Document Document Title
US08851668B2 Glasses
Glasses are described having a frame (3) and having nose pads (6) provided in the region of frame attachments (7), which have catch positions arranged in succession in an adjustment direction. To allow an advantageous glasses adaptation, it is proposed that the nose pads (6) be provided on the side opposite to their support surface (10) with a plug-in attachment (9) protruding transversely to the support surface (10), which forms at least two catches (11) in succession in the plug-in direction for alternately engaging in a catch recess (8) of the frame attachments (7).
US08851660B2 Method for manufacturing ink jet recording head
There is provided a method for manufacturing an ink jet recording head in which a plurality of recording element substrates used for discharging ink are appropriately arranged onto a support substrate.
US08851658B2 Printer and printing method
The present invention provides a printer and printing method that forms a lenticular lens or a transparent structure based on pseudo-embossment printing or the like on paper having penetrability, and an inkjet printer performs: with respect to a base material having a characteristic of being penetrated by radiation-curable ink, an undercoating step of using radiation-curable transparent ink to form a thin undercoat layer; an undercoat curing step of irradiating the formed undercoat layer with radiation to completely solidify the thrilled undercoat layer; a transparent structure forming step of using the radiation-curable transparent ink to form a spacer layer and microlens layer as a desired transparent structure on the solidified undercoat layer; and a transparent structure curing step of afterward further irradiating the radiation to cure the formed spacer layer and microlens layer.
US08851656B2 Image fixation apparatus and recording apparatus
An image fixation apparatus includes a supporting surface that is a part of a path along which a recording target medium is transported from an upstream side to a downstream side and can support the recording target medium; and an image fixation section that is provided opposite the supporting surface and performs image fixation processing when the recording target medium is supported by the supporting surface after recording of an image on the recording target medium at a position upstream of the supporting surface, the image fixation processing being processing of fixing the image on the recording target medium, wherein, when measured in a direction in which the supporting surface and the image fixation section are provided opposite to each other, the supporting surface is relatively distant from the image fixation section as compared with a region that is located upstream of the supporting surface in the transportation path.
US08851653B2 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 forms a plurality of images on a medium and also forms coating of the images, by executing a pass which makes the liquid discharging section perform the liquid discharging operation while moving the liquid discharging section in a movement direction, wherein the controller forms a common image portion that is an image site common to each of the plurality of images by a predetermined number of passes and forms respectively a variable image portion that is an image site which differs in each of the plurality of images and the coating of the images by a number of passes smaller than the predetermined number.
US08851651B2 Ink jet recording method and record
An ink jet recording method includes forming a first image by applying by an ink jet method a glitter ink in which a glitter pigment is dispersed to a first region of a recording medium in which the glitter first image is to be formed, and forming a second image by applying by an ink jet method a color ink containing a coloring material to a second region of the recording medium in which the colored second image is to be formed, the amount per unit area of the glitter ink ejected in an overlapping region in which the first region overlaps the second region being larger than the amount per unit area of the glitter ink ejected in the first region excluding the overlapping region.
US08851650B2 Method of producing transfer medium, set of ink and adhesive liquid used for the method, transfer medium, and apparatus for producing the transfer medium
Provided is a method of producing a transfer medium including attaching ink which contains a resin and is discharged from an ink jet head onto a substrate; evaporating at least a part of the liquid component included in the ink having been attached to the substrate; and attaching adhesive liquid which contains a resin and is discharged from the ink jet head to a substrate surface where the ink in which at least a part of the liquid component has been evaporated is attached.
US08851629B2 Image forming device and method of image forming
An image forming device includes, the first head which ejects the first ink, the second head which ejects the second ink, a movement mechanism which moves a relative position of the first head and the second head in a predetermined direction, and a control unit which causes an ejection operation in which ink is ejected from nozzles while relatively moving the head and a medium in the movement direction intersecting the predetermined direction, and a transport operation in which the head and the medium are relatively moved in a predetermined direction to be repeated, and adjusts a head interval as an interval of the first head and the second head in a predetermined direction.
US08851627B2 Liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a recording head ejecting ink onto a paper; a tray which moves in a direction along a nozzle forming surface in a state where a plurality of units are displaceably supported in a direction approaching and separating from the nozzle forming surface of the recording head; and a cam which is disposed on a moving path of the tray and engages individually with at least two units while the tray moves in a direction along the nozzle forming surface, and makes the units engage individually to be displaced in the direction approaching and separating from the nozzle forming surface.
US08851626B2 Cap device and ink jet printer
A cap device includes a first table provided so as not to be movable in a main scanning direction with respect to a base member; a first cap provided on the first table; a first guide member which has a first contact surface directed leftward and is provided on the first table; a second table provided so as to be movable in the main scanning direction with respect to the base member; a second cap provided on the second table; a second guide member which has a second contact surface directed leftward and is provided on the second table; a third guide member which has a third contact surface facing the first contact surface and is provided on a first ink head unit; and a fourth guide member which has a fourth contact surface facing the second contact surface and is provided on a second ink head unit. The first, second, third and fourth guide members are located such that when a carriage moves rightward, the second contact surface and the fourth contact surface contact each other and after this, the first contact surface and the third contact surface contact each other.
US08851625B2 Liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head which has a nozzle formation surface that ejects a liquid containing a solvent in a vaporized state with a specific gravity greater than that of air onto a recording medium, and is in a standby state in which the nozzle formation surface faces a lower side in the vertical direction at a standby position deviating from a region where the recording medium is disposed during non-ejection of the liquid; and a head accommodation portion which has a concave portion that accommodates at least a part including the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejecting head in the standby state and is provided so that a bottom portion of the concave portion opposes the nozzle formation surface in a state where the part is accommodated.
US08851624B2 Maintenance liquid
Disclosed is a maintenance liquid for property carrying out imprints excellent in patternability. The maintenance liquid for imprints of an ink-jet discharging device comprises a compound comprising an ester group and/or an ether group.
US08851622B2 Printers, methods, and apparatus to reduce aerosol
Printers, methods, and apparatus to reduce aerosol are disclosed. An example apparatus to reduce aerosol includes a print head to generate droplets and aerosol, and to direct the droplets toward a print substrate, a first corona wire to generate first ions having a first electrical polarity to direct the aerosol toward the print substrate, and a second corona wire to generate second ions to direct the aerosol toward the print substrate, wherein the second ions have a second electrical polarity that is opposite the first electrical polarity.
US08851619B2 Apparatus for optimizing non-ejection correction parameter of ink-jet head, and ink-jet printer
The present invention efficiently optimizes a non-ejection correction parameter for each nozzle. The non-ejection correction parameter for each nozzle is optimized by repeatedly executing the operations of generating test chart data based on a non-ejection correction parameter for each of a plurality of nozzles provided on an ink-jet head; acquiring read data of a test chart recorded on a recording medium by ejecting ink from the plurality of nozzles based on the test chart data while relatively moving the ink-jet head and the recording medium; evaluating a correction intensity of the non-ejection correction parameter for each of the nozzles based on the acquired read data; and updating the non-ejection correction parameter for each of the nozzles based on a single variable root-finding algorithm using iteration method from the evaluated correction intensity.
US08851618B2 Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method
An ejection complement process is performed during which both a usual ejection failure and a sudden ejection failure can be appropriately coped with, without being accompanied by a frequent maintenance process. In a case wherein sequential printing is not currently being performed, the first detection process is performed with a high accuracy while being accompanied by the maintenance process, and in a case wherein sequential printing is currently being performed, the second detection process that requires only a small process load is performed at a predetermined timing without being accompanied by the maintenance processing. At this time, when the number of ejection failed nozzles detected in the second ejection process has reached a predetermined value or greater, the maintenance process is performed, and only the information for the ejection failed nozzle, detected in the second detection process, is reset.
US08851616B2 Print head pre-alignment systems and methods
Systems and methods for pre-aligning print head(s) to alignment adapter(s) to increase print resolution of printed matter, and to reduce offline time of a printing system due to print head alignment, include the use of an alignment adapter to which a print head is pre-aligned and which includes precision alignment features which precisely engage cooperating precision alignment features on the print head carriage mounting plate of the print head carriage. Print head(s) can be pre-aligned and fine-tuned to alignment adapter(s) even while the printing system is still in print production. Pre-aligned print head/alignment adapter assemblies can then be quickly mounted on the print head carriage using the cooperating precision alignment features of the adapter and print head carriage mounting plate. Duplicate sets of print head mounting sockets can include print heads aligned at different relative offsets (e.g., half a pixel) to increase the print resolution.
US08851610B2 Image processing device
A calculator calculates a total value of tone values of all pixels in each aggregation by allocating each pixel of M-valued image data to one aggregation. Each block is either one of ejection-port groups including ejection ports having a common liquid channel serving as a liquid supply source or one of divided ejection-port groups. Each aggregation includes pixels of the M-valued image data corresponding to dots formed on a medium when liquid is ejected from ejection ports in one block during one L ejection period. Each L ejection period is obtained by dividing, by a plural number, a number of ejection cycles required to record an image on one recording medium. A tone-value reducer reduces tone values of at least part of pixels in an adjustment-requiring aggregation so that the total value becomes less than a threshold. A transmitter transmits the adjusted M-valued image data to a liquid ejecting device.
US08851606B2 Inkjet image recording apparatus
A chart 50 is formed of a density detecting pattern 51 and position detecting marks 52. The density detecting pattern 51 includes five different density areas A, B, C, D and E in form of belts arranged sequentially in Y-direction. The position detecting marks 52 are formed at intervals in X-direction which is a direction of arrangement of nozzles, at an end of the density area A of the density detecting pattern 51. These position detecting marks 52 are formed by suspending, for a fixed period of time, discharge from particular nozzles selected from a plurality of nozzles which discharge ink for forming the density detecting pattern 51, thereby producing ink-free portions (void portions) in the density area A.
US08851605B2 Image formation apparatus utilizing a transfer belt
An LDV meter 21 cooperates with an LDV processor 22 to measure travel distances or travel speeds of a transfer belt at a prescribed measuring spot and at intervals with a prescribed rotation angle of one of a set of rollers, on which the transfer belt is stretched, as a set for one or more go-around revolutions of the transfer belt. A roller profile calculator 242 calculates a roller profile data as a set of fractions attributable to an eccentricity of the set of rollers in a set of measurement data. A belt profile calculator 241 removes the set of fractions attributable to the eccentricity from the set of measurement data and calculates a belt profile data representative of irregularities in thickness of the transfer belt based on the set of measurement data after removal of the set of fractions attributable to the eccentricity. In printing, a printing machine 1 controls timing for discharge of ink at an ink head based on the belt profile data and the roller profile data.
US08851600B2 Inkjet recording apparatus and method
An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a paper conveying device which conveys paper; a line-type inkjet head which performs image formation on the paper by ejecting ink droplets to the paper conveyed by the paper conveying device; a paper conveyance speed measuring device which measures a paper conveyance speed of the paper at the image formation by the inkjet head; a dot arrangement data acquiring device which acquires data for arranging dots to form an image by the inkjet head on the paper conveyed at a predetermined paper conveyance speed; a dot arrangement data adjusting device which adjusts the data for arranging dots in accordance with the paper conveyance speed measured by the paper conveyance speed measuring device so that the image is formed on the paper with a constant image density even when the paper conveyance speed varies; and a head drive controlling device which controls drive of the inkjet head in accordance with the adjusted data for arranging dots.
US08851598B2 Printing device and printing method
The printing device including: a first setting unit configured to set printing mode of a main image and to set either front-surface printing mode for printing a background image on the medium and then printing the main image on the background image or rear-surface printing mode for printing the main image on the medium and then printing the background image on the main image; and a second setting unit configured to set a printing mode of an additional image printed in association with the printing of the main image and to set either front-surface printing mode for printing a background image for the additional image on the medium and then printing the additional image on the background image for the additional image or rear-surface printing mode for printing the additional image on the medium and then printing the background image for the additional image on the additional image.
US08851596B2 Image forming apparatus including recording head and head tank
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording head, a head tank, a displacement member, an air release unit, a main tank, a liquid feed device, a body-side detector, and a supply controller. The supply controller controls a normal filling operation to start feeding liquid from the main tank to the head tank without opening the air release unit when a consumption amount of the liquid in the head tank is a threshold amount or greater, and stop feeding the liquid from the main tank to the head tank when the body-side detector detects an arrival of the displacement member at a normal fill position. When the body-side detector detects the displacement member at a start of the normal filling operation, the supply controller corrects the normal fill position to a position at which the liquid feed device can feed the liquid to the head tank.
US08851594B2 Fill reduction for printing
Systems and methods of fill area reduction during printing are disclosed. An example of a method includes identifying a fill area. The method also includes generating a depletion matrix corresponding to the fill area. The depletion matrix identifies which of the plurality of print heads to deactivate. The method also includes selectively adjusting output from the plurality of print heads based on the depletion matrix in order to reduce fill area during printing.
US08851587B2 Heavy-duty slide assembly
A slide assembly having an outer segment, an intermediate segment, and an inner segment telescopically engaged with one another. The slide assembly includes forward pair of rollers and a rearward pair of rollers having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the forward pair of rollers. The outer segment includes a protrusion that limits vertical movement of the intermediate slide segment. The intermediate segment includes a stop member arranged to contact a portion of the inner segment to limit vertical movement of the inner segment relative to the intermediate segment. The inner segment includes a stop arrangement that contacts the intermediate segment to define a closed position of the inner segment. The outer segment includes a stop member and a strengthening rib is positioned near a surface of the intermediate segment that contacts the stop member.
US08851586B1 Automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure
An automatic full-open type sliding box mounting structure includes a sliding box, a sliding track assembly mounted at the bottom side of the sliding box, and a first opening and closing device and a second opening and closing device and a reset device mounted at the top side of the sliding box in such a manner that the first opening and closing device and the second opening and closing device are capable of automatically moving the sliding box to the full-open position and, the reset device is capable of reset the first opening and closing device and the second opening and closing device when the user pushes the sliding box back to the close position for a next sliding box opening operation.
US08851582B2 Track with rotating bushings for track-type vehicles
A track (10) for track-type vehicles is described, comprising a continuous sequence of articulated joints (12, 12′) of the hinge type, oriented according to a first axis (A-A) substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal development axis (B-B) of the track (10). The articulated joints (12, 12′), provided with pins (36, 36′), are connected to each other and maintained at a constant distance through pairs of links (14) having longitudinal development, arranged laterally and symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis (B-B). Around each pin (36, 36′) a bushing (40) is mounted free to rotate with respect to the pin (36, 36′) itself and between each pin (36, 36′) and the links (14) at least one sliding bearing (44) is press-fitted. The geometric/size characteristics of the links (14) and of the sliding bearings (44) make it possible to improve the stability and the resistance to fatigue and wearing of the articulated joints (12, 12′) of the track (10).
US08851571B2 Movement device for an element of furniture
A movement device for an element of furniture for the movement of a seat includes a rotating shaft, integral with the seat, and a hollow hub integral with the fixed portion. The shaft is coupled in rotatable and axially sliding manner to the hub, to define a first lifted position, in which the seat is positioned with respect to the fixed portion. The device also includes a biasing element coupled to the hub and to the shaft to exert an elastic action of contrast on the shaft and maintain it normally in the first position, a friction element constrained to the shaft, and a stop element integral with the hub and configured to contact selectively the friction element and define a second position of the shaft, which is lowered with respect to the first position and in which the rotation of the shaft is angularly countered by the friction element.
US08851567B2 Tie down cord assembly and method of making and using same
Disclosed are tie down cord assemblies and methods of assembling same. According to some aspects, the tie down cord assembly includes a webbing having a tunnel portion and a flat portion, with the tunnel portion configured to receive a slotted cord and the flat portion configured to attach to fabric. The slotted cord weaves in and out of the tunnel portion and is configured to interact with a seat frame or other suitable structure to secure the fabric to a seat frame. The tie down cord assembly is configured to be universal so that it can be used with seat frames having different dimensions and/or configurations.
US08851565B2 Seatback holder for tablet computers
A seatback holder for a tablet computer including a bracket configured to releasably engage within a seatback pocket and a frame pivotally connected to the bracket configured to hold an installed tablet computer securely therein and pivot relative to the bracket to adjust the viewing angle of the installed tablet computer relative to a seatback.
US08851563B2 Furniture fitting system
Fitting system including base seat surface and leg support segments. The seat surface segment is displaceable in relation to the base segment, and the leg support segment is pivotable between a storage position and a use position, and wherein the relative positions of the seat surface and leg support segments with respect to the base segment are forcibly coupled to each other. The seat surface segment is connected to the base segment by a first bracket. The leg support segment is pivotable about a pivot axis fixed in position with respect to the base and leg support segments. The leg support segment is connected to the seat surface segment by a second bracket pivotable about a pivot axis on the leg support and seat surface segment sides.
US08851560B1 Multilevel vehicle roof supporting a deployable solar array
The device is a vehicle with a carefully designed multi-layered roof and with a solar array consisting of at least five solar panels mounted on various parts of that roof. When the vehicle is being driven none of the solar panels will extend beyond the outer perimeter of the vehicle. When the vehicle is parked, the driver will be able to cause the at least four solar panels to be repositioned in such a way that their total footprint is more than twice the total footprint of the vehicle. This vehicle will also feature an onboard computer that can help the driver do a variety of tasks that are not normally necessary for typical vehicles and which involve levels of information processing which a normal person would be better off allowing the onboard computer to accomplish.
US08851552B2 Vehicle door
A vehicle door includes a run channel including a molded rubber part that is molded using a mold and an extruded part that is molded by extrusion molding. A covering lip is formed on the molded rubber part in such a manner as to extend rearward from an inner side of the molded rubber part. A mounting hole is covered by the covering lip. The covering lip and an extruded lip are accommodated in a recess of a corner garnish and clamped between a flange and the corner garnish, so that the molded rubber part is strongly fixed to the upper corner of the door sash.
US08851548B2 Floor latch mounted to a seat bottom and compensating for vehicle striker height variation
A height compensating latch supported upon an underside of a rotatable vehicle seat and including a pair of spaced apart support plates, between which are pivotally supported a hook rotatable between a floor supported striker engaging position and a further position permitting rotation of the seat. A cam is also supported between the plates and triggers actuation of the hook. A pair of pliant and resilient portions are supported within mounting apertures associated with the plate, an open interior of each resilient portion receiving a mounting fastener for securing the plate to the seat and providing a degree of height compensation between the latch and striker. The pliant and resilient portions include a pair of rubberized bushings sandwiched between the support plates, each of the bushings further including an integrally formed grommet supported within first and second aligning pairs of mounting apertures associated with the plates.
US08851546B2 Folding lateral extension adjoining at least one loading surface of a cargo-carrying vehicle
A lateral extension (1), for road and rail vehicles, comprising a multitude of individual shafts (5) assembled so as to pivot freely, at each of their extremities, firstly, with regard to the interior extremity secured to the vehicle, on a longitudinal structure (11) that is fixed in relation to the load-carrying platform and, secondly, as regards the exterior extremity, on an edge and connecting rigid longitudinal member (10). The shafts bear, over a portion of their length, on an adjacent flat support surface (13) that is fixed in relation to the load-carrying platform, and are cantilevered towards the exterior over the remainder of their length. The extension can be moved to a deployed position, so that the supporting surface (14) provides a passageway, and, a retracted position of lesser width, and incorporates a railing. A changeover from one position to the other is accomplished by pivoting in a horizontal plane.
US08851545B2 Vehicle equipped with a luggage compartment having a height-adjustable loading floor
A vehicle is provided with a luggage compartment that houses an additional support unit having a loading floor, height-adjustable between a lowered position and at least one raised position; the unit has two levers hinged to a fixed structure about a first horizontal axis and to the loading floor about a second horizontal axis, parallel to the first one; when placed in the raised position, the loading floor is supported, but can be rotated upwards about the second horizontal axis; the levers carry respective appendages, which rest on fixed brackets to support the loading floor in the raised position.
US08851544B2 Console assembly with automatic egress for foreign objects
A slidable tray assembly is provided having an aperture located on the housing near the track of the slidable tray assembly to promote egress of foreign objects out of the track. The housing includes a grid-like assembly to strengthen the overall housing assembly. The grid-like pattern promotes foreign objects to become stuck within the track thereby prohibiting movement of the slidable assembly. Foreign objects enter the tray by means of a gap between the slidable tray and a panel from the interior of the vehicle. The aperture located on the housing is sized in proportion to the gap created between the panel and the slidable tray.
US08851543B2 Reversible lifting lug
A lug reversibly connectable to a wear plate having a hole extending therethrough. The lug includes a coupling means and a plug. The plug comprises an upper surface. In a first position the lug is connectable to an underside of the wear plate such that the coupling means extends through said hole and outward from an upper surface of the wear plate an in this position can be engaged by a hoist. In a second position the lug is connectable to the underside of said wear plate such that the plug fills said hole whereby the upper surface of the plug is aligned with the upper surface of the wear plate to thereby present an even wear surface.
US08851539B2 Energy absorbing assembly
An energy absorbing assembly for impact energy absorption can comprise: an elongated plastic member having a major axis, a first side and a second side, comprising a central portion disposed between a first end portion and a second end portion, the second side defines a channel extending from the first end portion to the second end portion; and an elongated insert having a front, edges, tips, and a rear, wherein the insert is configured to flex upon impact, and is removably friction fit within the channel such that the plastic member surrounds the front, and greater than or equal to 50% of the edges and tips. The energy absorbing assembly can be configured to attach to a vehicle to absorb energy absorption impact. A vehicle can comprise: a vehicle rail and the energy absorbing assembly attached to the vehicle rail.
US08851533B2 Vehicle door locking device
A vehicle door locking device Ao is integrated by assembling a base unit A2 provided with a latch mechanism A2a to a housing unit A1 provided with an actuating mechanism for actuating the latch mechanism A2a. A metal sub-base plate 27 of the base unit A2 has an attachment hole 27a fitted to a support shaft 11a provided in the housing unit A1 in the axial direction thereof, the support shaft extending in the vehicle length direction. The attachment hole 27a of the metal sub-base plate 27 is fitted to the support shaft 11a, so that the base unit A2 is integrated with the housing unit A1. The metal sub-base plate 27 is provided with a receiving portion 27b for restraining a lean in the vehicle width direction (W direction) of a child-proof lever 36 at a back part of the child-proof lever 36.
US08851532B2 Electric strike
An electric strike according to the present invention comprises a housing, and an actuator mounted to the housing to switch operation of said strike between open and locked modes. In changing the modes the actuator provides lateral motion and a blocking element is included that is also mounted to the housing and cooperates with the actuator. The actuator's lateral motion causes rotational movement in the blocking element to switch between said open and locked modes. Different embodiments of the present invention can operate as dual mode electric strikes wherein the actuator is movable between fail-safe and fail-secure positions, and can include switches and paddles to monitor the position or condition of certain mechanisms in or working with the strikes. In some embodiments the blocking element can be rotatably mounted to the housing at a plurality of rotation mounting points and can comprise a plurality of blocking surfaces. In other embodiments, at least one of the one or more blocking surfaces having a pre-load movement mechanism to reduce friction with the keeper.
US08851530B2 Electric latch retraction bar
An electric latch retraction device comprising a housing for receiving a plurality of internal components of the electric latch retraction device. An actuator mechanism is included in the housing, the actuator mechanism is adapted to impart linear movement on a latch, such that the latch is retracted towards the housing. A holding mechanism is also included in the housing, the holding mechanism holds the latch in a fully retracted position.
US08851529B2 Electronic device and latching mechanism thereof
An electronic device is provided, including a main body, a latching mechanism, and a movable member. The latching mechanism is disposed on the main body to join with the movable member. The latching mechanism includes a rod, a first latching member disposed on a side of the rod, a second latching member connected to the rod, a first elastic member connecting the first latching member with the main body, a second elastic member connecting the second latching member with the main body, and a rotary member. The rotary member pivotally connects to the main body, and connects the rod with the first latching member.
US08851528B2 Compression connection
A fluidic compression connection includes a first sealing device having a fluid inlet at an entry opening and a first mating surface at an exit opening end; a second sealing device having an interchangeable plug-and-play consumable insert, a second mating surface at the entry opening end and a third mating surface at the exit opening end; a third sealing device having a fluid outlet at the exit opening and a fourth mating surface at the entry opening end; a mechanical support; and a drive force mechanism, wherein the first mating surface opposes the second mating surface and the third mating surface opposes the fourth mating surface, and wherein the drive force mechanism is configured to apply a substantially axial drive force opposed by the mechanical support, to compress the first, second, and third sealing devices and create a leak-resistant seal in the connection between the sealing devices.
US08851526B2 Cap for a quick connect fitting assembly and method of assembly using same
A cap for a quick connect fitting assembly is a unitary component having a terminal portion and a body portion extending from the terminal portion to define an inner cavity. The body portion defines a first opening opposite the terminal portion and a second opening extending from the first opening toward the terminal portion. The terminal portion has a first locating feature and the body portion has a second locating feature. The first and the second locating features are spaced relative to one another such that the unitary component will connect to the quick connect fitting assembly with both of the locating features contacting predetermined locations of the quick connect fitting assembly only if a male fitting is inserted into a female fitting to a predetermined position, the unitary component thus ensuring proper connection of the quick connect fitting assembly. A method of assembly using the cap is provided.
US08851522B1 Seatbelt anchor assembly
A seatbelt anchor assembly includes a ferrule, a cable, and seatbelt buckle. The ferrule can be mounted at one end to a seat base or other mounted structure of the vehicle, and can further include an anti-rotation pin that is received in a locating hole of the seat base to limit rotation of the ferrule during mounting and during normal occupant use. The pin can be made from aluminum or other material that can shear off in response to a dynamic vehicle load, allowing the ferrule to pivot about its mounting location to align the loads. The ferrule can be in the form of a blank including a body portion and a head portion having a pair of ears, and can include a recess between the ear portions and the body portion to limit tension in the ferrule when the ferrule is crimped to mount a cable thereto.
US08851519B1 Releasable tether retention system
A releasable tether retention system is provided. The system includes a housing, a movable member movably mounted within the housing, and a sliding element coupled to the movable member so as to move with the movable member and so as to be extendible to an exterior of the housing to engage a tether.
US08851518B2 Energy dissipative cushioning elements
An apparatus, method, computer program product, and/or system are described that determine an event, actuate a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members, and dissipate at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members. Other example embodiments are also provided relating to actuatable cushioning elements.
US08851517B2 Safety device with elastic membrane
In various embodiments, a safety device for a motor vehicle is provided. The safety device includes an elastic membrane, which partially or completely delimits a hollow space, which is provided for an accident-initiated filling subject to elastically expand the membrane. The elastic membrane is covered by a separate envelope in a gas-tight manner, which provides an opening through the expansion of the membrane.
US08851514B2 Childcare device including inflatable safety elements
A child care device is configured to receive a child. The device includes a child-restraint harness including first and second shoulder straps and inflatable elements associated with each shoulder strap.
US08851511B1 Shaped airbag
A side airbag cushion (10, 10A or 10B) has a front side panel (22), a rear side panel (24), a top panel (26) spaced between the upper edges of the front and rear side panels (22, 24), and a bottom panel (28) spaced between the lower edges of the front and rear side panels (22, 24). The top and bottom panels (26, 28) are configured to create a contoured or concavity (23) shaped fully inflated side airbag cushion with a larger sized forward end (27) volume and with a smaller sized volume at the occupant mid-location (25) wherein the inflated airbag cushion fills the gap between the door trim (7) and the occupant (2).
US08851503B2 Dual-chair beach wagon
The dual-chair beach wagon includes attachable beach chairs with removable wheels that convert the beach chairs into a rolling wagon for transport of beach paraphernalia. The beach chairs have arm latches and frame brackets that allow them to be removably connected together at opposing front ends to form the wagon. When disconnected each chair serves as a standard beach chair. The removably attachable wheels attach to adjustable rear legs of the beach chairs. In preparation for beach wagon mode, the front legs can be folded up and secured with a recessed leg lock to facilitate attachment of the two chairs using the arm latches and frame brackets to form the beach wagon. A pull rod is attachable to one end of the dual chair configuration. Wheels on the pull rod attachment end of the dual chair configuration have independently pivotal axles to facilitate steering of the wagon transport.
US08851489B2 Steering system for motor vehicles, in particular for agricultural machines
A steering system for motor vehicles including agricultural machines is provided. The system includes a first conventional steering assembly for the front wheels to rotate only each of the front wheels within a respective first predetermined steering angle, each front wheel rotatable to a pre-determined first maximum value within its pre-determined angle. The system also includes a second steering assembly to independently steer a front axle and the front wheels within a second pre-determined steering angle. The second steering assembly is activated only after each of the front wheels have reached its respective first maximum value within its first pre-determined steering angle, during the conventional steering performed by the first conventional steering assembly.
US08851485B2 Apparatus and methods for increasing the buoyancy of a wheeled vehicle
An apparatus for increasing the buoyancy of a wheeled vehicle includes a ski to be disposed under at least one tire or wheel of a wheeled vehicle; a boot having a bottom wall secured directly or indirectly to the ski and side walls substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, wherein the side walls of the boot are configured to laterally constrain the tire or wheel of the wheeled vehicle; and a tire block pin for connecting the side walls of the boot to one another to increase rigidity of the apparatus and to rotationally constrain the tire or wheel of the wheeled vehicle and/or tie downs for securing the wheel to the ski. Methods of using the apparatus are also disclosed.
US08851473B2 Sheet article separating mechanism and control method and control system thereof
A sheet medium separating mechanism and a control method and a control system thereof. When the head part of a currently separated medium reaches the front boundary of a preset speed regulating region in front of a money distributing wheel (111) and the tail part of the currently separated medium leaves the back boundary of a preset speed regulating region on the money distributing wheel, relative speeds of a money distributing wheel motor (122) and a back money distributing power wheel motor (120) are regulated, so that a preset medium separating distance is kept between the tail part of the currently separated medium and the head part of a next separated medium. Therefore, the sheet medium separating mechanism is adapted to sheet media of different shapes and different specifications, the money distributing wheel size and rotary inertia of longitudinal deposit equipment are reduced, and the motor load is effectively lowered.
US08851465B2 Medium cassette and recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a medium cassette provided with a medium accommodation tray that has a medium accommodation unit for accommodating a medium which is transported to a recording unit, and a paper discharge tray that is disposed on the upper side of the medium accommodation tray and that receives a medium on which recording has been performed at the recording unit. The paper discharge tray has a cutout formed from an end portion of the paper discharge tray which is on a feed-out side in a transport direction of the medium accommodation unit, and the cutout exposes the medium accommodation unit.
US08851456B2 Barbed tape with sensor conductor and reinforcement wire
The present invention provides a fencing system having interconnected tubular elements comprised of longitudinally extending conductor wires and reinforcement wires. Said conductor wires are conventionally disposed in an outer casing's cavity with an open round or rounded section. Said outer casing is formed by a crimping process such that said conductor wires are reinforced by parallelly extending reinforcement wires, the latter wires being disposed in a separate partition of the longitudinal inner volume of said outer casing. Said partition assigned to said reinforcement wires provides that said reinforcement wires does not damage said conductor wires during the final stage of crimping process in which barbed tapes with pointed and/or cutting barbs are transversely folded around the interconnected tubular elements.
US08851447B2 Integrated control circuitry and coil assembly for irrigation control
An integrated irrigation valve control device has a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to control the flux at the coil. A housing covers at least a portion of the coil and at least a portion of the control circuitry.
US08851443B2 Memory alloy-actuated apparatus and methods for making and using the same
Actuator apparatus having a multi-stable element actuated by memory alloy actuating elements. In one embodiment, the multi-stable actuator comprises a bistable (two-state) diaphragm element adapted to alternate between two stable configurations via forces exerted on the diaphragm by more than one memory alloy filaments in response to thermal activation. The bistable diaphragm element is coupled to a magnetic actuator element resident on a dry portion of a valve fitting, while a plunger actuated by the magnetic actuator element is resident on a wet portion of a valve fitting. Methods for making and using the bistable actuator apparatus are also disclosed.
US08851442B2 Aerogel-bases mold for MEMS fabrication and formation thereof
The invention is directed to a patterned aerogel-based layer that serves as a mold for at least part of a microelectromechanical feature. The density of an aerogel is less than that of typical materials used in MEMS fabrication, such as poly-silicon, silicon oxide, single-crystal silicon, metals, metal alloys, and the like. Therefore, one may form structural features in an aerogel-based layer at rates significantly higher than the rates at which structural features can be formed in denser materials. The invention further includes a method of patterning an aerogel-based layer to produce such an aerogel-based mold. The invention further includes a method of fabricating a microelectromechanical feature using an aerogel-based mold. This method includes depositing a dense material layer directly onto the outline of at least part of a microelectromechanical feature that has been formed in the aerogel-based layer.
