed media data.
US08554684B2	Controlling database copyrights Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a utilization permit key may be pre-defined to permit at least one of displaying, editing, storing, copying, and/or transferring of digital data.
US08554678B2	Transaction processing using a global unique identifier A Globally Unique IDentifier (GUID) is used to match an authorization request with an authorization response for a transaction between a merchant and a consumer upon an account within a payment processing system where the payment amount is unknown until after the merchant receives the authorization response that includes the GUID. After receiving the authorization response and when the payment amount is known, the merchant forms a transmission that has information for delivery to an issuer of the account. This information is sufficient for the issuer to forward the payment amount from the account to pay the merchant for the transaction. While including the GUID and the payment amount, the information does not include an identifier of the account.
US08554675B2	Payment service that applies user-specified rules to divide payment amounts among multiple payment instruments A network-based transaction processing system allows users to flexibly and efficiently make payments using a combination of different payment instruments. The system includes a user interface through which a user can define one or more payment plans, each of which may specify a plurality of payment instruments and associated rules for dividing payment amounts among these payment instruments. These rules may be non-transaction-specific, such that a user can re-use a payment plan over time to complete multiple transactions. When placing an order or otherwise initiating a payment transaction, the user can select a payment plan for use in completing the transaction.
US08554670B1	Systems and methods for crediting missed location-based electronic check-ins in a social network Identifying missed electronic check-ins and crediting missed check-ins to members of a social network by utilizing transaction data from an intermediate computer other than a computer of the social network. Missed check-ins are identified using transaction data resulting from an activity of the member at a check-in location, e.g., when the member purchased an item from a merchant at a check-in location or made a call from the location. Transaction data is sent from a computer that stores the data to the social network computer that manages check-ins. Transaction location is compared with check-in locations to determine whether the member should receive credit for the missed check-in, which may count towards rewards or benefits of the social network even though the member is not currently at the check-in location since the missed check-in is validated by a trusted source of transaction data.
US08554668B2	Financial transaction card with installment loan feature There is provided a financial transaction payment method and system for processing a transaction conducted using a financial transaction card. The financial transaction card has associated therewith a financial account in a financial institution and one or more transaction criteria. The financial transaction payment system includes a processing unit and an application program for execution on the processing unit. The method includes the step of determining by the application program whether a transaction activates an installment loan on the financial account based on the one or more transaction criteria.
US08554666B2	Total structural risk model The present invention generally relates to financial data processing, and in particular it relates to credit scoring, consumer profiling, consumer behavior analysis and modeling. More specifically, it relates to risk modeling using the inputs of credit bureau data, size of wallet data, and, optionally, internal data.
US08554663B2	System and method for holding and sending an order to a matching engine A user can submit an order to buy or sell a tradeable object, only the order does not get sent to the matching engine. Instead, the order is placed in temporary storage and it is displayed to the user in the form of a virtual order icon. The virtual order icon indicates that an order request is waiting for an event to occur before it is automatically released to the matching engine. The virtual order icon can be managed by the user, which might include moving the icon to a different price level or deleting it. The system continuously monitors for an event to take place. In response to detecting the event, the order is released to the matching engine. As such, the virtual order icon is transformed or removed and a real order icon is displayed indicating that the order has now been sent to the matching engine.
US08554662B2	Delta neutral futures allocation In an Exchange which assigns only a whole number/integer approximate of a computed number of futures contracts to a covered order for one or more option contracts, the disclosed embodiments relate to factoring a residual number of futures contracts, remaining after fulfillment of an incoming covered order counter to a resting covered order for a quantity of options contracts less than the resting quantity and approximation of the computed number of futures contracts assigned thereto, into the approximation of the computed number of futures contracts assigned to fulfillment of a subsequent order from the same trader counter to the same resting order for less than or equal to the remaining resting quantity of options contracts. This may have the effect of increasing or decreasing the number of futures contracts assigned to the subsequent order.
US08554655B2	Integration of gift card services for mobile devices and social networking services Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for social networking services integrated with gift card services. In general, a profile of a member of a social networking service may be presented with one or more merchant credit services for prepaid merchant account credit, data characterizing a request to provide a credit service from the merchant credit services and a mobile phone number associated with an intended recipient of the first credit service may be received, and a message may be caused to be sent to the mobile phone number, where the message characterizes provision of the first credit service to the intended recipient. Interest in the credit service may be tracked and associated with a loyalty indicator associated with the member.
US08554647B1	Location-based categorization prompting of transactions Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for providing suggested transaction categories based on location. The system includes a computer apparatus including a processor and a memory; and a software module stored in the memory. The software module includes executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to determine a location of a user; access a database including a plurality of locations and associated transaction categories; determine at least one category associated with the location of the user using the database; and provide the at least one category to the user so that the user may categorize a transaction. In some embodiments, the system determines the category based on a combination of the location and a characteristic of the transaction or a previous input by the user. The system assists users in categorizing transactions so that the user is better able to track spending.
US08554645B1	Method and system for identifying business expenditures with vendors and automatically generating and submitting required forms A method and system for determining business expenditures with vendors and automatically generating and submitting required forms whereby vendor identification data and/or contact information is obtained. Data representing current vendor reporting requirements and/or contact information for any associated reporting agency is obtained and stored along with data representing one or more associated reporting forms. Financial transaction data associated with a business is then obtained and analyzed using the current vendor reporting requirement data to identify/match one or more vendors used by the business that are subject to the reporting requirement. At least part of the identification data associated with subject vendors, and at least part of the financial transaction data associated with the business, is used to auto-fill one or more forms associated with the reporting requirement for each of the identified subject vendors and the auto-filled forms are then sent to the respective vendors, and/or the appropriate reporting agency automatically.
US08554644B1	Method and system for managing inventory information using a mobile device A method for managing inventory information that includes displaying the inventory information in a graphical user interface of a mobile device, and adding an item as part of the inventory information, using the mobile device, where adding the item includes adding descriptive metadata about the item to the inventory information.
US08554643B2	Method for placing a palletless goods package in a stock shelf and delivering therefrom and for controlling logistics of packages A method and equipment to stack palletless and as to their size variable packages (1) on warehouse rack (15) and to retrieve them from the rack and to control the logistics of packages, in which the warehouse rack is furnished with an automatic packages stacking and retrieving robot, and in which the control of warehouse data and logistics takes place by a data system. Equipment (5) receives package (1), for instance, onto conveyor belt (2), equipment (5) carries out weighing of package (1), determination for the necessary space requirement, reading of remote code connected to package (1), as RFID code (20) in order to choose the rack space determined for it on basis of previous functions, and package (1) is retrieved from the rack steered either by the order of the user or of the data system, and the data from above mentioned stacking and retrieving functions are transmitted to the data system.
US08554641B2	Merchandising items of topical interest Various embodiments are described herein that provide one or more of a systems, methods, software, and data structures within an Internet marketplace context that are useful to promote products that may be associated with an event occurrence. Some embodiments further utilize collaborative filtering to augment event-based product recommendations.
US08554638B2	Comparative shopping tool The claimed subject matter relates to a computer-implemented architecture that can provide a non-invasive comparative shopping tool, such as a browser plug-in. For example, the plug-in can determine whether a web user is currently visiting a purchase page, thus indicating that the web user is likely to be interested in purchasing items online. Upon making this determination, the plug-in can display a non-invasive listing (that can be quickly and conveniently dismissed) of comparable items at favorable prices (or with favorable features, etc.) that are available for purchase at other web sites. In addition, the plug-in can communicate with a data store, e.g., by way of the web, in order to help make various determination as well as to receive the listing of comparable items.
US08554636B1	Method and system for facilitating the transfer of intellectual property A method and system for facilitating the transfer of intellectual property are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method of facilitating the transfer of intellectual property includes obtaining at a computer system of a first entity information concerning intellectual property in which an interest is available for transfer (the “available intellectual property”) from a second entity. The method further includes transferring the interest in the available intellectual property by concluding an agreement between the first and second entities. The agreement is representative of an acceptance of an offer concerning the transferring of the interest in the available intellectual property and consideration for the transferring of the interest. At least a portion of the interest in the available intellectual property that is transferred to the first entity is intended to be transferred from the first entity to a third entity.
US08554629B2	Targeted ads based on user purchases The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing advertisements on websites. In an embodiment, a method for providing an advertisement on a website includes obtaining purchase information submitted by a user making a purchase on the website, determining at least one advertisement for a product or service related to the purchase but of a different type than the purchase, and displaying the at least one advertisement on the website when the purchase is completed. In another embodiment, a system for providing an advertisement on a website includes a purchase server, an advertisement source, an analyzer, and an advertisement server.
US08554628B1	Advertisement delivery Advertisement delivery capable of providing data to satisfy advertising requests for displaying information to a user accessing an online computer system, generally includes using a first server that is structured and arranged to deliver advertisements to a first region of a display, and a second server that is structured and arranged to deliver advertisements to a second region of a display that is different from the first region. Advertisement delivery may also include a display server that sends input based on demographic data to the servers, where the display server receives instructions from at least one of the first and second servers based on the region controlled by the server, and a configuration system that generates and sends a first configuration file to the first server and a second configuration file to the second server, where the first configuration file includes instructions for displaying advertisements to the first region, and the second configuration file includes instructions for displaying advertisements to the second region.
US08554625B2	Mobile advertising and content caching mechanism for mobile devices and method for use thereof The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for a mobile advertising and content caching mechanism for mobile devices and a method for using such a mechanism. In one example, the method includes monitoring a mobile device for activity indicating user interest in an advertising area. The method detects an application launch request corresponding to the monitored activity and intercepts the application launch request. The method provides multimedia advertising content to an output component of the mobile device, and launches the application corresponding to the application launch request after the multimedia advertising content has finished playing on the output component.
US08554624B2	System and method for advertising and negotiating services for commercial and general aviation A system and method for advertising and negotiating services for commercial and general aviation are provided. A pilot of an aircraft may enter into a computing device specific information about a desired service the pilot wishes to have available upon arrival at an airport. This information is transmitted to an airport bartering system that barters with fixed based operator (FBO) computing systems at the airport for the desired services. The airport bartering system ranks the latest quotes from the FBOs based on criteria identified by the pilot in the original request. Advertisements for the top ranked FBOs are generated and transmitted to the aircraft computer system. The advertisements are displayed for viewing by the pilot. The pilot selects an advertisement, which generates an order for the desired service. The order is transmitted to the airport bartering system, which forwards the order to the FBO computer system associated with the selected advertisement.
US08554613B2	Providing coupons based on user selected preference options A device is configured to receive, from a first mobile device of a first user of a group of users, information identifying a first location of the first mobile device and to receive, from a second mobile device of a second user of the group, a second location of the second mobile device. The device is further configured to determine a geographic area of a venue associated with a coupon. The device is also configured to match the coupon to the group when the first location and the second location are within the geographic area, and transmit information associated with the matched coupon to the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The group is organized by the first user or the second user for a plurality of users to receive coupons for a particular type of service associated with the matched coupon.
US08554606B2	System and method for managing sponsorships A system and method for managing sponsorships by a sponsor, in which the party requesting the sponsorship requests to use content owned and protected by the sponsor, such as trademarks, logos, and copyrighted material. An embodiment of the method involves receiving, at a computer network site, a request for sponsorship from a requestor and responding to the request by sending either an approval or a rejection. If an approval is sent, the method further involves providing the requestor with access to content of the sponsor through the site. As part of providing this access, the method can involve requiring the requestor to accept an agreement posted on the site. The method can also include monitoring the requestor's actual use of the content.
US08554603B1	Systems and methods for analysis of legal service providers and comparative unit costs or ratio costs Systems and methods for analyzing legal service providers and unit or ratio costs are provided. Billing data from legal services providers is analyzed to identify common tasks based on task codes. The common tasks are then analyzed to determine a unit cost or ratio cost for the tasks or a ratio cost for the tasks compared to the total costs for a matter. Analysis constraints are applied to the billing data to generate a cost model, which can be output in a variety of different graphical formats. This output, which identifying at least some of the total matter costs on a unit cost or ratio cost basis, allows for comparison of legal services provided by a number of different legal services providers. It also allows for comparing price quotes from a number of legal services providers against each other and against historical cost information.
US08554598B2	Universal shopping center for international operation An international transaction system for operation over the internet/intranet provides a pre-transactional calculation of all charges involved in any international transaction. Upon the option of the customer, the goods can be viewed on catalogue sheets translated to a language of the customer's choice, and the price provided in a currency selected by the customer. The customer also has the option of initiating the order with automatic credit authorization, generation of an electronic title or commercial invoice and arrangements and payment of shipping charges and any taxes and import/export duties.
US08554596B2	System and methods for managing complex service delivery through coordination and integration of structured and unstructured activities The invention allows for the integration of structured and unstructured human activities in the context of delivering one or more service. The systems and method described improve efficiency and quality of service delivery by increasing overall productivity and by providing better accountability for the actual cost of delivery.
US08554588B2	Insurance product, rating system and method In the present invention, an insurance product, rating system and method generally relates to a rating and pricing system for quantifying the risk that the annual savings will not fall below specified levels associated with implementing and maintaining economic improvements. The product, system and method can be applied to various industries, including, power generation, petro-chemical, manufacturing and refining facilities. Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and products for providing a computer implemented insurance product.
US08554587B1	Rich claim reporting system A rich-media system allows a user to illustrate damage and request payment in accordance with an insurance policy or another arrangement. The rich-media system includes network servers that may operate and appear to remote client applications and remote computers as if the network servers were a single computer. A damage indicator tool resident to one of the network servers enables a remote user to visually illustrate damage to an item through a rich-media application. The damage indicator may support a relative pointing device and an absolute pointing device. An incident animator tool linked to the damage indicator tool in some rich media systems enables the remote user to visually recreate an event in a second rich media application. An optional scheduler linked to the incident animator tool and the damage indicator tool may enable the remote user to schedule an appointment to have the damage inspected or repaired.
US08554584B2	Interactive credential system and method The interactive credential system and method has a database containing employee-employer-applicant surveyed information, industry specific criteria, such as insurance loss history and account performance, an authorization code for authorizing access to the database and a control device, operatively associated with the database, for presenting weighted scores. The system further includes a surveyed party processor operatively associated with the control device, and wherein the surveyed party processor is capable of transmitting the authorization code to view the surveyed information. The system also has a participant processor that is capable of requesting authorization to download the employee-employer-applicant information, including weighted scores computed from the system's algorithms processed from industry specific parameters.
US08554567B2	Multi-channel interactive self-help application platform and method An interactive voice response (IVR) platform running a voice application for use with a voice client is extended to support text messaging clients and other clients of other media types on other channels. An application-to-text messaging interface interfaces with text messaging clients via a text messaging protocol transport and interfaces with the IVR via an API. It includes a user/application manager to handle user and application accounts and a state/session manager to handle state information required by the text messaging operations and to handle sessions maintained by the IVR. Text modules are implemented having text synthesis and text recognition with a dictionary/grammar. These allow voice-specific application scripts to be interpreted in a text channel. The extended multi-channel platform supports an open source text messaging network and also through a transport gateways to other types of text messaging clients.
US08554566B2	Training and applying prosody models Techniques for training and applying prosody models for speech synthesis are provided. A speech recognition engine processes audible speech to produce text annotated with prosody information. A prosody model is trained with this annotated text. After initial training, the model is applied during speech synthesis to generate speech with non-standard prosody from input text. Multiple prosody models can be used to represent different prosody styles.
US08554565B2	Speech segment processor According to one embodiment, a speech synthesizer generates a speech segment sequence and synthesizes speech by connecting speech segments of the generated speech segment sequence. If a speech segment of a synthesized first speech segment sequence is different from the speech segment of a synthesized second speech segment sequence having the same synthesis unit as the first speech segment sequence, the speech synthesizer disables the speech segment of the first speech segment sequence that is different from the speech segment of the second speech segment sequence.
US08554562B2	Method and system for speaker diarization A method and system for speaker diarization are provided. Pre-trained acoustic models of individual speaker and/or groups of speakers are obtained. Speech data with multiple speakers is received and divided into frames. For a frame, an acoustic feature vector is determined extended to include log-likelihood ratios of the pre-trained models in relation to a background population model. The extended acoustic feature vector is used in segmentation and clustering algorithms.
US08554556B2	Multi-microphone voice activity detector A dual microphone voice activity detector system is presented. A voice activity detector system estimates the signal level and noise level at each microphone. A level differential between the two microphones of nearby sounds such as the signal is greater than the level differential of more distant sounds such as the noise. Thus, the voice activity detector detects the presence of nearby sounds.
US08554554B2	Automated demographic analysis by analyzing voice activity Methods, systems, and media for determining a response to be generated in an environment are provided. The methods, systems, and media monitor the environment for a voice activity of an individual. The voice activity of the individual is detected and analyzed. A content descriptor of the voice activity is determined based on the voice activity of the individual. A demographic descriptor of the individual is determined based on the voice activity of the individual. The content descriptor, the demographic descriptor, and known information are correlated to determine the response to be generated in the environment.
US08554544B2	Method for generating text that meets specified characteristics in a handheld electronic device and a handheld electronic device incorporating the same Incoming e-mails, instant messages, SMS, and MMS, are scanned for new language objects such as words, abbreviations, text shortcuts and, in appropriate languages, ideograms, that are placed in a list for use by a text input process of a handheld electronic device to facilitate the generation of text. Systems and methods consistent with the present invention may gather new language objects from sources of text external to the handheld electronic device, and may ignore new language objects that are not considered to be in a current language of the handheld electronic device.
US08554539B2	Method for analyzing morpheme using additional information and morpheme analyzer for executing the method A method of performing a morpheme analysis by utilizing additional information is provided. The method includes acquiring an analysis target phrase and additional information associated with the target phrase. A term is obtained form the additional information. And the phrase is analyzed to extract a key term or keyword by using the term extracted from the additional data.
