Document Document Title
US08672442B2 Liquid ejecting apparatus, computer system, and liquid ejection method
A liquid ejecting apparatus and method creates no blank space on a medium. Such apparatus has: a movable ejection head for ejecting a liquid; a feed mechanism for feeding a medium; and detecting means for detecting a position of an edge of the medium; wherein the apparatus repeats an operation of detecting the position of the edge, an operation of feeding the medium, and an operation of ejecting the liquid onto the medium from the moving ejection head; in accordance with the position of the edge that has been detected, the apparatus changes at least either a start position or an end position for ejecting the liquid from the moving ejection head; and if the position of the edge was not detected, the apparatus sets the start position or the end position to a position that has been established in advance.
US08672441B2 Inkjet printing apparatus
An inkjet printing apparatus is provided which minimizes the amount of inks consumed for preventing the sedimentation of ejected inks on the platen ink absorber and which can effectively prevent the sedimentation of inks. To this end, a comparison is made between the ejected volume of easily sedimenting inks and the ejected volume of sedimentation restraining inks in terms of ink components. If the ejected volume of the sedimentation restraining inks is found not enough, a required amount of sedimentation restraining ink is additionally ejected.
US08672432B2 Liquid discharging apparatus
A liquid discharging apparatus includes a liquid discharging section which performs a liquid discharging operation for discharging liquid; and a controller which makes the liquid discharging section perform the liquid discharging operation, thereby executing image formation coating processing which forms a plurality of images on a medium and also performs coating of the images.
US08672430B2 Electronic device enclosure with bracket for data storage device
An enclosure includes a chassis and a bracket. The chassis includes a bottom panel, a rear panel and a side panel. The rear panel defines a latch hole. Two clamping pieces are located on the side panel. The bracket is engaged between the clamping pieces and includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A second hook and a resilient piece are located on the first sidewall. A first hook is located on the second sidewall. The first hook and the second hook are separately engaged with the two clamping pieces for preventing the bracket from moving along a first direction near to the bottom panel. The resilient piece is engaged in the latch hole to preventing the bracket from moving a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the resilient piece is elastically deformable to disengage from the latch hole.
US08672428B2 Housing for optical elements
A housing for enclosing optical components may include a series of fasteners, such as magnets, around the perimeter of the housing. The housing may also include a male and female or tongue-in-groove style coupling around the perimeter of the housing that may work in conjunction with fasteners around the perimeter of the housing. The perimeter of the housing may further include one or more insertion elements for receiving optical elements such as optical fibers, cables, or other wiring. An outer wall surface of the housing may include latches formed by flanges having a cavity that receive flanges without a cavity.
US08672427B2 Video display for product merchandisers
According to certain aspects of the disclosure, embodiments of a product merchandiser incorporating a video display is described. The product merchandiser described herein contemplates the use of a rear projector video system for display of video on a reflective film that is adhered to a glass or other transparent exposed surface on the merchandiser. Aspects of the merchandiser provided herein provide a cost-effective, durable, flexible/adaptable to different merchandiser sizes, and non-static means of displaying advertising or other promotions via video directly on an exposed surface of a product merchandiser.
US08672424B2 Vehicle track with improved performance
In some implementations, a flexible track for a tracked vehicle comprises a flexible belt with an inner surface and a ground-engaging surface, the ground-engaging surface comprising outwardly projecting lugs spaced apart along the track, wherein at least one of the lugs comprises a vertical section having a curved leading edge. In some implementations, the flexible track comprises a flexible belt with an inner belt surface, an opposite outer belt surface and at least one track bar attached to the outer surface and extending approximately perpendicular to a direction of the track's travel, the track bar having an outer surface with multiple projecting lugs and an inner surface with at least one holding element, and wherein when the track bar is tightened against the outer belt surface, the holding element engages the outer belt surface, thereby reducing slipping between the flexible belt and the track bar.
US08672415B2 Advancing longwall system for surface mining
A surface mining system for removing material from a mining face generally includes a conveyor extending substantially parallel to the mining face, a miner supported by and moveable along the conveyor, and a conveyor translation device associated with the conveyor and operable to move the conveyor and the miner toward the mining face. A method for advancing a surface mining longwall system generally includes moving the longwall shearer along a face conveyor, operating load translation devices to move the face conveyor and the longwall shearer toward the mining face, resetting a first group of load translation devices, and then resetting a second group of load translation devices. A load translation device generally includes an actuator, a ground drilling device coupled to and moveable with a portion of the actuator, and a frame coupled to and moveable with another portion of the actuator.
US08672411B2 Vehicle seat cushion with integrated ventilation
A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom. A cushion is included in each of the seat bottom and seat back. A stream of air is provided to the seat bottom and back to reach a passenger seated on the vehicle seat.
US08672402B1 Removable net baskets for child car seats
Devices, apparatus and methods of assembling and mounting a removable net basket on hoops/rings that can be attached to armrests on child car seats. Two hoops can sandwich a rim end of a tubular net/mesh material. The hoops can be located with one within the other and have snapable bendable fasteners that snap into like slots. The bottom end of the tubular mesh material can be closed off by sandwiching a pair of elongated strips together, with the strips having mateable enlarged heads that pass through slots such as cross shaped slots. The mesh/net bag can be removed by reversing the assembly. The assembled hoops can be hunger by a hanger onto an armrest of a juvenile car seat so that items, such as but not limited to beverage holders, food stuffs, toys and the like, can be placed therein.
US08672396B2 Vehicle front portion structure
A vehicle front portion structure of a vehicle is equipped with a radiator and an air conditioner, the vehicle front portion structure includes a vehicle body formed by joining a plurality of structural members, a positioning hole formed in the vehicle body, for fitting therein a jig projecting from a mount frame used to transport the vehicle body in a manufacturing process, and a fitting bracket for supporting the radiator and a condenser of the air conditioner from the lower sides of the radiator and the condenser, and featured in that the fitting bracket is formed integrally with a radiator supporting portion for supporting a lower portion of the radiator, and with a condenser supporting portion for supporting a lower portion of the condenser, and is fastened and fixed at a position which interferes with the jig fitted into the positioning hole.
US08672394B2 Dash panel structure for automobile
A cord-like element 4 is extending along a dash panel 3, a component 19 from the cord-like element 4 is fixed to the dash panel 3 via a bracket 20, the cord-like element 4 is fixed to the bracket 20, the cord-like element 4 and the component 19 are fixed to the dash panel 3 via the bracket 20, the cord-like element 4 is arranged on a vehicle rear side Rr from an opposed surface 20M of the bracket to an engine E, and the rigidity of fixed portions 3K of the dash panel 3 to which fixing portions 28A and 29A of the bracket 20 are fixed is set to be lower than the rigidity of the bracket 20. Accordingly, the fixed portions 3K of the dash panel 3 are deformed before the bracket 20 when the bracket 20 is pressed toward the vehicle rear side Rr by the engine E.
US08672387B1 Utility vehicle
A utility vehicle according to the present invention includes a chassis, a ROPS surrounding a space on the chassis, a seat or a seat row arranged in the space, a cargo bed provided in a rear part of the chassis, and one or more resin storage boxes provided between the seat or the seat row and the cargo bed in the front and rear direction in the space, the storage boxes being integrated with parts of vehicle-side covers covering side parts of the space.
US08672379B2 Gripping device
The gripping device is provided with a rod portion which is movable vertically along a rod axis, to the lower end is mounted a connecting block. A pair of opening and closing lever portions is disposed to face each other along the direction of a fore-to-aft or lateral axis, with intermediate portions which are pivotal about a fulcrum support shaft portion parallel to a left-right or longitudinal axis. A link mechanism connects the connecting block and the upper ends of the pair of the opening and closing lever portions and pivots the pair of the opening and closing lever portions in the direction of the fore-to-aft axis in response to the vertical movement of the rod portion. The pair of the opening and closing lever portions is formed with a cutout or notch at least extending from the intermediate portions to upper ends and is disposed against each other with the rod portion.
US08672373B1 Method and apparatus for rotating spatula
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for a handheld, pistol-grip type rotatable spatula having a pair of reciprocating spatulas on the front end which captures a food item, holding it in place between the pair of spatulas, and then rotating the food item approximately 180 degrees so that it will allow the user to easily turn a food item over, which item might be for example, on a cooking grill. The apparatus allows the user to turn or flip the food item over and gently lay the food item down without having to twist the wrist of the user. The apparatus allows a simple motion of the rear pistol grip type handle to be squeezed and compressed in the hand of a user so that the pair of spatulas holding the food come together holding the food therein which then allows the food to be rotated.
US08672367B2 Exhaust system interlocking mechanism
An interlocking mechanism includes an entry channel and a rotational channel positioned adjacent to entry channel. A locking bead is positioned in the rotational channel at a position in the channel defined to engage a mating element in a locking lug on a mating component when the lug is positioned adjacent to an end of the channel. The entry channel may include a face increasing in height from the entry portion to the end portion.
US08672359B2 Tank support arrangements for a vehicle
An object is to provide a vehicle in which the configuration of a frame supporting a tank is effectively used. In order to achieve such an object, the vehicle includes a tank supported by a pair of side frames and cross frames which traverse the side frames, wherein a displacement suppression target on a vehicle floor is supported by the cross frames, the displacement suppression target having a relative displacement during an action of an external force on the vehicle, needed to be suppressed. The tank is preferably suspended on the cross frames. In addition, the displacement suppression target is preferably attached to the cross frames on which the tank is suspended.
US08672357B2 Releasable retractable seatbelt deforming clip
An improved seatbelt clip is defined by a retractable tether anchored at the buckle intersection of a seatbelt. The retractable tether is connected at its end to a clipping device that accommodates a folded section of seatbelt. A user folds the shoulder strap of a seatbelt in half longitudinally and inserts the folded strap into the clip which holds it in a position to fit between the breasts of a user. In the event of an accident, the tether causes the clip to dislodge and pulls the clip down and away from the wearer.
US08672355B2 Frame longitudinal beam structure for chassis frames of utility vehicles, in particular of trucks and/or buses
A frame longitudinal beam structure for chassis frames of utility vehicles, in particular for trucks and/or buses, has at least one frame longitudinal beam of modular construction extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction when in the mounted state. The beam has a base profile extending over substantially the entire length of the frame longitudinal beam and having a plate-shaped central web which, as viewed in cross section, extends between opposite frame longitudinal beam regions, such as between upper and lower flanges. The central web is substantially rectilinear along the longitudinal extent of the base profile. Supplemental profiles formed by separate components are attached to the central web in areal abutment. A plurality of supplemental profiles are attached to the central web such that, in the direction of extent of the longitudinal beam, at least two frame longitudinal beam regions of different profile cross section are formed.
US08672354B2 Underbody for electric vehicle
An underbody for an electric vehicle configured as an electric vehicle lower body includes a multiply divided battery mounting portion and an underbody portion. The multiply divided battery mounting portion enables multiply divided and selective mounting of batteries, and forms a portion of the underbody. The underbody portion is connected to the battery mounting portion and forms another portion of the underbody.
US08672343B2 Mounting apparatus of side airbag for vehicle
A mounting apparatus of a side airbag for a vehicle is advantageous in that in the event of a side crash, a deployment direction of an airbag cushion is guided to a slit of a seat pad by an inner frame and an outer bracket, so that the airbag cushion is distended and deployed towards a front of a seat back, thus allowing an occupant sitting in a seat to be more safely protected via the deployed airbag cushion.
US08672340B1 Sliding hitch assembly capture plate
The present invention provides a capture plate for preventing rotation between a trailer and a hitch assembly. The hitch assembly mounts on a vehicle, and is preferably a sliding hitch assembly. The capture plate has a lip which mates with the pin box of a fifth wheel trailer, the lip prevents rotation between the trailer and the capture plate. The capture plate has a restriction part which mates with the pin slot on the hitch assembly, the restriction part restricts rotation between the capture plate and the hitch. The capture plate has a fastener which removably secures the capture plate to the pin box.
US08672337B2 Multi-point hydraulic suspension system for a land vehicle
A multi-point hydraulic suspension system for a land vehicle has two or more individual hydraulic actuators. These two or more actuators are each operatively arranged between a suspended structure and a wheeled base of the land vehicle for relative positioning one another. A common supply of pressurized fluid has a given pressure and a selectively operable pump with an inlet and an outlet, for increasing the given pressure of the common supply of pressurized fluid. A fluid reservoir is in selective fluid communication with the inlet of the pump. Controllable valve means are interposed between each of the two or more actuators and the common supply of pressurized fluid for selectively bringing each of the two or more actuators into fluid communication with the common supply of pressurized fluid in response to a control unit for controlling the valve means and the pump.
US08672330B2 Sealing arrangement
A sealing arrangement, which is particularly suitable for flat flange connections, has an annular, metallic base body (1). Connected to the metallic base body (1) at both sides are soft material supports (2). The base body (1) has ring teeth (3,4) which run around radially at the inside and/or at the outside. The ring teeth (3,4), in the installed state, permit punctiform metallic contact and also have a spring characteristic. The spring characteristic of the ring teeth (3,4) is selected such that, in a first embodiment, after the removal of the seal from the flanges, the tooth height corresponds substantially to the height before the installation. The region of the base body (1) which is covered by the soft material supports (2) also has angular ring teeth (5). The ring teeth (5) have a spring characteristic, wherein after the removal of the seal, the ring teeth (5) spring back to at least 75% of the original state. In a further embodiment, the ring teeth (5) which are covered by the soft material support (2) are partially plastically deformable.
US08672327B2 Global property trading board game
A global property trading board game having a game board with a continuous travel path divided into stations being associated with respective countries and having markings, including economic values representative of the respective countries' gross domestic product. Movement of a game-piece along the travel path is determined by a chance-controlled device. Each player is allocated a line of credit represented by international business cards in various monetary denominations. The respective players are further assigned a global region constituting a trade-bloc of countries. A player may acquire the assets of any country corresponding to the station in which the game-piece is located, assuming the assets are not owned by another player, by payment of the designated economic value utilizing the player's international business cards. When a competing player's game-piece is located within a station wherein the assets are owned by another player the competing player must pay a tax to that player. Several of the stations are keyed to playing cards that impose either a monetary penalty, or a monetary reward; other stations affect advancement of the respective player's game-piece. The player who acquires all or most of the countries' assets within its assigned trade-bloc and has successfully defended its home sovereignty is the victor.
US08672326B2 Smarty smart sticks
A game is described which includes playing media such as sticks or cards. The playing media have a first side with an identifying indicia and a second side with a question and its corresponding answer. The game consists of players collecting sticks for providing correct answers to the questions on the media. The object of the game is to collect the most media in a specified period.
US08672323B2 Transportation device of a sheet and corresponding use
A substrate sheet transporting device is provided. The device includes a first transfer cylinder defining a first axis, a circumferential direction and a transverse direction and a transfer belt (74) extending around the first transfer cylinder. The first transfer cylinder includes first openings for the passage of a gas and the transfer belt includes second openings for the passage of a gas. The transfer belt and the first transfer cylinder define an alignment position in which the second passage openings are aligned with the first passage openings. The transfer device includes a device for adjusting the position of the transfer belt relative to the first transfer cylinder by bringing the transfer belt toward the alignment position. The invention is applicable to cutting devices of rotary printing presses.
US08672317B2 Sheet processing apparatus and method of controlling the apparatus, and storage medium
A sheet count at which printed sheets are stacked on a sheet stacking unit is received from a user. It is controlled to divide the printed sheets into sheets at the sheet count received from the user and stack the printed sheets on the sheet stacking unit.
US08672311B2 Method of cooling textured workpieces with an electrostatic chuck
A workpiece support, which more effectively cools a textured workpiece is disclosed. A layer is added on top of a workpiece support. This layer is sufficiently soft so as to conform to the textured workpiece. Furthermore, the layer has a dielectric constant such that it does not alter the normal operation of the underlying electrostatic clamp. In some embodiments, the locations of the ground and lift pins are moved to further reduce the leakage of backside gas.
US08672310B2 Work holder
A work holder which is adapted to hold a workpiece firmly in place for machining operations with respect to a machine tool. The workpiece is fashioned with a dovetail protuberance, which protuberance is designed to affix the workpiece to the work holder to the machining operations. Once the machining is completed, the dovetail protuberance may be removed in any convenient manner. Thus, the finished product may not then exhibit the former protuberance.
US08672304B2 Anti-vibration device
An anti-vibration device includes a tubular first attachment member connected to either a vibration generating section or a vibration receiving section; a second attachment member connected to the other of the vibration generating section and the vibration receiving section; a first rubber elastic body elastically interconnecting the first and second attachment members; a liquid containing a first liquid and a second liquid which are insoluble in each other, the second liquid having a smaller surface tension than the first liquid, and the second liquid in the liquid weighing less than the first liquid in the liquid; a partition member partitioning the inside of the first attachment member into a main liquid chamber and a sub liquid chamber, the main liquid chamber having a first partition wall and having a portion of the liquid enclosed therein, an inner volume of the main liquid chamber changing due to deformation of the first rubber elastic body, a part of the first partition wall being formed of the first rubber elastic body; and the sub liquid chamber having a second partition wall and having a portion of the liquid enclosed therein, at least a part of the second partition wall being adapted to be deformable, the liquid being enclosed in the main liquid chamber and the sub liquid chamber; and an orifice passage provided between the outer peripheral surface of the partition member and the inner peripheral surface of the first attachment member so as to communicate the main liquid chamber and the sub liquid chamber.
US08672293B2 Vacuum valve
A vacuum valve including a wall (1) having a valve opening (2) surrounded by a valve seat (4), at least one valve plate (5), which is disposed in a vacuum region of the vacuum valve and can be moved from an open position in a longitudinal direction (6) into an intermediate position, and from the intermediate position in a transverse direction (7) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (6) into a closed position. At least one valve rod (12), which carries the valve plate (5), is led through the vacuum region of the vacuum valve and can be displaced relative to the wall (1) in the longitudinal direction (6) located parallel to the longitudinal axis (14) of the valve rod (12), and also in the transverse direction (7). Longitudinal and transverse drive devices (15, 15′, 16, 16′) are disposed outside of the vacuum region of the vacuum valve, and the drive devices can displace the valve rod (12) in the longitudinal direction (6) and in the transverse direction (7) in order to adjust the valve plate (5). A bearing unit (17, 17′) is provided, which is located outside of the vacuum region of the vacuum valve and rigidly connected to the wall (1) and by which a guide unit (20, 20′) that displaceably guides the valve rod (12) in the longitudinal direction (6) is guided displaceably in the transverse direction (7).
US08672289B2 Domestic water tap or faucet with floating buoyant ball valve and activation rod
A water tap is shown, employing a spherical sealing member which is urged into a sealing position by water pressure. The sealing member may be displaced centrally into the water flow in order to permit flow of water around the sealing member and through the tap.
US08672288B2 Vessel, motion platform, method for compensating motions of a vessel and use of a Stewart platform
A vessel (1) with a motion compensation platform (4), which platform is provided with at least one carrier (6) for bearing, moving and/or transferring a load, actuators (5) for moving the carrier relative to the vessel, preferably in six degrees of freedom, a control system for driving the actuators (5), and motion sensors for measuring motions of the vessel (1) relative to the at least one element in the surrounding area, which measurements are used as input for the control system, wherein at least one at least partly passive pressure element (9) is provided for applying, during use, a pressure to the carrier for at least partly bearing this.
US08672287B2 Adjustable rotation base
An adjustable rotation base includes a base housing and a transportation arrangement. The base housing has a bottom side, an upper side for coupling with the supporting post to support the outer umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity indently formed on the bottom side of the base housing, wherein the base housing includes a stationary unit provided at the bottom side for sitting on the ground surface in a stationary manner, and a plurality of transferring wheels rotatably supported at the bottom side of the base housing. The transportation arrangement is provided at the base housing to operate the base housing between an idle mode and a transportation mode in which the stationary unit is upwardly lifted to allow the transferring wheels being sitting on the ground surface, such that the base housing is adapted to be transported on the ground surface via the transferring wheels.
US08672286B2 Adjustable wall hanger
An adjustable wall hanger includes (1) an elongated bracket with a front surface including markings and a rear surface including serrations, (2) mounting members near each end of the elongated bracket, (3) an elongated slot, (4) a hook assembly including a hook member secured by a hook fastener, including a hook portion distal from a clamp portion including a planar section, jaws, and a cam, and the hook fastener includes a base with a post, serrated teeth, and lugs extending from the post, the post including detents between the base and lugs, wherein closed configuration includes the hook member against the front surface to lock the hook assembly in position, and open configuration includes the planar surface against the front surface so that the hook assembly is movable, and the lugs fit within the jaws to secure the hook member to the fastener and to the elongated bracket.
US08672285B1 Document holder
A document holder for a computer holds multiple documents at a single time and provides easy visual access for up to three documents concurrently. The document holder attaches to a computer and has a full extension position during the time the document holder is in use. Also, the document holder has a stored position which allows it to be compactly stored on the computer when not in use. The stored position allows the document holder to remain attached to, but not interfere with, the use of the computer. The document holder has mount clamps which provide easy attachment and removal to and from the computer.
US08672284B2 Gear with at least two gearing stages, a linear actuator including such a gear and a table leg including such a linear actuator
Gear, preferably for actuators of the type, where an electric motor (1) through the gear drives an activation element, such as a pivotal arm or a longitudinally movable element, and where the gear has at least two gearing stages. The first stage is constituted by a worm drive with a worm—(11; 13a, 13b) and the subsequent gearing stage is constituted by a crown and bevel wheel (23; 16a, 16b). The crown wheel faces towards the worm drive and has a power take-off (24, 27) in extension of or in all essentials in extension of the worm (11) or parallel thereto. The bevel wheel (16a, 16b) is with its axis of rotation arranged perpendicular in relation to the axis of rotation of the worm (11), and the worm wheel (13a, 13b) is in drive connection with the bevel wheel (16a, 16b) through a gear train (14a, 15a; 14b; 15b). Thus a relatively compact transmission with a high gearing is achieved, and by having worm wheels, toothed gearing and bevel and crown wheels of plastic the transmission is in addition silent. A good tooth mesh between bevel wheel and crown wheel is particularly important. The gear may be used in a linear actuator which again may be used in a height adjustable table leg.
US08672280B2 Elongated track support arrangement
A system for supporting a display arrangement from an overhead support, comprising: an elongated support rail having an elongated open upper channel for receipt of an overhead support member; an elongated lower channel for receipt of a lower display support member; and an elongated middle channel disposed between the upper channel and the lower channel for aligned, guided and captured receipt of an elongated connector member to permit the connection to an adjacent elongated support rail or track.
US08672277B2 Screen supporter
The present invention relates to a screen supporter comprising an upper support used for fastening a screen, a base and a support arm. The support arm is pivoted with the upper support through an upper rotation shaft, and pivoted with a torque device on the base through a lower rotation shaft. When the screen and support arm are rotated for lowering the height and folded, the support arm drives a lower core shaft, the lower core shaft drives a cam of the torque device to rotate for changing the position of a contact part which compresses an elastic unit, so a proper supporting torque is generated for working with the downward-pressing torque generated by the screen at different positions thereby fully supporting the screen, and a greater downward-pressing force doesn't required to be applied for lowering the height and folding the screen, thereby saving the required force for operation.
US08672273B2 Rail car sensor network
A rail car sensor network, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes at least one rail car having a main body portion including a first and section, a second end section and an intermediate portion. The rail car network further includes a sensor assembly mounted to the rail car. The sensor assembly includes at least one sensor positioned to detect a rail car parameter, and a wireless communication device configured to transmit data corresponding to the rail car parameter. A receiver assembly, mounted remote from the at least one rail car, includes a wireless communication monitor configured to receive the data corresponding to the rail car parameter from the wireless communication device.
US08672272B2 Coating for prevention of electrostatic discharge within an equipment in a spatial environment
A solar panel (3) having a front face (31) for receiving solar radiation and a rear face (32), for use in a spacecraft (1). The solar panel is covered on the rear face (32) with a coating (4) having negative electric charge emissive property such that in use the coating expels electrons out of the rear face (32) of the solar panel (3), thus reducing the potential difference between the front face (31) and the rear face (32). A method of reducing potential difference between the front face (31) and the rear face (32) of the solar panel (3) by covering the rear face by said coating (4).
US08672267B2 Toilet arrangement for a vehicle
A toilet arrangement for a vehicle includes a first toilet compartment, an adjacent second toilet compartment and a partition wall situated between the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment, wherein the partition wall is movably supported and designed for being transferred into an open position, in which the partition between the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment is removed. This makes it possible to convert two relatively small toilet compartments into a larger toilet compartment that is suitable for use by persons with limited mobility.
US08672263B2 Power distribution system
A power distribution system for an aircraft having at least one engine includes at least one torque transmission means that is movably held and is connected to at least one shaft of the engine and extends from the shaft of the engine to an interior region of the aircraft fuselage, and at an end pointing away from the engine has at least one interface for introducing a torque. At the interface of the torque transmission means it is possible both to operate mechanical and to start the engine. Consequently in the aircraft it is possible to essentially do without converting mechanical energy to electrical energy and the subsequent use of electrical energy for generating mechanical power. This is particularly favorable in the case of twin-engine commercial aircraft that are used on short hauls.
US08672255B2 Pre-cut wiping material dispensing apparatus
A wipe material dispensing machine includes a housing forming a receptacle with a back plate, a horizontal lower wall, side walls, and an articulated lockable cover. The inner face of the cover has a protruding curved member. A device, articulated relative to the housing, fulfils the functions of loading, guiding and preventing creasing of the pre-cut strip of material which is pulled so that it can be removed from the forward, lower part of the machine. The device includes a raised curved element surrounding the member on the cover when the cover is closed. The element and member being concentric and leaving room for the pulled pre-cut strip of material to pass through. The pre-cut wipe material is wound on a reel or accordion pleated, and the lower part of the machine includes, at the point where the material emerges, opposite-facing limit stops.
US08672250B2 Hand held masher device
A hand-held masher device for mashing of potatoes and like food stuffs; said device including a power unit providing a rotating shaft output; said device further including a masher assembly extending from said power unit; said masher assembly including a skirt element and a mashing element operating within said skirt element; characterized in that mashed potato and like food stuff is extruded through apertures disposed in a side wall of said skirt element; said masher assembly including internal guide surfaces; said guide surfaces in the form of an inverted portion of a conical structure depending from an underside of a supporting annular conical wall of said skirt element, and wherein upper portions of blades of said mashing element conform to said guide surfaces.
US08672245B2 Edible fungi
An aqueous formulation comprising edible fungal particles especially consisting substantially of fungal mycelia is described. The ingredient may be combined with other ingredients to produce a wide range of foodstuffs or food ingredients including desserts (e.g. yoghurt), reconstitutable drinks or soup and extruded foodstuffs (e.g. savoury snack foods). Foodstuffs prepared may have medical applications (e.g. for treatment of joint mobility disorders, reducing fat uptake, lowering cholesterol, immune function stimulation, use on a pre-biotic and/or for affecting satiety).
US08672237B2 Device for mixing and dispensing of two-component reactive surgical sealant
An applicator for mixing and applying multi-component compositions to a work surface, such as two-component surgical sealants, while avoiding clogs, preventing cross-contamination of the components until a point of intended mixing at a location within the apparatus immediately upstream of an application opening in a tip cap, decreasing pressure drop along the applicator to facilitate fluid delivery, and increasing efficiency of mixing of the components. A luer hub sub-assembly having a proximal hub and a distal hub, an elongate, four-lumened cannula, and a spray tip sub-assembly are provided, with interconnections between the sub-assemblies preserving isolation of the fluid components from one another. The tip cap sub-assembly includes registration structure to assure proper alignment between tip cap and tip insert. The end wall of the tip cap includes a spinner region with three feeders leading thereto, the fluid components remaining isolated from one another in two of the feeders, and initiating mixing with one another in a third of the feeders.
US08672235B2 Device and method for the thermal fogging of a liquid
A device for the thermal fogging of a liquid, includes a unit for producing a stream of pressurized hot gas an ejection pipe; a first source of liquid; and a first circuit for injecting a measured flow of liquid into the ejection pipe (5) from the first source of liquid. In addition, the device includes a sensor for detecting a total or partial interruption of the measured flow of liquid injected into the ejection pipe from the first source of liquid; a second source of liquid; and a second circuit for injecting an emergency flow of liquid into the ejection pipe from the second source of liquid when the sensor detects a total or partial interruption of the measured flow of liquid injected into the ejection pipe from the first source of liquid.
US08672233B2 Water saving apparatus
A water saving device includes a housing having a hot water inlet chamber connectable to a hot water supply, a temperature sensing chamber having a cold water outlet connectable to a water storage system, and a hot water outlet chamber having a hot water outlet. The inlet and outlet chambers are interconnected by a first port. The inlet and temperature sensing chambers are interconnected by a second port. The temperature sensing and hot water outlet chambers are interconnected by a third port. The device includes a water-pressure actuated piston that is displaceable upon a drop in water pressure in the hot water outlet chamber. The temperature sensing chamber has a temperature-sensitive valve assembly that closes the third port when the temperature of water is below a predetermined level and opens the third port and closes the cold water outlet when the temperature of water is above a predetermined temperature.
US08672226B2 Decoding a physical image
A method for decoding information from a physical image having a plurality of payload patches includes generating a digital representation of the physical image. A plurality of regions are mapped to the plurality of payload patches in the digital representation. A scramble pattern is identified and the plurality of mapped regions of the digital representation are reordered according to the identified scramble pattern. Information is decoded from the payload patches of the reordered plurality of mapped regions.
US08672225B2 Convertible barcode reader
A convertible barcode reader which includes different configurations for self-service operation and assisted-service operation. An example convertible barcode reader includes a first housing portion including a first barcode reader engine, and a second housing portion including a second barcode reader engine. The second housing portion is moveable between a first position recessed within the first housing portion and a second position extending from the first housing portion.
US08672221B2 System and method of securely delivering and verifying a mobile boarding pass
A system and method of securely delivering and verifying a mobile boarding pass which validates the mobile boarding pass. An example method includes receiving boarding pass data for a traveler, creating a digital certificate containing the boarding pass data, encrypting the digital certificate, encoding a series of different encrypted digital certificates into a series of different two-dimensional barcodes, providing the series of different two-dimensional barcodes to a mobile communication device of the traveler in advance of arrival at a security checkpoint, receiving decoded barcode data in one or more of the two-dimensional barcodes from a barcode reader at the security checkpoint, decrypting the decoded barcode data using the plurality of different tokens, and identifying a valid digital certificate containing boarding pass data in the decoded barcode data.
US08672218B2 Method of marking a document or item; method and device for identifyng the marked document or item; use of circular polarizing particles
Optical identification and/or authentication of a document or item with the help of a marking comprising a random distribution of circular polarized light reflecting particles, the marking being applied to the document or item through an ink, and the reading device exploiting circular polarization to discriminate the flakes from the background.
US08672217B2 Data output method in analysis of sample, analytical device, and analytical system
An analytical device is provided that can easily determine whether analysis results are affected by drug administration for the test subject when a sample such as urine or blood is analyzed. The analytical device includes reading means capable of reading test subject identification information recorded on an information recording portion of a sample container, and data output means capable of outputting data on analysis results of a sample contained in the sample container, the analytical device further having: information acquiring means capable of acquiring, from a source external to the analytical device, drug administration information on the test subject corresponding to the test subject identification information read by the reading means, wherein when the data on analysis results of a sample are outputted by the data output means, data on the drug administration information on the test subject corresponding thereto are also outputted.
US08672214B2 Cartons with reclosable opening features
A carton includes a pivoting, reclosable lid that allows a top end of the carton to be accessed and subsequently closed. If a bag or other flexible vessel is accommodated within the carton, a first section of the lid can be pivoted toward a first side panel so that the vessel is pressed between the first lid section and the first side panel. The bag contents are thereby securely retained within the carton.
US08672209B2 Laproscopic stapler
A surgical stapling and cutting method comprises: inserting tissue between jaws of a stapler/cutter end effector; closing the jaws; progressively ejecting staples from a first jaw, the progression being from an open distal end of the end effector toward a proximal end of the end effector; and drawing a blade through the tissue in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end. Apparatus may be provided for performing the method.
US08672207B2 Transwall visualization arrangements and methods for surgical circular staplers
A surgical instrument is disclosed. Various embodiments include an elongated shaft that defines a central axis and has a distal end portion that is configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein. At least one detection member may be operably supported within the elongated shaft. Each detection member may have a distal portion that is radially deployable away from the central axis upon application of a deployment motion thereto. The distal end portions may have a bumper or light mounted thereto.
US08672206B2 Apparatus for endoscopic procedures
A surgical system has a jaw assembly including a plurality of fasteners, an anvil and a drive beam for pushing an actuation sled. A drive screw imparts motion to the drive beam. An elongated body is configured to connect with the jaw assembly. A drive link connects a flexible drive shaft to the drive screw, the drive link being disposed off-axis. The jaw assembly and elongated body are separable from each other.
US08672184B2 Bag in box packaging having a locating panel for a tap
A bag in box packaging comprising an outer box, an inner bag and a locating panel. The outer box has a bottom wall and a dispensing wall with an opening. The inner bag includes a spout with a tap. The locating panel includes is coupled to the inner bag, the spout or the tap, with a dispensing opening of the tap on one side of the locating panel and the bag on the other side of The inner bag is placed within the box so that the central region is positioned at an angle relative to each of the bottom and dispensing walls. The front surface of the upper region overlies an inner surface of the dispensing wall. The front surface of the lower region overlies an inner surface of the bottom wall.
US08672179B2 Access door for a panel such as a meter box cover
An access door according to which the access door is hingedly or pivotally coupled to a panel such as, for example, a water meter box cover or another type of meter box cover.
US08672177B2 Portable waste transfer tank
A includes a main body portion defining a waste holding chamber, a vent path extending from the waste holding chamber to atmosphere, and a float member. The float member is coupled to the tank for movement between a first position and a second position. The float member is movable from the first position to the second position in response to an increase in fluid level within the storage chamber. The vent passage remains open for venting the storage chamber when the float member is in the first position and is blocks the vent passage in the second position.