US08851440B2 Releasable hanging system
A releasable hanging system having a loop fastener component and a hook fastener component. The loop fastener component includes a flexible patch carrying a field of engageable fibers exposed on a front side of the patch and an adhesive on a back side of the patch. The hook fastener component includes a resin base carrying an array of male touch fastener elements. A significant majority of the male touch fastener elements each extend from the base to a distal tip to overhang the base in a single, common direction. The fastening system can be used to hang an object on a vertical surface such that the male touch fastener elements of the significant majority bear the weight of the object in a downward direction, and such that the significant majority of the male touch fastener elements are oriented so as not to inhibit lifting of the object in an upward direction.
US08851439B2 Reading stand
The invention provides a reading stand. The reading stand may comprising a base portion including at least one base portion sidewall, the base portion sidewall being supported by the base portion; and a platform portion forming a support surface to support the document, the platform portion including at least one page holder to retain the document. The reading stand may further include a side support clip extending from the platform portion such that the base portion sidewall is receivable between the platform portion and the side support clip in an assembled position, the side support clip having a protuberance disposed thereon, the protuberance engageable with the base portion sidewall. The assembled position affords side reading.
US08851434B2 Cleat-mountable accessory apparatus
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for coupling an apparatus to a cleat.A cleat-mounted support apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise: (a) a first bracket portion; (b) a second bracket portion; and (c) bracket coupling means.A cleat-mountable apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise: (a) a cleat-mountable support; (b) an accessory.A method for coupling a cleat-mounted apparatus to a cleat in accordance with the present invention may comprise one or more of the steps: (a) disposing a first bracket portion about a cleat member; (b) disposing a second bracket portion about the cleat member; and (c) operatively coupling the first and second bracket portions.
US08851426B1 Enhanced cruciform parachute
A modified cruciform parachute is configured to provide improved aerodynamic efficiency and/or reduced construction expense. In an exemplary parachute, a shoulder panel is disposed between a center panel and a side panel to at least partially equalize load path lengths in the cruciform parachute. Components of the parachute may be two-dimensional in construction in order to reduce construction expense. Components of the parachute may also be modular and/or interchangeable. The cruciform parachute may be steerable and/or may be configured to glide via inclusion of venting means on the parachute canopy.
US08851425B2 Removable support for optional external equipment on an aircraft, and an aircraft provided with such a support
The present invention relates to a removable support (10) for optional equipment (6) on an aircraft (1). The support (10) comprises an elongate beam (20) fitted with at least one attachment point for a piece of equipment and extending from a first end portion (21) to a second end portion (22), and the support (10) is provided with first fastener means (30) provided with a first fastener arm (31) connected to a first link arm (32) that is releasably fastened to the first end portion (21), and with second fastener means (40) provided with a second fastener arm (41) connected to a second link arm (42) that is releasably fastened to the second end portion (22), a first support rod (34) also connecting the first fastener arm (31) to the first link arm (32), and a second support rod (44) also connecting the second fastener arm (41) to the second link arm (42).
US08851416B2 Aircraft nacelle including at least one radial partition between two conducts
An aircraft nacelle that makes it possible to channel a stream of air in a longitudinal direction and that includes at least two panels (50, 50′) placed end to end in the longitudinal direction, each including a so-called aerodynamic surface (52, 52′) that is in contact with the air stream and an edge (54, 54′) that is in contact with the edge of the other panel, characterized in that at least one of the panels includes—at its edge (54, 54′)—at least one partition (58) that projects relative to the edge that extends in the direction of the edge of the other panel, in a manner that is secant to the aerodynamic surface and in a plane that contains the longitudinal direction, so as to limit the circulation of air between the edges of the panels.
US08851408B2 Grain crushing apparatuses
Grain crushing apparatuses for processing grain are disclosed. In one embodiment, a grain crushing apparatus includes a first and second sidewall spaced apart from one another a throat dimension in a first direction, and a first and second support shaft positioned transverse to the first and sidewall. The first and second support shaft are each configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The grain crushing apparatus also includes a first and second grain crushing roller. Each of the grain crushing rollers include a plurality of teeth extending from a root a tooth height. The first and second grain crushing rollers are intermeshed with one another such the first and second grain crushing roller are maintained at positions spaced apart from one another in a second direction normal to the first direction by an overlap distance less than the tooth height.
US08851406B2 Pump apparatus including deconsolidator
A pump apparatus includes a particulate pump that defines a passage that extends from an inlet to an outlet. A duct is in flow communication with the outlet. The duct includes a deconsolidator configured to fragment particle agglomerates received from the passage.
US08851398B2 Overhead shower and its switching method thereof
An overhead shower comprises a stationary part rotably connected to a rotating part having two water division apertures disposed oppositely left and right, and a cover plate having two movable members disposed left and right, rotably connected inside said rotating part. A switching method comprises: step 1, Push one side of the overhead shower to rotate the rotating part until the top surface of the movable member of said side of the cover plate leans against the stationary part, and until the water division aperture seals and leans against the underside of the movable member of said side of the cover plate, to seal said water division and simultaneously open another water division aperture; step 2, Release the overhead shower, then the rotating part and said movable member of the cover plate attach hermetically under the water pressure, the rotating part will be restored by a spring or gravity.
US08851394B2 Expansion valve and method of producing the same
An expansion valve to expand high-pressure refrigerant and send the expanded refrigerant toward an evaporator is used in a refrigeration cycle, and includes a body portion, an element portion, and a valve portion. The body portion has a first passage through which the high-pressure refrigerant passes, a throttle passage located in the first passage so as to expand refrigerant, and a second passage through which refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator passes. The element portion arranged outside of the body portion has a pressure responding member to be displaced in accordance with a difference between an inner pressure of a seal space and a pressure of refrigerant flowing through the second passage. Temperature sensing media is filled in the seal space, and a pressure of the media is changed by temperature. The valve portion is displaced in accordance with the pressure responding member so as to control an opening of the throttle passage. Additive is filled in the seal space with the media so as to lower a condensing temperature of the media.
US08851393B1 Air conditioner/heater system
A bureau is adapted to monitor and forecast weather conditions and to generate forecasting data. A thermostat operatively coupled to an air conditioner/heater initiates and terminates both heating and cooling. A communication network operatively couples the bureau and the thermostat. Operational components within the thermostat are a first screen to display the actual temperature, a second screen to display the desired temperature, a mode switch having a primary position for cooling and a secondary position for heating, and an electronic controller for receiving input from the bureau and for operating the mode switch and for generating signals for the operation of the air conditioner/heater, the interpreting being based upon the generated forecasting data.
US08851390B2 Reader/writer antenna module and antenna device
A reader/writer antenna module includes a flexible substrate that includes a first base portion, a second base portion and a bending portion that connects the first base portion and the second base portion to each other. The flexible substrate has a structure that is folded by utilizing the flexibility of the bending portion such that a first main surface of the first base portion and a first main surface of the second base portion face each other, and a magnetic layer is provided between an antenna conductor and the chip component in the folded structure.
US08851385B2 Card lamination
Described herein are RFID structures and methods of manufacturing RFID structures. An antenna substrate is provided. A first stack layer is provided. An antenna assembly including an antenna track, and at least two contact pads, are formed on a first surface of the antenna substrate. An integrated circuit unit is coupled to the at least two contact pads. A first surface of the first stack layer, the first surface of the antenna substrate, or both are coated with a unidirectional thermally expansive coating material. The first surface of the antenna substrate is positioned to be adjacent to the first surface of the first stack layer.
US08851380B2 Device identification and monitoring system and method
A method and system for collecting and recognizing information from a monitoring device is provided. On a mobile computer device a user can capture an image of a monitoring device. The image captures at least two aspects: (1) monitored data tracked or acquired by the monitoring device, and (2) a portion of the monitoring device sufficient to recognize the monitoring device. Recognition functions are provided for: (1) recognizing and converting the monitored data visible in the captured image into quantifiable data, and (2) for recognizing the monitoring device. A note taking function can be provided to allow a user to create notes. The notes can be enriched with the quantifiable data and/or the recognized monitoring device (or vice versa). A suggestion function can be provided for suggesting services where the quantifiable data, the recognized monitoring device, and/or the notes can be bound.
US08851377B2 Card reader and processing method thereof
A card reader for use with a card having a magnetic stripe may include a card path through which the card having the magnetic stripe is transferred, a magnetic head placed in the card path, and card position detecting sensors for detecting a position of the card. The card position detecting sensors may be located at positions where the magnetic stripe passes through in the card path.
US08851375B2 Systems and methods for facilitating in-aisle scanning
Various methods are described for facilitating in-aisle scanning of one or more items to be purchased at a store. One example method may comprise scanning a barcode associated with an item. The method may further comprise adding the item to a list of items to be purchased. Additionally, the method may comprise receiving an indication that the item needs to be weighed. The method may further comprise flagging the item in the list to be weighed during checkout. Similar and related methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are also provided.
US08851366B2 Money transfer service with authentication
A bank (or merchant) hosts and operates an online money transfer service (or “portal”). A sender logs into the portal and enters payment card and money transfer details and then submits the transaction. An authentication window appears displaying the sender's transaction details and the sender is prompted to enter his or her password. Upon successful authentication, the bank seeks authorization from the card issuer. Upon successful authorization, the bank credits the recipient's local bank account or existing payment card. The recipient can also receive a check, a draft, a prepaid card or cash. The money transfer service is used both cross-border and domestic to effect person-to-person money transfer. The money transfer service uses the “Verified by Visa” authentication service and VisaNet for authorization. Messages over VisaNet are used to deliver funds to a recipient.
US08851354B2 Surgical cutting instrument that analyzes tissue thickness
A surgical instrument with a tissue-clamping end effector, where actuation of the instrument is locked out when the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within a specified thickness range. The end effector may comprise a tissue thickness module that senses the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector. The surgical instrument also comprises a control circuit in communication with the tissue thickness module. The control circuit prevents actuation of a working portion of the end effector when the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within the specified thickness range.
US08851351B2 Trigger assembly for switching one shoot mode or repeat shoot mode
A trigger assembly for switching one shoot mode or repeat shoot mode includes a trigger, a switch, a fixing element, a trigger plate and a torsion spring. When a user wants to switch the shoot modes of the nail gun, the user turns the switch so that the fixing element moves along the curved track of the switch and the fixing element drives the trigger plate to move on a protrusion or on a through hole simultaneously. After the user presses the trigger, the trigger plate is resisted by the protrusion so that the nail gun is in one shoot mode. In addition, when the trigger plate is vibrating on the through hole, the nail gun is in repeat shoot mode.
US08851350B2 Hands-free mount and manufacturing method for hanging structure thereof
A hands-free mount and a manufacturing method for a hanging structure thereof are disclosed. The hands-free mount includes a mount body and a hanging arm. The mount body is formed by a bottom shell and a top shell coupled mutually. The hanging arm includes a metal substrate and inner and outer coatings wrapping the metal substrate. The outer coating has a chamfered end located outside the bottom shell and inclined at an angle. The manufacturing method for the hanging structure of the hands-free mount uses an over-molding process to fully wrap the stainless steel core, so as to endow the hanging structure with good appearance and soft touch and prevent the product from rusting. Using the hanging structure as the hanging arm, the hands-free mount has improved firmness, appearance and touch.
US08851347B2 Apparatus for transporting cargo on a motorcycle
An apparatus for transporting cargo on a motorcycle comprises a first rack having a width of about the width of a seat of a motorcycle. The first rack has a first plurality of attachment structures fixedly attached thereto. A second rack has a base with a second plurality of attachment structures fixedly attached to a bottom of the base configured for engaging with and being secured to the first plurality of attachment structures. The second rack is positioned on top of the first rack when secured thereto and includes a pair of upwardly extending elongate members fixedly coupled to the base and angled toward the rear of the motorcycle. The elongate members are each provided with a transversely extending receiving member and a centrally located receiving bracket attached proximate a rearward side of the base, thus forming a three-point attachment structure for attaching an accessory to a motorcycle.
US08851335B2 Water-driven dispensing systems employing concentrated product
A dispenser for dispensing a diluted form of a concentrated product includes: a supply of concentrated product; a dilution chamber; an actuation assembly and a product pump mechanism having a water staging chamber. The actuation assembly receives water under pressure from a pressurized water supply. In a staging state, water from the pressurized water supply is fed to the water staging chamber, increasing the volume thereof and causing the actuating of the pump mechanism thereby driving a dose of product into the dilution chamber. In a return state, (a) water within the water staging chamber exits the water staging chamber, (b) water is advanced to the dilution chamber and mixes with the dose of product to create diluted product, and (c) a dose of concentrated product is drawn from the supply of concentrated product into the product pump mechanism.
US08851329B2 Systems and methods of selecting and dispensing products
Embodiments of a dispensing system for dispensing a number of products to a user are disclosed. The dispensing system may include an input/output device and a dispenser. The input/output device may be adapted to receive a selection of one of the products from the user. The dispenser may be adapted to dispense a plurality of diluent components, the diluent components and a ratio of the diluent components corresponding at least in part to the selection of the user.
US08851326B2 Folded sheet dispenser with overfill prevention device
The present invention provides a dispenser for folded sheets having an overfill prevention device, which effectively prevents the dispenser from being overfilled with folded sheet material. The result of the present invention is that a maintainer of the dispenser will have a difficult time overfilling the dispenser.
US08851319B2 Cooking article including an external polyimide-based coating
This invention relates to a cooking article (1) including a metal dish (2) having a base area (20), a concave internal face (21) intended to be arranged on the side of the food to be placed in said article (1) and a convex external face (22) intended to be arranged toward a heat source, and an external coating (3) covering said external face (22), characterized in that said external coating (3) includes between 30% and 50% by weight, with respect to the entire weight of said coating (3), of at least one polyimide having a glass transition temperature Tg equal to or above 250° C. This invention also relates to a process for producing such an article (1).
US08851317B2 Effluent filtration tank
A filtration tank intended to be buried and for containing wastewater in particular, the tank (100) comprising a casing (110) having an upper part (200) and a lower part (300), the tank being provided with voussoirs (610, 610′) for reinforcing the structure of the casing (110) so that it can withstand the pressure exerted by the surrounding material when the tank (100) is buried and is not completely filled. The voussoirs (610, 610′) bearing against the upper part (200) and in that the tank (100) incorporates means (650d, 670) for absorbing the supporting forces of the voussoirs (610, 610′) so as to transfer said forces onto the bottom (310) of said tank. A tank is thus obtained which withstands being buried without deforming even though it may be only partially filled.
US08851315B2 Versatile tamper-evident food container
A tamper-evident rigid plastic food container system wherein the outer periphery of the mating surfaces of the lid and tray are permanently bonded together after the food product has been placed in the tray, a set of perforated rows at an inner periphery, the interconnect of which needs to be torn in order to open the lid. Intentional, inadvertent, or malicious ingress into the container can only be made by tearing at the perforations and thereby evidencing the potential tampering and contamination of the packaging contents. The lid and tray edges may further include mechanical interference fits, including snap-fit grips that may be of the releasably lockable kind to permit sealing, release, and re-sealing multiple times without deterioration in reliability, and which can further prevent or minimize leakage of liquid food product.
US08851314B2 Personal size container
A container assembly for holding, shipping, and consuming a product, such as a frozen confection, is provided. The container assembly includes a container, a lid, and a utensil. The utensil is connected to the assembly so that a consumer is able to spoon the product from the container. A consumer may purchase the assembly containing a product, open the container, remove the utensil, and consume the product using the self-contained utensil. The assembly may also include a membrane for ensuring freshness and to indicate tampering of the product. The utensil may be attached directly to the lid, or in a pocket between sealed membranes.
US08851313B2 Electrical junction box
An electrical junction box configured to stably hold a cover member in a standby state in a first position apart from a connector-mounting section. The electrical junction box includes a cover member rotatably attached to a casing about rotary support axes, an engaging projection provided on the casing that engages the cover member to position the cover member in the first position, a guide projection provided on one of the casing and the cover member, and a pair of positioning walls provided on the other of the casing and the cover member, wherein the cover member is positioned with respect to the engaging projection in an axial direction of the rotary support axes when the pair of positioning wall portions pinch the guide projection.
US08851307B2 Frame for panel and method for attaching a frame to a panel
A frame for attachment to the periphery of a panel having a main portion, a surrounding wall designed to surround an edge of the panel, and attachment means for attaching the frame relative to the panel having at least one locking element, the locking element being connected to the main portion by a hinge and being movable relative to the main portion between an open position, in which the panel is capable of being inserted into the surrounding wall without interaction with the locking element, and a closed position, in which, when the surrounding wall surrounds the edge of the panel, the locking element is facing a main face of the panel.
US08851302B2 Product dispensing system with container-product interaction
A product dispensing system including a dispenser having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, the dispenser including a container support deck extending at least partially between the front and rear ends, and a lower support deck positioned below the container support deck, the lower support deck defining a product display area, a container positioned on the container support deck, the container defining an internal volume and including an interference member extending into the internal volume, and a number of products received in the internal volume and arranged in at least a first row and a second row, the second row being positioned above the first row, wherein the interference member is positioned to restrict longitudinal movement at least one product in the second row.
US08851301B1 Bicycle stand
A bicycle stand contains a base, a connecting member, and an adjusting plate. The base includes a placing area, a first extending section, a second extending section, and supporting plate. The connecting member includes a receiving portion, and the adjusting plate includes a positioning area. The locking area has a circular hole for retaining a wheel. The supporting plate has a connecting section, the connecting section has a recess, and the receiving portion has two shoulders, the adjusting plate includes a longitudinal slot with a plurality of notches. Thereby, the bicycle stand is applied to fix a bicycle based on a placed height of a rear fork of a wheel.
US08851300B2 Roll-out shelving storage rack system
A roll-out shelving storage rack system includes a frame coupled with a shelf member. The shelf member includes a base support, a shelf support tray, a shelf, and a driver. The base support mounts to the frame, and the shelf support tray engages the base support and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The shelf engages the shelf support tray and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The driver is coupled to the base support and the shelf. Activation of the driver moves the shelf from its retracted position to its extended position. Further, when the shelf reaches its fully extended position, the shelf support tray moves from its retracted position to its extended position. The extension of the shelf support tray substantially and completely extends the shelf outside of the frame.
US08851296B2 Blood processing filter and the method for manufacturing the same
This invention relates to a blood processing filter including a band-shaped first seal part that seals an inlet-side flexible container of the blood processing filter and a filter element of the blood processing filter so as to surround an inlet port, and an annular second seal part that seals at least the inlet-side flexible container and an outlet-side flexible container and is formed surrounding the first seal part at a position that is closer to an outer edge than the first seal part. A valley part corresponding to the first seal part is provided on an outlet side of the filter element. An outlet opening that communicates with an inside of the outlet-side flexible container is formed in the outlet port. At least one portion of the outlet opening is arranged so as to overlap with the valley part.
US08851287B2 Container stacking system with universal members
Universal members placed between containers having different stacking patterns permit stacking of these containers regardless of the type of container positioned as the bottom container. The universal members include an appropriate thickness and a plurality of openings configured to receive the different stacking patterns. Depending on the containers being stacked, the universal members may take different forms. For example, one universal member may include T-shaped openings while another universal member may include rectangular-shaped openings with offset members.
US08851286B2 Dual sterilization containment vessel
The disclosure pertains to a vessel for holding replacement heart valves and associated positioning and installation apparatus which is configured and adapted to contain a biocidal sterilization fluid during and following exposure of a delivery system for the replacement heart valve to sterilization by ionizing radiation and methods of use therefor. The vessel includes a shield which limits exposure of biologically derived material therein to radiation. The vessel also provides a storage and shipping container for the replacement heart valve in which the biologically derived material is maintained in a sterile fluid environment.
US08851281B2 Sharps container
A sharps container 10, 20 for used syringes is disclosed which can withstand a crushing force in the direction of the longitudinal axis of a syringe 15 without the needle 11 of the syringe penetrating the base 7 of the container. Instead the container has a portion 120, 22A of reduced wall thickness which concertinas (or zig zags) when such a crushing force is applied.
US08851279B1 Product marketing magazine rider
A publication and product delivery package is disclosed which permits product samples to be packaged and displayed along the binding (or “spine”) of a publication, such as a magazine, or an object of similar size, and delivered to a purchaser of that publication utilizing standard delivery services, such as the United States Postal Service, even when such products may be otherwise loose, liquid, or fragile, and despite the stresses and impacts of such packaging, display, and delivery. In a novel marketing method, the publication package allows a product distributor to include additional attractive marketing text and images alongside product sample containers, and coordinated with similar text and images impressed on the delivered product sample containers, to achieve high-impact and memorable promotion with little delivery costs over the cost of delivering the publication alone.
US08851271B2 Restrictor clip
Conveyor belts are made from modular links having offset forward and rearward projecting eye parts to intercalate eye parts from one belt link between eye parts with oval lateral apertures. Connecting rods inserted through aligned apertures hingedly connect adjacent links. Clips restrict lateral turning of the belt links. Clips have general U-shapes with two legs, a bridge portion end, and opposite free ends. Projecting members at the free ends have lengths parallel to the legs and smaller than the lengths of the apertures in the belt links in which the clip is to be installed, and have heights equivalent to or smaller than the heights of the aperture in the belt link in which the clip is to be installed. The lateral distance between the two legs of the U, is larger than the lateral extent of an eye part in the belt link in which the clip is installed.
US08851267B2 High efficiency sorting conveyor with improved friction drive motor assembly
A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor. The sorting conveyor includes a conveyor track, a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end, and an opposed roller motor assembly. The opposed roller motor assembly may include a motor; a support frame attached to the conveyor track for supporting the motor; and a pair of cantilevered, drive rollers connected to the motor and to one pivot block assembly and another pivot block assembly adapted for positioning the drive roller adjacent to one surface of an extended fin driven member. The pivot block assemblies may be coupled together with a self-tensioning adjustment assembly. In some examples, the self-tensioning adjustment assembly may be adapted so that movement of each pivot block assembly mirrors movement of the other pivot block assembly.
US08851265B2 Reverse vending machine
The present invention is a reverse vending machine which accepts non-metallic and metallic beverage containers for processing. The beverage containers are inserted by the user into an intake chute, where they are then compacted, sorted, and deposited in storage bins contained in the machine. A number of additional functions are provided by the reverse vending machine, including a self cleaning system, a video screen for displaying information to users, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, a user ID reader, and a coupon printer for issuing coupons to users. All transaction information is processed by a computer and stored electronically. The invention automatically returns non-empty containers and containers with unacceptable or unreadable bar codes to the user. The user is also provided warning messages when the storage bins are nearly full, or when a container is jammed in the machine.
US08851255B2 Ratchet load binder with removable lever
A ratchet assembly for a load binder includes a pawl bearing assembly biased between a surface of the pawl and a biased movable element whose movement is actuated by the insertion or withdrawal of the lever. In one position of the movable element, the bearing assembly is urged against the pawl to lock it. In the other position of the movable element, the bearing assembly is allowed to reduce its pressure on the pawl.
US08851253B2 System adapted for one or more electrically propellable vehicles (battery charging arrangement)
A vehicle-related system adapted for electrically driving a vehicle along a road-way. The vehicle has three sources of power: a vehicle-related power generator, a set of batteries and vehicle-external electric stations. The vehicle is provided with a current collector which is displaceable up and down and sideways in relation to the direction of transportation, in order to be brought into mechanical and electrical contact with elongated tracks positioned below the roadway and comprising a conductor adapted to be connected with an electric station. A circuit, determining instantaneous power content of the set of batteries, is adapted to connect the vehicle-external power source via a switch belonging to the electric station, in order to charge the set of batteries and/or to supply power to the vehicle motor via a control circuit, when the power content of the set of batteries is at a predetermined level of power, lying below a maximum power content, and a supply of power or voltage from the vehicle-external power source is available.
US08851251B2 Handle for luggage
An ergonomic handle for luggage is provided. In one aspect, the handle comprises at least one palm grip. The handle is attached to a compartment with wheels. The palm grip can be used to push the luggage as the wheels roll over a rolling surface.
US08851250B2 Active vibration isolation system
The invention relates to an active vibration isolation system which detects structural vibration of the mass to be isolated via a sensor and also takes account of these disturbance variables.
US08851242B2 Electromechanical brake
An electromechanical brake includes a pair of pad plates provided with a friction pad to apply pressure to a disc, a carrier to support the pad plates, a caliper housing supported movably back and forth on the carrier to apply pressure to the pad plates; and a presser to apply pressure to the pad plates. The presser includes a pressing member to apply pressure to one of the pad plates, a driving motor to operate the pressing member, a gear assembly disposed between the driving motor and the pressing member to transfer rotational force of the driving motor to the pressing member. The gear assembly includes an input shaft connected to a motor, an external gear coupled to the input shaft such that the external gear eccentrically rotates, and a stationary internal gear and a rotational internal gear meshed with the external gear such that the external gear revolves, while rotating. The rotational internal gear includes an output shaft in the center thereof and the output shaft is connected to the pressing member.
US08851232B2 Rope climbing apparatus
A rope climbing apparatus includes two spaced side members. Each side member has a climbing rope end and a tethering end. The climbing rope ends each include a pair of spaced apertures. The tethering ends each include a cooperative aperture. Two friction elements are disposed between the spaced side members. The friction elements are axially disposed between the pair of spaced apertures in the climbing rope end for receiving a rope therebetween the friction elements. A tether connector is axially disposed between the cooperative apertures in the tethering end for connecting a tether thereto. The climbing apparatus is useable as a brake while descending a rope through angular movement of the tethering end relative to the rope.
US08851227B2 Bearing assembly for a power steering mechanism
A bearing assembly is for a mechanism including a housing and a rotatable shaft disposed within the housing. The bearing assembly includes a sleeve disposable within the housing and having an inner circumferential surface defining a bore and a radial surface extending radially inwardly from the inner surface. A bearing is disposed within the bore and includes inner and outer races and rolling elements disposed between the races, the inner race being coupleable with the shaft such that the shaft and the inner race rotate as a single unit. Further, a biasing member biases the outer race generally against the sleeve radial surface or a housing radial surface to prevent axial displacement of the outer race during shaft rotation. Preferably, a retainer couples the biasing member with the outer race to retain the bearing and the biasing member within the bore when the assembly is separate from the housing.
US08851226B2 Mechanical boolean steering
A steering system for a vehicle adapted to travel on a track or a guideway includes a drive shaft having a rotational axis and first and second substantially semicircular gear elements provided on the drive shaft and adapted to engage first and second racks, respectively. The first and second substantially semicircular gear elements are offset along the rotational axis of the drive shaft and are located about a common end of the drive shaft. The first substantially semicircular gear element engages the first rack when the drive shaft is rotated in a first direction while the second substantially semicircular gear element engages the second rack when the drive shaft is rotated in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. Both first and second substantially semicircular gear elements engage the first and the second rack, respectively, when the drive shaft is in a neutral position.
US08851224B2 Work vehicle
A wheel loader includes a vehicle frame, an engine, a supporting mechanism, a diesel articulate filtering device, and a connecting pipe. The engine is mounted on the vehicle frame, and the supporting mechanism is fixed to the vehicle frame. The diesel particulate filtering device is mounted on the supporting mechanism above the engine and has an exhaust gas inlet facing the rear. An exhaust upstream side end part of the connecting pipe is coupled to an exhaust part of the engine, and an exhaust downstream side end part of the connecting pipe is connected to an exhaust gas inlet of the diesel particulate filtering device from the rear. The connecting pipe includes an extending part that is disposed below the diesel particulate filtering device and extends rearward of the diesel particulate filtering device from the exhaust upstream side end part, and a flexible pipe part provided in the extending part.
US08851220B2 Air cleaner device
An air cleaner device can include an air cleaner case including a case main unit and a cover. An intake duct can be disposed on the cover, and an intake path can be disposed on the case main unit. An air cleaner element can be accommodated in the air cleaner case. When the air cleaner device is mounted in a vehicle and viewed from a vehicle side, the air cleaner case is formed to be vertically long. The intake duct is formed to have an upstream-side opening portion thereof oriented toward a first side of the air cleaner case, and a downstream-side opening portion thereof can be oriented downwardly. The intake path is formed to have an upstream-side opening portion thereof oriented upwardly to face the downstream-side opening portion of the intake duct, and a downstream-side opening portion thereof is oriented toward a second side of the air cleaner case.
US08851217B2 Method for starting the internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine, at least one electric drive motor and a starter. The internal combustion engine optionally can be started by the starter or the electric drive motor. However, the internal combustion engine is started by the starter when the vehicle is already being driven by the electric drive motor.
US08851193B1 Self-centering downhole tool
A self-centering tool for use in a wellbore includes a centering mechanism, a biasing mechanism, and a release mechanism. The centering mechanism includes at least one arm that is configured to move from a first position to a second position. The arm urges a centerline of the tool towards a centerline of the wellbore when in its second position. A biasing mechanism is coupled to the centering mechanism and urges the arm from its first position to its second position. The release mechanism is electro-mechanically actuated. In its locked position, the release mechanism prevents the arm from moving towards its second position, while in its released position the arm is able to move towards its second position. The release mechanism is a split-spool type mechanism. A control system that includes one or more sensors controls the operation of the release mechanism.
US08851191B2 Selectively fired high pressure high temperature back-off tool
A method for unseating a threaded connection of wellbore tubing within the wellbore. The method utilizes a back-off tool which consists of a tubular metal housing, a shaped charge and HNS detonating cord within the housing, and an explosive material attached to the housing. The back-off tool is detonated near the threaded connection, creating a shockwave that strikes the threaded connection with sufficient force to unseat the connection.
US08851190B1 Ball check valve integration to ICD
A production sleeve assembly for use downhole comprises a fluid pathway configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular, a flow restriction disposed in the fluid pathway, and a valve disposed in series with the flow restriction in the fluid pathway. The valve comprises: a rupture disk and a plug releasably engaged in the fluid pathway in series with the rupture disk. The valve is configured to allow production from the exterior of the wellbore tubular to the interior of the wellbore tubular through the chamber without producing past the plug once the rupture disk is actuated.
US08851189B2 Single trip multi-zone completion systems and methods
Disclosed are systems and methods of producing from multiple production zones with a single trip multi-zone completion system. One single trip multi-zone completion system includes an outer completion string having at least one sand screen arranged thereabout and a flow control device movably disposed within the at least one sand screen between an open position and a closed position, and an insert string arranged within the outer completion string and having at least one control and data acquisition module disposed thereon, the at least one control and data acquisition module having one or more mechanical coupling mechanisms extending therefrom and configured to locate and move the flow control device between the open and closed positions.
US08851188B2 Restricting production of gas or gas condensate into a wellbore
A method of producing liquid hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation can include flowing the liquid hydrocarbons from the formation through at least one valve, and increasingly restricting flow through the valve in response to pressure and temperature in the formation approaching a bubble point curve from a liquid phase side thereof. A method of producing gaseous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation can include flowing the gaseous hydrocarbons from the formation through at least one valve, and increasingly restricting flow through the valve in response to pressure and temperature in the formation approaching a hydrocarbon gas condensate saturation curve from a gaseous phase side thereof.
US08851184B2 Process, device, and system to cap and seal oil and gas in a riser pipe
A containment valve assembly using the upcoming pressures to control the flow of oil/gas through a riser pipe with a stop flow plug positioned within the valve housing that has an outer surface shaped to fit within and against the riser pipe, and an inner socket cavity having a conical nose receiver portion with a relief vent allowing the oil/gas to escape through the valve assembly, when desired. The stop flow plug is shaped to fit within the inner socket cavity and moves between an open position and a closed position, wherein the stop flow plug fits securely against the conical nose receiver portion, sealing the relief vent. At the top of the valve, a nut will lock the stop flow plug to the close out plate for additional stoppage. A second embodiment adds a heavy duty insert to supplement the sealing pressure, when needed. Electronic monitors convey data remotely.
US08851182B2 Wellhead hanger shoulder
A well production system including a wellhead and a first casing string supported from a first casing hanger landed on a shoulder in the wellhead bore. A loading shoulder assembly is installable in the wellhead and includes an energizing ring, a loading ring threaded into the interior of the energizing ring, a lock ring, and a hold-down ring threaded into the interior of the loading ring. The hold-down ring engages the first casing hanger to prevent rotation of the hold-down ring and restrain rotation of the loading ring. The lock ring is expandable from an unset position into supporting engagement with the wellhead in a set position upon rotation of the energizing ring. The hold-down ring is also moveable axially out of the loading ring to restrain the first casing hanger.
US08851181B2 Method for circulating a fluid entry out of a subsurface wellbore without shutting in the wellbore
A method for removing a fluid influx from a subsea wellbore drilled using a pump to return fluid from the wellbore to the surface. The method includes detecting the influx when a rate of the return pump increases. Flow from the wellbore is diverted from the return pump to a choke line when the influx reaches the wellhead. A choke in the choke line is operated so that a substantially constant bottom hold pressure is maintained while drilling fluid continues to be pumped through the drill sgring. Fluid flow from the wellbore is redirected to the return pump inlet when the influx has substantially left the well.