US08554536B2	Information operations support system, method, and computer program product A system, method and computer program product are provided for creation of a network training environment that simulates a large network as a training target and using simulation and virtual network technologies together with actual network resources to teach computer network exploitation and computer network attack techniques in training exercises for persons responsible for safeguarding networks and for probing and attacking others' networks. The system, method, and computer program product further support integration of real hosts for more realistic exercises.
US08554530B1	Methods and systems for property assertion in circuit simulation Systems and methods for simulating and verifying a design are contemplated. Various embodiments determine a set of verification rules for a design, wherein the verification rules use a PSL or SVA syntax in a SPICE netlist to describ a property of the circuit design. The state of a circuit at a simulated first time, t1, can be determined. The state at the first time, t1, may be analyzed to determine if a triggering event has occurred. Based on the occurrence of the triggering event, the systems and methods can verify the state at the first time, t1, against the set of verification rules. Some embodiments of the systems and methods described herein can include a mixed-signal circuit including an analog portion and a digital portion, and the analog portion, the mixed-signal portion, or both, may be simulated and verified.
US08554528B2	Systems and methods for simulating fieldbus devices Systems and methods for simulating operations of a Fieldbus system (FS). The FS (200) includes a Fieldbus interface module (FIM) coupled to field devices. The methods involve creating a simulation computer model (SCM) of the FS, generating simulation data records (SDRs), and running simulation software (SS). The SS is installed on a computer system (242), FIM (232, 234), or embedded device (222, 226). The SS simulates at least one operation of the FS. The SS uses at least a portion of the SCM and at least one of the SDRs. The SCM includes functional blocks and interconnections between the functional blocks. The functional blocks represent the FIM and/or field devices. The SDRs include data defining the SCM, a control strategy of the FS, and communication links between the FIM and field devices. The SDRs also include data defining the operating characteristics of the FIM and field devices.
US08554525B2	Modeling complex environments using an interconnected system of simulation layers A method is provided for creating or evolving a virtual environment with a computer system. Steps of the method include: forming a plurality of layers of data, including a first layer and a second layer, each layer including a plurality of cells containing data corresponding to a variable; operating on the data from the cells in the first layer with a function to yield target data; distributing the target data to corresponding cells in the second layer; and altering the data in at least one of the plurality of cells in each layer according to a rule.
US08554522B2	Detection of design redundancy Augmented-domain simulation, such as ternary-based simulation may be utilized to approximate a reachability analysis of a model being model checked. The approximated reachability analysis may be utilized to detect design redundancies and modify the model to remove such redundancies. Design redundancies may include unobservable variables, mergeable variables and utilization of surplus domains.
US08554521B2	Designing an assembly of objects in a computer-aided design system An embodiment of a method for designing an assembly of objects in a system of computer-aided design can include:(i) selecting a first object and a second object of the assembly, each of the first object and the second object having interface information; (ii) computing a set of positions of the first object relatively to the second object of the assembly, and (iii) displaying simultaneously representations of the computed positions of the first object relatively to the second object.
US08554516B2	Enterprise wide system and methods for configuring, diagnosing, and updating appliances A system and methods to provide appliance field support personnel with a tool that, together with proper interface modules, simplifies the execution of diagnostic procedures and provides an easy way to configure, reconfigure, or update electronic boards in the home on a client side of an enterprise wide system. The electronic boards serve as electronic controllers in the appliances and are programmable generic service boards. With such a system, it is possible to update and re-configure electronic boards and interact directly with an electronic controller of an appliance while an appliance is operating. Software, configuration data, and control data are downloaded from a server-side configuration of the enterprise wide system to update the electronic boards.
US08554514B2	Test apparatus and test method A data signal is transmitted synchronously with a clock signal, and contains n phases (n represents an integer of 2 or more) of data for each cycle of the clock signal. A first time to digital converter generates clock change point information which represents the change timing of the clock signal. A second time to digital converter receives a data sequence in increments of cycles of the clock signal, and generates data change point information items which represent the change timing of the data in increments of phases of the data. A calculation unit calculates difference data between the change timing represented by the data change point information and the change point timing represented by the clock change point information in increments of phases. A judgment unit judges a DUT based upon the difference data received from the calculation unit.
US08554513B2	Method of testing and proving fuel efficiency improvements A method of testing and proving fuel efficiency improvements includes installing a telematic device in each of a first plurality of vehicles and a second plurality of vehicles. The telematic devices collect baseline fuel consumption data during a first time period and collect test fuel consumption data during a second time period. Between the first and second time periods, at least one operating parameter of the second plurality of vehicles is modified such that the baseline fuel consumption data and the test fuel consumption data can be analyzed to determine any fuel efficiency improvements caused by the modified operating parameter. To ensure reliable and statistically-significant results, each plurality of vehicles may include 15 vehicles and each time period may include 60 days.
US08554509B2	System and method for measuring the linear and rotational acceleration of a body part A system and method for determining the magnitude of linear and rotational acceleration of and direction of impact to a body part. In one version, protective sports equipment is worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity. The equipment includes a padding assembly that resides against the player during the sporting activity; a band removably positioned within the padding assembly, the band including a control unit having a plurality of sensing devices, a processor and a wireless transmitter that collectively interact to transmit data detected by the sensing devices, the control unit further having an encoder that encodes data from the sensing devices with a unique identifier prior to transmission.
US08554499B2	Methods, device and installation for locating a defect in an electric link A method for detecting a defect in an electric link, which transmits, at a first moment, an electric signal having a predetermined propagation speed from an end of the electric link, and detects, at a second moment, reception of an echo of the electric signal. The method further establishes a model of the variation of the electric signal propagation speed in the electric link on the basis of the length of the link through which the signal flows, and estimates a first location of the defect based on the difference between the first and second moments, on the predetermined propagation speed at the start, and on the speed variation model in the link.
US08554496B2	Water consumption monitor A system and method for monitoring utilization and waste of a natural resource, such as water. Data is received indicating natural resource consumption by a facility. An indication of at least one period of natural resource usage by the facility is received. Natural resource usage corresponding to utilization of the natural resource for a useful purpose. Quantities of the natural resource consumed by the facility during the at least one period of water usage is recorded as a utilized quantity.
US08554490B2	Automatic vascular model generation based on fluid-structure interactions (FSI) A computer system and method are disclosed for automatically generating a vascular model of a blood vessel to support, for example, identification of mechanical factors corresponding to the blood vessel. The method includes interpolating data points corresponding to a contour of the blood vessel; generating a structural model representing three-dimensional structural characteristics of the blood vessel based on interpolated contours; generating a fluid model representing three-dimensional characteristics of fluid flow within the vessel; and generating a vascular model based on the structural model and the fluid model. The method may also include performing a mechanical analysis of the vascular model to identify a mechanical factor associated with the vessel, for example, a factor associated with a potential plaque rupture within the vessel. Embodiments of the invention are applicable to the diagnosis, assessment, or treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
US08554486B2	Method, computer program product, and apparatus for selective memory restoration of a simulation The present invention is directed to a method, apparatus, and computer program product for performing selective memory restoration of a simulation based on an indexing scheme. The present invention executes a block diagram model of a biological process to generate simulations results using a simulation engine. An indexing scheme is used for registering memory locations used by a simulation context for a subsystem in the block diagram model. Experimental data is gathered from an in situ experimental device. A simulation environment is used to compare expected simulation results with experimental data. The block diagram model is then updated based on the results of the comparison to create a modified block diagram model, which is then used to selectively restore the simulation to a steady-state.
US08554479B2	Navigation system and method for supporting destination input in a navigation system A possibility for simplifying the inputting of the destination in a motor vehicle navigation system by providing the user with useful additional items of information for the specification of ambiguous destination indications. Such a navigation system includes means for destination input, a navigation module for route planning, and means for displaying information, in particular indications of location, additional items of information concerning the indications of location, and route information, the means for destination input supporting a hierarchical, interactive inputting of the destination, by providing the user, in the case of ambiguous textual destination indications, with a choice of destination alternatives, including additional items of specifying information, until an unambiguous destination indication is made. The textual destination indications are stored together with corresponding geographic coordinates. The geographic coordinates are used for the determination of the additional items of information for the specification of destination alternatives.
US08554474B2	Reporting of changes in navigation map data for navigation system A method, navigation unit and map update server for updating navigation map data are disclosed. Navigation map update data is received from a navigation unit using mobile communications. The navigation map update data is obtained by detecting the position of a vehicle, calculating a route for the vehicle to a destination using the navigation map data and detecting when the calculated route to the destination is left. If so, the method begins storing position data until the vehicle is back on the calculated route, on a recalculated route to the destination from an actual position, or when it has reached the destination. Furthermore, the method comprises evaluating the stored position data to obtain navigation map update data. Navigation map update data is kept local for a geographically limited area corresponding to an area serviced by a network node in the cellular communication network.
US08554470B2	Communication system and movable terminal A movable terminal stores previously a travel time schedule in a regular travel state of a public transportation. The movable terminal executes a route retrieval from candidates containing route sections traveled by using the public transportation and route sections traveled by using different transportation (i.e., foot, vehicle) other than the public transportation. As a result of the route retrieval, when it is determined that the route using the public transportation is more suitable, a request for a multi-modal retrieval based on actual present travel state of the public transportation is transmitted to a center. A center route received thereafter from the center is recorded as a guidance route used for executing route guidance.
US08554457B2	System and method for airport surface management Described herein are systems and methods for surface management of an airport. One embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a method including receiving airport data from an airport network, receiving surface surveillance data for specific segments of an airport area, identifying predicted conflicts within one of the segments based on the airport data and surface surveillance data, and allocating a taxi time slot for the flight. Another embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a system comprising a user interface displaying information related to flight plan data and airport data received from an airport network, and a surface management module receiving the airport data and surface surveillance data for specific segments of an airport area, identifying predicted conflicts within one of the segments based on the airport data and surface surveillance data, and allocating a taxi time slot for the flight.
US08554441B1	Phasing of traction control based on vehicle speed and road slope A traction control system and methodology that utilize a phase-out and phase-in of maximum drive torque and/or a regenerative brake torque based on vehicle speed and road slope.
US08554438B2	Vehicular lane departure prevention control apparatus A vehicular lane departure prevention control apparatus calculates first and second departure amounts based on lane line position information and obstacle position information, sets braking forces for lane departure prevention control based thereon, and outputs the braking forces to a brake control unit, the braking forces for generating a yaw moment and a deceleration to a subject vehicle and preventing the vehicle from departing with respect to the lane line and obstacle, while setting a departure level for target pump motor rotation speed setting based on a vehicle speed, a difference of the steering wheel angle from a crossing angle and the first departure amount, setting a target rotation speed for a pump motor of a hydraulic unit in a brake control unit based thereon, and then outputting the target rotation speed to the brake control unit so as to variably control the rotation speed of the pump motor.
US08554436B2	Vehicle driving assist system A vehicle driving assist system has a controller configured to calculate a risk potential indicative of the degree of convergence between a host vehicle in which the system is installed and a preceding obstacle. Then, the controller performs a driver notification controlling operation that produces a driver notification stimulus based on the risk potential. Considering the acceleration of the preceding obstacle, the speed of the host vehicle, and the following distance between the host vehicle and the preceding obstacle, the controller calculates a threshold value for determining when to commence the control of the driver notification controlling operation.
US08554432B2	Power transfer mechanism control device and power transfer device A power transfer mechanism control device that controls a power transfer mechanism which is mounted on a vehicle including an automatically stoppable and automatically startable motor and which transfers power from the motor to an axle side via a friction engagement element actuated by a fluid pressure from a fluid pressure actuator, wherein during neutral control performed while the motor is in operation, a neutral control amount, which is a control amount for causing the friction engagement element to stand by in a neutral state with pressure lower than a complete engagement pressure, is set on the basis of a power transfer state of the power transfer mechanism to control the fluid pressure actuator, and learned, and while the motor is automatically stopped, the fluid pressure actuator is controlled using the learned neutral control amount such that the friction engagement element stands by in the neutral state.
US08554431B2	Method for adapting gear selection in a vehicle A method for adapting gear selection in a vehicle, the vehicle including an engine with an engine output shaft connected to an automated mechanical transmission via a clutch, a transmission output shaft connected to at least one driven wheel of the vehicle, an arrangement for registering whether a towed vehicle is connected to said vehicle, and at least one control unit for receiving input signals including signals indicative of the towed vehicle connection, and for processing the signals in accordance with programmed logic rules to issue gear selection command output signals to the transmission for gear shifting, where the control unit, when sensing that a towed vehicle has been connected to the vehicle, changes an originally selected first gear to a lower second gear having a higher starting gear ratio compared to the first gear. The towed vehicle connection registering arrangement registers at least bounce from when the vehicle bounces into the towed vehicle for connecting the towed vehicle to the vehicle. A more sure registration of whether a towed vehicle is connected to the vehicle or not is obtained.
US08554430B2	Method for anticipating downshifting and for monitoring an automatic transmission A method for anticipating downshifting upon uphill driving on a vehicle including an automatic transmission and including change laws imposing a change to a lower gear based on pre-established downshifting curves. The method imposes a change to the lower gear to the transmission independently from the gear set point established by the change laws when the acceleration that can be reached at the maximum torque on the current gear is lower than an acceleration threshold necessary for maintaining the vehicle speed.
US08554416B2	Rear wheel steering angle controlling device for vehicles The present invention provides a rear wheel steering angle controlling device for vehicles comprising: a rear wheel steering mechanism (5R, 5L) for changing a rear wheel steering angle; a front wheel steering angle detector (9) for detecting a front wheel steering angle (δf); a vehicle velocity detector (10R, 10L) for detecting a vehicle velocity (V); a feedforward rear wheel steering angle control target value setting unit (21) for setting a feedforward control target value (δrFF) of said rear wheel steering angle according to said front wheel steering angle, said vehicle velocity, a steering yaw rate transfer function property (Gγ0) of the vehicle without a rear wheel steering angle control, and a prescribed reference steering yaw rate transfer function property (Gideal); and a controlling device (11) for controlling said rear wheel steering mechanism according to said feedforward rear wheel steering angle control target value; wherein a steady-state property of said reference steering yaw rate transfer function property is configured to be identical to said steering yaw rate transfer function property without said rear wheel steering angle control.
US08554415B2	Motor vehicle steering system A steering system for a motor vehicle equipped with a cargo-handling machine including a pair of left and right loading portions is provided. The steering system includes a turning actuator that turns a steered wheel according to an operation of a steering member, and a side shift actuator that shifts the pair of loading portions in the left-right direction. A control unit that controls driving of the side shift actuator includes a target side shift amount calculating section that calculates a target side shift amount of the pair of loading portions based on lateral acceleration detected by a lateral acceleration sensor.
US08554412B2	Electric power steering apparatus, control method thereof and program Provided are: an electric motor that applies steering assist force to a steering wheel; a target current determination unit 25 that calculates a target current to be supplied to the electric motor on the basis of steering torque of the steering wheel; and a correction unit 27 that, when a rotation speed of the electric motor is less than a predetermined rotation speed, corrects the target current calculated by the target current determination unit 25 to be reduced on the basis of an actual current supplied to the electric motor and a time during which the actual current is supplied. Thereby a technique is provided to suppress a failure of the electric motor due to an excessive current flowing through the electric motor with higher accuracy.
US08554410B2	Route guidance assistance by moment support at the steering wheel A device and a method for route guidance assistance in a vehicle that is connected to a navigation system. In order to make it easier for the driver to follow a route calculated by a navigation system, an assisting device is provided for route guidance. The assisting device includes a control unit for generating a control signal for haptic feedback to the driver of the vehicle. As haptic feedback, the control unit can output an additional moment on the steering system of the vehicle, for example, the additional moment being negative when the vehicle departs from the travel route while being positive when the vehicle follows the calculated direction of the navigation route.
US08554408B2	Control wheel with haptic feedback A control wheel for controlling at least one function of a system by a user includes a moveable engagement wheel for engagement by the user and an actuator coupled to the engagement wheel for providing force or haptic feedback to the engagement wheel in response to movement of the engagement wheel. A sensor for sensing movement of the engagement wheel is provided and a control system is coupled to the sensor for receiving information about positioning and movement of the engagement wheel, and is also coupled to the actuator for controlling force to the engagement wheel. The control system also provides control of the at least one function of the system.
US08554407B2	Bypass valve and coolant flow controls for optimum temperatures in waste heat recovery systems Implementing an optimized waste heat recovery system includes calculating a temperature and a rate of change in temperature of a heat exchanger of a waste heat recovery system, and predicting a temperature and a rate of change in temperature of a material flowing through a channel of the waste heat recovery system. Upon determining the rate of change in the temperature of the material is predicted to be higher than the rate of change in the temperature of the heat exchanger, the optimized waste heat recovery system calculates a valve position and timing for the channel that is configurable for achieving a rate of material flow that is determined to produce and maintain a defined threshold temperature of the heat exchanger, and actuates the valve according to the calculated valve position and calculated timing.
US08554390B2	Free cooling solution for a containerized data center A heat exchanger system having an IT container having an inner chamber containing the media from which heat is to be pulled, and further having an outer surface to which is attached corrugated columns of thermally conducting material, cooling water pipes through the corrugated columns supplied with cooling water, at least the outer surface of the container and the corrugated columns is composed of metal and the outer surface of the container is separated from the inner surface by insulator material. It also contains a temperature monitor and controller for controlling the cooling system based upon the environment temperature to save energy.
US08554384B2	Systems and methods for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices A method for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices is disclosed. Experience based data learned from past power behavior of one or more devices is received. One or more power saving opportunities are generated based on the experience based data. Estimated cost savings is calculated. A notification message is presented to a user that describes the power saving opportunities and associated cost savings for the opportunities.
US08554380B2	Weather based irrigation controller A weather based irrigation controller has a thermometer that provides a temperature signal to the controller and a rain gauge that provides a rainfall signal to the controller, for adjusting irrigation schedules. A default mode is initiated when either sensor fails, and introduces an adjustment to the maximum irrigation duration based on historical stored data.