US08672170B2 Deep refuse container
A deep refuse container with a greater volume for garbage, container can be emptied by using automated elements. The deep refuse container includes a body part having at least one inner space for garbage, and a frame part including an open upper end, a lower end and at least one side for supporting the body part. The frame part of the deep refuse container of is disposed below the ground level so that the upper end of the frame part is substantially at the same level with the ground level or above the ground level. The body part of the deep refuse container is disposed into the frame part so that a lower portion of the body part locates inside the frame part and upper portion of the body part locates above the frame part. The body part is further provided with one or more contact parts for automated emptying elements.
US08672166B2 Resealable food container with lid having a tamper evident tear away band
A tamper evident package for food products is provided having a tray and a lid, which may or may not be permanently attached to each other, and includes a plastic tray for receiving a plastic lid for mating the lid and the tray, wherein the plastic lid is integrally formed with a plastic tear away band at the periphery of the lid, and a perforated section on the lid removably connects the lid and the tear away band in order to tear away the band from the lid.
US08672163B2 Reinforced paper lid
The paper lid comprises a top plate, a sidewall formed downward at an edge of the top plate, and a reinforcing member to reinforce the sidewall and firmly attach the paper lid to a container. Further, the paper lid comprises a receipt part is formed between an inner top of the reinforcing member and the top plate. The receipt part grasps the rim of the container, thereby strengthening the connection between the paper lid and the container.
US08672162B2 Power tool including a reservoir and a cap attached to the opening of the reservoir
A power tool that includes a reservoir that holds oil and a cap attached to the reservoir. The cap may include a cap body having a communicating path and a valve member covering the communicating path. The valve member may include an elastic part that has a projecting part, which projects from the elastic part and includes a slit. The elastic part and the projecting part being configured to deform to the inner surface side such that the slit of the projecting part opens if the pressure outside the reservoir becomes higher than the pressure inside the reservoir and a difference between the pressure inside the reservoir and the pressure outside the reservoir exceeds a predetermined value. The elastic part and the projecting part also being configured to deform to the outer side surface such that the slit of the projecting part opens if the pressure inside the reservoir becomes higher than the pressure outside the reservoir.
US08672151B2 Elastomeric draft gear for a railcar
A draft gear assembly includes housing and an elastomeric spring stack disposed therewithin and including a plurality of compressible elastomeric springs disposed in series with each other. Each compressible elastomeric spring includes a compressible elastomeric pad, a rigid member positioned in direct contact with one end surface of the compressible elastomeric pad, a central aperture through a thickness of the rigid member, an abutment upstanding axially on the end surface of the compressible elastomeric pad, the abutment having a peripheral surface thereof sized to be received within the central aperture formed through the thickness of the rigid member, and an annular lip disposed on a distal end of the axial abutment in a plane being substantially transverse to the central axis, whereby an annular thickness portion of the rigid member is caged between the end surface of the compressible elastomeric pad and an inner surface of the annular lip.
US08672146B1 Neckwear and jewelry storage device
A vertically adjustable combination neckwear and jewelry storage device comprised of a head rail assembly, a jewelry rail assembly, and a plurality of neckwear rods operatively connected together such that jewelry rail assembly and the plurality of neckwear rods vertically adjust with respect to the head rail assembly.
US08672139B2 Sorting mined material
A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises thermally analyzing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles and sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis. The method also comprises controlling the temperature of particles as the particles are moved between a station at which particles are exposed to microwave energy and a station at which particles are thermally analyzed.
US08672134B2 Child-resistant medication container
The child-resistant medication container includes: a housing having an open end, a support slidably mounted in the housing for supporting medication, first locking element for locking the support in the housing and for unlocking the support so that the support may be slid to the outside of the housing through the open end, the first locking element including a first locking member coupled to the housing and a second locking member coupled to the support, the first and second locking members being engageable with each other, and at least one button operable to act on the first locking element, the at least one button including a first button operable to disengage the first and second locking members, second locking element for maintaining engagement between the first and second locking members, and a second button operable to act on the second locking element to permit disengaging the first and second locking members by operating the first button.
US08672133B2 Multi-sectional clamping type air enclosure
A multi-sectional clamping type air enclosure is constituted by connecting a second, a third, and a fourth air cylinder sheet(s) sequentially in series to a first air cylinder sheet, in which an air filling passageway is disposed in the first air cylinder sheet to allow air to be filled in a plurality of first air cylinders and the second air cylinder sheet(s), the third air cylinder sheet and the fourth air cylinder sheet(s) communicated therewith to be filled with air and expanded. Thereafter, the second air cylinder(s) and the fourth air cylinder sheet(s) are bended toward the third air cylinder sheet to form approximately a U-typed body, and auxiliary air cylinders of the air cylinder sheet are then bended toward main air cylinders of the air cylinder sheet to cause side air cylinders of the air cylinder sheet to be approximately perpendicular to the main air cylinders.
US08672130B2 Blister package having partially exposed blister tray
The present invention provides a blister package. The blister package includes a blister tray having a plurality of upwardly opening blister depressions arranged in rows and columns. The blister depressions support a consumable product. The blister sleeve is provided for receiving the blister tray. The blister sleeve is configured to expose a top portion and side edge of the blister tray and cover less than all of the blister depressions.
US08672127B1 Remote control cover
A remote control cover includes a sleeve having a transparent front wall and an open bottom edge in communication with an interior chamber that houses a remote unit. The open bottom edge is selectively closed with a pair of releasable flaps that allow a user to easily install and remove the remote unit. The top edge includes a wide-profile aperture for exposing the remote unit's infrared transmitter. On the inner surface of the rear wall is a fabric pad for minimizing impact damage if the remote unit is dropped. Accordingly, when the remote unit is positioned within the interior chamber, the thin, transparent front wall allows a user to easily view and operate any of the remote unit's control buttons. Meanwhile, the sleeve protects the unit from contaminants and minimizes impact damage if the unit is dropped.
US08672124B2 Stackable guide wire container with living hinge
A container (200) is configured to retain a coiled device, such as a guide wire, within the container (200). The container (200) includes a bowl (201) and one or more retention devices (230). Each retention device (230) includes a retention tab (206) that is coupled to the bowl (201) by a hinge (207). The bowl (201) and retention tabs (206) can be manufactured as an integral component by using living hinges as the hinge (207). The containers (200) are configured to be efficiently stacked when the retention tabs (206) are rotated to an open position.
US08672113B2 Fan drive system with lubrication flow system
Hydraulic fan drive system with oil flow system. A modular valve mechanism is provided with coaxial oil passages to circulating lubrication oil through the clutch and to and from a heat exchanger.
US08672104B2 Control of magnetorheological mount
A system and method of controlling engine vibration mounted within a vehicle including at least one hydraulic mount, each mount including a fluid chamber. A pair of accelerometers sense relative acceleration across the mount between the engine and the frame and generate a relative acceleration signal. A control unit is electrically connected to the accelerometers. The control unit is adapted to generate an electronic control signal in response to the relative acceleration signal. The control device is responsive to the electric control signal for controlling the damping force of the hydraulic mount. A control algorithm calibrates the control unit such that maximum vibration damping occurs at and around the engine resonance bounce frequency.
US08672101B2 Automatic slack adjuster with clutch release cam
An improved self-adjusting automatic slack adjuster for reducing slack in the brake of a vehicle is provided, in which an easily accessible external operating feature permits the automatic slack adjuster's one-way clutch assembly to be readily disengaged to allow smooth release and retraction of the brake shoes of a vehicle brake without damage to the one-way teeth of the clutch assembly. When the external feature is operated in a brake release direction, the motion of the feature is translated into a motion which axially displaces an output part of the one-way clutch away from an input part of the clutch a distance sufficient to disengage the parts' one-way teeth, thereby disengaging the one-way clutch to permit brake shoe retraction without resistance from the one-way clutch.
US08672098B2 Elevator safety device with foreign matter detection using a light beam
There is provided an elevator safety device that can prevent a light beam from being looked into. The elevator safety device according to the present invention includes light emitting means for emitting a light beam crossing an entrance; light receiving means for detecting the light beam emitted from the light emitting means; foreign matter detection means for generating a foreign matter detection signal when detection of the light beam by the light receiving means is interrupted; and control means. The control means causes the light emitting means to stop an emission in a fully opened state of car doors, and causes the light emitting means to start the emission at a start of or during a closing operation of the car doors.
US08672094B2 Transmission with lubrication device
The invention relates to a transmission for a motor vehicle having a rotatable transmission element arranged in a first section of the transmission; a store of liquid arranged in a second section of the transmission separate from the first section; a collection device for liquid thrown off by the transmission element having a return passage through which a first portion of the thrown off liquid can be returned to the first transmission section and an outlet to supply a second portion of the thrown off liquid back to the liquid store; and a passage for the liquid which connects the liquid store to the first transmission section and which has a temperature-controlled restrictor element functioning to inhibit the inflow of liquid from the liquid store into the first transmission section when a fluid temperature in the first transmission section falls below a temperature threshold value.
US08672093B2 Wind turbine generator
A wind turbine generator that is capable of completely eliminating heater heating of lubricating-oil piping or that is capable of reducing the number of heater heating locations to the minimum requirement is provided. A wind turbine generator is provided with a lubricating system that circulates lubricating oil (L) in a lubricating-oil storage tank through lubricating-oil piping connected to a lubricating-oil pump, to lubricate a main bearing connected to the lubricating-oil piping by supplying the lubricating oil (L) thereto. This lubricating system is provided with a lubricating-oil recovery line that is formed when the lubricating-oil pump is stopped and in which the lubricating oil (L) falls naturally and is recovered in the lubricating-oil storage tank.
US08672087B2 Ceiling loudspeaker support system
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for installing a tile-mounted ceiling speaker that combines the ease of installation of a lay-in speaker system with the visual appearance of a tile-mounted speaker system. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus of the present invention includes a support frame, back box assembly configured for installation on top of a ceiling tile, a ceiling ring configured to be mounted in an opening in a ceiling tile, and a loudspeaker cartridge configured to be mounted to the support frame through the ceiling tile opening.
US08672083B2 Tool for remotely operating a vehicle's ignition
A tool can be attached to a vehicle key in the ignition switch of a vehicle and the operator can turn on the key, crank the engine, bump start, or turn off the engine. These operations can be performed while the operator is under the hood, for example, by operating a cable pull and release unit. The tool can be used to turn the ignition switch on to perform various diagnostic and vehicle lighting tests. The tool includes a hand held control unit that moves a cable within a housing when the handles of the control unit are squeezed from an initial position, toward each other. The cable causes a key turner to turn. A spring-loaded return mechanism causes the key turner to turn the key in reverse (in an off position) when the handles of the hand held control unit are moved back to the initial position.
US08672080B2 Vibration source attachment structure for vehicles
Disclosed is a vibration source attachment structure equipped with a vibration isolation device. In the vibration source attachment structure, the vibration source (41) of an engine, or the like, is attached via the vibration isolation device (50) to a subframe (30) that has been attached in a downward position with respect to a vehicle body frame (20). The vibration isolation device (50) is provided with a first attachment (51) that attaches to the vibration source (41), a second attachment (52) that attaches to the subframe (30), and an elastic body (53) that connects the first and second attachments (51, 52). The subframe (30) is provided with fitting holes (31) that are formed in the vertical direction of said subframe. The second attachment (52) is detachably attached to the fitting holes (31) by means of press fitting.
US08672068B2 Drive unit for an electric hybrid vehicle
A drive unit for a hybrid electric motor vehicle includes a bevel pinion driveably connected to a power source, a bevel gear meshing with the bevel pinion and aligned with an axis, first and second drive shafts, a differential mechanism including an input secured to the bevel gear for transmitting power between the input and the first and the second drive shafts, an electric motor/generator including a rotor, and a planetary gear set driveably connected to the input and the rotor for transmitting power between the rotor and the input such that a speed of the rotor is greater than a speed of the input.
US08672067B2 Vehicle front portion structure
A vehicle front portion structure is provided which can lengthen a wheel base without increasing the size of a vehicle body. A vehicle front portion structure is provided with a bumper reinforcement of a front bumper, a power unit that drives a front wheel arranged to a vehicle rear of the bumper reinforcement, and a cooling unit which is arranged at a vehicle front of a dash panel, and is arranged at a vehicle rear of the power unit.
US08672063B2 Motorized chain roller
A motorized chain roller includes a frame, a roller chain assembly movably disposed within the frame, a first sprocket that engages the roller chain assembly to apply a transmission force to the roller chain assembly, at least one motor coupled to the frame and configured to transmit a rotational force to the first sprocket, and a load-bearing member coupled to and located within the frame. The roller chain assembly includes a plurality of interconnected cylindrical rolls arranged in a continuous series. Each of the cylindrical rolls has an axis or rotation. The roller chain assembly engages the load-bearing member to cause movement between the roller chain assembly and the load-bearing member perpendicular to the axes of rotation.
US08672062B2 Internal means for rotating an object between gravitationally stable states
A vehicle incorporating a plurality of control motion gyroscopes (CMTs) contained within a support structure is described. Optionally, a mass shifting mechanism may also be incorporated in the vehicle. The vehicle and its CMTs are configured to have a plurality of gravitationally stable states on a sloped surface.
US08672061B2 Polycrystalline ultra-hard compact constructions
Polycrystalline ultra-hard compact constructions comprise a polycrystalline ultra-hard compact having a polycrystalline ultra-hard body attached to a substrate. A support member is attached to the compact by a braze material. The support member can have a one-piece construction including one or more support sections. The support member has a first section extending axially along a wall surface of the compact, and extending circumferentially along a portion of the compact. The support member can include a second section extending radially along a backside surface of the compact, and/or a third section extending radially along a front side surface of the compact. In one embodiment, the support member includes a second and/or third section and the compact disposed therein is in an axially compressed state. The support member is interposed between the compact and an end-use device to improve the compact attachment strength with respect to the end-use device.
US08672048B2 Tractor pull bar mounting bracket assembly
A pull bar mounting bracket assembly is provided for mounting to the weight rack on the front of a given make of tractor. The mounting assembly includes two brackets positioned on either end of a row of weights that are made for said tractor make and supported on the weight rack, the brackets also being made for the given make of tractor and supported on the weight rack like the weights. The brackets have apertures that align with corresponding apertures in the weights to allow a bolt to be extended through the weights and secured at each end to the brackets. Each bracket also supports a clamp having a fixed clamp base and a removable clamp lock that are used to removably secure a pull bar to the brackets. The pull bar mounting bracket assembly can be easily removed from one model of the given make of tractor to another model of that tractor make without requiring any modification or customization of the mounting assembly or the tractors.
US08672047B2 Apparatus for mounting a scraper assembly to an accessory mount of a disc opener that allows deflection of the scraper assembly
A ground opener unit for a seeding or planting unit includes an accessory mount attachable to an implement frame and a disc rotatably mounted to the accessory mount for forming a furrow in the ground. A scraper assembly includes a scraper plate defining a scraper edge for contacting and scraping a surface of the disc. The scraper plate is mounted to the arm by a pivot pin whose length defines a pivot axis about which the scraper plate may pivot in response to deflection of the disc. A spring is generally held in compression to bias the scraper plate against the disc.
US08672046B2 Disk gang bolt tensioning structure
An agricultural disk gang includes an elongated disk gang bolt having a threaded end with an externally threaded surface. A plurality of cultivating disks are supported on the disk gang bolt. A nut is threadably engaged with the externally threaded surface. The nut has a first side facing the disks and a second side facing away from the disks. The nut is disposed to axially compress the disks together on the disk gang bolt when tightened. A tensioning structure is mounted on the disk gang bolt outside of the nut. The tensioning structure has a plurality of threaded through holes. A plurality of threaded fasteners are threadably engaged with the threaded through holes and are disposed to axially compress the disks when the plurality of threaded fasteners are tightened, thereby permitting the nut to be further tightened.
US08672042B2 Continuous fluid circulation valve for well drilling
Fluid circulation valve is provided for use with a well drilling operation, so that a drill joint may be added to or removed from the drill string while continuously circulating fluid into the well. Valve housing has a central flow path therein, a housing side port, and upper and lower threaded connectors for engagement with the drill joint and the drill string, respectively. A rotatable ball is positioned within the flow path in the valve housing and a port in the ball is in fluid communication with the housing side port when the ball is closed. A coupling is provided for engaging the valve housing and sealing between an interior of the valve housing and the radially external flow line, which passes fluid into the well when a drill joint is being connecting to the upper end of the valve.
US08672041B2 Convertible downhole devices
A convertible downhole device comprises at least one sacrificial material to provide two or more configurations so that two or more different operations or functions are performable by the downhole device, one in which the sacrificial material is fully intact and another in which the sacrificial material is at least partially removed or disappeared. The sacrificial material may be removable through any suitable method or device, such as by contacting with a fluid, by temperature, by pressure, or by combustion, ignition, or activation of a fusible or energetic material, or crushing or breaking up of a frangible material. Upon removal of the sacrificial material, the downhole device has at least one additional configuration so that at least a second operation can be performed by the downhole device.
US08672040B2 Measurement of relative turns and displacement in subsea running tools
A running tool generates signals in response to setting of a subsea wellhead device that correspond to actual rotation and displacement of the running tool in the subsea wellhead. The running tool includes an encoder that generates a signal corresponding to the number of rotations of a stem of the running tool relative to a body of the running tool. The running tool also includes an axial displacement sensor that generates a signal corresponding to the axial displacement of a piston of the running tool relative to the body. The signals are communicated to the surface using an acoustic transmitter located on the running tool and an acoustic receptor located proximate to a drilling platform at the surface. The signals are communicated to an operator interface device from the receptor for further communication in a manner understood by an operator.
US08672033B2 Method of improving performance and efficiency of wellbore pump for hydrocarbon production
Method of improving performance or efficiency of a wellbore pump associated with a wellbore and/or for increasing the rate of production of reservoir fluid from a reservoir, in which a wellbore pump is arranged to pump wellbore fluid within the wellbore to a surface. The method includes (a) selecting a wellbore which includes an associated wellbore pump associated with a production tube and arranged within a casing. An annulus is defined between the casing and the pump/production tube, the annulus including reservoir fluid which has a hydrostatic head which is at least 15 m above the level of an inlet of the wellbore pump, and (b) contacting a reservoir fluid in the annulus upstream of an inlet of the wellbore pump with a treatment formulation. The treatment formulation has a first polymeric material which includes —O— moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof, and the first polymeric material is optionally cross-linked.
US08672032B2 Split stream oilfield pumping system utilizing recycled, high reid vapor pressure fluid
A split stream oilfield pumping system is provided which utilizes recycled high Reid vapor pressure production fluids. The oilfield system is made up of two separate fluid streams: a first recycled fluid stream and a second new fluid stream. The recycled fluid stream is enclosed to reduce or eliminate vaporization of the recycled fluid, which typically will have a Reid vapor pressure >14 kPa. Wellbore treatment additives are added to the new fluid stream, and the resultant treatment fluid is mixed with the recycled fluid in a common manifold to provide a final wellbore treatment fluid to be delivered to the wellhead.
US08672030B2 System for cementing tubulars comprising a mud motor
A method and system for cementing a tubular and mud motor in a wellbore utilizing burst disks above the mud motor. The burst disks rupture to permit the cement to flow through the burst disks and bypass the mud motor. All of the burst disks reliably rupture at a predetermined and known threshold pressure so as to permit cement to be pumped at a desired rate through all of the ruptured burst disks. Each burst disk is provided with a cover for maintaining a chamber of a known pressure between the cap and the burst disk. All of the burst disks predictably and reliably rupture at the rated pressure.
US08672017B2 Method for green sand molding
The present invention provides a method for green sand molding that prevents a bad casting by producing a mold that does not have a brittle surface. The method has the steps of filling the green sand into a flask while fluidizing the green sand by aeration at a pressure between 0.05 and 0.18 MPa, and squeezing the green sand that has been filled in the flask, wherein a mold is produced so that the friability of the mold is 10 or less. The friability is calculated by the following steps: putting the mold in a rotating cylindrical sieve that has a diameter of 177.8 min and. USA, sieve size No. 8, rotating the cylindrical sieve at 57 rpm for 60 seconds, dividing the weight of the sand that has passed through the sieve by the weight of the sand and multiplying the quotient by 100.
US08672016B2 Folding end cap
An end cap for use in a shade assembly in a vehicle. The end cap is capable of folding and includes a base and a linkage pivotally connected to the base. The end cap also includes an extension pivotally connected to the linkage. The folding end cap will allow for the effective length of the end cap to be reduced by pivoting the extension of the end cap in an approximate 180° arc such that it engages and is secured to the base on an outer surface thereof.
US08672012B2 Adhesive force development unit, adhesive-label issue device, and printer
Provided are an adhesive force development unit, an adhesive-label issue device, and a printer which can develop a stable adhesive force regardless of a thickness of a functional layer made from a resin film or the like while suppressing an occurrence of a blocking phenomenon. A thermal head for adhesive force development having a plurality of heating elements arranged along a width direction of an adhesive label and heating the adhesive label from its adhesive layer side so as to form holes in an functional layer by the heating elements is provided, and heating means for heating at least hole-forming portions in the adhesive label is disposed at an upstream side or a downstream side relative to the thermal head along a carrying direction of the adhesive label.
US08672010B2 Tire for heavy load
In a tire for a heavy load in which a belt is formed by laminating rubber-coated cord layers prepared by embedding steel cords in a coating rubber, an end part of at least one rubber-coated cord layer or an end part of the belt is coated with a rubber composition containing trans-polybutadiene (TRBR) and bismaleimide (BMI) in the following compounding amounts based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component containing natural rubber and isoprene rubber: 0.1 part by mass≦TRBR+BMI≦10.0 parts by mass TRBR/(TRBR+BMI)≧25% whereby cracks originating from separation between the steel cords at an end part of the belt and the coating rubber are prevented from being generated.
US08672007B2 Sealing arrangement between a stationary first machine part and a second machine part that rotates around the first machine part
A sealing arrangement includes a stationary first machine part configured as an axle stub including at least one axial inflow hole adjoining with at least one opening that faces towards an outside surface of the axle stub in a radial direction of the axle stub. A second machine part configured as a container includes a hub rotatably surrounding the axle stub. The hub includes at least one opening that corresponds to the at least one opening of the axle stub in the radial direction so as to form one or more pairs of adjacent openings along an axial direction. A radial seal is disposed between each pair of adjacent openings.
US08671996B2 Method and device for filling and/or emptying a dialysis machine
An apparatus for the filling of a dialyzer with a dialysis liquid and/or for the draining of dialysis liquid from a dialyzer is mobile. The apparatus has at least one liquid container for the reception of a liquid, preferably of RO water, at least one concentrate receptacle for the reception of concentrate and/or a concentrate connection for the connection of a container holding concentrate as well as at least one preparation unit which is arranged and configured such that liquid from the liquid container can be mixed with concentrate from the concentrate receptacle and/or from the container holding the concentrate in the preparation unit.
US08671981B2 Freeze robust anode valve and passage design
A valve for a fuel cell system includes a valve housing having an inlet and an outlet formed therein. Each of the inlet and the outlet includes a passage formed therein to permit a fluid to flow through the valve housing. A movable member is disposed in the valve housing and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The movable member includes a sliding portion having a first flow regulator and a second flow regulator extending laterally outwardly therefrom. At least a portion of the first flow regulator is disposed in the passage of the inlet and at least a portion of the second flow regulator is disposed in the passage of the outlet when the movable member is in the closed position militating against a formation of ice across the entire opening of the inlet and the outlet.
US08671979B2 System and valve unit for mixing-delivery sanitary water and/or purified water
The system comprises a valve unit connected to a filtering unit for the selective delivery of cold, hot and mixed sanitary water, respectively either refrigerated or boiling purified water with optional carbonation. The valve unit comprises a base body for housing a first mixer tap, of the cartridge type, which is connected to a first delivery duct of the sanitary water, as well as a second control tap for the purified water, connected to a second delivery duct internal to the previous one. The outlet or each outlet of the purified water of the filtering unit is connected to an inlet of the second control tap, whereas the inlet of the cold water of the filtering unit is directly connected to the inlet of the cold water of the first mixer tap, by means of a branched channel that is provided inside the base body of the valve unit.
US08671970B2 Flow-through trap primer valve assembly
A flow meter trap primer valve assembly for regulating flow includes an inlet for receiving water from a supply, a check valve mounted within an adaptor having an elongate bore forming a jet, and the check valve includes a piston mounted within a cartridge. A biasing element normally urges the piston against a trap seat.
US08671964B2 Aseptic connector with deflectable ring of concern and method
An aseptic fluid connector having a first connector including a first fluid passageway for receiving a fluid therein; a first port in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway for passage of the fluid therethrough; and a first deflecting member. The first deflecting member includes a first engaging portion radially spaced relative to the first port, and a first valve movable between a closed position and an open position with movement of the first engaging portion between a non-deflected position and a deflected position, respectively. In the non-deflected position, the first valve is located in the closed position forming a fluid-tight seal between the first valve and first port and preventing the passage of fluid therethrough, and in the deflected position, the first valve is located in the open position allowing the aseptic passage of fluid through the first port.
US08671962B1 Walker glide assembly
An articulating glide assembly for use on the leg of a walker includes an adapter with a sleeve having an open end to receive the free end of the walker leg. A base at the bottom end of the sleeve supports the downward force exerted by the walker. A hole in the base receives an upwardly directed pin extending from an articulating foot that is movably engaged with the base. The worn foot may be easily pulled from the base and replaced with a new foot as required.
US08671951B2 Methods of manufacturing cigarettes and filter subassemblies with squeezable flavor capsule
A cigarette filter subassembly is manufactured from a filter member having absorbent material encased within an outer cover. A plunger is passed axially through the absorbent material such that a pointed leading end of the plunger displaces the absorbent material radially outwardly against the cover to form a liner of compressed absorbent material along the cover's inside surface. An inner surface of the liner surrounds a hollow axial opening which is to receive absorbent members and capsules inserted axially therein. The capsules are adapted to be broken by a smoker to release an additive material which modifies characteristics of tobacco smoke. An outer cylindrical surface of the plunger optionally carries a transferable binder material that becomes smeared onto the inner surface of the liner to form thereon a coating which is impermeable to the additive material released from the capsule.
US08671948B2 Corded earplugs
An apparatus and a method of making a corded earplug, including a flexible cord material and a pair of earplugs. Each earplug has a nose portion for insertion into the ear and a rear portion extending from the nose portion and lying outside of the ear when the nose portion is inserted into the ear. Each rear portion has a pair of openings physically displaced from each other and/or angularly displaced from each other. At least one of the openings extends through the rear portion. A short portion of the flexible cord material is inserted through the at least one opening extending through the rear portion. The short portion of the flexible cord material is then inserted into the other opening to have the short portion of the flexible cord material physically displaced and/or angularly displaced along its length to lock the flexible cord material to the rear portion of the earplug.
US08671943B2 Breathing apparatus
A breathing apparatus including a face piece for covering the whole face or part of the face, an inhale valve and an exhale valve provided on the face piece, a motor fan for supplying external air into the face piece through the inhale valve, a filter for cleaning the external air sucked into the motor fan, a breath monitoring apparatus provided on the face piece and not comprising the inhale valve and the exhale valve, and a controller for controlling the operation of the motor fan synchronously with the breath based on the detection signal from the breath monitoring apparatus.
US08671933B2 Inhalation therapy device with multiple nozzles
To increase the efficacy of atomizer nozzles operating with compressed gas, an atomizer device for inhalation therapy appliances includes means for delivering a compressed gas, in particular compressed air; means for supplying a fluid that is to be atomized, in particular a therapeutic liquid; several compressed gas outlet openings from which a delivered compressed gas emerges; and several fluid outlet openings from which the fluid to be atomized emerges on account of the emerging compressed gas. The atomizer device includes at least three compressed gas outlet openings arranged in a row, and one of the compressed gas outlet openings is in each case assigned at least two fluid outlet openings which, together with the associated compressed gas outlet opening, form an atomizer nozzle.
US08671927B1 Paintball launcher employing a carrier for striker reset before disconnecting from striker
A projectile launcher capable of optionally repositioning the bolt to a predefined position using a bolt carrier is disclosed. The launcher, in one aspect, includes a bolt, a striker, a bolt carrier, and a ramp. The bolt, in one example, is configured to be able to move within a bolt chamber. The striker having a striker reset hook is able to move in a direction parallel to a moving direction of the bolt. The bolt carrier, having a fastener, a flexible latch, and a bolt repositioning latch, is attached to the bolt via the fastener. The flexible latch is able to latch to the striker reset hook for resetting the striker during a process of launching a projectile. The ramp facilitates disconnecting the flexible latch from the striker reset hook when the flexible latch moves over the ramp.
US08671925B2 Cam adjustment module for compound archery bow
A cam system for an archery bow including a module that is readily attached to and detached from a cam while leaving the cam on the bow. The module can include a draw stop selectively moveable relative to the module, even while the module is joined with the cam, to adjust the draw stop to specific locations corresponding to different draw lengths and/or draw stop walls of the bow. The module can include a recess that surrounds only part of an axle joining the cam and bow so the entire module is removable from the cam without removing the axle. The cam system can include indexing features that precisely and consistently align features of the cam and module. These features can include first and second indexing posts, and corresponding indexing holes, that register with one another to precisely align the cam and module when joined.
US08671922B2 Combustion chamber intake and exhaust shutter
An engine includes an engine casing and a first piston configured to reciprocate relative to the engine casing. The first piston has a wall that defines a substantially cylindrical chamber. One or more second pistons are configured to reciprocate inside the substantially cylindrical chamber. A combustion chamber intake port and a combustion chamber exhaust port extend through the wall. A shutter is outside the wall and is movable between a first position substantially blocking fluid flow through the combustion chamber exhaust port but not blocking fluid flow through the combustion chamber intake port and a second position substantially blocking fluid flow through the combustion chamber intake port but not blocking flow through the combustion chamber exhaust port. An actuator causes the shutter to move between the first position and the second position in response to the first piston reciprocating relative to the engine casing.
US08671919B2 Intake device of engine
An intake device of an engine comprises an intake manifold of a four-cylinder inline engine and a water-cooling type of intercooler. The intake manifold includes a downstream branch pipe portion connecting to cylinders, a chamber portion connecting to the downstream branch pipe portion, and an upstream intake pipe portion connecting to the chamber portion. A rectangular opening portion having a vertically-long shape is formed at the upstream intake pipe portion. The intercooler includes an intercooler body portion having a pair of faces which has the widest face-area and faces to each other in an engine width direction. The intercooler body portion is installed in the chamber portion, by being inserted through the rectangular opening portion, so as to divide an inside of the chamber portion into two parts in the engine width direction thereby.
US08671915B2 Fuel pump module including a flange groove rod attachment
A fuel pump module may include a reservoir, a flange, and a rod. The reservoir may be configured to contain fuel. The flange may be configured to rest on a surface about a hole in a fuel tank, and the flange may include a groove disposed on an underside surface of the flange. The rod may be inserted into the groove and may couple the flange to the reservoir.
US08671902B2 Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can suppress the emission of unburned HC accompanying start-up of an internal combustion engine. The control apparatus including a fuel supply control unit that initially supplies fuel to only some cylinders, and delays the start of fuel supply to delayed cylinders that are cylinders other than the aforementioned cylinders; an engine discharge gas HC amount predicting unit that calculates a relationship between a delayed cylinder starting engine speed that is a engine speed at a timing at which a cycle starts in which a delayed cylinder initially carries out combustion and a predicted value of an engine discharge gas HC amount; and a target engine speed calculating unit that calculates a target engine speed that is a target value of the delayed cylinder starting engine speed.
US08671888B1 Cat toilet device
A cat toilet device includes a bottom part, a seat and a top part. The seat has a lip extending inward therefrom so as to support the top part. The top part has multiple apertures and a side hole is defined through a side of the top part. The cat is trained to use the cat toilet device to save the need of the cat litter. A slot is defined in the top face of the seat and a cup is engaged with the slot so as to receive tools for clearing the cat toilet.
US08671868B2 Underwater vessel with above-water propulsion
A vessel for transporting a payload through water having a body which travels below the surface of the water and carries the payload, fins extending laterally from the body below the surface of the water a telescoping tower which extends above the surface of the water from the body, a wing extending laterally above the water from an upper portion of the tower, engines mounted on the wing for propelling the body through the water, and propellers mounted on the under sides of the fins for lifting the vessel and holding the vessel in a raised position with the body at the surface of the water while loading and unloading the payload.
US08671856B2 Planting unit for a seeding machine having blocking member to control hand-off of seed from a seed meter to a seed delivery system
A planting unit for a seeding machine having a seed meter with a metering member that moves seed sequentially along a first path to a release position at which the seed is moving in a first direction and a delivery system adapted to take seed from the metering member at the release position and control movement of the seed from the seed meter to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine. The delivery system, at the release position, moves seed in a second direction along a second path. A blocking member located adjacent the first path immediately preceding the release position prevents movement of the seed in the second direction until the seed has passed the blocking member.
US08671851B1 Stand-sit convertible workstation and methods associated therewith
A convertible workstation includes a plurality of members and adjustable features to enable an operator of the convertible workstation to transition the convertible workstation from a sitting workstation to a standing workstation.
US08671849B2 Shipping base with locator pins
A shipping base for use with an appliance or other large product is provided. The base includes locator pins for removably securing the base to the appliance via a friction fit. The locator pins are captured by and extend upwardly from a folded corrugated member to frictionally engage the appliance. The locator pins preferably have a conical upper portion to help guide the pins into footholes or other openings in the bottom of the appliance.
US08671845B2 Central suspension device, wagon bogie and express railway wagon
A central suspension device, a wagon bogie and an express railway wagon, wherein the central suspension device is arranged between a frame and a bolster of the wagon bogie and comprises a rubber-metal pad spring group composed of at least two rubber-metal pad springs, a bottom end of each rubber-metal pad spring is connected with the frame, a top end of at least one rubber-metal pad spring of the rubber-metal pad spring group is connected with the bolster, and a gap exists between the top end of at least one rubber-metal pad spring and the bolster. The central suspension device has multiple stages of rigidities in the transverse and vertical directions, so that the different rigidities can be mutually shifted conveniently on the empty vehicle condition and the heavy-load condition of the vehicle, therefore, the central suspension device is applicable to express railway vehicles for safe and stable running.
