Document Document Title
US08875952B2 Air-activated sequenced valve split foam pump
Foam dispenser systems and pumps for use in foam dispenser systems are disclosed herein. A refill unit for refilling a foam dispenser system comprises a container for holding a supply of foamable liquid and a pump housing connected to the container. The pump housing comprises one or more connections for connecting to one or more external air pumps, wherein the air pumps supply air pressure to move the foamable liquid into a mixing chamber and to mix air with the liquid in the mixing chamber and create a foamy air-liquid mixture.
US08875951B2 Aerosol cap and system for dispensing a fluid from a canister
An aerosol cap adapted to mate with a canister includes an outer hollow shell and an inner hollow shell that is partially enclosed by the outer shell and centrally disposed therein. The outer hollow shell includes at least one rib element. The inner and outer shells are physically interconnected together by the at least one rib element. The inner hollow shell includes a base ring member hingedly connected to a pod member. The pod member includes a button support for receiving a button actuator of the canister. The pod member further includes a cam profile for cooperating with the at least one rib element to transition the aerosol cap between an operative position and a non-operative position upon rotating the outer hollow shell relative to the inner hollow shell.
US08875949B2 Beverage dispenser using slurry ice heat transfer
A beverage dispenser that uses a slurry ice heat transfer approach to achieve a lower cost solution for controlling the temperature of a beverage to be dispensed. A cost effective heat transfer approach can be achieved by replacing the cold plate or refrigeration system of prior art beverage dispensers with a slurry ice bath. The invention provides a hopper into which a slurry ice bath is created. The hopper has an access door for receiving ice and an interior valve for dispensing either carbonated water or still water to form a slurry ice bath. Coils containing a beverage to be dispensed are submersed in the slurry ice bath. The slurry ice causes heat to transfer from the coils, thereby maintaining the coils at a certain temperature.
US08875943B2 Dispenser assembly
A dispenser assembly 1 including a dispenser 2 for hygienic articles and a mounting bracket 16 for releasably attaching the dispenser 2 to a wall. The dispenser 2 includes a container 4 provided with a dispensing aperture 6 for the hygienic articles and a first side portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the mounting bracket 16. Further the dispenser assembly includes a connecting arrangement for connecting the dispenser 2 to the mounting bracket 16. The connecting arrangement includes a locking interconnection 28 for securely holding the first side portion of the container 4 against the mounting bracket 16 and a guiding interconnection 42 for initially positioning the dispenser 2 in relation to the mounting bracket 16 during mounting of the dispenser 2 to the mounting bracket 16. The guiding interconnection 42 provides engagement between the dispenser 2 and the mounting bracket 16 such that the dispenser 2 is prevented from being separated from the mounting bracket 16 in a direction at least perpendicularly outwards from the wall.
US08875936B2 Can end with negatively angled wall
An end for a beverage can is described. The end has a product side, an opposing public side, a center panel, an annular countersink, a circumferential wall, and a curl. The center panel has a means for opening the end. The annular countersink extends circumferentially about the center panel. The circumferential wall extends upwardly from the countersink and has an angled portion extending radially inwardly toward the center panel. The curl is located radially outward relative to the center panel and defines an outer perimeter of the end.
US08875933B2 Drainable container system
A drainable container system for a vehicle includes a container having an exterior surface and defining an interior cavity configured for storing a fluid, and a drain hole configured for draining the fluid from the cavity. The hole has a central longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the surface. The system includes a drain plug, wherein the plug is insertable into the hole along the axis into a locked position so that the fluid does not drain, and removable from the hole along the axis when disposed in an unlocked position so that the fluid drains. The system includes a locking element configured for preventing rotation of the plug within the hole about the axis when the plug is disposed in the locked position, wherein the element is formed from a metal that is substantially elastic at a temperature of from about −40° C. to about 10° C.
US08875926B2 Resealable multi-compartment beverage container
Container for beverages, liquids and other fluid substances which includes a plurality of sealed chambers, sealed openings in coplanar walls of the chambers, a stationary cover plate with openings in registration with the sealed openings, an opener movably mounted on the cover plate for selective engagement with seals for the openings in the walls, and a selector plate operatively connected to the opener with an opening in the selector plate that can be moved into and out of registration with the openings in the chamber walls and cover plate.
US08875921B2 Lightweight container having a reinforced base
A container made of thermoplastic material, including a body that extends between a neck and a base that is able to withstand, without significantly deforming, a hydrostatic pressure caused by the column of a liquid contained in the container, the column of liquid being increased by a pressure not exceeding 2×105 Pa. The base includes main ribs in the form of grooves that are open towards the outside and extend approximately radially, passing through an annular zone that forms an approximately flat seat by way of which the base can rest in a stable manner on a flat support. The main ribs extend upwards on a wall connecting the base to the body of the container. The container has a shoulder that forms a joining zone between the connecting wall and the body of the container, and the main ribs extend upwards beyond the shoulder.