US08554379B2	Irrigation system and method for operating thereof The present invention discloses an irrigation system comprising a plurality of valve stations that are operatively coupled with a controller operative to control the operation of the plurality of valve stations. The valve stations are grouped into a plurality of valve station groups, each group comprising at least two valve stations. The at least two valve stations are operatively coupled in parallel with a hotwire to a respective output port of the controller; and the at least two valve stations respective of the plurality of valve station groups are operatively coupled in parallel with a common wire to a corresponding input port of the controller. The controller is operative to change the operational mode of a selected one of the valve stations.
US08554373B2	Preparation and use of alkylating agents The present disclosure provides methods of synthesizing alkylating agents and methods of use.
US08554371B2	Vision aided case/bulk palletizer system The vision aided case/bulk palletizer system of this invention is a process and apparatus for: providing a camera positioned over the dunnage supply line; initiating a frame grab of the dunnage supply line with the camera; using the frame grab to determine the position of the dunnage; using the frame grab to position the programmable robot over the dunnage; feeding the dunnage from the dunnage supply line to the load building area; and controlling the steps with the single programmable robot, microprocessor and software. This system provides for transfer of the dunnage when the position of the dunnage is skewed by using the frame grab to position the programmable robot over the skewed dunnage. In another embodiment, the camera is used to determine any void in the tier of product during the build of a tier of product, and also provides for error-proofing the transfer of dunnage.
US08554370B2	Machine learning approach for predicting humanoid robot fall A system and method is disclosed for predicting a fall of a robot having at least two legs. A learned representation, such as a decision list, generated by a supervised learning algorithm is received. This learned representation may have been generated based on trajectories of a simulated robot when various forces are applied to the simulated robot. The learned representation takes as inputs a plurality of features of the robot and outputs a classification indicating whether the current state of the robot is balanced or falling. A plurality of features of the current state of the robot, such as the height of the center of mass of the robot, are determined based on current values of a joint angle or joint velocity of the robot. The current state of the robot is classified as being either balanced or falling by evaluating the learned representation with the plurality of features of the current state of the robot.
US08554365B2	Storage devices, systems, and methods for facilitating medication dispensing and restocking A storage device, method, and computer program product is provided that includes a number of drawer-level display devices. Each drawer-level display device may be associated with and disposed on a particular drawer. Each drawer-level display device may be configured to present a user with medication information for a selected medication stored in the associated drawer. Thus, a user can have direct access to information required for completing a dispensing or restocking operation at the accessed drawer and does not need to refer back to the cabinet-level display device for information. The drawer-level display devices may be main drawer-level display devices, located near a leading end of each drawer, and/or secondary drawer-level display devices located at the pockets defined by the drawer. Thus, the information needed to complete a dispensing or restocking operation that is in progress can be found at the drawer-level, where the user's attention is already focused.
US08554364B2	Apparatus for securing drawer contents A cabinet having a plurality of drawers, each drawer having at least one compartment. The cabinet includes a computer and a panel pivotally coupled to one of the drawers. The panel is disposed in a covering relationship with the compartments within the drawer and includes at least one opening. The opening corresponds with the compartment. A cover is pivotally connected to the panel and covers the opening. A locking mechanism is interconnected with the drawer and the cover. The locking mechanism receives a signal from the computer to position it in one of a locked and unlocked position.
US08554363B2	Apparatus configured to dispense a plurality of connected inflatable structures and associated system and method An apparatus configured to dispense a plurality of connected inflatable structures is provided. The apparatus may include a motor which is configured to advance a dispensing device to thereby advance the connected inflatable structures. A sensor is configured to detect a pulling force applied to the dispensing device and configured to output a signal corresponding to the pulling force. A controller is configured to receive the signal and output a control signal to direct the motor to advance the dispensing device in response to the signal to thereby dispense the connected inflatable structures. A related system includes the apparatus in addition to an inflation device configured to inflate the connected inflatable structures and an accumulation bin configured to store the connected inflatable structures. A related method is also provided.
US08554359B2	Transfer apparatus A transfer apparatus includes a container that contains workpieces to be transferred, a sensor that detects a position and a posture of the workpiece existing in a predetermined detection area, and a robot that takes out the workpiece and transfers the workpiece to a transfer destination on the basis of a detection result of the sensor. The sensor includes an area storage that stores a plurality of detection areas, a condition storage that stores a switching condition for switching the detection areas, and a controller that switches the detection areas in a predetermined order when the switching condition is satisfied.
US08554354B1	Method for adaptive guiding of webs A method of adaptive guiding of a web on a roller is disclosed. The method includes computing an output of a reference model, reading an output of a sensor that indicates a web position, determining a difference between the output of the reference model and the output of the sensor, and updating a set off controller parameters for the roller based on the difference.
US08554347B2	Remote audio amplifier monitoring system An apparatus is provided for remotely monitoring a plurality of amplifiers on a display device. The amplifiers are provided to process audio signals and directly or indirectly connected to a network. In the apparatus, a collecting section collects a group code from each of the amplifiers through the network. The group code is allocated to each amplifier according to a grouping system for grouping the plurality of the amplifiers. A display control section displays a tree diagram of the amplifiers according to the collected group codes on the display device as a graphical representation of the grouping system.
US08554345B2	APP rating system A technique to automatically provide assistance with the selection of an app for an electronic game is described. An apparatus may comprise an app rating application arranged to receive as input game performance information representing gameplay of an electronic game. The app rating application may process the game performance information and output an app rating indicator of an app corresponding to the app identifier parameter based on the performance information to assist a user in selecting the app. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08554328B2	Method for inspection of materials for defects The present invention is a non-destructive method of inspecting a bond, particularly a braze bond, in a hermetic package. The invention involves a unique hermetic package design adapted for ultrasonic inspection and a method of inspecting the package. This package and non-destructive inspection process are particularly useful in implantable neural stimulators such as visual prostheses.
US08554326B2	Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.
US08554321B2	Identifying heart failure patients suitable for resynchronization therapy using QRS complex width from an intracardiac electrogram Methods and systems are disclosed for determining whether a patient is a responder to cardiac resynchronization therapy. The beginning and ending of the intrinsic ventricular depolarization are determined through signals measured from one or more electrodes implanted in the patient's heart. An interval between the beginning and ending of the intrinsic ventricular depolarization is computed and is compared to a threshold. The threshold may be determined empirically. The pacing parameters of a heart stimulation device, such as a pacemaker, may then be configured, for example, by setting the paced atrio-ventricular delay based on whether the patient responds positively to cardiac resynchronization therapy.
US08554320B2	Medical implantable lead The invention relates to a medical implantable lead for monitoring and/or controlling an organ inside a human or animal body. The lead comprises a conducting arrangement having a first conducting coil of at least one electrically conducting wire for connecting a first electrode electrically to a connector to receive and/or transmit electric signals from and to the tissue, respectively. The lead is tapered in a distal portion and has a smaller cross sectional dimension at the distal portion than at the rest of the lead. The first conducting coil is terminated at a termination point on a distance from the distal end. The conducting arrangement has a first end conductor in the form of a non-coiled electric conductor or an eccentrically positioned small diameter coil which connects the first electrode electrically with the coil.
US08554317B2	Microneedle arrays and methods of use thereof A method of treating a patient with a microneedle array having an active agent disposed on at least a portion of one or more of the microneedles, wherein the array with active agent is characterized by a first optical response when probed with a selected incident light spectrum. The array with active agent is applied to a skin surface, optionally allowed to remain on the skin surface for a specified time, and removed. The used array is probed with the selected incident light spectrum, a second optical response is sensed, and the difference between the first optical response and the second optical response is determined and compared to a predetermined threshold value.
US08554315B2	Methods of identifying and/or assessing cardiac arrhythmias using an implantable medical device Apparatus using one or more modes of statistical analysis with one or more monitored parameters of a patient's heart to identify and/or assess arrhythmias. Through use of the one or more modes of statistical analysis, a medical professional can be aided during evaluation of patient data for diagnosis of the patient. At least one of the monitored parameters may include one or more values used representatively for storage intervals of a selected length. As such, for each storage interval, a value may be determined for the one monitored parameter occurring at an upper percentile and a lower percentile. In addition, a median value may be determined for the one monitored parameter for each storage interval. Over a plurality of the storage intervals, these determined values can be used in one or more modes of statistical analysis to better identify and assess the arrhythmias.
US08554313B2	Device for the analysis of an endocardiac signal of acceleration A device for the analysis of an endocardiac signal of acceleration. The device preprocesses the acquired endocardiac acceleration (EA) signal by cutting the signal EA collected into sub-signals EA, each one have a duration of one cardiac cycle; separating the cut signals to isolate in each sub-signal EA at least one component EAx, associated with a major cardiac sound, and preferably into components EA1 and EA2 associated with the two major cardiac sounds S1 and S2; and performing a correlation on each component EA1 and EA2, to readjust each sub-signal in relation to a maximum of correlation, so as to deliver a readjusted component EA1 and a readjusted component EA2. The device further determines, starting from the isolated correlated components EA1 and EA2, a component average EA1 and a component average EA2, and to combine these components EA1 and average EA2 so as to produce an average global signal EA for one cycle. The device extracts from these information temporal markers of characteristic moments in the cardiac cycle, in particular markers of the moment of opening and closing of the aortic valve.
US08554305B2	Method and apparatus for providing pulses inhalation of 17O2 for magnetic resonance imaging of cerebral metabolism Prior approaches have delivered 17O2 to a subject by inhalation, but the relationship between local signal changes and metabolism has been complicated by H217O created in non-cerebral tissues. During a brief pulse of 17O2 inhalation, this arterial input function for H217O is negligible due to convective transport delays. Additional delays in the arterial input function due to restricted diffusion of water makes pulsed inhalation of 17O2 even more effective. Accordingly, ventilator system are provided to deliver 17O2 as a brief pulse to a subject. Subsequent MR imaging demonstrates delayed appearance of H217O in the cerebral ventricles, suggesting that the arterial input function of H217O is delayed by restricted water diffusion in addition to convective transit delays. Delivery as a brief pulse therefore offers significant advantages in relating MR signal changes directly to metabolism.
US08554291B2	Sliding portable telephone A sliding portable telephone in which a second display section is provided on a surface exposed when an upper housing is slid, enabling self-shooting by a built-in camera. Further, in the telephone, a mechanism for stopping the upper housing before a fully opened position is provided so that, when a fingerprint sensor is built-in in an end section of a lower housing, fingerprint authentication is enabled without fully opening the telephone. Also, a recess is formed between sliding surfaces of the upper and lower housings, a flexible circuit board is received in the recess, the flexible circuit board is inserted and led through a slit that is provided only in one end surface of the recess, the insertion section is sealed, and as a result, there is no problem even if water droplets are splashed on the sliding portable telephone in an extended state.
US08554287B1	Reconfigurable touch screen mobile device with keyboard cover A multifunction cover with touch screen display, icons, and a keyboard is described. A multifunction touch screen enabled mobile device may be configured to be connected to the separate cover, which may be attached to the device and detached from the device. The mobile device may be enabled with a cellular voice and data communication, WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, and Internet Protocol connectivity. The mobile device may be enabled to play videos, capture photos, and stream multimedia content.
US08554281B2	Handheld electronic device including automatic selection of input language, and associated method A method of automatically establishing an input language for a handheld electronic device includes receiving a request to initiate the composition of a new message, receiving a selection of a particular contact that is the intended recipient of the message, and determining whether the particular contact has a stored preferred input language. If a preferred input language is stored, the method includes determining whether the preferred input language is different than the current input language (which may be a pre-established default input language). If the preferred input language is different, the method further includes switching the current input language to the preferred input language. Also provided is an improved handheld electronic device having one or more routines adapted to implement the method. Also provided is a method of indicating a preferred language in association with a call received by or placed to the device.
US08554277B2	Microwave transmission assembly A microwave transmission assembly comprising a combiner comprising first and second input ports and internal and external output a ports; the combiner being adapted to transfer a signal received at microwave frequency f1 at the first input port to the external output port and signals received at other frequencies to the internal output port; the combiner being further adapted to transfer a signal at a microwave frequency f2 at the second input port to the external output port and signals received at the other frequencies to the internal output port; a resistive load connected to the internal output port; and, a power dependent reflective load connected in series with the resistive load, the power dependent reflective load comprising a reactive element, the reactive element comprising an inductive component and a capacitive component and being adapted to resonate at a load frequency; the impedance of the capacitive component being adapted to drop when the incident microwave power received by the power dependent reflective load exceeds a power limit so switching the power dependent load from a low impedance state to a high impedance state.
US08554274B2	Cell phone projector The invention provides a cell phone projector including a housing, a circuit device, a power supply, a projector module, wherein the circuit device and the power supply are disposed in the housing, and the projector module is displaced at one end of the housing, and wherein the housing is provided with a fence-type slot for insertion of a cell phone. The cell phone is inserted into the slot to thereby achieve to connect the cell phone with a projector. In use, a video signal within the cell phone can be easily output through the projector, to bring a better visual effect for users, and it is convenient for people to watch the video.
US08554268B2	Control methods for communication devices A control method for a communication device is provided. The control method includes the steps of: determining whether the communication device is in a wrong communication state when a call of a communication function is made from the communication device, and if the communication device is in the wrong communication state, prohibiting the communication function from being performed by the communication device after the call is finished.
US08554264B1	Systems and methods for optimizing broadcasts Optimizing a power level for a transmission so that the transmission is receivable at or near a destination, but no farther, is useful for reduced-power transmissions. Taking into account known distance for the transmission as determined by onboard GPS and geographic databases, a power level may be set more precisely. Accounting for atmospheric conditions which may impact transmission as determined by onboard or received measurements of temperature, solar or other conditions may also permit a power level to be set more precisely. An obstruction database may be consulted to determine whether transmissions will degrade due to objects in between the transmitter and receiver, permitting power level, frequency, bandwidth or transmit/receive location to be adjusted accordingly. The techniques may be implemented in any signal transmission scenario including mobile telephones, aircraft, marine or other vehicle radios, mobile devices with Wi-Fi radios for network computing, stationary radios, and other situations requiring communications.
US08554249B2	Location service for wireless devices A location service for wireless devices is described. In embodiments, a connection identifier is received that indicates a wireless device is linked to a communication node for wireless communication. Additional wireless devices are also linked to the communication node for wireless communication, and the additional wireless devices can each identify its geographic location. Location data is received from the additional wireless devices, where the location data indicates the respective geographic locations of the additional wireless devices. A location of the communication node can be determined from the location data that is received from the additional wireless devices, and a current location can then be assigned to the wireless device based on the determined location of the communication node.
US08554228B2	Computing an action time for allocation of resources to a mobile station that is handing over from a source to a target base station To perform a handover of a mobile station from a source base station to a target base station, the source base station determines a delay of a connection between the source base station and the target base station. The source base station computes an action time taking into account the determined delay, the action time specifying a time when the target base station is able to allocate resources to the mobile station for the handover.
US08554227B2	Cell selection based on priority factors in overlapping cells using different frequencies A wireless communication system includes: at least one base station that forms a plurality of cells of different frequencies such that the cells partially or completely overlap with each other; and a terminal that is capable of recognizing the cells of the different frequencies. The base station determines priority factors of the different frequencies of the cells, and transmits the priority factors to the terminal that has set a cell formed by the base station as a serving cell. The terminal receives the priority factors from the base station forming the serving cell, and selects a cell to be set as the serving cell next from among the cells based on the priority factors.
US08554224B2	Cellular network energy saving Various arrangements for managing wireless network communication are described. Two cells using different radio access technologies (RATs), such as a 3G cell and a 4G cell, may provide overlapping coverage. A first cell using a first RAT, under certain circumstances, may be permitted to enter a powered down state such that less power is consumed. User equipment may communicate with the cell using the second RAT as the preferred network and only communicate with the cell using the first RAT when a service available through the first RAT but not the second RAT has been requested. Upon a request from the second cell, the first cell may enter a powered up state.
US08554219B2	Method of selecting a network by a mobile apparatus A method is provided for selecting an available network by a mobile apparatus, such as a mobile phone. As a subscriber moves from country to country he needs to switch from network to network, with limited control over the network chosen and the services provided by the network. The mobile phone is provided with parameter sets, providing connection parameters for more than one network based upon the geographic location that the mobile phone is in. The mobile phone may provide for automatic selection of an available network.
US08554211B2	Method, apparatus, and computer program product for signaling allocation of neighbor cells A method, user equipment, network device, and software product employ indicators from a plurality of respective cells to indicate a difference, if any, regarding allocation in the respective cell as compared to neighbor cells. Mobility measurements are then performed according to the indicators, and also on the basis of configuration of a cell where the measurements are performed.
US08554210B2	Apparatus and method for storing hand over information An apparatus for storing handover information in a mobile communication system is provided. The apparatus includes an estimation unit configured to estimate a direction of arrival (DOA) of a received signal with respect to a first base station based on the received signal, the received signal being received from a terminal belonging to the first base station, and a storage unit to store the estimated DOA as handover information associated with a second base station when the terminal is handed over to the second base station.
US08554209B2	Sectioned common control channels in cellular networks A propagated control channel signal for use in a shared radio access network is disclosed. The control channel signal comprises common control data for use by mobile terminals authorized to access the shared radio access network and operator-specific data for use by those of the mobile terminals that are associated with a first mobile operator. The common control data may comprise handover-related data for handovers within the shared radio access network and the operator-specific data may comprise handover-related data for handovers from the shared radio access network to an unshared radio access network having overlapping coverage with the shared radio access network. The common control data and the operator-specific data may comprise values for one or more mobile terminal settings, wherein the operator-specific values are for use instead of the common values by those of the mobile terminals that are associated with the first mobile operator. Methods and apparatus for using and generating the disclosed propagated control channel signals are also disclosed.