US08851179B2 Process and process line for the preparation of hydraulic fracturing fluid
A process and process line is provided for preparing a friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid at a central location which can be readily transported to an oil or gas well in a formation at a well site, comprising: preparing a mixture of polymer and water at the central location by shearing the polymer in the water in a high shear environment to create the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid; pumping the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid through a series of pumps and pipelines to the well site; and injecting the hydraulic fracturing fluid into the oil or gas well at a pressure sufficient to cause fracturing of the formation.
US08851172B1 High strength, low density metal matrix composite ball sealer
High strength, low density ball sealer for sealing openings in oil or gas wells, such as perforations formed through the well casing or openings formed through slidable packers or sleeves received within a tubing string in the well, from the flow of a fluid injected into the well. The ball sealer is formed as having an inner core, and a metal matrix composite layer surrounding the core.
US08851171B2 Screen assembly
An apparatus that is usable with a well includes a string and a screen assembly, which is adapted to be run downhole on the string. The screen assembly includes a tubular carrier and a container. The container includes a gravel pack layer that includes gravel. The tubular carrier and the gravel pack layer are adapted to be radially expanded downhole; and the tubular carrier, container and the gravel pack layer are adapted to be run downhole as a unit.
US08851168B2 Performance centralizer for close tolerance applications
A centralizer having a plurality of collapsible bows interconnecting a first collar and a second collar, with the centralizer disposed on a tubular with a stop collar, and an attachable retainer(s) of the centralizer blocking passage of the stop collar therethrough. The bows may have a yield strength of at least about 200,000 psi. Outer surface of the bows may have a coefficient of friction equal or less than about 0.02. Maximum radial thickness of centralizer when the plurality of collapsible bows is fully collapsed may be equal to or less than 3/16″. Centralizer may be rotatable relative to tubular. Centralizer having a split tubular body forming first and second collars connected by collapsible bows and a retainer to retain the split tubular body on the tubular, and the retainer, the first collar and/or the second collar providing a recess therein to receive a stop collar of the tubular.
US08851166B2 Test packer and method for use
A downhole tool having a throughbore is disclosed for use in a tubular located in a wellbore. The downhole tool has a sealing element configured to seal an annulus between the downhole tool and an inner wall of the tubular; at least one flow path formed in the downhole tool, wherein the flow path is configured to allow fluids in the annulus to flow past the sealing element when the sealing element is in a sealed position; and at least one valve in fluid communication with the flow path and configured to allow the fluids to flow through the flow path in a first direction while preventing the fluids from flowing through the flow path in a second direction. A guard may be installed proximate anchor elements. The guard extends radially beyond an outer diameter of the anchor elements when the anchor elements are in a retracted position.
US08851162B2 Sucker rod apparatus and method
The present disclosure relates to a fiberglass rod with connectors on each end. Each connector has a rod-receiving receptacle having an open end, a closed end, and axially spaced annular wedge shaped surfaces such that the compressive forces between the rod and the respective connector are defined by the shape of the wedged surfaces.
US08851161B2 Cross-communication between electronic circuits and electrical devices in well tools
A well tool can include multiple electrical devices and multiple electronic circuits which control operation of the respective electrical devices, each electronic circuit including a respective isolation circuit, wherein each of the isolation circuits isolates a corresponding one of the electronic circuits from a respective one of the electrical devices in response to a predetermined condition. A method of operating a well tool can include providing multiple electronic circuits for operation of respective multiple electrical devices of the well tool, disconnecting one electronic circuit from its respective electrical device in the well, and connecting another electronic circuit to the electrical device in the well. Another method of operating a well tool can include providing multiple electronic circuits for operation of respective multiple electrical devices of the well tool, disconnecting one electronic circuit from its respective electrical device in the well, and connecting the electronic circuit to another electrical device.
US08851155B2 Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger having a housing with a bottom, an upper wall and side walls. Additionally, onto two pairs of opposite side walls, a front wall and a back wall respectively, are connected a supply and a discharge for the gas to be cooled. A mechanism is provided in the housing for separating condensate from the cooled gas. The mechanism includes a series of corrugated vertical walls upon which are provided crosswise extending ribs forming vertical gutters extending only from the bottom up to the upper wall of the housing. Additionally, holes are provided in the bottom for the discharge of the separated condensate from the gutters via a collector. The collector extends from at least under the holes to under an opening which is provided in the bottom between the mechanism for separating condensate and the back wall.
US08851153B2 System and method for managing waste heat of electric vehicle
Disclosed herein is a waste heat management system of an electric vehicle. In particular, a pump for controlling the flow of cooling fluid, an OBC cooling fluid line and a motor cooling fluid line which diverge in parallel from an outlet of a cooling fluid line of the fluid pump, and a heater core cooling fluid line and a radiator cooling fluid line which are respectively connected in parallel with a junction of an inlet of the fluid pump cooling fluid line and a junction of outlets of the heater core cooling fluid line and the radiator cooling fluid line, are interconnected to provide both heating and air-conditioning to the interior of the vehicle. Additionally, the present invention, also allows the motor to be preheated when the vehicle is not running.
US08851144B2 Modular panels for protecting a structure
An innovative, low-density, highly-insulating modular panel for use in many applications and industries. The panel consists of a frame that may be preformed or bent and may be made of rigid or flexible material, and a panel covering comprising at least one pocket of thin, low-density shade fabric that has the capability of sufficiently stretching to surround the frame when the pocket is pulled onto it. The pocket may be then secured, along any previously open end where the frame was inserted, by various fastening devices. The panel covering pocket may have additional features added, as described herein. The panel is durable and cost-effective, and has good solar-control and insulating qualities. It is also a windbreak panel, a noise-reduction panel, an impact protection panel, a water-resistant panel, a fall protection panel, and a pollution-control panel. Two or more panels can be joined to create a structure-protecting panel assembly or system.
US08851140B2 Window shade
A window shade that reduces the risk of an individual becoming entangled in cords used to operate the shade includes a headrail adapted for horizontal mounting above a window, a shading material attached to the headrail, and at least one cord for raising and lowering the shading material. The cord is attached to a location adjacent a lower end of the material, and extends upward through cord guides toward the headrail. The cord is encased within a collapsible shroud attached to each cord guide. The shroud is adapted to longitudinally extend as the shading material is lowered toward a deployed position, and then longitudinally collapse as the shading material is raised toward a stowed position. The cord is secured to and is wound about a spring-loaded roller. The roller provides tension on the cord that counterbalances the weight of the shade so that the shading material may be positioned at any desired level.
US08851132B2 Air maintenance tire and pumping tube assembly and method
A tire has an elongate profiled sidewall groove extending into a first tire sidewall from an outward first sidewall surface. An elongate air tube is positioned within the elongate sidewall groove in contact with the groove sidewalls, the air tube having an external surface configuration corresponding with and seating within the internal sidewall configuration defining the sidewall groove. The air tube when subject to outward originating impinging force collapses from an expanded unstressed configuration into a collapsed configuration to allow the tube to insert through the groove entry opening and expand outwardly once within the sidewall groove to its unstressed configuration. The configuration of the groove sidewalls capture the air tube within the groove in its expanded unstressed configuration to prevent separation of the tube from the tire during use.
US08851131B2 Skew symmetric non-pneumatic tire
This skew-symmetric non-pneumatic tire focuses on the mechanical aspects of the design of the design to solve problems associated with the ride comfort, durability and assembly of a non-pneumatic tire. The tire has a generally cylindrical hub surrounding the axis of rotation and a generally cylindrical outer surface sharing the common axis of rotation; a pair of disk-like side wall members comprising non-buckling webs extending between and mating with their respective hub and outer cylindrical surface; said pair of side wall members have webs sharing a common configuration resulting in an assembly with a skew-symmetric structure with respect to the loading direction; and a tread-band circumscribing the cylindrical outer surfaces of the side walls.
US08851129B2 Run-flat tire
Provided is a run-flat tire having a substantially-crescent-shaped cross section, which makes it possible to achieve both durability at the time of run-flat travel and ride comfort at the time of travel at a normal inner pressure. A rigidity reducing portion that reduces a tire rigidity in the width direction extends in the circumferential direction on a surface of a tread rubber in an area located on the inner side than an end of a belt in the tire width direction and on the outer side than a road-contacting end in the tire width direction under a 75% load state.
US08851125B2 Insulated ductwork products
An intermediate insulating product (20) is disclosed comprising a planar insulating layer (11) having a top side in to which is formed a plurality of parallel channels (14) having cross-sections with tapered sides. A vapor proof layer (18) is applied to the top surface after the channels (14) have been formed such that the vapor proof layer (18) bridges the plurality of parallel channels (14). The intermediate insulating product (20) is then bent with mechanical manipulation in regions adjacent the bottom of the channels (14) thereby causing the channels (14) to close to form a non-planar, derivative insulated ductwork product (30) and the vapor proof layer (18) forms a vapor proof inner lining to the derivative insulated ductwork product (30).
US08851115B2 Coupler
Coupling holding means 50 comprising retainers 53 and retainer engaging portions 52 for holding a coupled state is provided between a socket S10 and a plug P10 of a coupler. Engaging pawl portions 54 are formed on the inner sides of a pair of retainers 53 provided on both sides of a nozzle portion 32. By causing the retainers 53 to move outwardly in a coupling operation, a gap between the retainers 53 and the nozzle portion 32 can be made small. By forming interference preventing portions 58 in the engaging pawl portions 54, the retainers 53 can be provided at a smaller interval than the outer diameter of the nozzle portion 32 whereby the coupler can be made even more compact. Further, by forming the retainers 53 higher than the foremost end portion of the nozzle portion 32, the nozzle portion 32 can be protected by the retainers 53 even in an unexpected event such as falling and damage will not extend directly to the nozzle portion 32.
US08851107B2 Shutoff valve integrated into a pressure regulator
A gas releasing and/or regulating mechanism is equipped with a body (1) with a passage, a gas intake (2) and outlet (3), the intake and outlet being connected to the passage; elements to block (5, 6, 7, 8) the passage; mobile elements (9) which associated to the body (1) of the mechanism, define a low pressure chamber (11) below the blocking elements (5, 6, 7, 8), the mobile elements (9) operating the blocking elements (5, 6, 7, 8) depending on the pressure within the low pressure chamber (11). The blocking elements (5, 6, 7, 8) are made of a first shutter (5, 6) and a second shutter (7, 8) below the first in the passage; and the first and second shutters (5, 6, 7, 8) are mechanically connected so that the first shutter (5, 6) closes before the second one (7, 8).
US08851106B2 Gas supplying apparatus, cylinder cabinet provided with the same, valve box, and substrate process apparatus
A disclosed gas supplying apparatus includes a pressure controller that reduces a primary pressure thereby providing a secondary pressure greater than a process pressure at which a predetermined process is performed and less than the atmospheric pressure in a secondary pipe; a pressure sensor that measures a pressure in the secondary pipe; a first open/close valve provided in the secondary pipe; an open/close valve controller that opens or closes the first open/close valve; a pressure comparator that compares the pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the secondary pipe with a first set pressure that is greater than the process pressure by a predetermined pressure; and a controller that outputs a signal to the open/close valve controller thereby closing the first open/close valve, when the pressure comparator determines that the pressure in the secondary pipe is less than the first set pressure.
US08851104B2 Elevating fire hydrant assembly
Disclosed is an elevating fire hydrant assembly. The elevating fire hydrant assembly includes: a water pipe which supplies firefighting water in accordance with the open or shut operation of a water control valve buried underground; an elbow pipe connected to the water pipe; a fixing pipe connected to the elbow pipe; an elevating pipe which is coupled to the fixing pipe to retract into or extend from the ground, and the lower end of which is coupled to a guide block that slides along the inner surface of the fixing pipe; a sealing plate coupled to the top of the fixing pipe to prevent the elevating pipe from escaping; a head block which is coupled to the top of the elevating pipe, and which has a hose connector for connecting a firefighting hose; and valve means for opening or shutting the lower end of the elevating pipe.
US08851093B2 Adjustable rotation base
An outdoor umbrella includes an awning frame, a supporting shaft and an adjustable rotation base including a base housing and a transportation arrangement. The base housing is arranged to couple with the supporting shaft to support the awning frame in an upright manner, and includes a plurality of transferring wheels. The transportation arrangement is provided at the base housing to operate the base housing between an idle mode and a transportation mode, wherein in the idle mode, the transferring wheels are suspenedly lifted up to position above the bottom edge of the base housing such the base housing is sat on the ground surface in a stationary manner, wherein in the transportation mode, the base housing is lifted up by air pressure for allowing the transferring wheels to move out of the receiving cavity at a position below the bottom edge of the base housing.
US08851073B2 Patient interface having an integrated system for communicating data to a ventilator
A medical device may include a patient interface for use in a breathing assistance system, an electronic device coupled to the patient interface, and one or more electrical conductors at least partially integrated with the patient interface. The patient interface may include a connection end configured for receiving gas communicated by a gas delivery apparatus, and a patient end configured for insertion into or more breathing passageways of a patient. The one or more electrical conductors at least partially integrated with the patient interface may be capable of facilitating communication of electrical signals between the electronic device and the gas delivery apparatus when the patient interface is communicatively coupled to the gas delivery apparatus.
US08851059B2 Self-cleaning wiresaw apparatus and method
The present invention provides a self-cleaning wiresaw cutting apparatus including a cleaning mechanism adapted to clean the components of the wiresaw before, during, or after a cutting process or to humidify the cutting region of the apparatus. The apparatus contains at least one dispenser adapted to dispense an aqueous fluid onto various components of the wiresaw.
US08851058B2 Slot wear indicator for a grinding tool
Wear indicators for abrasive articles are presented. Specifically, indicator marks that are parallel to a bonding edge of a grinding element are presented. Tools comprising a carrier element and one or more grinding elements comprising one or more indicators are also presented.
US08851057B2 Bow press
A bow press for deflecting bow limbs of a bow. Inside and outside support members are provided to engage the bow limbs and/or riser on the bow. Rotating support members roll on outside surfaces of the bow limbs to deflect the bow limbs toward the center portion in response to the actuator mechanism is extended.
US08851049B2 Engine control device
In a vehicle in which an output of an engine is transmitted to a driving wheel through a transmission, an engine control device stops fuel injection of the engine, when engine rotational speed is above a preset specific fuel cut-off rotational speed while the vehicle is coasting; and restarts the fuel injection, when the engine rotational speed falls below a recovery rotational speed while the fuel injection is stopped, wherein the recovery rotational speed is below the specific fuel cut-off rotational speed. When determining that an operating state allows the stop and restart of fuel injection to be repeated, the engine control device sets a hunting-preventing fuel cut-off rotational speed based on an input shaft rotational speed of the transmission, wherein the hunting-preventing fuel cut-off rotational speed replaces the specific fuel cut-off rotational speed.
US08851048B2 Dedicated rocker arm engine brake
A system for actuating an engine valve is disclosed. The system may include a rocker arm shaft (110) having a control fluid supply passage (112) and an exhaust rocker arm (500) pivotally mounted on the rocker arm shaft (110). A cam (210) for imparting main exhaust valve actuation to the exhaust rocker arm (500) may contact a cam roller associated with the exhaust rocker arm. A valve bridge (300) may be disposed between the exhaust rocker arm (500) and first and second engine valves (400, 450). A sliding pin (310) may be provided in the valve bridge (300), said sliding pin contacting the first engine valve (400). An engine braking rocker arm (100) may be pivotally mounted on the rocker arm shaft (110) adjacent to the exhaust rocker arm (500). The engine braking rocker arm may have a central opening, a hydraulic passage (102) connecting the central opening with a control valve (130), and a fluid passage (105) connecting the control valve with an actuator piston assembly (140). The actuator piston assembly may include an actuator piston (141) adapted to contact the sliding pin (310) during engine braking operation. A bushing (115) may be disposed between the engine braking rocker arm (100) and the rocker arm shaft (110). The bushing may have a port (118) which registers with the hydraulic passage (102). A cam (200) is provided for imparting engine braking actuation to the engine braking rocker arm (100). A plate (122) is fastened to a back end of the engine braking rocker arm (100), and a spring (124) biases the plate and the engine braking rocker arm (110) into contact with the cam (200).
US08851044B2 Vane-type rotary actuator or an internal combustion machine
In an embodiment, a rotary vane-type geared internal combustion engine includes a stator, two coaxial rotors and a reducing gear. The stator has an internal cylindrical working area and intake and outlet openings. The two coaxial rotors with two vanes on each rotate to define four chambers separated by four vanes. The reducing gear has a main shaft, a shaft of an auxiliary device and two shafts of the two coaxial rotors positioned between the main shaft and the shaft of the auxiliary device. Each shaft of the reducing gear has a pair of two-tooth gears reciprocally positioned at a 90 degree angle.
US08851030B2 Combustion engine with stepwise variable compression ratio (SVCR)
The compression ratio of an internal combustion engine is adjustable in a stepwise fashion, such as by pivoting an extension of an eccentric connecting rod bearing. The projection extends into a chamber defined by a portion of a connecting rod coupling portion of a connecting rod assembly. Liquid is delivered to one side of the projection and removed from the opposite side of the projection to move the projection and thereby the eccentric connecting rod bearing from one position corresponding to one compression ratio to another position corresponding to another compression ratio.
US08851028B2 Cooling system for clutch
A cooling system for a fan drive device, particularly for a wet friction clutch. The clutch shaft member is attached to a shaft mounting plate and ATF is circulated through them. The shaft mounting plate is connected in turn to an engine mounting plate which has engine coolant circulated through it at a lower temperature. The shaft mounting plate and engine mounting plates both have passageways for circulation of fluids therein.
US08851023B2 Continuous steam generator
A continuous steam generator with a combustion chamber having a number of burners for fossil fuel and an outside wall composed of steam generator pipes that are welded to each other gas-tight is provided. A vertical gas flue is connected downstream of the combustion chamber on the hot gas side in an upper area via a horizontal gas flue, wherein a part of the outside wall facing the vertical gas flue and below the horizontal gas flue is inclined inward and thus forms a nose projecting into the combustion chamber with the bottom of the adjacent horizontal gas flue. Support pipes are connected downstream of at least one part of the steam generator pipes of the nose at the upper end thereof on the flow medium side, wherein the support pipes are guided substantially vertically to the lower end of the nose.
US08851021B2 Method for controlling hot water temperature through operation of a circulation pump
A method for controlling the temperature of hot water through an operation of a circulation pump according to the present invention includes: judging whether a user uses the hot water; judging whether one of the circulation pump operating modes is selected; and circulating the hot water in an outflow pipe to an inflow pipe by operating the circulation pump provided on a bypass pipe connecting the inflow pipe which direct water enters and the outflow pipe through which heated hot water flows out to each other when the user uses the hot water and selects one of the circulation pump operating modes, thereby controlling a temperature difference of the hot water that flows out from a water heater to be reduced.
US08851010B2 Systems and methods for measuring, monitoring and controlling ozone concentration
Systems and methods to determine ozone concentration in a gas mixture of ozone and oxygen, based on measurements of the total gas mixture properties, can enable the measurements of ozone concentration at low pressure settings. The ozone concentration determination can be applied to vacuum processing chamber, using either novel ozone sensor or existing mass flow meter or controller.
US08851004B2 Mooring system with decoupled mooring lines and/or riser system
A vessel includes a hull with a turret, a cavity in the turret and a mooring buoy releasably attached in the cavity, the buoy including a buoyant body and carrying a number of risers, extending to a subsea hydrocarbon well and a number of anchor lines connected to the sea bed, wherein upon connection of the buoy to the cavity, the buoy is attached to a pulling member connected to a winch on the vessel for lifting of the buoy. Each anchor line and/or riser at its upper end is connected to a stopper member, the stopper member being attached to the pulling member, wherein during lifting, each anchor line and/or riser and the stopper member are movable relative to the buoyant body in a length direction of the anchor lines and/or risers, and wherein after connection of the buoyant body to the cavity, the stopper member is engaged with an abutment member on the buoyant body to support the anchor line and/or riser weight off the body.
US08850994B2 System for transporting turbomachinery
A system includes a turbomachine skid including a skid body configured to support a turbomachine and a modular transportation system. The modular transportation system includes one or more supports and one or more transportation attachments that may be removably coupled to the supports, the transportation attachments being interchangeable with one or more different transportation attachments.
US08850991B2 Hopper car gate assembly with a door having vertically spaced sections
A hopper car gate assembly having a frame with opposed side walls, opposed end walls, and top and bottom openings. The gate assembly has a door with a lower section that is supported by the frame and an upper section that is vertically spaced from the lower section. The door is moveable between a closed position, in which the lower section blocks the bottom opening, and an open position, in which cargo can exit through the bottom opening. A drive mechanism engages the upper section of the door to move the door between its closed and open positions. Preferably, the door has a middle section that is joined to and extends upward from the lower section, and the upper section is joined to and extends away from the middle section.
US08850990B2 Method and apparatus for controlling and enhancing tractive effort in DC traction motors on locomotives
A system is provided for powering a locomotive. The system comprises a plurality of traction motor assemblies, each assembly comprising an armature and a field; a first power source connected in series to each armature; and in specific circumstances, a second power source connected across the fields. A method of controlling traction power in a locomotive is also provided, the method comprising: identifying which of a plurality of traction motor armatures in the locomotive has a highest current reading; and ramping a traction motor field current to equal the highest current reading for the traction motor armatures.
US08850987B2 Method and system for expandable modular raft and a water ride using the same
The present invention is related to a method and system for expandable modular raft and a water ride using the same. In one embodiment, the expandable modular raft can include a raft, and a base unit attached to the raft and configured to receive a building block. The building block can be configured to be force fit to the base unit and/or each other. Furthermore, the building block could be formed from various shapes. The expandable modular raft can be used in a water ride and can float along a path such as a river. Interactive units such as water guns can be placed along the path to allow observers to interact with the riders. Furthermore, a raft area can be located adjacent the path to store the rafts, while a building block area can be located adjacent the path to store the building blocks.
US08850986B1 Cylindrical (drum) centerfire cartridge's primer
The present invention relates to a novel cylindrical drum design to eliminate the need for the adhering method in the primer's design, while providing protection against the effects of temperature variance, age, and physical movement of the cartridge. The present invention provides continuous operable positioning of the priming mixture between the firing pin and the disc area (anvil) without requiring the addition of glue to the priming mixture. A cylindrical disk provides a shelf for containing an amount of starter priming mixture that replaces the conical anvil. A throat provides a restriction to maintain the mixture on the shelf, and provides for the flame to travel to a main conical or other shaped chamber to provide an efficient flame to the main propellant chamber for efficient and complete burning of the propellant. Seals may be provided at either or both ends of the primer.
US08850985B2 Polymeric material suitable for making ammunition cartridge casings
An ammunition article is provided which comprises a casing and a cap wherein the casing is formed from a polymeric material that has a room temperature notched Izod impact value greater than about 10 ft lbs/in and then has a ratio of notched Izod impact value at room temperature to notch Izod impact value at about −40° C. of less than about 4.
US08850984B2 Device for improved method of blasting
An explosive cartridge comprising: an explosive composition; a deactivating agent that is capable of desensitising the explosive composition; and a barrier element that prevents contact between the explosive composition and the deactivating agent and that is adapted to be at least partially removed on use of the explosive cartridge.
US08850979B2 Printing plate making apparatus and printing plate making method
A printing plate making apparatus which scans a recording medium by light beam in a predetermined pixel pitch, thereby engraving a surface of the recording medium to make a printing plate, wherein an upper surface of a convex portion of light power of the light beam engraving all or part of an adjacent region which is adjacent to a convex portion which is to be left in a convex shape on a surface of the recording medium is set to an threshold engraving energy or less, and light power of light beam in a vicinity region in vicinity of outer side of a region defined as the adjacent region is brought higher than light power in the adjacent region.
US08850969B2 Device and method for melting cheese
An device and method are provided for steam injection heating to melt a cheese component of a food item of a food product. The device includes a housing for a steam generator and a steaming chamber. Generated steam is injected into the steaming chamber to melt the cheese component of the food item held in a container inserted into the steaming chamber. The device is configured to rest on a counter so that the counter provides an interior support surface in the steaming chamber. The counter also provides an exterior support surface for the container and a work surface. The container is inserted into the steaming chamber by sliding it on the exterior surface and is received and supported by the interior support surface. A food product having a melted cheese component is assembled, produced and packaged while the container is supported in the single plane of the counter.
US08850966B2 Food retainer for rotary grill
The food retainer for a rotary grill allows a wide variety of differing food articles to be grilled with a rotary grill, a rotisserie or the like. The food retainer may take the form of a flat rectangular wire mesh cage having an open side edge for inserting a slice or patty of food therein; a perforate plate or a wire rack having one or more straps for securing food thereto; a wire mesh cylindrical shell having an open end for inserting food therein; or circular end members having radially spaced spits or skewers extending between them. All embodiments of the food retainer have shaft ends extending therefrom for rotatably mounting the food retainers on a rotary grill or rotisserie.
US08850953B2 Axial piston machine having bent axis construction
An axial piston machine having bent axis construction, having a drive shaft rotatably supported in a housing and ending in a drive flange comprising a face on the drive shaft side, is disclosed in which ball races are formed for receiving piston heads. The piston heads are rotatably retained in the ball races by means of deformable rings. The axial piston machine having bent axis construction possesses characteristics so that pressure relief of the ball head is ensured for all cases. The rings at the inner surface comprise at least one groove running so as to connect the ring faces to each other.
US08850943B2 Management system of several snipers
There is proposed a system for managing fire of snipers, including a central station (CS) and a plurality of N individual kits (IK), each operated by one sniper. Preferably, the IK includes: --a rifle, --an optical sight (OS) mounted on the rifle with a mechanism for correction of the OS, --equipment including devices activating the rifle's firing pin; --a laser target designator having an axis coinciding with the OS axis, satellite navigation receiver (SNR), video-camera, symbol generator, adding device summarizing output signals, readiness sensor installed on the rifle's trigger, command decoder; zoom-lens actuator; electronic switches controlling the zoom-lens actuator, laser rangefinder; commutator receiving output signals from the laser rangefinder and SNR, and radio-modem module (IK-RM) provided with a two-way communication with the CS furnished with certain devices specified therein. The system enhances the synchronousness and target hit accuracy, and is capable of counteraction to acoustic counter-sniper systems.
US08850935B2 Hand tool
A hand tool includes a shaft, at least one affecting portion, and a protection layer. The shaft is like a bar, and can be hold by a hand. The affecting portion connects with the shaft. The affecting portion can grip a specific part which a user wants to control. The protection layer is settled and/or covered on at least one portion of the hand tool surface. The protection layer is lumpy and rough. Because of the protection layer, the hand tool is shake-proof, wear-proof, slip-resistance, and electric insulation.
US08850929B2 Strap wrench
A strap wrench includes a strap that is a continuous loop and has notches. No portion of the strap is affixed to any portion of the wrench. The strap is placed around an object that needs to be turned such as an oil filter on an engine. A tension mechanism is then used to tighten the strap into place around the object to be turned. A ratchet mechanism engages one or more notches on the strap to prevent movement of the strap in one direction while allowing movement of the strap in the opposite direction. The combination of the notched continuous loop strap and ratchet mechanism allow the strap wrench to have a ratcheting action after the strap is tightened into place around the object to be turned.
US08850925B2 Follower member
A follower member (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, the follower member (1) having a roller (3) mounted on a pin (2) for a running contact against a periodic stroke producer, the roller (3) being mounted with an inner peripheral surface (4) on an intermediate ring (5) extending directly on the pin (2) and forming, together with said the (2), an intermediate sliding bearing (6) situated between the intermediate ring (5) and the pin (2), and the intermediate ring (5) protruding beyond two front ends (7) of the roller (3). The intermediate ring (5) has a clearly higher surface hardness than the pin (2).
US08850923B1 Bicycle handlebar assembly
A bicycle handlebar assembly includes a handlebar, two auxiliary bars, two supporting assemblies and two positioning assemblies. The two auxiliary bars are assembled on the handlebar. Each auxiliary bar has a plurality of first holes and a plurality of second holes corresponding to the first holes. The two supporting assemblies are mounted on the two auxiliary bars respectively. The two positioning assemblies are disposed to the two auxiliary bars and the handlebar. Therefore, each supporting assembly and the respective auxiliary bar are secured on the handlebar via the respective positioning assembly. Furthermore, each supporting assembly and the respective auxiliary bar are adjustable via the first and second holes.
US08850922B2 Pneumatic accelerator pedal actuator
A vehicle accelerator pedal actuator may include a pressurized fluid source, a mounting mechanism configured to fix the accelerator pedal actuator relative to a vehicle accelerator pedal, and an actuating mechanism in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source and configured to displace the vehicle accelerator pedal. The vehicle accelerator pedal actuator may further include a valve member selectively controlling fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the actuating mechanism.
US08850917B2 Spindle drive
The present invention relates to a spindle drive. A spindle drive according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a body that is disposed at a side of a machine tool; a spindle that is disposed at the body, with a ring gear disposed thereunder; a gear box that is disposed at a side of the body; a plurality of driven shafts that is disposed at the gear box and engaged with the ring gear; an idle shaft that is disposed at the gear box and engaged with a plurality of driven gears at a side; a high-speed driving shaft that is disposed at the gear box and drives the idle shaft while changing the speed by a driving force of a spindle motor; a low-speed driving gear that is disposed at the gear box, engaged with the driven shafts, and pressed by a pressing unit such that backlash is removed; a decelerator that is disposed at the low-speed driving gear and driven by a servomotor to drive the low-speed driving gear; and a clutch unit that is disposed between the servomotor and the low-speed driving gear and controls power transmission of the servomotor.
US08850913B2 Manual transmission for a motor vehicle
A manual transmission of a motor vehicle, is actuated by manually shifting a shift lever in a gearshift console having a selector gate and shifting gates in a multiple-H shifting pattern, with coaxial input and output shafts and a parallel countershaft, and with a number of gearset planes. Transmission gears are implemented by engaging at least two associated gear clutches. The gear clutches are divided into a selection group and a shifting group. The selection group gear clutches can be actuated exclusively by moving the shift lever in the selection gate so as to couple the input and counter-shafts. The shifting group gear clutches can be actuated exclusively by moving the shift lever in the shifting gates so as to couple the output and counter-shafts, and the gear clutch respectively engaged in the shifting gates having the two opposite gears is a selection group gear clutch.
US08850910B1 Shifting of transmission power ratio and power generation for mixer or shredder without power interruption
An apparatus for the shredding or mixing of bulk material, which is mounted on a mobile chassis which may be driven by a power source on the chassis or pulled by a tractor or truck therefor. A power assist transmission is capable of changing a transmission power ratio between the power source and a shredding or mixing member, such as an auger, without any interruption of power to the auger. An oil pump forms part of the transmission for delivery of hydraulic fluid to components in the transmission, and means are provided to reverse the direction of rotation of the oil pump and to also increase the rate of rotation of the oil pump with respect to the rate of rotation of the input shaft, to generate oil pressure required at very low motor rotations per minute to enable the necessary rotation of augers with a full load.
US08850907B2 Test carrier
[Problem] A test carrier able to secure a high air-tightness is provided.[Solution] A test carrier 10 comprises a cover member 50A and a base member 20A which are bonded together while sandwiching a die 90 between them. ultraviolet rays can pass through the cover member 50A.
US08850902B2 Method and apparatus for detaching and/or isolating a histological sample
The invention relates to an apparatus for treating histological samples, in particular for detaching and/or isolating a histological sample that, in particular after an infiltration operation, is adhering to another sample and/or to the inside of a cassette (1), having a sample receiving chamber (2) which is embodied and intended to be filled at least partly with a liquid (3), in particular with liquid paraffin. The apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that an apparatus is provided that is introducible into the liquid (3), in particular under open- and/or closed-loop control, in order to elevate the fill level height (6) of the liquid (3), and/or that an apparatus is provided whose volume is increasable, in particular under open- and/or closed-loop control, in order to elevate the fill level height.
US08850896B2 Physical quantity detector
A physical quantity detector includes a diaphragm including a displacement part that is displaced under external pressure, a ring-shaped fixing part that holds an outer circumferential part of the diaphragm, a holding member having a projection part that projects from an inner circumference of the fixing part toward a center at one surface side of the diaphragm, a support fixed to the projection part, and a pressure-sensitive device having a first base part fixed to the displacement part, a second base part fixed to the support, and a pressure-sensitive part provided between the base parts.
US08850894B2 Method and device for ultrasonic testing of a component
A device and a method for ultrasonic testing by means of a local immersion technique of a stringer component section of a flat component are provided. The device includes a test head assembly mounted as moving floatingly by a holding device in the Y-direction longitudinally. The test head assembly includes: a test head that can be connected to an automatically actuated handling device and that can be moved by the handling device along the stringer; a test head holder; and a counter-holder coupled with the test head holder by an actuation element, wherein the actuation element is configured to steer the test head holder and the counter-holder from a closed position to an open position, the test head holder and the counter-holder being mounted floatingly along a guiding rail running in the X-direction transversely to the stringer, and fit, in a force-loaded manner, to each side surface of the stringer.