US08875918B2 Closure
The present invention is directed to a packaging (1) comprising a container (2) with a container body (5), and a container opening (6) having an upper edge (7), and a closure (4) for closing said container, the container (2) and the closure (4) being made out of polyethylene terephtalate (PET), polyethylene naphtalate (PEN), or a combination thereof, said container and said closure comprising respectively first (8) and second (9) attachment means, characterized in that: (i) the attachment means (8, 9) are adapted in shape and size to cooperate with each other, and (ii) at least the second attachment means (8) is made of PET or PEN and adapted in shape and size to deform permanently by punching or rolling to link both attachment means, and create a permanent, preferably fluid-tight, arrangement between said container (2) and said closure (4).
US08875917B2 Closure cap with spring element for a container
The present invention pertains to a closure cap for a container, the closure cap including a top part connectable to a container body via a hinge, the top part being pivotable about the hinge. The top part further includes a sealing skirt to sealingly engage with an opening of the container body, and the top part includes a desiccant chamber for accommodating a desiccant. A spring element for pre-tensioning products received in the container body, the spring element extending from the top part in a single loop, is also an element of the container.
US08875911B2 Drilling rig mast lift systems and methods
Systems and methods for rig assembly and for erecting a mast of a rig and such systems with roller apparatus to facilitate movement of a mast section from a mover. In a first embodiment, the method includes erecting a rig mast section on a substructure, the substructure including a first substructure box spaced-apart from a second substructure box, the first substructure box comprising a first upper box above a first lower box and the second substructure box comprising a second upper box above a second lower box.
US08875910B2 Assembly kit for building a rack
An assembly kit for building a rack includes a plurality of longitudinal members to be arranged vertically, a plurality of cross members to be arranged horizontally, a plurality of node elements that connect the longitudinal members and cross members to each other, and a plurality of rails that accommodate rack bottoms, drawers, and the like. The longitudinal members are provided with holes used to hook in the rails on first lateral surfaces of the longitudinal members facing each other, wherein the holes are T-shaped and include breakouts adjacent to the first lateral surfaces. The rails are longer than the open distance of a front longitudinal member from a rear longitudinal member by the depth of the breakouts and are provided with U-shaped folded edges. The width of the vertically extending section of the T-shaped hole corresponds to the length of the free leg of the U-shaped folded edge.
US08875884B1 Hand tool rack
A hand tool rack includes a first body and a second body. The first body has two rectangular extensions and a connection member which is located between the two extensions. Each extension has a first connection portion. The connection member has a second connection portion. Multiple first positioning portions are located between the two first connection portions. The second body has two first holes defined through two first portions on two ends thereof. The second body has a second hole defied through a second portion at the middle portion thereof. When the first connection portions extend through the first holes, the first connection portions contact respective tops of the first portions. The second connection portion extends through the second hole and contacts the second portion. The first positioning portions are connected with the second positioning portions of the second body.
US08875883B2 Tiered tool holder
A tool holder is described. The tool holder can include a main panel and a plurality of sleeves extending from a front side of the main panel. The plurality of sleeves can include a first sleeve component forming peaks and valleys, a second sleeve component coupled to the first sleeve component, and a third sleeve component forming a plurality of outer peaks and outer valleys coupled to the second sleeve component. At least one primary opening can be formed between the main panel and the first sleeve component between adjacent valleys. At least one secondary opening can be formed between the second sleeve component and the first sleeve component between adjacent peaks. At least one tertiary opening can be formed between the second sleeve component and the third sleeve component between adjacent outer valleys. A tool can be received through each opening and stored in the tool holder.
US08875875B2 Sealable and stackable packages for bedding products
A stackable package for bedding includes a flexible outer container having an upper end and a lower end, a bottom panel extending along the lower end of the flexible container and side panels extending upwardly from the bottom panel toward the upper end of the flexible container for defining an open end of the flexible outer container. The stackable package includes an insert disposed inside the flexible outer container for reinforcing the bottom and side panels of the flexible outer container, and bedding disposed inside the insert. The side panels of the flexible outer container have upper ends that are joined together for hermetically sealing the bedding inside the flexible outer container.
US08875874B2 Multi-compartment mixing container and method of filling
A mixing container including an outer vessel, one or more inner vessels, and a lid. The outer vessel has a bottom, an open mouth and a peripheral sidewall between the open mouth and the bottom. The one or more inner vessels each have an end, an open mouth and a peripheral sidewall between the end and the open mouth. The lid is configured to be removably coupled to the open mouth of the outer vessel and the lid is characterized as having an outer surface and an inner surface coupled to the ends of the one or more inner vessels. A seal is formed between the open mouth of each one of the one or more inner vessels and the bottom of the outer vessel when the lid is coupled to the open mouth of the outer vessel.