US08554197B2	System and method to interrupt a component of a mobile communication device responsive to a mute command A system and method to interrupt a component of a mobile communication device based on a mute command and a monitored operating condition is disclosed. In another particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a mute command at a mobile communication device while the mobile communication device is performing audio content processing. The method also includes monitoring an operating condition of the mobile communication device in response to receiving the mute command. The method includes determining whether to interrupt a component used to perform the audio content processing based on the monitored operating condition.
US08554196B2	Network coverage by cycling through beam shape coverage configurations Technologies and implementations for providing network coverage by cycling through beam shape coverage configurations are generally disclosed.
US08554194B2	Method and system for providing virtual messenger service Provided are a method and a system for providing a virtual messenger service between a mobile communication terminal and a computer. The method includes executing a virtual messenger program for controlling a function of a mobile communication terminal, and receiving a telephone directory provided within the mobile communication terminal; displaying a messenger window when receiving a request for activating the messenger window that collectively includes the telephone directory and menus; generating a communication event message related with a selected telephone number of the other party; and transmitting the generated event message to the mobile communication terminal, and displaying a notification of a communication event to an other party.
US08554193B2	Apparatus for reporting an exception and method thereof A mobile terminal for reporting an exception or error and a method thereof, by which an exception of the mobile terminal can be transmitted to a server in a transmission mode appropriate for a status of a network. Exception information, such as information of a register of the mobile terminal if the exception is generated, information of a task performed by the mobile terminal before the generation of the exception, and history information before the generation of exception, are stored in a memory. The exception information is transmitted to the server.
US08554187B2	Apparatus and method for routing communications between networks and devices An apparatus and method for testing communication capabilities of networks and devices are provided. According to one aspect, an interface device for providing communications between a first and a second device comprises an input, logic, and an output. The input of the interface device receives data in a first format from the first device. The logic identifies the second device for receiving the data and identifies a second format compatible with the second device. The data is then translated to the second format. The logic may also determine a status of the interface device by testing components of the interface device to determine if the components are accessible and functioning. The output of the interface device then transmits the translated data to the second device.
US08554181B2	Data communication system A portable communication terminal transmits a request signal that requests voice data representing an email message, to a server apparatus when the portable communication terminal receives the email that has been sent to the portable communication terminal, and the portable communication terminal transmits the voice data received from the server apparatus, to an in-vehicle equipment. A server apparatus converts an email message that has been sent to a portable communication terminal, into voice data in response to a request signal received from the portable communication terminal, and the server apparatus returns the voice data to the portable communication terminal. The in-vehicle equipment detects a position of a portable communication terminal in a cabin, and the in-vehicle equipment outputs a voice message converted only from voice data representing an email message received by the portable communication terminal located in a specific position in the cabin, inside the cabin of the vehicle.
US08554177B2	Apparatus for unlocking mobile device using pattern recognition and method thereof An apparatus and method for unlocking a mobile device using pattern recognition are provided. The apparatus includes a touch sensor unit sensing a predetermined pattern touch-input to a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit, a pattern recognition unit recognizing information about the input pattern sensed by the touch sensor unit, a pattern comparison unit comparing information about the input pattern recognized by the pattern recognition unit with information about a predetermined pattern set by a user, and a controller controlling supply of power to the LCD unit to enable the user to use the mobile device if the input pattern and the predetermined pattern are equal to each other as compared by the pattern comparison unit.
US08554176B2	Method and apparatus for creating a remotely activated secure backup service for mobile handsets Method and systems for protecting data on a mobile handset when remotely activated by a user involve encrypting the data using an encryption key, storing the encrypted data, and deleting the non-encrypted data along with the encryption key. Data may also be uploaded to a server to via a cellular data call for use in backing up the mobile handset. A mobile handset application configures the handset to receive activation commands from a server to encrypt, upload or download data. The encryption key is either received from the server or generated by the mobile handset and communicated to the server. Mock data files may be generated and stored on the mobile handset to enable handset applications to function normally after the data files have been encrypted.
US08554171B2	Systems and methods for identifying a geographical area in a commercial mobile alert service message Geographical locations can be encoded in alert messages and the encoded geographical locations can be processed are disclosed. Emergency alerts can be received from an emergency provider or governmental agency comprising a geographical code. The code can be evaluated to determine a geographical location by determining a primary location, such as a state or region, and a secondary location such as a county. This information can be used to determine the devices within a wireless network that should receive the alert message.
US08554162B2	High efficiency power amplifier A power amplifier circuit utilizes a cross-coupled tapped cascade topology together with a technique of applying an RF injection current into a wideband node to provide a single-stage power amplifier with improved PAE, output power, and gain over a wide RF band. The amplifier circuit comprises a cross-coupled cascade transistor unit comprising a pair of cross-coupled cascode transistors, a cross-coupled switching transistor unit comprising a pair of cross-coupled switching transistors, and an RF current generator. RF current generator generates a differential RF injection current, while switching transistor unit amplifies the injection current to generate an amplified injection current at the wideband node of the amplifier circuit and the cascode transistor unit further amplifies the injection current to generate the desired amplified signal at the output of the amplifier circuit. The output signal amplitude generally depends on the differential injection current and the supply voltage VDD applied to the power amplifier circuit.
US08554161B2	Circuit and method for biasing a gallium arsenide (GaAs) power amplifier A circuit for biasing a gallium arsenide (GaAs) power amplifier includes a reference voltage generator circuit implemented in a gallium arsenide (GaAs) material system, a field effect transistor (FET) bias circuit implemented in the gallium arsenide material system and adapted to receive an output of the reference voltage generator circuit and adapted to provide an output to a radio frequency (RF) amplifier stage.
US08554155B2	Matching circuit for a multi-band antenna and multi-band radio incorporating the same A device for multiple band frequency communication may include a chassis, a transceiver for receiving and transmitting voice and data communications over any one of multiple frequency bands, an antenna assembly comprising a single radiator and an antenna matching unit, and an antenna connector provided on the chassis for mounting the antenna assembly to the device and connecting the antenna assembly to the transceiver via a transmission line, wherein the antenna matching unit is provided between the radiator and the antenna connector and comprises a reactive circuit to filter the communications and transform an impedance between the radiator and the antenna connector to match an impedance between the transceiver and the antenna connector for each of the multiple frequency bands. A method and system is disclosed for communicating voice and data communications over multiple frequency bands.
US08554154B1	Connector supporting integrated radio frequency and baseband data An electronic device is provided. The device comprises a radio transceiver, a processor, a memory, a connector, and an application stored in the memory. The connector is for coupling a radio frequency signal between the radio transceiver and an external antenna and for coupling a baseband signal between the first processor and an external processor. The application, when executed by the processor, manages the radio transceiver based on baseband messages received over the connector from the external processor, wherein the application managing the radio transceiver comprises causing the radio transceiver to transmit the radio frequency signal over the connector to the external antenna and causing the radio transceiver to receive the radio frequency signal over the connector from the external antenna.
US08554152B2	Apparatus and method for estimating channel in mobile communication system An apparatus and a method for estimating a channel in a mobile communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a channel estimation unit for determining a channel estimation value using a channel power for each of a plurality of fingers, and a noise estimation unit for selecting a scheme for estimating a thermal noise power according to a channel environment among schemes for determining a plurality of thermal noise powers, and for estimating a noise using the channel estimation value in the selected scheme.
US08554148B2	Data transmission/reception apparatus and method for wireless communication system Provided are apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving data for a wireless communication system. The method includes generating a first aggregation packet by controlling the number of preambles or by controlling a size of a packet according to a channel state of a channel formed to at least one reception terminal or according to a state of the reception terminal, and transmitting the first aggregation packet to the reception terminal.
US08554146B2	Method and apparatus for reducing the guard band between wireless communication systems operating in the same geographical area Operators of wireless communication systems operating in the same geographic area are able to build networks on neighboring/adjacent bands, even if one of the systems is using a TDD mode and the other systems is using a FDD mode without using excessive large guard bands. A beaconing mechanism with signaling is used to impose an exclusion zone and power restriction, antenna direction, and other operational parameters. A newcomer operator is able to get an accurate knowledge of the interference to and from the sites of the AP of the existing operator so that the newcomer can deploy his APs without causing interference to the existing APs.
US08554144B2	Telephone dialer and methods A system, device and method for placing a call in a telecommunications network is disclosed. In the method, a target address of a target station in a telecommunications network is received through a short range wireless connection. The method includes providing an alert that the target address was received, receiving a calling station off-hook confirmation, and establishing a connection through the telecommunications network between the calling station and the target station.
US08554135B2	Controlling power dissipation in a base station of a navigation satellite system (NSS) A method and system for controlling power dissipation in a base station of a navigation satellite system (NSS) is disclosed. One method utilizes a sensor to monitor one or more components of the base station. Then, based on information from the sensor, a transmission bit rate is increased from a pre-defined bit rate to an increased transmission bit rate for an NSS message transmitted from the base station without reducing transmission power level of the base station. The method also periodically provides a bit rate update signal at the pre-defined bit rate, the bit rate update signal informing a rover utilizing the base station of the increased transmission bit rate for the NSS message transmitted from the base station.
US08554122B2	Fixing device and image forming apparatus provided with same A fixing device is provided in which a rotation member and a roller are caused to rotate pressing against each other, a recording paper is sandwiched and transported in a nip region between the rotation member and the roller, a leading edge of a peeling plate is positioned with respect to a peripheral surface of the rotation member, and the recording paper is separated from the rotation member by the peeling plate. In this fixing device, a surface of the peeling plate faces a transport route of the recording paper. Furthermore, in this fixing device, a contact member is provided that contacts a rear surface of the peeling plate displaced in a direction in which the leading edge of the peeling plate approaches the peripheral surface of the rotation member and prohibits displacement of the peeling plate after contact of the peeling plate to the contact member.
US08554119B2	Developing device, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge A developing system includes a first developer carrier to carry and supply two-component developer including toner and carrier to a latent image formed on an image bearer. A first magnetic field generator having plural first magnetic poles is rotatably installed in the first developer carrier and causes the two-component developer to put forth ears and conveys the two-component developer on the developer carrier. A cross-sectional center of the first magnetic field generator is deviated from that of the first developer carrier toward the image bearer by a prescribed length. A developer peel-off device including a second magnetic field generator is provided in the vicinity of the surface of the first developer carrier to peel off the developer not supplied to the image bearer and remaining on the surface of the first developer carrier.
US08554115B2	Developing device, image forming apparatus, developer agitating and conveying method A developing device includes a developer tank and a developing roller. An internal space of the developer tank is divided into an upper conveying path, a lower conveying path, a communication path, a main pumping conveying path section, and a developer supply path, by a partition wall. A developer pumping conveying section conveys a developer inside the main pumping conveying path section in a conveyance direction Z, and includes an inner spiral blade, a rotational tube, a first outer spiral blade, a second outer spiral blade, a pumping rotation shaft member, and a pumping gear. An attracting magnet is located in a position horizontally spaced from the rotational tube.
US08554111B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: a recording medium cassette storing recording medium; an image forming unit, a feed unit; an upper frame that supports the image forming unit and the feed unit; and a lower frame in which the recording medium cassette is detachably attached, the upper frame being disposed on the lower frame, and the lower frame having rigidity lower than the rigidity of the upper frame, the lower frame including a rail for guiding the recording medium cassette to a predetermined receiving position, wherein the feed unit has a groove portion formed along a direction parallel to a horizontal direction, the recording medium cassette has a first convex portion which is fitted in the groove portion when the recording medium cassette is attached in the lower frame, the recording medium cassette having a second convex portion which is contact with a portion of the rail of the lower frame.
US08554108B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body on which a visible image is developed by developer, an intermediate transfer belt to which developer of the photosensitive body is transferred, and a first transfer roller to transfer the developer from the photosensitive body to the intermediate transfer belt, wherein since a developing unit housing at which the photosensitive body is mounted is provided with position regulating guides to support a shaft of the first transfer roller, the intermediate transfer belt comes into contact with the photosensitive body at a uniform angle. As a result, uniform print quality may be obtained.
US08554105B2	Image forming apparatus A wet type image forming apparatus has a primary transfer unit that transfers to an intermediate transfer body a coloring particle image formed on the surface of an image bearing member by using liquid developer. A secondary transfer unit transfers onto a recording medium the coloring particle image transferred to the intermediate transfer body. A cleaning unit recovers liquid developer remaining on the intermediate transfer body after transfer by the second transfer unit. An aggregation promoting agent addition unit is disposed on a downstream side of the secondary transfer unit in a direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer body and on an upstream side of the cleaning unit in a direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer body and adds to the surface of the intermediate transfer body an aggregation promoting agent that promotes aggregation of resin contained in the liquid developer.
US08554102B2	Developing device and image forming apparatus A developing device includes a development roller that holds developer containing toner and carrier, rotates and transports the developer to a development area, and develops a latent image using the toner; a housing that has a first opening that opens towards the image holding member, and that holds the development roller; an airflow path that has a second opening that opens towards the image holding member at a location below the first opening; a blower that causes air in the airflow path to be sent in a direction in which the toner scattered between the housing and the image holding member is sucked from the second opening; and a magnetic plate opposing an end portion of the development roller in a direction of an axis of rotation of the development roller and extending so as to surround the development roller in a direction of rotation of the development roller.
US08554095B2	Image forming apparatus which controls setting of contrast potential An image forming apparatus, which is capable of bringing an output density close to a target density even if a charge amount of toner particles changes, includes an image forming unit having an image carrier and a developing unit, a storage unit storing a saturation charge amount of toner particles, and a control unit. The control unit forms a patch image using the image forming unit, measures the density of the patch image to obtain a first potential that is a contrast potential corresponding to a target density, estimates the charge amount of the toner particles in the developing unit to obtain a first charge amount, obtains a second potential from the first potential, the first charge amount and the saturation charge amount, and sets the second potential as the contrast potential.
US08554085B1	Method and apparatus for waveform generation A spread spectrum waveform generator has a photonic oscillator and an optical heterodyne synthesizer. The photonic oscillator is a multi-tone optical comb generator for generating a series of RF comb lines on an optical carrier. The optical heterodyne synthesizer includes first and second phase-locked lasers, where the first laser feeds the multi-tone optical comb generator and the second laser is a single tone laser whose output light provides a frequency translation reference. At least one photodetector is provided for heterodyning the frequency translation reference with the optical output of the photonic oscillator to generate a spread spectrum waveform. A receiver pre-processor may be provided to operate on the spread spectrum waveform.
US08554075B2	Communication system, subscriber accommodating apparatus and communication method Switching process at the occurrence of a path trouble is performed more quickly to reduce the number of packet discards during a traffic transition from a currently used system path to a standby system path within a section to be protected. An OLT (210-W) refers to the DBA information of a PON section and, if receiving no CCM frame at a timing at which the same should be received, then determines that some trouble has occurred on the path (S801) and transmits, to an OAM-compliant NE (200-Z), an application-for-switching frame (1501) to notify the OAM-compliant NE (200-Z) of the abnormal condition. The OAM-compliant NE (200-Z) monitors the occurrence of the trouble within the PON section nearly in real time, starts a switching process (S802) and generates and transmits a standby-system delivery request (321) (S302, S803). An OAM-compliant NE (200-A) switches the communication path to the standby-system passing through an OLT (210-P).
US08554073B2	Method and apparatus for migrating sub-network connection protection (SNCP) service The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for migrating a Sub-Network Connection Protection (SNCP) service. The method comprises: receiving a migration request of an SNCP service, wherein the migration request comprises one of: Permanent Connection (PC) to Soft Permanent Connection (SPC) migration, SPC to PC migration; respectively setting cross status control bits of a current operation connection and a correlative connection thereof according to the received migration request, and performing collective migration of the current operation connection and the correlative connection thereof according to the set cross status control bits; respectively modifying the cross status control bits of the current connection and the correlative connection thereof according to the migration result. The consistency of cross management authorities of a working connection and a protection connection of the SNCP service migration can be ensured by the present invention.
US08554068B2	Camera system In a camera system according to the present invention, a lens controller obtains an exposure synchronizing signal that is generated by a camera controller from a camera body, causes a configuration formed of a first encoder, a second encoder and a counter to detect the position of a focus lens according to the obtained exposure synchronizing signal, and notifies the camera body of the detected position of the focus lens. The camera controller associates the position of the focus lens or the mechanism member obtained from the lens controller with an AF evaluation value based on the exposure synchronizing signal, and controls an autofocus operation of the camera system based on the position and AF evaluation value that are associated with each other. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of an autofocus operation with a contrast system.
US08554066B2	Driving mechanism and optical equipment To provide a driving mechanism with which a reduction in size is possible. A driving mechanism comprising: an optical component that is provided to be movable; a first driving member that is movable in a first direction; a second driving member that is movable in the first direction independently of the first driving member; and an abutting portion that is provided at the optical component and abuts against the first driving member and the second driving member, wherein, the optical component is moved by driving force of the first driving member and the second driving member abutting against the abutting portion.
US08554056B2	Systems and methods for integrating interactive features into multiple media content sources One embodiment, among others, includes a method for editing video. The method comprises receiving a plurality of media files and receiving specified special effects corresponding to each of the plurality of media files. Based on the received plurality of media files and the specified special effects for each of the plurality of media files, a single output is generated whereby the special effects are incorporated and where the plurality of media files are unmodified.
US08554046B2	Providing interactive content during trick mode A system may receive an enhanced media stream that includes media content and interactive content relating to the media content, present the media content for display on a video display device, detect initiation of a trick mode during presentation of the media content, and present information, relating to the interactive content, superimposed on the media content presented for display on the video display device during the trick mode.
US08554034B2	Optical-electrical hybrid transmission cable An optical-electrical hybrid transmission cable (100), comprises an insulative layer (2); a shielding layer located on an inner side of the insulative layer; an optical cable (5) disposed in the shielding layer and comprising two optical fibers (51) and an insulative sheath (52) enclosing the two optical fibers; a pair of signal wires (6) twisted together and disposed in the shielding layer; and a pair of power wires disposed in the shielding layer. And the optical cable, the pair of signal wires and the pair of power wires are arranged along a circumferential direction.