US08671840B2 Flexible fragmentation sleeve
A flexible fragmentation sleeve for use with a non-fragmenting explosive device is provided. The flexible fragmentation sleeve comprises a flexible cylindrical wall extending between opposing first and second ends along a longitudinal axis. The cylindrical wall includes an inner liner and an outer liner concentric to the inner liner. A first set of coupling elements extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall, and couple the inner liner with the outer liner. A second set of coupling elements extend circumferentially along the cylindrical wall. The second set of coupling elements is substantially perpendicular to the first set of coupling elements, and couple the inner liner with the outer liner. A plurality of pockets is defined intermediate the inner liner and the outer liner, and intermediate the first set of coupling elements and the second set of coupling elements. The flexible fragmentation sleeve of the illustrative embodiment further includes a plurality of fragmentation members. At least one fragmentation member is illustratively received within each pocket.
US08671838B2 Method for hybrid inline color control for printing presses
A method for color control in printing presses having at least one first color measuring instrument and at least one second color measuring instrument, includes registering at least one first inking zone on a printing material with the first color measuring instrument and registering at least one other, second inking zone on the printing material with the second color measuring instrument. In a first step, a color difference between actual colorations of the first and second inking zones is calculated, in a second step, a color difference between an actual coloration of the first inking zone and a desired coloration of the second inking zone is calculated and, in a further step, the calculated color differences are added and supplied to a color control for the second inking zone.
US08671827B2 Liquid flow control and beverage preparation apparatuses
Apparatuses, methods and systems for liquid flow control and beverage preparation are disclosed. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention include liquid flow control and beverage preparation capsules, pods, cartridges, pouches, systems, and modules for controlling and directing flow streams of liquid through a beverage preparation process. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention may be used in combination with or included as an integral assembly of any apparatus, method or system for liquid dispension.
US08671824B2 Hydraulic control system
The invention relates to a hydraulic control arrangement for supplying a pressure medium to at least one consumer. The forward line and/or the return line of the consumer comprises a distributing valve that can be continuously controlled and that has two switch positions, and a lowering brake valve that can be placed in an open position due to the pressure in the supply line. The distributing valve is in an open neutral position and can be displaced, electrically or electrohydraulically, from said neutral position into the direction of the second switch position thereof.
US08671823B2 Pneumatic brake servo
A pneumatic brake servo which can be acted on by a pneumatic differential pressure is described. The brake servo includes an actuable input member comprising a valve piston, an output member for acting on a master brake cylinder, and a control valve which is arranged in a control housing and which can be actuated by the valve piston for controlling the differential pressure. An elastic reaction element is arranged in a control housing recess and against which the output member bears. The input member acts with an input effective area A1 on the reaction element, and the output member acts with an output effective area A2 on the reaction element. The ratio of output effective area A2 to input effective area A1 determines the force boost ratio of the brake servo.Means are provided for adjusting the output effective area A2 in the assembled brake servo.
US08671811B2 Pivoting saw system
A portable table saw in one embodiment includes a base, a first support post and a second support post, each of the first and second support post extending upwardly to a location higher than the base, at least one support rail having a first end portion supported by the first support post and a second end portion supported by the second support post, a saw movably mounted to the at least one support rail at a location between the first end portion and the second end portion, the saw positioned above the base and movable along the at least one support rail, and a first pivot mechanism configured to pivot the saw with respect to the base.
US08671804B2 Fastener installation tool with quick change key
An improved fastener installation tool is provided that is used to install a threaded nut onto a threaded fastener bolt where access to the bolt head is not possible. The fastener bolt has a threaded shank with a noncircular recess that is adapted to receive a complimentary shaped hex key or hold bit installed in a socket gear of a power driven tool which is used to install a threaded nut onto the threaded shank of the fastener bolt. A spring biased retainer slide with an extended rod portion hold the hex key securely in a locked position. Manual retraction of the retainer slide allows the extended rod portion to release the hex key so it may be replaced when damaged without any need for any further disassembly or need for additional disassembly tools.
US08671803B2 Fastening tool
When bolts are fastened to tack a door to a car body by means of a conventional impact wrench, the shavings stick to the surface of the door or car body, thereby to cause the poor coating quality such as a seeding when the inter-coating or finish-coating is performed in the coating procedure. An impact wrench provided is a fastening tool for fastening a bolt gripped by a socket, in a nut. The impact wrench includes a suction cover for covering the surroundings of the socket, and a suction port capable of sucking the atmosphere in the portion covered with the suction cover, and is constituted such that the atmosphere in the suction cover is sucked through the suction port to recover the shavings left at the time of fastening the bolt. This constitution makes it possible to prevent the shavings from being scattered to the surroundings. When the door is temporarily attached at the coating step to a car body, the poor coating quality such as the seeding, as might otherwise be caused by the shavings stuck to the surface of the car body or door, can be prevented and improved.
US08671799B2 Quick release device for a pedal
A quick release device for a pedal includes a spindle, a connecting unit connected to the spindle, and a quick release mechanism connected to the connecting unit. The spindle has a protrusion extending from one end thereof and an annular groove defined in an outer peripheral thereof. The connecting unit has a receiving hole defined therein, a guiding hole defined in a lateral thereof and communicated with the receiving hole, and a retaining hole defined therein and communicated with the receiving hole. The quick release mechanism includes a rod partially received in the guiding hole and a spring biased against the rod toward the receiving hole. In assembly the protrusion engages with the retaining hole and the rod engages with the annular groove.
US08671797B2 Device for automatic adjustment of tension applied to a control cable
Device for automatic adjustment of tension applied to a control cable has a container element, a first sliding element sliding in the container element, a second sliding element sliding in the first sliding element and connected to a duct of a control cable. A sphere for constraining the translation of the sliding elements is in the container, housed in a seating formed in the first sliding element and having at least one lower portion in contact with the second sliding element and at least one upper portion that can contact the container, there being also provided a first operating on the first sliding element and a second helical spring operating on the second sliding element.
US08671789B2 Ball screw, in particular for a parking brake of a motor
A ball screw which has a threaded nut arranged on a threaded spindle, a helical ball channel in which balls are arranged delimited by ball grooves of the threaded spindle and the threaded nut, a ball cage which receives the balls and a spring element which bears with one end against the threaded nut and with another end against the ball cage. The spring element is arranged axially adjacent to the ball cage in an annular gap delimited by the threaded nut and the threaded spindle.
US08671784B2 Body movement detecting apparatus and body movement detecting method
There is provided a body movement detecting apparatus including: a body movement data acquiring unit configured to detect a body movement of a user and acquire body movement data relating to the body movement; a memory unit configured to memorize the body movement data corresponding to the type of an activity of the user as registered body movement data; a body movement determining unit configured to compare the body movement data acquired by the body movement data acquiring unit with the registered body movement data and determine the type of the activity of the user; and a computing unit configured to be able to calculate consumed energy by the body movement corresponding to the type of the activity determined by the body movement determining unit.
US08671780B2 Strain gauge type force-torque sensor and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a strain gauge type force-torque sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. More specifically, a first sensor structure having a convex part on a bonding surface thereof and a second sensor structure having a concave part bonded to the convex part of the first sensor structure are formed. The gauge film is formed by installing a strain gauge on a flexible film. The gauge film is compressively interposed between the bonding surface of the first sensor structure having the convex part and a bonding surface of the second sensor structure having the concave part to initially deform the gauge film. The first sensor structure and the second sensor structure are fixed to each other in a state where the gauge film is initially deformed.
US08671779B2 Balance system for a vibrating flow meter
According to the present invention, a vibrating flow meter and method of operating a vibrating flow meter are provided. The vibrating flow meter includes a conduit (210), at least one pick-off (230, 231), a driven member (250), at least one driver (220), and a base (260). The conduit (210) defines a fluid flow path. The at least one pick-off (230, 231) measures the motion of the conduit (210). The at least one driver (220) vibrates the conduit (210) and the driven member (250) in phase opposition. The base (260) is coupled to the conduit (210) and the driven member (250) and switches between remaining substantially stationary or moving substantially in phase with the conduit (210) or moving substantially in phase with the driven member (250) in order to balance the motion of the conduit (210) and the driven member (250).
US08671778B2 Coriolis flow meter with improved mode separation
A flow meter (20) including one or more flow tubes (103) and a driver (104A, 104B) adapted to vibrate the one or more flow tubes (103) at a drive frequency is provided. The flow meter (20) comprises a gusset (260). The gusset (260) is coupled to and extends along the flow tube (103) such that a frequency separation between the drive frequency and at least a second vibration frequency is increased.
US08671757B2 Micromechanical component
A micromechanical component which has a substrate, a seismic mass, which is deflectably situated on the substrate, and a stop structure for limiting a deflection of the seismic mass in a direction away from the substrate. The stop structure is situated on the substrate and has a limiting section for limiting the deflection of the seismic mass, which is in a plane with the seismic mass. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a micromechanical component is described.
US08671754B2 Sensor device
In various embodiments, a sensor device is provided. The sensor includes a sensor receiving portion, a sensor arranged in the sensor receiving portion and a cap covering the sensor and the sensor receiving portion. The cap includes a plurality of recesses in the inner side wall of the cap for reducing the pressure measured by the sensor.
US08671753B2 Cable harness for a sensor
The present disclosure relates to sensors including pressure sensors, humidity sensors, flow sensors, etc. In some cases, a cable harness assembly for connection with a sensor assembly may include a cable cover having a first end and a second end, a cable extending through an opening in the first end of the of the cable cover, and a crimp ring configured to engage the cable at a position within the cable cover, such that the attached crimp ring may not fit through the opening. The second end of the cable cover may be configured to connect to a housing of an electrical connector. Further, the cable may have wires that may be configured to electrically connect to electrical terminals of the electrical connector. In some instances, the electrical connector may be electrically connected to a sensor.
US08671751B2 Liquid level detecting apparatus
A liquid level detecting apparatus is provided. A resistance plate has a plurality of elongated conductive segments arranged therein. A float is configured to be moved upward and downward depending on a displacement of a liquid level to be measured. A floating arm has one end attached to the float and the other end rotatably supported to be rotated in response to upward and downward movements of the float. A contact is configured to be slid on the plurality of conductive segments in association with a rotation of the float arm depending on the liquid level. The plurality of conductive segments comprise a plurality of first segments made of a first metal material containing at least silver (Ag) and palladium (Pd), and a plurality of second segments made of a second metal material essentially containing gold (Au).
US08671743B2 Test equipment manifold interface
A test equipment manifold interface for automated test equipment (ATE) for testing electronic circuits by both Device Under Test Thermal Management (DTM) and non-DTM testing. The manifold interface has a housing, with an air inlet aperture, outlet apertures, and a chamber. The chamber has a chamber inlet provided by the air inlet aperture and a chamber outlet coupled to the outlet apertures. A hollow piston is captive in the chamber. The piston has DTM interface inlet and outlet apertures. In operation, when a DTM load board manifold engages the manifold interface, the hollow piston directs air to flow from the air inlet aperture to the DTM interface outlet aperture. When the DTM load board manifold disengages the manifold interface, the hollow piston directs air to flow from the air inlet to the outlet apertures via the chamber outlet.
US08671741B2 Extendable moisture content sensing system
A moisture content sensing system is described comprising a collar mechanically coupled with a clean grain transport system. An extendable support extends through the collar and has an extendable capacitive sensor element disposed at one end. The extendable support is configured to be located at a first position in which the extendable capacitive sensor element is disposed adjacent to clean grain conveyed by the clean grain transport system and moved to a second position wherein the extendable capacitive sensor element is disposed at least partially within the clean grain of the clean grain transport system.
US08671715B2 He-3 recovery from natural helium by distillation
A system and method for recovering helium-3 from helium. A distillation column having a top section that is smaller in diameter than a main section is provided. The column also includes an intermediate condenser located in the main section and above a helium feed stream. Reflux to the column can be provided by liquid helium-3 from a conduit or from an overhead condenser. In a preferred cycle, the distillation column is operated at a subatmospheric pressure, and in a temperature range between 2.3 K and 4.3 K.
US08671700B2 High pressure cryogenic fluid generator
The cryogenic fluid generator includes at least one pump assembly having an actuator mounted to a container assembly. A pump assembly housing includes a longitudinal positioning opening and a pressurization cavity at a distal end terminating with a pump assembly outlet. An internal check valve assembly includes a shaft positioned within an opening of the pump assembly housing that extends into the pressurization cavity. The shaft is attached to the actuator and includes a longitudinal guidance slot; a fluid passageway; and, an internal sealing surface. A positioning bar assembly is positioned within the guidance slot. A connecting rod is securely connected at a first end to the positioning bar assembly, the connecting rod being positioned within the fluid passageway and terminating with a flow inhibiting element. A seal is positioned between the pump assembly housing and the check valve to provide a closure for the pressurization cavity.
US08671691B2 Hybrid prefilming airblast, prevaporizing, lean-premixing dual-fuel nozzle for gas turbine combustor
A dual fuel nozzle for a gas turbine combustor includes a hub defining a fuel inlet and a plurality of liquid fuel jets disposed at a downstream end of the hub. The fuel jets are oriented to eject liquid fuel radially outward from the hub. An annular air passage includes a swirler that imparts swirl to air flowing in the annular air passage, and a splitter ring is disposed in the annular air passage and surrounds the plurality of liquid fuel jets. The nozzle allows liquid fuels to be injected into a swirling annular airstream and then atomized, dispersed and vaporized inside a lean premixing dual fuel nozzle for a gas turbine combustor.
US08671682B2 Multi-stage turbocharging system utilizing VTG turbine stage(s)
Multi-stage turbocharging, and more particularly, an advanced multi-stage turbocharging system using the variable turbine power of one or more variable turbine geometry (VTG) turbochargers to adjust compressor boost and exhaust back pressure to engine operating demands. The invention further relates to a turbocharged internal combustion engine, in particular a turbocharged internal combustion engine with at least one high-pressure turbine stage and one downstream low-pressure turbine stage, wherein the high-pressure turbine may be a single-flow or double-flow type, wherein the high pressure or low pressure compressor may be variable geometry, wherein the high pressure or low pressure compressor may be variably bypassed, and wherein the high pressure or low pressure turbine may be provided with an active control variable bypass or wastegate.
US08671662B2 Exhaust gas purifying system and exhaust gas purifying method using the same
An exhaust gas purifying system (100) includes: a NOx purifying catalyst (34) that is disposed in an exhaust gas flow path (3) to purify nitrogen oxide; and an HC generator (33, 133) that is disposed upstream of the NOx purifying catalyst (34) in the exhaust gas flow path (3) to generate at least one of acetylene, a hydrocarbon with a carbon number of 2 to 5 other than acetylene, and an aromatic hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon contained in an exhaust gas. In addition, an exhaust gas purifying method using the exhaust gas purifying system includes the step of adjusting an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas supplied to the HC generation catalyst (33A, 133A) to 0.8 to 1.5 vol % when an air-fuel ratio is stoichiometric or rich.
US08671640B1 Rapidly locking building/lock components, bridge keys and locking keys to construct uniform whole locked building members and entire locked structures on-the-fly
A plurality of adjacent, aligned, shaped hollow uniform building components, each having four separate distinct key channels are assembled together with a plurality of friction fitting locking keys to accomplish at least three separate distinct locks which become uniform whole friction fitting structural buildings upon alignment of like side surfaces or like end surfaces of uniform building components, together with friction fitting insertion and alignment of one of four separate and distinct shaped uniform bridge keys, then friction fit insertion of the primary locking keys into and through the primary key channels of adjacent and/or abutting uniform building components and uniform bridge keys, thereby rapidly achieving the primary lock and key joint, being the primary finished bonded joint and the primary lock of this invention. The second and third separate distinct locks of this invention are accomplished using corner locking keys to achieve the corner lock and/or center bore hole locking keys to achieve the center bore hole lock. The interior or exterior of a friction fitting structural building is enhanced with other components, including transverse locking keys to form a transverse lock, and key channels may also contain building improvement components.
US08671639B2 Roof panel for roofing system and roof structure
A roof panel system assembled from roof panels comprising a panel portion bounded along a support edge by a support element and along an opposed cover edge by a cover element. The cover element adapted to rest upon and provide resilient sealing and locking engagement with the support element of an adjacent panel. The support element adapted to provide resilient support and locking engagement with the cover element of a second adjacent panel. In an embodiment a panel cover is provided for shielding an upper surface of the panel portion and adapted to inter-fit and lock with engaged support element and cover element pairs along the support element and the cover element of the panel when the panel is engaged with adjacent panels when assembled. In an embodiment contoured insulated panels are provided as a base to support the panels. The contours providing passageways to allow the transport of air beneath the panels when assembled.
US08671625B2 Module structure and plant construction method
The present invention provides a module structure and a plant construction method capable of easily attaching a facility device of a plant and shortening a plant construction period. The module structure of the present invention includes a support member which temporarily supports a facility device component to be arranged in a cell constituting a plant at a designed position and which constitutes scaffolding for attaching the facility device component and forming the cell, a box-shaped frame which is possible to be carried into inner space of the cell while fixing the support member, and joint means which is detachably attachable and which temporarily assembles the support member and the frame.
US08671620B2 Motorized split-hinge device for a very heavy double door and very heavy double door equipped with such a device
A motorized split-hinge device for a very heavy double door, designed to be motorized and including a flap that is mounted to pivot around an essentially vertical axis of rotation on a frame, includes a stationary split-hinge part integral with the frame and a movable split-hinge part integral with the flap and mounted in rotation relative to the stationary split-hinge part around a pivoting shaft. The movable split-hinge part includes a drive mechanism driven by a motor unit adapted to drive the movable split-hinge part in rotation around its pivoting shaft and starting the flap moving by pivoting when opening or closing, whereby the motor unit is mounted in a removable manner on the drive mechanism and on a stationary part of the door, and is kept in drive position of the mechanism with anti-rotational locking relative to the flap.
US08671618B2 Product server with breath guard
A product server for holding and displaying food products is disclosed. The product server has a front customer side, a rear employee side and a breath guard. The breath guard comprises a cover on a cabinet of the product server that is moveable between a lowered position covering the food products and a raised position in which the cover serves as a breath guard and allows access to the food products. Upright side panels are provided adjacent opposite ends of the product server. The breath guard extends between the upright side panels as it moves between its raised and lowered positions.
US08671598B2 Wall mounted ironing board cabinet
A wall mounted ironing board cabinet has a door on two-way sliders enabling cabinet “opened-to-the-right,” “closed” and “opened-to-the-left” conditions. The sliding door and ironing board hardware afford a cabinet which maximizes the number of possible locations of the cabinet in a room, minimizes the depth of the protrusion of the closed cabinet into the room and renders the door outer surface adaptable to uses unrelated to the storage and support of an ironing board. The ironing board hardware also allows user selection of the ironing board surface level from multiple available intervals.
US08671596B2 Ultrasonic ice shaving blade
An ice re-surfacing machine induces ultrasonic frequency vibrations onto the ice shaving blade. The vibrating blade can be pulled across the ice with less pressure and provides an improved finished surface.
US08671595B2 Ornamentation for a footwear upper
An ornamentation attachable to a strap, such as a strap of on an item of a footwear. The ornamentation comprises a base, an ornament associated with the base and a mounting means for mounting the base to the strap. The ornament may be associated with the base in any appropriate way; for example, by being formed integrally with the base, permanently attached to the base or removably attachable to the base. The base is configured for engagement by the mounting means. The mounting means comprises an elastic band adapted to be hooked onto curved end portions of the base.
US08671586B2 Apparatus for upgrading coal and method of using same
A method for using an apparatus for upgrading coal comprising a baffle tower, inlet and exhaust plenums, and one or more cooling augers. The baffle tower comprises a plurality of alternating rows of inverted v-shaped inlet and outlet baffles. The inlet and outlet plenums are affixed to side walls of the baffle tower. Process gas enters the baffle tower from the inlet plenum via baffle holes in the side wall and dries the coal in the baffle tower. Process exhaust gas exits the baffle tower into the exhaust plenum via baffle holes in a different side wall of the baffle tower. Coal that outers the baffle tower descends by gravity downward through the baffle tower and enters a cooling auger, where the dried coal from the baffle tower is mixed with non-dried coal.
US08671583B2 Alignment device
An alignment device which comprises an alignment member, and a measuring mechanism for measuring the orientation of the alignment member. The measuring mechanism is retained by the alignment member.
US08671578B1 Forward extending assisted opening knife
In general, it can be appreciated that the specific type of knife is an “Out the Front” (OTF) knife whereby the blade is operatively configured to reposition longitudinally forwardly with respect to the handle. The handle in general has an interior surface forming an interior chamber. In addition to the handle and blade, the knife further includes a stored energy mechanism. In general, the stored energy mechanism permits the OTF knife to operate with assisted opening technology with a linear-actuating-type system. Described herein are a few embodiments by way of example of the broadly claimed concept, and it can be appreciated that numerous types of assisted opening technologies, such as a stored energy mechanism, can be incorporated.
US08671577B2 Razor with independent suspension
Embodiments of the present invention provide a handheld shaving apparatus with a razor head coupled to a body of the apparatus and employing an independent suspension system, which allows the user to maintain control of the razor head while also allowing the head to move in a generally linear fashion to accommodate surface features and imperfections. Further embodiments provide a handheld shaving apparatus with a razor head and body that collectively include one or more biasing mechanisms that permit the razor head to move in an axial and/or generally linear direction while resisting substantial lateral movement of the razor head, reducing the potential for lateral slicing by the razors.
US08671573B2 Method of forming fastenable member for sealing, baffling or reinforcing
There is disclosed a member for sealing, baffling and/or reinforcing components of an automotive vehicle. The assembly generally includes a carrier, an expandable material and at least one fastener.
US08671568B2 Method of installing equipment into a pit container using an anchor member supporting mechanism and an anchor bolt unit
Efficiency of installation work of equipment such as an ECCS pump is enhanced. In an installation method of equipment, a pit can unit in which an upper side frame, a pit can, various reinforcing steels including vertical reinforcing bars reinforcing the above from a periphery, and an anchor plate supporting mechanism are integrated is manufactured in advance, and the pit can unit is placed on an MMR via a lower side frame. Further, an anchor bolt unit is disposed on the anchor plate supporting mechanism after primary concrete is deposited, a relative positional relationship of respective foundation bolts relative to the pit can is corrected by using a template, and secondary concrete is deposited under the state in which the positional relationship is corrected. After that, the ECCS pump is carried into the pit can, and an installation of the ECCS pump is completed by fixing the carried ECCS pump through the respective foundation bolts of which bottom sides are embedded.
US08671561B2 Substrate manufacturing method
A substrate manufacturing apparatus 100 has a substrate delivery path 120 through which a multi-unit substrate 110 is delivered and a mask delivery path 140 through which an individual mask 130 is delivered. The substrate delivery path 120 has a pad detecting device 160 for detecting a position of a pad 112 formed on a surface of the substrate 110. The mask delivery path 140 has a mask hole detecting device 220 for detecting a position of a conductive ball inserting hole 132 of the individual mask 130. A moving position of an adsorbing head 212 is adjusted in such a manner that the position of the conductive ball inserting hole 132 is coincident with that of the pad 112 of the substrate 110 based on pad position information of the pad detecting device 160 and mask hole position information of the mask hole detecting device 220.
US08671559B2 System for joining stator wires
A method and system is provided to join the wire ends of a stator by placing a crimpable element on a wire end pair such that the wire ends of the wire end pair are surrounded by the crimpable element, and deforming the crimpable element using a crimping tool to form a crimped joint. The crimped joint is configured to provide an electrical connection between the wire ends of the wire end pair. The wire ends may be retained in substantial contact with each other by the crimpable element. The wire end portion of the stator may be immersed in a molten solder bath to form a solder joint joining the wire end pair comprising a crimped joint. The stator may be configured as a bar pin stator including a plurality of bar pins defining the wire ends.
US08671558B2 Device for crimping electric wire terminal
A terminal crimping device where an electric wire is moved from a wire stripping section to a terminal crimping section, with both ends of the wire held by two wire holding hands of a wire conveying hand, and is subjected to terminal crimping processing by terminal crimping pressing devices. The terminal crimping device has the second wire conveying hand for conveying the wire at the terminal crimping section. The wire conveying hand conveys the wire without passing it from one side of the wire crimping pressing devices to the other side, so that an occurrence of a holding failure of the wire is suppressed even if the number of the terminal crimping pressing devices is increased or the conveyance speed of the wire is increased.
US08671556B1 Remote racking tool
A remote racking tool can have a drive assembly, remote control assembly, and radio remote pendant station. The remote racking can enable operators to install or remove circuit breakers in switchgear or equipment rooms while outside of an arc flash zone.
US08671543B2 Microneedle and method for the production thereof
In a process for producing a microneedle (12) that can be inserted into body tissue in which a needle tip (20) and a preferably capillary collecting channel (14) having a distal inlet for body fluid formed at the needle tip (20) are formed, it is provided that at least part of a preform (38) prefabricated from a flat material is shaped into a tubular structure (22) so that the collecting channel (14) is at least substantially annularly closed in the cross-section in the area of the tubular structure (22).
US08671535B2 Shaft loading device
Shaft loading device for a test stand, having a shaft receptacle for receiving a shaft to be loaded for testing and a rotational bearing device which is constructed as a combination of sliding bearing support of the shaft receptacle and plurality of actuators acting directly on the sliding bearing support for selective application of bearing force to the shaft receptacle.
US08671533B2 Gripper device for mounting rubber elastic rings and finger for a gripper device of this type
A gripper device (10) is provided for mounting rubber elastic rings (5) on the inner wall (62) of a workpiece opening and/or on the exterior of a workpiece. The device includes a basic housing (12), forming jaws (14) that are displaced in relation to the basic housing (12) and bearing jaws (16). To displace the plate element together with the jaws that are located on the element in an axial direction, the element is provided with a piston (20) which engages in a piston cylinder (22) in the basic housing. The displacement of the jaws that are located on the plate element (18) is mechanically coupled by a common actuator (24) and the actuator (24) is driven by an actuator piston (25) that is located in the piston (20).
US08671531B2 Manufacturing method for a zinc oxide piezoelectric thin-film with high C-axis orientation
A manufacturing method for a Zinc Oxide (ZnO) piezoelectric thin-film with high C-axis orientation comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a base, a SiO2 layer and a Si3N4 layer; forming a bottom electrode layer on the Si3N4 layer; patterning the bottom electrode layer; sputtering a Zinc Oxide layer on the Si3N4 layer and the bottom electrode layer; forming a photoresist layer on the Si3N4 layer and the Zinc Oxide layer; patterning the photoresist layer to reveal the Zinc Oxide layer; forming a top electrode layer on the Zinc Oxide layer and the photoresist layer; removing the photoresist layer and the top electrode layer formed on the photoresist layer, and the top electrode layer formed on the Zinc Oxide layer can be remained; and patterning the Si3N4 layer to form a recess that reveals the base of the substrate.
US08671530B2 Quick release clamp and method of use
A clamp (20) includes a first barrel half (26) and second barrel half (28). A hinge pin (30) pivotally couples a first edge (38) of the first barrel half (26) with a third edge (46) of the second barrel half (28). A spring (96) imposes force on the barrel halves (26, 28) to bias a second edge (40) of the first barrel half (26) away from a fourth edge (48) of the first barrel half (28) to create a gap (34) between edges (40, 48), placing the clamp (20) in an open position (22). A handle (32) includes a base (80) that abuts an outer surface (54) of the barrel halves (26, 28) to compel the second edge (40) of the first barrel half (26) toward the fourth edge (48) of the first barrel half (28) to close the gap (34), placing the clamp (20) in a closed position (22).
US08671523B1 Carrier removably attachable to an object for more easily and ergonomically carrying the object
A carrier removably attachable to at least a portion of a handle of an object includes a first housing having a handle and a base. The handle of the first housing is rotatable with respect to the base of the first housing about a first axis. A second housing is pivotally attached to the base of the first housing about a second axis. The second axis extends generally perpendicularly to the first axis. The carrier is pivotable between an open configuration in which at least a portion of the base of the first housing is at least partially separated from the second housing to receive at least a portion of a handle of an object therein and a closed configuration in which at least a portion of the base of the first housing and the second housing combine to surround the handle of the object therebetween.
US08671521B2 Control motion hinge with torsion spring
A control motion hinge, comprising a first leaf hinge with three knuckles to secure a first pin, wherein the two outer knuckles have roller knuckles, a link having a two knuckles on a first end to interlock with the first leaf hinge and a single knuckle on a second end, a second leaf hinge with two knuckles to secure a second pin when interlocked with the second end of the link, wherein the two knuckles of the second leaf hinge have a roller path for engaging the roller of the first leaf hinge, wherein such rollers traverse the roller path, a first spring device positioned between said first leaf hinge and said link to apply a force therebetween, and thus softly closing the door reducing the sound of closure during the final approach of the door.
US08671518B2 Retrofittable roller element and foot for an automatic storage system, and method for displacing an automatic storage system
The present invention relates to a retrofittable roller element (1) for an automatic storage system, the roller element comprising an adapter plate (2) and a transport roller (3), a foot (10) for the automatic storage system, with the foot standing on a floor (11) in an operative position (B) and being lifted from the floor in a transport position (T), and to a method for displacing an automatic storage system. To be able to displace automatic storage systems in an easy way and at low costs, it is intended according to the invention that the adapter plate (2) comprises a continuous fastening opening (8) for mounting the adapter plate (2) on a foot (10) for the storage system and the foot (10) comprises an abutment (W) for the adapter plate (2), and that a force for lifting the foot (10) is introduced into said foot.
US08671512B2 Cyclone cleaner
The present invention relates to a cyclonic vacuum cleaner comprising a main body of vacuum cleaner, in which a cyclonic separating device and a suction device are provided. The cyclonic separating device comprises a chamber body enclosed by a side wall and a base plate, and is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet. After entering the chamber body, air flow swirls along the inner wall of chamber body, forms cyclonic separation air flow and makes air-solid separation. The separated air flow enters the suction device via the air outlet, and the body of the suction device is at least partially inserted into the cyclonic separation air flow. The cyclonic vacuum cleaner of the present invention is featured by reduced volume and compact structure, not only facilitating the use of such product, but also providing more space for the product design while providing the desired dust separation effect.
US08671505B2 Windshield wiper blade assembly
A windshield wiper blade assembly comprises an elastic wiper blade and a linking mechanism including a pivot joint, a first arm, a second arm and a third arm secured to the wiper blade. The first, second and third arms are stacked one above another. The pivot joint has two opposite first pivot studs and two opposite second pivot studs. The first pivot studs are spaced apart from each other and protrude toward each other. The second pivot studs protrude away from each other. The pivot joint is disposed between the first and second arms. The first pivot studs extend into two side walls of the second arm, respectively, and the second pivot studs extend into the side walls of the first arm, respectively.
US08671498B2 Cleaning device
A cleaning device has a handle removably connected to a cleaning head. The handle includes a connecting mechanism to removably couple the handle with the cleaning head. The cleaning head includes a projecting member to mate with an arcuate surface of the handle to enable rotation to removably connect the cleaning head with the handle. The cleaning head has an overall corrugated appearance.
US08671491B1 Cleaning and storage unit for pacifiers
A cleaning and storage unit for pacifiers comprises a cylindrical enclosure including a top center with a hinged lid which swings open to expose an internal cleaning assembly which comprises a cavity containing a cleaning fluid and a plurality of brushes. A standard pacifier can be inserted nipple-first into a top opening and against the brushes which automatically starts an electric motor which spins the brushes, thereby cleaning the pacifier. After a suitable period of time, the cleaned pacifier is removed. Clean pacifiers may be stored on removable hooks located around the perimeter of the enclosure.
US08671485B2 Infant apparatus
An infant apparatus includes a top panel and a bottom panel having securing means that form an aperture between the top panel and the bottom panel. A longitudinally extending wall connects the top panel and the bottom panel forming at least a first leg holding section and a second leg holding section. The bottom panel further includes a sleeping surface securing means.
US08671484B1 Contoured support device for posing infants
The invention is a support device for posing an infant for a photograph. The support device has a fabric case with a filling that provides a comfortable support for the infant, yet does not compress under the weight of the infant. The upper surface of the support device has a curved contour that includes a two bolsters or convex curved raised edges that are parallel to each other, with a valley between the bolsters. A newborn may be nestled in the valley or placed in various poses on the first or second bolster.
US08671481B2 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation support pillow
A medical support pillow comprising of a pair of oppositely positioned sidewalls, a bottom portion having a bottom surface, and an upper portion. The support pillow includes a head support and neck support, which are dimensioned to automatically align the airways to facilitate CPR when head and neck are positioned thereupon. The upper portion has two opposing inclined surfaces. The first inclined surface for receiving and supporting the individual's neck, the second oppositely positioned inclined surface for supporting the individual's head. In a further embodiment, the medical support pillow has a circular indentation, which curves inwardly on the upper portion which hold and support and individual's neck to prevent substantial movement of the individual's head. In a further embodiment, the medical support pillow includes a hollowed out section on both right and left side of base creating handles making the medical support pillow easy to carry and transport.
US08671464B2 Temperature regulating garment
A garment for regulating temperature includes a body having a back panel and at least one front panel made of a temperature insulating textile and partially joined along at least one common edge, the joined panels defining an inside chamber. At least one pocket is fastened to an inside surface of at least one of the front panel and the back panel. The at least one pocket is configured for accommodating a temperature regulating element.