US08875872B2 Retail display package with foldable stand
A display package includes a wrap portion, and first and second stand portions. The wrap portion defines a front panel, a rear panel opposite the front panel, and a bottom panel extending between the front and rear panels. The front, rear, and bottom panels form a cavity therebetween for receiving an article for display. The first and second stand portions each extend from the rear panel opposite one another. At least a portion of the first stand portion and a portion of the second stand portion are placed directly adjacent and are coupled to one another to collectively form a two-ply fin capable of being folded flat over the rear panel or folded out to extend away from the rear panel to act as a stand for supporting the display package with a substantially upright position on a support surface.
US08875871B2 Conveyance device for granular materials
A belt conveyor, a collecting hopper and a screw conveyor are sequentially disposed below a chute for feeding hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets from a pelletizing portion. Even when the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets fed onto the belt conveyor are dropped off or scattered, the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets can be collected by the collecting hopper that is located below and can be securely transferred to an outside by the screw conveyor.
US08875862B2 Ratchet hub
A ratchet hub using a magnetic force for restoration as disclosed has a freewheel unit and a ratchet ring thereof forming a unidirectional ratchet mechanism and a magnetic assembly using a magnetically repulsive force to normally make the freewheel unit and ratchet ring engage mutually and allow force transmission therebetween. Once a force disengaging the freewheel unit from the ratchet ring surpasses the magnetically repulsive force, the ratchet ring is pushed away from the freewheel unit. When the force disengaging the freewheel unit from the ratchet ring disappears, the magnetically repulsive force automatically and promptly returns the ratchet ring to engage with the freewheel unit again.
US08875861B2 Liquid friction clutch
A liquid friction clutch (1) having a housing (2, 3), a clutch disc (4) rotatable relative to the housing (2, 3) and which is rotatably arranged on an end (5) of a shaft (6) which is mounted centrally within the housing (2, 3), which shaft (6) bears on its other end (8) a driveable active element (7). A working chamber (9) is positioned between the housing (2, 3) and the clutch disk (4). A storage chamber (10) is provided for the clutch fluid. A supply duct (11) leads from the storage chamber (10) to the working chamber (9). A stationary clutch part (13) relative to which the housing (2, 3) is rotatable, wherein a rotatably mounted pump element (14) is provided which, with the housing (2, 3), defines a shear gap (12).
US08875860B2 Torque limiter
A torque limiter includes a shaft member, and a cylindrical member which is fitted rotatably on the shaft member. When the cylindrical member is rotated relative to the shaft member in such a state that the cap member is not screwed in the threaded hole and in such a state that the oil release passage is not opened to the outside, the other end portion of the oil release passage circumferentially moves within the circumferentially extended groove while being spaced apart from the circumferentially extended groove.
US08875853B2 Hydraulic brake device
A hydraulic brake device includes a main body, a brake lever, a hydraulic rod, a connecting rod, a sleeve member and an elastic member. The elastic member has an assembling portion, a driving portion and a deformation portion. When a user actuates the brake lever suddenly and forcefully, the driving portion of the elastic member moves toward the hydraulic room; a pressure of hydraulic oil pushes the driving portion so as to indirectly force the deformation portion to deform and bend, so that the deformation portion and the driving portion slightly move toward the assembling portion; thereby, a volume of hydraulic oil is smoothly pushed into a brake caliper through a hydraulic pipeline, such that the user brakes a bicycle stably, smoothly and safely.
US08875844B2 Lifting device for storing a personal vehicle on a vehicle dolly thereon
A lifting device has a lifting track mounted on a wall and a carriage with a lift frame movable along the track. A dolly with wheels at opposing ends is arranged to support various cargo thereon including personal vehicles such as motorcycles or snowmobiles or other comparably sized objects. The lift frame of the carriage has lift forks arranged to be received a wheel track of the dolly which receives wheels of a personal vehicle thereon. Guide flanges alongside the lifting track are engaged by upper and lower guide followers to prevent binding of the lift frame along the lifting track. The dolly includes longitudinal rails mountable at different lateral distances to accommodate different vehicle wheel configurations.
US08875843B2 Robotic milk bar
A robot milk bar as a modular technology which can be either operated as a stand-alone system installed in a modified sea freight containers and/or can be partly or totally installed and operated in any convenient shopping mall and/or shopping centers. The robot milk bar contains a milk processing line wherein the basic original milk products are made, while the distribution is ensured by an embedded robot filling, packing and vending line, in which an industrial robot prepares and distributes final milk products. The milk products are either distributed directly to consumers in own retail store/restaurant, or redistributed to retail outlets. The robot milk bar is unique in having its own retail store/restaurant where consumers can buy and consume milk and milk products via a user-friendly automatic ordering system and served by a robot.