US08850888B2 Inertial sensor
Disclosed herein is an inertial sensor. The inertial sensor 100 according to preferred embodiments of the present invention includes: a membrane 110; a mass body 120 disposed under the membrane 110; a piezoelectric body 130 formed on the membrane 110 to drive the mass body 120; and trenches 140 formed by being collapsed in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric body 130 so as to vertically meet a direction in which the mass body 120 is driven. By this configuration, the trenches are formed by being collapsed in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric body 130 to provide directivity while retaining the rigidity of the piezoelectric body 130 to prevent a wave from being propagated in an unnecessary direction, thereby driving the inertial sensor 100 in a desired specific direction.
US08850886B2 Electromechanic microsensor
The invention relates to an electromechanic microsensor (MEMS) comprising drive elements which are moved linearly in an x-y plane and disposed on a substrate to determine at least two, preferably three, components of the yaw rate vector of a substrate, wherein two groups of drive elements are driven in directions running essentially at right angles to each other. The MEMS according to the invention is characterized in that the drive elements, which are moved at right angles to each other, are connected to one another to synchronize the movements via a coupling device that is rotatably mounted on the substrate.
US08850871B2 Pipeline leak location using ultrasonic flowmeters
Fluid leaks are identified and located by successively monitoring changes in fluid flow and sound velocities of fluid at a plurality of locations in the pipe with flow meters, such as with ultrasonic flow meters. Preferably the successive monitoring sampling rates are sufficiently high to measure instantaneous velocity changes. A controller coupled to the meters associates changes in monitored fluid flow and sound velocities in two locations along the pipe with a leak event occurring between those locations. The controller identifies the association event at each location and correlates pipe leak location based at least in part on difference in time between the respective location events. The system and method may be used in liquid and gas pipeline transmission systems.
US08850870B2 Pressure guiding tube blockage diagnosing device and blockage diagnosing method
A pressure transmitting device detects, through a pressure guiding tube, a pressure of a liquid, slurry, gas, or the like to be measured, wherein there are fluctuations in the pressure; where the pressure guiding tube blockage diagnosing device comprises: a rising/falling frequency detecting portion for segmenting into a plurality of continuous intervals a time series of pressure values detected by the pressure transmitting device, and for detecting, in each time interval, the rising/falling frequency of the fluctuations; and an evaluating portion for evaluating the state of blockage of the pressure guiding tube through comparing, to a specific threshold value, the rising/falling frequency of the fluctuations.
US08850863B2 Electric wire or cable
There is provided an aluminum-alloy material having sufficient electric conductivity and tensile strength as a wiring material and excellent in wire-drawing property, and an electric wire or cable using the same. An electric wire or cable includes an aluminum-alloy strand formed of an aluminum-alloy including Fe: 0.1% by mass or more to less than 1.0% by mass, Zr: 0 to 0.08% by mass, Si: 0.02 to 2.8% by mass, at least one of Cu: 0.05 to 0.63% by mass and Mg: 0.04 to 0.45% by mass, and the remainder being aluminum and unavoidable impurities.
US08850857B2 Detacher for a security device
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for a detacher for a security device are disclosed. The detacher (180c) includes a magnet (1820) that can be moved relative to a housing (1810) by a motor (1830). Magnet and motor are mounted inside the housing.
US08850854B2 Knitted fabric bed skirt
A knitted fabric is designed and adapted to fit box springs of varying size. The knitted fabric includes four panels that each includes three layers—a middle layer, a top layer and bottom layer. The knitted fabric is elastic and stretches to fit over the box spring. The four panel construction provides a large opening on the top of the box spring, which allows the knitted fabric to be removed from the box spring without removal of the mattress.
US08850853B2 Knitting machine, particularly with a high gauge
A knitting machine comprising a needle holder, which supports a plurality of needles which can be actuated with an alternating motion along their axis and means for guiding the needles on the needle holder which comprise channels for forming knitting which are defined proximate to the end of the needle holder and sliding channels which are defined on the needle holder in a region that is spaced from the end of the needle holder, each one of the channels for forming knitting being engageable by a needle and defining with its inlet, which is directed toward the outside of the needle holder, resting contact regions for the knitting during the retracting motion of the needles, the number of the sliding channels being smaller than the number of the channels for forming knitting.
US08850849B2 Liquefied natural gas and hydrocarbon gas processing
A process for recovering ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from LNG and a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is divided into two portions. The first is supplied to a fractionation column as a first upper mid-column feed. The second portion is heated while condensing a portion of a column distillation stream, thereby producing a “lean” LNG stream and a reflux stream. The reflux stream is supplied as top column feed. The second portion of LNG feed is heated further and supplied to the column as a first lower mid-column feed. The gas stream is divided into two portions. The second is expanded, then both portions are cooled while vaporizing the lean LNG stream and heating another portion of the distillation stream. The colder first portion is supplied to the column as a second upper mid-column feed, and the second is supplied as a second lower mid-column feed.
US08850826B2 Carbon capture with power generation
A gas turbine power generation system having a carbon production apparatus and a carbon fuel cell to generate electricity. The carbon production apparatus is functionally connected to the fuel cell to provide carbon to the fuel cell to generate electricity. The system is configured to power the carbon production apparatus with a portion of the electricity generated from the fuel cell.
US08850825B2 Generating power using an ion transport membrane
A system may include a compressor, a heat exchanger and an ITM. The compressor is configured to receive an air stream and compress the air stream to generate a pressurized stream. The heat exchanger is configured to receive the pressured stream and indirectly heat the pressurized stream using heat from an oxygen stream from an Ion Transport Membrane (ITM). The ITM is configured to receive the heated pressurized stream and generate an oxygen stream and the non-permeate stream, wherein the non-permeate stream is passed to a gas turbine burner and the oxygen stream is passed to the heat exchanger.
US08850820B2 Burner
A burner including a gas injector for injecting fuel into the burner for a gas turbine engine is provided. The burner is provided with a quarl, which surrounds a combustion room, at least a first channel emerging into the combustion room for providing the combustion room with air mixed with fuel, a swirler for mixing the air and the fuel located at the inlet of the channel, at least one tube for the provision of fuel at an inlet of at least one channel, wherein the tube is provided with a plurality of diffuser holes distributed along the tube acting as gas injectors for effectively distributing fuel in a flow of air passing through the channel.
US08850810B2 Vehicular hydraulic-pressure-generation device and vehicular braking-force generation device
A vehicular hydraulic-pressure-generation device wherein a first bush compressively deforms due to pressure from a simulator piston that moves when hydraulic pressure produced when a brake pedal is depressed is transmitted into a cylinder part. Said vehicular hydraulic-pressure-generation device thus creates artificial reaction-force characteristics with respect to the position of the brake pedal. The aforementioned first bush has a third elastic modulus, which is smaller than a second elastic modulus, and is provided in parallel with a first return spring. The compressive deformation of the first bush occurs over a second region that overlaps a first region in which compressive deformation of the return spring primarily occurs. This makes the brake pedal move more smoothly, reducing the feeling of incongruity resulting from a V-shaped singularity in the reaction-force characteristics with respect to brake pedal position.
US08850797B2 Engine exhaust gas additive storage system
System for storing an internal combustion engine exhaust gas liquid additive, the system comprising a tank for storing the additive and an “immersed” baseplate positioned through an opening made in the bottom wall of the tank, the baseplate comprising at least one orifice through which a system for injecting the additive into the exhaust gases can be fed, and also incorporating at least one other active component of the storage system and/or of the injection system.
US08850795B2 After-treatment apparatus for exhaust gas right after a combustion chamber
Provided is an after-treatment apparatus for exhaust gas right after a combustion chamber, which apparatus comprises a discharge device with an electrode exposed to an exhaust port installed in a cylinder head, an antenna installed on the back face of a valve head, an electromagnetic wave transmission line installed in a valve stem with one end connected to the antenna and the other end, covered with an insulator or dielectric and extending to and connected to a power-receiving portion, which is positioned at a location fitting into the guide hole or at a location farther from the valve head in the valve stem, and an electromagnetic wave generator for feeding electromagnetic waves to the power-receiving portion. The after-treatment apparatus is configured such that discharge is generated with the electrode of the discharge device and electromagnetic waves fed from the electromagnetic wave generator through the electromagnetic wave transmission line are radiated from the antenna.
US08850791B2 Flywheel engine
A flywheel engine which contains the shell, ignition system, cranking system and fuel system. Install flywheel shaft on shell while at least install a flywheel on the flywheel shaft. Set up gas mixture room on flywheel and open air inlet louver at the central part of the room. Install air cylinder at the peripheral region of flywheel and open jet exhaust at the peripheral region of gas mixture room. Set up admittance port at the bottom of the air cylinder; connect the admittance port and the jet exhaust. Install flame lighter in the air cylinder. The angle of the jet direction of chambers and the radius of flywheel is Φ1.
US08850790B2 Gas turbine engine speed control system and method during maximum fuel flow
Methods and apparatus are provided for selectively controlling the rotational speed of a gas turbine engine that drives a load compressor having movable inlet guide vanes and that is coupled to receive fuel at a fuel flow rate up to a maximum fuel flow rate. The rotational speed of the gas turbine engine, and the fuel flow rate to the gas turbine engine, are both sensed. If the sensed rotational speed of the gas turbine engine is less than a predetermined value and the sensed fuel flow rate to the gas turbine engine equals or exceeds the maximum fuel flow rate, the position of the inlet guide vanes is controlled to reduce load compressor mechanical load on the gas turbine engine.
US08850787B2 Hybrid thermal power generation system and method of constructing same
A hybrid thermal power generation system using crude oil as a fuel comprises a combined cycle power generation system for generating power by supplying naphtha and light oil separated by an atmospheric distillation column alone into different gas turbines and using steam produced by exhaust heat and a conventional power generation system for generating power by burning heavy oil separated by the atmospheric distillation column alone.
US08850783B2 Reel mower with cutting units having yaw pivot structure at a negative caster angle
A reel mower has a double A arm suspension that lowers a reel cutting unit into a cutting position in a tail down orientation and that levels the reel cutting unit out as it lifts the reel cutting unit into a transport position. The reel cutting unit yaws during turns about a substantially vertical axis having a negative caster angle. The suspension has clamps that can be flipped open or closed to quickly attach or detach the reel cutting unit. A drive motor can be quickly attached or detached to the reel cutting unit using a pivotal wire form. An active counterbalance system automatically offsets the increasing weight of a grass basket on the reel cutting unit to maintain quality of cut. The grass basket maintains a constant spacing relative to the reel cutting unit when the reel cutting unit pitches to improve clipping collection.
US08850781B2 Western safety stirrup
A western safety stirrup is disclosed having an elastic band forming the outer side of the portion of the stirrup wherein a boot is to be placed, held at top and bottom by studs. The upper stud is recessed below the outer side of the stirrup so as not to catch on clothing or brush. The lower stud has a flattened head and protrudes at an angle downwardly, and is attached to the elastic band by means of a leather wrap having holes in each end to place over the lower stud. When outward pressure is placed on the elastic band, it pops off and the boot is released from the stirrup. A leather keeper flap over the band attached at its upper end allows for the elastic to break away while protecting against snagging and provides a more western aesthetic appearance to the stirrup.
US08850776B1 Finished wall repair assembly
A finished wall repair assembly repairs a hole in a finished wall. The wall repair assembly includes a rod assembly. The rod assembly is configured to abut adjacently positioned wall studs wherein the rod assembly extends between the wall studs. A clip is coupled to the rod assembly. The clip is configured to abut a wall surface and a replacing surface wherein the replacing surface is securely attached in a desired position to patch a hole in the wall surface.
US08850775B2 Non-welded coping caps and transitions
A design and fabrication technique whereby a coping cap and/or transition can be supplied with mitered corner sections and other transitional components which utilize the identical prefinished or bare sheet metal material(s) without any reliance on exposed mechanical fasteners, welding, soldering, or post-applied paints. This is essentially accomplished by joining the prefinished sheet material(s) together using a mesh screen and adhesive on the underside (non-exposed) face of the sheet material(s).
US08850764B2 Structure anti-torsion system and device, and method of use providing compression and tension support
A structure anti-torsion device includes a structural column. The structural column is positioned between adjacent studs of a structural stud wall construction and oriented vertically between the studs. A structural column lower end is fastened to a lower base plate which rests on a wall construction bottom plate. A pair of anchor bolts secured to a foundation extends through the bottom plate and the lower base plate and are fastened to the lower base plate. A structural column upper end is bolted using first and second bolts to an upper base plate. The first and second bolts cooperate through the upper base plate to connect the upper base plate to a double top plate of the wall construction such that the double top plate is connected by the upper base plate, the structural column, and the lower base plate to the foundation.
US08850761B2 Structural design with rear-ventilated cladding elements
A structural design is proposed, comprising rear-ventilated cladding elements (1), in particular plates or boards, which can be hung in front of a supporting framework (2), in particular consisting of vertical support elements and horizontal bearing elements, wherein the cladding elements are each assigned a frame (3) which spans a rear-ventilation cross-section (4) and the upper and lower frame leg profiles (5, 6) of which have ventilation openings (8) leading to the front (7) of the cladding. In order to provide advantageous rear-ventilation conditions it is proposed that at least the upper frame leg profile interior (12) is assigned a splash guard (13) which is arranged in the manner of a labyrinth seal, adjoins the frame leg profile below the ventilation openings (8), covers the ventilation openings (8) and preferably faces with the free end thereof towards the front (7) of the cladding.
US08850750B2 Rapidly-deployable lightweight load resisting arch system
A rapidly-erectable lightweight load resisting system for the construction of buried arched bridges, tunnels or underground bunkers, has a plurality of lightweight arched tubular support members which are formed of a fiber reinforced polymer material and are substantially oriented in a vertical plane. The lightweight tubular support members are connected by at least one or more lateral force resisting members which are positioned in a direction perpendicular to the vertical plane of the tubular support members, and which are capable of transferring vertical loads to the tubular support members and of providing lateral-load capacity to the load resisting system. The tubular support members are fitted with one or more holes near the top which allows them to be filled with a suitable material to provide additional strength or stiffness.
US08850749B2 Adjustable desks and chairs for audiovisual classrooms
The present invention relates to adjustable desks and chairs for audiovisual classrooms. It comprises a turntable, at least a desk and at least a chair. The turntable is installed on the floor of an audiovisual classroom. The desk is installed on the turntable. The chair is installed on the turntable and in proximity to the desk. The turntable can rotate the desk and the chair together to any desired angle, thereby increasing the convenience of using an audiovisual classroom.
US08850743B2 Lighting assembly
A lighting fixture for facilitating plant growth and a light emitting component. The fixture comprises a single light emission source LED device which provides at least two emission peaks in the wavelength range of 300-800 nm and at least one of the emission peaks has Full Width of Half Maximum (FWHM) at least 50 nm or higher. The emission peaks of the LED match well with a plant photosynthesis response spectrum and is therefore particularly suitable for high efficiency artificial lighting.
US08850740B2 Fishing rod
A fishing rod has a rod blank, and a line guide group attached to the rod blank for guiding a fishing line delivered from a reel to a top guide. The, line guide group is classified into a choke guide group configured with three choke guides and a tip guide group configured with a plurality of tip guides having a decreased height and diameter than the choke guides. Heights and diameters of the choke guides are set to draw one virtual cone shape in which the diameters are made to be circumferences. The heights and diameters of the tip guides are set to be all the same. Since the line is converged rapidly and smoothly, the tip guide group can have a combination of light guides having small diameter, thereby the entire weight can be saved greatly, and original ability of a rod can be brought out.
US08850733B1 Safety system allowing partial enablement of shooting functionality upon reception of signal
A safety system at least one transmitter and at least one receiver and at least one enabler/disabler associated with a firearm. The at least one transmitter emits a signal. The receiver is capable of receiving the signal from the transmitter. The enabler/disabler is at least partially enabling the firearm such that the firearm is available for shooting upon receipt of the controlling communication from the receiver, the receiver transmitting the controlling communication in response to the receipt of the signal from the transmitter.
US08850703B2 Method for the manufacture of the blade tips of rotor wheels made in BLISK design
With a method for finish-machining the blade tips of rotor wheels made in BLISK design, the rotor wheel or multi-stage compressor rotor (1), is machined—blade by blade and stage by stage—at the blade tips (2) by a conical cutter (5) whose cutting edge (6) is oriented tangentially to the outside surface of the rotor wheel/compressor rotor and routed on the blade tip essentially along the centerline thereof, with the cutting force being introduced perpendicular to the tool axis and in the stiffest direction of the blade (3), i.e. the centerline (11) of the blade cross-section and the perpendicular axis extending from the centerline. The cutting action and the force introduction of the conical cutter at the blade tip allow production of blade tips with a geometrically precisely defined edge without setting the respective blades into vibration.
US08850701B2 Method for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit board having mounting cavity
A method for manufacturing a multilayer PCB comprises the following steps. First, a PCB substrate includes a first circuit layer is provided. The first circuit layer includes a mounting portion. A first solder-resistant layer is formed on the mounting portion and a protective adhesive film is attached on the first solder-resistant layer. Next, a first copper foil, a first adhesive layer, a second copper foil, and a second adhesive layer are laminated on the PCB substrate, and the first and second copper foils are etched to form circuit layers. Then a cavity is defined and the protective adhesive film is exposed in it. After removing the protective adhesive film, an electronic component is mounted in the cavity. As such, a multilayer PCB with the electronic component embedded in is obtained.
US08850699B2 Method of forming a land grid array with discrete pads
A land grid array (LGA) and a method of forming the LGA are disclosed. The method comprises plating a printed circuit board to form a grid array of copper pads, and soldering a discrete pad over each of the plated copper pads in the grid array. The discrete pad is a solid object that can be handled and positioned independent of other discrete pads. Optionally, the method may further comprise measuring variations in flatness of the printed circuit board as a function of location in the grid array, and selecting individual discrete pads that each have a thickness selected for use at a particular location in the grid array so that the discrete pads provide a locus of exposed surfaces having greater flatness than the printed circuit board.
US08850696B2 Robot tool
A robot tool for setting plugs (18) in industrial production has a robot attachment region (2) for attaching the robot tool (1) to an industrial robot. To further simplify or automate the setting of plugs in industrial production, in particular of motor vehicles, the robot tool (1) has a pushrod (42) that can be moved back and forth and with which a plug (18) can be picked up and advanced.
US08850692B2 3-dimension fiber structures for composites and interfaces
A sheet article, the sheet article including a substrate, a plurality of fasteners on at least a portion of one surface of the substrate, and a cover, at least partially covering the plurality of fasteners, wherein the cover at least partially protects the plurality of fasteners and prevents the plurality of fasteners from engaging other fasteners or pressing down and wherein the covered fasteners can be exposed or the cover can be removed if need.
US08850674B1 Nut plate for pierced earrings
A novel pierced earring for pierced ears which includes a rear plate attached to the pin, the rear plate forming the nut and having a peripheral shape approximating that of the rear portion of the lobe of the ear to provide substantial bearing surface against the rear of the lobe.
US08850666B2 Button
A button includes a button body that is placed over a first main surface of a sheet having the first main surface and a second main surface opposing to the first main surface, the button body having a hole over the first main surface; a fixing member including a base that is placed over the second main surface, and a shaft that projects from the base and passes through the hole from the second main surface towards the first main surface side, in which a distal portion of the shaft includes: a plate-like base portion provided over the button body and covering the hole; and a plurality of ribs integrally formed with the base portion and onto a surface of the base portion, and radially extending from a center to a circumference of the base portion.
US08850664B2 Hose clamp
A hose clamp includes a body elastically deformable between a closed-diameter state and an opened-diameter state, a first grip piece, a second grip piece, a lock portion located on either the first or second grip piece, a lock receiving portion located on the other grip piece side and elastically displaced together with the lock portion when the grip pieces are caused to come close to each other, thereby being locked to the lock portion by a subsequent return operation. The lock receiving portion holds the body in the opened-diameter state when in a locked state, and a restricting portion is capable of restricting displacement of both grip pieces in reverse of the direction of the elastic displacement. Either the first or second grip piece formed with the restricting portion has a distal end located lower than a distal end of the other grip piece when the body is in the closed-diameter state.
US08850660B2 Hinge device
A hinge device in which a slider elastically supported by a compressive coil spring is put into contact with a pivotal lever installed on a cover of a product which swings open or closed. The hinge device can increase a free stop section and simultaneously prevent the cover from being incidentally open.
US08850658B2 Shock-absorbing castor
A castor includes a casing constituted by a part having at least one housing suitable for receiving a pivot defined on an axis, and a bearing defined on an axis perpendicular to the axis, at least one wheel suitable for running on a surface, a shaft mounted to co-operate in the bearing, the wheel being mounted in association with the shaft, the part being constituted by at least two portions and that are made respectively of two materials of different flexibilities, the portion presenting the greater flexibility being interposed between the housing and the axial orifice of the bearing so as to isolate the housing and the bearing from each other. The castors may be used with furniture or the like, in particular in a hospital setting, e.g. for beds, tables, walkers, and also for moving suitcases, baggage, or the like.
US08850652B2 Cosmetic brush handle covers
Covers for covering a handle of a cosmetic brush are disclosed. The covers may include a suction cup fixed in a wall of the cover. The covers may be softer than a handle of the cosmetic brush. The covers may have an open end opposite a closed end, or a first open end opposite a second open end. In embodiments where the covers have a first open end opposite a second open end, the covers may be displaced, while remaining coupled to a handle of the cosmetic brush, from a first position covering a group of bristles of the cosmetic brush and exposing the handle of the cosmetic brush to a second position exposing the group of bristles and covering the handle. By virtue of having a suction cup fixed in the wall of the cover a user may removeably couple the cosmetic brush to a smooth surface.
US08850643B2 Aromatic air effusion apparatus for a pillow
An aromatic air effusion apparatus for a pillow is introduced for both leisure relaxation and for retirement at night. This pillow apparatus is unique over conventional art providing a user with a great variety of options for mechanically controlled effusions of aromatic scents that are channeled throughout the interior of the pillow. A compression and timing apparatus effuses air through a scented permeable medium then conducts such air throughout the pillow whereby such treated air would be a source of a gratifying emotional experience for the user. According to practitioners of aromatherapy, and those who patronize the benefits of its products, the scents of both synthetic and natural plant extract oils, which would be used with this first, advanced-technology pillow, are personally and emotionally rewarding as they enhance both mood and even metabolism for overall well-being and improved health.
US08850640B2 Patient support table, medical apparatus with a patient support table, and method for operating a patient support table
A patient support table has a patient support plate adjustable along at least one axis to support a patient thereon, and at least one touch-sensitive input device, wherein sweeping over or marking a segment of the at least one touch-sensitive input device by a user is translated into an adjustment of the patient support plate along the at least one axis. A medical apparatus includes such a patient support table, and in a method to adjust the patient support plate of the patient support table, appropriate interaction of a user with the touch-sensitive input device effects the adjustment of the support plate along the at least one axis.
US08850638B1 Modular folding bed frame set
A modular paneled bed frame assembled from connected paneled sections. A modular paneled bed frame may be comprised generally of a headboard, a footboard, and side rails. Modular paneled bed frame may be configured in a folded position for ease of shipping or retail storage. In an embodiment, a modular paneled bed frame may be assembled by an end consumer in a short period of time, for example less than 15 minutes, based on a “no-tool” assembly due to hinged and interlocking components.
US08850637B1 Counterbalancing assembly for folding furniture
A counterbalancing assembly for an article of folding furniture comprises at least one piston extending between a support assembly and a furniture component, said piston being biased to resist a downward force of gravity acting on the furniture component. An upper mounting bracket secures a first end of the piston to the support assembly, and a lower mounting bracket secures a second end of the piston to the furniture component. One or both of the upper and lower mounting brackets includes a worm gear and a mounting element that is threaded onto the worm gear. Each such mounting element has a portion adapted to engage a complementary fitting defined by a respective end of the piston, such that rotation of the worm gear causes a corresponding linear movement of the mounting element, and thus, linear movement of the respective end of the piston.
US08850633B2 Elongated shower drain and shower door assembly
Elongated drain assemblies suitable for use in tiled shower stalls are described. Because the elongated drain is typically located at one edge of the shower stall proximate a stall wall and extends substantially the entire length of the wall, the installation of the associated shower pan is made much simpler. Specifically, the pan need only be sloped substantially in a single direction instead of four towards a prior art circular drain located at the center of a stall. The time and cost of creating a pan having a single slope is reduced over a more complex multi-sloped pan. Several different means for adjusting the height of the drain assemblies' top surfaces relative to the height of the tile floor are provided to adjust for tile floors of differing thicknesses. Various drain grates including a V-shaped drain grate and various spacers including an adjustable spacer are disclosed. Additionally a combination elongated drain assembly and shower door assembly is described.
US08850631B2 Bedpan having a tapered interior
A bedpan for evacuating liquid stored therein is disclosed in which the bedpan comprises a housing having an interior portion, a side portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion, a drain opening formed in the housing along the side portion to allow body fluid to flow out of the interior portion, a tapered portion formed in the bottom portion to direct body fluid toward the drain opening, and a ledge portion formed in the side portion.
US08850622B2 Deformable safety helmet
A safety helmet includes damping elements for example made from expanded polystyrene added onto a shell made from an elastically deformable material. The whole of the surface, facing the shell, of the damping elements arranged along the periphery of the opening is positioned against the shell to form an inner supporting belt completely in contact with the shell. The helmet is arranged in such a way that a position of the head in the cavity of the helmet causes a deformation of the supporting belt by elastic deformation of the shell according to the morphology of the head, generating permanent tightening of the supporting belt against the head in substantially uniform manner along the supporting belt.
US08850619B2 Technical garment
A technical pant garment 10 having an inner short 11 and an outer short 12. The inner short 11 is formed to tightly fit a wearer of the garment 10 and the outer short 12 is connected to the inner short 11 to fit loosely about the inner short 11. The inner short 11 is constructed to impose on or more leads on the wearer which act to affect the posture of the wearer in a manner tending to cause the wearer who has adopted an incorrect posture to realign towards a correct posture.
US08856956B2 Automated entity verification
Some embodiments provide a verification system for automated verification of entities. The verification system automatedly verifies entities using a two part verification campaign. One part verifies that the entity is the true owner of the entity account to be verified. This verification step involves (1) the entity receiving a verification code at the entity account and returning the verification code to the verification system, (2) the entity associating an account that it has registered at a service provider to an account that the verification system has registered at the service provider, (3) both. Another part verifies the entity can respond to communications that are sent to methods of contact that have been previously verified as belonging to the entity. The verification system submits a first communication with a code using a verified method of contact. The verification system then monitors for a second communication to be returned with the code.
US08856954B1 Authenticating using organization based information
A method is used in authenticating using organization based information. Organization based information is analyzed for information that is suitable for use in authenticating a user. The organization based information includes employee-used information. A question is derived from the organization based information. Based on the question, a process used to authenticate a user is executed.
US08856951B2 License management system and method
When hardware connected to an image forming apparatus is detected, a check is performed as to whether the hardware was used with another image forming apparatus, and, if used, a license of an application that is operated by the hardware is automatically transferred so that the application can be used in the image forming apparatus to which the hardware is connected.
US08856940B2 Processing of data information in a system
Data information, represented by electric or wave signals, or data information within the artificial or natural databases and storage media, such as for example DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid), encoded as a sequence of symbols, is, for the purpose of its concealing and simultaneously preserving its select local data information segments, partitioned within a physical medium, such as especially computer hardware, physical communication channel, physical storage medium or biological material, into short overlapping data segments. The studied local data information segments are contained within the short segments in their entirety. these partitioned short segments constitute the first group and to at least one short segment of the first group, data, encoded as selected symbols, are prepended or appended, to the symbols of the short segments of the first group. The resulting mixture of segments is interconnected into a sequence of data. The entire process may be repeated multiple times.
US08856939B2 Cloaking with footprints to provide location privacy protection in location-based services
A method for using a location-based service while preserving anonymity includes receiving a location associated with a mobile node, receiving an anonymity level associated with the mobile node, computing a region containing the location of the mobile node and a number of footprints based on the anonymity level, wherein each of the footprints from a different user, and providing the region to a location-based service to thereby preserve anonymity of the mobile node. A method also allow a mobile device or its user to specify the anonymity level by selecting a public region consistent with a user's feelings towards desired privacy.
US08856936B2 Pervasive, domain and situational-aware, adaptive, automated, and coordinated analysis and control of enterprise-wide computers, networks, and applications for mitigation of business and operational risks and enhancement of cyber security
Real time security, integrity, and reliability postures of operational (OT), information (IT), and security (ST) systems, as well as slower changing security and operational blueprint, policies, processes, and rules governing the enterprise security and business risk management process, dynamically evolve and adapt to domain, context, and situational awareness, as well as the controls implemented across the operational and information systems that are controlled. Embodiments of the invention are systematized and pervasively applied across interconnected, interdependent, and diverse operational, information, and security systems to mitigate system-wide business risk, to improve efficiency and effectiveness of business processes and to enhance security control which conventional perimeter, network, or host based control and protection schemes cannot successfully perform.
US08856928B1 Protecting electronic assets using false profiles in social networks
An improved technique utilizes a honeypot-style seeding of synthetic user identifiers which, if used by spear-phishing intruders, enable easy discovery of the intruders. Along these lines, an administrator of a network constructs false employee profiles on a social network with the intent of intercepting any email to that employee. Such employee profiles correspond to no actual employee of the corporation, but are in fact synthetic entities designed to appear to be an actual employee. These profiles contain identifiers that describe the employee, such as a name, position within the corporation, telephone number, educational background, past positions, and social connections. The administrator configures a receiver at the corporate network to block from entering the secure network emails that include references to any of these identifiers.
US08856926B2 Dynamic policy provisioning within network security devices
The invention is directed to techniques for dynamic policy provisioning. A network security device may comprise a memory that stores a first policy that identifies a first set of patterns that correspond to a first set of network attacks and a second policy, and a control unit that applies the first policy to the network traffic to detect the first set of network attacks. The control unit, while applying the first policy, monitors parameters corresponding to one or more resources and dynamically determines whether to apply a second policy to the network traffic based on the parameters. The control unit, based on the dynamic determination, applies the second policy to the network traffic to detect a second set of network attacks and forwards the network traffic based on the application of the second policy. In this manner, the network security device may implement the dynamic policy provisioning techniques.
US08856925B2 Native code module security for arm instruction set architectures
Some embodiments provide a system that executes a native code module. During operation, the system obtains the native code module. Next, the system loads the native code module into a secure runtime environment. Finally, the system safely executes the native code module in the secure runtime environment by using a set of software fault isolation (SFI) mechanisms that constrain store instructions in the native code module. The SFI mechanisms also maintain control flow integrity for the native code module by dividing a code region associated with the native code module into equally sized code blocks and data blocks and starting each of the data blocks with an illegal instruction.
US08856923B1 Similarity-based fraud detection in adaptive authentication systems
Similarity-based fraud detection techniques are provided in adaptive authentication systems. A method is provided for determining if an event is fraudulent by obtaining a plurality of tagged events and one or more untagged events, wherein the tagged events indicate a likelihood of whether the corresponding event was fraudulent; constructing a graph, wherein each node in the graph represents an event and has a value representing a likelihood of whether the corresponding event was fraudulent and wherein similar transactions are connected via weighted links; diffusing through weights in the graph to assign values to nodes such that neighbors of nodes having non-zero values receive similar values as the neighbors; and classifying whether at least one of the one or more untagged events is fraudulent based on the assigned values.
US08856917B2 Single sign-on for remote desktops
A mechanism is provided for automatically logging into a cloud based system that does not accept token log-on credentials generated by a single sign-on service. In an embodiment, a one-time password is automatically generated and persisted. The generated password is used to log in automatically to a cloud based system that does not accept tokens generated by the web-ID providers and for connecting to other services. Examples of such systems may include Windows, Linux, and iOS.
US08856915B2 Security communication apparatus and security communication method
A negotiation unit, of a logical network control apparatus connected to a LAN, judges settings of processing to be performed on communication data by a network connection apparatus, from properties of an application to be used in communication, and decides parameters to be used for a VPN connection. The VPN connection is performed using the determined parameters.
US08856914B2 System and method for intelligent coordination of host and guest intrusion prevention in virtualized environment
A distributed and coordinated security system providing intrusion-detection and intrusion-prevention for the virtual machines (VMs) in a virtual server is described. The virtualization platform of the virtual server is enhanced with networking drivers that provide a “fast path” firewall function for pre-configured guest VMs that already have dedicated deep packet inspection security agents installed. A separate security VM is deployed to provide virtual security agents providing deep packet inspection for non pre-configured guest VMs. The network drivers are then configured to intercept the data traffic of these guest VMs and route it through their corresponding virtual security agents, thus providing a “slow-path” for intrusion detection and prevention.