US08671462B2 Stab resistant knit fabric having ballistic resistance made with layered modified knit structure and soft body armor construction containing the same
A stab resistant knit fabric, made containing a plurality of panels of a knit fabric having a modified knit structure corresponding to rows of knit stitches, wherein each of the panels of knit fabric comprise a front layer of knit fabric and a back layer of knit fabric, wherein the front layer and back layer are joined together by rows of tuck stitches formed from a yarn having no more than 4.5% elongation; wherein at least one panel of knit fabric is arranged such that the rows of knit stitches of the at least one panel of knit fabric are perpendicular to the rows of at least one other panel of knit fabric, its combination with a ballistic layer to provide ballistic resistance properties, and a protective garment prepared therefrom.
US08677500B2 Digital broadcasting receiver for protection of broadcasting contents and the method thereof
Provided are a digital broadcasting receiver and method of broadcast content protection. The digital broadcasting receiver comprises a platform which stores received broadcast data, middleware which comprises an application manager managing various applications so that broadcast content corresponding to the received broadcast data is used according to a consumption policy, a platform interface unit which acts as an interface between the platform and the middleware, and a middleware interface unit which acts as an interface between the various applications and the middleware. According to the method, various broadcast content protection and management policies can be accepted in various digital broadcasting receivers, each having different hardware and software structures.
US08677497B2 Mobile risk assessment
A query is received from a particular endpoint device identifying a particular wireless access point encountered by the particular endpoint device. Pre-existing risk assessment data is identified for the identified particular wireless access point and query result data is sent to the particular endpoint device characterizing pre-assessed risk associated with the particular wireless access point. In some instances, the query result data is generated based on the pre-existing risk assessment data. In some instances, pre-existing risk assessment data can be the result of an earlier risk assessment carried-out at least in part by an endpoint device interfacing with and testing the particular wireless access point.
US08677484B2 Providing protection against unauthorized network access
A system includes a detection unit configured to detect unauthorized access to one or more information processing apparatuses that are virtually implemented by virtual machines executed by a computer; an authorized network configured to transfer authorized access to the one or more information processing apparatuses from an external network; a honeypot network configured to transfer unauthorized access to the information processing apparatuses from the external network; and a control unit configured to connect the information processing apparatuses for which no unauthorized access has been detected to the authorized network, and connect the information processing apparatuses for which unauthorized access has been detected to the honeypot network; wherein the control unit shifts, in response to detecting unauthorized access by the detection unit, the corresponding information processing apparatus into a decoy mode in which the detected unauthorized access is disconnected from a normal operation.
US08677482B2 Hardware security for software processes
A system and method for secure processing is provided, wherein a monitor application is injected into a secure application binary within the security perimeter of a secure processor. The components of the monitor application are injected into different portions of the application binary utilizing a seed value. In this manner, the positioning of the monitor application in the application binary is altered each time the application binary is booted. After the monitor application is inserted into the application binary, the secure process is passed to the host processor for execution. During execution of the secure process, a system and method is provided for the monitor application to communicate, to the secure processor, attempts to tamper with or attack the secure process.
US08677475B2 Security in networks
A communication system may be configured to provide multiple levels of security for a communication link between a first node and a second node of a network. The system may be further configured to select a first level of security from the multiple levels of security for transmitting first data send by a first client via the first node to the second node and to select a second level of security from the multiple levels of security for transmitting second data send by a second client via the first node to the second node, the second level of security being different than the first level of security.
US08677474B2 Detection of rogue client-agnostic NAT device tunnels
Provided are techniques for the prevention of certain types of attacks on computing systems. The current disclosure, which describes one particular type of attack, is directed to the detection and prevention of an attack rather than the mechanics of the particular described attack. The claimed subject matter both detects and prevents an attack without exposing a network to denial-of-service (DoS) attacks by being too restrictive.
US08677463B2 System and method for managing multiple sub accounts within a subcriber main account in a data distribution system
A computer readable storage medium is disclosed having a computer program stored therein, which in a particular embodiment, the computer program includes but is not limited to machine readable instructions that when executed by a computer manage a plurality of sub accounts under a main account in a data distribution system, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to assign the plurality of sub accounts under the main account in a main account data structure at a server in the data distribution system; instructions to assign a plurality of end user devices to each one of the plurality of sub accounts; and instructions to receive end user device attribute data from at least one of the end user devices to the main account data structure after the attribute data is created at the at least one end user device.
US08677459B2 Secure zero-touch provisioning of remote management controller
Embodiments enable secure zero-touch remote provisioning/management of a computer system. A computer system is shipped to end customers with its remote management controller enabled but not provisioned. During automatic testing, for example, provisioning authentication data is embedded into the remote management controller. The computer system vendor harvests the provisioning authentication data or derivative data therefrom from the remote management controller and stores it in a database. Upon sale of the computer system, the computer system vendor provides to the end-customer the harvested data of the computer system's remote management controller. The end-customer can then remotely authenticate a remote provisioning/management console to the remote management controller. Once successfully authenticated, the remote provisioning/management console can provision the remote management controller with one or more user accounts/roles with corresponding authentication details, authenticate as one of the provisioned user accounts, and perform computer system provisioning using remote manageability functions as desired.
US08677455B2 Authentication method
To provide an authentication technology acquiring high security with a simple configuration. In an information processing device utilizing a user's input operation for authentication, an input frame is displayed to the user, the user is prompted to input a keyword to within the input frame, a magnitude of the input by the user is judged, and the inputted keyword is judged, results of the judgments are used as authentication information for the authentication. A magnitude of the input may be a size of the input frame and a size of a character, which are designated by the user.
US08677454B2 Utilization of virtual machines by a community cloud
A mechanism for utilization of virtual machines by a community cloud is disclosed. A method of the invention includes authenticating a virtual machine (VM) to be joined to a cloud environment managed by a central administrative computing device as a cloud computing resource, wherein the VM is operating on a workstation that is not a dedicated cloud computing resource, updating a database of VMs utilized as cloud computing resources with information of the VM related to its operational status, and providing instructions for the VM to operate as a cloud computing resource, the instructions based on current demand for cloud services of the cloud environment and an overall current supply of cloud computing resources presently available in the cloud environment.
US08677453B2 Highly parallel evaluation of XACML policies
Techniques for highly parallel evaluation of XACML policies are described herein. In one embodiment, attributes are extracted from a request for accessing a resource including at least one of a user attribute and an environment attribute. Multiple individual searches are concurrently performed, one for each of the extracted attributes, in a policy store having stored therein rules and policies written in XACML, where the rules and policies are optimally stored using a bit vector algorithm. The individual search results associated with the attributes are then combined to generate a single final result using a predetermined policy combination algorithm. It is then determined whether the client is eligible to access the requested resource of the datacenter based on the single final result, including performing a layer-7 access control process, where the network element operates as an application service gateway to the datacenter. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08677449B1 Exposing data to virtual machines
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for exposing metadata to a virtual machine. In one aspect, a method includes executing a virtual machine on a host operating system. A synthetic file system is mounted on the virtual machine to expose the synthetic file system to a plurality of guest applications executing on the virtual machine. The synthetic file system is configured to provide a plurality of system calls to the guest applications including at least a read operation or a write operation for reading from or writing to external metadata stored outside the virtual machine.
US08677448B1 Graphical user interface including usage trending for sensitive files
Sensitive file accessing trends can be visually represented. In one embodiment, the present invention includes receiving, in a graphical user interface (GUI), a first user input indicating a selection of one folder from a plurality of folders, and identifying a plurality of sensitive files in the selected folder using one or more data loss prevention policies. In one embodiment access usage data for the sensitive files can be obtained and the number of users accessing the sensitive files within a plurality of time intervals can be determined using the access usage data. Finally, a usage trend representation comprising a visual illustration of the number of users accessing the sensitive files within each of the plurality of time intervals can be displayed to a user.
US08677438B2 Wireless video transmission device
After fixing the physical address of a wireless video transmission device to a route address or the like, it is possible to shorten the switchover time by having a conversion table provided that maps the physical addresses on the wireless video reception device side, since it does not occur that the addresses of AV equipment connected by wire with the wireless video transmission device are changed, even if the physical address of the wireless video reception device changes. Further, by performing split transfer of the CEC messages, it is possible to carry out transmission of the CEC messages promptly and to suppress reception confirmation bits with respect to CEC messages for which there exists no destination.
US08677437B2 Systems and methods for calculating the delay between media signals
The embodiments described herein provide a method and system for determining the extent to which a plurality of media signals are out of sync with each other. The method includes: receiving a first input media signal and a second input media signal wherein the first and second input media signals are in sync with each other; extracting at least one first characteristic feature from the first input media signal; extracting at least one second characteristic feature from the second input media signal; receiving a first output media signal and a second output media signal wherein the first output signal corresponds to the first input media signal after being transmitted through a network, and the second output signal corresponds to the second input media signal after being transmitted through the network; extracting the at least one first characteristic feature from the first output media signal; extracting the at least one second characteristic feature from the second output media signal; calculating a first signal delay based on the at least one first characteristic feature extracted from the first input and output media signals; calculating a second signal delay based on the at least one second characteristic feature extracted from the second input and output media signals; and outputting a synchronization signal based on the difference between the first and second delay signals wherein the synchronization signal represents the extent to which the first and second output media signals are out of sync with each other.
US08677434B2 Method and system for direct digital up-conversion in a cable modem
Provided are a method and system for a module for a cable modem termination system. The module includes a digital modulator configured to block up-convert a plurality of digital channels and a digital to analog converter coupled, at least indirectly, to an output of the digital modulator to convert the digital channels to an analog format.
US08677432B2 System and method for providing a personal broadcasting service using a mobile communication terminal
A system and method for providing a personal broadcasting service using a mobile communication terminal with a multimedia broadcasting module are provided. A broadcasting service provider provides multimedia broadcasting content. A multimedia broadcasting terminal sends a channel selection signal to the broadcasting service provider, receives multimedia broadcasting content of a selected channel, and opens personal broadcasting. A normal terminal sends a multimedia broadcasting content request to the multimedia broadcasting terminal opening the personal broadcasting, and receives the multimedia broadcasting content from the multimedia broadcasting terminal opening the personal broadcasting.
US08677419B2 Program search device
A program search device is described that searches for programs using a keyword search and handles the programs found in the search by classifying the programs into special programs and regular programs. The device searches for broadcast programs corresponding to a current time from an electronic program guide, and includes a program guide storing unit that prestores an electronic program guide a keyword storing unit that prestores one or more extraction keywords and corresponding effective periods, a time obtaining unit operable to obtain a current time, a detecting unit operable to read an extraction keyword corresponding to an effective period and detect, from the electronic program guide, one or more program display information sets including the read extraction keyword, and an extracting unit operable to extract each of one or more program display information sets that indicates a regular program, or a special program.
US08677411B2 Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals
A digital television (DTV) data stream includes a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT including: a descriptor including: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor, a descriptor length field, and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream.
US08677401B2 Grouping advertisement subavails
Method and system for creating one or more advertising avail sections (subavails) and thereupon aggregating the subavails to form one or more groups of subavails. The advertisement opportunities (avails) may be divided into sections (subavails) with each section being directed at a particular target audience (group). The subavails are then aggregated into one or more groups of subavails so that the groups of subavails can be sold to the advertisers. The grouping of subavails is generally based on a correlation wherein the subavails are characterized based on one or more characteristics. The groups of subavails are formed based on one or more shared characteristics. The advertiser has an option to buy a group of subavails (rather than an avail in prior art), whereby the advertiser may reach a targeted group of an audience.
US08677400B2 Systems and methods for identifying audio content using an interactive media guidance application
Systems and methods for identifying audio using a media guidance application where a video program that includes one or more audio assets is received by user equipment. The user initiates a request to identify an audio asset playing within the video program and the audio asset is identified by processing data associated with the audio asset and data within a database of audio asset information associated with a plurality of known audio assets. The audio asset information associated with the identified audio asset is then provided to a user interface for display.
US08677398B2 Systems and methods for taking action with respect to one network-connected device based on activity on another device connected to the same network
In a method for delivering targeted television advertisements based on online behavior, IP addresses indicating online access devices and IP addresses indicating television set-top boxes are electronically associated for a multitude of users. Using user profile information derived from online activity from one of the online access IP addresses, a television advertisement is selected, such as by using behavioral targeting or demographic information, and automatically directed to the set-top box indicated by the set-top IP address associated with that online access IP address. Preferably neither the user profile information nor the electronic association of online access and set-top box IP addresses includes personally identifiable information.
US08677393B2 Methods and apparatus to verify consumption of programming content
Methods and apparatus to verify consumption of content are described herein. In an example method, a content library is generated within a data structure. The content library includes at least one content identifier associated with programming content. The programming content is insertable into content stream. A content stream including content for broadcasting on a broadcast device is received. To verify consumption of the programming content, a broadcast content identifier associated with the content for broadcasting is compared to the at least one content identifier of the content library.
US08677390B2 Network system, receiving apparatus, receiving method, recording and reproducing apparatus, recording and reproducing method, program, and recording medium
A network system includes a receiving apparatus for receiving contents, and a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing the contents received by the receiving apparatus, the receiving apparatus and the recording and reproducing apparatus being interconnected via a network. The receiving apparatus includes a viewing age limit compliance information acquisition section, and a determination section. The recording and reproducing apparatus includes a storage section, and an address information delivery section.
US08677366B2 Systems and methods for processing hierarchical data in a map-reduce framework
Methods and arrangements for processing hierarchical data in a map-reduce framework. Hierarchical data is accepted, and a map-reduce job is performed on the hierarchical data. This performing of a map-reduce job includes determining a cost of partitioning the data, determining a cost of redefining the job and thereupon selectively performing at least one step taken from the group consisting of: partitioning the data and redefining the job.
US08677365B2 Performing zone-based workload scheduling according to environmental conditions
To perform zone-based workload scheduling according to environmental conditions in a system having electronic devices, indicators of cooling efficiencies of the electronic devices in corresponding zones are aggregated to form aggregated indicators for respective zones, where the zones include respective subsets of electronic devices. Workload is assigned to the electronic devices according to the aggregated indicators.
US08677363B2 Method for managing, tracking and distributing job programs for processing to a plurality of execution computers
A method for controlling a distributed processing system comprising a management computer for managing distributed processing of a job program and a plurality of execution computers for executing the job program, includes dividing the job program into a plurality of jobs and the management computer assigning the plural jobs among the execution computers, transferring processed information obtained by executing said jobs program by each of the execution computers to the management computer, storing processed information corresponding to the executed job program into the execution computers, and re-executing the job program on said management computer by using the processed information when the processed information is available.
US08677356B2 Adjunct partition work scheduling with quality of service attributes
Operating system-directed workload scheduling of an adjunct partition in a logically partitioned computer is selectively overridden to handle platform work requiring a Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee. Firmware may track outstanding requests for platform work for an adjunct partition, and in response to a request for platform work that requires a QoS guarantee, the firmware may assume or take over scheduling decisions for the adjunct partition from the operating system of an associated logical partition and schedule execution of the adjunct partition to ensure that the adjunct partition will be allocated sufficient execution resources to perform the platform work independent of the scheduling desires of the operating system. As a result, any platform work that potentially impacts the platform work of other adjunct partitions will not be held up as a result of an unwillingness or inability of the operating system to schedule execution of the adjunct partition.
US08677355B2 Virtual machine branching and parallel execution
A state branching system is described herein that allows parallel execution of complex state transitions while leveraging time invested to setup a starting state. By allowing branching at the virtual machine level, the state branching system allows setup of a particular condition or state in a virtual machine, then copying and branching to parallel instances of the virtual machine to explore different possible subsequent states. Upon detecting a large state change with unknown outcome, the state branching system instructs the hypervisor to copy the executing virtual machine into one or more separate virtual machines. The system then allows divergent branching between the two or more virtual machines to explore different states from a similar starting point. Once the executions have reached the next state, the system coordinates to determine which copies will continue execution. Thus, the state branching system allows faster exploration of complex state changes.
US08677344B2 Software upgrade using single source channel
An automatic data downloader (ADD) causes a source device communicating with the ADD to download available software for destination devices using a single predetermined update channel. The software is received by the ADD from the source device and stored. Upon connecting to destination device that is compatible with downloaded software, the ADD sends the software to the destination device.
US08677338B2 Data dependence testing for loop fusion with code replication, array contraction, and loop interchange
Methods and apparatus to data dependence testing for loop fusion, e.g., with code replication, array contraction, and/or loop interchange, are described. In one embodiment, a compiler may optimize code for efficient execution during run-time by testing for dependencies associated with improving memory locality through code replication in loops that enable various loop transformations. Other embodiments are also described.
US08677315B1 Continuous deployment system for software development
Examples of a continuous deployment system are provided that manage and track releases of software code, where some or all of the steps between check-in and deployment to production can be automated. Such systems can reduce the amount of developer effort needed to deploy a package, as developers may not have to be responsible for scheduling package builds, clicking deployment buttons, or manually running tests. The system can take care of all or some of that work.
US08677311B2 Separate-type signal processing apparatus and software version updating method therefor
A separate-type signal processing apparatus includes: a first device having a data acquisition part; and a second device connected with the first device by wire or wireless, wherein the first and second devices work in cooperation to execute a predetermined process, the first device acquires version renewal data for addition to or renewal of software components for respectively controlling the first and second devices, through the data acquisition part, the first device has a first control part for sending a completion-of-acquisition notice signal to the second device, the second device has a second control part for sending a response signal to the first control part when the notice signal is input thereto, and the first control part transfers at least a part of the acquired version renewal data to the second control part on receipt of the response signal as an input thereto.
US08677307B1 Method and system for implementing die size adjustment and visualization
Disclosed are improved methods, systems, and computer program products for visualizing and estimating IC die arrangement for an electronic design, and for performing chip planning and estimation based upon the estimated and visualized IC die arrangements. According to some approaches, an interface is provided for visualizing different die arrangement options for an electronic design, in which a filmstrip view is provided to display smaller images of different die arrangement options, and a central viewing area is provided to view a larger image of a selected candidate die arrangement. The different images, whether smaller or larger images, are maintained with design object information and not just static images. This allows for selection and highlighting of individual objects within the die arrangement images, as well as corresponding highlighting of that same object in other images.
US08677303B2 Electromigration compensation system
An integrated circuit is described. The integrated circuit, comprising: a central processor; a memory; and an electromigration compensation system associated with a plurality of leads within the integrated circuit, wherein the electromigration compensation system causes the plurality of leads to have interlocking, horizontally tapered ends that substantially reduces electromigration divergence and consequently lead resistance and circuit shorting.
US08677301B2 Method and system for model-based design and layout of an integrated circuit
A approach is described for allowing electronic design, verification, and optimization tools to implement very efficient approaches to allow the tools to directly address the effects of manufacturing processes, e.g., to identify and prevent problems caused by lithography processing. Fast models and pattern checking are employed to integrate lithography and manufacturing aware processes within EDA tools such as routers.
US08677297B2 Low-overhead multi-patterning design rule check
Roughly described, a system enables quick and accurate depiction to a user of multi-patterning layout violations so that they may be corrected manually and in real time, and without interfering with normal manual editing process. In one embodiment, the system involves iteratively building tree structures with nodes identifying islands and arcs identifying multi-patterning spacing violations between the connected islands. The system detects coloring violations during the building of these tree structures, using the relationships previously inserted. The coloring violations preferably are reported to a user in the form of visual indications of the cycles among the candidate spacing violations, with the candidate spacing violations also themselves indicated visually and individually. The user can see intuitively how to move the islands around, and in which directions and by what distance, in order to remove a multi-patterning spacing violation and thereby break the cycle.
US08677293B2 Feasibility of IC edits
One embodiment relates to a computer method of evaluating proposed edits to a target layer of an integrated circuit. In the method, a number of editable regions is determined for metal layers overlying the target layer, where an editable region for a metal layer is laterally arranged between segments of the metal layer. The method identifies a number of possible vertical milling paths that extend from an exterior surface of the integrated surface to the target layer. Each possible vertical milling path passes through at least one editable region. The method generates a number of possible edit plans that are based on both the proposed edits and the number of possible vertical milling paths, where each edit plan places edits in a different combination of possible vertical milling paths.
US08677290B2 Method of forming and using photolithography mask having a scattering bar structure
A method of forming a photolithography mask including forming a first linear non-dense feature on the mask and forming a plurality of parallel linear assist features disposed substantially perpendicular to the at least one linear non-dense design feature. In an embodiment, the photolithography mask further includes a first transverse linear assist feature disposed substantially transverse to the plurality of parallel linear assist features.
US08677289B1 Method of generating assistant feature
A method of generating an assistant feature is provided. A plurality of main features is provided. A first main feature is selected from the main features. A plurality of rule-based features is disposed around the first main feature. A model-based feature is generated around the first main feature. An overlap Boolean feature is extracted from the rule-based features, wherein the overlap Boolean feature overlaps with the model-based feature in an overlap ratio up to a target value. The overlap Boolean feature serves as an assistant feature, and the assistant feature and the first main feature constitute a transfer feature.
US08677284B2 Method and apparatus for controlling and displaying contents in a user interface
A user interface with multiple applications which can be operated concurrently and/or independently by using simple finger gestures allows a user to intuitively operate and control digital information, functions, applications, etc. to improve operability. The user is able to use finger gesture to navigate the user interface via a virtual spindle metaphor to select different applications. The user can also split the user interface to at least two display segments which may contain different applications. Moreover, each display segment can be moved to a desirable location on the user interface to provide a seamless operation environment.
US08677282B2 Multi-finger touch adaptations for medical imaging systems
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for presenting image slices in a windowing environment based on multi-touch user input, the image slices generated by an imaging system. A series of image slices may be provided that represent a view of an object. A gesture may be defined based on at least a count of fingers represented in multi-touch user input. Further, the defined gesture may be associated with a corresponding action for manipulating an image slice. Multi-touch user input may be received. Upon determining that the received multi-touch user input includes the defined gesture, the corresponding action may be performed on an image slice of the series to generate a resultant image slice. The resultant image slice may be output via an output device.
US08677275B2 Illustrating a menu of insights associated with visualizations
A system and method are provided for generating one or more menus having options that display insights from visualizations. The options presented in the menus enable users to determine relationships between elements of the visualization. The relationships may be displayed textually to enable user to navigate the menus using a keyboard, a text-to-voice converter, and/or pointers.
US08677263B2 Pan grip controls
A viewport displays a portion of content that is larger than the viewport. Within this viewport pan grip controls are displayed. The pan grip controls are active zones in the viewport receptive to user input and may have a graphical representation. They are presented at positions relative to the content as displayed in the viewport, and in some embodiments, in a predetermined, regular pattern that is independent of the displayed content. The viewport is panned in response to panning input received on the pan grip controls. The panning input may be a dragging of a pan grip control. The pan grip controls maintain their positions relative to the content as displayed in the viewport. Non-panning input on the displayed content is received outside of the pan grip controls.
US08677246B2 User interface control apparatus, user interface control method, program, storage medium storing program, and integrated circuit
A user interface (UI) control apparatus connected to a remote appliance via a communication path. The UI control apparatus is capable of providing a suitable UI for a user which may be stored on the UI control apparatus or the remote appliance without the need of a data management server. The UI control apparatus including: a UI list obtaining unit configured to add information on a UI program stored in a remote appliance to a UI list which is information listing at least one UI program stored in the UI control apparatus, the remote appliance being connected to the UI control apparatus via a communication path; and a UI obtaining unit configured to (i) search the remote appliance and (ii) obtain, from the remote appliance, a UI program selected by a user from the UI list with the information on the UI program added to the UI list.
US08677244B2 Exclusive operation control apparatus and method
Provided is an exclusive operation control apparatus which, when input operations of a plurality of users compete with each other, displays a content on which the plurality of input operations are reflected, instead of performing only one of the input operations. An operation determination section receives input information from the plurality of users, and determines an operation. An exclusive operation determination section determines an exclusive operation concerning a new operation by using the new operation and a previous operation. The content copying section copies the content based on a result of the determination. The content management section receives the new operation from the operation determination section and, when the new operation is an operation on the copied content, generates and displays on a display device display data which is obtained by reflecting the new operation on the copied content.
US08677239B2 Electronic album and method for replaying electronic album
An electronic album and a method for replaying the electronic album are provided. The method for replaying the electronic album includes determining whether a predetermined command is received, and replaying an image file and audio file simultaneously, if it is determined that the predetermined command is received. Hence, it is possible for a user to utilize image and audio files which are automatically replayed simultaneously.
US08677235B2 Ranking visualization types based upon fitness for visualizing a data set
Technologies are described herein for ranking visualization types. In order to rank the visualization types, visualization metadata is generated for each of the visualization types and data set metadata is generated for the data set. A suitability score is then computed based upon the visualization metadata and the data set metadata through the use of data mapping rules and chart selection rules. The visualization types are then ranked according to the computed scores. A user interface may then be displayed that includes visual representations corresponding to the visualization types that are ordered according to the ranking. One of the visual representations may then be selected to apply the corresponding visualization type to the data set.
US08677233B2 Shared document system that manages images including approval information
An information processing apparatus includes: an image management unit configured to manage a plurality of images; a priority information management unit configured to manage, associated with each image, priority information indicating a priority that has been instructed by a supplier of the image; an approval information management unit configured to manage, associated with each image, approval information indicating whether or not to approve sharing of the image instructed by a viewer of the image; and a selection unit configured to select images from among the plurality of images based on the priority information and the approval information.
US08677220B2 Error control on-demand
The present invention relates to a new error control paradigm in a packet switched network that is particularly advantageous for multicast transmission.A transmission Status Vector TSV (T) is updated at the sender side whenever a new outgoing data packet (Dj−1) is scheduled for transmission. A corresponding Reception status Vector RSV (R) is similarly updated at the receive side whenever a new incoming and correctly indexed data packet (Dj−1) is validly received.As soon as a missing or corrupted data packet (Dj) is detected, the update of the RSV is suspended. A request is then sent to the sender to get the current Tsv's value, or a part thereof. The erroneous data packet is then recovered from the current TSV's value (Sk,m), from the lastly updated RSV's value (Sj−1), and from otherwise validly received data packets (Dj+1, . . . , Dk).The present invention more specifically relates to a transmitting unit (100) and a receiving unit (200) implementing that paradigm, and correspondingly to a method for protecting a flow of indexed data packets against data lost or data corruption, and a method for recovering a missing or corrupted data packet within a flow of indexed data packets.
US08677218B2 LDPC decoding with on the fly error recovery
It is decided whether to adjust data associated with a decoder. In the event it is decided to adjust the data associated with the decoder, the data is adjusted to obtain adjusted data and decoding is performed using the decoder and the adjusted data. In the event it is decided to not adjust the data associated with the decoder, decoding is performed using the decoder and the data associated with the decoder.
US08677217B2 Data input / output control device and semiconductor memory device system
When detected number of errors data Nerror exceeds the upper limit number of errors Nmax, an error correction circuit of a memory controller stores twice as long data length as stored data length for execution Sdata as the data length for execution Sdata in a correction information memory unit, and code length Scref longer than the data length for execution Sdata and detectable more errors than the upper limit number of errors as the code length for execution Scode in the correction information memory unit 32 (step S100 and S110). The error correction circuit encodes input data using BCH code having the stored code length for execution Scode, stored encoded data in a semiconductor memory device, is input data stored in the semiconductor memory device, performs error correction for input data using BCH code, and decode error corrected data.
US08677208B2 Generating a parallel recovery plan for a data storage system
A method of identifying a parallel recovery plan for a data storage system comprises identifying base recovery plans for symbols of an erasure code implemented across a plurality of storage devices in a data storage system, generating a list of first recovery plans for a first symbol by manipulating the base recovery plans, and combining selected first recovery plans from the list to generate a set of parallel recovery plans to reconstruct a failed storage device.
US08677206B2 Method for transmitting and receiving signalling information
A method for protecting signalling information in a frame to be transmitted to a receiver in a communication system, comprising: encoding frame signalling information of the frame to protect the frame signalling information; and encoding Forward Error Correction FEC block signalling information of FEC blocks in the frame by using Reed-Muller codes to protect the FEC block signaling information.
US08677205B2 Hierarchical error correction for large memories
A mechanism is provided for detecting and correcting a first number of bit errors in a segment of data stored in a memory region being read, while concurrently detecting the presence of higher numbers of bit errors in that segment of data. In the event of detection of a higher number of bit errors in any single segment of data of the memory region, error correction of that higher number of bit errors is performed on the memory region, while concurrently detecting the presence of an even higher level of bit errors. By performing error correction of higher levels of bit errors in such a hierarchical order, memory latency associated with such error correction can be avoided in the majority of data accesses, thereby improving performance of the data access.
US08677196B1 Low cost production testing for memory
Embodiments provide methods, systems, devices, and/or machine readable storage medium for memory built-in self testing (memory BIST) that may not require JTAG. Embodiments may provide less chip overhead through the use of one or more direct access pins. Embodiments may provide simple checks to determine if the memories on a chip are good or bad with minimal cost, for example. In some cases, the memory BIST may determine whether or not memories are good when the chip powers on. Some embodiments may also perform stress testing on the memories to force early life failures of the memories. Embodiments do not necessarily have to diagnose failures.
US08677194B2 Method and system for site configurable error reporting
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to error reporting methods and systems. An error reporting application may be configured to be a stand-alone program, embedded within another application, or added as a plug-in application. The error reporting application may also be configured to provide a mechanism for a user to describe a problem with another application and send the problem description to a configurable, user defined location. The error report from the error reporting application may then be processed by an error processing system at the user-defined location.
US08677186B2 Debugging in data parallel computations
The debugging of a program in a data parallel environment. A connection is established between a debugging module and a process of the data parallel environment. The connection causes the data parallel environment to notify the debugging module of certain events as they occur in the execution of the process. Upon notification of such an event, the process execution is paused, and the debugging module may query the data parallel environment for information regarding the process at the device independent virtual machine layer. Upon completion of this querying, the process may then resume execution. This may occur repeatedly if multiple events are encountered.
US08677171B2 Method for controlling the dynamic power signature of a circuit
A method of determining a timing relationship between modules on a chip, each module being timed by an initiator. The timing relationship being determined on the basis of the power consumptions over time of the initiators and may be determined on the basis of e.g. a sum of the power consumptions or more complex calculations also incorporating the signal path or power delivery network, whereby a voltage drop or current drawn at a position in the chip may be determined. In addition, a parameter, which may be the sum or voltage drop, current or e.g. an energy content within a frequency range, may be determined. This parameter may be varied by e.g. providing different timing relations of initiators, in order to minimize the parameter or adapt it to a requirement as a maximum peak value, maximum difference between max and min peaks, a flatness criteria or the like.
US08677167B2 Storage apparatus and power control method
To enable power saving control by putting storage areas of the same attribute together in a specific RAID group in a storage apparatus that includes storage areas of different access patterns.The storage apparatus manages attributes of the RAID groups, which form a pool area, and attributes of the respective storage areas, based on an access log for each of the storage areas allocated to virtual volumes. The apparatus enables a power saving operation for each RAID group by putting the storage areas of each attribute together in a specific RAID group.
US08677162B2 Reliability-aware disk power management
A token value is maintained based on an allowable number of low power transitions of a hard disk drive without adversely affecting reliability, compared to an actual number of low power transitions of said hard disk drive. The allowable number of low power transitions increases over the hard disk drive's lifetime. Before the hard disk drive performs a low power transition, the token is evaluated to determine if the hard disk drive is allowed to perform a low power transition. Low power transitions discussed include parking the head and spinning-down the hard disk drive.
US08677151B2 Content playback method and recording and playback device
Where a follow-up playback is realized for content data that is recorded by changing an encryption key at predetermined intervals for copyright protection, fast feed and playback operations are provided that can get close to a video scene of a present point of time. There are two areas on the memory in which to manage key information. The key information and seed information being written into a hard disk drive are held in memory in order to allow access to the key information and seed information even as they are written.
US08677149B2 Method and system for protecting intellectual property in software
A system and method for modifying material related to computer software. The system receives an original disclosure for a software system. A masquerading algorithm is applied to the original disclosure to generate a new disclosure. The subject matter of the new disclosure is different from the original disclosure but has the same functionality. The system also receives original source code for the software system and applies a camouflaging algorithm to the original source code to generate modified source code and conversion data for converting between the modified source code and the original source code.
US08677148B2 Systems and methods for securing data
Systems and methods are provided for securing data. A processing device receives a data set and identifies a first subset of data from a first dimension of a multi-dimensional representation of the data set. The processing device encrypts the first subset of data using a first encryption technique to yield a first encrypted subset of data and replaces the first subset of data in the multi-dimensional representation of the data set with the first subset of encrypted data. The processing device then identifies a second subset of data from a second dimension of the multi-dimensional representation of the data set, with the second subset of data including at least a portion of the first subset of encrypted data, and encrypts the second subset of data using a second encryption technique to yield a second encrypted subset of data.
US08677146B2 Computer implemented method for sending a message to a recipient user, receiving a message by a recipient user, a computer readable storage medium and a computer system
The invention relates to a computer implemented method for sending a message to a recipient user, wherein a recipient asymmetric cryptographic key pair is associated with the recipient user, said key pair comprising a public recipient key and a private recipient key, the method comprising sending the message to said recipient user with the recipient address to which the message is sent comprising the public recipient key.
US08677143B2 Playing method and device of digital right managing multimedia
A playing method of digital right managing multimedia is disclosed, in which the files of DRM multimedia to be played take a Page as a playing basic unit, when the operation of fast-forward/fast-reverse is triggered, the method comprises: determining time of fast-forward/fast-reverse; determining number of Pages of fast-forward/fast-reverse based on the time of fast-forward/fast-reverse; determining Page of target playing position based on the number of Pages of fast-forward/fast-reverse; calculating key stream of the Page of the target playing position based on prestored key data of the first Page; decrypting ciphertext of the Page of the target playing position based on the calculated key stream of the Page of the target playing position; and decoding the decrypted Page of the target playing position and playing the decrypted Page of the target playing position. A playing device is also provided.