US08875840B2 Collapsible stool
A collapsible stool with foldable legs as well as a foldable seat is disclosed herein. The stool collapses to greatly reduce its size thereby enabling it to fit within many common carrying articles, such as purses. The legs and support members fold flat against the seat of the stool, which itself is in two pieces and folds in half.
US08875833B2 Utility vehicle
A utility vehicle 1 prevents a size increase of a transmission while ensuring a predetermined inter-shaft distance between an output shaft and a rear axle. The utility vehicle 1 is capable of switching a two wheel drive mode for transmitting drive force to rear wheels 3 and a four wheel drive mode for transmitting the drive force to front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3, a transmission 9 includes an input shaft 92 to which the drive force from an engine 8 is inputted, a front wheel drive output shaft 94 for transmitting the drive force of the input shaft 92 to the front wheels 2, and a rear axle 96 for transmitting the drive force of the input shaft 92 to the rear wheels 3. A rear wheel drive output shaft 95 is provided in a motive power transmission route between the front wheel drive output shaft 94 and the rear axle 96.
US08875832B2 Straddle-type vehicle
A straddle-type vehicle having an air cleaner disposed in front of a down tube that funnels running wind to a funneled wind target member like an engine that is disposed beneath the air cleaner. The air cleaner has an air cleaner cap that faces a front fender. Side end sections of the air cleaner cap protrude further toward the front of the motorcycle than a central section of the air cleaner cap.
US08875822B2 Apparatus and method for pumping air for exhaust oxidation in an internal combustion engine
An apparatus and method for producing air flow in a vehicle that uses a cooling fan for an engine of the vehicle. The cooling fan has plurality of blades, which define an outer perimeter of the fan. The apparatus also includes a housing surrounding at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the fan and a plurality of vanes between the housing and the fan. The vanes are revolved around the outer perimeter of the fan to direct air into the housing.
US08875820B2 Hybrid construction machine
A hybrid construction machine includes: an electric storage device temperature adjustment circuit; an engine cooling circuit including a first coolant and switchable between a state the first coolant after cooling the engine is introduced into the electric storage device temperature adjustment circuit and a state stopping introduction of the first coolant into the electric storage device temperature adjustment circuit; an equipment cooling circuit that cools, with a second coolant, equipment needing cooling, and switchable between a state the second coolant is introduced into the electric storage device temperature adjustment circuit and a state stopping introduction of the second coolant into the electric storage device temperature adjustment circuit; and a controller controlling the engine cooling circuit, the equipment cooling circuit, and a lead-out switching valve such that the first coolant or second coolant selectively flows, according to whether the electric storage device needs to be warmed or cooled.
US08875807B2 Optical power for self-propelled mineral mole
Exemplary methods, systems and components disclosed herein provide propagation of light signals from an external source to a borehole mining mole which includes an optical/electric transducer configured to provide propulsive power for the borehole mining mole and its associated mineral prospecting tools. Some embodiments include one or more umbilicals connected from a remote source location to an onboard reel incorporated with the borehole mining mole. The umbilicals are spooled outwardly or inwardly from the onboard reel during traverse of the borehole mining mole along a path in an earthen environment.
US08875806B2 Formation dip geo-steering method
A method of drilling a subterranean well from a surface location. The method comprises estimating a target formation depth, estimating a target formation dip angle and calculating a target line that creates a top and bottom of the target formation that forms a first projection window. The method further includes drilling within the first projection window, transmitting information from the subterranean well and projecting a target deviation window. The method may further comprise ceasing the drilling of the well and performing a well survey so that well survey information is generated. The method may then include estimating a formation dip angle with the well survey information and rig surface equipment monitoring data, calculating a target line that creates a revised top and bottom of the target formation that forms a second projection window, and drilling within the second projection window.
US08875803B2 Method for tightening bolt connection by elongation of bolt
The present invention relates to a method for tightening a bolt connection through elongation of the bolt where strokes of a power element, especially a hydraulic cylinder, are converted into a rotational movement of a tightening tool. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention is carried out in at least two steps. As a first step, the bolt is first tightened to a predetermined snug torque. As a second step, the bolt is then tightened up through a predetermined number of complete strokes of the power element of the power wrench. In this way, a torque method is combined with a rotational angle method that is controlled by the number of strokes.