US08856913B2 Method and protection system for mitigating slow HTTP attacks using rate and time monitoring
A system and methods for mitigation slow HTTP, SSL/HTTPS, SMTP, and/or SIP attacks. A protection system monitors each TCP connection between a client and a server. The protection system monitors the header request time and minimum transfer rate for each client and TCP connection. If the client has not completed the data transfer in the minimum time or the data are not transferred at the minimum transfer rate, the protection system determines the connections are potentially a slow attack and resets the connections for the protected devices.
US08856911B2 Methods, network services, and computer program products for recommending security policies to firewalls
Recommending a security policy to a firewall, includes receiving a request from a firewall for a recommendation as to whether the firewall should allow or block a detected present communication for which the firewall does not have an existing security policy. Information about past blocked and allowed communications at other firewalls on a network is searched to identify past communications that are similar to the present communication. The identified past communications are assigned a respective positive or negative vote. A positive vote indicates a past communication was allowed and a negative vote indicates a past communication was not allowed. A positive recommendation is sent to the requesting firewall to allow the present communication if the positive votes outnumber the negative votes, and a negative recommendation is sent to the requesting firewall to block the present communication if the negative votes outnumber the positive votes.
US08856902B2 User authentication via mobile communication device with imaging system
A graphical authentication identifier is used to facilitate automatic authentication of a user. A graphical identifier authentication system receives a request from an authenticating entity for a onetime use graphical authentication identifier. In response to the received request, a onetime use graphical authentication identifier to be displayed by the authenticating entity is generated. A request for user authentication information by the authenticating entity is encoded in the graphical authentication identifier, which is transmitted to the authenticating entity for display (e.g., on a login screen). The onetime use graphical authentication identifier being displayed by the authenticating entity is captured by a registered user operated computing device. In response, the requested user authentication information is transmitted to the authenticating entity, such that the user is automatically authenticated to the authenticating entity, without the user manually entering the requested user authentication information.
US08856899B1 Systems and methods for obscuring entry of electronic security term
A security service determines whether to grant a user access to a resource. The service receives from the user a security term in an obscured form derived from a revealed form of the security term according to a predefined padding scheme known to the user and to the security service. The service applies the padding scheme to the received term to result in a de-padded security term and confirms that the de-padded security term matches the retrieved revealed security term. Additionally, the service confirms that the received term has not been previously employed within a predetermined frame of reference. Accordingly, if the received obscured security term is purloined and re-used within the predetermined frame of reference, the security service denies access to the resource.
US08856897B2 Method and apparatus for enabling a user to select an authentication method
The present invention facilitates access to a restricted service related to secure transactions via a network. The present invention allows a user to select a minimum security level of authentication for its own login to a restricted service. The user's selected minimum security level of authentication may be registered in an authentication method system, so that the user must use the selected minimum security level for authentication in order to gain access to the restricted service. Alternatively, the user may specify that the selected minimum security level for authentication may be over-turned by the user, or optionally re-set to a new authentication method depending on the needs of the user. As such, the present invention allows the user the flexibility to select its own authentication method for accessing a restricted service.
US08856890B2 System and method of network access security policy management by user and device
A system and method are provided for management of access security by user and device. A security policy enforcement point is provided with a user policy module to receive user credentials from an access device of the user and a point for setting device dependent security policy to receive device credentials from the access device. A user policy is retrieved from a user database with use of the user credentials while a device policy is retrieved from a device database with use of the device credentials. The user policy and device policy are combined and used in the SPEP to enforce a user and device based security policy.
US08856888B2 Personal authentication apparatus and personal authentication method
A personal authentication apparatus that controls an authenticated state of a target device based on the motion of the target device includes a motion sensor that detects motion information indicating the motion of the target device, a carried-state determination unit configured to determine whether or not the target device is being carried by a user based on the detected motion information, and an authentication control unit configured to control the authenticated state of the target device based on a result of the determination by the carried-state determination unit.
US08856887B2 Methods and apparatus for delegated authentication token retrieval
In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium includes code to cause a processor to send, from an authorization client on a device to a client authorization module, an indication of multiple applications installed on the device, and receive, at the authorization client and in response to the indication, multiple application tokens from the client authorization module. Each individual application token from the multiple application tokens received by the authorization client is uniquely associated with an application from the multiple applications installed on the device. The authorization client provides each application its associated application token such that each application from the multiple applications can use that application token in order to be authenticated to an application server associated with the application.
US08856883B2 System and method for protecting MAC control messages
A system to protect MAC control messages is presented. In one embodiment, the system comprises a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a communication device coupled to the processor to communicate wirelessly over multiple sub-channels in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless network. The communication device is operable to determine that a MAC control message is protected if an indicator within the MAC control message is set. The communication device validates, if the indicator is set, integrity of the MAC control message in conjunction with a CMAC (cipher-message authentication code) tuple concatenated with the MAC control message.
US08856879B2 Social authentication for account recovery
A backup account recovery authentication of last resort using social authentication is described. The account holder requests trustees who have been previously identified to obtain an account recovery code. The account recovery system sends a communication to the trustee for information to verify the trustee as one of the previously identified trustees. The account recovery system then may transmit a link and code with instructions for the trustee to return the link. The account recovery system then transmits a situational query to the trustee to provide additional security. Finally, if all the communications have been completed for the required level of security, the account recovery code is transmitted to the trustee. The trustee sends the account recovery code to the account holder for access to an account.
US08856877B2 Method and system to optimize efficiency when managing lists of untrusted network sites
A computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions executable by a processor, the set of instructions operable to determine if a network location included in a request to connect to the network location, is included in a first list of untrusted network locations stored on the client computer and send a request to determine if the network location is included in a second list of untrusted network locations stored remotely from the client computer when it is determined that the network location is not included in the first list.
US08856874B2 Method and apparatus for serving content elements of a markup language document protected against cross-site scripting attack
A web application decomposed into one or more domain sandboxes ensures that the contents of each sandbox are protected from attacks on the web application outside that sandbox. Sandboxing is achieved on a per-element basis by identifying content that should be put under protection, generating a secure domain name for the identified content, and replacing the identified content with a unique reference (e.g., an iframe) to the generated secure domain. The identified content is then served only from the generated secure domain using a content handler.
US08856870B1 Methods, devices, and mediums associated with dynamic forum generation
A method, device, or medium may be associated with receiving a request for information. A subject matter may be related to the request. A forum may be generated comprising members associated with the subject matter. A session of the forum may be initiated. The session may be configured to elicit a response to the request. The forum may be disbanded in response to a conclusion of the session.
US08856859B2 System and method for setting application permissions
There is disclosed a system and method for setting application permissions. In an embodiment, the method comprises reviewing the current application permissions settings on the device; comparing the current application permissions settings to a set of required application permissions settings for the software application; listing the set of required application permissions; and providing means to grant permission for all required application permissions the user is authorized to grant. In another embodiment, only the required application permissions requiring a grant of permission and which the user is authorized to grant are listed. The user may be provided with means to grant permission for all required permissions the user is authorized to grant in a single response.
US08856843B1 Method and system for adding local channels and program guide data at a user receiving device in an aggregated content distribution system
A method and system for generating local channels includes a user receiving device and a local headend in communication with the user receiving device generating a local channel using a multicast stream, generating local channel guide data comprising tuning data for the local channel and communicating a control command to a user receiving device. The control command comprises tuning data for the local channel. The user receiving device stores tuning data for the local channel with program guide data stored in the user receiving device in response to the control command.
US08856834B2 Method and system for replacing/obscuring titles and descriptions of recorded content
A method and system for displaying titles of recorded content based on a user's access level. In one embodiment, a plurality of user identifications is received. Each of the user identifications may be associated with one of a plurality of access levels. Login information corresponding to a user may be received and a user interface may be generated. The user interface may display one or more titles corresponding to recorded content. The one or more titles displayed on the user interface may be based on an access level associated with the user.
US08856827B1 System for conveying and reproducing images for interactive applications
A system for conveying and reproducing images for use with interactive applications is described. The system includes one or more application modules producing images for a display, and a display server for deriving encoded representations of the images and forwarding them to one or more clients. The client includes one or more user input devices such as a touchpad or touchscreen, and forwards information derived from the data received from these devices to the display server. The information is also used locally to modify reconstructed images derived from the encoded image representations received from the display server. The modified reconstructed images are displayed on a video screen.
US08856826B2 System and method for effectively presenting multimedia information materials
Methods and systems for presenting multimedia information materials from a database, preferably as a video broadcast. In one example, a plurality of information segments, such as video clips, are stored in the database, information segments are selected from the database, and a user can organize a subset of the selected information segments to affect a presentation of those information segments in desired order. The selected information segments may be loaded into a memory. The selected information segments may also be represented using indicators. The subset of selected information segments may be presented in the same order as the corresponding indicators. The presentation may be realized on a computer, a media player, or a television, the latter of which may interface with a set-top box and/or a personal video recorder.
US08856825B1 Server side adaptive bit rate reporting
A method and system for reporting a percentage of an advertisement playable by a smart appliance is disclosed. A server receives metadata associated with an advertisement in a transport signal stream from an encoder. The server determines a length of the advertisement and a frame rate of the transport signal stream based on the received metadata. The server divides the advertisement into at least one segment based on the length and the frame rate. The server instructs the encoder to insert at least one marker into at least one frame of the advertisement corresponding to the at least one segment of the transport signal stream to create at least one marked segment.
US08856823B2 Methods and systems for synchronizing delivery of media content streams having different resolutions
An exemplary method includes processing a first program stream representative of media content having a first resolution and a second program stream representative of the media content having a second resolution, generating a single advertisement stream representative of advertisement content having a third resolution, detecting a transmission lag between the first and second program streams, dynamically synchronizing the first and second program streams to substantially remove the detected transmission lag, transmitting the synchronized first program stream by way of a first content channel, the synchronized second program stream by way of a second content channel, and the advertisement stream by way of an advertisement channel, and directing a media content access device to switch from being tuned to the second content channel to being tuned to the advertisement channel during an advertising break in the media content. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08856818B2 System and method for in-home set top box management
A video services control system comprises a set top box coupled to a television and a video services network configured to provide video services to the television via the set top box. The video services network includes an application program operable to develop and implement individualized usage restriction profiles for users of the set top box to control video services viewing. The application program is configured to provide a designated administrator with authority to dictate the usage restriction profile for non-designated users. The individualized usage restriction profiles include restrictions on the content of video services shown on the television for viewing by the users. The application program is configured to receive information input by the designated administrator, develop each usage restriction profile based on the input information unique to each user, and implement each usage restriction profile to control video services viewing by the users.
US08856816B2 Audience measurement systems, methods and apparatus
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to determine source information for media content output by a media rendering device operable to output media content from a plurality of different sources are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises detecting media content output by the a media rendering device, the media content having a media variable associated therewith, detecting a plurality of user commands, detecting a change in the media variable associated with the media content output by the media rendering device, selecting, based on a time limit, a user command from the plurality of detected user commands to use with the detected media variable change to determine source information, and providing the detected media variable change and the selected user command to a processor to determine a source of the media content output by the media rendering device.
US08856812B1 Emergency disc ejecting device for optical disc drive
An emergency disc ejecting device for an optical disc drive including a linkage module and a gear module is provided. The linkage module has a first linkage capable of moving along a disc loading direction and a disc ejecting direction. The gear module includes a first gear, a second gear and a pulley. The first gear is detachably connected to the first linkage. The second gear is driveably connected to the first gear and has a first contacting portion. The pulley is pivoted on the second gear and has a second contacting portion, wherein the second gear has an idle-stroking rotation relative to the pulley. When the second gear performs the idle-stroking rotation relative to the pulley, the first contacting portion moves relatively from a first side of the second contacting portion to a second side of the second contacting portion.
US08856804B2 Performance indicator for measuring responsiveness of user interface applications to user input
A method for measuring application responsiveness measures the time elapsed between receiving and processing a trailing tag message inserted into the application's message queue. The method receives a message, generates a trailing tag message associated with the message, and inserts the trailing tag message into the application's message queue. The trailing tag message includes a timestamp indicating when the trailing tag message was queued. A default message handler calculates the time elapsed between when the trailing tag message was queued and when the trailing tag message was processed. The elapsed time may then be used to calculated system responsiveness.
US08856803B2 Content delivery within an application
A view component of an application requests content from a model component of the application, where the request for content includes a request for data. The model component determines whether the requested data is available. If the requested data is available, the model component delivers the requested content and the requested data. If the requested data is not available, the model component first delivers the requested content and a data placeholder, and after the model component retrieves the data, the model component delivers the requested data to replace the data placeholder.
US08856802B2 Application hibernation
Operating a data processing system comprises defining a plurality of profiles, each profile comprising a list of one or more applications; receiving a defined user input requesting a switch from a first profile to a second profile; hibernating the (or each) application listed in the first profile; and recalling from hibernation the (or each) application listed in the second profile. Preferably, a graphical user interface is adjusted to reflect a change in status of each application that has been hibernated or recalled from hibernation.
US08856798B2 Mobile computing device activity manager
A system and a method are disclosed for an activity manager providing a centralized component for allocating resources of a mobile computing device among various activities. An activity represents work performed using computing device resources, such as processor time, memory, storage device space or network connections. An application or system service requests generation of an activity by the activity manager, causing the activity manager to associate a priority level with the activity request and identify resources used by the activity. Based on the priority level, resources used and current resource availability of the mobile computing device, the activity manager determines when the activity is allocated mobile computing device resources. Using the priority level allows the activity manager to optimize performance of certain activities, such as activities receiving data from a user.
US08856793B2 System, method and program for scheduling computer program jobs
Scheduling a program for periodic execution. The program requires a computer resource for execution. The historic availability of the resource is determined and recorded at a multiplicity of times a day. Subsequently, a request is received to schedule a program for execution on the day at a specified time and daily thereafter at the specified time or weekly or monthly thereafter on the day at the specified time. If there has been sufficient historic availability of the resource on the day at approximately the specified time, the program is scheduled for execution on the day at the specified time and daily thereafter at the specified time or weekly or monthly thereafter on the day at the specified time as requested. If not, the program is scheduled for execution at another time on the specific day close to the specified time.
US08856791B2 Method and system for operating in hard real time
A method for managing the operation of an electronic system by taking into account various cost constraints of the system is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes selecting a working mode for a plurality of tasks in a pro-active way using predictive control mechanism while guaranteeing hard real time constraints. The system is operated at the selected working mode for the corresponding tasks.
US08856785B2 Predicting and generating a quantity of image clones
For predicting and generating a quantity of image clones, a provision module provisions a specified number of a specified image clone to an image pool. The specified number N1 is calculated as N1=N0+CEIL(SE). N0 is a number of the specified image clones provisioned during a previous provisioning operation. SE is a storage estimate. CEIL rounds SE up to a nearest integer. A deployment module deploys a first image clone from the image pool in a subsequent deployment in response to a request.
US08856780B2 Method and system to remotely flash an external module
A method to remotely flash an external module comprises the steps to electronically transfer a computer program from a computer device to an external module, to partially install the external module to a vehicle, to extract the key data from a device securing the vehicle, to transfer the key data to a computer, to analyze and process the key data with a computer program generating a new computer program allowing the external module to communicate with the security device, to transfer the generated computer program to the external module, to complete the installation of the external module to the vehicle.
US08856778B2 Software selection based on available storage space
Software selection based on available storage space involves determining that a data package (e.g., a software component) is not to be loaded (e.g., not to be installed) onto a storage device (e.g., a disk drive) of a computer (e.g., a target computer). This determination is based on the available storage capacity of the storage device (e.g., free disk space) and on a storage requirement of the optional data package (e.g., disk space required by the proposed software component). In some example embodiments, available storage capacity is determined automatically (e.g., by using an application programming interface).
US08856769B2 Adaptive instruction prefetching and fetching memory system apparatus and method for microprocessor system
A method and system of the instruction packing and scaling are designed for simultaneously enhancing energy efficiency by concurrent and advanced prefetching/fetching instructions via the small and/or banked caches and for improving the performance of microprocessors by reducing the fraction of program and by employing the simple and fast caches. The invention is also designed for converting high fraction code to simplified, branch-reduced, and hidden code during compilation time, for storing packed/scaled code to concurrently accessible the plurality of caches and main memories, and for reverting the code to the native instructions during the instruction prefetch and fetch operations. Consequently, the invention does not forward many flow control instructions including procedure callers/returns and unconditional branches to microprocessors. In particular, the invention accurately prefetches/fetches instructions from the main memories to small, simple, and fast caches, which significantly reduce leakage and dynamic power dissipation, access time, and chip area.
US08856768B2 System and method for compiling machine-executable code generated from a sequentially ordered plurality of processor instructions
A method and system are provided for deriving a resultant software program from an originating software program having overlapping branches, wherein the resultant software project has either no overlapping branches or fewer overlapping branches than the originating software program. A preferred embodiment of the invented method generates a resultant software program that has no overlapping branches. The resultant software is more easily converted into programming reconfigurable logic than the originating software program. Separate and individually applicable aspects of the invented method are used to eliminate all four possible states of two overlapping branches, i.e., forward branch overlapping forward branch, back branch overlapping back branch, and each of the two possible and distinguishable states of forward branch and back branch overlap. One or more elements of each aspect of the invention may be performed by one or more computers or processors, or by means of a computer or a communications network.
US08856760B2 Streaming programming generator
A device receives input that includes definitions of components of a computational pipeline, where the components include one or more buffers, one or more kernels, and one or more stages within a control graph. The device generates, based on the input, kernel signatures for a graphics processor, where the kernel signatures compile into an executable streaming program for the computational pipeline. The device also generates, based on the input, host-side runtime code to execute the streaming program.
US08856759B2 Method and apparatus providing COBOL decimal type arithmetic functions with improved performance
A method and apparatus is disclosed providing an improvement in performance for arithmetic computations by a computer system for calculations which include decimal numeric variables. The improvement in at least one embodiment includes use of a special compiler in cooperation with a special decimal numeric subroutine library. The compiler provides comparative alignment information based upon comparing alignments of a plurality of decimal variables. The decimal subroutine library can then provide improved performance at run time by utilizing the information compared by the compiler at compiler time rather than making those computations repeatedly at run time.
US08856755B2 Dominant-state-based coverage metric
A method, apparatus and product for dominant state based coverage metric. The method comprising: determining whether all possible states of a computer program were examined based on an analysis of states that were examined excluding controlled states that are dominated by a self-dominating states; wherein the controlled states are associated with a controlled nodes in a control flow graph of the computer program, wherein the self-dominating states are associated with a self-dominating node in the control flow graph; wherein each execution path in the control flow graph that reaches the controlled nodes also includes the self-dominating node; and wherein there exists an execution path in the control flow graph that both starts and ends at the self-dominating node and further includes at least one controlled node.
US08856748B1 Mobile application testing platform
Embodiments are directed towards testing mobile applications for a plurality of mobile computers. A server computer may be provided a mobile application, a test script, and mobile computer criteria. One or more mobile computers may be filtered from a larger set on the mobile computer criteria. The server computer may install the mobile application on each determined mobile computer. Next, each portion of the test script for the mobile application may be performed and/or executed on each determined mobile computer, wherein a result for each performed portion may be stored. During the test run at least one screenshot may be generated based on at least one performed portion of the test script, wherein the screenshots may be stored. The server computer may generate a displayable report that may include each screenshot and a result for each performed portion of the test script.
US08856741B2 Just in time component mapping
One embodiment involves a system comprising a network, a server, and a requesting device. The server and requesting device are connected with the network. The server comprises a processor configured to receive a request from the requesting device and determine information about the requesting device based at least in part on the request. The processor is further configured to determine an abstract representation of an application and at least one mapping from a plurality of mappings based at least in part on the information about the device. The abstract representation comprises a plurality of components. Each mapping comprises an attribute for at least one of the plurality of components. The processor is further configured to generate a version of the application on-the-fly based at least in part on the abstract representation and the at least one mapping and send the version of the application to the requesting device.
US08856738B2 System and method for transplanting source code
A method of integrating an existing source code into a target source code, the method including mapping a plurality of candidate mappings between a change point of the existing source code and a plurality of change points of the target source code, selecting a candidate mapping of the plurality of candidate mappings, automatically updating the existing source code based on the candidate mapping having been selected, and transplanting the existing source code having been updated into the target source code.
US08856733B2 Code generation techniques
A method of generating executable code for performing desired functionality. The method includes defining a component combination based on the desired functionality, the component combination being indicative of components to be implemented and connections between the components. The component combination is then used to cause components in the component combination to be implemented, with the components communicating using the connections and generating code fragments. At least two of the components communicate to determine a context, with one or more of the code fragments being at least partially based on the determined context. The generated code fragments are combined to thereby form the executable code which when executed by a suitable a processing system, causes the processing system to perform the desired functionality.
US08856725B1 Automated source code and development personnel reputation system
Technologies are described herein for providing an automated reputation system for source code and software development personnel. Code quality metrics regarding code changes associated with a code artifact are automatically generated in response to development lifecycle events in a development environment. The code quality metrics are collected and utilized by a reputation engine to compute a code reputation score for the code artifact. The reputation engine may further utilize the collected code quality metrics to compute personnel reputation scores for one or more development personnel related to the code changes, such as developers, reviewers, testers, and the like. In addition, ratings regarding the code artifact may be received from development personnel in the development environment, and these ratings may be further considered in the computation of the code reputation score for the code artifact and the personnel reputation scores of the related development personnel.
US08856720B2 Test coverage of integrated circuits with masking pattern selection
A method of locating faulty logic on a semiconductor chip is disclosed. The method may include determining failure rates for the semiconductor chip, which contain one or more logic elements. The method also may include determining a masking pattern using failure rates. The masking pattern may mask less than all of the logic elements using a determination method. The method may also include applying a test vector to a selected logic element, wherein the result from a test vector is compared to a reference.
US08856709B2 Systems and methods for correlated parameters in statistical static timing analysis
Systems and methods for accommodating correlated parameters in SSTA are provided. The method includes determining a correlation between at least two parameters. The method further includes calculating a new parameter or a new parameter set based on the correlation between the at least two parameters. The method further includes performing the SSTA such that the new parameter or the new parameter set is propagated into the SSTA. The method further includes projecting slack using the correlation between the at least two parameters and using a processor.
US08856708B1 Multi-tier field-programmable gate array hardware requirements assessment and verification for airborne electronic systems
A method of verifying a field programmable gate array for use in an integrated system includes selecting, from a set of requirements of the field programmable gate array, a first subset of the requirements that are not influenced by dynamics of the integrated system; selecting, from the set of requirements of the field programmable gate array, a second subset of the requirements that are influenced by the dynamics of the integrated system; executing a hardware test on the field programmable gate array using a chip tester that verifies the first subset of the requirements; and executing a hardware test on the field programmable gate array to verify the second subset of the requirements while the field programmable gate array is installed within the integrated system.
US08856703B2 Supporting device, design support method and computer-readable recording medium
A design supporting device includes a calculator that calculates an estimated value of a width, shifted by etching, of a wiring arranged in each of partial regions formed by dividing a layout region of a circuit to be designed on basis of a density of the wiring of the partial region, a length of a circumference of the wiring and a distance between the partial region and another partial region affecting the partial region, and uses the calculated estimated value to recalculate the density of the wiring of the partial regions, and a changer that changes the density of the wiring on basis of relationships between a recalculated density of the wiring and a preset threshold for the density.
US08856695B1 Method for generating post-OPC layout in consideration of top loss of etch mask layer
A method of forming a semiconductor circuit includes receiving target layout. An optical proximity correction process is performed on the target layout data to generate a post-OPC layout. A patterning process is performed using the post-OPC layout. The post-OPC layout may be adjusted to compensate for a top loss of an etch mask layer.
US08856690B2 Associating gestures on a touch screen with characters
The present invention provides methods for associating a gesture, in contact with a touch screen, with a character. More specifically, the present invention links a user's movement on a surface of a device to represent a character. A character includes any number, letter, or symbol. For example, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a user may swipe a surface on their device such as a cell phone. The present invention recognizes the swipe to represent the number “0,” a swipe in another direction to represent the number “1,” a tap in the middle region to represent the number “2,” etc.
US08856689B2 Editing of data using mobile communication terminal
An electronic device, a mobile communication terminal, method and computer program product for editing data The method of editing data of an electronic device displays an item list comprising at least one item; detecting first and second touch inputs and detects a change in a distance between first and second touch input points. The method executes a predetermined function related to the item list according to the detected distance change.
US08856678B1 Using touch input to select, shrink, and fold displayed content
A display device and a method of controlling therefor according to one embodiment relate, if a display area of the display device does not have an enough space to display a whole content, to the display device providing only a content area which a user wants to see and providing an easy-to-use scrolling environment to the user by folding a part of the whole content and the method of controlling therefor.
US08856675B1 User interface with hierarchical window display
Methods and apparatus for displaying display windows in a graphical user interface are disclosed. An example method includes opening, on a computing device, a first root browser window and spawning, from a first link in the first root browser window in response to a user toss-gesture associated with the first link, a first subordinate browser window. The example method further includes displaying, in a hierarchical display feature of the computing device, a hierarchical relationship between the first root browser window and the first subordinate browser window so as to visually indicate hierarchical subordinacy of the first subordinate browser window to the first root browser window.
US08856668B2 Drug delivery devices and related systems and methods
In some aspects, a method includes displaying multiple different screens on a user interface during a treatment, administering a first drug during the treatment; and while administering the first drug, displaying an identifier of the first drug in a drug identification region of the user interface. The drug identification region is present on the user interface with each of the different screens, and the identifier of the first drug is displayed in the drug identification region of the user interface regardless of which of the different screens is displayed.
US08856664B2 Prompting of recipient expertise in collaboration environment
A method for prompting expertise in a collaboration environment includes drafting a message for a collaboration environment in a graphical user interface; entering a name of at least one recipient for the message; obtaining expertise information about the at least one recipient; and highlighting at least one word of the message that is associated with the obtained expertise information in the graphical user interface.
US08856663B2 User interface for integrating applications on a mobile communication device
A user interface, in accordance with the teachings described herein, is provided for integrating applications on a mobile communication device. An instant messaging user interface may be included for displaying an instant messaging communication that includes an instant messaging contact. An instant messaging user interface menu may be included for displaying a list of commands, one or more of the commands being specific to the displayed instant messaging contact, and the list of commands including a command associated with a calendar application. The user interface may be operable to automatically launch the calendar application in response to a user selecting the command associated with the calendar application. A field in the calendar application may be automatically populated with the instant messaging contact.
US08856654B2 Method and device for composing a menu
Multimedia content of exchangeable storage media, such as optical discs, may be extended by bonus content that is downloaded via Internet connection and stored on a local storage device. An improved method for integration of different menu items relating to on-disc content and downloaded content provides flexibility and a simple, low cost solution. The method for integration of downloaded bonus content into a menu comprises defining one or more placeholders within a menu, determining a storage location or naming convention for bonus content, declaring for each placeholder an attribute providing a unique association to a specific type of bonus content, providing a button image, detecting presence of bonus content data, replacing the associated placeholder by the associated button image and enabling an associated action to be taken when said button is selected.
US08856652B2 Information storage medium containing interactive graphics stream for change of AV data reproducing state, and reproducing method and apparatus thereof
A method of reproducing interactive graphics data including menu data, the method including receiving a reproduction command of the interactive graphics data during reproduction of AV data, and changing a reproducing state of the AV data.
US08856651B2 Remote user interface cooperative application
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a remote user interface (UI) client is provided, the method comprising: establishing a first connection with a UI server; receiving a document over the first connection; closing the first connection; running the document, wherein the document contains first instructions on how to operate a user interface and second instructions on establishing a persistent connection with the UI server; and establishing a second connection with the UI server based on the second instructions.
US08856642B1 Information extraction and annotation systems and methods for documents
Information extraction and annotation systems and methods for use in annotating and determining annotation instances are provided herein. Exemplary methods include receiving annotated documents, the annotated documents comprising annotated fields, analyzing the annotated documents to determine contextual information for each of the annotated fields, determining discriminative sequences using the contextual information, generating a proposed rule or a feature set using the discriminative sequences and annotated fields, and providing the proposed rule or the feature set to a document annotator.
US08856629B2 Device and method for testing a circuit to be tested
A device for testing a circuit includes a syndrome determiner, a test sequence provider and an evaluation circuit. The syndrome determiner determines an error syndrome bit sequence (s(v′)) based on a coded binary word (v′). The error syndrome bit sequence (s(v′)) indicates whether the coded binary word (v′) is a code word of an error correction code (C) used for coding the coded binary word (v′). The test sequence provider provides a test bit sequence (Ti) of the circuit that is different than the error syndrome bit sequence (s(v′)), if the error syndrome bit sequence (s(v′)) indicates that the coded binary word (v′) is a code word of the error correction code (C). The evaluation circuit detects an erroneous processing of the test bit sequence (Ti) by the circuit based on a test output signal (R(Ti)′)—caused by the test bit sequence (Ti)—of the circuit.
US08856625B2 Transmission system, decoding device, memory controller, and memory system
A decoding device is provided for decoding received data which is coded based on low-density parity-check code. The decoding device includes a variable node operation unit, a check node operation unit, and a circuit in the transmission path between the two units. The variable node operation unit generates secondary probability information based on primary probability information and the coded data. The check node operation unit generates the primary probability information based on the secondary probability information. The circuit transmits the primary probability information and the secondary probability information between the variable node operation unit and the check node operation unit. In addition, at least one of the primary probability information and the secondary probability information transmitted via the transmission path is represented by a time signal.
US08856619B1 Storing data across groups of storage nodes
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for storing data reliably across groups of storage nodes. In one aspect, a method includes receiving (n−f) data chunks for storage across n groups of storage nodes and generating (f−1) error-correcting code chunks using an error-correcting code and the (n−f) data chunks. The (n−f) data chunks are stored at a first group of storage nodes. Each data chunk of the (n−f) data chunks is stored at a respective second group of storage nodes. Each code chunk of the (f−1) code chunks is stored at a respective third group of storage nodes. Each second group of storage nodes and each third group of storage nodes is distinct from each other and from the first group of storage nodes.
US08856611B2 Soft-decision compensation for flash channel variation
In an SSD controller reading from flash memory, subsequent to failure of an initial soft-decision decoding attempt based on a nominal LLR, soft-decision re-decoding attempts are made using compensated LLR soft-decision information sets, pre-calculated at respective read-equilibrium points corresponding to mean shifts and variance change in the actual charge-state distributions of the flash memory channel. According to embodiment, soft-decision re-decoding attempts are performed without a retry read, or overlapped with one or more retry reads. By overlapping re-decoding with one or more retry reads, the probability of successful decoding increases, the need for further retry reads diminishes, and throughput is improved. The LLR compensation becomes very effective over a large number of retry reads, improving decoding reliability and achieving close to optimal bit error rates, even in the presence of large channel variation.
US08856610B2 Computer readable storage medium storing error correction program and communication apparatus
A computer-readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process includes, acquiring a plurality of data units that belong to a first block in a certain hierarchy among hierarchical blocks defined by a plurality of hierarchies; generating error correction information corresponding to the first block that equals to an exclusive-OR of the plurality of data units; generating, in each individual hierarchy of one or more individual hierarchies that are continuous from and are lower than the certain hierarchy, error correction information corresponding to each individual block that equals to the exclusive-OR of all data units that belong to the individual block among the plurality of data units, where the individual block is one or more individual blocks other than one specific block in two or more blocks in the individual hierarchy that are included in the same block in a hierarchy.
US08856604B2 Transceiver feedback and/or re-transmission control
A method and apparatus of providing ARQ feedback is disclosed. A first step of one method includes a transmitter transmitting ARQ blocks. A second step includes a receiver transmitting ARQ feedback messages, wherein each ARQ feedback message includes a time reference that indicates a transmission time of a latest transmission burst accounted for in the ARQ feedback message.
US08856595B2 Method for verifying an application program in a failsafe programmable logic controller, and programmable logic controller for performing the method
A method and a programmable logic controller (SPS) for verifying an application program in a failsafe programmable logic controller, wherein a signature (desired value) is generated using program modules or a complete application program when creating a program, and a copy of the signature is stored in the programmable logic controller and in an external component, respectively. Before the safety-oriented application program is started, the copy of the signature stored by the programmable logic controller is transmitted to the external component and is compared with the copy in the external component. In a further comparison, a signature (actual value) is generated using the content of the main memory of the programmable logic controller and using the actually loaded application program and is then compared with the local copy of the desired value of the signature. Starting of the actual application program is enabled only when both comparisons are positive.
US08856592B2 Mechanism to provide assured recovery for distributed application
A system and method is provided for providing assured recovery for a distributed application. Replica servers associated with the distributed application may be coordinated to perform integrity testing together for the whole distributed application. The replica servers connect to each other in a manner similar to the connection between master servers associated with the distributed application, thereby preventing the replica servers from accessing and/or changing application data on the master servers during integrity testing.
US08856589B1 Failure protection in an environment including virtualization of networked storage resources
An architecture for protecting against failure in a switched storage network using virtualization.