US08677125B2 Authenticating a user of a communication device to a wireless network to which the user is not associated with
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for automating authentication of a user. In one embodiment, a method calls for detecting an authentication event at a wireless communication device to gain access to a first wireless network through an access point associated with the first wireless network, automatically obtaining a credential from a second wireless network in response to the authentication event, and authenticating the user based on the credential to establish a connection between the wireless communication device and the first wireless network. A client-server based communication system includes a client module at a wireless communication device for user authentication of a Wi-Fi device to a Wi-Fi network through an access point associated therewith. For the purposes of authentication, the client-server based communication system further includes a server module with which the client module may automatically exchange short message service messages over a wide area network.
US08677104B2 System for efficiently tracing data in a data processing system
A data processing apparatus is provided comprising prediction circuitry for predicting a response of the data processing circuitry at at least one given execution point to execution of a program instruction; tracing circuitry for tracing operation of the data processing apparatus for outputting a prediction indicator indicating whether or not the predicted response is correct; a data store configured to store information relating to the predicted response of said data processing circuitry at the given execution point for use by at least one of said prediction logic and said tracing circuitry a later execution point; and a history buffer configured to store historical information with regard to one or more entries of the data store at a corresponding execution point previous to the given execution point to enable restoration of said data store to a state corresponding to said previous execution point.
US08677103B1 Asynchronous pipelined data path with data transition
Systems, methods, and computer program products for controlling a plurality of pipelined stages are described. In some implementations, an apparatus is described that includes a pipelined data path including a plurality of adjacent stages, where a stage includes a data store, a valid indicator, and a transfer controller including a state machine having a plurality of states. In some implementations, the stage is configured to send a status indicator different from the valid indicator to the state machine to indicate whether new data is available for processing by the stage in a next cycle, and whether a new data transfer is desired in the next cycle between the stage and the adjacent stage.
US08677099B2 Reconfigurable processor with predicate signal activated operation configuration memory and separate routing configuration memory
Provided are a reconfigurable processor and operating method thereof. The reconfigurable processor may use a configuration memory distributed to each operation unit. The distributed configuration memory may be separated into a distributed operation configuration memory including configuration information about an operation of a function unit, and a distributed routing configuration memory including configuration information about routing. The distributed operation configuration memory may be activated according to a predicate signal.
US08677098B2 Dynamic address translation with fetch protection
What is provided is an enhanced dynamic address translation facility. In one embodiment, a virtual address to be translated is first obtained and an initial origin address of a translation table of the hierarchy of translation tables is obtained. Based on the obtained initial origin, a segment table entry is obtained. The segment table entry is configured to contain a format control and access validity fields. If the format control and access validity fields are enabled, the segment table entry further contains an access control field, a fetch protection field, and a segment-frame absolute address. Store operations are permitted only if the access control field matches a program access key provided by any one of a Program Status Word or an operand of a program instruction being executed. Fetch operations are permitted if the program access key associated with the virtual address is equal to the segment access control field.
US08677097B1 Persistent block storage attached to memory bus
A method of configuring a computer memory system includes receiving a request from customized software driver or a BIOS extension software or a customized legacy BIOS or a customized UEFI PMM extension software or a customized UEFI BIOS, scanning memory module sockets in response to the request, recognizing memory modules in the memory module sockets, the memory modules being made of, at least in part, persistent memory modules (PMMs), configuring the PMMs to be invisible to the OS, and storing the mapping information to a designated protected persistent memory area, and presenting the PMMs as a persistent block storage to the OS.
US08677077B2 Use of test protection instruction in computing environments that support pageable guests
Management of storage used by pageable guests of a computing environment is facilitated. A query instruction is provided that details information regarding the storage location indicated in the query. It specifies whether the storage location, if protected, is protected by host-level protection or guest-level protection.
US08677076B2 System and method for tracking references to shared objects using byte-addressable per-thread reference counters
The system described herein may track references to a shared object by concurrently executing threads using a reference tracking data structure that includes an owner field and an array of byte-addressable per-thread entries, each including a per-thread reference counter and a per-thread counter lock. Slotted threads assigned to a given array entry may increment or decrement the per-thread reference counter in that entry in response to referencing or dereferencing the shared object. Unslotted threads may increment or decrement a shared unslotted reference counter. A thread may update the data structure and/or examine it to determine whether the number of references to the shared object is zero or non-zero using a blocking-optimistic or a non-blocking mechanism. A checking thread may acquire ownership of the data structure, obtain an instantaneous snapshot of all counters, and return a value indicating whether the number of references to the shared object is zero or non-zero.
US08677073B2 Snoop filter for filtering snoop requests
A method and apparatus for supporting cache coherency in a multiprocessor computing environment having multiple processing units, each processing unit having one or more local cache memories associated and operatively connected therewith. The method comprises providing a snoop filter device associated with each processing unit, each snoop filter device having a plurality of dedicated input ports for receiving snoop requests from dedicated memory writing sources in the multiprocessor computing environment. Each snoop filter device includes a plurality of parallel operating port snoop filters in correspondence with the plurality of dedicated input ports, each port snoop filter implementing one or more parallel operating sub-filter elements that are adapted to concurrently filter snoop requests received from respective dedicated memory writing sources and forward a subset of those requests to its associated processing unit.
US08677066B2 Raid array transformation in a pooled storage system
In one embodiment, a method includes reserving extents in a storage pool, reading data from a first portion of an in-use RAID arranged according to a first array configuration, using the reserved extents in the storage pool to store a first portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID, using one or more free extents in the storage pool or in the in-use RAID to store a second portion of the data for writing to the in-use RAID, writing the data to a second portion of the in-use RAID arranged according to a second array configuration, performing one or more first I/O operations according to the first array configuration, wherein the one or more first I/O operations are performed on the data before the data is read by the data migrating component, and performing one or more second I/O operations according to the second array configuration.
US08677062B2 Caching data in a storage system having multiple caches including non-volatile storage cache in a sequential access storage device
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for caching data in a storage system having multiple caches. A sequential access storage device includes a sequential access storage medium and a non-volatile storage device integrated in the sequential access storage device, received modified tracks are cached in the non-volatile storage device, wherein the non-volatile storage device is a faster access device than the sequential access storage medium. A spatial index indicates the modified tracks in the non-volatile storage device in an ordering based on their physical location in the sequential access storage medium. The modified tracks are destaged from the non-volatile storage device by comparing a current position of a write head to physical locations of the modified tracks on the sequential access storage medium indicated in the spatial index to select a modified track to destage from the non-volatile storage device to the storage device.
US08677058B2 Memory system selecting write mode of data block and data write method thereof
A method of performing a write operation in a nonvolatile memory device comprises storing write data in a log block used to update a data block, determining whether a write pattern stored in the log block is a sequential write pattern or a random write pattern, and selecting a new data block for storing merged data in the data block and the log block. The new data block is determined to be a single-level cell block or a multi-level cell block according to the determined write pattern.
US08677049B2 Region prefetcher and methods thereof
A prefetch device and method are disclosed that determines from which addresses to speculatively fetch data based on information collected regarding previous cache-miss addresses. A historical record showing a propensity to experience cache-misses at a particular address-offset from a prior cache-miss address within a region of memory provides an indication that data needed by future instructions has an increased likelihood to be located at a similar offset from a current cache-miss address. The prefetch device disclosed herein maintains a record of the relationship between a cache-miss address and subsequent cache-miss addresses for the most recent sixty-four unique data manipulation instructions that resulted in a cache-miss. The record includes a weighted confidence value indicative of how many cache-misses previously occurred at each of a selection of offsets from a particular cache-miss address.
US08677047B1 Serial/parallel ATA controller and converter
An interface comprises a storage device controller that controls data flow from a Serial ATA bus to a storage device. A configurable bridge circuit is configured in one of a plurality of operating modes including a device bridge mode, and converts Parallel ATA information received on a Parallel ATA bus to Serial ATA information output to the Serial ATA bus when in the device bridge mode.
US08677039B2 Systems and methods for compression of data for block mode access storage
Methods and systems for creating, reading, and writing compressed data for use with a block mode access storage. The compressed data are packed into a plurality of compressed units and stored in a storage logical unit (LU). One or more corresponding compressed units may be read and/or updated with no need of restoring the entire storage logical unit while maintaining a de-fragmented structure of the LU.
US08677034B2 System for controlling I/O devices in a multi-partition computer system
An I/O control system for controlling I/O devices in a multi-partition computer system. The I/O control system includes an IOP partition containing an I/O processor cell with at least one CPU executing a control program, and a plurality of standard partitions, each including a cell comprising at least one CPU executing a control program, coupled, via shared memory, to the I/O processor cell. One or more of the standard partitions becomes an enrolled partition, in communication with the I/O processor cell, in response to requesting a connection to the IOP cell. After a partition is enrolled with the I/O processor cell, I/O requests directed to the I/O devices from the enrolled partition are distributed over shared I/O resources controlled by the I/O processor cell.
US08677032B2 Split transaction protocol for a bus system
A method of and apparatus for communicating between a host and an agent. The method includes the step of performing a first transaction between a host controller and a hub. The hub is operable to perform a single transaction with an agent based on the first transaction. The method then includes the step of performing a second transaction between the host controller and the hub. The second transaction is based on the single transaction.
US08677025B2 Low latency communication via memory windows
A high performance computer system has compute nodes interconnected by an inter-node communication network. The compute nodes include local packetized interconnects. Shared memory between compute nodes is emulated by tunneling packetized interconnect packets between the compute nodes. A memory region on one of the compute nodes is used as a window into a memory region in another compute node. Special registers may be provided to expedite remote operations on small amounts of data.
US08677022B2 Method and apparatus for updating a graphical display in a distributed processing environment using compression
A system and method for updating a remote display unit that communicates with a computing system are described. The method includes accessing display update information from an update queue that stores drawing commands issued by an application executing on the computing system, caching the display update information, applying a lossy compression algorithm to the display update information to create a lossy display update, and transmitting the lossy update to the remote display. The method also includes applying a lossless compression algorithm to the display update information in the cache to create a lossless display update and transmitting the lossless display update a predetermined of time after transmitting the lossy update.
US08677019B2 Data communication method using unambiguous vehicle identification information
A data communication method between a first communication user arranged at a motor vehicle and a second communication user arranged outside the motor vehicle is provided. The first communication user can be addressed by the second communication user by way of a network address. The network address of the first communication user is defined by an address management unit arranged outside the motor vehicle and is transmitted to the first communication user.
US08677016B1 System and method for identifying network topology information
A system and method identifies topology information of an autonomous system as well as other autonomous systems, and can provide topology information in response to requests.
US08677013B2 Embedding controllers and devices with data to facilitate up-to-date control and configuration information
An industrial automation system comprising a processor with an updating component coupled to automation devices via a network. The updating component reads control information from machine readable representations of the devices and populates a data structure with the control information. The updating component also updates configuration information of a device from data stored in a file object and/or the data structure, further allowing this transfer to be fragmented into a plurality of messages if the configuration information exceeds a threshold. As well, a vendor deployment methodology is provided that embeds devices and firmware for devices with a Device Type Manager (DTM) prior to deployment and can optionally allow post deployment updates to the DTM.
US08677010B2 System and method for TCP offload
Aspects of the invention may comprise receiving an incoming TCP packet at a TEEC and processing at least a portion of the incoming packet once by the TEEC without having to do any reassembly and/or retransmission by the TEEC. At least a portion of the incoming TCP packet may be buffered in at least one internal elastic buffer of the TEEC. The internal elastic buffer may comprise a receive internal elastic buffer and/or a transmit internal elastic buffer. Accordingly, at least a portion of the incoming TCP packet may be buffered in the receive internal elastic buffer. At least a portion of the processed incoming packet may be placed in a portion of a host memory for processing by a host processor or CPU. Furthermore, at least a portion of the processed incoming TCP packet may be DMA transferred to a portion of the host memory.
US08677004B2 Migration of logical partitions between two devices
A method includes receiving a command to migrate a workload partition from a source machine to a target machine. The source machine and the target machine are communicatively coupled to a first subnetwork and a second subnetwork, respectively. The workload partition has a source network address defined by network addressing of the first subnetwork. The method also includes determining a socket connection providing network communication between the workload partition and a host. The method includes notifying the host that the workload partition is migrating from the source machine to the target machine, wherein in response to the notifying the host is on alert to receive, through a network tunnel communication, an identification of a target network address that is assigned to the workload partition after the workload partition is migrated to the target machine. The workload partition is migrated from the source machine to the target machine.
US08677002B2 Streaming media system and method
A system and method for streaming media on a wireless network is provided. In one aspect, the system includes a streaming device driver; a multidestination wireless streaming protocol module, a multitank level algorithm module, a synchronization mechanism module, and an autoequalizing speaker and drive system module. The system and method minimize latency, dropout, jitter, and synchronization issues associated with media streaming while optimizing performance and output quality of the media.
US08676996B2 System and method for variable time scale for multi-player games
There is provided a system and method for facilitating variations in a time scale for a shared environment. There is provided a method for use by a processor of a server for facilitating variations in a time scale for a shared environment, the method comprising receiving a message generated by a first client of a plurality of clients in response to a variation in the time scale, for rendering the shared environment, caused by a user of the first client, and sending a second message to a second client of the plurality of clients in response to receiving the first message to communicate the variation in the time scale caused by the first client, so as to cause the second client to render the shared environment approximately synchronously in accordance with the variation in the time scale.
US08676993B1 Bundled transmission control protocol connections
The subject matter of this disclosure can be implemented in, among other things, a method. In these examples, the method includes sending a request from a first network node to a second network node to request a bundled transport control protocol (TCP) connection between the first network node and the second network node, wherein the bundled TCP connection includes a group of member TCP connections associated with the bundled TCP connection. The method may also include receiving a response message with the first network node sent from the second network node, wherein the response message includes an indication of a status of the request, sending an acknowledgment message from the first network node to the second network node, and establishing the bundled TCP connection when the status of the request included in the response message indicates that the request is successful.
US08676992B2 Systems and methods for cooperative data exchange
Various systems and methods for financial analysis are provided. A system is provided comprising a first node comprising a public facing data store in communication with a private facing data store, wherein the first node further comprises a cooperative lookup module configured to locate a second node, a secure data connection between the first node and the second node, and wherein the first node is configured to request processed internal data from the second node.
US08676983B2 Balancing the loads of servers in a server farm based on an angle between two vectors
A method for balancing the loads of servers in a server farm. A vector, referred to herein as the “DesiredVector,” is computed to hold the load factors for each of the servers. Upon receipt of a client request, a vector, referred to herein as the “ActiveConnections,” is modified for each scenario where the new client request is considered to be serviced by a different server. The ActiveConnections vector holds the current number of client requests being serviced by each of the servers. Angles made by each of the different ActiveConnections vectors with the DesiredVector are computed. Upon identifying the ActiveConnections vector that produces the smallest angle with the DesiredVector, the client request is directed to the server which corresponds to the identified ActiveConnections vector. In this manner, the best possible distribution of requests among the servers is made for every client connection.
US08676982B2 Home network domain master
A method of generating a transmission schedule for a network device of a home network includes ensuring that strongly interfering nodes of different domains do not transmit simultaneously while enabling other non interfering nodes of the different domains to transmit simultaneously. A domain master for a home network includes a receiver and a scheduler. The receiver receives at least one transmission from at least one node of its domain indicating at least one node of at least one neighboring domain whose transmissions are interfering. The scheduler schedules transmissions of said nodes of its domain in coordination with a domain master of said neighboring domain according to inter-domain node interference.
US08676970B2 Methods and systems for managing device specific content
Methods and apparatus for managing content may include receiving feedback information for content associated with a device having a set of device characteristics. The methods and apparatus may further include determining a compatibility rating of the content based on the feedback information. The methods and apparatus may also include providing a message based on a portion of the compatibility rating of the content for an other device having a portion of the set of device characteristics.
US08676969B2 Network classification
Network DNA may be determined for a computer network that taxonomically classifies the computer network. Network DNA may include derived network DNA components and raw network DNA components. Raw network DNA components may be acquired from local or remote sources. Derived network DNA components may be generated according to derived network DNA component specifications. Derived network DNA component specifications may reference raw network DNA components. Network DNA determined for the computer network may include a network species component capable of indicating network species classifications for computer networks. Network species classifications may include enterprise network, home network and public place network. Network species classifications may be determined as a function of network security, network management and network addressing. One or more network DNA stores may be configured to store network DNA for computer networks. Network DNA stores may store network DNA history as well as current network DNA.
US08676965B2 Tracking high-level network transactions
A system and method of tracking high-level network transactions. At least one switching node on a network may collect low-level data packets, the low-level data packets forming collectively a corresponding stream of high-level messages as parts of high-level transactions involving network resources of the network. Identifiers of the network resources in the network serving the high-level transactions may be identified from the low-level data packets. The data content of the high-level messages may be determined. The high-level messages may be grouped into groups of high-level messages having similar data content. Commonalities in the occurrences of high-level messages having different data content may then be identified.
US08676960B2 Network event capture and retention system
Methods and apparatus are provided to monitor and analyze activity occurring on a networked computer system. In some embodiments, a method is provided for capturing, in a data structure, at least a portion of a notification describing a network event provided by a node on a computer network, identifying a data element (e.g., an IP address of the node) within the notification, and updating an index and/or summary based on the data element. The data structure may be stored in a file system maintained on a site, and sites may exchange information related to the notification data stored on each. In some embodiments, a query which is issued to a site may be processed using data transferred from other sites, and/or may be split into one or more additional queries which may be transmitted for processing to other sites.
US08676955B1 Method and system for managing network traffic
A system and method for directing network connections. The invention enables a network device to direct subsequent connections from a client to a server for accessing resources. A process extracts a persistence key from a received message, and employs the persistence key to identify the appropriate server. An interface is provided, enabling a user program to direct the process of extracting the persistence key. The invention also provides a way for multiple clients to persist to a common server.
US08676948B2 Method for tunnel mapping
The present invention discloses a method for tunnel mapping involved with the field of the next generation network. The method of the present invention comprises: according to a service data stream resource information request received, selecting, by a transport resource control function entity (TRC-FE), a corresponding label switch path (LSP) tunnel, and after completing allocation of the service data stream, instructing a transport resource enforcement function entity (TRE-FE) to update a stream label mapping table; and completing, by the TRE-FE, the update of the stream label mapping table, and according to mapping information in the table, mapping the service data stream to the LSP tunnel designated. The present invention solves the problem that a mapping between a service data stream and LSP tunnel resource in a NGN based on MPLS-TE can't be implemented according to current standards, and fills a gap in implementation of resource allocation in a bearer network.
US08676946B1 Warnings for logical-server target hosts
An administrator selects a representation of a logical server on a display. The logical server is stored in a logical-server database. The logical-server database stores logical-servers and specifies their resource requirements and network identities. The logical servers are deployable to physical and/or virtual real servers. A logical-server manager program responds to the selection by displaying a warning symbol. The administrator interacts with the warning symbol, and the logical-server manager program responds by displaying a message specifying that the real server is unsuitable or impaired as a host for deployment of the logical server.
US08676940B2 Communications portal
Per one embodiment, apparatus may be provided that include a communications portal and a back-end system. The communications portal includes a provider interface accessible by providers and a target user interface accessible by target users. The back-end system may include an deployment management. The provider interface is configured to present graphical user interface tools representing offering options. The graphical user interface tools are presented on a remote provider data access point device display remote from the provisioning portal while the remote provider data access point device is authenticated for a given provider. The offering options include “provider selectable assets” screen inputs configured to receive asset selections from the given provider, and “asset location and identifying data” screen inputs configured to receive data locating and identifying assets selected by the given provider.
US08676934B2 Communication device, server, program, and communication system
A communication device including: a communication unit; and a control unit controlling the communication unit to inquire if one upload service allows direct upload to a server storing service information of each of a plurality of upload services, to have the communication unit obtain desired information from the server for directly uploading data to the one upload service when the one upload service allows direct upload, and to have the communication unit directly upload data to the one upload service according to the desired information.
US08676928B1 Method and system for writing network data
Method and system for writing data in a network is provided. The method includes receiving an original write command from a host system to write data to a target; sending a command notifying the host system to send data, wherein a local router sends the command to the host system; receiving data from the host system, wherein the local router receives data; segmenting the original write command into a plurality of write commands; sending the plurality of write commands with data to a remote router; sending a status command to the local router for the plurality of write commands except for a first write command; assembling the plurality of write commands with data to a single write command, wherein the remote router assembles the plurality of write commands with data; and sending the single write command to the target.
US08676901B1 Methods for transcoding attachments for mobile devices
Methods for transcoding attachments for mobile devices are described. In some embodiments, attachments associated with any communication are stored on a server. When a communication is sent from a server to a client device, a representation of the attachment that includes an indication of a native file type of the attachment is also sent along with the communication to the client device. In responding to a user's request to view the attachment, the server transcodes the attachment from the attachment's native file type to a viewable file type configured to display in the client device and then transmits at least a portion of the attachment in the viewable file type to the client device for display. Other embodiments are also described.
US08676900B2 Asynchronous advertising placement based on metadata
A podcast system and method are provided to select and deliver media ads over a network to a user device and to insert the media ads in media content subscribed to and delivered over the network to the user device.
US08676893B1 Utilizing multiple teleo-operated devices for common teleo-experience sessions
Methods and apparatus related to teleo-experience sessions are disclosed. A server coordinates a common teleo-experience session for a plurality of P participant devices, each configured to receive media content from one or more teleo-operated devices of a plurality of D teleo-operated devices, with P greater than D. A plurality of teleo-control requests are received at the server that specify at least two preferred options for at least one parameter of the teleo-experience session related to the plurality of D teleo-operated devices. The server determines whether the at least two preferred options conflict. If the least two preferred options conflict, the server selects an option for the at least one parameter based on the at least two preferred options and sends at least one teleo-control instruction based on the selected option for the at least one parameter.
US08676887B2 Social news forwarding to generate interest clusters
Embodiments are directed towards managing messages based on generated interest clusters. A message may be analyzed to determine one or more interest clusters associated with the message. The message may be automatically sent to members within the determined interest cluster(s), or if no members are in the interest cluster(s), to those identified in the sender's contact list. As recipients of the message respond to the message, the membership to the interest clusters may be revised. Responses used to revise the membership may include forwarding, reading, ignoring, or deleting the message. Subsequent revisions to the membership may be made based on responses to subsequent messages sent to the members of the interest cluster. Display of the message may be in a rank order based on a determined hop distance for the message. Third parties may use the interest cluster and/or sneezers to direct advertisements, or the like.
US08676879B2 CPM service provisioning system and method for interworking with non-CPM service
A system and method for interworking a Converged-IP Messaging (CPM) service to another messaging service. In particular, the present invention realizes a function of allowing a CPM service's recipient to receive a message sent from another CPM service's sender using a non-CPM service to which the recipient has subscribed. To this end, the present invention uses preference information of a recipient in determining a non-CPM service to be subjected to interworking. In this way, the CPM service can interwork with non-CPM services, contributing to expansion of an area where services can be provided.
US08676877B2 Cluster computing using special purpose microprocessors
In some embodiments, a computer cluster system comprises a plurality of nodes and a software package comprising a user interface and a kernel for interpreting program code instructions. In certain embodiments, a cluster node module is configured to communicate with the kernel and other cluster node modules. The cluster node module can accept instructions from the user interface and can interpret at least some of the instructions such that several cluster node modules in communication with one another and with a kernel can act as a computer cluster.
US08676872B2 Recursive taylor series-based computation of numerical values for mathematical functions
A recursive method for computing numerical values for mathematical functions includes providing a recursive Taylor series representation of a mathematical function f(x) of a variable x evaluated around a given operating point a. The recursive Taylor series representation includes a plurality of derivative derived terms that include ratios of derivatives of f(x) evaluated at the operating point a. Coefficient data is determined from ones of the derivative derived terms stored in a tangible memory device evaluated at the operating point a over a predetermined range. An approximation for the mathematical function f(x) is computed using the recursive Taylor series representation evaluated with the coefficient data.
US08676870B2 Active test and alteration of sample times for a ring based random number generator
An apparatus includes: a plurality of bit producing circuits; a controller setting a sample frequency at which bits from the bit producing circuits are sampled; and a plurality of test circuits determining if bits sampled from each of the bit producing circuits are random, wherein the controller adjusts the sample frequency if the test circuits determine that the sampled bits are not random. A method performed by the apparatus is also included.
US08676861B2 Systems and methods for creating and using imbedded shortcodes and shortened physical and internet addresses
Systems and methods are disclosed for creating and using imbedded Shortcodes. An imbedded Shortcode (ISC) and Shortcode may be uniquely associated with a full name that identifies an item of interest. The Shortcode may be visually identified when the full name is displayed by the ISC, which is select characters of the full name that are visually distinguished from the other characters of the full name. Thus, subsequent reference to the associated full name and its item of interest may be identified simply by using the Shortcode instead of the full name. For example, a user of an electronic device may observe the full name with the ISC in a visual display, and sequentially enter the characters of the Shortcode from the ISC into the electronic device to obtain additional information regarding the item of interest.
US08676855B2 Distributed storage system, management apparatus, node apparatus, recording medium on which node program is recorded, page information acquisition method, recording medium on which page information sending program is recorded, and page information sending method
A node apparatus acquires root link information including a serial number of root page information, information for checking the root page information for tampering, and a digital signature for checking the root link information for tampering from a management apparatus or another node apparatus that stores the root link information through a network and determines a range of page information assigned to each node apparatus according to predetermined rules. The node apparatus determines whether page information that is a child of the root page information indicated by the acquired root link information is within the assigned range. If so, the node apparatus acquires the child page information and pieces of page information linked together from the child to leaf page information from the management apparatus or another node apparatus as page information assigned to the node apparatus and stores the acquired page information in a storage area.
US08676844B2 Graph authorization
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with graph authorization are described. One example method includes detecting that a user query shares a hook node with an authorization query. The example method may also include generating a base result graph by executing the user query on a base graph and generating an authorized graph by executing the authorization query on the base result graph. The method may also include providing the authorized graph.
US08676839B2 Information processing device, contribution information evaluation system, contribution information evaluation method, and program
An information processing device includes a range of activity information acquisition unit which acquires information of the range of activity that is an area that a user who contributes contribution information on a facility visits, and a reliability level evaluation unit which evaluates the level of reliability for the contribution information based on the information of the range of activity.
US08676834B2 Set-level comparisons in dynamically formed groups
Systems are disclosed of processing a set-level query across one or more attributes, the query being grouped by one or more attributes, whereby groups that satisfy the set-level query may be aggregated over one or more attributes. The systems use bitwise arithmetic to efficiently traverse bitmap and bit-slice vectors and indexes of a data relation to determine groups that solve the set-level query.
US08676831B2 Master pattern generation and utilization
A master pattern is identified in a target database for use as a template for data entry. The target database is qualified based on one or more database prerequisites. A plurality of similarity patterns is generated based on comparisons of records in the target database. These similarity patterns may be qualified and consolidated based on one or more pre-configured pattern significance guidelines to produce broad and unique patterns that may be used as master patterns. The master patterns may be recommended to the user during data entry in the target database.
US08676827B2 Rare query expansion by web feature matching
A method is disclosed for expansion of rare queries to improve advertisement results, including receiving a query from a user by a search engine; determining that the query does not match an entry in an ad query lookup table coupled with the search engine; retrieving one or more expanded queries located within a query feature index whose features relate to one or more features of the received query, wherein the query feature index includes a plurality of queries expanded based on at least corresponding search results; generating, in real time and by the search engine, an ad query including an expanded version of the received query based on features of the retrieved expanded queries; and selecting one or more advertisements based on the generated ad query, wherein the one or more advertisements are displayed to the user in response to the query received from the user.
US08676817B2 Rendering selected and unselected lists of an item set
An item set may comprise items respectively having a selection status, such as a selected item and an unselected item. The item set may be presented as a selected list and an unselected list having various properties (e.g., mutual exclusivity, such that an item appears on at most one list; both lists sorted according to a sort order; and the unselected list having an unselected list size limit, with unselected items appearing in the unselected list based on a priority order). In order to render the selected list and the unselected list, an item list may be generated that attaches to respective items a selected marker (indicating that the item appears in the selected list) or a hidden marker (indicating that the item does not appear in either the selected list or the unselected list), where the item list is also sorted according to the sort order.
US08676812B1 Dynamic weighting of indicator values for item scoring
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for scoring items. One method includes generating a score for each of a plurality of items. The generating includes, for each item: obtaining a respective item-specific value of each of a plurality of indicators, determining a respective weight for the value of each of the plurality of indicators, wherein the respective weight for one or more of the plurality of indicators is derived from the value of the indicator, and generating the score for the item from the item-specific values and weights for the item-specific values. The method further includes providing the score for each item to a ranking engine implemented on one or more computers.
US08676799B1 Evaluating techniques for clustering geographic entities
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for evaluating clusters of geographic entities, for example, to be used in a randomized geographic experiment. One method includes using a clustering algorithm to cluster geographic entities into a set of clusters, and identifying whether each geographic entity is an ambiguously classified entity or a definitively classified entity. The method further includes determining a measurement for the set of clusters according to a quantification of an attribute of the definitively classified entities and the ambiguously classified entities. Similar measurements can be calculated for other sets of clusters, and the clusters can be compared according to their measurements.
US08676794B2 Method and system for online searching of physical objects
Online searching related to a physical object by a user making use of a computing device is accomplished by creating a representation of the object at the user's computing device. A software button originating remote from the user's computing device is provided to the user's computing device, and the button is constructed based upon the representation of the object. The software button is associated with a second device in use by a subscriber associated with the object, the button and it is actuable by the user. Upon actuation of the software button by the user, an executable agent is downloaded to his computing device, effective to establish a connection between the user's computing device and the second device.
US08676792B1 Method and system for an invitation triggered automated search
A method for performing an invitation triggered search by a query engine, involving receiving an invitation message associated with a project, wherein the query engine is a recipient of the invitation message, extracting at least one attribute from the invitation message, searching a plurality of sources to identify a plurality of resources associated with the at least one attribute, and sending a reply message including a display of the plurality of resources associated with the at least one attribute to a sender of the invitation message.
US08676791B2 Apparatus and methods for providing assistance in detecting mistranslation
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing assistance in detecting mistranslation in a translated document obtained by performing machine translation of an original document. A word included in the translated document is obtained. Search results are obtained of searching both a first document data group and a second document data group including the first document data group for pieces of document data related to the obtained word. Based on the obtained search results, an index is generated. The index indicates the adequacy of the obtained word as a translated word in a field corresponding to the first document data group. The generated index is output.
US08676787B2 Distributed multi-step abstract queries
Techniques for incorportating query results into an abstract database are described. Embodiments receive a first set of query results produced by executing a first abstract query using a first data abstraction model against a first database. One or more mappings between the first set of query results and one or more logical fields in a second data abstraction model are then determined, where the second data abstraction model models underlying physical data in a manner making a schema of the physical data transparent to a user of the second data abstraction model. Embodiments modify one or more logical field definitions to reference the first set of query results using the determined one or more mappings, such that abstract queries can be executed against both the second database and the first set of query results using the modified second data abstraction model.
US08676786B2 Computer product, data conversion apparatus, and conversion method
A computer-readable medium storing therein a data conversion program that causes a computer to execute a process that includes receiving after a schema of a database has been changed from a former schema to a new schema, a processing request concerning the database; judging based on difference information concerning the former schema and the new schema, whether in the processing request, a condition that specifies process data subject to processing, has been changed by the new schema; searching the database for conversion data whose format is to be converted from the former schema to the new schema, the searching based on judgment results obtained at the judging and on the processing request; and converting the format of the retrieved conversion data, from the former schema to the new schema.
US08676784B2 Relevant individual searching using managed property and ranking features
Embodiments are configured to provide information relevant to individuals of interest to a searching user. In an embodiment, a method includes identifying relevant individuals of a network using a relevance model that includes the use of a number of managed properties and ranking features to identify relevant individuals of a defined network. The relevance model of one embodiment is defined by a schema that includes a textual matching ranking feature, social distance ranking feature, a levels to top ranking feature, and a proximity ranking feature.
US08676777B1 Determining geographic areas of interest for a query
Methods, systems, and apparatus for selecting geographic areas of interest for a query. A method includes for each query stored in search log data, determining an origin location for each occurrence of the query, determining a content location for each occurrence of the query, for each of a plurality of catchment areas, determining catchment area matches for the query based on the origin location of each occurrence of the query and the content location of the occurrence of the query, determining, for each catchment area, a catchment area score that is indicative of an interest level for the catchment area for a query, the determination based on a number of catchment area matches for the catchment area for the query and selecting, for the query and based on the catchment area scores for the catchment areas, one of the catchment areas as a selected catchment area for the query.
US08676774B2 Min-repro framework for database systems
The min-repro finding technique described herein is designed to ease and speed-up the task of finding a min-repro, a minimum configuration that reproduces a problem in database-related products. Specifically, in one embodiment, the technique simplifies transformations in order to find one or more min-repros. One embodiment provides a high-level script language to automate some sub-tasks and to guide the search for a simpler the configuration that reproduces the problem. Yet another embodiment provides record-and-replay functionality, and provides an intuitive representation of results and the search space. These tools can save hours of time for both customers and testers to isolate the problem and can result in faster fixes and large cost savings to organizations.
US08676772B2 Systems and methods for improving database performance
Systems and methods for mapping and propagating a source dataset to a plurality of target tables in a target database are described herein. Embodiments include a physical database design with a template-based loader, and a method to propagate changes in the source dataset to a target database. Other embodiments include a database physical design with a plurality of small fact and summary tables. Still other embodiments include a method of extracting and loading data automatically into a target database, while simultaneously maintaining current summary tables.
US08676770B2 Displaying changes to versioned files
Presenting changes to versioned files. The method can include presenting a first view comprising a plurality of indicators, each of the indicators corresponding to a respective version of a file. A selection of a particular version of a file can be detected. A selection of another version of the file can be detected. In response to the selection of the other version of the file, the versions of the file can be compared to identify differences between the versions. Comparison information based on the differences can be generated. The comparison information can be filtered so that the comparison information fits within a second view having a desired size.