US08875797B2 Method for flow control and autonomous valve or flow control device
A method for flow control and a self-adjusting valve or flow control device, in particular useful in a production pipe for producing oil and/or gas from a well in an oil and/or gas reservoir, which production pipe includes a lower drainage pipe preferably being divided into at least two sections each including one or more inflow control devices which communicates the geological production formation with the flow space of the drainage pipe. The fluid flows through an inlet and further through a flow path of the control device passing by a movable disc or movable device which is designed to move relative to the opening of the inlet and thereby reduce or increase the flow-through area by exploiting the Bernoulli effect and stagnation pressure created over the disc, whereby the control device, depending on the composition of the fluid and its properties, automatically adjusts the flow of the fluid based on a pre-estimated flow design.
US08875796B2 Well tool assemblies with quick connectors and shock mitigating capabilities
A method can include interconnecting a well tool in a well tool assembly with a shock mitigating connection, the interconnecting being performed without threading, and positioning the well tool assembly in a wellbore. A well perforating assembly can include at least two perforating devices, a detonation train extending through the perforating devices, and a shock absorber positioned between the perforating devices. A method of assembling a perforating assembly can include, prior to installing the perforating assembly in a wellbore, pushing one perforating device connector into another perforating device connector without threading the connectors together, thereby: a) preventing disconnection of the connectors and b) making a connection in a detonation train. A well system can include a perforating assembly including multiple perforating guns and multiple shock absorbers. Each shock absorber may be interconnected between at least two of the perforating guns.
US08875795B2 Subsea sensors display system and method
Method and subsea sensors display system configured to display data about a blowout preventer (BOP) stack. The subsea sensors display system includes a display panel having plural universal subsea displays, each universal subsea display being configured to display a value measured by a sensor attached to the BOP stack; and a J-box electrically connected to the display panel and configured to provide electrical power to the display panel and to receive data from the display panel. The electrical power is provided from a pod provided on the BOP stack or from a battery when the pod is not available or from a remote operated vehicle (ROV) when connected to the display panel.
US08875789B2 Process for producing hydrocarbon fluids combining in situ heating, a power plant and a gas plant
An in situ method of producing hydrocarbon fluids from an organic-rich rock formation may include heating an organic-rich rock formation, for example an oil shale formation, in situ to pyrolyze formation hydrocarbons, for example kerogen, to form a production fluid containing hydrocarbon fluids. The method may include separating the production fluid into at least a gas stream and a liquid stream, where the gas stream is a low BTU gas stream. The low BTU gas stream is then fed to a gas turbine where it is combusted and is used to generate electricity.
US08875784B2 Economical construction of well screens
A well screen for use in a subterranean well can include a loose filter media, a sandstone, a square weave mesh material, a foam, and/or a nonmetal mesh material. A method of installing a well screen in a subterranean well can include dispersing a material in a filter media of the well screen, after the well screen has been installed in the well, thereby permitting a fluid to flow through the filter media. A method of constructing a well screen can include positioning a loose filter media in an annular space between a base pipe and a shroud, so that the filter media filters fluid which flows through a wall of the base pipe.
US08875783B2 Expansion system for an expandable tubular assembly
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for expanding an expandable tubular assembly in a borehole. In one aspect, a system for expanding a tubular having an anchor portion in a borehole is provided. The system includes a running tool configured to position the tubular in the borehole. The running tool including a first expander configured to activate the anchor portion by expanding the tubular to a first diameter. The system further includes a second expander configured to expand the tubular to a second larger diameter, wherein the second expander is movable between a retracted position and an expanded position. In another aspect, a method of expanding a tubular having an anchor portion in a borehole is provided.
US08875779B2 Heat dissipation element with mounting structure
A heat dissipation element with mounting structure includes a main body and a plurality of mounting elements. The main body includes a first side and a second side, between which a chamber is defined; a plurality of supports located in the chamber and respectively connected at two opposite ends to the first side and the second side of the main body; a working fluid filled in the chamber; and at least one wick structure layer internally attached to the chamber. The mounting elements respectively define an axial bore and have an end extended through the first side of the main body into the supports to thereby connect to the main body. With these arrangements, the heat dissipation element with the mounting elements connected thereto can tightly contact with a heat-generating element and maintain the chamber in the main body in an airtight state without leakage.
US08875776B2 Method for manufacturing a metal ingot comprising a bore, and associated ingot and molding device
A method for producing a metal ingot using a mold which includes a mold cavity defined by an ingot mold, a core and a bottom arranged inside a vacuum-cast enclosure including a portion for introducing molten metal at the upper portion thereof. A portion for receiving and distributing molten metal, which is suitable for receiving the molten steel introduced into the vacuum-cast enclosure and for redistributing the molten metal in the mold cavity, is arranged at the upper portion of the mold cavity. The molten metal is introduced into the enclosure to form a first jet of molten steel under a vacuum, to pour the molten metal over the portion and to form at least one second jet of molten steel under a vacuum, which originates with the portion and terminates in the mold cavity to fill the mold cavity with molten metal.