US08856587B2 Control of interrupt generation for cache
A data processing device includes a cache having a plurality of cache lines. Each cache line has a lockout state that indicates whether an error has been detected for data accessed at the cache line. The lockout state of a cache line is indicated by a set of one or more lockout bits associate with the cache line. When a cache line is in a locked-out state, the cache line is not used by the cache. Accordingly, a locked-out cache line is not employed by the cache to satisfy a cache accesses, and is not used to store data retrieved from memory in response to a cache miss. In response to determining the detected error likely did not result from a hardware failure or other persistent condition, memory error management software can reset the lockout state of the cache line.
US08856582B2 Transparent failover
Described are embodiments directed at persistent handles that are used to retain state across network failures and server failovers. Persistent handles are requested by a client after a session has been established with a file server. The request for the persistent handle includes a handle identifier generated by the client. The server uses the handle identifier to associate with state information. When there is a network failure or a server failover, and a reconnection to the client, the handle identifier is used to identify replayed requests that if replayed would create an inconsistent state on the server. The replayed requests are then appropriately handled.
US08856581B2 Method for resource information backup operation based on peer to peer network and peer to peer network thereof
The present invention provides a method for resource information backup operation based on peer to peer network, comprising: an initiating node sending an out-of-domain backup node determining request to a connecting node in backup domain, and said out-of-domain backup node determining request including the resource global identifier of said resource information to be backed up, and the connecting node in said backup domain and said host node in which the resource information is saved have different domain identifiers; the connecting node in said backup domain determining an out-of-domain backup node according to information of said resource global identifier and out-of-domain backup rules, and sending routing information of said out-of-domain backup node to said initiating node; and said initiating node sending an out-of-domain backup operation request to said out-of-domain backup node according to said routing information, and said out-of-domain backup node implementing corresponding processing according to said out-of-domain backup operation request.
US08856579B2 Memory interface having extended strobe burst for read timing calibration
Methods and systems for calibrating parameters for communication between a controller and a memory device. A memory controller may be configured to calibrate one or more of the read latency and/or the latency window of a memory controller such that a data signal and a data strobe signal are received by the memory controller within the latency window of the memory controller.
US08856574B2 Power supply start-up mechanism, apparatus, and method for controlling activation of power supply circuits
A power supply start-up sequencing mechanism for controlling activation of a plurality of power supply circuits with a predetermined timing is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a time value generator arranged to provide a time value signal; and for each of the power supply circuits, a logic circuit arranged to receive the time value signal and from the received signal provide an activation signal to the respective power supply circuit, wherein the respective logic circuit is associated with a start timing value for the respective power supply circuit such that the activation signal is provided when the associated start timing value coincides with the received time value signal. An apparatus comprising such a mechanism, and a method for controlling activation of a plurality of power supply circuits are also disclosed.
US08856573B2 Setting a number (N) of fast training sequences (FTS) automatically to an optimal value
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a PCIe interface module and a physical layer to negotiate a link by exchanging a number of fast training sequences (N_FTS). The physical layer may count the number of good FTSs exchanged during an initial or a subsequent link training. The number of FTSs to be exchanged during a subsequent link training may be a number in which a maximum initial number of fast training sequences to be exchanged is reduced by the number of good FTSs exchanged during the initial link training, reducing link training time and increasing efficiency.
US08856566B1 Power management scheme that accumulates additional off time for device when no work is available and permits additional power consumption by device when awakened
In one embodiment, a system includes a power management controller that controls a duty cycle of a processor to manage power. By frequently powering up and powering down the processor during a period of time, the power consumption of the processor may be controlled while providing the perception that the processor is continuously available. Before powering the processor up, the power management control may determine whether or not there is work for the processor to perform. If there is no work to perform, the power management control may delay powering the processor up until there is work to perform, saving additional power. This additional power savings may be tracked, and may serve as a “credit” for the processor when subsequently powered up again.
US08856558B2 Electronic apparatus having stand-by mode and operation method thereof
An electronic apparatus has a stand-by mode. The electronic apparatus includes a first circuit, a second circuit and a third circuit. The first circuit has an interface and transfers data to an external device. The second circuit has a processor and sets a first power supplying mode of the first circuit. The third circuit sets a second circuit power supplying mode of the second circuit and sets a second power supply mode of the first circuit when the second circuit is disabled. The processor selects a first circuit power supplying mode from power supplying modes of the first circuit as the second power supplying mode before the second circuit is disabled.
US08856544B2 System and method for providing secure virtual machines
The present invention provides improved security in a virtual machine. By extending the capabilities of modern secure processors, privacy of computation is provided from both the owner of the equipment and other users executing on the processor, which is an advantageous feature for rentable, secure computers. In addition to the hardware extensions required to secure a virtualizable computer, an infrastructure for the deployment of such processors is also provided. Furthermore, a signaling flow to establish the various relationships between the owner, user and manufacturer of the equipment is disclosed.
US08856537B2 Method for protecting a telecommunication network and secure router implementing such a method
This invention pertains to a method for protecting a telecommunication network comprising at least one secure router (100) equipped with a topology map (103) of that network in order to determine the intermediate routers which constitute an optimal pathway for routing information, said secure router and said intermediate routers generating this topological map by sharing the lists of links (LSA1, LSA2, LSAn) using a communications protocol, characterized in that the secure router (100) performs the following steps: The step (109) of calculating and then saving, when a list of links (LSA1, LSA2, . . . LSAn) is received, at least one receiving fingerprint (hash(LSA1), hash(LSA2), . . . hash(LSAn)) of the lists received (LSA1, LSA2, . . . LSAn), The step (120) of calculating and then saving, when a list of links (LSA′1, LSA′2, . . . LSA′n) is transmitted, at least one sending fingerprint (hash(LSA′1), hash(LSA′2), . . . hash(LSA′n)) of the lists to be transmitted, and The step of comparing the receiving fingerprint (hash(LSA1), hash(LSA2), . . . hash(LSAn)) to the sending fingerprint (hash(LSA′1), hash(LSA′2), . . . hash(LSA′n) such that the sending of a list of links (LSA1, LSA2, LSAn) is inhibited if the receiving fingerprint is different from the sending fingerprint.
US08856535B2 Determining response signature commonalities
An analyzer can obtain data regarding signal characteristics in each of multiple communication channels within an access network. The analyzer can use that data to create signatures corresponding to each of the multiple channels. Based on similarities between signatures, the analyzer may then identify clusters of signatures associated with devices that share channels or portions of channels.
US08856533B2 Device, system and method for determining authenticity of an item
This invention relates to physical uncloneable function (PUF) devices for determining authenticity of an item, systems for determining authenticity of a physical item, and methods for determining authenticity of an item. A PUF pattern of the PUF device is damaged when using the item for the first time.
US08856532B2 Digital signatures of composite resource documents
An embodiment of the disclosure can receive a composite resource document containing at least one resource. An updated manifest resource can be obtained. The updated manifest resource can list all resources in the composite resource document. A set of zero or more (0 . . . N) resources can be indicated. Each indicated resource is one that is to be subtracted from the list of resources in the updated manifest resource in order to create a generated signature reference list of identified resources to be signed. A hash token can be generated using the resources identified in the generated signature reference list to form a signature hash token. The signature hash token can be encrypted with a secret key.
US08856531B1 Message bus key agreement scheme
Methods, computer program products, and systems are provided for using a single shared secured connection among all servers in a cluster by efficiently establishing and securely disseminating a shared key between the servers. In particular, this is done by using a Diffie-Hellman key agreement scheme among the servers using an ordered list of servers generated on-the-fly.
US08856528B2 Challenge-response system for maintenance operations via responder for telecommunications cabinet
Method of performing a challenge-response process, comprising, in this sequence, the steps of a) providing a first challenge-response pair (50) on a source device (10), assigned to a responding device (30); b) loading the first challenge-response pair (50) from the source device (10) to a challenging device (20), while the source device (10) is operationally connected to the challenging device (20); c) performing a challenge-response process between the challenging device (20) and the responding devices (30) to which the first challenge-response pair (50) is assigned, d) loading one or more second challenge-response pairs (50) from a source device (10) to the challenging device (20), while the source device (10) is operationally connected to the challenging device (20), wherein the step of loading the first challenge-response pair (50) from the source device (10) to a challenging device (20) is performed before the challenging device (20) has received any information from one of the responding devices (30), to which the first challenge-response pair (50) is assigned.
US08856527B1 Graphical user interface for digital certificate profile configuration
A graphical user interface can be provided for creating a digital certificate profile for a digital certificate. In one embodiment, a security metric is determined using a first subset certificate profile attributes selected by a user, and a usability metric is determined using a second subset of certificate profile attributes. Graphical representations of the security metric and a graphical representation of the usability metric can then be provided the graphical user interface. In one embodiment, the first subset of certificate profile attributes is the same as the second subset.
US08856525B2 Authentication of email servers and personal computers
An originating email server is authenticated by a destination email server using a public key provided by the originating email server, thereby making it possible to detect an email with a forged origination address with no action required by a domain owner. A personal computer is authenticated using a reputation report associated with a unique number corresponding to the personal computer, enabling, in one embodiment, spam detection, and, in another embodiment, a decision that a valid user is requesting service registration at a website.
US08856522B2 Security, safety, and redundancy employing controller engine instances
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates employing safety within an industrial environment. An enhancing component can implement at least one of a security level, authentication, authorization, or an access right to a validated action to at least one of the controller or the controller engine instance. The enhancing component can further separate two or more entities within the industrial environment, the first entity related to process control and the second entity related to process safety. Additionally, the enhancing component can employ at least one of a backup controller or a backup controller engine instance in the event of at least one of a software error or a hardware error within the industrial environment.
US08856512B2 Method and system for enterprise network single-sign-on by a manageability engine
A manageability engine (ME) receives an authentication response from a user during pre-boot authentication and registers the user with a key distribution center (KDC), indicating that the user has successfully authenticated to the PC. The KDC supplies the ME with single-sign-on credentials in the form of a Key Encryption Key (KEK). The KEK may later be used by the PC to obtain a credential used to establish secure access to Enterprise servers.
US08856505B2 Malware management through kernel detection during a boot sequence
A system and method for managing pestware on a protected computer is described. The method in one variation includes monitoring events during a boot sequence of the computer; managing pestware-related events before native applications can run and after a kernel is loaded; managing pestware-related events when native applications can run; and scanning a registry of the computer for pestware when native applications can run. In variations, a pestware management engine is initialized after an operating system of the protected computer is initialized and the pestware management system both receives an event log of the monitored events and compiles the set of behavior rules utilized by kernel-level monitor.
US08856495B2 Automatically routing super-compute interconnects
A mechanism is provided for automatically routing network interconnects in a data processing system. A processor in a node of a plurality of nodes receives network topology from neighboring nodes in the plurality of nodes within the data processing system. The processor constructs a system node map that identifies a physical connectivity between the node and the neighboring nodes. The processor programs a switch in the node with a connectivity map that indicates a set of point-to-point connections with the neighboring nodes. The set of point-to-point connections comprise locally-connected connections and pass-through connections.
US08856493B2 System of rotating data in a plurality of processing elements
A method of rotating data in a plurality of processing elements comprises a plurality of shifting operations and a plurality of storing operations, with the shifting and storing operations coordinated to enable a three shears operation to be performed on the data. The plurality of storing operations is responsive to the processing element's positions.
US08856490B2 Optimizing TLB entries for mixed page size storage in contiguous memory
A system and method for accessing memory are provided. The system comprises a lookup buffer for storing one or more page table entries, wherein each of the one or more page table entries comprises at least a virtual page number and a physical page number; a logic circuit for receiving a virtual address from said processor, said logic circuit for matching the virtual address to the virtual page number in one of the page table entries to select the physical page number in the same page table entry, said page table entry having one or more bits set to exclude a memory range from a page.
US08856487B2 Configurable partitions for non-volatile memory
Example embodiments for configuring a non-volatile memory device may comprise configuring M physical partitions of the non-volatile memory into two or more banks, wherein the two or more banks respectively comprise one or more of the M physical partitions, and wherein at least a first of the M physical partitions comprises a first size and wherein at least a second of the M physical partitions comprises a second size.
US08856486B2 Deploying a copy of a disk image from source storage to target storage
A technique deploys a copy of a disk image from source storage to target storage. The technique involves identifying a particular disk image to be copied from the source storage to the target storage. The technique further involves performing a comparison operation between a first disk image list which lists disk images on the source storage and a second disk image list which lists disk images on the target storage to generate a common disk image list which lists a set of common disk images on both the source and target storage. The technique further involves transferring, from the source storage to the target storage, a set of data portions representing differences between the particular disk image and a common disk image listed on the common disk image list. The set of data portions in combination with the common disk image form a deployed copy on the target storage.
US08856475B1 Efficient selection of memory blocks for compaction
A method for storing data in a memory that includes multiple memory blocks, includes running a compaction process that selects one or more memory blocks containing both valid data and invalid data, copies the valid data from the selected memory blocks to other storage locations, and then erases the selected memory blocks. At least one memory block, which meets a criterion predictive of imminent invalidation of at least some of the data in the block, is identified. Selection of the identified memory block in the compaction process is inhibited.
US08856471B2 System, method and a non-transitory computer readable medium for creating a warranted snapshot
A method for providing a warranted snapshot that may include: receiving a request to create a first warranted snapshot of a first logical volume at a first point in time and creating the first warranted snapshot if the first warranted snapshot is non-writable and if an amount of physical storage actually devoted by a storage system to the first logical volume at the first point of time does not exceed a size of a free physical storage space that is available for storing any future data delta associated with the first warranted snapshot. The creating of the first warranted snapshot may include allocating a first virtual portion of a physical storage space for storing any future data delta associated with the first warranted snapshot. A size of the first virtual portion equals the amount of physical storage actually devoted to the first logical volume at the first point of time.
US08856470B2 Data integrity protection in storage volumes
A plurality of logical volumes are stored at a plurality of sites. A command to execute an operation on a logical volume is received. A determination is made as to whether a rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume. In response to determining that the rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume, the operation is executed on the logical volume.
US08856469B2 Apparatus and method for logging optimization using non-volatile memory
A logging optimization technology using a non-volatile memory is provided. A log record has a first link connected based on a page unit and a second link connected based on a transaction unit. The log record is stored in a non-volatile memory buffer. The log record stored in the non-volatile memory buffer is deleted or moved to a disk, if necessary.
US08856467B2 Management of metadata in a storage subsystem
Methods, systems, computer program products and methods for deploying computing infrastructure for managing metadata in a storage subsystem are provided. A call is received from a client to update a portion of a metadata track. Data is also received from the client identifying at least one field of the metadata track to be updated, associated update values for the at least one field to be updated and an update type for the at least one field. A data structure field of a client interface is then populated with the identity of the at least one field and the associated update values and an opcode field of the client interface is populated with the update type. A task control block (TCB) is then allocated to the client call and, at the direction of the TCB, various operations are performed without further activity by the client. The metadata track may also be validated before being updated to ensure that the client has access only to valid updates.
US08856462B2 Reducing run time in seismic imaging computing
A system, method and computer program product for seismic imaging implements a seismic imaging algorithm utilizing Reverse Time Migration technique requiring large communication bandwidth and low latency to convert a parallel problem into one solved using massive domain partitioning. Since in RTM, both the forward and reverse wave propagation is iteratively calculated on time step increments, the method implements methods that includes partitioning memory between computation and intermediate results to optimize an RTM computation. The methods make maximum use of the memory to either eliminate storing the snapshot wavefield data to disk, or hide all or a significant portion of the disk I/O time. Furthermore, the schemes can provide the flexibility to vary a number of iterations (step size) for each snapshot to be kept in the memory. If any of the given conditions changes during the process, maximum usage of the available memory is ensured.
US08856459B1 Matrix for numerical comparison
A method and apparatus for utilizing a matrix to store numerical comparisons is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an array in which results of comparisons are stored. The comparisons are performed between numbers associated with agents (or functional units) that have access to a shared resource. The numbers may be a value to indicate a priority for their corresponding agents. The comparison results stored in an array may be generated based on comparisons between two different numbers associated with two different agents, and may indicate the priority of each relative to the other. When two different agents concurrently assert requests for access to the shared resource, a control circuit may access the array to determine which of the two has the higher priority. The agent having the higher priority may then be granted access to the shared resource.
US08856449B2 Method and apparatus for data storage and access
A query cache stores queries and corresponding results of the queries, the results of the queries being derived from a primary store. A differential store stores a pointer to data of the primary store which has changed and which affects the result of the queries stored in the query store. A new query may be satisfied by accessing the corresponding query in the query store and determining, by reference to the differential store, whether data relating to the query in the primary store has changed since the query store was compiled and, completing the new query, by accessing the corresponding data in the primary store, if applicable. Data in the differential store may be arranged and partitioned according to labels. The partitioning may be varied according to predetermined rules.
US08856447B2 Converting memory accesses near barriers into prefetches
Methods, apparatuses, and processors for reducing memory latency in the presence of barriers. When a barrier operation is executed, subsequent memory access operations are delayed until the barrier operation retires. While the memory access operation is delayed, the memory access operation is converted into a prefetch request and sent to the L2 cache. Then, data corresponding to the prefetch request is retrieved and stored in the L1 data cache. When the memory access operation wakes up, the data for the operation will already be stored in the L1 data cache, reducing the memory latency of the operation.
US08856444B2 Data caching method
Data caching for use in a computer system including a lower cache memory and a higher cache memory. The higher cache memory receives a fetch request. It is then determined by the higher cache memory the state of the entry to be replaced next. If the state of the entry to be replaced next indicates that the entry is exclusively owned or modified, the state of the entry to be replaced next is changed such that a following cache access is processed at a higher speed compared to an access processed if the state would stay unchanged.
US08856441B2 Dynamic hard disk mapping method and server using the same
A dynamic hard disk mapping method and a server using the same are disclosed. The server includes a first motherboard, a second motherboard, a first disk group corresponding to the first motherboard, and a second disk group corresponding to the second motherboard. In the dynamic hard disk mapping method, at first, a disk redistributing instruction is received and stored. Thereafter, a reset instruction is received and performed. Then, the number of hard disks of the first disk group and the number of hard disks of the second disk group are summed up to obtain a total hard disk number N, wherein N is a positive integer greater than zero. Thereafter, the disk redistributing instruction is read, and a redistribution computation is performed in accordance with the disk redistributing instruction to obtain a third disk group corresponding to the first motherboard and a fourth disk group corresponding to the second motherboard.
US08856440B2 Volatile memory representation of nonvolatile storage device set
The storage devices of a storage device set (e.g., a RAID array) may generate a nonvolatile representation of the configuration of the storage device set, including logical disks, spaces, storage pools, and layout and provisioning plans, on the physical media of the storage devices. A computer accessing the storage device set may also generate a volatile memory representation of the storage device set to use while accessing the storage devices; however, the nonvolatile representation may not be performant due to its different usage and characteristics. Presented herein are techniques for accessing the storage device set according to a volatile memory representation comprising a hierarchy of logical disks, slabs, and extents, and an accessor comprising a provisioning component that handles slab accesses while applying provisioning plans, and that interfaces with a lower-level layout component that translates slab accesses into storage device accesses while applying layout plans to the storage device set.
US08856439B2 Method and device for utilizing application-level prior knowledge for selectively storing data in higher performance media
A method for selectively storing data identified by a software application in higher performance media may include executing control programming for an operating system and a software application hosted by the operating system. The software application assigns a first importance level to a first portion of data and a second importance level to a second portion of data. A first portion of data having the first importance level assigned by the software application is stored in a first storage medium at the instruction of the operating system. A second portion of data having the second importance level assigned by the software application is stored in a second storage medium at the instruction of the operating system. The second storage medium has at least one performance, reliability, or security characteristic different from the first storage medium.
US08856435B1 External, self-initializing content addressable memory free index storage device
A method, apparatus and computer program product for an external, self-initializing FIFO containing indexes of free CAM memory locations is presented. When data is sent to the CAM for a lookup, this external FIFO provides the CAM with the index of a free memory location within the CAM so that if the data word is not found in the CAM (i.e. a CAM miss), the data can be written to the designated available free entry in the CAM. Thus, if the same data word is searched in the CAM in the following cycle it will result in a hit.
US08856433B2 Data transfer in memory card system
A memory card system includes a host that issues a read command and a memory card that upon receiving the read command sends read data to the host in synchronism with a read clock signal generated within the memory card. In addition, the memory card sends the read clock signal to the host, and the host receives the read data in synchronism with the read clock signal, for increasing the allowable setup time period at the host.
US08856429B2 Data storage device based on SPI and its controlling method
A data storage device based on SPI includes an SPI circuit, a NAND flash memory for storing data, a NAND flash interface connected between the SPI interface and the NAND flash memory for controlling data transmission therebetween, an instruction controlling circuit connected between the SPI circuit and the NAND flash memory interface for converting an instruction received by the SPI circuit into an instruction recognizable to the NAND flash memory and a data converting circuit connected between the SPI circuit and the NAND flash memory interface for accomplishing conversion between serial data and parallel data. A data storage controlling method based on SPI is also disclosed. Thus a relatively small capacity and a relatively high price of a NOR flash memory based on SPI are avoided and costs are saved.
US08856428B2 Nonvolatile memory device and nonvolatile memory system and random data read method thereof
A random data reading method of a nonvolatile memory device includes receiving an initial seed corresponding to a selected page of the nonvolatile memory device and relative location information of read-requested random data in the selected page. The method further includes generating a seed for randomizing the random data by subjecting the initial seed and the location information to a finite field arithmetic operation, and de-randomizing the random data based on a random sequence generated from the seed.
US08856426B2 Memory device
There is provided a memory device capable of stably storing recorded data over a long term of several decades or longer and capable of reliably reading stored data. A first circuit 200 and a second circuit 300 are separately implementable, and the first circuit 200 includes a data recording circuit 210 reading recorded data from an address appointed by an address signal when a read/write signal stays at a first level and writing data to the address appointed by the address signal when the read/write signal stays at a second level, and a write/read control circuit 230 performing data write/read control on the data recording circuit according to the address signal in response to a read or write instruction from the second circuit.
US08856425B2 Method for performing meta block management, and associated memory device and controller thereof
A method for performing meta block management is provided. The method is applied to a controller of a Flash memory having multiple channels, where the Flash memory includes a plurality of blocks respectively corresponding to the channels. The method includes: utilizing a meta block mapping table to store block grouping relationships respectively corresponding to a plurality of meta blocks, where blocks in each meta block respectively correspond to the channels; and when it is detected that a specific block corresponding to a specific channel within a meta block does not have remaining space for programming, according to the meta block mapping table, utilizing at least one blank block corresponding to the specific channel within at least one other meta block as extension of the specific block, for use of further programming. An associated memory device and a controller thereof are also provided.
US08856424B2 Semiconductor storage device and method of throttling performance of the same
A semiconductor storage device and a method of throttling performance of the same are provided. The semiconductor storage device includes a non-volatile memory device, and a controller configured to receive a write command from a host and program and to write data received from the host to the non-volatile memory device in response to the write command. The controller inserts idle time after receiving the write data from the host and/or after programming the write data to the non-volatile memory device.
US08856419B2 Register access in distributed virtual bridge environment
Systems and methods to perform a register access are described. A particular method includes receiving a data frame at a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements in communication with a plurality of server computers. The data frame may include a register access request and may be forwarded from a controlling bridge in communication with the plurality of bridge elements. A register may be accessed and execution of the register access request may be initiated in response to receiving the data frame.
US08856415B2 Bus arbitration for a real-time computer system
In a real-time application, one or more computational tasks execute according to a time schedule and use input data from input devices and/or output data from output devices. One or more of the input devices or output devices may be unscheduled devices that attempt to access the peripheral bus at unscheduled times. Such unscheduled bus access can cause the time schedule to become comprised. Various methods for arbitrating access to the bus to better integrate the bus access with the time schedule followed by the application are described.
US08856414B2 Determining required software components for SCSI system initialization
A method is included for loading a main loadable file and at least one optional loadable file during initialization of a computer system. The method includes loading a main loadable file which includes a resident portion and an input/output network interface software component. The resident portion is a utilization software component configured to use transmission protocols. The method also includes determining which optional loadable files are required to be loaded. The optional loadable files each include an optional portion. The method also includes loading the optional loadable files which contain optional portions corresponding to required protocols.
US08856404B2 Primitive group data encoding in a data storage fabric
A method of extending a standard primitive in a data storage fabric is disclosed. A group of primitives are combined into a sequence including the standard primitive and a variable information primitive. The variable information primitive includes data particular to a broadcast of the sequence. The sequence is broadcast through the data storage fabric.
US08856394B2 Method and apparatus for a dockable display module
An electronic device comprising a plurality of onboard displays, wherein at least one of the onboard displays is removable from the electronic device, and wherein the at least one of the onboard displays aggregates and displays information received from a plurality of electronic devices.
US08856381B2 Method for binding work label switching path and protection label switching path
A method for binding a work Label Switch Path (LSP) with a protection LSP, including: transmitting a first message including binding information to a Path Merging Label Switching Router (PML) via a Path Switching Label Switching Router (PSL) so as to request for creating a protection LSP of the work LSP; the PML router assigning a label for the protection LSP based on the first message and returning a second message carrying the binding information; after receiving the second message, the PSL router binding the work LSP with the protection LSP based on the binding information, and transmitting a notification message including the binding information to the PML router; the PML router binding the work LSP with the protection LSP based on the binding information in the notification message.
US08856376B1 Stabilization tool for a high-capacity network infrastructure
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method to stabilize high-capacity network infrastructures by monitoring and regulating concurrent connections between a server and various service provider systems in a network. Based on the attributes of the concurrent connections, the connections are logically grouped to form adapters that represent particular combinations of connection attributes. The concurrent connections to an adapter are monitored and regulated to help identify failing components and to manage the load on the network through the use of autonomic computing to optimize network performance and automatically adapt to changing conditions. The regulation of the concurrent connections to an adapter includes the calculation and assignment of a timeout value to new connections to make certain that service provider system response times are low in terms of a success or failure to respond in a timely fashion.
US08856372B2 Method and system for local Peer-to-Peer traffic
A system and method providing for the flow of peer-to-peer traffic between end users within an access network without requiring the traffic to pass through a network gateway such as a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS). End user devices connect through access nodes to an aggregation network and a gateway. An Upstream Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) proxy and a Downstream ARP proxy are implemented in each access node. The Upstream ARP proxy receives an Upstream ARP request and forwards the request upstream only if peer-to-peer communications are allowed. Otherwise, a reply is sent with the MAC address of the BRAS. The Downstream ARP proxy intercepts a Downstream ARP request for a target device and determines whether the target device is in an ARP Cache in the access node. If so, the proxy sends an ARP reply giving the MAC address of the target device. If not, no ARP reply is sent.
US08856369B2 Systems and methods for IIP address sharing across cores in a multi-core system
In a multi-core system, multiple packet engines across corresponding cores may be working concurrently processing data packets from data flows of SSL VPN sessions. For example, a first core may establish a SSL VPN session with a client. Any one of the other cores, such as a second core, may received packets related to the session owned by the first core. Embodiments of the systems and method described below provide management of IIP addresses for the multi-core/multi-packet engine approach to providing SSL VPN service. In some embodiments, the approach to managing IIP addresses is to have one packet engine on a core act as a master or controller of the IIPs for the remaining packet engines and cores. The packet engines/cores use a protocol for communications regarding IIP management.
US08856356B2 Non-IMS Rich communication suite
This invention relates to telecommunications, and in particular, to a Rich Communication Suite (RCS) and RCS-e (“e” for enhanced) messaging infrastructure within a network without the need to deploy an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core within the network.
US08856355B2 Systems and methods for facilitating communication between mobile devices and display devices
Certain embodiments herein may include systems and methods for facilitating communication between mobile devices and display devices. According to certain embodiments, various types of connections may be established for communication between mobile devices and display devices. The type of connection may be based on numerous factors, including networks accessible to the mobile devices and display devices, capabilities of the mobile devices and display devices, and requirements associated with a software application running on a display device or on a device associated with the display device. Example connection types may involve a server intermediary which may establish a communication connection and proxy or relay content between mobile devices and display devices. Other connection types may not involve a server intermediary, for example, when a mobile device interacts with a display device to control a real-time game application.
US08856353B2 Method and apparatus for providing an extended socket API for application services
Methods and apparatus for providing an extended socket API are disclosed. A method for providing a socket API according to an implementation of the invention may include: receiving data at a first network socket; opening a second network socket; associating the first network socket and the second network socket using a socket file descriptor of a client-side connection; and directing the data from the first network socket to the second network socket. When an application service utilizes the socket API, the method may further include processing the data, i.e., performing a service.
US08856349B2 Connection priority services for data communication between two devices
A digital media player device includes, without limitation, a processor and a communication module coupled to the processor and configured to support data communication with a digital media place-shifting device. The processor and the communication module cooperate to attempt to establish data communication with the digital media place-shifting device in accordance with a connection mode sequence that identifies a plurality of different data communication modes supported by the digital media player device, until one of the plurality of different data communication modes can be used to initiate a data communication session between the digital media player device and the digital media place-shifting device. The processor and the communication module also cooperate to perform data communication with the digital media place-shifting device, using the one of the plurality of different data communication modes.
US08856348B2 On-demand network connection
An on-demand network connection for a remote user is provided. Responsive to a failure to receive an electronic communication via an established network connection, a remote user device receives a connection request that indicates that the on-demand network connection is to be established. Responsive to receiving the connection request, the on-demand network connection is established from the remote user device to a network. Then, the electronic communication is received on the remote user device via the on-demand network connection.
US08856345B2 Redundancy in process control system
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for arranging redundancy in a process control system comprising at least one client device, at least one data source and at least one server device providing data transfer between the client device and the data source. The method comprises arranging, for the client device, at least two parallel logical connections for transferring substantially the same data between at least one data source and the client device. At the client device, property information on data units transferred via different logical connections is checked, the client device being provided with predetermined order criteria for the property information. At the client device, property information on parallel data units transferred via different logical connections is compared. Data units delivered via the logical connection having, according to the predetermined order criteria, the best property information are selected for the use of one or more applications processing the data units.
US08856341B2 Balancing management duties in a cloud system
A method for balancing management duties in a cloud system can include determining a relationship between a number of configuration items (CI) in a cloud system. The number of CIs are grouped into a number of cluster levels based on the relationship of the number of CIs. To balance management duties in the cloud system, one of the number of cluster levels is assigned to a management cloud server based on a capacity of the management cloud server.
US08856335B1 Managing service level objectives for storage workloads
Described herein is a system and method for dynamically managing service-level objectives (SLOs) for workloads of a cluster storage system. Proposed states/solutions of the cluster may be produced and evaluated to select one that achieves the SLOs for each workload. A planner engine may produce a state tree comprising nodes, each node representing a proposed state/solution. New nodes may be added to the state tree based on new solution types that are permitted, or nodes may be removed based on a received time constraint for executing a proposed solution or a client certification of a solution. The planner engine may call an evaluation engine to evaluate proposed states, the evaluation engine using an evaluation function that considers SLO, cost, and optimization goal characteristics to produce a single evaluation value for each proposed state. The planner engine may call a modeler engine that is trained using machine learning techniques.
US08856331B2 Apparatus and methods of distributing content and receiving selected content based on user personalization information
Apparatus and methods include the distribution of a plurality of content, at least one of which is tagged with descriptive metadata. Further, the apparatus and methods include selecting content from the plurality of content based on a match between a personalized content preference descriptor stored on the device and the tagged content. Thus, the selected content represents content likely to be applicable or relevant, and/or of interest, to the user associated with the personalized content preference descriptor.
US08856328B2 Fail-open network techniques
A network device may receive, from a user device, a request for network access to a network and communicate a request, to a subscriber data storage, for subscriber data, corresponding to the user device, to verify whether the user device may be granted network access. The network platform may determine, in response to communicating the request to the subscriber data storage, that the subscriber data storage is non-responsive and executing a fail-open function in response to determining that the subscriber data storage is non-responsive. The fail-open function may include processing the request for network access without subscriber data from the subscriber data storage and granting network access to the user device without verifying that the user device is permitted to access the network.
US08856323B2 Device and method for facilitating secure communications over a cellular network
A process for communicating utility-related data over at least one network is described. the process includes: collecting utility-related data at a hub device during a first predetermined period of time; securing the utility-related data at the hub device using digital envelopes during the first predetermined period of time; initiating by the hub device an autonomous wake up process during a second predetermined period of time; sending the secure utility-related data over a first network to a designated server via at least one User Datagram protocol (“UDP”) message during the second predetermined period of time; and receiving an acknowledgement of receipt message of the at least one UDP message from the designated server; wherein the first and second predetermined periods of time typically do not overlap, but may overlap.
US08856315B2 Device classification system
Systems and/or methods include obtaining device information for devices within a network and determining a business function for each of the devices. The systems and/or methods further include assigning a criticality score to each of the devices based on the determined business function and generating a report for the devices based on the determined business function and the assigned criticality score.