US08676749B2 Statement logging in databases
System, method, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for logging of data manipulation language (DML) statements are described herein. An embodiment includes a database engine, a replication agent and a replication server which replicates data from the database engine to one or more replicate databases. The database engine writes parsed query information into a transaction log so that a process of replication agent may read the parsed query information and forward it to the replication server. The database engine writes all log records associated with a statement in a manner that allows the replication server to distinguish if those log records belong to same statement. In another embodiment, replication agent selectively sends SQL statement information to the replication server based on the replication server architecture.
US08676724B2 Training with complex event processing engine to identify semantic meaning of virtual world object state changes
Techniques for training a system to identify state changes in objects in virtual worlds. Base events transmitted by a virtual world engine are observed. Statistical analysis of the observed base events is performed. Based at least in part on this statistical analysis, a computer processor determines that a group of one or more of the observed base events is correlated to a first identified higher-level event. Optionally, the determination is based in part on a frequency of occurrence of the group of base events, on generated rules, or both. A candidate higher-level event including the group of base events thus determined is stored. User input is received about the candidate higher-level event. If so specified by the received user input, the candidate higher-level event is stored as a second identified higher-level event. As a result, the system is advantageously trained to identify higher-level events which represent abstract situations.
US08676713B2 Dynamic constraints for content rights
A device for playing digital media comprises a connection for receiving content over a network and a digital rights management (“DRM”) module that identifies rights for the received content by accessing a DRM data structure. The DRM data structure can be a temporal cache. The device receives content and the DRM module identifies identifiers associated with the content and/or the device. The DRM module uses the identifiers to access the DRM data structure and identify rights associated with the content. The identified rights are applied to the content to prevent and/or permit activities with respect to the content. Permitted activities for the content may be presented in a display of the device and can be updated as the content changes and/or as rights associated with content change. Content providers and other authorized entities can change the rights associated with particular content by updating the DRM data structure.
US08676709B2 Merchant category codes in a proxy card transaction
Transmitting category codes to payment instruments in proxy card transactions comprises receiving a first payment request to authorize a proxy card transaction, the first payment request identifying a proxy account of a user for payment of the transaction and a merchant category code associated with the merchant; selecting a financial account associated with the proxy account to fund the transaction; communicating a second payment request to authorize the transaction to a financial account system associated with the selected financial account, the second payment request comprising the merchant category code associated with the merchant; receiving an authorization for the transaction from the financial account system to fund the transaction using the selected financial account; and communicating an authorization for the transaction to the merchant computing device in response to receiving the authorization for the transaction from the financial account system to fund the transaction using the selected financial account.
US08676704B2 Method for transferring funds
A method to transfer money to a payee's payment card account, without requiring an additional payment card or without acquiring the payee's payment card information is disclosed. A payee registers a payment card with a service provider. The payment card is associated with a payment card account. A payor transfers an initial amount of money to the service provider to be given to the payee, when payee uses the registered payment card for a specified spending category. The service provider stores the money until the payee uses the registered payment card to make a qualified purchase.
US08676695B2 User interface, system and method for performing a web-based transaction
Disclosed is a computer with a user interface, the computer including central processing units, memories, and network interfaces, a program code that performs a search and transaction based on user input, the interface displaying in conjunction with code execution, an input environment adapted to search criteria input, the criteria defining a search for desired entities, the program code establishing a search engine that searches on different web sources to generate a search result, the engine searching using a combination of different input entities, a first entity and a second entity includable in the different entities, the engine searching for the configuration, the different entities being purchasable from different web sources, the engine searching on different web sources for the combination, and presenting found configurations, the engine providing at least one order input determined by at least one found configuration, the system taking mutual dependencies between the entities into consideration.
US08676691B2 System, report, and method for generating natural language news-based stories
The present invention generally relates to a system, report, and method for automatically generating a series of natural language news-based stories to be presented via a digital interface or printed publication to a portfolio user. The disclosure relates to a filter or selection of a handful of relevant and desired financial instruments, or events created in a large group of events such as sports results, travel information, auction related data, online shopping tools, social media, retail store promotion generation, search engine daily report, etc. for a specific use. These financial instruments, based on different selections from a portfolio manager via a management tool, are then used to either produce a strategies page where a list of useful covered call trade and hedged trade are displayed in the form of a table, or natural language news-based stories relating to a selected list of financial instruments found in a portfolio. The events are based on different selections from a portfolio manager via a management tool and are then used to either produce a secondary page where a list of the selected event data is displayed or natural language news-based stories relating to a selected list of events found in a portfolio from a large event database.
US08676689B1 Financial status measurement and management tool
A system, method and software tool to measure and manage financial status. The tool produces a spreadsheet that summarizes the position of an individual or small business user by integrating net worth data with cash flow data and tracking against financial goals. These data are retrieved by linking with popular financial, tax preparation and budgeting software and the user's financial data stored on secure websites. The tool provides government statistics matched to the user to present a comprehensive financial position, comparing the user's position with similar households. The method integrates analysis of assets and liabilities with cash flow and assists the user in setting goals to achieve financial independence. The system supplies the user with written material explaining concepts of integrating net worth and cash flow, the software tool and access to a social networking website for exchange of ideas relating to wealth and cash flow measurement and management.
US08676681B2 Methods and apparatus for using assignable fee profiles to define fee structures for remittance services
A method includes storing a plurality of service fee profiles. Each of the profiles is for associating a respective service fee level with each of a plurality of transaction amount tiers. The method further includes, after the storing step, selecting a pair of currencies. The pair of currencies includes a sender currency and a recipient currency. The method also includes assigning one of the stored service fee profiles to the selected pair of currencies to set up a service fee schedule for the selected pair of currencies.
US08676677B2 System and method for extracting value for consumers and institutions from depth of relationships
A consumer financial transaction system enables a consumer to make transactions via a transaction device. The system has a database storage device for maintaining several databases which are configured to store information corresponding to accounts held by each of the consumers. The server maintains a compute interest pledge module configured to calculate a credit interest rate corresponding to one or more deposit accounts maintained by the consumer, at least of portion of which is pledged by the consumer as a security against the consumer's credit account. In another embodiment, a secondary transaction module is configured to store preferences for apportioning a withdrawal for a transaction between a consumer's credit account and a consumer's deposit accounts.
US08676670B2 Mobile asset data management system
A computerized vehicle control system for managing data associated with mobile assets (e.g., vehicles). The system includes an asset monitor, a user input device, a data storage device, a mobile wireless transceiver and a mobile asset processor. The asset monitor is in communication with a mobile asset for collecting monitored data associated with the mobile asset. The user input device is adapted to receive input data from a user. The data storage device is adapted to store the monitored data and input data. The mobile asset processor is adapted to determine that an event associated with the mobile asset has initiated; receive the collected data associated with the event from the asset monitor; determine that the event has completed; and store the collected data to the data storage device.
US08676666B2 System for assessing environmental impact of processing print jobs
A system for assessing environmental impact of processing print jobs includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium is in communication with the processor and comprises one or more programming instructions for: electronically receiving a campaign specification data structure including at least one job specification; and operatively selecting a plurality of vendors from a database. Each of the selected vendors is capable of performing a job as operatively specified by the at least one job specification of the campaign specification data structure. The computer-readable storage medium is in communication with the processor and also includes one or more programming instructions for generating a plurality of environmental impact assessments corresponding to the campaign specification data structure. Each of the plurality of environmental impact assessments is operatively associated with one of the selected capable vendors.
US08676661B2 Commodity backed payment system for social networks
Embodiments are directed towards providing a computer-implemented method and a network device that provides an electronic payment system for social networks, including maintaining (i) records of registered users, (ii) records of registered merchants, (iii) a credit account for each registered user and registered merchant wherein credits are backed by a commodity and a credit corresponds to a fraction of a standard unit of the commodity, receiving from a user device instructions to deposit a designated amount of currency from a user's account into the user's credit account, using the received instructions, obtaining the designated amount of currency, electronically purchasing from a seller an amount of a specified commodity equivalent to the designated amount of currency minus any transaction fee assessed by the seller, and updating the user's credit account by adding a number of credits equivalent to the amount of the purchased commodity.
US08676660B2 System and method for providing a streamlined checkout process
Once a purchaser has proceeded through a check out experience with an online retail system, the settings established during that checkout experience will be applied to future checkout experiences by that purchaser. By capturing and thereafter using checkout settings in this manner, a purchaser can proceed from a shopping cart directly to a checkout review page with the checkout review page being pre-populated with such prior established settings. Furthermore, the methodology allows the purchaser to have a virtually unlimited number of goods in their shopping cart and to have multiple different types of order fulfillment options (e.g., shipping, store pickup, delivery to an organization, etc.) automatically established for those goods.
US08676655B2 Dashboard map filtering and clutter/declutter algorithm
A device displays multiple products associated with a customer of a network and provided by the network, receives a customer selection of a filtering mechanism, and one of increases or reduces a display of the multiple products based on the customer selection of the filtering mechanism and based on device types associated with the multiple products.
US08676653B2 Use of optical images to authenticate and enable a return with an electronic receipt
A method is disclosed for authenticating and enabling returns at a physical store location and based off of an electronic receipt. The electronic receipt may be viewed on a mobile electronic device with electronic receipts software thereon. The electronic receipts software may use machine readable codes to verify whether a customer is present at a returns terminal at a physical store location. More particularly, the electronic receipts software may contain a bar code reader module and use the camera of the mobile electronic device to capture a machine readable code such as a bar code or QR code. The electronics receipts software may recover data from the machine readable code which identifies the store, retail location, etc. This information may be compared against known values to determine that the customer is present at a returns terminal.
US08676645B2 Identification of users for advertising using data with missing values
A method and system for identifying users for advertising. Users, attributes, and first web sites provided by ISPs accessed by the users are identified. First data including content of the first web sites and user time spent thereon are received from ISPs and analyzed to determine first attribute values indicative of user interest. Second data received from ISPs include content of second web sites and user time spent thereon. Second attribute values, derived from questionnaires completed by the users, indicate interest in each attribute by each user. Third attribute values are determined by combining the first and second attribute values. The third attribute values are processed to identify users to which a product or service may be advertised. The identified users are communicated to a service provider or product provider. The first, second, or third attribute values may have missing values, which are determined by correlation and linear regression.
US08676642B1 System and method for granting promotional rewards to financial account holders
A system and method for offering rewards. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality transaction occurrences from a plurality of merchants relating to at least one account; ordering the plurality of transaction occurrences based on an ordering scheme; selecting a winning transaction from the plurality of transaction occurrences based on a reward selection scheme; and rewarding at least one reward to a user associated with the winning transaction.
US08676635B2 Method and system for managing transactions
A method and system for managing transactions. At least one resource manager (RM) for managing changes to respective system resources of a data processing system is provided. A resource manager coordinator (RMC) for coordinating commit-backout activities of the at least one resource manager is provided. The resource manager coordinator (RMC) is hosted by the data processing system. The data processing system receives a business service request from a remote computer system to perform a task. The task includes compliant processes complying with a commit/backout protocol and non-compliant processes not complying with a commit/backout protocol. The compliant processes are running on the data processing system and the non-compliant processes are running on a counterpart processing system that is coupled to the data processing system by a labile link.
US08676634B2 Statistical credibility metric for online question answerers
Techniques for statistically estimating a rating or other “figure of merit” for a user are disclosed. According to one such technique, a first quantity of submissions that were submitted by a user is determined. A second quantity of submissions that (a) were submitted by the user and (b) obtained a particular rating from a rating mechanism also is determined. A user rating for the user is determined based at least in part on the first quantity, the second quantity, and a factor that is independent of both the first quantity and the second quantity—such as the probability that an answer submitted by any answerer in a population will obtain the particular rating from the rating mechanism. The influence that the second quantity has on the user rating relative to the influence that the factor has on the user rating may depend at least in part on the first quantity.
US08676633B2 Office document assessment method and system
A method and system for the assessment of the office document production environment(s) in a facility, and more particularly to a client-based method and system that can be used to collect, analyze, model, optimize, and report on document output costs and efficiencies in an office environment.
US08676628B2 Method and system for determining effectiveness of marketing
A computer based system (1,5) for measuring the effectiveness of a marketing element for a product is disclosed. It has an apparatus (1) comprising one or more computing processes (30, 32, 34, 36) for determining how well a product and/or marketing element measures against each one of one or more consumer perceived benefits (15) that consumers seek through purchase and/or consumption of the product.
US08676627B2 Vertical process merging by reconstruction of equivalent models and hierarchical process merging
Methods, systems and computer program products for improvement of vertical process merging by reconstruction of equivalent models and hierarchical process merging. Embodiments of the invention include a method for identifying and resolving differences between business process models, the method including receiving a first business process model project, identifying a second business process model project, performing changes to the second business process model project, merging the first and second business process model projects, creating a delta model configured to analyze the differences between the business process model projects, wherein an analysis of the differences between the first and second business process model projects are in the form of low-level changes and auto-applying the low-level changes of the first business process model project to generate a new business process model project.
US08676622B1 Job resource planner for cloud computing environments
Methods and apparatus for a job resource planner for cloud computing environments are disclosed. A system includes a plurality of resource instances of a provider network, and a resource planner. The planner receives a plan request from a client, comprising a job goal and an indication of a resource acquisition policy to be used to obtain resource instances for the job. The policy specifies one or more instance data sources. The planner generates a resource acquisition plan for the job, based at least in part on an analysis of pricing data obtained from a specified data source. The analysis comprises one or more computation steps indicated in the policy. The generated plan includes at least one recommended acquisition price for a resource instance.
US08676621B1 System and method for managing requests for pooled resources during non-contention
A computer system that provides pooled computing resources to clients may receive requests for resources, each of which includes a bid amount. While the supply of resources exceeds the demand, the system may adaptively determine a theoretical bid threshold for the resource pool that represents the predicted value of the lowest bid amount for which corresponding requests will be granted when demand for the resources exceeds supply. The determination may be dependent on a distribution of the bid amounts included in the requests for resources. The system may adaptively determine the lowest bid amount for which corresponding ones of the requests will be granted during non-contention dependent on changes in demand for the resources, the total capacity of the resource pool, and the theoretical bid threshold value, and may grant requests that include higher bid amounts. The use of some resources may be terminated in response to changes in demand.
US08676619B2 Online system enabling control of educational and advertising content
The computer apparatus and methods of the preferred embodiment uses computer technology in a unique way to motivate children to devote more time to educational and cultural enrichment. In the preferred embodiment, educational material is provided at a child's local computer under control of a central computer system connected to it over a computer network. On completing a particular educational task, the child is rewarded with a certain number of points. Points that the child accumulates are stored centrally, and at least some of the points can be redeemed towards the purchase of goods and services offered through the system of the preferred embodiment by its commercial participants. The purchasing transactions are also administered by the central computer. Parents, preferably, use the system to support their children's purchasing activity financially and to select content available for presentation to the child. In other embodiments, the disclosed apparatus and methods can be used for purposes unrelated to education of children, and distribution of functionality between the central and local computers may be different, including wholly local implementations.
US08676617B2 Architectural design for self-service procurement application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing self-service procurement used to procure goods and services “ad hoc” by requests from within an organization. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component, an Internal Request Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Payment Processing process component, an RFQ Processing process component, and a Due Item Processing process component.
US08676615B2 Methods and systems for computer aided event and venue setup and modeling and interactive maps
Described are systems and methods for designing certain aspects of an event venue and for communicating information regarding the event and the event venue to others. Certain embodiments provide a dynamic seat map via which an operator can assign certain characteristics to specific seats and/or seating sections. Certain embodiments generate interactive maps for users, via which information from a plurality of sources may be integrated and visually displayed. The user may specify certain criteria, and the interactive map may identify to the user seats and/or sections that match such criteria. Certain embodiments provide an interactive seat map via which users can select seats and share information.
US08676614B2 Automated airlines reservations system
Disclosed is an automated reservations system for use with a frequent flyer account or other similar awards account. The automated reservations system initially authenticates customers utilizing one or more forms of identification. The customer is then prompted to provide travel itinerary information to the reservations system by a series of voice prompt menus. Utilizing the customer-entered itinerary information, the automated reservations system queries a flight information database to determine if the requested itinerary is available. The automated reservations system then determines if the customer has the required amount of frequent flyer miles to book the requested itinerary. If the customer has the required amount of frequent flyer miles, the automated reservations system allows the customer to either ticket or hold the requested itinerary. The automated reservations system is also capable of assigning seats for each passenger in the customer's itinerary.
US08676613B2 Methods for grid-based insurance rating
A method for rating insurance products using a programmed computer system having steps including receiving a coordinate pair comprising a longitude and a latitude of a location; determining a target coordinate grid block by truncating a decimal representation of the longitude and latitude of the location; querying a database for a first set of existing data associated with the target coordinate grid block; setting a ring counter to an initial value; determining a current ring of coordinate grid blocks grid adjacent to and surrounding the target grid block; querying the database for a second set of existing data associated with each coordinate grid block in the current ring of coordinate grid blocks; and calculating a rating for an insurance product based on an analysis of the data.
US08676608B2 Genetic data analysis and database tools
A computerized tool and method for delivery of pharmacogenetic and pharmacological information, comprising a core system having algorithms and databases for storing, collating, accessing, cross-referencing, and interpreting genetic and pharmacologic data, with a graphical user interface for a client network of providers of laboratory genetic testing services to access the core services under contract. The system includes “paypoints” in support of improved business models. Included are mechanisms for ‘pass through’ third party and insurance reimbursement for interpretive reports, insurance reimbursement for on-line access to pharmacogenetic information at the point of care, tools for market segmentation, and a conversion tool for capturing new subscribers. Also disclosed are tools and predictive algorithms for preventing drug-drug and drug-gene adverse drug reactions.
US08676606B1 Systems and methods for providing comprehensive pharmaceutical consultations
Systems and methods of providing comprehensive pharmaceutical consultations are disclosed, including generating a consultation recording block corresponding to a filling of a prescription order for a patient. The consultation recording block may include multiple consultation entries, where each consultation entry corresponds to a particular pharmaceutical consultation that is desired or required to occur in conjunction with the prescription fill. Input corresponding to various fields of various consultation entries may be received and stored. Different fields of different consultation entries corresponding to a particular patient and to a particular prescription order may be displayed, populated, viewed, resolved and authorized by different pharmaceutical personnel at different work flow stages of the filling, and in some cases, one or more consultation entries may be automatically generated and at least partially automatically populated. The techniques described herein allow for more comprehensive pharmaceutical consultations as compared to presently known techniques.
US08676604B2 Method and apparatus for medication prescription consultation
A method and apparatus of providing a pharmaceutical consultation prevents a person from receiving a medication prescription if consultation is required, and enables a user to readily view the medication prescription information and convey information to the person. Methods and apparatus of providing a pharmaceutical consultation are provided herein. The methods and apparatus include receiving medication prescription data relating to the medication prescription, and displaying a consultation review screen having a medication prescription view with information relating to the medication prescription and a discussion view with information to be conveyed to the person. The medication prescription data includes a consultation requirement for the medication prescription. A transaction for the medication prescription is prevented if consultation is required, and permitted when data is received indicating the consultation is completed. The methods and apparatus of pharmaceutical consultation also include remote consultation between a user and a person at different geographic locations.
US08676603B2 System and method for documenting patient procedures
The local surveillance sub-system recognizes that a patient medical procedure has or will soon commence by sensing the presence of a healthcare professional in or near the surveillance area, and in response, creates a separate patient medical procedure A/V file for the surveillance data that will be captured. A dedicated procedure remote may be provided for receiving manual interactions from HC professionals present for a procedure or, alternatively, the local surveillance sub-system may autonomously interact with a personal security token device possessed by the HC professional. A procedure data file is also created that holds all of the pertinent information concerning the procedure that is known by the local surveillance sub-system. The patient procedure surveillance A/V file is given a higher priority than ordinary surveillance data captured by the local surveillance sub-system and is then copied to a nonvolatile memory.
US08676600B2 Mobile applications for blood centers
Certain examples provide systems, methods, and apparatus to provide information regarding blood donation. Certain examples include a method for providing blood collection information to a donor. The method includes displaying a graphical representation of a donor's donation progress toward a goal for blood component collection to a donor via an executable application icon on a mobile device. The graphical representation is to provide a visual indication of the donor's donation progress toward a goal. The donor's donation progress toward the goal is based on data from a donation facility provided to the mobile device and is displayed via the graphical representation without the donor executing the application. The method includes facilitating access to additional blood donation information for the donor by executing the application via the graphical representation on the mobile device. The method includes facilitating donor action with respect to the blood donation information via the mobile device.
US08676590B1 Web-based audio transcription tool
A computer-implemented technique for transcribing audio data includes generating, along a vertical axis on a display of a client device, an image representing audio content. The technique further includes receiving, from a user of the client device, a selection of a portion of the image; and generating, via an audio module of the client device, an audio output corresponding to the selected portion of the image. The technique further includes receiving, from the user, a selection indicating a position along the vertical axis on the display to enter a text portion representing the audio output, wherein the position is aligned to the selected portion of the image. The technique further includes receiving, from the user, the text portion representing the audio output; and displaying, on the display, the text portion at the position, wherein the text portion extends along a horizontal axis on the display.
US08676589B2 Editing telecom web applications through a voice interface
Systems and associated methods for editing telecom web applications through a voice interface are described. Systems and methods provide for editing telecom web applications over a connection, as for example accessed via a standard phone, using speech and/or DTMF inputs. The voice based editing includes exposing an editing interface to a user for a telecom web application that is editable, dynamically generating a voice-based interface for a given user for accomplishing editing tasks, and modifying the telecom web application to reflect the editing commands entered by the user.
US08676578B2 Meeting support apparatus, method and program
According to one embodiment, a meeting support apparatus includes a storage unit, a determination unit, a generation unit. The storage unit is configured to store storage information for each of words, the storage information indicating a word of the words, pronunciation information on the word, and pronunciation recognition frequency. The determination unit is configured to generate emphasis determination information including an emphasis level that represents whether a first word should be highlighted and represents a degree of highlighting determined in accordance with a pronunciation recognition frequency of a second word when the first word is highlighted, based on whether the storage information includes second set corresponding to first set and based on the pronunciation recognition frequency of the second word when the second set is included. The generation unit is configured to generate an emphasis character string based on the emphasis determination information when the first word is highlighted.
US08676576B2 Information processing system, information processing apparatus, information processing program and recording medium
A copyright managing information processing apparatus includes a storage module for storing copyrighted content including audio data; a first topic module for recognizing audio data in content opened to the public by a to-be-opened information processing apparatus, converting the audio data into text data, extracting keywords from the text data, and conducting topic processing using the keywords to create topic information; a second topic module for recognizing audio data in content stored in the storage means, converting the audio data into text data, extracting keywords from the text data, and conducting topic processing using the keywords to create topic information; and a similarity determining module for comparing the topic information generated by the first topic module with that created by the second topic module for thereby determining presence or absence of similarity therebetween.
US08676574B2 Method for tone/intonation recognition using auditory attention cues
In a spoken language processing method for tone/intonation recognition, an auditory spectrum may be determined for an input window of sound and one or more multi-scale features may be extracted from the auditory spectrum. Each multi-scale feature can be extracted using a separate two-dimensional spectro-temporal receptive filter. One or more feature maps corresponding to the one or more multi-scale features can be generated and an auditory gist vector can be extracted from each of the one or more feature maps. A cumulative gist vector may be obtained through augmentation of each auditory gist vector extracted from the one or more feature maps. One or more tonal characteristics corresponding to the input window of sound can be determined by mapping the cumulative gist vector to one or more tonal characteristics using a machine learning algorithm.
US08676564B2 Method, program and system for finding correspondence between terms
A computer implemented method, system, and product for finding correspondence between terms in two different languages. The method includes the steps of: creating a technical term set and a general term set for each of i) a first language and ii) a second language, creating two bipartite graphs, where each graph corresponds to one of the two languages, and connects the technical term set and general term set of each language, respectively, with weighted links based on corpus information, creating a third bipartite graph by creating weighted links between general terms in the first language and general terms in the second language by using a translation dictionary, creating an association matrix M corresponding to the three bipartite graphs, calculating a similarity matrix Q by calculation of an inverse matrix, and outputting correspondence between the technical term sets of the first and second language on basis of the similarity matrix.
US08676558B2 Method of automatically controlling the trajectory of a drilled well
Steering behavior model can include build rate and/or turn rate equations to model bottom-hole assembly behavior. Build and/or turn rate equations can be calibrated by adjusting model parameters thereof to minimize any variance between actual response 118 and estimated response produced for an interval of the well. Estimated position and orientation 104 of a bottom-hole assembly along a subsequent interval can be generated by inputting subsequent tool settings into the calibrated steering behavior model. Estimated position and orientation 104 can be compared to a well plan 106 with a controller 108 which determines a corrective action 110. Corrective action 110 can be converted from a build and/or turn rate to a set of recommended tool settings 114 by using an inverse application 112 of the steering behavior model. As additional data 118 becomes available, steering behavior model can be further calibrated 102 through iteration.
US08676552B2 Methods and apparatus for simulation of fluid motion using procedural shape growth
Methods and apparatus for simulating fluid motion using procedural shape growth. In a vector-based, fluid motion simulation technique, fluid location may be defined by groups of one or more polygons deposited on a digital canvas. Two or more polygons may overlap. The polygons may be semitransparent. To simulate fluid motion, vertices that specify the edges of each deposited polygon are independently moved. By moving the vertices, a polygon may grow, and fluid motion effects may be simulated, including but not limited to directional flow and blending effects. A randomization technique may be applied to the movement at each vertex to simulate the non-uniform spreading of fluids. Overlapped polygons may be blended with overlapping polygons to simulate the mixing of fluids. The technique may be applied, for example, in watercolor painting simulation, where groups of one or more polygons are deposited using brush strokes.
US08676549B2 Method of maximizing shipping efficiency of absorbent articles
A shipping optimization process for articles having a substantially airfelt free absorbent core is provided. The process includes the steps of identifying an optimized diaper; identifying an optimized bag for holding two or more optimized diapers; identifying an optimized box for holding two or more optimized bags; identifying an optimized pallet and arranging the optimized boxes thereon; and identifying an optimized load plan for a vehicle and arranging the optimized pallets therein. The vehicle has a calculated Load Factor of from about 0.7 to about 1.0 when the vehicle is loaded with the optimized pallets.
US08676547B2 Parameter extraction method
It is an object to provide a parameter extraction method using a model equation having a physical meaning, in which parameters optimum for an element are extracted without setting appropriate initial values based on experience or deep understanding of models and actual device characteristics.A structure is provided in which multiple patterns of initial values of parameters are generated by a random number generator mechanism, and automatic parameter extraction is executed for each initial value to select a combination of parameters in which ultimate difference between a calculated value and a measured value is minimized thereby finding an optimal solution.
US08676543B2 Determining the resonance parameters for mechanical oscillators
Mechanical oscillators employ the use of resonance parameters, frequency and the quality factor Q, for the measurement of corrosion or deposition. The ability of a mechanical oscillator to measure small amounts of metal loss or deposition is not only dependent upon the mechanical design but is limited by the precision in determining the resonance frequency and Q. Methods for measuring these resonance parameters with a high precision in the presence of noise are provided. The increased degree of precision improves the utility of these devices as sensitive probes for corrosion and deposition (fouling) measurement. The increased degree of precision is enabled in part by employing curve fitting consistent with modeling the mechanical oscillator as a simple harmonic oscillator. This curve fitting procedure, combined with averaging and utilizing signal processing parameters to mitigate noise effects, adds precision in measuring resonance parameters.
US08676542B2 Adaptive filtering for more reliably determining physiological parameters
Apparatus for reducing an interference portion in a time-discrete signal further including a useful portion, including a first provider for providing the time-discrete signal including the interference portion and the useful portion; a second provider for providing a first time-discrete reference signal including a first interference portion, and a second time-discrete reference signal including a second interference portion, the second interference portion being shifted in phase relative to the first interference portion. The apparatus further includes a subtractor for generating a differential signal from the two reference signals, the differential signal including a frequency component caused by the first and second interference portions; and a manipulator for manipulating the time-discrete signal on the basis of the differential signal such that in a manipulated time-discrete signal the frequency component is reduced.
US08676541B2 Footwear having sensor system
A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. The collected data can be further processed for a variety of different uses or applications.
US08676533B2 Touch trigger measurement probe
A measurement probe, for a co-ordinate positioning apparatus such as a machine tool, is described that includes a stylus holder that is deflectably mounted to a probe housing. One or more sensors are provided for sensing deflection of the stylus holder relative to the probe housing. A processor is included for producing a trigger signal when the deflection sensed by the one or more sensors meets a trigger condition, such as a deflection threshold. The probe also includes an accelerometer for measuring acceleration of the measurement probe. The trigger condition applied by the processor is alterable, during use, in response to the acceleration measured by the accelerometer. In this manner, false triggering can be suppressed.
US08676519B2 Device and method for assisting inflation
A device and a method for aiding inflation for a vehicle involves obtaining access to vehicle tire pressure and temperature data, and utilizing an under-inflation detection module and an inflation condition testing module, thus making it possible to carry out a test for detecting a possible optimal inflation condition if the following criteria are met:—there is a non-critical under-inflation state for at least one of the vehicle tires;—the tires are not in an overheated state;—and the tire state is unchanged by sunlight. When the test module determines the optimal inflation condition, a signal is outputted. Such a method causes tire inflation to be carried out under favorable conditions actually corresponding to the reference value provided by the manufacturers.
US08676517B2 Signal processing method, signal processing apparatus, and coriolis flowmeter
A signal processing method for a Coriolis flowmeter including: performing frequency conversion of a first digital signal, the frequency conversion performed on the first digital signal modulating the frequency of the first digital signal so that the frequency of the first digital signal after the frequency conversion is 1/Nth of the frequency of the first digital signal before the frequency conversion, where N is an integer; performing frequency conversion of a second digital signal, the frequency conversion performed on the second digital signal modulating the frequency of the second digital signal so that the frequency of the second digital signal after the frequency conversion is 1/Nth of the frequency of the second digital signal before the frequency conversion; and measuring a phase difference between (i) the frequency converted first digital signal and (ii) the frequency converted second digital signal.
US08676513B2 Method and device for early signal attenuation detection using blood glucose measurements
Methods and devices to detect analyte in body fluid are provided. Embodiments include receiving one or more analyte sensor data, receiving a reference measurement value associated with an analyte level, determining a sensitivity parameter based on the received one or more analyte sensor data and the reference measurement value, performing a probability analysis based on prior analyte sensor data to determine presence of signal attenuation, and generating an output value based on the probability analysis.
US08676499B2 Movement guidance system, movement guidance device, movement guidance method, and computer program
Movement guidance systems, devices, methods, and programs set a guidance branch point on a guidance route. The systems, devices, methods, and programs acquire a position and a shape of the guidance branch point and a prior branch point, and determine whether the prior branch point is adjacent based on the acquired information. The prior branch point is adjacent when the prior branch point exists within a first predetermined distance from the guidance branch point and is connected with a road in a same direction as the guidance branch point. When it is determined that the prior branch point is adjacent, the systems, devices, methods, and programs complete verbal guidance for the guidance branch point at a timing at which the movable body is located at a guidance end point that is located a second predetermined distance before the prior branch point.
US08676497B2 Method and apparatus to search and process POI information
An apparatus and method searches and provides additional Points-of-interest (POI) information to a user when basic POI information such as POI name, address, phone number, etc. is specified. In one aspect, the system includes an information managing unit to search, display and transmit POI information, a communication interface and a plurality of information providers adapted to stream information to the communication interface, and a communication network adapted to connect the information managing unit and the communication interface. The basic information and an additional POI information search request can be transmitted from the information managing unit to the communication interface to search for the additional POI information in the information providers and transmit the additional POI information back to the information managing unit. The additional POI information may be filtered and organized before presenting to the user.
US08676496B2 Car navigation apparatus
A car navigation apparatus includes an intersection searching means 14 for searching for intersections in a vicinity of the current position of a vehicle from intersections which exist on a searched route and which exist between the current position and a destination, an intersection name outputting means 15 for outputting the names of the searched intersections, an intersection selecting means 17 for selecting an intersection from the intersection names outputted, an facility searching means 18 for searching for facilities which exist in a vicinity of the intersection selected through the map data, a facility name outputting means 19 for outputting the names of the searched facilities, a facility selecting means 20 for selecting a facility from the facility names outputted, and a facility information outputting means 21 for extracting facility information about the selected facility from the map data, and for outputting the facility information.
US08676487B2 Apparatus for predicting the movement of a mobile body
A movement region prediction apparatus includes a mobile body detection device that detects a mobile body around a host vehicle; a prediction device that predicts a movement region of the detected mobile body; and a degree-of-normality acquisition device that acquires degree of normality of a situation of movement of the detected mobile body. The prediction device has a plurality of movement prediction models for predicting the movement region of the mobile body, and selects a movement prediction model from the plurality of movement prediction models based on the degree of normality acquired by the degree-of-normality acquisition device, and predicts the movement region of the mobile body using the selected movement prediction model.
US08676482B2 Hybrid vehicle battery life evaluating apparatus
A hybrid vehicle battery life evaluating apparatus 1 includes an actual traveling measuring section 2 measuring, for each driving pattern, actual gasoline mileage data on a hybrid vehicle equipped with a battery as a power source, a test traveling storage section 3a storing test gasoline mileage data set for each driving pattern on the basis of a traveling test on the vehicle, a battery life evaluating section 5 comparing the measured actual gasoline mileage data with the test gasoline mileage data on the corresponding driving pattern to evaluate a degradation level of the battery on the basis of a value of a decrease in gasoline mileage set for each degradation level of the battery and transmitting information on battery degradation to a battery life display section 6, and the battery life display section 6 displaying the information on battery degradation.
US08676474B2 Machine control system and method
A control system for a machine may include a processor configured to communicate with a power source. The processor may also be configured to communicate with a transmission assembly. The processor may be configured to determine whether the power source is in a potential stall condition based at least in part on an actual speed of the power source and a requested speed of the power source. If the power source is in the potential stall condition, the processor may be configured to request that fuel be supplied to the power source although the fuel is not currently required by the power source, in anticipation of an increase in load on the machine.