US08554029B2	Through-bore fiber optic slipring The present invention is a limited rotation through-bore optical slip ring. This will enable one or more optical signals to pass across a rotational interface while leaving a center bore free. The present invention is passive, unlike many off axis or through bore optical slip rings and is low loss by nature.
US08554028B2	Upstream fiber optic couplers and methods for power splitting passive optical networks A fiber optic coupler includes a housing that receives upstream optical signals from drop optical fibers that are optically coupled to optical network units in a power splitting passive optical network and provides an aggregate upstream optical signal to a trunk optical fiber that is optically coupled to an optical line terminal in the power splitting passive optical network, without having passed through a power splitter. At least one reflector and/or refractor in the housing is oriented to reflect and/or refract at least one upstream optical signal from at least one of the drop optical fibers, so as to produce the aggregate upstream optical signal for the trunk optical fiber. Various configurations of reflectors and/or refractors may be provided. Relative methods are also disclosed.
US08554025B2	Optical connector with reduced mechanical-alignment sensitivity An optical connector is described. This optical connector spatially segregates optical coupling between an optical fiber and an optical component, which relaxes the associated mechanical-alignment requirements. In particular, the optical connector includes an optical spreader component disposed on a substrate. This optical spreader component is optically coupled to the optical fiber at a first coupling region, and is configured to optically couple to the optical component at a second coupling region that is at a different location on the substrate than the first coupling region. Moreover, the first coupling region and the second coupling region are optically coupled by an optical waveguide.
US08554021B2	Finding similar content in a mixed collection of presentation and rich document content using two-dimensional visual fingerprints Visual fingerprinting is used to provide a robust and highly effective method of finding similar content in a large document collection of rich document content composed of multiple text, line-art, and photo image objects. The visual fingerprints capture unique two-dimensional localized aspects of document appearance. The visual fingerprints are highly distinctive; fast for lookup; compact for storage requirements; and scalable to large document collections.
US08554019B2	Apparatus and method for image processing An image processing apparatus for generating an enlarged image obtained by enlarging an original image. The image processing apparatus includes a change rate calculation unit which calculates a first pixel change rate at a first pixel position of the original image and a second pixel change rate at a second pixel position of the original image; and a pixel value calculation unit which calculates a pixel value at an interpolation position to be interpolated between the first pixel position and the second pixel position of the original image according to an enlargement of the original image, based on the first pixel change rate weighted by a first weight according to the interpolation position and the second pixel change rate weighted by a second weight according to the interpolation position.
US08553999B2	Method and system for providing tile map service using solid compression The system according to the present invention includes a server including a map data storage device, which stores digital map data, a plurality of tile map data generated from the digital map data, and solid-compressed map data compressed by solid compression from the plurality of tile map data, a solid-compressed map data generation device, which generates the plurality of tile map data from the digital map data stored in the map data storage device, generates the solid-compressed map data by compressing the plurality of tile map data by solid compression, and stores the generated solid-compressed map data in the map data storage device, and a solid-compressed map data providing device, which transmits the solid-compressed map data to a client through a network in response to a request from the client. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frequency of network access and the amount of data transmitted.
US08553995B2	Method and device for embedding a binary sequence in a compressed video stream In a method of embedding a binary sequence in a video sequence or a compressed video stream, said stream being able to be decomposed into several types of objects, the method is applied to at least one image contained in said video sequence The method includes analyzing the video sequence in the compressed domain so as to determine one or more zones of interest, generating a watermarking map containing the image blocks available for the watermarking, excluding from the watermarking map, for the current compressed image, the blocks that are not eligible according to a defined criterion, and applying a digital watermarking function to each available block.
US08553983B2	Personal authentication system and personal authentication method A personal authentication system according to the present invention includes a matrix generation unit, a feature extraction unit, a feature transformation unit, a processing unit, and a data matching unit. The matrix generation unit classifies a plurality of feature amounts of face image data, which are recorded in advance, into classes and calculates as a mapping matrix, coefficients of a linear discriminant equation which uses the recorded plurality of feature amounts as variables. The feature extraction unit extracts a first feature amount from first face image data and extracts a second feature amount from second face image data. The feature transformation unit, by using the mapping matrix, transforms the first feature amount into a first transformed feature amount and transforms the second feature amount into a second transformed feature amount. The processing unit calculates as a similarity, a normalized correlation value between the first transformed feature amount and the second transformed feature amount. The data matching unit judges that the first face image data and the second face image data are image data of same person when the similarity exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US08553975B2	Method and apparatus for wide-band imaging based on narrow-band image data In one embodiment, an imaging method may include receiving an intensity value of a first spectral channel associated with a pixel location. The intensity value of the first spectral channel may be based on electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object after being emitted from a narrow-band electromagnetic radiation source. The method may further include defining an intensity value of a second spectral channel based on the intensity value of the first spectral channel. The second spectral channel may be associated with a spectral region of electromagnetic radiation different from a spectral region of electromagnetic radiation associated with the first spectral channel. The method may also include associating the intensity value of the second spectral channel with the pixel location.
US08553963B2	Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) motion compensated imaging system A motion compensated digitally subtracted Angiography (DSA) image processing system includes an interface for acquiring a sequence of images of patient vessels both prior to and following introduction of contrast agent into the vessels. An image data processor automatically, (a) determines a first shift vector for a first image of the sequence for compensating for shift between the first image and a first reference image of the sequence, (b) applies the determined first shift vector to the first image of the sequence to produce a shifted image, (c) subtracts the first reference image from the shifted image to produce a subtracted image enhancing vessel structure, (d) determines a second shift vector for compensating for shift between the subtracted image and a second reference image and (e) shifts content of the subtracted image relative to the second reference image in response to the second shift vector, to provide a shifted subtracted image enhancing and aligning vessel structure.
US08553950B2	Real-time remote image capture system Systems for remotely verifying the identity of an image include an identity capture device adapted to communicate with a computing device and a database. The identity capture device captures an image, and the computing device searches the database for information to authenticate and verify the image. For remotely connected computing devices, a communications network provides communication between the computing devices and the database. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US08553942B2	Reimaging based on depthmap information One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for emphasizing objects in an image, such as a panoramic image, are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving a depthmap generated from an optical distancing system, wherein the depthmap includes position data and depth data for each of a plurality of points. The optical distancing system measures physical data. The depthmap is overlaid on the panoramic image according to the position data. Data is received that indicates a location on the panoramic image and, accordingly, a first point of the plurality of points that is associated with the location. The depth data of the first point is compared to depth data of surrounding points to identify an area on the panoramic image corresponding to a subset of the surrounding points. The panoramic image is altered with a graphical effect that indicates the location.
US08553940B2	Formation of a time-varying signal representative of at least variations in a value based on pixel values A method of forming a time-varying signal representative of at least variations in a value based on pixel values from a sequence of images, the signal corresponding in length to the sequence of images, the method includes acts of obtaining the sequence of images. A plurality of groups of sub-sets of pixel values are formed by selecting a sub-set of at least one pixel value from each of at least two images defining an interval to form a group of associated sub-sets. For any pair of groups with only sub-sets from the same images, the sub-sets from more than one image are different. Groups of sub-sets are selected to form the signal in accordance with at least one selection criterion. The selected groups of sub-sets cover different intervals, shorter than a length of the sequence.
US08553930B1	Crowd source content editing Crowd source editing of digital images to reduce errors in a digital images includes receiving a proposed modification to a content portion of a digital image. A determination is made as the whether the occurrence of the proposed modification to the content portions meets a modification threshold. Accordingly, the proposed modification to the content portion of the digital image is adopted when the occurrence of the specific modification meets the modification threshold.
US08553924B2	Speaker, speaker device using the same and electronic apparatus and vehicle using the speaker According to the present invention, there is provided a speaker for use in audio/video apparatuses and a small-sized speaker device capable of realizing preferable reproduction a bass sounds. In order to attain this, in the present invention, a pressure adjusting body is coupled to a portion of a magnetic circuit or a frame, which is a component of a speaker unit, to constitute the speaker unit. The speaker unit is mounted to a small-sized cabinet to constitute a speaker device, which enables realization of preferable reproduction of bass sounds.
US08553920B2	Arrangement comprising a microphone An arrangement includes a circuit carrier and a housed microphone. A mounting side of the housed microphone is mounted on a top side of the circuit carrier. The housed microphone includes solderable contacts on the mounting side and a sound entry opening facing the circuit carrier. An acoustic channel connects the sound entry opening and surroundings above the circuit carrier.
US08553908B2	Amplification apparatus An amplification apparatus comprises: an amplifier circuit that amplifies an input audio signal and outputs an output audio signal; a first signal level determining unit that determines whether or not a signal level of the output audio signal outputted from the amplifier circuit is lower than a silence determination reference value; and a power-supply control unit that shifts the amplification apparatus from a power-on state to a power-off state, when it is determined that the signal level of the output audio signal outputted from the amplifier circuit is lower than the silence determination reference value.
US08553900B2	Noise reduction circuit with monitoring functionality A noise reduction circuit 200 for a headphone 100 is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the headphone 100 includes a speaker driver 110 and the circuit 200 comprises a microphone 112 configured to convert ambient sound into a corresponding electrical ambient signal and which is disposed adjacent to the speaker driver's diaphragm. The circuit 200 further includes an active noise reduction path configured to provide active noise reduction of the ambient sound based on the corresponding electrical ambient signal and a vocal signal compensation path configured to restore attenuated signals within the vocal range of the corresponding electrical ambient signal to increase audibility of vocal signals of the ambient sound. The circuit 200 also includes a switching device 204,210 arranged to selectively deliver the corresponding electrical ambient signal to the active noise reduction path or to the vocal signal compensation path.
US08553892B2	Processing a multi-channel signal for output to a mono speaker Systems, methods, and devices for processing an audio signal with two or more channels into a monaural signal are provided. For example, an electronic device configured to perform such techniques may include audio signal processing circuitry, which may receive a first audio channel signal and a second audio channel signal. Based on these signals, the audio signal processing circuitry may output a monaural signal as a sum or a difference of the first and second audio channel signals, or as a combination thereof, depending at least in part on a phase relationship between the first and second audio channel signals. Additionally or alternatively, the audio signal processing circuitry may adjust a timing relationship between the first and second audio channel signals depending at least in part on the phase relationship, before combining a proportion of the first and second audio channel signals.
US08553882B2	Methods and apparatus for connecting a cable network to other network and/or devices Methods and apparatus for connecting, e.g., bridging, a cable network to other networks and/or devices is described. A bridge device facilitates the distribution of cable provider content to end users operating IP based devices. The bridge device performs one of more of the following: interface protocol conversions, user device controlled tuner selection, transcoding of data, transrating of a data stream, decryption in accordance with a conditional access protocol and re-encryption in accordance with an authorized service domain protocol.
US08553881B2	Composite masking system and method for improving invisibility of high-definition video watermarking A composite masking system and method for improving the invisibility of high-definition video watermarking. The composite masking system includes a watermark generation module, a mask generation module, and watermark embedment means. The watermark generation module generates a basic watermark pattern using a private key, and generate a watermark pattern by repeatedly extending the basic watermark pattern. The mask generation module generates a Noise Visibility Function (NVF) mask using NVF masking means, an adaptive dithering mask using adaptive dithering masking means, and a contour mask using contour masking means. The watermark embedment means generates a composite mask by multiplying the NVF mask, the adaptive dithering mask and the contour mask together, multiplying the composite mask and the extended watermark pattern together, and embedding the result of the second multiplication in the luminance channel of an original image.
US08553873B1	Revising outbound forecasts and corresponding schedules based on performance data Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for generating an outbound forecast. In particular embodiments, campaign parameters are defined for at least two outbound call campaigns that include for each campaign a time period over which the campaign is to be carried out, a target value identifying a number of an outbound communication result to occur over the time period, and sources for handling outbound communications. Further, a historical dataset is selected that includes historical data on the corresponding outbound communication result for each campaign based on past outbound communications. In various embodiments, an outbound forecast is generated based on the historical dataset and campaign parameters for the outbound call campaigns. The forecast provides a number of the outbound communication result forecasted to be achieved over the time period for each campaign in an attempt to meet the target value for the corresponding campaign.
US08553865B2	Multi-point to multi-point intercom system A multi-point to multi-point intercom system, formed by at least one intercom server and a plurality of intercom terminals, the intercom terminals registered as talking or listening intercom terminals in an intercom session table. The intercom server sends to listening intercom terminals some or all of the unmixed audio packets received by talking intercom terminals according to the intensity signal value found in the header of the unmixed audio packets.
US08553850B2	Method and system for providing information and advertising content in a telephone system A method for operating a directory assistance process adapted to provide a targeted message to incoming callers totally or substantially free of one or more 411-type directory assistance calling charges. The method includes receiving a phone call from an incoming caller and receiving a voice based request for information associated with directory assistance from the caller. The method also includes determining phone number information in response to the request through one or more first databases and identifying a phone number associated with the incoming caller using a caller identification process. The method further includes querying at least one database to ascertain a match between the phone number associated with the incoming caller and at least one of a plurality of identifiers in the at least one database, determining at least one message, transmitting the determined message to the incoming caller, and transmitting the phone number information to the incoming caller.
US08553849B2	Personal identification and interactive device for internet-based text and video communication services The present invention is directed to a method and device for assigning a telephone number to a browsing session and for providing physical location information to a public safety answering point in association with a web-based chat or relay session.
US08553848B1	Preserving voltage on telephone line over hard reset during planned outage Systems and methods can provide for preventing a false alarm generated during a planned network outage during a maintenance window. Security systems can generate and report alarms to a security center through a communications network. Intruders are known to disable the communication network thereby preventing reporting of an alarm to the security center. Security systems can generate local alarms upon detecting loss of the communications network. It is advantageous for a communications network operator to prevent false alarm generation during periods of planned network outages.
US08553843B2	Attachment of a high-Z focal track layer to a carbon-carbon composite substrate serving as a rotary anode target The present invention refers to hybrid anode disk structures for use in X-ray tubes of the rotary anode type and is concerned more particularly with a novel light weight anode disk structure (RA) which comprises an adhesion promoting protective silicon carbide (SiC) interlayer (SCI) deposited onto a rotary X-ray tube's anode target (AT), wherein the latter may e.g. be made of a carbon-carbon composite substrate (SUB′). Moreover, a manufacturing method for robustly attaching a coating layer (CL) consisting of a high-Z material (e.g. a layer made of a tungsten-rhenium alloy) on the surface of said anode target is provided, whereupon according to said method it may be foreseen to apply a refractory metal overcoating layer (RML), such as given e.g. by a tantalum (Ta), hafnium (Hf), vanadium (V) or rhenium (Re) layer, to the silicon carbide interlayer (SCI) prior to the deposition of the tungsten-rhenium alloy. The invention thus leverages the tendency for cracking of the silicon carbide coated carbon composite substrate (SUB′) during thermal cycling and enhances adhesion of the silicon carbide/refractory metal interlayers to the carbon-carbon composite substrate (SUB′) and focal track coating layer (CL) by an interlocking mechanism. Key aspects of the proposed invention are: a) controlled formation of coating cracks (SC) in the silicon carbide layer (SCI) and b) conformal filling of SiC crack openings with a refractory metal.
US08553835B2	Computed tomography scanners, x-ray filters and methods thereof A computed tomography scanner may include a component mounting assembly, an x-ray tube, a filter assembly, and a detector assembly. The filter assembly filters an x-ray fan or cone beam generated by the x-ray tube such that the x-ray beam comprises a high dose portion and one or more low dose portions. The filter assembly reduces the photon count of the low dose portions. The x-ray tube may be coupled to the component mounting assembly at a first end and the detector assembly coupled at a second end that is opposite from the first end. The component mounting assembly is rotatable about a rotation axis. The detector assembly includes an array of individual detector elements capable of detecting x-ray photons of the x-ray beam. The high dose portion strikes a high resolution region of the detector assembly and the low dose portion strikes a low resolution region of the detector assembly.
US08553815B2	Gain control for a receiver in a multi-carrier communication system A receiver in an OFDM communication system includes a power detector and a gain controller. The power detector detects for total received power of a received OFDM signal, e.g., by computing the power of the data samples from an ADC and averaging the power. The gain controller adjusts the gain of the receiver in discrete gain steps and in one direction, e.g., from the lowest gain state to the highest gain state, based on the detected total received power. The gain controller initializes the receiver to the lowest gain state. Thereafter, the gain controller detects for low total received power, e.g., by comparing the detected total received power against a predetermined threshold. The gain controller transitions to a higher gain state if low total received power is detected and maintains the current gain state otherwise.
US08553813B2	Method for computing correlation of PN sequence and circuit thereof The present invention relates to a method for computing correlation of a PN sequence and a circuit thereof. A plurality of input values of an input sequence is summed up to give a first sum. A PN sequence comprising a plurality of first values and a plurality of second values, which correspond to the plurality of input values, are received. Summing up the plurality of input values corresponding to the plurality of first input values in the PN sequence gives a second sum. According to the first sum and the second sum, a correlation value is given. The present invention uses a simple method for computing correlation of a PN sequence. Hence, the operation efficiency is enhanced and the time to give the correlation of the PN sequence is shortened.
US08553798B2	Method and apparatus for generating pre-coding matrix codebook This disclosure relates a method and apparatus for generating pre-coding matrix codebook. The method for generating pre-coding matrix codebook, comprising: acquiring a universal set of pre-coding matrixes in a first format; acquiring a universal set of pre-coding matrixes in a second format; selecting a first predetermined number of pre-coding matrixes in the first format from the universal set of pre-coding matrixes in the first format; and selecting a second predetermined number of pre-coding matrixes in the second format from the universal set of pre-coding matrixes in the second format, according to the selected first predetermined number of pre-coding matrixes in the first format.