US08856309B1 Statistical tool for use in networked computer platforms
A statistic tool is provided for use in relation with a group of nodes in which each node has a statistic server configured to maintain application-related statistical data on local execution in the node. The statistic tool comprises a statistic manager for storing centralized statistical data obtained from the nodes and an intermediary server for processing a request from another computer system concerning the execution of an application by gathering statistical data received from those of the nodes that intervene in the execution of the application.
US08856307B2 Method and apparatus for providing feedback regarding digital content within a social network
Maintaining a social network and providing corresponding access to digital content. A social network includes at least one social group having a defined membership. The content items that collectively correspond to content resource devices of the group members are identified, and feedback information for the content items is maintained based upon feedback respectively provided by group members. The feedback includes ratings, amount of usage and recommendations of the content items. Members, are then provided with displays wherein the feedback is conveyed in association with the corresponding content items.
US08856301B2 Traffic modeling of overlaid networks
Implementations and techniques for traffic modeling of overlaid networks are generally disclosed. For example, simulating behavior of a first wireless network including an estimated user migration from the first wireless network to a second wireless network based in part on received traffic information associates with the first wireless network and the second wireless network are generally disclosed.
US08856298B2 Method and system for managing related-patient parameters provided by a monitoring device
System (15) for managing related-patient parameters provided by at least one monitoring device (11 a, 11 b), the system comprising means for connecting said system to the monitoring device (11 a; 11 b); means for capturing, through the connection with the monitoring device, at least one patient-related parameter selected from a set of patient-related parameters provided by the monitoring device (11 a; 11 b); means for adapting the captured patient-related parameter to a predetermined parameter format; and means for managing the adapted patient-related parameter. The provision of adapting means allows managing data provided by any type of monitoring device.
US08856297B2 Device control apparatus, device information acquiring method, and computer-readable recording medium
A device control apparatus configured to control a device based on device information acquired from the device, the device control apparatus including a search part configured to search for an information processing apparatus connected to a network; a remote control availability determining part configured to determine whether the information processing apparatus searched by the search part can be controlled by remote control; and a device information acquiring part configured to control the information processing apparatus by the remote control.
US08856295B2 System and method for providing an enterprise deployment topology with thick client functionality
In accordance with an embodiment, one or more software application products, such as Oracle Fusion Applications, can be installed and/or configured according to an integration and deployment design/blueprint that is built or optimized for use within a multi-tiered deployment topology at an organization's (i.e., customer's) data center. Based on the customer site topology, provisioning of the software applications can be optimized; and application life cycle operations performed. This enables each product to be aware of the topology, which in turn provides customers with an “out-of-the-box” solution. The topology can also be optimized for security, performance and simplicity. In accordance with an embodiment, the deployment topology can include thick client functionality.
US08856292B2 Managing command compliance in internetworking devices
In an embodiment, an internetworking device is configured with compliance proxy logic that is configured for sending, to a compliance server, a request to determine whether the command conforms to one or more compliance policies, wherein the request includes the command; receiving a compliance response from the compliance server; in response to determining whether the compliance response indicates success, executing the command only when the compliance response indicates that the command conforms to the one or more compliance policies. Thus the device can determine actively whether a proposed user command or configuration change will violate established standards or policies, before the command or change is applied to the device.
US08856290B2 Method and apparatus for exchanging configuration information in a wireless local area network
A method of exchanging configuration information needed to authenticate an unregistered Wi-Fi client device to an access point of a wireless local area network is described. A SSID of the AP and a temporary hidden secondary SSID of the AP are enabled for a preset time period with a residential gateway providing the AP of the WLAN. A message is received in the form of IP UDP packets by the residential gateway to the temporary hidden secondary SSID of the AP during the preset time period requesting network configuration information. The residential gateway transmits the requested network configuration information via return message in the form of IP UDP packets on the temporary hidden secondary SSID of the AP. Additional methods and apparatus are described.
US08856289B2 Subscription management of applications and services provided through user premises gateway devices
A disclosed service management system communicates via wide area network (WAN) (99) with gateway devices (10) at various user premises, to remotely manage delivery of application services and/or features thereof by the gateway device(s), based on service subscriptions of customers associated with the gateway devices. In the examples, a subscription manager (73) provides information through the WAN identifying the applications services or features to be enabled, to each respective gateway device. Also, a service manager (75), controlled by the subscription manager, distributes service specific configuration data to logic implementing server functionality for the application services in the gateway devices, responsive to requests from the gateway devices. The system also includes a gateway device updater (51), responsive to requests received from the gateway devices, for downloading service logic modules for implementing application services or service features to the gateway devices, via the wide area network, for application services or features identified by the service manager.
US08856286B2 Optimized peer-to-peer file transfers on a multi-node computer system
A method and apparatus performs peer-to-peer file transfers on a High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster such as a Beowulf cluster. A peer-to-peer file tracker (PPFT) allows operating system, application and data files to be moved from a pre-loaded node to another node of the HPC cluster. A peer-to-peer (PTP) client is loaded into the nodes to facilitate PTP file transfers to reduce loading on networks, network switches and file servers to reduce the time needed to load the nodes with these files to increase overall efficiency of the multi-node computing system. The selection of the nodes participating in file transfers can be based on network topology, network utilization, job status and predicted network/computer utilization. This selection can be dynamic, changing during the file transfers as resource conditions change. The policies used to choose resources can be configured by an administrator.
US08856283B2 Playlists for real-time or near real-time streaming
Methods, systems and machine readable storage medium for allowing playback of streaming media at playback rates of other than 1× are described. In one embodiment, a method can determine different sets of I-frames that are available before a display deadline, where each set can have a different cadence, and one of the sets can be selected for download and display to achieve playback at other than 1×. Byte range requests from a client device can be used to retrieve each of the I-frames. Other methods, system and media are also described.
US08856281B2 Internet protocol version 6 content routing
A content delivery system includes a cache server, a domain name server, and a redirector. The domain name server is configured to receive a request for a cache server address, and provide an IPv6 anycast address. The redirector is configured to receive a content request addressed to the IPv6 anycast address from a client system, receive load information from the cache server, and determine if the cache server is available. The redirector is further configured to forward the content request to the cache server when the cache server is available. The cache server is configured to receive the content request forwarded from the redirectors, send a response to the content request to a client system, the response including an IPv6 unicast address of the cache server as a source address, an IPv6 unicast address of the client system as a destination address, and the IPv6 anycast address as a home address, and provide the content to the requestor.
US08856277B2 System enabling communication between an aircraft-based computer network and a ground-based computer network
A system enabling communication between an aircraft-based computer network and a ground-based computer network. The system establishes a network communication between a ground-based computer network and an aircraft-based computer network via at least one communication medium using a synchronous communication mode. The system can be used to simplify procedures involved in maintaining a fleet of aircraft connected to a maintenance control center (MCC) and, in particular, to facilitate and secure the updating of aircraft logbooks (e.g., a cabin logbook and technical logbook).
US08856276B2 Method, system and program product for collecting web metric data
A method, system and program product for collecting web metric data is disclosed. The method includes inserting a script at the top of each web page to be metered, sending a web page request to a web server for a web page, loading the web page while executing the script inserted within the web page for collecting web usage data without substantially increasing web page load time. The method further includes establishing an asynchronous connection to a metric server chosen for sending the web usage data collected and transmitting to the metric server the web usage data collected as part of a record request using a method such that the record request is not cached at an intermediate proxy. The method further includes contacting an alternate metric server if the metric server chosen is not available or cannot record the web usage data.
US08856273B2 Information processing device and information processing method for communication with an external device via a network
An information processing device capable of communicating with an external device connected thereto via a network and includes an application acquisition unit that obtains an application program to be used to control a function of the external device from an application distribution device present on the network, an external device search unit that searches for external devices on the network and an application execution unit that controls the function of the external device by executing the obtained application program, is provided. The application program obtained by the application acquisition unit includes a function of searching for the external device via the external device search unit, which executes an external device search in response to a request issued from the application execution unit executing the application program.
US08856262B1 Cloud-based image hosting
Data including information regarding a display of the host device may be received. A display of a client device may correspond to the display of the host device. Information regarding the display of the host device may be received and evaluated identify the images in the display. The identified images may be stored in memory and associated with a uniform resource locator (URL). A bitstream describing the display may be generated in which each image is referenced using the associated URL. The bitstream may then be provided to a client device, where rendering of the bitstream results in a display corresponding to the host device. Rendering the display may include retrieving the images associated with the URLs in the bitstream.
US08856260B2 Providing access to shared state data
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for manipulating in-memory data entities are provided. Embodiments of the present invention use a Representational State Transfer (“REST”) web service to manipulate the in-memory data entities. In one embodiment, a “snap shot” is taken of the in-memory data entities at a point in time to create representations of the entities. A hierarchy of the representations is built. The hierarchy is used to make the entities addressable via a URI. Embodiments of the invention may then map the entity representations in the hierarchy to the entities. An embodiment of the invention uses handlers to process a REST style request addressed to an entity representation. The handler reads the command and determines whether the command is authorized for performance on the entity and performs that command, if appropriate.
US08856257B1 Sending alerts from cloud computing systems
A system is described for sending alert messages collected for cloud computing system to external systems. The alert messages may be sent according to determined protocols, such as the syslog protocol and/or SNMP trap, among other appropriate protocols. Partitioning and/or fragmenting of the alert message may be provided based on the use of various types of message identifications and/or other information in which, by virtue of the partitioning and fragmenting, an alert message, regardless of its length, may be sent and reconstructed at the external system. The system advantageously provides for transmission of alert messages using mechanisms other than the syslog protocol and with additional included alert attribute information.
US08856250B2 Community notification based on profile update
A notification machine may receive an update to a user profile that describes a user and indicates a group of users as being socially connected to the user by a social network. The update may reference a community (e.g., an employer or a club) of the user. The user profile may be modified by including a reference to the community within the user profile. The notification machine may identify a further user who is included in the community (e.g., employed by the employer, or part of the club). The further user may be socially unconnected to the user by the social network. The notification machine may then generate and provide a notification that the further user is employed by the employer. This notification may contain suggestions that the user initiate communication with the further user, become socially connected with the further user, or both.
US08856249B2 Method and system for email sequence identification
A system and method for identifying causal email threading. In one aspect, a computing device identifies a plurality of email templates, each email template corresponding to characteristics of a received machine-generated email, the characteristics of the received machine-generated email relating to static data of the machine-generated email. The computing device generates a template causality graph by analyzing the plurality of email templates to determine a statistical causality between templates of the plurality of email templates, the determining of the statistical causality between templates comprising determining that a first received machine-generated email associated with a first template is a result of a second received machine-generated email associated with a second template.
US08856248B2 Methods and systems for optimizing engagement with a social network
Techniques to increase engagement with a social networking system. In one embodiment, activities are prioritized based on relatedness to a user. References associated with at least a portion of the prioritized activities are created. The references are categorized into a plurality of types. The reference types may include notifications, friend identifications, and top stories. The references are embedded in digest communications for the user. Descriptive information about the activities are omitted from the digest communications. Digest communications for the user are provided during a time period when the user is not engaged with the social networking system. Notifications for a user are ceased when a level of engagement of the user with the social networking system is less than a threshold value.
US08856233B2 Peer-to-peer redundant file server system and methods
Peer-to-peer redundant file server system and methods include clients that determine a target storage provider to contact for a particular storage transaction based on a pathname provided by the filesystem and a predetermined scheme such as a hash function applied to a portion of the pathname. Servers use the same scheme to determine where to store relevant file information so that the clients can locate the file information. The target storage provider may store the file itself and/or may store metadata that identifies one or more other storage providers where the file is stored. A file may be replicated in multiple storage providers, and the metadata may include a list of storage providers from which the clients can select (e.g., randomly) in order to access the file.
US08856232B1 Social network automation
Methods and systems for social network automation are disclosed. A system can generate a user interface that permits a user to provide criteria for posting particular content to the social network at a first time. The system can receive from the user one or more criteria for posting the particular content to the social network. The system can determine at a second time, after the first time, that a condition satisfying the one or more criteria has occurred. The system can post the particular content to the social network and attribute the post to the user.
US08856230B2 In browser real time collaboration lists and forms
Real time collaboration is enabled by providing a notification to users attempting access to an item, such as a document or a resource, that another user has currently access to the item. The users may be notified automatically when the other user is done accessing the item or periodically as the item is being accessed by the other user. The notification(s) may also include a summary or complete list of changes such that any user accessing the item after the other user has the latest version.
US08856224B2 Implementing a multi-user communications service
A method of implementing an optional communications service within a communications system that involves the participation of a plurality of users of the communications system. The method includes, in response to an action by a first user of the communications system, initiating the preparation of one or more elements of the communications system for providing said optional communications service in relation to one or more other existing users of the communications system. When the first user thereafter accesses the optional communications service, the communications system is already prepared for participation by said one or more other existing users in the optional communications service.
US08856223B2 Limiting access to instant messaging content on a display screen
A technique that reduces the possibility that a message received at a computer terminal during an instant messaging conversation will become accessible to unintended viewers. One embodiment is directed to an arrangement wherein a computer terminal at a first client work station is disposed to receive chat messages from a second client work station during an instant messaging conversation. An apparatus associated with the computer terminal for limiting access to the received chat messages includes a device for attaching a security identifier to each received chat message. A display device at the computer terminal generates a window that selectively provides a specified one of the chat messages in viewable form. A concealment device coupled to the display device is operable to make the specified chat message unviewable on the display device. A component connected to the concealment device activates the concealment device when a prespecified event occurs.
US08856222B2 Transaction acceleration for client-server communication systems
Self-discovering transaction accelerators improve communications between a client and a server. A client directs a message to a server. A client-side transaction accelerator intercepts the message, terminates the connection with the client, and accelerates the request by replacing segments of data with references. The accelerated request is forwarded to a server-side transaction accelerator through a new connection. The server-side transaction accelerator reconstructs the message by replacing the reference with segment data in a persistent segment store accessible to the server-side transaction accelerator. The reconstructed request is then provided to the server. Accelerations may occur in any direction of communication. Persistent segment stores can be pre-populated with segment data from other transaction accelerators and anticipated transactions. The persistent segment store can store segments that are data segmented based on content of the data and can be independent of transaction protocol, application, and device.
US08856221B2 System and method for storing broadcast content in a cloud-based computing environment
A system, method and device for media content storage and delivery. A server has a receiver in communication with a processor. The receiver receives a request message. The request message includes media data indicating requested media content and a consumer device identifier corresponding to a consumer device. The processor determines whether the consumer device identifier corresponds to a registered consumer device. If the processor determines that the consumer device identifier corresponds to the registered consumer device, then the processor determines whether the request message is one of a storage request message and a content request message. If the request message is the storage request message, then the processor is further configured to determine whether the requested media content is available for storage. If the request message is the content request message, then the processor initiates delivery of the requested media content to the consumer device.
US08856218B1 Modified media download with index adjustment
A method and corresponding apparatus or system, in which a computing device may obtain an index of a media file, the computing device may use the index as a basis to download just part of the media file as a modified media file, the computing device may adjust the index to account for omission of the remainder of the media file, and the computing device may use the modified index as a basis to play out content of the modified media file.
US08856214B2 Relationship quality evaluation and reporting
A system for relationship information evaluation and management. The system incorporates relationship quality parameters that define the contextual parameters of quality, which are mutually validated and are accepted by the respective parties within an existing or prospective relationship. A computer, computing device, written documents or other means are used to capture the perspectives of each person, representative, or entity within the relationship or prospective relationship. This can be done automatically, on a random, periodic, or scheduled basis, or upon manual initiation. The information or data may then be analyzed and coalesced into a meaningful whole (or segments thereof), which may then be archived, printed, reported, and presented to one or both of the parties, or others. The information can be processed and stored based upon certain parameters, attributes, types or classes or relationships, so as to provide history, patterns, trends, alerts, warnings, analyses or comparisons concerning relationship quality. All information collected can be further applied or aggregated within an organization (or beyond, such as in a general locality or marketplace).
US08856199B2 Random number generator circuit and cryptographic circuit
A random number generator circuit includes: an element generating and outputting physical random numbers; a digitizing circuit digitizing the physical random numbers to output a random number sequence tested by a testing circuit; and an error correcting code circuit including a shift register having the random number sequence input thereto, a multiplier multiplying the stored random number sequence by an error-correcting-code generating matrix, and a selector switch outputting one of an output of the shift register and an output of the multiplier in accordance with a test result obtained by the testing circuit. The error correcting code circuit outputs the output of the multiplier as a corrected random number sequence from the selector switch when the result of a test conducted by the testing circuit indicates a rejection. The testing circuit tests the corrected random number sequence when the result of the test indicates a rejection.
US08856197B2 System and method for processing data using a matrix of processing units
A system and method for processing data utilizes a matrix of processing units using an array of commands stored in memory to process input data words to generate output data words, which can be used in various applications.
US08856189B1 Systems and methods for managing connections to process data
A computer-implemented method for managing connections to process data is described. A connection with an access server is established to determine a connection point associated with one or more targets. The one or more targets are arranged according to the connection points associated with each of the one or more targets. A connection with a first connection point is established. Data from one or more targets associated with the first connection point are processed. The connection with the first connection point is terminated.
US08856187B2 Data management for data aggregation
The invention provides a method, system, and program product for managing data for data aggregation, including data mining and reporting. Locations of a plurality of data to be collected are determined within a source database. Data are simultaneously collected from the plurality of locations and aggregated. The aggregated data are normalized by adding an encryption key and the normalized data are stored. Data at each of the plurality of locations are then released in the source database.
US08856182B2 Report database dependency tracing through business intelligence metadata
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a data stream reference module 250 that can enable a user to perform forward tracing, backward tracing, and tracing indirect dependencies in a data model and/or metadata model. The tracing is not necessarily along a common hierarchical level but can be from one level to another.
US08856177B2 Personal profile data repository
A personal profile data repository is disclosed. The personal profile data repository stores information about a user. The user has complete control over the content of the profile and over what third parties may access information stored in the repository.
US08856174B2 Asset managing apparatus and asset managing method
A search extend setting unit that identifies a layer made to correspond to an asset specified by referencing a first database for recording assets made to correspond to each of users by relating each of the assets to a first layer that is a layer related to a virtual system individually used by each of the users, or to a second layer that is a layer related to hardware and software, and to set an extent for extracting information about other assets having a relationship with the specified asset according to a layer of the specified asset, and an extracting unit that extract other assets that have a relationship with the specified asset and are present in the extent set by referencing the first database and a second database for recording information indicating a relationship among the assets, and the first database based on the first asset.
US08856173B2 User engagement in a social network using indications of acknowledgement
A method and system for enhancing and incentivizing user engagement with indications of acknowledgement at a social network is described. An acknowledgement application receives indications of acknowledgement associated with at least one information item from a first user and at least one second user at a social network. The acknowledgement application aggregates and processes the indications of acknowledgement. The acknowledgement application provides at least one result from the processing in response to hovering over an option for the indications of acknowledgement associated with the at least one information item. The acknowledgement application rewards the first user at least one numerical point based on indications of acknowledgement associated with the at least one specific topic and provides at least one badge of achievement to the first user on accumulating at least one threshold of a total number of points.
US08856171B2 Locating and executing objects in a distributed network
The subject disclosure relates to interaction and execution of objects in a distributed network or in the cloud. Each object comprises a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) path that names the object in the cloud through a distributed object directory. A client device can directly interface with a live instance of an object based on the URI path. The object can be agnostic to remote procedure call semantics. In some aspects, the object can be connected to an interacted with either remotely or locally. Further, single instances or multiple instances of the object can exist at substantially the same time.
US08856170B2 Bandscanner, multi-media management, streaming, and electronic commerce techniques implemented over a computer network
Various aspects disclosed herein are directed to different techniques for: analyzing webpage content, and identifying references to artist names. When a match is identified, the web page may be dynamically and automatically modified to causes display of a “play” button next to the matched artist name displayed on the webpage. When the play button is selected by a user, this may cause a streaming media player to open at the user's system and begin playing streamed music relating to the matched artist.
US08856155B2 Management of configuration data structures in multi-layer data models
In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code being configured to: map a template-level configuration-management data structure to a discovery-level configuration-management data structure by a first mapping using mapping information included in the template-level configuration-management data structure, map a customized-level configuration-management data structure to the discovery-level configuration-management data structure by a second mapping using mapping information included in the customized-level configuration-management data structure, and determine a third mapping between the template-level configuration-management data structure and the customized-level configuration-management data structure using the first mapping and the second mapping.
US08856152B2 Apparatus and method for visualizing data
Proposed is a data visualizing apparatus for visualizing data as effectual information using a correlation between forensic data collected from various sources. The proposed data visualizing apparatus may visualize, as effectual information, single-source single-data, single-source multi-data, and multi-source multi-data.
US08856150B2 Managing and displaying solutions for multiple resources in an appointment scheduling system
A solution space is computed and stored which comprises for a given set of constraints all possible solutions for all available resources of a certain kind. Upon selection of a specific resource, the solution space is filtered to select all possible combinations containing the specific resource and the result of the filtering is displayed.
US08856148B1 Systems and methods for determining underplayed and overplayed items
Systems and methods for determining underplayed or overplayed items are provided herein. Instructions stored in memory are executed by a processor to: calculate short term scores for radio data and music identification service data of the items, determine linear distance and logarithmic distance between radio virtual radio plays per days on one million stations (VRPDOMS) and identification VRPDOMS of the items, identify and eliminate items lacking minimum requisite number of radio VRPDOMS or identification VRPDOMS, and sort the items by largest linear distance or largest logarithmic distance first. The sorted items are then transmitted to the computing device.
US08856145B2 System and method for determining concepts in a content item using context
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for indexing one or more items of content. The method of the present invention comprises extracting one or more items of text from a given item of content. The one or more items of extracted text are tokenized into one or more concepts. One or more related concepts associated with the one or more concepts are identified. A support score is generated for the one or more concepts, and the item of content is index with the one or more concepts and the one or more associated support scores.
US08856144B2 Typed relevance scores in an identity resolution system
Techniques are disclosed for configuring an identity resolution system to support distinct relevance types. Identity records are accessed that are assigned relevance scores of distinct relevance types. Upon determining that the identity records refer to a common individual, the identity records are resolved into an entity representing the common individual. Relevance scores of the distinct relevance types are then determined for the entity, based on the identity records.
US08856143B2 Classification of ambiguous geographic references
A location classifier generates location information based on textual strings in input text. The location information defines potential geographical relevance of the input text. In determining the location information, the location classifier may receive at least one geo-relevance profile associated with at least one string in the input text, obtain a combined geo-relevance profile for the document from the at least one geo-relevance profile, and determine geographical relevance of the input text based on the combined geo-relevance profile.
US08856134B2 Aircraft maintenance data retrieval for portable devices
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a system for facilitating transfer of data and information over a network includes a database component, a communication component adapted to communicate with a user via a portable communication device over the network, and a processing component adapted to receive a request for data and information from the user via the portable communication device over the network and process the request by accessing one or more documents from the database component related to at least one component of a machine specified by the user passed with the request. The communication component transfers the one or more documents from the database component to the portable communication device for viewing by the user.
US08856124B2 Co-selected image classification
Co-selected images are labeled based on a topic score that is a measure of relevance of the co-selected image to a first topic to which a reference image belongs. The first topic to which the reference image belongs is identified based on a reference label associated with the reference image. The co-selected images are images that are selected for presentation subsequent to selection of the reference image during a user session. The co-selected images are identified based on selection data for user sessions in which the reference image was selected for presentation. The topic score is generated based on a frequency of selection of the co-selected image. Image search results for a second topic can be filtered to remove images that are labeled as belonging to the first topic or the image search results can be reordered to adjust the presentation positions at which images are referenced based on the topic to which the images belong.
US08856123B1 Document classification
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for classifying a collection of documents. A term is identified based on an indication of ability of the term's presence within a given document to predict whether the given document should be classified into an identified category. A document index is then queried using the identified term and, in response, search results that define a candidate set of documents are received. Finally, a classifier is applied to documents within the candidate set to determine which of the documents should be classified into the identified category.
US08856118B2 Creation and transmission of rich content media
A method of playing a rich content stream that includes a media stream and a descriptive stream. The method may include the steps of receiving the rich content stream at a media player, where the descriptive stream is generated from a rich content file executed separately from a source for the media stream, and where the media stream and the descriptive stream are received as separate streams at the media player. The method may also include synchronizing the media stream and the descriptive stream at the media player so that information in the descriptive stream is temporally synchronized with media content playing from the media stream. In addition the method may include activating the playing of the descriptive stream while the media stream is playing on the media player, where descriptive content from the descriptive stream is not played on the media player until being activated by a user.
US08856116B2 Method and apparatus for information exchange
A method and apparatus includes a portable electronic memory storage device and a plurality of exhibitor computers, each having at least one specifically identified electronic uploadable file and a port adapted to selectively interface with the portable device. When a portable device engages a port, electronic content corresponding to the port is uploaded from the computer to the portable device. In another embodiment, data from the portable device, such as demographic data, is also downloaded to the exhibitor computer.
US08856101B2 Interactive media card
A method for creating and searching within an entity-defined profile is disclosed. A search engine is provided for searching within first data for data meeting known criteria. The search engine receives criteria data comprising a first media card. The media card relates to an individual or organization. Result data associated with the criteria data is retrieved, the result data associated with at least some data within the first media card to provide search results, and then the search results are displayed.
US08856098B2 Ranking search results based on word weight
Ranking search results, comprises retrieving search results that include target strings that relate to a query string; segmenting the query string and each of the target strings; pairing segments in the query string with respective segments in the target strings to form combinations; retrieving weights that correspond to the combinations; and determining a weighted word length based on the weights corresponding to each of the target strings; and ranking the target strings based on their respective weighted word lengths. Alternatively, ranking search results includes determining a minimum weight of each inserted word with respect to segments in the query string; determining a minimum weight of each deleted word with respect to segments in the target strings; determining a total edit distance for each target string; and ranking the target strings based on the total edit distances.
US08856089B1 Sub-containment concurrency for hierarchical data containers
A sub-container concurrency component of a tiered middleware framework ensures optimistic concurrency for transactions on hierarchical data containers. The component identifies an uppermost container level of a data read for performing a requested data modification to one or more data containers. The component further reads one or more of a parent version value or a child version value of the data container in the uppermost container level at a first time and a second time. Thus, the component writes data to the one or more data containers when each version value, such as the parent version value or the child version value, read at the first time matches its corresponding read version value read at the second time.
US08856087B2 Method and system for realizing a rendezvous service in a management operations center implemented in a global ecosystem of interrelated services
A data processing system accesses a group of events to identify a group of types of events and aggregates at least some of the events into a group of items. Each of the events is aggregated by binding another event to an event identified as a particular type of event based on a correspondence between the event and the particular type of event and binding additional information to the event identified as the particular type of event based on a relationship between the additional information and the particular type of event. The data processing system also rendezvous one of the items with an event.
US08856081B1 Single retention policy
The invention provides instructions to a retention-base archiving application or other enterprise content management application (such as EMC Documentum) for identifying which data objects should share the same retention policy based upon content and context, even if the retention policies for each data object was originally selected by different archiving applications. By matching together data objects with the same retention interval, and/or matching together data objects with the same policy name (i.e., policy ID), a single retention policy can be assigned to related data objects, no matter the source of each related data object or which application selected the particular retention policy for each data object.
US08856078B2 Dynamic time reversal of a tree of images of a virtual hard disk
A technique manages a virtual hard disk tree in a computing system executing a hypervisor to provide a client virtualization environment. The technique involves linking, by a client executing within a control virtual machine of the client virtualization environment, a first delta image of a virtual hard disk generated later in time to a base image of the virtual hard disk. The technique further involves modifying contents of the first delta image, the base image, and a second delta image which is linked to the base image; and deleting the second delta image after modifying the contents of the first delta image, the base image, and the second delta image. The base image and the first delta image, together with additional delta images of the virtual hard disk comprise a tree of images of the virtual hard disk.
US08856075B2 System and method of sharing in a plurality of networks
A system for transmission, reception and accumulation of the knowledge packets to plurality of channel nodes in the network operating distributedly in a peer to peer environment via installable one or more role active Human Operating System (HOS) applications in a digital devise of each of channel node, a network controller registering and providing desired HOS applications and multiple developers developing advance communication and knowledge management applications and each of subscribers exploiting the said network resources by leveraging and augmenting taxonomically and ontologically classified knowledge classes expressed via plurality search macros and UKID structures facilitating said expert human agents for knowledge invocation and support services and service providers providing information services in the preidentified taxonomical classes, wherein each of channel nodes communicating with the unknown via domain specific supernodes each facilitating social networking and relationships development leading to human grid which is searchable via Universal Desktop Search by black box search module.
US08856066B2 Sharing information between tenants of a multi-tenant database
In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for sharing information between tenants of a multi-tenant database, information is received on a connection between a first tenant of a multi-tenant database and a second tenant and the connection has information on a scope of data from the first tenant shared with the second tenant, data is allowed for a record of the first tenant to be accessible to the second tenant in accordance with the connection, information is received on a file related to the record of the first tenant, and data is allowed from the file to be accessible to the second tenant in accordance with the connection.
US08856057B2 Cognitive security system and method
A cognitive system and method for predicting and detecting security breaches is provided which yields cognitive inputs to a security management interface accessible by a human operator. The system utilizes symbolic cognitive architectures and inference processing algebras allowing the system to respond to open, incomplete, and/or unknown problem domains, offering flexibility in the case of unexpected changes in the security environment. The system is also capable of intelligently, and in real-time, adapting security peripheral configurations to further probe and analyze the real-time security environment, provided real-time data that can be processed with symbolic cognitive architectures and inference process algebras enabling the identification of new and emerging threat profiles leading to the prediction and detection of security breaches.
US08856043B2 Method and system for managing data and enabling payment transactions between multiple entities
A system for conducting payment transaction includes a network-enabled server that communicates with one or more user devices, other network-enabled server computers, and a payment processing network server computer. The network-enabled server facilitates transactions between one or more merchants and users by a managing data flow and interactions between the merchants and the users, providing storage area for storing of all transaction related documents, and providing seamless integration with a payment processing network for payment processing.
US08856028B2 Inventory allocation for advertising with changeable supply landscape
An advertisement impression distribution system is programmed to generate an allocation plan for serving a number of advertisement impressions changeable as a result of one or more events, the allocation plan to allocate a first portion of advertisement impressions to satisfy guaranteed demand and a second portion of advertisement impressions to satisfy non-guaranteed demand. The system includes an optimizer programmed to establish a relationship between the first portion of advertisement impressions and the second portion of advertisement impressions, the relationship defining a range of possible proportions of allocation of the first portion of advertisement impressions and the second portion of advertisement impressions; and to impose at least one objective on the relationship including moderating an increase in the number of advertisement impressions available for allocation to the first and second portions, to minimize a cost associated with reducing a quality of the advertisement impressions as their volume increases. The system outputs the allocation plan to an ad serving module to control serving of the advertisement impressions according to the range of possible proportions of allocation between the first and the second portions.
US08856022B1 Parameter normalization for improved cache hit rate
A normalized caching system may receive a data request from a requestor, the request associated with a requested service. The normalized caching system may generate a normalized request by modifying one or more parameters of the request. A normalized response is typically useful for servicing a wider range of subsequent requests than is a non-normalized response. The system may then check whether an entry is cached for the normalized request. If no cached entry is found, the normalized request may be submitted to the requested service, and response received in return. The normalized response may be cached using the normalized request. The response may be denormalized in order to generate a response which is provided to the requestor. When a subsequent request is received, if that subsequent request normalizes to the same normalized request, it may be fulfilled using the response stored in cache, rather than using the requested service.
US08856017B2 Booking method and system
A method and system for communicating over a telecommunications network between a service provider and one or more users, wherein the service provider can have access to multiple distinct addresses in the telecommunications network and each user is identified by an address, more specifically, where a first message can be sent over at least a portion of the telecommunications network to a user's address and based on a response from the user determining the message to which the response is a reply.
US08856012B2 Apparatus and method of encoding and decoding signals
A method of encoding an audio signal, where signals including two or more channel signals are downmixed to a mono signal, the mono signal is divided into a low-frequency signal and a high-frequency signal, the low-frequency signal is encoded through algebraic code excited linear prediction (ACELP) or transform coded excitation (TCX), and the high-frequency signal is encoded using the low-frequency signal. A method of decoding of an audio signal, a low-frequency signal encoded through ACELP or TCX is decoded, a high-frequency signal is decoded using the low-frequency signal, the low-frequency signal and the high-frequency signal are combined to generate a mono signal, and the mono signal is upmixed by decoding spatial parameters regarding signals including two or more channel signals.
US08856006B1 Assisted speech input
Methods and systems are provided for assisted speech input. In one example, the method may involve (a) designating a first node of a tree as a current node. Each node in the tree is associated with a speech input data, and the first node includes one or more child nodes. The method may further involve (b) removing all nodes from a first group of nodes, (c) copying each child node of the current node to the first group, (d) removing all nodes from a second group of nodes, (e) moving a selection of nodes from the first group to the second group, and (f) presenting information associated with each node in the second group. The method may include additional elements depending on whether there is a match between a received speech input and a child node of the current node.