US08676464B2 Vehicle control system
A vehicle control system configured to stabilize a behavior of a vehicle during turning by correcting a driving force or a braking force. The vehicle control system comprises a lateral acceleration detecting means detecting longitudinal acceleration acting in an axle direction of the vehicle Ve (step S102); and a driving/braking force correcting means determining a changing amount Fctrl and a changing rate DFctrl of the correction based on the lateral acceleration Gy in case the running vehicle Ve is turned.
US08676462B2 Electronic brake system having a friction brake comprising friction linings for at least one wheel brake, and having at least one electronic control device
The invention relates to a device and an operating method for an electronically controlled braking system having a friction brake, including friction linings for at least one wheel brake and having at least one electronic control device ESP+EPB−ECU. The aim of the invention is to provide an improved seat grinding device and an improved seat grinding process. The aim is achieved by proposing that an automated, electronically controlled or regulated routine is provided for seat grinding the friction partners of the friction brake, such that the automated seat grinding routine is fully executed after a release, particularly after entering a release code or after electronically connecting an interface of the electronic control device ESP+ESC−ECU of the braking system to a separate control device EST, and the results data of the seat grinding routine are stored in a memory area of the electronic control device ESP+ESC−ECU.
US08676460B2 Shift control device for vehicle
A shift control device is provided for a vehicle of shift-by-wire type having shift operation detecting means electrically detecting a shift operation of a driver, range switching means switching a shift range in response to the shift operation of the driver, failure detecting means detecting a failure in a shift operation detection executed by the shift operation detecting means, and vehicle state detecting means detecting a vehicle state upon detection of the failure in the shift operation detection, the range switching means being switched to a fail-safe mode, when the shift operation detection is recovered from a failed state to a normal state and the range switching means is switched from the fail-safe mode to a normal control mode, a recovery condition for determining switching of the fail-safe mode to the normal control mode being altered depending on the vehicle state.
US08676444B2 Alertness monitoring systems and associated methods
Embodiments of driver alertness monitoring systems, devices, and associated methods based on steering variability and/or lane variability are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for detecting alertness of a driver operating a vehicle includes recording a steering position of the vehicle with a steering sensor and transmitting the recorded steering position to a processor. With the processor, the method also includes deriving a steering variability based on the recorded steering position of the vehicle over time, calculating a lane variability based on the derived steering variability and a transfer function of the vehicle, and estimating an alertness of the driver based on both the derived steering variability and the calculated lane variability.
US08676441B2 Steering support device
An object of the present invention is to provide a steering assist device which can perform steering assist control having excellent capability to follow up a traveling path by increasing the steering amount in the steering control at a curve entrance. A steering assist device of the present invention is a steering assist device 1 for calculating a steering target value based on a shape of a traveling path on which a vehicle travels, and assisting steering according to the steering target value, wherein it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance of the traveling path, and when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance, a change in the steering target value is increased compared with the case of traveling a part of the path other than a curve entrance. As a result, a steering amount to turn the steering wheel can be increased at a curve entrance, and a delay in the turning of the steering wheel at a curve entrance can be suppressed.
US08676437B2 Vehicle test system including plurality of apparatuses mutually communicable via network
A vehicle test system including a plurality of apparatuses mutually communicable via a network. A control apparatus included in the apparatuses controls two or more objects in the vehicle by using respective control modules each having fault detecting module used to detect fault in the object being controlled. A test apparatus connected to the control apparatus commands any one of the control module included in the control apparatus in order to read out fault information in the objects. The control apparatus generates, in response to the test apparatus, a response command indicative of the fault information detected by the fault detecting module and transmits the response command to the test apparatus via the network. The response commands includes both fault information corresponding to the control module to which the test apparatus commands and fault information corresponding to the other control module.
US08676433B2 Control device for vehicle hydraulic control circuit
A control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit having a hydraulic switch disposed on a hydraulic control circuit of an automatic transmission, includes: a malfunction detecting portion configured to detect a malfunction of the hydraulic switch; and a malfunction removing portion configured to execute an operation for restoring a contact of the hydraulic switch when a malfunction of the hydraulic switch is detected.
US08676429B2 Autonomous mobile device
An autonomous mobile device is capable of taking action that is suitable to execute a task in accordance with a given situation includes and executes a predetermined task upon autonomously moving to a destination. The autonomous mobile device includes a storage unit that stores an environment map, a laser range finder that acquires peripheral obstacle information, an unknown information identification unit that identifies unknown obstacle information from the peripheral obstacle information, an assessment information acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of types of assessment information including movement information, relative position information, and attribute information that are related to the unknown obstacle, when the unknown obstacle information is identified, and a scenario selection unit that selects, based on the assessment information, one action scenario among a plurality of action scenarios including an action scenario which is defined to execute the task and is other than an action scenario to cancel or continue the execution of the task.
US08676423B2 Method for operating a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a generator
It is known to charge the battery in a hybrid vehicle with a generator such that the efficiency (electric power per fuel quantity) is maximal. It is known that the consumption-optimized mode can be terminated in order to charge the battery faster. A mathematical calculation rule is applied to the optimal value of the efficiency in order to determine a value for an efficiency which then indicates a load point shift for the internal combustion engine. In particular, constant percentages can be used which are applied to the inverse efficiency.
US08676422B2 Creep control device and method for hybrid vehicle
Disclosed is a creep control system and method for a hybrid vehicle, which controls the driving of a motor according to the distance to a preceding vehicle in order to provide creep driving when the hybrid vehicle has come to a complete stop. In particular, driving information is detected and a determination is made as to whether the hybrid vehicle is in an idle stop and completely stationary state. Then when the hybrid vehicle is in the idle stop and completely stationary state, a determination is made as to whether a distance from a preceding vehicle is more than a predetermined distance. When the distance to the preceding vehicle is more than the predetermined distance, a motor is driven to perform creep driving.
US08676420B2 Electric vehicle and method for controlling the same
An electric wheelchair includes a body portion, an operating section to detect an operation by an operator, an obstacle sensor to detect an obstacle existing in the vicinity of the body portion, an obstacle determination section to form a search region extending from the body portion in an operating direction, and to determine an obstacle existing in the search region, as the obstacle to be avoided, a virtual repulsive force calculation section to calculate a virtual repulsive force to move the body portion away from the obstacle determined by the obstacle determination section, a resultant force calculation section to calculate a resultant force composed of an operating force and the virtual repulsive force, and a control section to control a movement of the body portion so that the body portion is moved in a direction of the resultant force.
US08676418B2 Control system and control method
A control for a hybrid vehicle includes; obtaining information that an EV switch that is operated when a travel of the vehicle in an EV mode in which priority is given to an EV travel in which the vehicle travels by a motive power only from a rotary electric machine is to be selected has been operated; starting a permission preparation control for causing a transition from a state in which a situation of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined reservation condition for reserving the EV mode to a state in which the situation of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined permission condition for permitting the EV mode if the situation of the vehicle does not satisfy the permission condition but satisfies the reservation condition when the EV switch has been operated; and enabling to control the travel of the vehicle in the EV mode if the predetermined permission condition is satisfied.
US08676414B2 Hybrid vehicle having multi-mode controller
A hybrid vehicle includes a multi-mode power system. The power system includes a battery, an electrical power input, a first motor/generator, a second motor/generator, and a clutch. A first operating mode is defined by deactivation of the internal combustion engine and the operation of the vehicle by electrical force provided from the battery to the second motor/generator. In a second operating mode, activation of the internal combustion engine generates electrical power by providing rotational force to the first motor/generator. In a third operating mode, engagement of the clutch couples the internal combustion engine and the second motor/generator to provide rotational force to the wheels. In a fourth operating mode, engagement of the clutch couples the internal combustion engine with the second motor/generator, and the first motor/generator further provides rotational force to the wheels.
US08676400B2 Navigation system and method for an electric vehicle travelling from a starting point to a destination
A method for an electric vehicle travelling from a starting point to a destination, a navigation system for an electric vehicle, a method for charging an electrical energy storage device of an electric vehicle, a charger for charging an electrical energy storage device of an electric vehicle, and an electric vehicle are described.
US08676393B1 Power discovery and allocation within a power sharing group
Disclosed in an example embodiment herein is a technique for performing discovery and power budgeting for a power sharing group comprising a plurality of power supply modules configured for sharing power. Data is collected to determine members of the power sharing group, input power and load power for members of the power sharing group. A power budget is determined for members of the power sharing group and the power budget is distributed to members of the power sharing group. Load shedding inputs are calculated in the event that load power exceeds the capacity of the power sharing group.
US08676390B2 Universal remote machinery controller and monitor
A system is provided herein for remotely controlling and monitoring machinery, the machinery having a control network for control thereof, one or more switches coupled to the control network for controlling the machinery via the control network. The system includes a controller hardwired coupled to the control network of the machinery. The controller is configured to control the machinery via the control network separately from the switches, and the controller is configured to monitor operation of the machinery. In addition, the system includes an arrangement for receiving signals for controlling the controller from a remote location and an arrangement for transmitting, to a remote location, information collected by the controller resulting from the controller monitoring operation of the machinery. Advantageously, with the subject invention, the system can control and monitor machinery from remote locations directly. In the event of faults or failures, corrective action may be taken using the subject invention.
US08676380B2 Moving robot and operating method for same
There are provided a moving robot and a method of operating the same. A bottom surface is photographed to sense a moving distance and a moving direction based on input image data. The amount of light radiated to photograph the bottom surface is sensed to feedback control the light emission degree of a light source unit. The light source unit is controlled when errors are generated in sensing the image data. Therefore, the sensing ratio of the photographed image is improved so that correctness of calculating the position of the moving robot is improved.
US08676370B2 Workpiece carrier and workpiece positioning system and method
A workpiece carrier for supporting a plurality of workpieces, the workpiece carrier comprising a supporting body including a plurality of workpiece support elements, each for supporting a workpiece and providing for individual positioning of the same, the workpiece support elements each including at least one biasing element for applying a biasing force to an edge of the respective workpiece, at least one first cam for acting on an edge of the respective workpiece at a first location against the bias of the at least one biasing element, and at least one second cam for acting on an edge of the respective workpiece at a second location against the bias of the at least one biasing element, wherein the at least one first cam and the at least one second cam are operable such as to enable the position of the respective workpiece to be set relative to the supporting body.
US08676356B2 System and method for motor parameter estimation
A system and method for determining unknown values of certain motor parameters includes a motor input device connectable to an electric motor having associated therewith values for known motor parameters and an unknown value of at least one motor parameter. The motor input device includes a processing unit that receives a first input from the electric motor comprising values for the known motor parameters for the electric motor and receive a second input comprising motor data on a plurality of reference motors, including values for motor parameters corresponding to the known motor parameters of the electric motor and values for motor parameters corresponding to the at least one unknown motor parameter value of the electric motor. The processor determines the unknown value of the at least one motor parameter from the first input and the second input and determines a motor management strategy for the electric motor based thereon.
US08676344B2 Polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers and medical leads containing the same
The present invention provides medical devices that contain polyisobutylene urethane copolymers, polyisobutylene urea copolymers and polyisobutylene urethane/urea copolymers. More particularly, the present invention provides medical leads that contain such copolymer.
US08676339B1 Surface warming diathermy apparatus and method
A surface warming diathermy apparatus and method includes an applicator with a first chamber and a second chamber where the first chamber contains a dielectric solution. A primary coil is wrapped around the applicator beginning with the first chamber. A secondary coil is wrapped around the applicator also beginning with the first chamber and a RF energy source connected with the primary coil. The apparatus is tuned to a near resonant state by means of a variable high-voltage capacitor connected to each end of the secondary coil.
US08676337B2 Recharge system and method for deep or angled devices
Techniques are disclosed for recharging an Implantable Medical Device (IMD). In one embodiment, a first external coil is positioned on one side of a patient's body, such as on a front side of the torso in proximity to the IMD. A second external coil is positioned on an opposite side of the patient's body, such as on the back of the torso. A recharging device generates a current in each of the coils, inductively coupling the first and the second coils to the secondary recharge coil of the IMD. According to another aspect, each of the two external coils may wrap around a portion of the patient's body, such as the torso or head, and are positioned such that the IMD lies between the coils. According to this aspect, current generated in the coils inductively couples to a second recharge coil that is angled within the patient's body.
US08676334B2 Peripheral nerve interface system and method for prosthetic hand control
The present disclosure relates to peripheral nerve interface system and method for prosthetic hand control, which may measure, analyze and control efferent motor nerve signals and afferent sensory nerve signals by regenerating a peripheral nerve and control an artificial prosthetic hand by means of the measurement, analysis and control of the signals. For this, the peripheral nerve interface system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a nerve conduit connected to a terminal of a damaged peripheral nerve at a cut body portion; a prosthesis for substituting for the cut body portion; and a peripheral nerve interface unit electrically connected to the nerve conduit and the prosthesis to restore a function of the damaged peripheral nerve and control operations of the prosthesis by transmitting and receiving signals of the damaged peripheral nerve.
US08676330B2 Electrical and magnetic stimulators used to treat migraine/sinus headache and comorbid disorders
Non-invasive electrical nerve stimulation devices and magnetic stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating medical disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by such devices. The disorders comprise migraine and other primary headaches such as cluster headaches, including sinus symptoms that resemble an immune-mediated response (“sinus” headaches), irrespective of whether those symptoms arise from an allergy that is co-morbid with the headache. The disclosed methods may also be used to treat other disorders that may be co-morbid with migraine headaches, such as anxiety disorders. In preferred embodiments of the disclosed methods, one or both of the patient's vagus nerves are stimulated non-invasively. In other embodiments, parts of the sympathetic nervous system and/or the adrenal glands are stimulated.
US08676328B2 Transcranial securing device for deep brain stimulation leads
A transcranial securing device for deep brain stimulation leads comprising: a principal part for securing inside an opening formed in the cranium of a patient; and at least one first securing part housed inside said principal part; said or each securing part comprises at least one axial bore adapted to allow the passage of one or more deep brain stimulation leads; said or at least one securing part is arranged so as to be capable of passing from a first position in which the lead or leads can slide axially in the respective bores, to a second position in which it grips the lead or leads in the respective bore or bores, preventing said sliding.
US08676316B2 Apparatus and method for calculating caloric expenditure using posture
Systems and methods for estimating caloric expenditure. The systems can include a physiological sensor to measure a patient's physical activity, and a posture sensor to measure the patient's posture. An estimated caloric expenditure can be calculated based on data from the physiological sensor and the posture sensor. For example, the estimated caloric expenditure can be calculated at least in part based on the posture data. For example, the estimated caloric expenditure can be validated based on the posture data.
US08676315B2 System and method of electrical current detection in electrophysiology study
A system in combination with a stimulator system and an electrophysiology recorder system in delivering a stimulator signal to a subject's heart is provided. The electrophysiology recorder system can be generally operable to acquire an electrocardiogram from the subject's heart. The system can include an electrical couple in electrical connection between the simulator system and the electrophysiology recorder. The electrical couple can be configured to communicate the stimulator signal without loading an impedance of the electrophysiology recorder system on the stimulator system.
US08676313B2 Wearable medical treatment device with motion/position detection
A wearable defibrillator consists of a vest (or belt) which is worn by the patient. The device monitors the patient's ECG with sensing electrodes and can monitor other patient conditions and in appropriate cases can treat certain conditions. An accelerometer(s) in the wearable defibrillator can allow for the device to determine the position, movements, forces applied to the patient, and/or the device. The device can use a least one patient motion detector generating a signal indicative of patient activity. Analysis of the signal can be indicative of patient activity appropriate for treatment or indication of device condition.
US08676311B2 Memory device associated with defibrillation electrodes
An electrode package for use with a defibrillator, the electrode package comprising an outer shell providing a vapor barrier between an interior space inside the outer shell and an exterior environment, one or more defibrillation electrodes positioned in the interior space inside the outer shell, each of the defibrillation electrodes including a metallic layer in electrical contact with a conductive liquid-containing layer through which electrical current is delivered to a patient when the defibrillation electrodes have been applied to the patient, the conductive a liquid-containing layer being subject to drying out as liquid from the water-containing layer vaporizes and travels from the interior space to the external environment, and one or more electrical conductors extending from inside of the outer shell to a package electrical connector outside of the shell, the package electrical connector being configured to be connected to a mating defibrillator electrical connector connected to the defibrillator, and an electronic memory device positioned outside the outer shell and in electrical contact with some of the electrical conductors extending from the outer shell to the package electrical connector.
US08676306B2 Methods and systems for analyzing T-wave alternans
Embodiments of the present invention relate to implantable systems, and methods for use therein, that can detect T-wave alternans and analyze the detected alternans to provide information regarding cardiac instabilities and predict impending arrhythmias.
US08676300B2 Method and system for navigating through an occluded tubular organ
A method generates a three dimensional (3D) model of a tubular organ having an occluded segment. The occluded segment adjoins a proximal segment at a proximal end thereof, and a distal segment at a distal end thereof. The procedures included injecting a first dye injection into the tubular organ, the first dye approaching a first end of the occluded segment. Multiple first-injection two-dimensional (2D) images of the tubular organ are acquired, each acquired from a different perspective, the first-injection 2D images further acquired with a respective organ timing signal reading. A second dye is injected into the tubular organ, the second dye approaching a second end of the occluded segment. Multiple second-injection 2D images are acquired of the tubular organ, each acquired from a different perspective, the second-injection 2D images further acquired with a respective organ timing signal reading. Superimposed 2D images are generated, one for each of the perspectives, each of the superimposed 2D images including the proximal segment and the distal segment. The boundary regions of the proximal segment and the distal segment in the superimposed 2D images are determined. The boundary regions of the occluded segment in the superimposed 2D images are determined by interpolating between the boundary regions of the proximal segment and the distal segment. A 3D model of the tubular organ from the superimposed 2D images is generated and a 3D center line of the tubular organ is determined, the 3D center line passing through the proximal segment, through the occluded segment and through the distal segment.
US08676294B2 Brain disease diagnosis system
To perform a more accurate and detailed diagnosis of a brain disease, a diagnosis server of the brain disease diagnosis system for diagnosing a brain disease of an examined person includes: an acquiring unit for acquiring a brain image of the examined person so as to obtain an acquired image; a region setting unit for setting a plurality of regions in the acquired image; an individual index value calculating unit for calculating an individual index value based on a pixel value of the acquired image, in each of the plurality of regions; a whole index value calculating unit for calculating a whole index value by weighting the individual index value of each of the plurality of regions; a diagnosis unit for diagnosing the brain disease of the examined person based on the whole index value; and an output unit for outputting information indicating a diagnosis outcome.
US08676291B2 Halibut release liner for a defibrillator electrode pad
A release liner for electrode pads is described which enables the pads to be used with defibrillators requiring the electrodes to be electrically interconnected for self-test prior to use, and with defibrillators which do not require the electrodes to be electrically interconnected. In one example this variation is afforded by folding the release liner one way to electrically connect conductive layers underlying two attached electrodes. In another example this variation is afforded by leaving the conductive layers electrically connected or breaking the connection.
US08676275B2 Ambient sound-based call functions
Ambient sound-based call functions include calculating, via a computer processor on a mobile communications device, a decibel level of ambient noise. In response to receiving an incoming call from a calling device, and prior to activating a ringtone on the mobile communications device, the ambient sound-based call functions include determining that the decibel level exceeds a threshold value, and sending an automated response to the calling device in lieu of connecting the call to the mobile communications device.
US08676266B2 Control system for antenna of mobile communication base station and image data offer system and method to use the control system
A system for controlling a mobile communication antenna is provided, which includes a plurality of antenna systems each installed in a BS, and a remote control system for monitoring and controlling the plurality of antenna systems. In each of the antenna systems, an antenna module includes a radiation plate and a radiation device for transmitting and receiving radio signals for a mobile communication service, a sensor unit senses the inclination and horizontal rotation of the antenna module, a transceiver transmits data sensed by the sensor unit to the remote control system and receives a control signal from the remote control system, and a controller controls an operation of the antenna system according to the remote control signal received from the transceiver. In the remote control system, a BS monitoring information DB server accumulates the sensed data received from the plurality of antenna systems on a BS basis and an antenna system basis, and a remote control center outputs control signals to the antenna systems to monitor the antenna systems remotely.
US08676264B2 Method and apparatus for power sharing among multi-carrier modules of a multi-carrier base station
A carrier processing method, a communication device and a communication system are provided according to the embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: acquiring control information of each multi-carrier module associated with carriers; according to the acquired control information, determining a carrier used by each multi-carrier module; and performing processing by each multi-carrier module according to the determined carrier. The communication device includes: a processing unit, configured to acquire control information of each multi-carrier module associated with carriers, and according to the acquired control information, determine a carrier used by each multi-carrier module; and a notification unit, configured to instruct each multi-carrier module to perform processing according to the determined carrier. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention enable at least two multi-carrier modules to cooperatively implement processing.
US08676259B2 Wireless communications interface
A wireless communications interface couples wireless service to conventional wireline phone appliances. In one embodiment, the wireless communications interface is connected to the phone appliances through existing phone jacks. This allows a user to place and receive calls over a wireless network using the existing wireline infrastructure in a building. By using the invention, users can consolidate their portable and fixed phone service with one of the multiple wireless service providers and bypass the wireline service provider entirely, if so desired. In a second embodiment, the wireless communications interface is directly connected to the phone appliances, bypassing the installed wireline infrastructure. In a third embodiment, both wireline and wireless service are operative, and the wireless communications interface may include logic arbitration to route multiple calls to multiple phone appliances.
US08676256B2 System and method for user profiling from gathering user data through interaction with a wireless communication device
A system, method, and wireless communication device that profiles a user thereof, or a user at a second wireless communication device in communication therewith. The wireless communication device gathers user data for a user thereof, or from a user at a second wireless communication device, and either directly generates, or has generated elsewhere, a user profile, such as a personality or psychological profile, or medical diagnosis of the user, and can display the user profile to the user and/or alter the wireless communication device functionality based upon the user profile. The gathered user data can be from physical user interaction with the wireless communication device, or from other equipment resident at the wireless communication device, such as a camera and medical diagnostic devices.
US08676255B2 Integrated circuit system
An integrated circuit system is provided for wireless data communication, comprising a set of hardware components and a port for connection to an RF antenna or an RF Front-End-Module, wherein at least a subset of hardware components is arranged for being shared for simultaneous wireless data communication based on a first protocol and a second protocol. Preferably, the first protocol includes a Wi-Fi standard and the second protocol includes a dedicated protocol for wireless audio communication.
US08676252B2 Dual mode mobile terminal in MIMO wireless communication system and controlling method thereof
A method for dual mode mobile terminal in an MIMO wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of if an uplink transmission mode is for simultaneous transmission to an LTE base station and a CDMA base station, determining whether a transmission power to the LTE base station is equal to or greater than a threshold value, transmitting a simultaneous transmission mode dedicated scheduling request signal for excluding a risky frequency band from an uplink band to the LTE base station, receiving a scheduling information on the uplink band except the risky frequency band from the LTE base station, transmitting a CS service signal to the CDMA base station, and transmitting a PS service signal to the LTE base station using the scheduling information.
US08676247B2 Method and apparatus for dynamically determining the scope of services for an infrastructure device operating in local mode
A method and apparatus for dynamically determining the scope of services for a base station operating in local mode. The method includes: receiving (206) an overlap status for at least one neighboring infrastructure device; detecting (208) that the infrastructure device has switched from a wide mode of operation to a local mode of operation; and selecting (210) one of a plurality of local mode operating states, based on the received overlap status.
US08676240B2 Timing of component carriers in multi-carrier wireless networks
Mechanisms for efficient transmission of large amount of download data from a base station to a user equipment in a multi-carrier that minimizes power consumption on the user equipment are described. When multiple component carriers are to be used to transmit the download data, the base station informs the user equipment. The base station transmits on the anchor carriers without wait after informing the user equipment and transmits on the non-anchor carriers after waiting a predetermined delay. The predetermined delay provides time to allow the user equipment to activate the receiving resources and be ready to receive the download data over the non-anchor carriers. In this manner, the user equipment can be in a power conservation mode and activate the receiver resources only when needed.
US08676239B2 Wireless communication system, wireless communication device, and wireless communication method
A wireless communication system including a master station, and slave stations that execute a predetermined operation based on an operation instruction transmitted by the master station, in which the master station includes a normal frame processor that generates an operation instruction, and a Go/Stop signal processor that generates an execution instruction signal instructing to execute the operation instruction to transmit the signal when a response to the operation instruction is obtained from all the slave stations during a predetermined response waiting time, each of the slave stations include an execution-instruction-signal receiving unit that receives the execution instruction signal, and the execution-instruction-signal receiving unit executes an operation corresponding to the execution instruction signal when receiving the execution instruction signal or waits execution of the corresponding operation until the execution instruction signal corresponding to the operation instruction is received.
US08676238B2 Managing notification messages
Mobile devices each maintain a whitelist of application identifiers corresponding to applications that the user(s) of that mobile device wants to receive notification messages for and a blacklist of application identifiers corresponding to applications that the user(s) of the mobile device does not want to receive notification messages for. Each mobile device transmits its representations of the whitelist and blacklist to a certain one of a plurality of couriers that controls transmission of notification messages for that mobile device. Each notification message includes a mobile device identifier and an application identifier. Each courier processes a given notification message for a mobile device (e.g., deliver to that mobile device, drop, report as uninstalled to the sender) based on the application identifier included in the mobile device and the representations of the whitelist and blacklist for that mobile device.
US08676231B2 Methods and apparatus for mobile station location estimation
Methods and apparatus for estimating mobile station location include receiving reported signal strengths or other attachment indicator values from a mobile station. The reported signal strengths are compared with characteristic received signal strength values in a coverage area of a mobile network. A mobile switching center determines if a local function is requested and initiates a location estimation process by a mobile location module (MLM). The MLM receives the reported signal strength contours associated with the attachment points. Based on a comparison of the reported attachment indicator values with characteristic values, the MLM provides a mobile location estimate.
US08676228B2 Tracking system and a method for tracking the position of a device
For allowing a reliable and fast determination of the position of devices with a high degree of privacy preservation a tracking system for determination of the position of devices within a wireless network is claimed, wherein the tracking system is including a number of tracking stations, each tracking station being adapted for wireless communication with at least one device. The system is characterized by a management unit for control of a tracking activity of the tracking stations. Further, an according method for tracking the position of a device within a wireless network is claimed, preferably for use with the above mentioned tracking system.
US08676225B2 Wireless communication device, wireless communication method, information processing device, information processing method, and program
A wireless communication device includes a transmission portion, an information acquisition portion, a storage portion, a selection portion, and a transmission control portion. The transmission portion transmits information. The information acquisition portion acquires location information for the wireless communication device that includes a received signal strength of a signal that is transmitted from a base station in the vicinity. The storage portion stores, in association with specific location information, regulating information that regulates the transmission from the transmission portion of the information that corresponds to the location of the wireless communication device. The selection portion selects from the storage portion the regulating information associated with the location information acquired by the information acquisition portion. The transmission control portion controls, based on the regulating information that was selected by the selection portion, the transmission from the transmission portion of the information that corresponds to the location of the wireless communication device.
US08676216B2 Method and apparatus for mitigating interference in femtocell deployments
Methods and apparatuses are provided for determining one or more parameters of an access point that can be set or adjusted to mitigate interference to other access points. A rise-over-thermal (RoT) threshold can be set at an access point based on one or more parameters, such as pathloss measurements, location of the access point, etc., such that interference from devices communicating with the access point can be mitigated. In addition, a noise floor, RoT threshold, etc., can be adjusted based on determining a transmit power difference, out-of-cell interference, and/or similar measurements.
US08676204B2 Mobile communication system, base station device, mobile station device and mobile communication method
A mobile station device that communicates with a base station device, the mobile station device including: a determination unit which determines whether to request the base station device to provide control information of a small base station device accessed by the mobile station device or not; a first transmission unit, when the determination unit determines that the control information is to be requested, which sets information of the small base station device in a control information request message and transmits the control information request message to the base station device; a first reception unit which receives a response message transmitted from the base station device; and a measurement control execution unit which executes measurement control according to control information set in the response message received by the first reception unit.
US08676191B2 Method and device for managing communication channels for data exchange from an aircraft
A method and device for managing communication channels for data exchange from an aircraft establishes at least one connection path between the aircraft and at least one ground entity with a plurality of communication channels of at least two different types. After detecting an event such as modification of a communication channel condition or a modification of aircraft position, a communication configuration enabling the aircraft to receive or transmit data from or to the ground entity via at least one of the communication channels is determined. A mechanism for establishing at least one connection path is then adapted based on the communication configuration. Advantageously, the transmission of at least one datum includes determining a priority level of the datum and determining the type of communication channel of the connection path, the datum being transmitted if the determined type of communication channel is compatible with the priority level.
US08676190B2 Network apparatus and method for performing a handover in a network
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention a network apparatus may be provided, which network apparatus may include a detecting device, a selecting device, a receiving device, a determining device and a sending device. The detecting device may be adapted to detect a condition for a handover. The selecting device may be adapted to select a first group, wherein the first group includes at least one first target apparatus member. The receiving device may be adapted to receive a second group, wherein the second group may include at least one second target apparatus member. The determining device may be adapted to determine a difference group of the first target apparatus members and the second target apparatus members. The selecting device may be adapted to select at least one target apparatus member of the difference group. The sending device may be adapted to send a preparation information to the at least one selected target apparatus member of the difference group.
US08676189B2 Converged mobile-web communications solution
A converged mobile-Web communications solution interfaces to both a mobile phone network and an Internet or Intranet network, so that services that are provided to mobile phones in the mobile phone network are also provided to Web clients in the Internet or Intranet network.
US08676178B2 Method and system for managing changes to a contact database
Described is a system and method for updating a contact and adding a new contact from a call log in a communications device. The system includes a contact manager that is directed towards creating and updating call contact cards in a contact database with information retrieved from call logs of phone calls made to or from the communications device. In one embodiment, information is pre-populated into a predetermined data field of the contact card, thereby reducing workload to a user. The method includes determining if a request is for updating an existing contact card or for adding a new contact card to the contact database. The update or addition is made with information retrieved from call logs. Call information is pre-populated into a predetermined data field of the contact card, when it is determined that the request is to add a new contact card to the contact database.
US08676175B2 Content transfer involving a gesture
Content transfer involving a gesture is described. In an implementation, a method is implemented by a mobile communications device that includes recognizing a gesture input via a touchscreen of the mobile communications device that is indicative of a direction, the touchscreen including a display of content. One or more other mobile communications devices are located that are positioned, approximately, along the indicated direction of the gesture. A communication is formed to transfer the content to the located one or more other mobile communications devices.
US08676174B2 Easy call for content
A method and apparatus for quickly and easily requesting content over a mobile device via a telephone network without requiring user entry of a number of pieces of information or having to forward through to certain request screens and/or browse for content. The method includes verifying a mobile device based on an incoming telephone call to a particular destination telephone number; retrieving by a content server the specific content associated with the particular destination telephone number in which contact has been initiated by the mobile device; and providing the specific content to the mobile device requesting the content. Specific content includes but is not limited to broadcast data, satellite transmitted data, and cable network data provided during a telephone call, so that a mobile device can receive everything from television shows to news broadcasts and educational shows, etc. so long it is within range of a telephone network.
US08676173B1 Local social awards
A method of establishing connection between users of mobile devices includes receiving at a computer a location of a first user from a first mobile device, receiving from a second mobile device a location of a second user having an acquaintance relationship to the first user, and sending a message to the first mobile device based on the proximity of the first user to the second user.
US08676168B2 Method and apparatus for managing message notifications
According to embodiments described in the specification, a method and apparatus for managing message notifications in a portable electronic device including a thermal notifier output device. The method comprises receiving a message at the portable electronic device; determining a notification setting responsive to receiving the message; and generating a thermal notification signal at the thermal notifier output device according to the determined notification setting. The thermal notification signal provides non-visual identification of an originator of the received message.
US08676166B2 Method, system and apparatus for managing messages at a mobile electronic device
According to embodiments described in the specification, a method, system and apparatus for managing messages at a mobile electronic device is provided. The method comprises: receiving a message and storing the message in a memory of the mobile electronic device; determining, at a processor of the mobile electronic device, if the message passes at least one filter criterion maintained in the memory, the filter criterion for use in generating a primary message view; when the message does not pass the filter criterion, adding a device-side label to the message; generating the primary message view according to the filter criterion; detecting an interaction with the message; and in response to detecting the interaction, automatically removing the device-side label from the message.
US08676165B2 Method and apparatus for peer-to-peer instant messaging
The invention proposes a method of peer-to-peer instant messaging and the mobile terminal thereof, which could make the mobile terminal to establish and maintain a list of friend users and update the connection status of the friend users timely. The method of peer-to-peer instant messaging includes following steps: receiving the list of on-line users with capability of peer-to-peer instant messaging sent by the radio network (S260); comparing said list of particular users with said received list of on-line users (S270); updating, according to said comparison result, the connection status record of each user in said list of particular users (S280) so that the mobile terminal could establish a peer-to-peer instant messaging with at least one user mobile terminal in said list of particular users according to said updated connection status record. The present invention enables the user to establish peer-to-peer connection more effectively and to perform instant messaging while occupying less network resources.
US08676163B2 Contactless communication with authorization by human contact and visual indicator
Transponder comprising a resonant circuit, comprising an antenna and a capacitor, and at least one memory, wherein it comprises at least one contact zone for receiving a portion of human body, so that the positioning of a portion of human body on a contact zone modifies the electric circuit of the transponder, capable of switching from a first state in which it does not allow the memory to be read and/or written to a second state in which it allows the memory to be read and/or written when the resonant circuit of the transponder is contactlessly powered by a reader and in that it comprises an indicator which makes it possible to indicate that the positioning of a portion of human body on the contact zone of the transponder is or has been recognized.
US08676152B2 Alarm systems having multiple communication alternatives for contacting a monitoring service and methods of operating the same
An alarm system includes a mobile terminal and an alarm controller. The alarm controller is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal, to attempt a call to a monitoring service using a first communication technique responsive to detection of an alarm condition, and to attempt a call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal if the call attempt using the first communication technique is unsuccessful.