US08553797B2	Channel information prediction system and channel information prediction method Provided is a channel information prediction system (10) which calculates a MIMO CSI prediction value as a predicted value of the MIMO CSI in the future by using the MIMO CSI and the transformation matrix indicating a transmission path characteristic between a transmitter (100) and a receiver (200) in an multi-antenna transmission system (1) using an antenna array formed by transmission antennas (#1 to #T) or reception antennas (#1 to #R) in the transmitter (100) and the receiver (200). The channel information prediction system (10) calculates the transformation matrix according to an array response or an array weight of the antenna array correlated with the arrival direction or the departure direction by using a direction estimation technique for estimating the arrival direction or the departure direction of the radio signal.
US08553790B2	Low power ultra wideband transceivers Low-power transmitter and/or receiver devices are provided by sacrificing time and/or frequency diversity in exchange for lower power consumption. When channel conditions indicate that time and/or frequency spreading are unnecessary for transmissions, a transmitter may enter into a power-conservation mode in which transmissions are performed using a time gating scheme or a time repetition scheme. In the time gating scheme, symbols are transmitting just once, rather than a plurality of times, but with increased transmission power. In the time repetition scheme, copies of the same symbol are transmitted a plurality of times on the same frequency on different symbol transmission periods, instead of being retransmitted on different frequencies on different symbol transmission periods. Consequently, the symbol can be generated once and stored for subsequent retransmission, thereby allowing some of the transmitter/receiver chain components can be operated at a lower duty cycle or processing speed to conserve power.
US08553781B2	Methods and apparatus for decoded picture buffer (DPB) management in single loop decoding for multi-view video There are provided methods and apparatus for decoded picture buffer (DPB) management in single loop decoding for multi-view video. An apparatus includes a decoder (200) for decoding a picture corresponding to at least one view of at least two views of multi-view video content. The picture is decoded in support of decoded picture buffer management for single loop decoding using inter-view prediction.
US08553778B2	Coding scheme for identifying spatial locations of events within video image data An invention for generating a coding schema for identifying a spatial location of an event within video image data is provided. In one embodiment, there is a spatial representation tool, including a compression component configured to receive trajectory data of an event within video image data, generate a lossless compressed contour-coded blob to encode the trajectory data of the event within video image data, and generate a lossy searchable code to enable searching of a relational database based on the trajectory data of the event within the video image data.
US08553774B2	Method for predicting an image In the method for predicting an image, a reference image block for a current image block of a moving picture is obtained using motion vector information, and a variable weight factor is applied to the reference image block to form a product value of the weight factor and the reference image block. The current image block of the moving picture is predicted using the product value.
US08553771B2	Derivation process of boundary filtering strength, and deblocking filtering method and apparatus using the derivation process Provided are a bS derivation process and a deblocking filtering method and apparatus using illumination compensation and/or chrominance compensation, such as a multi-view video coding, in a picture coding/decoding process in which a prediction coding is performed. If neither of the two blocks are intra-coded, neither of the two blocks do contain a none-zero transformed coefficient, and motion compensation for the two blocks is performed based on the identical reference frame and the absolute difference between the horizontal or vertical components of the two motion vectors of the two blocks is less than 1, the bS of the two blocks is derived by considering whether the two blocks are coded by illumination compensation (IC) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, if both of the two blocks are coded by IC mode or neither of the two blocks are coded by IC mode, bS is set as such a value that filtering is unnecessary. On the other hand, if both of the two blocks are coded by IC mode and the blocks have different illumination change values, or only one of the blocks is coded by IC mode, the bS is derived using difference of illumination change values or the illumination change value.
US08553768B2	Image encoding/decoding method and apparatus An image encoding/decoding method and apparatus, in which at least one of a plurality of color component images except a first color component image is predicted from motion estimation information or a reconstructed color component image of the first color component images using correlation among the plurality of color component images. The image encoding method includes performing predictive-encoding on the first color component image among the plurality of color component images forming a single image using a general encoding method, and performing motion estimation and compensation on the at least one of the other color component images or predicting the at least one of the other color component images using a reconstructed first color component image.
US08553767B2	Video decoding method and apparatus A video decoding apparatus includes a decoder to decode video encoded data using a predictive picture signal for a video signal, a compression device compressing the decoded picture signal, a first memory storing the decoded picture signal, a second memory storing the compressed picture signal, a decompression device decompressing the compressed picture signal read from the second memory, a selector selecting one of a decoded picture signal read from the first memory and a compressed/decompressed picture signal from the compression device as a reference picture signal according to at least one of a coding type of the video encoded data in picture unit and a prediction mode in block unit, and a motion compensator performing motion compensation on the reference picture signal to generate a predictive picture signal.
US08553766B2	Method and apparatus for coding image information, method and apparatus for decoding image information, method and apparatus for coding and decoding image information, and system of coding and transmitting image information An image decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream includes a receiving unit that receives the bit stream and a weight parameter that is added to a luma quantization parameter. Further, the image decoding apparatus includes a decoding unit that decodes the bit stream and generates a chroma component of quantized coefficients. The image decoding apparatus also includes a setting unit that sets a chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of the luma quantization parameter weighted by an addition operation that adds the weight parameter. Additionally, the image decoding apparatus includes a dequantization unit that performs dequantization on the chroma component of quantized coefficients using the chroma quantization parameter. In addition, the image decoding apparatus includes a transform unit that performs an inverse orthogonal transform.
US08553762B1	Fast inverse integer transform for video decoding In video decoding using the H.264/AVC standard, the computation of an inverse 4×4 integer transform of a coefficient matrix derived by variable length decoding may be carried out using data reduction techniques to reduce the computation load. If the index value of the highest-indexed nonzero coefficient in the matrix is three or higher, the transform is computed conventionally, using two 1D transform operations separated by a transpose operation, and followed by rounding and shifting. If the index value of the highest-indexed nonzero coefficient in the matrix is zero (including the case where there is no nonzero coefficient), the inverse integer transform operation includes only rounding and shifting of that coefficient. If the index value of the highest-indexed nonzero coefficient in the matrix is one or two, then the inverse integer transform operation can be performed using a single integrated 2D transform followed by rounding and shifting.
US08553759B2	Bandwidth sensitive data compression and decompression Data compression and decompression methods for compressing and decompressing data based on an actual or expected throughput (bandwidth) of a system. In one embodiment, a controller tracks and monitors the throughput (data storage and retrieval) of a data compression system and generates control signals to enable/disable different compression algorithms when, e.g., a bottleneck occurs so as to increase the throughput and eliminate the bottleneck.
US08553757B2	Forward error correction for media transmission A “Media Transmission Optimizer” provides a media transmission optimization framework for lossy or bursty networks such as the Internet. This optimization framework provides a novel form of dynamic Forward Error Correction (FEC) that focuses on the perceived quality of a recovered media signal rather than on the absolute accuracy of the recovered media signal. In general, the Media Transmission Optimizer provides an encoder that optimizes the transmission of redundant frames of electronic media information encoded at different bit rates, and provides optimized playback quality by providing a decoder that automatically selects an optimal path through one or more available representations of each frame as a function of overall rate/distortion criteria.
US08553754B2	Method and apparatus for using DFE in a system with non-continuous data A decision feedback equalization (DFE) receiver and method are provided. The DFE receiver is configured to sample data bits from a data bus. The DFE receiver includes a data sampler configured to sample a current data bit from the data bus using one of a first, second and third voltage reference. The DFE receiver also includes multiplexing logic configured to select one of the first, second and third voltage references based on a prior data bus level. The wherein the first voltage reference is selected if the prior data bus level was a logic zero. The second voltage reference is selected if the prior data bus level was a logic one. The third voltage reference is selected if the prior data bus level was tri-state.
US08553751B2	Radio equipment controller, radio control method, radio station, and radio communication system A radio equipment controller includes a calculator that calculates a delay amount by subtracting from a given maximum delay amount an internal delay amount of a radio equipment and a delay amount of a cable, the radio equipment modulating and transmitting orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, and the cable connecting the radio equipment and the radio equipment controller that creates the OFDM symbols, a detector that detects a beginning of the OFDM symbols from data that is inputted into a buffer that stores data of the OFDM symbols, and a delay controller that determines a transmission timing of the OFDM symbols so that the transmission timing of the beginning of the OFDM symbols becomes a timing that is delayed by the calculated delay amount after a reference signal with a specific period.
US08553747B2	Method for connecting base station and repeater for spatial division multiple access and repeating method thereof The present invention relates to a method for connecting a base station and a repeater for a spatial division multiple access, and a repeating method thereof. In order to provide efficient spatial division by using a repeater, data streams are repeated by using a repeating system including at least one repeater for performing wireless communication with a terminal located in a repeating region controlled by using at least one repeating antenna and a base station including a plurality of base station antennas corresponding to the repeating antenna. In this instance, the terminal detects location information on the repeating region to which the terminal belongs by using the pilot signal transmitted by the base station or repeated by the repeater. Location information detected by the terminal is fed back to the base station so that the base station may use it for the spatial division multiple access for simultaneous transmission to many terminals. Therefore, the spatial division multiple access for increasing sector capacity by efficiently combining the base station including multiple antennas and the repeater is available.
US08553740B2	Method of driving GaN-based semiconductor light emitting element, method of driving GaN-based semiconductor light emitting element of image display device, method of driving planar light source device, and method of driving light emitting device A method of driving a GaN-based semiconductor light emitting element formed by laminating a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer having a first conductive type, an active layer having a well layer, a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer having a second conductive type, includes the steps of: starting light emission by the start of the injection of carrier; and then stopping the injection of the carrier before a light emission luminance value becomes constant.
US08553735B2	Device and method for material processing by means of laser radiation In a device for material processing by means of laser radiation, said device comprising a source of laser radiation emitting pulsed laser radiation for interaction with the material; optics focusing the pulsed processing laser radiation to a center of interaction in the material; a scanning unit shifting the positions of the center of interaction within the material, wherein each processing laser pulse interacts with the material in a zone surrounding the center of interaction assigned to said laser pulse so that material is separated in the zones of interaction; and a control unit which controls the scanning unit and the source of laser radiation such that a cut surface is produced in the material by sequential arrangement of zones of interaction, it is envisaged that the control unit controls the source of laser radiation and the scanning unit such that adjacent centers of interaction are located at a spatial distance a ≦10 μm from each other.
US08553728B2	Methods and apparatus for robust slotted mode operation in fading wireless environments Methods, devices and computer program products are disclosed that allow for wireless communication devices to operate more robustly in the slotted mode of operation in the event of network system loss. Specifically, present aspects require the wireless device to move to or remain in the slotted mode of operation as opposed to immediately entering into a system determination/acquisition mode upon failing to acquire an active set pilot during a slotted wake-up. By moving to the slotted mode of operation or providing for additional slotted-wake-ups, a number of attempts at acquiring the active set pilot can be performed before declaring the system as lost, thereby allowing for fading channel conditions to prevail without the need to re-acquire the lost system or otherwise acquire another system. Since the performance of the slotted mode is less power intensive than acquiring or re-acquiring a system, a substantial power savings is realized.
US08553724B2	Enhanced dynamic compression The present invention is directed towards compressing and decompressing data transmitted between an end terminal (12) and a network server (20) controlling compression in communication sessions involving the end terminal. States related to the end terminal that are created and used for compressing and decompressing data transmitted between the end terminal and the network server when the end terminal is first registered to the first network server are saved as the end terminal deregisters from the first network server. When the end terminal again registers to the network server these saved states are directly used. In this way it is possible to start compressing data using the saved states immediately after a following registering for providing a more effective dynamic compression.
US08553718B2	Method and apparatus for adaptive MAC layer fragmentation and HARQ channel identifier assignment Systems and methods are disclosed for adaptively assigning a number of parallel Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) channels based on system parameters such as channel conditions and pending HARQ processes. The channel conditions may comprise at least one of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) received from a User Equipment (UE), a number of retransmissions in one or more of the parallel HARQ channels, and a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR).
US08553717B2	Information processing device, communication method, and program product An information processing device includes a transmission portion that transmits repeatedly, at a specified time interval, one combination packet that is created such that it includes, within a packet that is compatible with one format, a packet that is compatible with another format. It is therefore possible for the information processing device to perform non-contact communication in a plurality of formats without repeatedly transmitting in succession a plurality of copies of the same packet, each copy being compatible with a different format.
US08553716B2	Audiovisual signal routing and distribution system An audiovisual signal is converted from a native format to a digital, packetized interchange format and transported between a capture node and a display node through a switch. The display node converts the audiovisual signal from the interchange format to a displayable format and causes display of the audiovisual signal. The use of a switch for video routing and distribution allows one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many distribution. The use of a device-independent interchange format allows concurrent distribution of multiple heterogeneous audiovisual signals.
US08553701B2	Cost reduction of NAT connection state keep-alive Keep-alive processing for NAT devices and reducing power consumption in wireless clients. A server driven keep-alive mechanism facilitates keep-alive messages to a NAT device currently providing a connection to a mobile client to refresh the NAT state, thereby reducing or eliminating power consumption in a wireless device to respond to the connection with keep-alive packets. In one instance, keep-alive packets are sent to the NAT device to reset the NAT timeout timer, and then to the mobile client. The client responds only when expected keep-alive packets are not received at the client. In another instance, keep-alive packets reset the NAT timer to maintain the connection but are dropped or self-destruct before reaching the mobile client thereby providing the optimum power conservation in the mobile device. Thus, the client is not forced into extra client activity to send or receive wireless data, thereby draining the battery.
US08553692B2	Generic UDP multiplexing for voice over internet protocol (VOIP) In one embodiment, data for a plurality of sessions is received. For example, a plurality of packets for voice data may be received from a plurality of end points. A destination for each of the connections is then determined. For example, the voice data may be destined for different gateways (and other end points). In some cases, the voice data for the sessions may be destined for the same destination. In this case, a plurality of packets is multiplexed into a multiplexed packet. The multiplexed packet includes a layer three network header. Also, each of the packets in the multiplexed packet includes a transport packet header. The multiplexed packet is then sent to the single destination. Each of the packets in the multiplexed packet can be extracted and processed as if a single one of the packets was received individually.
US08553689B2	Home agent acting as a proxy for a Mobile Node In node management in a packet-switched network, a first node acts as a proxy for a second node. Both nodes have network-layer addresses at the network layer and link-layer addresses at the link layer. The first node receives a request to receive and forward packets addressed to the second node's network-layer address. The same network-layer address is associated with the first and the second node, and the first and the second node have distinct link-layer addresses. The first node advertises to nodes attached to the packet-switched network the first node's link-layer address as a destination address for the second node's network-layer address; the second node does not advertise. The first node receives in response to advertising, packets destined to the second node's network-layer address having the first node's link-layer address and forwards packets addressed to the second node's network-layer address to the second node using its link-layer address.
US08553688B2	Dynamic allocation of context identifiers for header compression In one embodiment, routable traffic through one or more border routers between a local computer network and a global computer network is monitored in order to characterize use of one or more global prefixes of the traffic. A particular set of the global prefixes, up to a maximum number, that are most frequently used may be mapped into a set of context identifiers (IDs) having a shorter bit-length than the global prefixes. The context IDs may then be distributed into the local computer network, and the one or more border routers convert between the context IDs and the global prefixes, accordingly.
US08553681B2	Telephone service via packet-switched networking A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing. Calls may be made from telephone station to telephone station, from telephone station to computer or computer to telephone station.
US08553680B2	Service controlling in a service provisioning system A method and a system is described for controlling a service in a service provisioning network. The method including the steps of: a serving network node associated with a user terminal receiving a registration message, the user terminal having one or more of services, preferably VoIP services; and, the serving network node retrieving in response to the registration message service routing information associated with the first user terminal, the service routing information being arranged to route service messages associated with the first user terminal via a stateless application server, the stateless application server being adapted to perform control actions on said service messages.
US08553676B2	Wireless communication system, its base station and mobile station, communication synchronization management method and timer control program therefor The present invention provides a wireless communication system which can reduce the probability that a latency before data transmission increases when a mobile station that is actually in sync is judged to be out of sync based on a timeout of the timer used for judging whether a mobile station is in a deemed in-sync state or in a deemed out-of-sync state. A base station of a wireless communication system which performs communication between a mobile station and the base station, includes a timer unit which sets a period for judging whether an uplink signal from the mobile station is synchronized; and a timer control unit which is capable of determining the period for each of mobile stations and notifies the period to each of the mobile station upon RRC establishment or RRC re-establishment.
US08553659B2	Method and system for optimal beamforming in wireless networks Aspects of a method and system for optimal beamforming in a wireless network are presented. Aspects of the system may include one or more processors for use in a requesting communication device wherein the one or more processors may be operable to request a transmission time slot allocation. A determination may be made by a coordinating communication device as whether to assign a sector transmission time slot and/or beamforming transmission time slot to the requesting communication device based on the transmission time slot allocation request. The one or more processors may be operable to receive the assigned sector transmission time slot and/or beamforming transmission time slot.
US08553656B2	Low power digital media broadcast receiver with time division Systems and methods for providing a low power receiver device using fine grained time division are provided. In one embodiment, the receiver device comprises a tuner, a demodulator configured to demodulate at least one sampled signal, a payload processor configured to process at least one demodulated signal into an output format, and a time division control logic configured to generate a control signal to switch at least one component within the receiver device between modes to conserve power. The at least one component may be switched between an active mode, a standby mode, a power off mode, and a low power mode. In further embodiments, the at least one component may be switched between staggered modes.
US08553651B2	Wireless terminal and roaming method using the same A wireless terminal roams from a first access point to a second access point. The wireless terminal can set a predetermined time period to determine whether to roam between different access points. Upon receiving signals from the second access point, the wireless terminal decodes signals received from the first access point and the second access point to get a correct probability of each bit of the signals. The wireless terminal then calculates mean values, a variance value and a difference in the mean values of the first access point and the second access point. If the difference in the mean value exceeds a product of the variance value and a roaming weight, the wireless terminal switches the wireless terminal from the first access point to the second access point to access the network.