US08856001B2 Speech sound detection apparatus
A speech sound detection apparatus receives an input audio signal (as a sound reception unit), and computes input power that indicates a magnitude of the sound represented by the audio signal (as an input power computation unit). The apparatus estimates a correction function that is a continuous function defining a relation between a certain frequency and a correction coefficient used to approximate the input power computed at that frequency to the reference power predetermined for that frequency (as a correction function estimation unit). The apparatus corrects the input power at every frequency, based upon the correction coefficient that is obtained in accordance with the relation defined by the estimated correction function (as an input power correcting unit). The apparatus further determines whether or not the sound represented by the received audio signal is speech sound, based upon the corrected input power (as a speech sound detection unit).
US08855999B1 Method and system for generating a parser and parsing complex data
Computer-implemented systems and methods are disclosed for constructing a parser that parses complex data. In some embodiments, a method is provided for receiving a parser definition as an input to a parser generator and generating a parser at least in part from the parser definition. In some embodiments, the generated parser comprises two or more handlers forming a processing pipeline. In some embodiments, the parser receives as input a first string into the processing pipeline. In some embodiments, the parser generates a second string by a first handler and inputs the second string regeneratively into the parsing pipeline, if the first string matches an expression specified for the first handler in the parser definition.
US08855998B2 Parsing culturally diverse names
Provided are techniques for parsing a name. A name to be parsed is received. A culture of the name is identified. One or more name phrases from the name are identified. Statistics for the one or more name phrases are identified. It is determined whether to perform a first parsing technique that parses different types of name elements within at least one field of the name. In response to determining that the first parsing technique is to be performed, the name is parsed using the statistics and the first parsing technique. In response to determining that the first parsing technique is not to be performed, the name is parsed using the statistics and a second parsing technique.
US08855995B1 Consensus translations from multiple machine translation systems
Systems, methods, and apparatuses including computer program products for machine translation. A method is provided that includes generating a plurality of machine translation systems using a single machine translation engine, and generating a consensus translation from a plurality of candidate translations for a source sentence, where each candidate translation of the plurality of candidate translations is an output of a respective machine translation system of the plurality of machine translation systems.
US08855993B2 Integrated circuit design simulation matrix interpolation
Methods and systems perform a simulation on an integrated circuit design by applying a first value to a first variable and a second value to a second variable of the simulation to produce a first matrix corner simulation value. The methods and systems repeat the simulation using different values for the first and said second variables to produce a second matrix corner simulation value, a third matrix corner simulation value, and a fourth matrix corner simulation value. The methods and systems create a matrix, and the matrix has the first matrix corner simulation value, the second matrix corner simulation value, the third matrix corner simulation value, and the fourth matrix corner simulation value. The methods and systems interpolate all remaining values within the matrix based upon existing simulation values within the matrix.
US08855992B1 Graphical modeling blocks that execute in more than one domain
A time-driven block provided in a block diagram model may be executed in an event domain without user modification. The time-driven block is connected to one or more event-driven blocks using event domain signals. The time-driven block automatically adapts to the execution rules of the event domain modeling and simulation environment. The blocks that are configured to execute in more than one modeling and simulation environments are called polymorphic blocks. The polymorphic blocks are identified during the compilation stage of the block diagram model taking into consideration the port and line styles of the blocks. The execution rules of the polymorphic blocks are also determined during the compilation stage of the block diagram model.
US08855991B2 Method and system for assessing environmental impact of a processing device
Methods and systems for assessing the environmental impact of one or more processing devices, such one or more printers, are disclosed. The system queries a life cycle assessment (LCA) service to receive a life cycle phase model for each device. The life cycle phase model includes a set of consumption variable categories associated with potential device usage during a life cycle phase. The system then receives consumption data for the device, identifies a portion of the consumption data that corresponds to the consumption variable categories in the model, and obtains an assessment of environmental impact of the device during the life cycle phase based on the consumption data.
US08855984B2 Method and system for providing information from a patient-specific model of blood flow
Embodiments include a system for providing blood flow information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system including a touchscreen. The at least one computer system may be configured to display, on the touchscreen, a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient based on patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may also be configured to receive a first input relating to a first location on the touchscreen indicated by at least one pointing object controlled by a user, and the first location on the touchscreen may indicate a first location on the displayed three-dimensional model. The at least one computer system may be further configured to display first information on the touchscreen, and the first information may indicate a blood flow characteristic at the first location.
US08855982B2 Analysis device and simulation method
An analysis device that analyzes an object with a predetermined shape is provided which includes a pre-positioned creation unit that creates a system including a plurality of particles, a region specifying unit that specifies a region with the predetermined shape in the system created by the pre-positioned creation unit as a system describing the object, and a numerical calculation unit that numerically calculates a governing equation governing motions of particles in the system describing the object.
US08855977B2 Numerically simulating structural behaviors of a product using explicit finite element analysis with a combined technique of mass scaling and subcycling
Methods and systems for numerically simulating structural behaviors of a product using explicit FEA with a combined technique of subcycling and mass scaling are disclosed. A FEA model representing a product and a minimum time step size (Δtmin) for a time-marching simulation of the product are specified. N element groups is established with the first element group associated with Δtmin as required minimum time step size, while other element groups with integer multiples of Δtmin according to formula Δti=2i-1Δtmin, n=1, 2, . . . , N. Finite elements are periodically resorted into N element groups based on their new respective Δtcr. To ensure all finite elements in the FEA model are processed at the user specified minimum time step size, proper amount of mass scaling is applied to those finite elements that are or have become too small to maintain a stable solution in the first element group.
US08855976B2 Numerically simulating structural behaviors of a product using explicit finite element analysis with a mass scaling enhanced subcycling technique
Methods and systems for numerically simulating structural behaviors of a product using explicit FEA with a mass scaling enhanced subcycling technique are disclosed. A FEA model of the product defined by a plurality of nodes and finite elements is received. A critical time step size is calculated for each finite element and then assigned to associated nodes. Elements are partitioned into N element groups with first group requiring minimum time step size Δt1 and other element groups requiring respective time step sizes (ΔtN=2N−1Δt1). In order not to resort or repartition the finite elements and still obtain a stable solution, respective proper amounts of mass scaling are applied to those elements that have become too small to maintain a stable solution in their respective element groups. A time-marching simulation using explicit FEA with the mass scaling enhanced subcycling technique is then conducted with such a FEA model.
US08855973B2 Determining a next value of a parameter for system simulation
An embodiment of an apparatus includes a simulator and a determiner. The a simulator is configured to simulate a system and to propagate at least one state of the simulated system through time in response to a value of a parameter, and the determiner is configured to determine a next value of the parameter in response to a characteristic of another state of the model and a representation of at least one level set.
US08855970B2 System and methods for precise microprocessor event counting
Method for providing precise microprocessor performance counter readings including detecting a swap back to a monitored process executing in a microprocessor. In response to the detected swap back to the monitored process, if the value read from the performance counter does not exceed the defined overflow threshold, the value of the performance counter stored in the first memory location is restored to the performance counter. If the value read from the performance counter exceeds the defined overflow threshold, the performance counter is set to zero and the value of the performance counter stored in the first memory location is used to increment an overflow memory location. If the value read from the performance counter exceeds the defined overflow threshold, at least one performance counter reading instruction is detected and in response to the detected at least one performance counter reading instruction, setting the counter output register to zero.
US08855967B1 Surface data measurement system and method
A surface measurement apparatus having at least one sensor and a reference point with pre-determined relative position relative to the sensor measures a distance between the sensor and a point on a surface over which the surface measurement apparatus is configured to travel. A receiver receives data related to a position of the reference point a calculated distance between the reference point and a position measurement station; and a processor calculates an absolute position of the point on the surface based on (a) the measured distance between the at least one sensor and the point, (b) the pre-determined relative position difference between the reference point and the at least one sensor, and (c) the position of the reference point or the calculated distance between the position measurement station and the reference point.
US08855965B2 Measuring device of thread parameters for threaded joints
Thread parameters for a threaded object are determined. Spatial reference systems (X, Y, Z) and (X′, Y′, Z′) are respectively identified for a position sensor and the threaded object. A transformation matrix describing a quadratic form representing the threaded object in (X, Y, Z) may be determined to relate the reference systems. For example, a sensor trajectory on the threaded object may be determined, along with measurement points on the threaded object. The measurement points may be selected so the matrix, evaluated on these values, has maximum rank. Position data at measurement points in the second reference system may be transformed into the first reference system, yielding first results. After coating the threaded object, position data at the measurement points may be acquired again and transformed into the first reference system, yielding second results. Comparisons between the first and second results may provide thickness of the coating and quality verification.
US08855962B2 System for testing electronic circuits
A system for testing electronic circuits includes first, second, and third standard interfaces. A test port master and a test port slave are connected to an external testing apparatus. The first, second, and third standard interfaces are tested in first, second, and third test modes, respectively. The tests are initiated by asserting a test mode activate and first, second, and third test mode enable signals, respectively, which enable reuse of test patterns across different electronic circuits.
US08855960B2 Device and method for testing sensors
An apparatus and a method for testing of sensors for documents of value and a pertinent test medium. A test medium (1) having an electronic data memory (7) for data is provided, the data being used for testing the sensor (11). The data are transmitted from the test medium to a test device (12), which tests the sensor in dependence on the transmitted data.
US08855944B2 Wheel bearing with sensor
A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly capable of accurately detecting the load acting on the bearing assembly is provided. The sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes a sensor unit in an outer member that serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments to be fixed to the stationary member, and two or more sensors for detecting strain in the strain generating member. The contact fixing segments are spaced from each other in a direction circumferentially of the stationary member at the same axial positions. An estimating section is provided in the bearing assembly for estimating load thereon based on the difference between respective output signals from the sensors by calculating amplitudes of the output signals or values corresponding to such amplitudes from the difference between the respective output signals.
US08855942B2 Anode bleed control strategy for improved water management and hydrogen utilization
A control strategy for bleeding an anode side of fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system that improves water management and addresses durability and performance concerns. The method includes determining when to begin the anode bleed, typically by estimating or measuring the amount of nitrogen in the anode side of the stack. The method also includes determining when to end the anode bleed based on the volume of gas that has been bled. The method determines the mole flow rate of the anode gas flowing through a bleed valve, integrates the mole flow rate to get the number of moles of the gas that have passed through the bleed valve, determines a desired amount of moles to be bled, and ends the bleed when the actual number of moles of the gas equals the desired number of moles of the gas.
US08855939B2 System, method, and computer product for exon array analysis
In one embodiment, a method for analyzing data generated by probe arrays is described that comprises receiving user selections of two or more data files and an identification of one or more subsets of intensity values acquired from a biological probe array. The method includes iteratively opening each data file, identifying the selected subset of intensity values associated with each open data file, determining parameters for processing, storing the parameters and the identified intensity values, and closing the open data file prior to the subsequent iteration. The method then includes processing the stored intensity values using the parameters to identify one or more biological events.
US08855935B2 Method and system for displaying genetic and genealogical data
A method and system for displaying genetic and genealogical data includes displaying indicators of related individuals. At least one genetically related individual is identified from a genetic database in response to a genetic input of an inquiring individual. Indicators of the inquiring individual and each of the at least one genetically related individual are displayed. The system includes a computer system having a display device, a processor device, a database and media having computer-executable instructions configured to display indicators of related individuals according to a method. The method includes identifying at least one genetically related individual from a genetic database in response to a genetic input of an inquiring individual and geographically displaying indicators of the inquiring individual and each of the at least one genetically related individual.
US08855933B2 Systems and methods for determining the moments and forces of two concentric pipes within a wellbore
Systems and methods for determining the bending moment and shear force of tubing and casing when the tubing buckles and contacts the casing.
US08855925B2 Adaptable navigation device
The described method and system provide for adaptable GPS navigation based on road and traffic conditions. A method includes: receiving input front a user designating a destination; determining a calculated route from a starting point to the destination; and presenting turn-by-turn (TBT) directions based on the route, wherein the presenting of the TBT directions includes presenting conditions information received from an external source. The conditions information can be used during route calculation and can be updated while the user is traveling on the calculated route.
US08855920B2 Automatic assistance for route planning
A method is provided for automatically assisting the route planning between a starting point and a destination.At least one respective traffic route is ascertained between the starting point and the destination for different means of transport by a traffic route ascertainment unit. The at least one means of transport is associated with the respective traffic route.Emission information is ascertained by an emission ascertainment unit for each traffic route on the basis of the means of transport which are associated therewith and on the basis of the traffic route length of the respective traffic route.The route planning is assisted between starting point and destination on the basis of the emission information.
US08855912B2 Travel route evaluation system and travel route evaluation program
A travel route evaluation system is provided which is capable of enhancing the driver's consciousness of traveling on the a recommended route, in order to improve a degree of attainment of purposes, such as suppression of a fuel consumption and shortening of a required time, that would be obtained by presenting the recommended route.The system includes: a route setting unit for setting a recommended route from a departure point to a destination, based on traveling environment information associated with a traveling environment of a vehicle and map data, a ratio calculation unit for calculating a recommended route travel ratio which is a proportion of the recommended route in a traveled route on which the vehicle traveled; and an evaluation information acquisition unit for acquiring evaluation information based on the recommended route travel ratio.
US08855906B2 Database augmented surveillance
An aircraft traffic alert system that minimizes false alarms and unnecessary alerts by automatically adjusting the sensitivity of the system based on proximity to an airport. The system also can use information from a flight management system (FMS) or GPS navigation system (GNS) to only adjust the sensitivity near a destination airport and to suppress potential alerts for possible collisions with other aircraft that will be moot based on planned course changes of the subject aircraft. The system also can suppress alerts related to another aircraft when the other aircraft is landing on a parallel runway to the runway on which the subject aircraft is landing. The system may use multiple sensitivity levels based on different airspace classes, each class being associated with a different sensitivity level.
US08855904B1 Use of position logs of vehicles to determine presence and behaviors of traffic controls
Methods and devices for using position logs of vehicles to determine the presence and behavior of traffic controls are disclosed. An example method includes receiving movement data that is indicative of movement of a plurality of vehicles through an intersection. The movement data may be received by a computing device and may include, for each respective vehicle, data indicative of the respective vehicle's position as a function of time for multiple instances of time. The method may further include detecting a pattern in the movement data using the computing device. The detected pattern may be indicative of a probable traffic control for the intersection. According to the method, an indication of the probable traffic control for the intersection may be stored in a database.
US08855901B2 Providing route recommendations
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining travel information that indicates travel patterns for a mobile computing device that is associated with a user; identifying a current context for the mobile computing device and the user; identifying one or more destination locations that the user has at least a threshold likelihood of travelling to with the mobile computing device based on the current context and the obtained travel information; generating a prediction that one or more events have at least a threshold probability of occurring along one or more of a plurality of routes for travelling to the identified one or more destination locations; selecting a particular route from the plurality of routes to recommend to the user based on the current context and the prediction of the one or more events; and providing route information that identifies the selected particular route.
US08855896B2 Intake manifold refill and holding control systems and methods
An engine control system for an auto-stop/start vehicle includes an auto-stop/start module and an actuator control module. The auto-stop/start module selectively generates an auto-stop command for shutting down an engine while an ignition is in an ON state. The actuator control module disables fuel to the engine when the auto-stop command is generated and closes a throttle valve to a predetermined throttle opening when the auto-stop command is generated.
US08855890B2 Engine synchronizer
Engine synchronization apparatus and system for multi-engine vehicles such as boats and aircraft providing limited authority throttle cable trim effected by an apparatus interposed between the throttle plate and throttle cable of a slave engine and mounted in a floating configuration. An actuator is mounted to the apparatus to trim the distance between the throttle plate and throttle cable attachment thereby trimming the throttle cable. A system is provided in which a difference signal derived from master and slave engine tachometer signals is used to control the actuator and synchronize the engines within a predetermined range.
US08855888B2 Engine misfire identification device for internal combustion engine, vehicle equipped with the same and method of engine misfire identification
An engine misfire is identified by ordinary engine misfire detection processing when the operating condition of an engine comprising a rotation speed Ne and a torque Te does not belong to a resonance region of a rear portion including a damper as a torsion element (S120), and an engine misfire is identified by resonance-region engine misfire detection processing, which is different from the ordinary engine misfire detection processing, when the operating condition of an engine belongs to a resonance region of a rear portion including a damper (S130). This enables an engine misfire to be identified more reliably and with good accuracy regardless of whether the operating condition of an engine belongs to a resonance region of a rear portion including a damper.
US08855886B2 Device for calculating and communicating the true aircraft braking coefficient of a runway or taxiway using data from the flight data management systems of landed aircraft
A computer network for calculating a value for the true braking coefficient of friction for an aircraft runway or taxiway using data from one or more aircraft's flight data recorders or flight data management systems, and reporting the calculated value information to individuals and agencies including air traffic control, airport operations and maintenance, and aircraft pilots and ground crews is described and claimed herein. The data may be obtained in real-time by either an onboard or an off-aircraft high-power computing system, calculating the aircraft's true braking coefficient of friction, and reporting the calculated information to the individuals and agencies.
US08855875B2 Pedal map shift
A method is provided for controlling a prime mover adapted to drive at least one ground engaging element of a working machine. The method includes receiving an operator control input indicative of the control of the prime mover and determining at least one operation signal in response to the operator control input, which operation signal is sent for controlling the prime mover. The method also includes receiving a operating state input indicative of an operating state of the machine and selecting a control mode from at least one speed control mode in which the determined operational signal comprises a desired speed of the prime mover and at least one torque control mode in which the determined operational signal comprises a desired torque of the prime mover in response to the operating state input.
US08855860B2 Vehicle behavior control apparatus
A vehicle behavior control apparatus disposed in a subject vehicle performs a steering angle control of the subject vehicle. The apparatus acquires lead vehicle information transmitted from a lead vehicle to determine a virtual shape of a road (i.e., a virtual road shape) based on a travel locus of the lead vehicle. A virtual road border distance is calculated as a distance from the subject vehicle to a road border of a virtual curve road positioned straight in front of the subject vehicle. The apparatus, calculates an appropriate turn radius for travel along the virtual curve road and, based on the appropriate turn radius, calculates an appropriate distance from the subject vehicle to the virtual road border positioned in front of the subject vehicle. A steering unit then controls a steering angle of the subject vehicle by maintaining the virtual road border distance with the appropriate distance.
US08855859B2 Vehicle steering system and material handling vehicle
A steering angle detecting unit, a reaction force actuator that applies steering reaction force to a steering member, a yaw angle detecting unit that detects a yaw angle of a vehicle body, and a reaction force actuator control unit that sets the steering reaction force as a function of a steering angle and that controls the reaction force actuator such that the reaction force actuator generates the set steering reaction force, are provided. The reaction force actuator control unit computes a turning angle of the vehicle body on the basis of a change in the yaw angle of the vehicle body, detected by the yaw angle detecting unit. When the computed turning angle is larger than or equal to a reference angle, the steering reaction force applied to the steering member is increased.
US08855858B2 Motor control unit and vehicle steering system
A motor control unit includes a detected steering torque correction unit that corrects the detected steering torque that is detected by a torque sensor and then subjected to a limitation process by a steering torque limiter. When the absolute value of the detected steering torque is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the detected steering torque correction unit corrects the detected steering torque to 0. When the absolute value of the detected steering torque is larger than the predetermined value, the detected steering torque correction unit outputs the detected steering torque without correction. A PI control unit calculates the addition angle based on the deviation of the control torque obtained through correction by the detected steering torque correction unit from the command steering torque.
US08855852B2 Method and system for monitoring a structure
A method and system of monitoring a structure, the method including: a) synchronously acquiring data comprising a plurality of operational parameters and at least one strain data, b) building a significant points dataset from the data acquired in step a), and c) modelling a relationship between the operational parameters and the strain data using the built significant points dataset to train a non-adaptive prediction functional supervised approximation method, wherein the step of building a significant points dataset comprises deletion of redundant information from the acquired data. The resultant models may be used to process structure real operation data in order to estimate the eventual crack initiation and crack growth on a set of predefined locations of the structure.
US08855849B1 Object detection based on known structures of an environment of an autonomous vehicle
An autonomous vehicle may be configured to detect objects based on known structures of an environment. The vehicle may be configured to obtain image data from a sensor and be configured to operate in an autonomous mode. The image data may include data indicative of a known structure in the environment. The vehicle may include a computer system. The computer system may determine, based on a first portion of the image data, information indicative of an appearance of the known structure. The computer system may determine, based on a second portion of the image data, information indicative of an appearance of an unknown object in the environment. The computer system may also compare the information indicative of the appearance of the known structure with the information indicative of the appearance of the unknown object and provide instructions to control the vehicle in the autonomous mode based on the comparison.
US08855846B2 System and method for onboard vision processing
An unmanned aerial vehicle with a camera and conventional sensors, where the processor navigates the vehicle based at least in part on the image data and the sensor data. A method for navigating an unmanned aerial vehicle where a processor navigates the vehicle based at least in part on image data corrected by traditional sensor data.
US08855845B2 Systems and methods for controlling operation of a vehicle
A method of controlling operational modes of a hybrid electric vehicle includes: determining whether an all-electric range (AER) of the vehicle is at or less than a first predetermined value; activating a first operational mode if the AER is determined to be at or less than the first predetermined value; determining, while the first operational mode is active, whether the AER of the vehicle is greater than a second predetermined value; activating a second operational mode if the AER is determined to be greater than the second predetermined value.
US08855843B2 Starting control device of electric vehicle
A socket receives charging voltage and auxiliary voltage of the main battery from an external power supply. A charging line Lch connects the charging voltage to the main battery. Auxiliary power supply lines connect the auxiliary voltage to a vehicle drive control unit. A main switch is provided on a constant line for inputting the output of an electric power converting unit to the vehicle drive control unit. The vehicle drive control unit includes an electric power converting unit starting unit started when the auxiliary voltage is applied to output a starting signal of the electric power converting unit, and means for maintaining the starting signal to charge the sub-battery with the electric power from the electric power converting unit when the voltage applied from the electric power converting unit through the main switch to the vehicle drive control unit is a predetermined value.
US08855839B2 Fuel tank assembly and method of use
A fuel assembly and a method of providing fuel is disclosed. The fuel assembly includes a frame, a first fuel storage tank sized to fit within the frame and configured to store one of a liquid and a gaseous fuel, and a fuel control assembly configured to regulate delivery of the gaseous fuel to an external power unit. The fuel control assembly includes a first fuel assembly memory module having stored thereon identifying information of the interchangeable fuel assembly.
US08855838B2 Automatic takeoff method for an aircraft with a flexible airfoil, and airfoil and aircraft
The invention relates to an automatic takeoff method for an aircraft with a flexible airfoil, comprising a carriage suspended by rigging lines from an airfoil. According to said method: —said carriage is provided with an autopilot controlling actuators that control said rigging lines; —said airfoil is provided with an airfoil attitude sensor, comprising a biaxial accelerometer and a biaxial rate gyro, capable of defining the position of an airfoil reference frame in relation to the ground, and means for communicating with said autopilot; —during takeoff, information is received from said airfoil attitude sensor and transmitted to said autopilot for the purpose of controlling said actuators. The invention also relates to an airfoil for the implementation of said method, comprising an airfoil attitude sensor with an inertial unit with a biaxial accelerometer and a biaxial rate gyro, and means for communicating with an autopilot. The invention further relates to an aircraft comprising such an airfoil.
US08855837B2 Altitude and acceleration command altitude hold algorithm for rotorcraft with large center of gravity range
A flight control system includes an Acceleration and Attitude Command/Velocity Hold mode (AACVH) algorithm which blends attitude commands with acceleration commands. This blending determines a trim attitude for a given rotorcraft flight condition.
US08855833B2 Vehicle dynamic control platform between application and controlled object
In a vehicle dynamic control platform arranged between a controlled object and an application, an availability obtainer obtains an availability corresponding to a controllable range of a second parameter of the controlled object, and outputs the availability of the second parameter of the controlled object to the application. The application is programmed to output the target value of the first parameter based on the availability of the second parameter of the controlled object. A comparator compares the target value of the first parameter with the availability of the second parameter when the target value of the first parameter is outputted from the application, and determines, based on a result of the comparison, whether to perform dynamic control of the vehicle by controlling the controlled object.
US08855832B2 Rate based power management device
The present invention is a power management device for connecting a power consuming device to a power source so that the device switches the connection on and off automatically based on the power rate (price per kilowatt-hour) obtained from the power supplier. The user may specify a power usage specification, such as a maximum power rate that the user is willing to pay, and then the device disconnects the power from the power consuming device whenever the power rate is greater than the maximum power rate, and turns it on again when the power rate becomes less than or equal to the maximum power rate. The device includes a programmable controller, wireless and ethernet interfaces and can also act as a wireless access point.
US08855829B2 Method for controlling energy resources
A system and method for managing power consumption and storage in a power grid. Measurements are received from a plurality of geographically distributed energy management controllers. Each energy management controllers has energy storage units with stored energy. The measurements comprise the energy production and storage capacity of the energy management controllers and their associated energy storage units. The measurements are processed, e.g., aggregated, and displayed on a graphical user interface. Commands are transmitted to a first subset of the energy management controllers to command the units to discharge their stored energy into a power grid through an inverter. Commands are transmitted to a second subset of the plurality of energy management controllers to store energy in each unit's energy storage unit.
US08855826B2 Controller for reducing vibrations in mechanical systems
Vibration in a mechanical system driven by a motor connected to a load is reduced by providing an angular position and an angular velocity of the motor to a linear feedback term and to a nonlinear feedback term. Outputs of the linear feedback term and the nonlinear feed term, and an optimal feedforward term determined off-line are summed to produce a summed signal, which is fed back to control a torque of the motor.
US08855825B2 Device abstraction system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning system
The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In various embodiments, the network includes a subnet controller configured to control networked devices via a data bus. The subnet controller is configured to be addressable over the data bus. An environmental sensor is configured to provide environmental data to the subnet controller, and is further configured to be addressable over the data bus independent of addressing the subnet controller. A user interface is configured to provide access by an operator to the network. The user interface is further configured to be addressable over the data bus independently of addressing the subnet controller and the environmental sensor.
US08855821B2 Robot and control method thereof
A bipedal robot having a pair of legs with 6 degrees of freedom and a control method thereof which calculate a capture point by combining the position and velocity of the center of gravity (COG) and control the capture point during walking to stably control walking of the robot. A Finite State Machine (FSM) is configured to execute a motion similar to walking of a human, and thus the robot naturally walks without constraint that the knees be bent all the time, thereby being capable of walking with a large stride and effectively using energy required while walking.
US08855819B2 Method and apparatus for simultaneous localization and mapping of robot
A SLAM of a robot is provided. The position of a robot and the position of feature data may be estimated by acquiring an image of the robot's surroundings, extracting feature data from the image, and matching the extracted feature data with registered feature data. Furthermore, measurement update is performed in a camera coordinate system and an appropriate assumption is added upon coordinate conversion, thereby reducing non-linear components and thus improving the SLAM performance.
US08855817B2 Parts handling device, system and method
A method for operating a system including at least two robots for handling parts and a robot control unit arranged for control of said at least two robots. Each of the robots is arranged with a parts handler device including a rigid arm with one end connected to the end element of an arm of the robot by a first swivel arranged for radial movement of the rigid arm in relation to the end element. Each of the robots is also arranged with a gripper connected to the rigid arm by a second swivel arranged for free, passive rotation of the gripper in relation to the rigid arm. The method includes generating instructions for the at least two robots to pick and/or move and/or place a part and sending the instructions to each robot simultaneously.
US08855816B2 Piezoelectric actuator, robot hand, and robot
A piezoelectric actuator includes a frequency controller that controls the frequency and power of the driving signal, wherein when the phase difference falls within a predetermined range, the control unit stores the value of the frequency of the driving signal as a first frequency memory value, sets a voltage to a upper limit voltage value, and performs control of adjusting the frequency of the driving signal so that the phase difference is maintained to be within a predetermined range, and when the frequency of the driving signal is changed from the first frequency memory value by an amount exceeding a first value determined in advance, the control unit stores the value of the frequency of the driving signal as a second frequency memory value and sets the voltage to a lower limit voltage value lower than the upper limit voltage value.
US08855813B2 Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning
An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.
US08855794B2 Energy management system and method, including auto-provisioning capability using near field communication
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a provisioning system for a network includes a first device associated with a site. The first device includes an RFID reader associated therewith. The system also includes a second device including a device identifier associated therewith. The device identifier includes information about the second device to assist in joining it to the network. The RFID reader is configured to read the device identifier on the second device to obtain information about the second device. Based on the information about the second device it can then be joined to the network by the first device.
US08855791B2 Industrial operator interfaces interacting with higher-level business workflow
Systems and methods are provided that enable high-level and abstract business engines to affect and influence plant-floor or industrial operations via dynamic and flexible operator interfaces. In a similar manner, actions directed from the operator interfaces can be communicated to higher level decision components of an enterprise to facilitate automated control and dynamics of the enterprise. In one aspect, an industrial automation system is provided. The system includes one or more controllers to process transaction events in an industrial automation environment. One or more operator interface components are provided that automatically adapt interface control functionality based on the transaction events.
US08855788B2 MRI compatible electrode circuit
An MRI compatible electrode circuit construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter at or near an electrode/wire interface that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include one or more non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire that resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter. The non-resonant filter(s) may also attenuate the RF current reflected from the resonant LC filter thereby resolving the issue of the strong reflected power from the resonant filter and the associated dielectric heating.
US08855782B2 Medical accessory proximity testing, detection, and alerting system
Disclosed is a system having an implanted component and external component which are configured to provide a test of wireless communication in order to assess the success or failure of such communication and to store attributes related to such test in a memory log. To provide the communication test the implantable and external components can attempt wireless communication according to communication test parameters which relate to number of times to retry communication, duration of sending communication test signals, durations of waiting for communication test signals and the schedule of the communication tests. The schedule of tests may be periodic or may change over time in order to become more or less frequent according to a programmable schedule that may also decrease if the communication tests are successful and indicate patient compliance in keeping the external components close by. The communication tests can assist in determining if the patient is maintaining external components within a suggested proximity (e.g. 6 feet) of the patient and may assist to determine if transmission or reception difficulties are the source of communication failure. A physician programmer can provide for programming, conducting, summarizing and assessing the results of communication tests.
US08855780B2 Pacemaker event queue to control device processor operating power
In the present disclosure, conservation of an implantable medical device power supply of is facilitated by controlling the power consumption of the device's processing component. The power supplied to the processing component is controlled to enable processing of received events as a function of predetermined criteria rather than the actual occurrence of the events which is frequent, but irregular. Accordingly, the need for the processing component to start and stop (and thereby be fully powered on each start) with receipt of each event is obviated thereby maintaining the power consumption of the processing component and increasing longevity of the device. Event data associated with received events is stored in an event queue and subsequently retrieved and transmitted for processing based on predetermined criteria. The power supplied during an idle state of the processing component may be reduced in relation to the power supplied during a wake up state.
US08855772B2 System for neural therapy
This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for calculating a neural stimulation energy at an external patient management (EPM) system using received information about a chemical characteristic indicative of a physiological state of a subject.
US08855771B2 Screening devices and methods for obstructive sleep apnea therapy
Devices and methods for treating obstructive sleep apnea by first performing an assessment of the patient that involves observing the patient's upper airway during a tongue protrusion maneuver. The assessment may, for example, be done using endoscopy to observe the upper airway while the patient is awake in the supine position. An adequate response of the upper airway during the tongue protrusion maneuver is indicative of likely therapeutic success with hypoglossal nerve stimulation, and may be used for making clinical decisions. The principles of the present invention may be applied to other therapeutic interventions for OSA involving the upper airway.
US08855760B2 Systems and methods for early detection of lead breaches using cross-lead impedances detected by an implantable medical device
Techniques are provided for use with an implantable medical device for detecting breaches in lead insulation or other lead failures. In one example, bipolar impedance is measured along single-lead vectors (i.e. intra-lead vectors) of a right atrial (RA) lead and a right ventricular (RV) leads. Impedance is also measured along various cross-lead vectors (i.e. inter-lead vectors) between electrodes of the two leads. A derived impedance value is then determined from a combination of the measured impedance values, wherein the derived impedance is sensitive to a shunt impedance arising from a breach within the RV lead. A lead breach is then detected relatively early based on the derived impedance by detecting a significant deviation in derived impedance over time. Unipolar impedance measurements are used to confirm the breach.
US08855758B2 Apparatus and method for obtaining EEG data
An apparatus for obtaining EEG data includes a signal processing component for receiving EEG signals from each of a plurality of electrodes and a data output component. The signal processing component is arranged to convert respective EEG signals in real time to a reduced data set and provide the reduced data set to the data output component.