US08676140B2 Efficient scheme for automatic gain control in communication systems
A system for controlling an RF gain of a receiver that reduces a time taken to maintain an input signal level at an optimum dynamic range is provided. The system includes a tuner that receives a radio frequency (RF) signal and down-converts the RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, and a demodulator. The tuner includes a radio frequency programmable gain amplifier (RF_VGA), a filter and an IF programmable gain amplifier (IF_VGA). The demodulator includes an analog to digital converter (ADC), and an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) unit that (i) receives a digital signal and an IF gain of the IF_VGA. The ADC samples a filtered IF signal under oversampling conditions to obtain an oversampled signal that includes an in-band signal and an out-of-band signal. The AGC unit (ii) controls the RF_VGA, the IF_VGA and (iii) measures an RF energy of the RF signal.
US08676122B2 Secure satellite modem for personal digital assistant method and apparatus
A system for enabling communication utilizing a satellite communications network includes a mobile communication device and a satellite modem apparatus. A text message is generated at the mobile communication device and transmitted to the satellite modem apparatus using a short range wireless protocol. The satellite modem transmits the text message as a short burst data message to a satellite within the satellite communications system where it is routed to a receiver unit. The satellite modem apparatus does not include a processor. Instead, the mobile communication device includes a processor and program code for generating, transmitting, and receiving text messages, and for encrypting a text message, and/or compressing a text message to a size suitable for transmission via an L-band communications protocol from the satellite modem apparatus.
US08676119B2 Device pairing via intermediary device
A first device may include and/or involve at least one contact sensor, and logic to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device as a result of contact between the contact sensor and at least one of the second and third devices.
US08676109B2 Cleaning apparatus, and image forming apparatus including cleaning apparatus
A cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning blade configured to abut with a surface of the image carrier member, and to remove residual toner from the surface of the image carrier member; a cleaning roller rotatably configured to attach residual toner removed by the cleaning blade to the surface and make abrasive contact with the surface of the image carrier member; a toner layer regulating member configured to regulate residual toner attached to the cleaning roller to a predetermined toner layer thickness and scrape and remove excess residual toner; a frame member configured to store residual toner scraped and removed from the cleaning roller; and a toner supply member configured to make contact with the cleaning roller to attach residual toner stored in the frame member to the surface, and to attach residual toner attached to the surface to the cleaning roller.
US08676106B2 Image heating member, and image heating apparatus having image heating station
An endless fixing belt includes a heat generation layer configured to generate heat by energization, a rubber layer provided on the heat generation layer, a fluorine resin layer provided on the rubber layer, a first electroconductive layer provided at one longitudinal end portion of the fixing belt, and a second electroconductive layer provided at the other longitudinal end portion and configured to form an energizing path cooperatively with the first electroconductive layer through the heat generation layer. The fluorine resin layer extends to cover a part of the first electroconductive layer and a part of the second electroconductive layer.
US08676102B2 Fixing device having temperature detection element
A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a backup member; and a temperature detection element. The flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and radiates radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and receives the radiant heat from the heater. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup and nip members. The backup member confronts the nip member in a confronting direction. The temperature detection element is disposed in a superposed region of the nip member superposed with the nip region in the confronting direction and detects a temperature of the region.
US08676098B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a developer carrier that holds a developer on a surface thereof, rotates around a rotation axis, and supplies the developer to an image carrier at a facing portion at which the developer carrier faces the image carrier; a transport member that transports the developer in a transport direction along the rotation axis while supplying the developer to the surface of the developer carrier; and a guide member that includes a guide portion that guides, toward downstream in the transport direction, the developer that has passed the facing portion without being supplied to the image carrier, the guide member making an amount of the developer that reaches the transport member on an upstream side of the guide portion in the transport direction be smaller than an amount of the developer that reaches the transport member in on a downstream side of the guide portion.
US08676096B2 Powder container and image forming apparatus
A powder container includes a body and a pair of walls that block one end of the body and the other end. The powder container is mountable in an apparatus. The body has an opening in a location closer to the one end to supply the powder to the apparatus. The powder container includes a shutter, a guide portion and a boss. The shutter is situated in a closed location before the powder container is mounted in the apparatus and is moved to an opened location to open the opening when the powder container is mounted in the apparatus. The guide portion maintains the shutter on the body and guides the shutter. The boss is located between the shutter and an outer wall surface of the one of walls and next to the end of the shutter at the closed location in a movement direction of the shutter.
US08676087B2 Image forming device having charging wire cleaning mechanism
An image forming device including an accommodating member, a moving section, a driving section, a transmitting section, and first and second switching sections. The accommodating member is movable between an accommodating position and a pulled-out position. A charger includes a charging wire and a wire cleaner movable therealong. The moving section is configured to move the wire cleaner. The driving section is configured to generate a drive force to move the moving section. The transmitting section is movable to one of a first path on which the transmitting section is drivingly connected to the driving section and a second path on which the transmitting section is disconnected from the driving section. The transmitting section is configured to transmit the drive force from the driving section to the moving section when the transmitting section is moved to the first path. The first switching section is configured to switch a position of the transmitting section from the second path to the first path. The second switching section is configured to switch a position of the transmitting section from the first path to the second path.
US08676082B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a photoreceptor drum that is provided along a paper path of transfer paper; a discharging unit including a light emitting body that emits discharging light, the discharging unit eliminating electrical charge on a surface of the photoreceptor drum; a blast unit that is provided to blow air toward the discharging unit; and a air duct that is provided in the vicinity of the light emitting body, and is configured such that the air from the blast unit toward the discharging unit is configured to blow to a side of the paper path through the air duct.
US08676075B2 Image forming apparatus for suppressing reverse transfer of images
An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying belt; a first photosensitive member; and a second photosensitive member; a first transfer member; a second transfer member; a first pushing member; a second pushing member; and a changing unit, wherein the first photosensitive member is disposed on the upstream side of the second photosensitive member in a conveying direction of the transfer receiving member, and the changing unit changes the pushing force of the second transfer member that is disposed on the downstream side of the first photosensitive member in a conveying direction of the transfer receiving member.
US08676070B2 Image forming apparatus
The image forming apparatus hasa first and a second transfer member which transfer toner images onto a transfer body; anda control section, which measures a first density of a first toner image formed on the transfer body, measures a second density of a second toner image formed on the transfer body anddetermines a transfer current for the first and the second transfer member based on the first and the second density.
US08676061B2 Signal output device, and output apparatus of signal source of signals and of laser beam pulses
A frequency converter includes a first direct digital synthesizer that receives a signal having a predetermined frequency f_master as a clock signal and further an internal frequency setting signal, and outputs an internal signal having a frequency based on the internal frequency setting signal, and a second direct digital synthesizer that receives the internal signal as a clock signal, and further an output frequency setting signal, and outputs an output signal having a frequency f_slave (=f_master−Δ) based on the output frequency setting signal. A difference between the predetermined frequency f_master and the frequency of the internal signal is larger than a difference between the predetermined frequency f_master and the frequency f_slave of the output signal.
US08676057B2 Optical transmission device, operational wavelength number restricting method, and program
An optical transmission device that is connected to transmission paths of a network, that performs optical communication according to a wavelength division multiplex format and that transmits optical signals over the transmission paths according to path types that have been set to wavelengths of the optical signals, including an upper limit value storage section that stores an upper limit value of the number of operational wavelengths that is the number of wavelengths to which the path types are set; an acceptance section that accepts a changing request that requests that the number of operational wavelengths be changed; and a license determination section that decides the number of operational wavelengths, wherein if the number of wavelengths that has been changed according to the accepted changing request is equal to or smaller than the stored upper limit value, the license determination section newly sets the changed number of wavelengths for the number of operational wavelengths.
US08676047B2 Image capture apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image capture apparatus comprises an inclination detection unit which detects an inclination of the image capture apparatus, a display unit which displays the inclination of the image capture apparatus, and a predetermined reference orientation set for the image capture apparatus, a still state determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus is in a still state, if a variation of the inclination falls within a predetermined range, and a reference orientation setting unit which sets the reference orientation of the image capture apparatus, wherein the reference orientation setting unit does not set the reference orientation if the still state determination unit determines that the image capture apparatus is not in the still state.
US08676043B2 Video data processing system, video server, gateway server, and video data management method
A system includes a reading unit reading first management information including a first item specifying video data and the video data from a storage medium, a storage unit recording second management information including the first item obtained from the first management information and the video data transferred from the reading unit, a memory storing third management information including the first item and a second item specifying a transfer or no transfer of the video data, and a controller transferring the first management information to the memory from the reading unit, updating the second item of the third management information in response to the transfer of the video data, and controlling the transfer of the video data in the video content which is designated by a read request from one of the reading unit and the storage unit to the outside based on the second item of the third management information.
US08676041B2 Support of full resolution graphics, menus, and subtitles in frame compatible 3D delivery
Full resolution graphic overlays (e.g., graphics, menus, arrows, buttons, captions, banners, picture in picture information) and subtitles in frame compatible 3D delivery for a scalable system are described.
US08676034B2 System and method to remotely program a receiving device
A web server presents a web page to a user. The web page dynamically presents information corresponding to a digital video recorder (DVR) associated with the user. The web server accepts input information to control the DVR. A delayed-job server accepts input from the web server and stores a job entry corresponding to the input in a message queue. The delayed-job server processes the job entry from the message queue and creates a function request representative of the web server input. An access server accepts the function request from the delayed-job server and bi-directionally communicates messages with the DVR. The access server communicates a response to the function request back to the delayed-job server. The delayed-job server communicates data from the response to the web server, wherein the web server is not blocked while waiting for the response from the delayed-job server.
US08676023B2 Method of fabrication for an asymmetric Bragg coupler-based polymeric wavelength filter with single-grating waveguide
The present invention discloses a method for fabricating polymeric wavelength filter based on an asymmetric Bragg coupler with single-grating waveguide. The asymmetric waveguide coupler is formed firstly on a negative photo-resist mold. PDMS film is injected into the narrow waveguide of the coupler to act as a protection layer. The gratings pattern is exposed on the alternative waveguide and subsequently transferred to PDMS stamp mold. The PDMS stamp mold is used as a stamp to transfer the gratings pattern of the ABC wavelength filter onto UV cured polymer to form the final ABC filter. Whereby, the fabrication process is reliable and accurate, and can offer great potential for mass production of the ABC filter with single-grating waveguide.
US08676020B2 Repair box for optical fibre composite electric power cable
A cable joint for jointing two cable ends of an optical fiber cable of an optical fiber composite electric power cable including an electric power cable and an optical fiber cable. The cable joint includes a repair box arranged between the two cable ends of the optical fiber cable. The repair box is arranged within the optical fiber composite electric power cable and further includes storage for storing extra length needed for jointing optical fibers of the optical fiber cable.
US08676018B2 Optical fiber stripper for a fiber optic connection termination system
An optical fiber stripper that may cooperate with an optical fiber handler for stripping one or more coating from an optical fiber is disclosed. The stripper is used as a part of a termination system for preparing the optical fiber for an optical connection, thereby providing the craft with a simple, reliable, and easy termination of the optical fiber. By way of example, the stripper cooperates with an optical fiber handler having an optical fiber secured therein for preparing the end of the optical fiber for a mechanical splice in a fiber optic connector.
US08676015B2 Non-zero dispersion shifted optical fiber having a short cutoff wavelength
A non-zero dispersion shifted optical fiber (NZDSF) includes a central core, an inner cladding, and an outer cladding. The central core has an outer radius r1 and a maximum refractive index difference Dn1 with respect to the outer cladding. The inner cladding includes a first intermediate cladding and a buried trench. The first intermediate cladding has an outer radius r2 and a refractive index difference Dn2 with respect to the outer cladding. The buried trench has an outer radius r3, a width w3, and a negative refractive index difference Dn3 with respect to the outer cladding. In some embodiments, the inner cladding includes a second intermediate cladding having an outer radius r4 and a refractive index difference Dn4 with respect to the outer cladding. For a radius of curvature of 30 millimeters at a wavelength of 1625 nanometers, the optical fiber typically exhibits bending losses of about 0.5 dB/100 turns or less. The optical fiber's 22-meter cable cutoff wavelength (22 m-λcc) and effective cutoff wavelength at two meters are typically less than 1150 nanometers.
US08676007B2 Light-based touch surface with curved borders and sloping bezel
A light-based touch-sensitive surface, including a housing, a surface attached to the housing for receiving touch input, a plurality of light sources in the housing for emitting light that crosses the surface, a plurality of light receivers in the housing for detecting the light emitted by the light sources, a curved lens adjacent to the surface through which the light emitted by the light sources passes, including two substantially similarly curved exterior panels, one of which forms a curved rim for the surface, and a calculating unit in said housing, connected to the light receivers, for calculating a touch location based on an absence of light expected to be received by the receivers.
US08675996B2 Catheter RF ablation using segmentation-based 2D-3D registration
A method for registering a two-dimensional image of a cardiocirculatory structure and a three-dimensional image of the cardiocirculatory structure includes acquiring a three-dimensional image including the cardiocirculatory structure using a first imaging modality. The acquired three-dimensional image is projected into two-dimensions to produce a two-dimensional projection image of the cardiocirculatory structure. A structure of interest is segmented either from the three-dimensional image prior to projection or from the projection image subsequent to projection. A two-dimensional image of the cardiocirculatory structure is acquired using a second imaging modality. The structure of interest is segmented from the acquired two-dimensional image. A first distance map is generated based on the two-dimensional projection image and a second distance map is generated based on the acquired two-dimensional image. A registration of the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image is performed by minimizing a difference between the first and second distance maps.
US08675995B2 Precisely locating features on geospatial imagery
Methods for locating a feature on geospatial imagery and systems for performing those methods are disclosed. An accuracy level of each of a plurality of geospatial vector datasets available in a database can be determined. Each of the plurality of geospatial vector datasets corresponds to the same spatial region as the geospatial imagery. The geospatial vector dataset having the highest accuracy level may be selected. When the selected geospatial vector dataset and the geospatial imagery are misaligned, the selected geospatial vector dataset is aligned to the geospatial imagery. The location of the feature on the geospatial imagery is then determined based on the selected geospatial vector dataset and outputted via a display device.
US08675992B2 Digital microscope slide scanning system and methods
Provided herein are systems methods including a design of a microscope slide scanner for digital pathology applications which provides high quality images and automated batch-mode operation at low cost. The instrument architecture is advantageously based on a convergence of high performance, yet low cost, computing technologies, interfaces and software standards to enable high quality digital microscopy at very low cost. Also provided is a method based in part on a stitching method that allows for dividing an image into a number of overlapping tiles and reconstituting the image with a magnification without substantial loss of accuracy. A scanner is employed in capturing snapshot images. The method allows for overlapping images captured in consecutive snapshots.
US08675981B2 Multi-modal gender recognition including depth data
Gender recognition is performed using two or more modalities. For example, depth image data and one or more types of data other than depth image data is received. The data pertains to a person. The different types of data are fused together to automatically determine gender of the person. A computing system can subsequently interact with the person based on the determination of gender.
US08675979B2 Transcoder, method of transcoding, and digital recorder
A transcoder reduces the processing amount when a coded stream to which at least intra prediction is applied is transcoded into a coded stream to which intra prediction and inter prediction are applied. The transcoder converts a first coded stream to at least part of which intra prediction is applied, into a second coded stream to which intra prediction and inter prediction are applied. The transcoder includes a decoding unit that decodes the first coded stream to generate decoded image data; a prediction mode obtaining unit that obtains a prediction mode of intra prediction applied in decoding; and a coding unit that codes the decoded image data by applying the intra prediction or inter prediction to generate the second coded stream. A control unit controls causes the coding unit to use the prediction mode obtained by the prediction mode obtaining unit when the coding unit applies intra prediction.
US08675978B2 Image processing device and method
The present invention relates to an image processing device and method enabling noise removal to be performed according to images and bit rates. A low-pass filter setting unit 93 sets, from filter coefficients stored in a built-in filter coefficient memory 94, a filter coefficient corresponding to intra prediction mode information and a quantization parameter. A neighboring image setting unit 81 uses the filter coefficient set by the low-pass filter setting unit 93 to subject neighboring pixel values of a current block from frame memory 72 to filtering processing. A prediction image generating unit 82 performs intra prediction using the neighboring pixel values subjected to filtering processing, from the neighboring image setting unit 81, and generates a prediction image. The present invention can be applied to an image encoding device which encodes with the H.264/AVC format, for example.
US08675969B2 Method and apparatus for detecting page boundaries
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for detecting page boundaries which are capable of accurately detecting complete page boundaries and dealing with many kinds of complex conditions. The method comprises: an edge image detecting step for detecting an edge image from the book document image; a horizontal page boundary detecting step for detecting top page boundaries and bottom page boundaries on the edge image; a binding center line detecting step for detecting the binding center line by searching an intersection point of the left page and the right page on the top page boundaries and the bottom page boundaries; a page width determining step for determining the page width of the book document image; and a vertical page boundary determining step for determining the left page boundary and the right page boundary by using the top page boundaries, the bottom page boundaries, the binding center line and the page width.
US08675967B2 Pose estimation
In a pose estimation for estimating the pose of an object of pose estimation with respect to a reference surface that serves as a reference for estimating a pose, a data processing device: extracts pose parameters from a binarized image; identifies a combination of pose parameters for which the number of cross surfaces of parameter surfaces that accord with surface parameter formulas, which are numerical formulas for expressing a reference surface, is a maximum; finds a slope weighting for each of cross pixels, which are pixels on each candidate surface and which are pixels within a prescribed range, that is identified based on the angles of the tangent plane at the cross pixel and based on planes formed by each of the axes of parameter space; and identifies the significant candidate surface for which a number, which is the sum of slope weightings, is a maximum, as the actual surface that is the reference surface that actually exists in the image.
US08675966B2 System and method for saliency map generation
A system and a method are disclosed for generating a saliency map of an image. The method includes receiving image data representative of image forming elements of an image and determining saliency values for image forming elements by an iterative method. The iterative method includes computing a norm of the image data, computing values of deviation from the norm of the image data of the image forming elements, identifying the image forming elements corresponding to the image data having magnitudes of deviation that meet a pre-determined condition, assigning saliency values to the identified image forming elements based on the values of deviation, and repeating the computing the norm and deviation, identifying image forming elements and assigning saliency values using the image data of image forming elements that have no assigned saliency value. A saliency map of the image based on the assigned saliency values.
US08675965B2 Method and system for analyzing an image generated by at least one camera
A method for analyzing an image of a real object, particularly a printed media object, generated by at least one camera comprises the following steps: generating at least a first image by the camera capturing at least one real object, defining a first search domain comprising multiple data sets of the real object, each of the data sets being indicative of a respective portion of the real object, and analyzing at least one characteristic property of the first image of the camera with respect to the first search domain, in order to determine whether the at least one characteristic property corresponds to information of at least a particular one of the data sets of the first search domain. If it is determined that the at least one characteristic property corresponds to information of at least a particular one of the data sets, a second search domain comprising only the particular one of the data sets is defined and the second search domain is used for analyzing the first image and/or at least a second image generated by the camera.
US08675961B2 Image processing system, display device, program and information storage medium for correction of color information
An image processing system includes: an update unit updating color space information indicating a color space by allowing rotational movement of a selected reference color, taking a line connecting a white color to a black color in the color space as a rotation axis, based on adjustment information indicating that hue of at least one reference color is adjusted, which is in a reference color group including plural reference colors of a RGB system and plural reference colors of a CMY system in the color space; and a correction unit correcting an input image signal based on the color space information.
US08675953B1 Calculating an object size using images
An electronic device that determines a geometric scale of an object using two or more images of the object is described. During operation, the electronic device calculates the size of the object along a direction using multiple images of the object that were taken from different perspectives (such as different locations and/or orientations in an environment) along with associated imaging-device characteristics. For example, the size of the object may be calculated using the images, the associated focal lengths of a digital camera that acquired the images, and the law of cosines. Using the scale of the object, an image of the object may be appropriately scaled so that it can be combined with another image.
US08675950B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes: an image extracting section that extracts a template image from blade images which form a streaming video obtained by capturing blades periodically arrayed in a jet engine; an image comparing section that compares the blade images with the template image; an image selecting section that selects an image as a record image from the blade images based on a result of the image comparison of the image comparing section; and a display section that displays the surface shape of the blade calculated based on the record image.
US08675937B2 Method for increasing the quality of computer tomographic recording series by projection data processing and CT system having a computation unit
A method is disclosed for increasing the quality of computer tomographic recording series, to a computation unit and to an X-ray CT system. An embodiment of the method includes scanning a subject over a period of time which makes it possible to record at least two temporally offset projection data sets of the same recording region; transforming the projection data sets into transformation data sets for at least two spatial frequency ranges; calculating temporal compensation values of the transformation data sets for some of the spatial frequency ranges and replacing the compensated values of the transformation data sets with the calculated compensation values in new transformation data sets, projection data of congruent rays always being compared; transforming the new transformation data sets back into new projection data sets; reconstructing image data sets on the basis of the new projection data sets and representing the image data sets.
US08675936B2 Multimodal image reconstruction
Computer-implemented methods of reconstructing an image object for a measured object in object space from image data in data space include causing a computer to execute instructions for providing zonal information separating the object space into at least two zones, providing at least two zonal image objects, each zonal image object being associated with one of the at least two zones, reconstructing the image object using a data model derived from forward projecting the zonal image objects into data space, wherein the contribution of each zonal image object to the data model is weighted according to a zonal scaling factor, and outputting the image object.
US08675935B2 Fast 3D-2D image registration method with application to continuously guided endoscopy
Fast and continuous registration between two imaging modalities makes it possible to completely determine the rigid transformation between multiple sources at real-time or near real-time frame-rates in order to localize video cameras and register the two sources. A set of reference images are computed or captured within a known environment, with corresponding depth maps and image gradients defining a reference source. Given one frame from a real-time or near-real time video feed, and starting from an initial guess of viewpoint, a real-time video frame is warped to the nearest viewing site of the reference source. An image difference is computed between the warped video frame and the reference image. Steps are repeated for each frame until the viewpoint converges or the next video frame becomes available. The final viewpoint gives an estimate of the relative rotation and translation between the camera at that particular video frame and the reference source.
US08675932B2 Method for establishing at least one change in a tubular tissue structure in a living being, calculation unit and data storage medium
A method is disclosed for establishing at least one change in a tubular tissue structure in a living being from a first time to a second time, which differs from the first, wherein the midline of the tubular tissue structure is respectively determined in a provided first volume data record, generated at the first time, of the tubular tissue structure in the living being, and in a provided second volume data record, generated at the second time, which differs from the first, of the tubular tissue structure. In at least one embodiment, at least one change in the minimum and/or the maximum diameter of the inner wall of the tubular tissue structure and/or at least one change in the minimum and/or the maximum diameter of the outer wall of the tubular tissue structure is established in order to establish the at least one change in the tubular tissue structure along the tubular tissue structure at mutually corresponding positions of the midlines of the tubular tissue structure in the first volume data record and the tubular tissue structure in the second volume data record. At least one embodiment of the invention also relates to a calculation unit for carrying out the method and to a data storage medium, which has a calculation program implementing the method.
US08675930B2 Implantable orthopedic device component selection instrument and methods
The present invention provides tools and methods designed to aid in the placement of artificial facet joints at virtually all spinal levels. One aspect of the present invention is a measurement tool for installing an artificial cephalad facet joint including a fixation measurement element and a support arm element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of an artificial cephalad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Another aspect is a measurement tool for installing a caudad facet joint including a stem element and a trial caudad bearing surface element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of a caudad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Yet another aspect is a measurement tool holder including a measurement surface connected to a holder element. This tool holder assists in determining the measurements obtained with the caudad facet joint measurement tool.
US08675928B2 Multiple charge-coupled biometric sensor array
Embodiments of the present invention relate to fingerprint scanning. Specifically, the present invention relates to a multi-sided fingerprint scanning device on a card (e.g., credit card, smart card, etc.), an associated energy-efficient method for attaining accurate fingerprint information using a multiple charge-coupled biometric sensor array. In a typical embodiment, a scanning device will be provided that includes a scanning area comprised of a set (e.g., at least one) of imaging pixel electrodes (e.g., arranged adjacent to one another in a grid-like or other fashion). As a user presses his/her finger against the scanning area, a portion of the finger will contact a plurality of electrodes. When this occurs, a voltage source of the device will apply a first voltage to each of the plurality of electrodes. A meter of the device will take a first electrical measurement (e.g., resistance and/or charged skin voltage) of the plurality of electrodes. The voltage source of the device will apply a second voltage to the plurality of electrodes. The meter of the device will take a second electrical measurement (e.g., resistance and/or charged skin voltage) of the plurality of electrodes. The voltage level difference between the first electrical measurement and second electrical measurement is calculated. The voltage level difference provides accurate fingerprint information.
US08675927B2 Method and apparatus for information processing
According to one of embodiments, taking in facial image data for a user, extracting feature points of the face of the user from the facial image data and then coding the feature points, and registering the facial image data on a destination management table so that the facial image data is associated with a special identifier and/or the coded feature points. In particular, the face of the sender is incorporated into a video mail, so that the exchange of addresses (faces) is facilitated and the reliability of the e-mail itself can be enhanced. Further, a face can be automatically registered on an address book at a receiving end. In this case, a similar face can be updated by the latest face.
US08675915B2 System for tracking user manipulations within an environment
Systems, methods and for analyzing game control input data are disclosed. A machine-readable medium having embodied thereon instructions for analyzing game control input data is also disclosed.
US08675914B2 Method and system for needle tracking in fluoroscopic image sequences
A method and system for tracking a needle in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. In order to track a needle in a fluoroscopic image sequence, the needle is initialized in a first frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence. Needle segments are detected in each subsequent frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence, and the needle is detected in each frame of the fluoroscopic image by tracking the needle from a previous frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence based on the detected needle segments in the current frame.
US08675913B2 Gesture recognition method and interactive system using the same
A gesture recognition method for an interactive system includes the steps of: capturing image windows with an image sensor; obtaining information of object images associated with at least one pointer in the image windows; calculating a position coordinate of the pointer relative to the interactive system according to the position of the object images in the image windows when a single pointer is identified according to the information of object images; and performing gesture recognition according to a relation between the object images in the image window when a plurality of pointers are identified according to the information of object images. The present invention further provides an interactive system.
US08675909B2 Traffic signal connected digital electronic display and method of controlling the same
A digital electronic display connected to a traffic signal and a method of controlling the digital electronic display are provided. The digital electronic display includes a communication unit configured to receive content including content segments and metadata, a display screen, and a processor. The processor is configured to monitor the traffic signal to determine when, and the duration during which, a red light and a green light of the traffic signal is illuminated, present a content segment on the display screen corresponding to the red light based on the metadata and substantially for the entire duration when the red light is illuminated, and control the display screen to operate in a low-power state substantially for the entire duration when the green light is illuminated.
US08675903B2 Acoustic porting for a portable communication device
A portable full duplex communication device (100) is provided with improved acoustic porting (114) by providing an earpiece enclosure (108) within the housing (102) of device. The earpiece enclosure (108) includes an array of micro-ports (114) formed to provide optimal low frequency response and echo performance without the use of external acoustical leak ports to the housing.
US08675889B2 Two wire autobias vehicular microphone system having user input functionality and method of forming same
An autobias vehicular microphone system (300) includes a microphone (301) which uses an amplifier (306) for amplifying an output of the microphone. A first feedback path (308) provides an amplifier output signal to the amplifier input for providing amplifier linearity, and a second feedback path (305) is used for providing bias to a voltage reference (303). The voltage reference (303) operates to provide an autobias to the amplifier (306) based upon amplifier load-ing. By holding the bias point to a constant voltage, a constant clip level can be maintained depending on varying load conditions of electronic devices (307, 309, 311) using the microphone (301). Additionally, one or more switches can be used to vary the bias point which can be interpreted to control functionality of the electronic devices (307, 309, 311).
US08675888B2 Car audio
Provided is a car audio, in which a holding unit where a portable media device is held is inserted in an insertion space formed through the font of a car audio body and the holding unit is drawn out by opening and closing the insertion space with a front panel unit. Therefore, it is possible to hold and use a portable media device in a vehicle and the holding unit is stored in the insertion space when the portable media device is not used.
US08675880B2 Device for and a method of processing data
A device (100) for processing data, the device (100) comprising a detection unit (110) adapted for detecting individual reproduction modes indicative of a manner of reproducing the data separately for each of a plurality of human users, and a processing unit (120) adapted for processing the data to thereby generate reproducible data separately for each of the plurality of human users in accordance with the detected individual reproduction modes.
US08675878B2 Interoperable keychest for use by service providers
There is provided a system and method for distributors to use an interoperable key chest. There is provided a method for use by a distributor to obtain content access authorizations from a key chest or central key repository (CKR), the method comprising receiving a user request from a user device for access to an encrypted content identified by a content identification, transmitting a key request to the CKR including the content identification, receiving an encrypted first key from the CKR, decrypting the encrypted first key using a second key to retrieve the first key, and providing a DRM license for the encrypted content to the user device using the first key for use by the user device to decrypt the encrypted content using the first key. By generating such DRM licenses, distributors can unlock protected content even sourced from distributors using different DRM schemas.
US08675871B2 Protecting a control vector in an optional block of a standard key block
A computer program product is provided and includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and on which instructions are stored for execution by the processing circuit for validating parameters passed to a parameter database, computing a length required for control vector CV data, preparing an optional block in accordance with a result of the computation, converting the CV to a format for a standardized key block while copying the converted CV into the optional block and updating optional block data in the standardized key block.
US08675868B1 Encrypting an address-dependent value along with code to prevent execution or use of moved code
A memory is organized into blocks. In a write operation, data to be stored is combined with an address-dependent value (ADV) to form a block of information, and this block is encrypted. The block of encrypted information is written into a block of memory identified by the write address of the write operation. In a read operation, the block of encrypted information is read back from the memory and is decrypted to recover the data and the ADV. The address of the memory block from which the block of encrypted information was read is used to check the ADV to confirm that the ADV is related in the proper way to the address of the memory block that stored the encrypted information. If the check fails, the processor is prevented from executing the data, thereby preventing the processor from executing blocks of code that are in incorrect locations in memory.
US08675858B1 Method and apparatus for network-intelligence-determined identity or persona
A method and apparatus is presented for enabling an agent to assume the identity or persona of a called party and process calls directed to the called party. In one embodiment, methods, which enable an agent to assume the identity or persona of a called party, and process calls directed to the called party are considered a call center functions and may be implemented in a call center. A call is initiated to a called party. Initiating the call generates called party information. Using the called party information a server retrieves information associated with the called party and then forward the information associated with the called party to an agent. The call is then forwarded to the agent. As a result, the agent may use the information associated with the called party to assume the identity or persona of the called party when responding to the call.
US08675857B1 Method and apparatus for enabling customized and selectable network announcements
The present invention enables network providers of toll free calls to give customers a choice of what network announcements they want to listen to as they wait in queue. For example, customers could select to hear silence with periodic estimations of wait time, different types of music, current global, domestic, or local news, information about sports or financial information. The present invention allows customers to toggle between different selections via a predefined Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) signal.
US08675849B2 Ubiquitous transfer of a phone number to another phone
A method of receiving a phone number is provided, including receiving, at a receiver of a first phone during a first voice communication session between the first phone and a second phone, a phone number transmitted by a user of the second phone after the first voice communication session is established. The phone number is detected with a signal detector coupled for communication with the receiver, and stored in a memory coupled to the signal detector.
US08675844B2 System and mobile terminal for displaying caller information and method thereof
Caller information display system includes a caller terminal, a service system and a receiver terminal. The caller terminal stores caller information and transmits data including the caller information during a call. The service system receives the data including the caller information from the caller terminal and transmits the data to a receiver terminal. The receiver terminal receives the data from the service system, stores the caller information to be linked with a telephone number of the caller terminal, and displays the caller information when a paging signal is received.
US08675843B2 Charging data record generating node
1. A Charging Data Record, CDR, generating node (110) for a cellular access system (100), the CDR generating node (110) being characterized in that it is arranged to generate CDRs for Internet Protocol version 6, IPv6, traffic in the CDR format for IPv4 traffic instead of in the CDR format for Iv6 traffic, the Charging Data Record generating node being arranged to generate IPv4 CDRs for IPv6 traffic instead of IPv6 CDRs by means of changing the Information Element “pdpType” or the Information Element “pdpPDNType” from F157H to F121H, and by means of changing the Information Element “served PDPaddress” or the Information Element “served PDPPDN Address” from an IPv6 format to an IPv4 format
US08675842B2 Speech usage and performance tool
A system may include a database configured to selectively store and retrieve data. The system may further include a call record parser configured to receive a plurality of call records, each call record being associated with a respective call, parse the plurality of call records to identify periods of resource usage and types of resource usage for the associated calls, create parsed data based on the identified periods of resource usage and the types of resource usage, and store the parsed data in the database indexed according to the type of the identified resource and including the start and end times for the identified periods of usage.
US08675836B2 System for establishing publicly accessible telephone numbers and methods thereof
This application relates to providing an end user control of temporary numbers established and linked to a trusted phone number using traditional forwarding mechanisms. Temporary phone numbers can be created and assigned to individuals to provide them with a unique point of contact. The temporary numbers are then linked to the individual's private number. The temporary numbers can be shared with individuals and organizations with whom the individual has an interest in communicating with. However, these numbers will often find their way into the hands of third parties with whom the individual has no interest in talking with. When the user simply no longer feels that the numbers are being properly used, the user can remove the temporary numbers linked with their private number so no further calls can be made and routed to their private number. The temporary numbers can be used to uniquely identify the calling party.
US08675829B1 Notify caller if low quality voicemail is being recorded
The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for notifying a caller that they are leaving a low quality voice mail. The user can be notified that they are leaving such a voicemail before they are done leaving the message. This allows the user to try and leave another voicemail having a better quality, thereby making the voicemail more comprehensible.