US08875769B2 One-handed combination tape dispenser and applicator
An apparatus for an adhesive tape dispenser/applicator is disclosed. The adhesive tape dispenser/applicator includes an ergonomically shaped housing and tape applicator/cutter assembly that permits one-handed dispensing of pressure sensitive adhesive tape from a roll while simultaneously applying the tape to a substrate. The adhesive tape dispenser/applicator allows all operations to be performed single-handedly, and without the user ever having to directly touch the tape. In addition, there is no need to pre-measure or estimate the length of tape needed as the desired length of tape is dispensed as it is being applied to the substrate.
US08875759B2 Heavy duty tire
A heavy duty tire comprises a tread portion provided with four or five circumferential grooves so as to axially divide the tread portion into five or six rib portions. The five or six rib portions are a pair of shoulder rib portions each provided with shoulder lateral groove, and three or four crown rib portions each provided with crown lateral grooves. The crown lateral grooves extend across the entire width of the crown rib portion. The shoulder lateral grooves extend axially outwardly from an axially inner edge of the shoulder rib portion so as to terminate at an axial distance of from 78 to 88% of the axial width of the shoulder rib portion from the above-mentioned axially inner edge. The depth of the circumferential grooves is 15 to 20 mm. The depth of the crown lateral grooves is 9 to 30% of the depth of the circumferential grooves. The depth of the shoulder lateral grooves is 9 to 25% of the depth of the circumferential grooves. The tread width TW is in a range of 0.78 to 0.87 times the cross sectional width SW of the tire.
US08875753B2 Method and apparatus for making layered drinks
A layering device for producing a layered drink in a drinking container may include a hollow cup with an open top. A circumferential sealing rib may be formed on an exterior surface of a wall of the cup. An opening through the wall may be positioned axially between the rib and the open top of the cup. An outer diameter of the rib may engage with an interior surface of the drinking container.
US08875751B1 Storage and dispensing container
A storage and dispensing container includes: a housing having a bottom plate with a feed opening defined therein, and a generally cylindrical outer wall extending around an outer periphery of the bottom plate; a funnel disposed at a lower end of the housing, in flow communication with the feed opening; a drum having an outer wall defining an interior that is partitioned into at least two chambers which are open at upper and lower ends thereof, the wall including a cylindrical portion which is coupled to the outer wall of the housing, such that the drum is rotatable relative to the housing; and a removable cap which closes off the upper end of the drum.
US08875747B2 Gripper head for the insertion of weft threads on a gripper weaving machine
A gripper head for the insertion of weft threads on a gripper weaving machine as well as a gripper weaving machine with such a gripper head. The gripper head thread clamp for the weft thread is controlled in a contact-free manner and with high transfer reliability of the weft thread even in the machine center.
US08875730B2 Control apparatus of vacuum valve
A control device is provided with a switching valve mechanism and first and second actuators. The switching valve mechanism is provided with a valve element for switching which is located within a casing. The valve element can linearly move between an open position at which first and second pressure change chambers of the casing are communicated with each other and a closed position at which the communication is interrupted. The valve element is held at the open position and the closed position by a first holding mechanism (toggle spring). When a float ascends to a first water level, the first actuator moves the valve element from the closed position to the open position. When the degree of vacuum within a pressure detection chamber becomes a second degree of vacuum or less, the second actuator moves the valve element from the open position to the closed position.
US08875727B2 Rough-in adapter clip lock for a drain assembly
A drain assembly includes a drain head, which includes a flange and a cylindrical stem, with the flange extending outwardly from the cylindrical stem. The assembly also includes an adapter. The adapter is configured to engage the cylindrical stem of the drain head to adjustably support the drain head on the adapter and has a support flange, the support flange having a top surface. The assembly further includes a clip having a top end and a bottom end. The top end of the clip is connected to an underside of the flange of the drain head and the bottom end is configured to engage the top surface of the support flange of the adapter to permit downward adjustment of the drain head with respect to the adapter and prohibit upward adjustment of the drain head with respect to the adapter.
US08875726B2 Apparatus for rinsing chemical containers
An apparatus for rinsing inverted chemical containers includes two main assemblies, namely a gravity flow valve assembly and a rinse adapter assembly. The gravity flow assembly is inserted into the throat of the container. The rinse adapter assembly is detachably secured to the throat of the inverted container. When the rinse adapter assembly is attached to the throat of the container, the rinse tube of the rinse adapter assembly extends upwardly through the gravity flow valve assembly and into the interior of the container. Rinsing fluid, such as water, is supplied to the rinse tube which sprays the rinsing fluid onto the interior of the container to rinse the chemical residue from the interior of the container. The apparatus may also be used to dilute the liquid chemical in the container so that the diluted chemical will more freely drain from the container.