US08553649B2	System and method for managing wireless base station handoff information The present invention is directed to a system and method which base stations send informational messages to neighbor base stations when conditions change, so that the neighbor base stations can update its database to keep itself current on the parameters (including availability, traffic load, modulation scheme, etc.) to use in effecting efficient base station to base station handoffs. In one embodiment, the receiving base station marks the time of the received message from a neighbor base station and if a new updated message is not received within a time window then the receiving base station assumes that there is a problem with that neighbor.
US08553646B2	Employing physical location geo-spatial co-ordinate of communication device as part of internet protocol System(s), method(s), and device(s) that incorporate a current physical location value associated with a communication device as part of internet protocol (IP) are presented. An IP management component obtains current physical location information of a wireless communication device and modifies the IP address to incorporate the current physical location value corresponding to the current physical location of the communication device as part of the IP address of the communication device to prevent undesired intrusions by hackers, as communications associated with the communication device are routed to/from the communication device that is at the current physical location. If the communication device moves to a new location, the IP management component can perform a new IP address modification to modify the IP address to incorporate a new physical location value associated with the communication device.
US08553644B2	Wireless communication methods and apparatus supporting different types of wireless communication approaches A wireless terminal supports both peer to peer communications and access node based communications. The wireless terminal considers and evaluates communications link alternatives and selects between (i) communication using a peer to peer link and (ii) communications using a link with a base station serving as an access node. Received signals corresponding to each of the link alternatives are used in performing link quality determinations. In one example, a received user beacon signal from a peer wireless terminal is the received signal used for the peer to peer link evaluation and a base station beacon signal is the received signal used for the access node link evaluation. A link is selected as a function of quality determination, predicted data throughput, link maintenance energy requirements, and/or least cost routing determination information.
US08553635B2	Uplink ACK/NACK signaling in carrier aggregation environment An uplink ACK/NACK signaling method and apparatus in carrier aggregation environment are disclosed. The method for performing a HARQ procedure by a user equipment in a wireless communication system includes receiving one or more control channels carrying downlink scheduling information from a base station (BS), wherein each control channel carries information indicating a total number of control channels transmitted from the BS to the UE, and determining whether the total number of control channels transmitted to the UE is identical to the number of control channels received at the UE.
US08553634B2	Method for performing bandwidth request process in wireless communication system A bandwidth request procedure is performed in a wireless communication system by transmitting a bandwidth request indicator and a bandwidth request message through a bandwidth request channel; receiving an uplink grant message indicating uplink radio resource in response to the bandwidth request indicator and the bandwidth request message; and transmitting uplink data after receiving the uplink grant message, wherein the uplink grant message includes information regarding the type of the uplink grant message.
US08553624B2	Asynchronous hybrid ARQ process indication in a MIMO wireless communication system Methods and apparatus for transmitting Asynchronous Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) process identities in a wireless communication system. A linking scheme is established between at least two sets of process identities of two respective corresponding codewords. When a first process identity is selected from among a first set of process identities of a first codeword, a second process identity may be derived in dependence upon the first process identity and the established linking scheme. Finally, a first packet from the first codeword is transmitted using a first transmission channel indicated by the first process identity, and a second packet is transmitted from the second codeword using a second transmission channel indicated by the second process identity. In addition, a control message including only the first process identity is transmitted.
US08553623B2	Method and system for utilizing standardized interface in a wireless device to discover and use local and remote resources A wireless mobile communication (WMC) device may discover available networks, and available local and/or remote resources. The WMC device may configure routes utilizing one or more of discovered resources and one or more available networks. The routes may be utilized to performed operations requested via the WMC device. A standardized language and/or protocol may be utilized in discovering and/or communicating with available resources and/or networks. The standardized language and/or protocol may enable commonality among the discovered networks and/or resources, and encryption of data communicated through the established routes. The standardized language and/or protocol may be updated and/or modified to incorporate new resources either by direct interactions between the new resources and the WMC device, or via existing available resources and/or networks. The discovery of resources and/or establishment of routes may be user-triggered, or it may be based on user preference information.
US08553619B2	Method and a system for time synchronisation between a control centre and several transmitters Time synchronization between a control center and transmitters in a single frequency network is provided by generating and receiving a first reference time signal with a high time and frequency accuracy in a short and long time horizon and a second reference time signal supplied to the control center with a low time and frequency accuracy in the short time horizon and a high time and frequency accuracy in the long time horizon. A transport data stream is generated and supplied to the transmitters with a time-variable data rate through the control center corresponding to a frequency of the second reference time signal. Time displacement of the transport data stream received from the control center is performed by a respective transmitter until the data packets of the transport data stream each containing a transmission time are transmitted at a correct transmission time.
US08553599B2	Mobile communication system and network device A mobile communication system in which a home cell limits access from a first mobile station, and when the first mobile station communicating via a macro cell using the same frequency as the home cell enters a predetermined area near the home cell, the first mobile station is caused to perform handover to a different-frequency macro cell selected from among macro cells covering the predetermined area and using frequencies different from that used in the home cell.
US08553598B2	Network coding mode selector A method of operating a wireless communication system comprises making a determination which of plural transmission modes is to be a selected transmission mode for transmitting plural entities to a receiving node over a radio interface, and then (at a network coding node (24)) in accordance with the determination implementing the selected transmission mode with respect to the plural input entities. The plural transmission modes include at least two of: (1) an analog network-coded mode wherein plural input signals provided to a network coding node are network-combined by signal interference at a signal level at the network coding node into one analog network-combined output entity; (2) a digital network-coded mode wherein the plural input entities provided to the network coding node are network-combined by operation at a bit level at the network coding node into one or plural digital network-combined output entities; (3) a symbol level network-coded mode wherein the plural input entities are already modulated and network coding is performed on the already modulated plural input entities; and (4) a separate transmission mode wherein the plural input entities provided to the network coding node leave the network coding node as respective plural uncombined output entities.
US08553596B1	Selection of peer-to-peer providers in a wireless network A method of selecting a set of download data providers in a wireless network is disclosed. A request to download a data file from a wireless device is received. A set of potential providers that can provide one or more parts of the data file is determined. The set of potential providers is ranked based on a plurality of indicators that correspond to each of the set of potential provider. The plurality of indicators are each based on one or more wireless network operating conditions. The set of download data providers are selected based on the ranking of the set of potential providers. The data file is transferred to the wireless device by transferring one or more parts of the data file from each of the set of download data providers to the wireless device.
US08553594B2	Method and apparatus for resource allocation within a multi-carrier communication system A method and apparatus for performing resource allocation with lower required overhead is provided herein. Resource allocations for data transmissions are chosen in such a way as to provide channel quality information for various parts of the channel bandwidth (frequency selective channel quality information), such as allocating two different resource blocks (on different sets of subcarriers) to a mobile unit for two different transmissions. These data transmissions are used to estimate frequency selective channel quality information, thereby eliminating or greatly reducing the need for channel sounding with a broadband pilot. As a result, the overhead on the uplink of the communication system may be significantly reduced.
US08553584B2	Automated traffic engineering for 802.1AQ based upon the use of link utilization as feedback into the tie breaking mechanism A method in an Ethernet Bridge for improved load distribution in an Ethernet network that includes the Ethernet Bridge including determining a first set of one or more shortest paths between each Ethernet Bridge pair in the Ethernet network, selecting at least a first shortest path, calculating a link utilization value for each link of the Ethernet network, determining a second set of one or more shortest paths between each Ethernet Bridge pair in the Ethernet network, generating a path utilization value for each shortest path, selecting a second shortest path on the basis of said path utilization value, whereby the selection of the second shortest in light of path utilization minimizes the standard deviation of load distribution across the entire Ethernet network.
US08553573B2	Apparatus and method for adaptive throttling of traffic across multiple network nodes One embodiment of a method of throttling network traffic comprises obtaining traffic rate data from available peer network nodes; computing a maximum permissible rate for a network node based on the traffic rate data from the peer network nodes, wherein the maximum permissible rate represents a maximum number of transactions permitted to pass into that network node for processing during a current period; and employing the maximum permissible rate to govern a number of transactions admitted for processing by the network node in the current period.
US08553569B2	Method of connection re-establishment and related communication device A method of connection re-establishment for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system includes starting a radio link monitoring timer or a radio link monitoring counter, and stopping the radio link monitoring timer or the radio link monitoring counter if it is still running when a radio resource control (RRC) connection re-establishment procedure is triggered.
US08553568B2	Internetworking framework for multi-protocol label switching-transport profile and operation administration and maintenance protocols Systems, methods, and apparatuses for BFD to Y.1731 internetworking are described. In one embodiment, a method of processing defect conditions in a maintenance endpoint (MEP) of a first domain, the MEP a component of a bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) to Y.1731 interworking interface (IWF) in a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network is described.
US08553564B2	Management system and computer system management method A management apparatus for managing a computer system stores configuration information of multiple management-target apparatuses based on multiple first information received from multiple management-target apparatuses. The management apparatus, based on the configuration information and multiple additional component application condition information, determines whether or not to use multiple additional component information to acquire multiple second information from the multiple management-target apparatuses. The management apparatus, in a case where a determination to carry out acquisition is made, uses the multiple additional component information to receive the multiple second information from the multiple management-target apparatuses, and based on the multiple second information, either creates or updates the management information of the multiple management-target apparatuses.
US08553559B2	Methods and apparatus to manage bypass paths in an internet protocol (IP) network Methods and apparatus to manage bypass paths in an Internet protocol (IP) network are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein includes identifying an aggregation router source bandwidth to a first Internet protocol router exceeding a source threshold value, identifying a first value of the aggregation router bandwidth directed to a first destination, identifying a second value of the aggregation router bandwidth directed to a plurality of second destinations, and bypassing the Internet protocol router with a Layer-2 Open systems Interconnection Reference device via a routerless bypass path when the first value of the aggregation router bandwidth exceeds a first threshold value.
US08553555B2	Methods and apparatus for an efficient multicast file distribution system Methods and apparatus for an efficient multicast file distribution system. A method for transmitting a file over a distribution network includes encoding the file with a selected encoding scheme to form encoded packets, generating file delivery protocol (FDP) packets from the encoded packets, generating a file delivery control protocol (FDCP) packet that comprises control information associated with the FDP packets, and transmitting the FDCP packet and the FDP packets over the distribution network. A method for receiving a file over a distribution network includes receiving a FDCP packet and FDP packets, decoding the FDP packets based on the FDCP packet to generate encoded packets, and generating at least a portion of the file from the encoded packets.
US08553551B2	Dynamic bandwidth allocation for upstream transmission in passive optical networks Methods for dynamic bandwidth allocation among optical networks units for upstream transmission, performed by an optical line terminal of a passive optical network, which compensate for unused guaranteed bandwidth, which compensate for inability to use allocated bandwidth due to lack of data frame fragmentation, and which provide fair bandwidth allocation between mixed high transmission rate and low transmission rate optical network units.
US08553546B2	Technique for soft bit scaling A technique for determining in a fading channel environment a scaling factor for soft bit quantization is proposed. In a method realisation, the technique includes repeatedly determining an SNR value for the fading channel, calculating a weighted average based on a plurality of the SNR values, wherein weighting is performed such that contributions of extremal SNR values are attenuated, and determining the scaling factor for soft bit quantization dependent on the weighted average.
US08553544B2	Reliability metrics in an IP network Embodiments of the present invention are directed to characterizing reliability associated with a network. To characterize the reliability, an edge-pair reliability metric is determined for service edge point pairs. An end-to-end reliability metric is computed based on a distribution of the edge-pair reliability metric for the service edge point pairs and a threshold value.
US08553538B2	Packet relay device and congestion control method A packet relay device including a plurality of queues which store packets waiting to be transmitted, a congestion detection unit which detects a congestion state of the plurality of queues and selects one or more queues from among the plurality of queues based on the congestion state, a distribution unit which separates a packet addressed to one or more of the queues selected by the congestion detection unit from a sequence of packets before being stored in the plurality of queues, and a discard unit which discards, at a prescribed probability, a packet addressed to one or more of the queues separated by the distribution unit.
US08553535B2	System and method of distributing digital content A method includes sending a data packet, or a copy of the data packet, from a first video distribution hub to a second video distribution hub. The first video distribution hub is coupled to a first link and to a second link. The method also includes, in response to the second link being intact, sending the data packet, or the copy of the data packet, from the first video distribution hub to the second video distribution hub via a primary network path that includes the second link and excludes the first link. The method also includes, in response to a failure of the second link, sending the data packet, or the copy of the data packet, from the first video distribution hub to the second video distribution hub via a backup network path that includes the first link and that does not include the second link.
US08553529B2	Method and apparatus for performing a HARQ operation in a multi-carrier system A method of performing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) of a user equipment (UE) in a multiple-carrier system is provided. The UE transmits uplink data on an uplink carrier. The UE receives acknowledgement (ACK)/not-acknowledgement (NACK) for the uplink data on a downlink carrier associated with the uplink carrier. Accordingly, HARQ can be supported in a multiple-carrier system.
US08553528B2	Apparatus and method for connecting an electronic device to a telecommunication network using fixed and mobile access networks The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for the connection of at least one electronic device (30) to a telecommunication network comprising a fixed telecommunication network (40) and a mobile telecommunication network (41). The apparatus (100) comprises connecting means (20) for connecting said at least one electronic device (30) and a first interface (21) able to exchange data/voice with a fixed telecommunication network (40). The apparatus (100) further comprises a second interface (22) able to exchange data/voice with a mobile telecommunication network (41), a connection manager (60) for establishing a communication between said connecting means (20) with said first interface (21) and/or said second interface (22), and control means (61) in signal communication with said connection manager (60) and able to generate a control signal to control said connection manager (61), so as to determine the exchange of data/voice between the electronic device (30) connected to the connecting means (20) and the fixed telecommunication network (40) and/or the mobile telecommunication network (41).
US08553526B2	Methods and apparatus for determining quality of service in a communication system Methods and apparatus for determining the quality of service of a network are disclosed. A disclosed methodology for determining quality of service for a network includes determining at least two metrics reflective of network parameters in at least two different protocol layers of the communication network. The metrics are then compared with respective threshold values, and quality of service for the network is determined based on the comparison of the metrics with the respective threshold values. Corresponding apparatus executing the methodology are also disclosed.
US08553525B2	Method of transmitting data based on adaptive modulation and coding A method of transmitting data is provided. The method includes generating a frame, the frame comprising a data burst, a submap and a map wherein the submap indicates a resource allocation state of the data burst, and the map indicates a differential adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) level for the submap, and transmitting data using the frame, wherein the differential AMC level is information on change in an AMC level applied to the submap comparing with other submap in a different frame. High-speed data transmission is realized and limited radio resources can be more efficiently used.
US08553523B2	Method and apparatus for resource mapping and code division multiplexing The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for resource mapping and code division multiplexing. In the present disclosure, each cell selects a mapping scheme among at least two mapping schemes to implement resource mapping, which effectively reduces interference imposed on reference signal symbols of users at the edge of a cell; vector switching is performed for an orthogonal matrix to obtain multiple different codeword sequences and implement codeword design, so that a problem that the output power of reference signal symbols is unbalanced can be effectively alleviated.
US08553518B1	Disc spindle with internal particulate removal A disc spindle provides removal of particulates generated by internal parts of mechanisms, including the disc clamping mechanism, air bearing rotor, and other moving parts provides a port that is coupled to a vacuum system to remove particulate from the areas in which they are generated. In other aspects of the invention, vacuum evacuation of rotary and other bearings in a mechanical system employed in a clean room environment are prevented from contaminating the environment by removing particulate at the locations in which it is generated by friction, contact, or other means such as being introduced from the pressure channel in an air bearing feed.
US08553515B2	System and method for precise servoing A method for servoing when reading out a recorded holographic disk or recording in a preformatted disk includes detecting a primary signal of a reflected primary beam from a target data track of a target data layer of the disk, wherein the primary beam of radiation has a first wavelength; comparing a power measurement of the primary signal with a threshold value of power; detecting a tracking signal of a reflected tracking beam from a reference layer of the disk in an event that the power measurement of the primary signal is below the threshold value, wherein the tracking beam of radiation has a second wavelength; generating a servo error signal based upon the primary signal or the tracking signal; actuating an optical sub-system based upon either of the primary servo error signal or the tracking servo error signal such that the primary beam focuses on the target data layer.
US08553514B2	Optical recording medium, recording device, and recording method An optical recording medium includes: N recording layers (where N≧4); a number of kinds of layer intervals between the recording layers adjacent to each other being an integer M equal to or less than a minimum integer equal to or more than log2(N); and one or more AB blocks including four recording layers with a first layer interval A, a second layer interval B, and the first layer interval A formed in order in the one or more AB blocks. When the M as the number of kinds of layer intervals is M≧3, the optical recording medium has a part of a third layer interval C as a layer interval between a recording layer forming an AB block and a recording layer adjacent to the recording layer, the adjacent recording layer being included in other than the AB block including the recording layer.
US08553508B2	Focus servo control device, and information recording/reproducing device using the same A focus servo control device includes a first detector, first controller, second detector, and second controller. The first detector detects a first focus error signal. The first controller controls the objective lens based on the first focus error signal, so that a focal point of the first laser agrees with the guide layer. The second detector detects a second focus error signal. The second controller changes a relative distance between the focal point of the second laser and the focal point of the first laser, so that the focal point of the second laser agrees with a target recording/reproducing layer.
US08553506B2	Preheat feature for thermally assisted recording An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of the apparatus; and at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer. A method according to one embodiment includes heating the near-field transducer by passing a current through the at least one conductor or circuit; and illuminating the near-field transducer during a write operation, wherein the current does not pass through the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a majority of a time of illumination. Additional embodiments are also presented.