US08875725B2 Fluid connector with integrated excess flow valve
A connector for fluids has a pipe through which the fluid flows. The pipe has a diameter, an inlet end, an outlet end, an expanded area relative to the diameter. The connector also has an excess flow cartridge disposed in the pipe, the excess flow cartridge having a housing for receipt within the diameter, the excess flow cartridge minimizing flow in the pipe if flow exceeds a desired limit, and the excess flow cartridge having a radial opening in a side thereof in register with the expanded area such that flow through the opening flows through the cartridge.
US08875720B2 Apparatus and method for washing polycrystalline silicon
Disclosed is a polycrystalline silicon washing apparatus that sequentially immerses polycrystalline silicon into a plurality of acid baths each of which is filled with an acid to wash the polycrystalline silicon. The temperatures of the acids in the acid baths are set such that the temperature of the acid in a later acid bath of adjacent acid baths is equal to or lower than that of a former acid bath and the temperature of the acid in the last acid bath is lower than that of the acid in the first acid bath. Each of the acid baths is provided with a temperature adjusting unit that controls the temperature of the acid at a constant value.
US08875713B2 Anti-obstructive airway dental orthotic
An anti-obstructive airway dental orthotic is described. The orthotic includes a maxillary retainer and a mandibular retainer releasably attaching to a plurality of teeth of a wearer. The retainers are attached by at least one strut, either variable in length or of a plurality of lengths, which exert a forward force on the lower jaw, tending to advance the mandible relative to the maxilla. This advancement of the lower jaw promotes a less obstructed airway in the wearer, while fenestrations in the retainers may allow for greater comfort and tongue movement.
US08875702B2 Aerosol generator
A sonic aerosol generator is provided that provides a constant concentration of particulate aerosol over a long exposure time to an animal. The concentration of aerosols is maintainable for greater than 30 hours at concentrations of 15 mg/m3 or more. The aerosol generator is used to expose subject to high concentrations of aerosols that more accurately represents the levels that may be seen in a workplace environment.
US08875698B2 Gas mist inhaler
A gas mist inhaler includes a gas supply device for supplying a gas containing oxygen, carbon dioxide, or a mixed gas of oxygen and carbon dioxide, a gas mist generation device connected to the gas supply device for storing a liquid inside thereof and generating a gas mist prepared by pulverizing and dissolving the liquid stored in the gas mist generation device and the gas supplied from the gas supply device, and an inhalation member connected to the gas mist generation device and containing an inhalation port of inhaling the gas mist into a living organism.
US08875697B2 Drug delivery apparatus and method
A drug delivery apparatus includes a mouthpiece portion having an internal conduit for delivering an aerosol including the drug to the patient. The internal conduit has an inlet end and a mouthpiece end that is structured to be received in the patient's mouth. The mouthpiece portion is structured to operate at a substantially fixed inhalation flow rate when the patient inhales through the mouthpiece end. The apparatus further includes an aerosol generator for generating the aerosol from a drug supply and injecting the aerosol into a first region within the mouthpiece portion located between an outlet of the aerosol generator and the inlet end of the conduit. The mouthpiece portion also includes a flow accelerating mechanism that causes a localized flow rate at the first region to be greater than the inhalation flow rate. A method is also provided that increases the local flow rate within the mouthpiece portion.
US08875694B2 Converging-diverging combustion zones for furnace heat exchanges
A furnace unit that comprises a burner assembly having at least one burner located therein and a heat exchanger having at least one continuous combustion tube. One end of the combustion tube has a first opening that is coupled to the burner assembly. The combustion tube has at least three zones. A first surface of the first zone has a first non-straight angle with a second surface of the second zone. The second surface has a second non-straight angle with a third surface of the third zone. The first zone is nearest of the three zones to the burner assembly and the second zone is in-between the first zone and the third zone. The first, second and third zones are within a flame length configured to be emitted from the burner.
US08875691B1 Stove system with remote control and temperature indicators
A stove system featuring a stove component with a burner and an oven. The stove component has a stove microprocessor and a display. The stove microprocessor is adapted to calculate a temperature of the burner. The display has a temperature indicator which functions to display a relative temperature of the burner. When the burner is in a first temperature range the temperature indicator is illuminated in a first color, when the burner is in a second temperature range the temperature indicator is illuminated in a second color, when the burner is in a third temperature range the temperature indicator is illuminated in a third color, and when the burner is in a fourth temperature range the temperature indicator is illuminated in a fourth color.
US08875685B2 Combustion method and apparatus
A method of combusting a very low cetane number material comprises injecting said material into a combustion cylinder of a heterogeneous-charge compression-ignition engine and supplying to the cylinder inlet port supplying the chamber combustion air or working fluid at a temperature substantially above ambient for substantially the entire time that the engine is running. Other aspects of the invention provide a compression ignition engine for use in the method, and method of using the engine to combust fuels.