US08553499B2	Migration-based illumination determination for AVA risk assessment According to a preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided herein a system and method for extending zero-offset or stacked wave-equation illumination analysis into the angle-gather domain, where it becomes an appropriate tool for assessing the effects of complex overburden on AVA response. A preferred method for doing this involves first creating an angle gather that has a perfect AVA response (i.e. a constant amplitude as a function of angle). This gather is then preferably used as a reflectivity map that is fed into a demigration process which creates modeled data that by construction carries with it a completely flat reflectivity signature. Remigration of such a data set then results in a gather on which any amplitude variation is more likely to be a measure of illumination effects alone. The resulting AVA signature on the gather can then be used to assess the validity of the AVA response on modeled or actual data, resulting in a useful AVA risk analysis.
US08553498B2	Q tomography method Method for reconstructing subsurface Q models (110) from seismic data (10) by performing ray-based (60), centroid frequency shift (50) Q tomography. The seismic source waveform's amplitude spectrum is approximated by a frequency-weighted exponential function of frequency (40), having two parameters to adjust to fit the frequency shift data, thereby providing a better fit to various asymmetric source amplitude spectra. Box constraints may be used in the optimization routine, and a multi-index active-set method used in velocity tomography is a preferred technique for implementing the box constraints (100).
US08553497B2	Removal of surface-wave noise in seismic data The invention is a method to predict surface-wave waveforms (306) and subtract them (307) from seismic data. Prediction is done by estimating a set of surface-consistent components (transfer functions in the frequency domain or impulse responses in time domain) that best represent changes in the waveforms for propagation along the surface from source to receiver (303). The prediction uses a mathematical expression, or model, of the earth's filtering effects, both amplitude and phase, as a function of frequency. The desired surface-consistent components are model parameters, and model optimization is used to solve for the surface-consistent components. The surface-consistent components may include filter transfer functions for each source location, each receiver location, and for propagation (302) through each region (301) of the surface that exhibits lateral variation.
US08553495B2	Device and method for imaging of non-linear and linear properties of formations surrounding a borehole In some aspects of the disclosure, a method and an apparatus is disclosed for investigating material surrounding the borehole. The method includes generating within a borehole an intermittent low frequency vibration that propagates as a tube wave longitudinally to the borehole and induces a nonlinear response in one or more features in the material that are substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the borehole; generating within the borehole a sequence of high frequency pulses directed such that they travel longitudinally to the borehole within the surrounding material; and receiving, at one or more receivers positionable in the borehole, a signal that includes components from the low frequency vibration and the sequence of high frequency pulses during intermittent generation of the low frequency vibration, to investigate the material surrounding the borehole.
US08553485B2	Dynamic random access memory device and method for self-refreshing memory cells with temperature compensated self-refresh A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device has an array of DRAM cells of rows by columns. Each DRAM cell of the array is coupled with a wordline of a corresponding row and a bitline of a corresponding column. Entry into and an exit from the self-refresh mode is detected by a mode detector and a self-refresh mode signal is provided. An oscillation circuit generates in response to the self-refresh mode signal a basic time period. A first frequency divider/time period multiplier changes the basic time period in accordance with a process variation factor relating to the DRAM device. A second frequency divider/time period multiplier further changes the changed time period in accordance with a temperature change factor. In the self-refresh mode, data stored in the DRAM cells is refreshed. In accordance with the two factors, the DRAM devices perform and achieve reliable self-refresh for variable DRAM cell retention time.
US08553483B2	Semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device has: memory blocks; and a local bus connected to the memory blocks. Each memory block has: switches respectively provided between bit line pairs and the local bus and each of which is turned ON in response to a selection signal; a dummy local bus; first and second control circuits. The local bus and the dummy local bus are precharged to a first potential before a read operation. In the read operation, the first control circuit outputs the selection signal to a selected switch to electrically connect a selected bit line pair and the local bus, while the second control circuit supplies a second potential lower than the first potential to the dummy local bus. The first control circuit stops outputting the selection signal when a potential of the dummy local bus is decreased to a predetermined set potential that is between the first and second potentials.
US08553472B2	Memory with a shared I/O including an output data latch having an integrated clamp A memory includes a shared I/O unit that is shared between multiple storage arrays provides output data from the arrays. The shared I/O includes an output latch with an integrated output clamp. The I/O unit may be configured to provide output data from the storage arrays via data output signal paths. The I/O unit includes an output latch configured to force a valid logic level on the data output signal paths in response to a power down condition.
US08553463B1	Voltage discharge circuit having divided discharge current In one embodiment, a voltage discharge (VD) system has a slow VD subsystem that provides two concurrent discharge current paths to at least begin to discharge both positive and negative voltages: a first path from the positive-voltage node to ground and a second path from the positive-voltage node to the negative-voltage node. In addition to this relatively slow VD subsystem, the VD system can also have a conventional fast VD subsystem that is turned on after the slow VD subsystem has reduced the positive and negative voltages to some degree (e.g., half of each charge removed). Such a VD system can eliminate dangerous overshoot conditions, even when control-signal skew is present.
US08553443B2	Memory device and memory access method Provided is a memory device in which the circuit structure is simplified while the functions of a memory including an OTP memory and a memory including a pseudo-MTP memory are maintained. A memory device includes a plurality of memory sets each including a mark bit storage area for storing a mark bit, which indicates that an object is deleted data, and a data bit storage area for storing data, the memory device being built from an OTP memory including an OTP memory block and a pseudo-MTP memory block, the OTP memory block containing a given number of memory sets to operate as an OTP memory, the pseudo-MTP memory block containing the rest of the memory sets operates as a pseudo-MTP memory. The mark bit is written in advance in the mark bit storage area of the OTP memory block.
US08553437B2	Method and control device for controlling power flow within a DC power transmission network A method for controlling power flow within a DC power flow within a DC power transmission network includes two or more interconnected converter stations. The method includes the steps of: establishing a common feedback signal (Ud,common, Ũd,common) to the converter stations, the common feedback signal (Ud,common, Ũd,common) being based on an overall voltage level in the DC transmission, power network; providing, in the converter stations, a control signal (S1, S2, S3, S4) based on the common feedback signal (Ud,common) and a drooped error signal (Pe,droop, Ue,droop); and controlling the power flow within the DC power transmission network towards set operating points (Udref, PCCref) by using the control signal (S1, S2, S3, S4). A control device and computer program product is also described.
US08553434B2	Control method for single-phase grid-connected LCL inverter A method of controlling the grid-side current of a single-phase grid-connected converter having an LCL filter connected between the output of the converter and the grid includes measuring a grid voltage and at least one signal in a group of signals consisting of a grid-side current, a converter-side current and a capacitor voltage, estimating the fundamental component of the grid voltage, forming a grid-side current reference, a converter-side current reference and a capacitor voltage reference for the grid-side current of the LCL filter, forming estimates for the non-measured signals in the group of signals, forming a grid-side current difference term, a converter-side current difference term and a capacitor voltage difference term, and controlling the output voltage of the converter based on the grid voltage, a formed injection term and a formed estimate of the harmonic distortion term to produce a grid side current corresponding to the current reference.
US08553431B2	Switching power converter with load impedance detection In a switching power converter, no-load condition is detected based on a variety of parameters including the output current, primary current, transformer reset time, and switching period. Once the no-load condition is detected, the switching power converter enters stand-by mode, in which the reference voltage corresponding to the target regulated output voltage of the switching power converter is lowered to a low stand-by value or the switching power converter is shut down for a predetermined duration. As a result, power loss during the stand-by mode of the switching power converter can be reduced significantly.
US08553428B2	Component for reducing mechanical stress on a PCB A component for mounting on a PCB, intended to support an electronics component, with an extension in the longitudinal, lateral and vertical directions. The component has a first and a second main surface, the second main surface being intended for mounting on the PCB. The component is made in a non conducting material, with a first layer of conducting material arranged on its first main surface, the conducting layer being connected to a conducting layer on the second main surface of the component by electrically conducting means. The component's extension in the vertical direction is smaller than its extension in either the longitudinal or lateral direction.
US08553427B2	Motherboard A motherboard includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board, and wiring. The first circuit board includes at least a programmable chip, a programming interface, a first data interface, and at least one jumper corresponding to the programmable chip. The second circuit board includes a CPU (central processing unit), a RAM unit, and at least a second data interface corresponding to the programmable chip. The motherboard of the present disclosure concentrates programmable chips on the first circuit board, thereby providing a unified programming interface to enhance the convenience of programming multiple programmable chips.
US08553420B2	Enhanced stacked microelectronic assemblies with central contacts and improved thermal characteristics A microelectronic assembly includes a dielectric element having oppositely-facing first and second surfaces and one or more apertures extending between the surfaces, the dielectric element further having conductive elements thereon; a first microelectronic element having a rear surface and a front surface facing the first surface of the dielectric element, the first microelectronic element having a first edge and a plurality of contacts exposed at the front surface thereof; a second microelectronic element including having a rear surface and a front surface facing the rear surface of the first microelectronic element, a projecting portion of the front surface of the second microelectronic element extending beyond the first edge of the first microelectronic element, the projecting portion being spaced from the first surface of the dielectric element, the second microelectronic element having a plurality of contacts exposed at the projecting portion of the front surface; leads extending from contacts of the microelectronic elements through the at least one aperture to at least some of the conductive elements; and a heat spreader thermally coupled to at least one of the first microelectronic element or the second microelectronic element.
US08553414B2	Gas cooled traction drive inverter The present invention provides a modular circuit card configuration for distributing heat among a plurality of circuit cards. Each circuit card includes a housing adapted to dissipate heat in response to gas flow over the housing. In one aspect, a gas-cooled inverter includes a plurality of inverter circuit cards, and a plurality of circuit card housings, each of which encloses one of the plurality of inverter cards.
US08553406B2	Fixing mechanism for fixing a detachable module and related electronic device A fixing mechanism for fixing a detachable module is disclosed. The fixing mechanism includes a cage having a first bent portion, and a sliding base installed inside the cage in a slidable manner for supporting the detachable module. The sliding base includes a rack, and at least one first resilient hook for engaging with the first bent portion when the sliding base is installed inside the cage so as to prevent the sliding base from separating from the cage in a first direction. The fixing mechanism further includes at least one spring module installed on the cage and engaged with the rack on the sliding base for driving the rack so as to slide the sliding base relative to the cage. The fixing mechanism further includes a latch module installed on the sliding base for latching the detachable module when the detachable module is installed inside the sliding base.
US08553403B2	Foldable electronic device with magnetic latch An exemplary foldable electronic device includes a processing portion, a keyboard, and a latching member. The processing portion includes a main housing. The keyboard is rotatably connected to the processing portion. The keyboard includes a metal housing. The latching member is arranged in the main housing. The latching member includes a magnet. When the keyboard abuts against the processing portion, the attraction force between the magnet and the metal housing is greater than the force of the gravity acting on the keyboard, the keyboard is attached to the processing portion.
US08553394B2	Circuit breaker racking apparatus, systems, and methods of using same Embodiments provide a circuit breaker racking apparatus having a frame configured to couple to a switchgear section configured to receive a circuit breaker; a coupling operable to couple to a racking handle of the circuit breaker to be racked to or from the switchgear section; and a drive member coupled to the coupling and remotely operable to rotate the coupling and racking handle to accomplish racking of the circuit breaker. System and method aspects are provided, as are other aspects.
US08553387B2	Electronic device This invention provides an electronic device including a casing and a circuit board. The casing has an opening. The circuit board is located in the casing and at least includes a conductive layer and a surface insulating layer. The conductive layer includes a signal transmission portion and a static induction portion. The static induction portion is electrically disconnected with the signal transmission portion at the conductive layer, and the static induction portion is closer to the opening than the signal transmission portion. The surface insulating layer covers the signal transmission portion on the circuit board and exposes the static induction portion.
US08553386B2	Surge suppression device having one or more rings A surge suppression device may include a housing having a cavity, a center conductor positioned within the cavity, a spiral inductor having an inner curve coupled to the center conductor and an outer curve, a coil capture device connected to the outer curve of the spiral inductor, and a ring assembly having a first ring connected to the coil capture device, a second ring connected to the housing, and a voltage limiting device positioned between the first ring and the second ring.
US08553385B2	Release for an electric switching arrangement A release for an electrical switching arrangement includes at least two switching contacts, which are arranged in a housing and are isolated if the current flowing via the switching contacts has exceeded a predetermined threshold value. The release includes an actuating element, which responds, counter to the force of a restraining apparatus, to a pressure which is generated by an arc occurring in an isolating zone of the switching contacts. The isolating zone is surrounded by the housing, and actuates a shutdown mechanism which brings about automatic interruption of the current path. The actuating element has a movable element, which forms a blocking element in a flow channel, which is connected to the isolating zone. The blocking element performs a predetermined control movement at the pressure which is intended to result in shutdown.
US08553374B2	Modular circuit configuration for switching electrical power and an adapter designed to this end A modular circuit arrangement for switching electrical power includes a relay socket, an adapter and a relay. The adapter is detachably connectable to the relay socket and includes a semiconductor relay and a control unit electrically connected to the semiconductor relay. The relay includes a mechanical switch and is electrically and mechanically detachably connectable to the adapter so as to connect the semiconductor relay of the adapter in parallel to the mechanical switch. The control unit is configured to actuate the relay and the semiconductor switch at different times.
US08553368B2	High aspect ratio motion limiter of a microactuator and method for fabrication A high-aspect ratio motion limiter of a microactuator and a method for fabrication are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one low-aspect ratio gap is created in a substrate of a microactuator of a hard disk drive. The low-aspect ratio gap is then utilized to facilitate the creation of a high-aspect ratio motion limiter in the substrate of the microactuator.
US08553353B2	Neutralization of static charge on magnetic tape Methods and apparatus are provided related to magnetic recording tape. One or more ion emitters are disposed in non-contacting proximity to a passing recording tape. Static electric charges born on the tape are neutralized prior to passing the tape in contact with a read-write head. Migration of chemical constituency from the tape to the head is prevented or significantly reduced with a corresponding elimination or reduction of related problems.
US08553346B2	Implementing spin-torque oscillator sensing with enhanced delay control feedback circuit for hard disk drives A method, apparatus, and system for implementing spin-torque oscillator (STO) sensing with an enhanced delay control feedback circuit for hard disk drives. A detector receives an input signal from a STO read sensor having an oscillation frequency related to the strength of the detected magnetic signal field. The received input signal is mixed with a time delayed input signal for providing a detector output signal. A low frequency component signal of the detector output signal is monitored and a delay control feedback is applied to an adjustable time delay to bias the DC signal of the detector output signal.
US08553341B2	Electroactive optical device An optical device includes a soft polymer film having a first and second surface. A first compliant electrode is connected to the first surface and a second compliant electrode is connected to the second surface. A rigid optical element is connected on the first and/or second surface or integrated into the polymer film.
US08553315B2	Electrophoretic display device, driving method of electrophoretic display device, and electronic apparatus An electrophoretic device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate; an electrophoretic layer including colored particles that is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate; first electrodes; first transistors connected to the first electrodes; opposing electrodes that have larger areas than the first electrodes and have transparency; and a reflecting layer that has a larger area than the first electrodes, wherein the gradation is controlled by the area of the colored particles that is visible when the electrophoretic layer is seen from the second substrate side.
US08553314B2	Multi-colored display device The invention relates to a display device having at least one electrically controllable display element comprising a first and at least one further liquid, a plurality of fluidically closed volumes and at least one voltage source which is connected to an electrode array, wherein said volumes include flat visible subvolumes which stacked upon another along their shortest dimension, having associated second subvolumes which pass through those flat visible subvolumes which are underlying that flat visible subvolume which is associated with the respective second subvolume.
US08553311B2	Method for accomplishing high-speed intensity variation of a polarized output laser beam A method of accomplishing high-speed intensity variation of a polarized output laser beam includes securing an angle of light incidence sensitive optical element to a galvanometer system that provides high-speed transitioning of the angle of light incidence sensitive optical element between different angular positions. The high-speed transitioning provided by the galvanometer system varies an angle of incidence between an input laser beam and the angle of light incidence sensitive optical element to thereby provide high-speed variation of an intensity of a polarized output laser beam produced by the angle of light incidence sensitive optical element.
US08553306B2	Optical deflector and optical device An optical deflector includes a plurality of piezoelectric unimorph oscillating bodies (210a to 210d) that cause a reflecting plate (1) to oscillate rotationally, centering upon a pair of flexible support units (2a and 2b). The optical deflector forms a single structure of the oscillating plates (23a to 23b), the reflecting plate (1), the flexible support units (2a and 2b), and a support body (9), by connecting one set of the terminals of the oscillating plates (23a to 23d) of the suite of piezoelectric unimorph oscillating bodies (210a to 210d) to the flexible support units (2a and 2b), and connecting the other set of terminals to the support body (9). Furthermore, the plurality of piezoelectric unimorph oscillating bodies (210a to 210d) each respectively comprise a plurality of parallel oscillating bodies (23a1 to 23a-3, 23b-1 to 23b-3, 23c-1 to 23c-3), and (23d-1 to 23d-3), and a suite of parallel actuators (28a-1 to 28a-3, 28c-1 to 28c-3, and 28d-1 to 28d-3).
US08553300B2	Image forming apparatus configured to reduce the number of sheets to be output for gradation correction while maintaining gradation stability An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a first density sensor; a second density sensor; and a control section to control the image forming section to form a first gradation pattern image including patches having different densities on the image carrier, to execute gradation correction of the image forming section based on a detection result obtained with the first density sensor, to control the image forming section to print a second gradation pattern image including patches having different densities on the sheet, and to execute the gradation correction based on a detection result obtained with the second density sensor, and wherein the control section adds a gradation correction result by the first density sensor to a gradation correction result by the second density sensor according to a predetermined ratio, and executes the gradation correction based on an addition result.

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