US08875682B2 Coupling device and fuel injection arrangement
A coupling device for hydraulically and mechanically coupling an injection valve to a fuel rail of a combustion engine has a fuel injector cup with a central longitudinal axis, is hydraulically coupled to the fuel rail and in engagement with the injection valve. A first retaining element is fixedly coupled to the fuel injector cup, a second retaining element is fixedly coupled to the injection valve, the second retaining element being coupled to the first retaining element to prevent a movement of the second retaining element relative to the first retaining element in a first direction of the central longitudinal axis to retain the injection valve in the fuel injector cup, and an interface element which is operable to axially couple the injection valve with the second retaining element in a fixed way. Fuel injection arrangement with a coupling device and an injection valve which is coupled to the coupling device.
US08875676B2 Roller tappet
A roller tappet (1) is proposed for a high-pressure fuel pump of an internal combustion engine, having a housing (2), in the case of the drive-side end (3) of which two surfaces (5) which lie diametrically opposite one another and are depressed by an outer shell (4) of the housing (2) are applied with in each case one receptacle (6), in which surfaces (5) a pin (8) is mounted which carries a cam roller (7), wherein an inner shell (9) of the housing (2), axially below the cam roller (7) as viewed in the direction remote from the drive, is penetrated by a bridge piece (10), the output-side end (11) of which has a rest (12) for a tappet following part, wherein the outer shell (4) of the housing (2) which is non-stepped as least as far as possible apart from the surfaces (5) is provided as a closed circumferential ring (14), as viewed in the drive direction immediately above upper sides (13) of the surfaces (5), which upper sides (13) run through the housing (2) in the manner of chords, which closed circumferential ring (14) is adjoined by the drive-side end (3), and wherein the receptacles (6) are present in the surfaces (5) as cut-outs which emanate from their upper sides (13) and nestle around the pin (8) in the manner of half-shells.
US08875674B2 Differential-stroke internal combustion engine
An apparatus and method for a differential stroke combustion engine. The combustion engine including one or more two-part pistons, each two-part piston having a first piston part and a second piston part. The apparatus comprising: piston-lever element mechanically coupled to the second piston part; a plurality of cam-followers assemblies selectively coupleable with the piston-lever element for controlling operation of the second piston part; and wherein selective engagement of one or more cam-followers assemblies defines an operational mode of the second piston part.
US08875673B2 Crankdisk bearing support for the waissi internal combustion engine
An improvement to the Waissi type opposed piston internal combustion engine is proposed. The engine has at least one pair of aligned and opposed cylinders with one reciprocating double-headed piston assembly in each cylinder pair. The reciprocating motion of the piston is transmitted to the driveshaft by a rotating crankdisk, which is off-centered mounted to the driveshaft. The high friction metal to metal contact between the crankdisk and the piston contact wall is replaced by a combination of a roll resistance and friction under hydrodynamic conditions resulting to a significantly reduced total resistance between the piston and the crankdisk. This is accomplished by utilizing a bearing ring assembly slidably installed on the annular perimeter surface of the crankdisk. The bearing ring is held in place by a linear U-profile groove, which is casted or machined on each the piston contact slot wall of the integrated piston assembly respectively.
US08875670B2 Engine with cylinder head cooling
A cylinder head for an engine is provided. The cylinder head may include an upper cooling jacket including at least a first inlet and a first outlet and a lower cooling jacket including at least a second inlet and a second outlet. The cylinder head may further include a first set of crossover coolant passages including one or more crossover coolant passages fluidly coupled to the upper cooling jacket and the lower cooling jacket and adjacent to one or more combustion chambers.
US08875663B2 Pet chew product containing natural animal fibers, methods of manufacture and use thereof
A pet chew product comprising a molded chewable body formed of a composition including edible resin and natural animal fibers, wherein the natural animal fibers are at least one of: (a) located within the chewable body, and (b) located on an exposed surface of the chewable body, and wherein the natural animal fibers are provided by natural animal hair.
US08875657B2 Balancing RF bridge assembly
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a PECVD apparatus. When the RF power source is coupled to the electrode at multiple locations, the current and voltage may be different at the multiple locations. In order to ensure that both the current and voltage are substantially identical at the multiple locations, an RF bridge assembly may be coupled between the multiple locations at a location just before connection to the electrode. The RF bridge assembly substantially equalizes the voltage distribution and current distribution between multiple locations. Therefore, a substantially identical current and voltage is applied to the electrode at the multiple locations.
US08875648B2 Method and apparatus for load-locked printing
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder.
US08875643B2 Ship, in particular freight ship, with a magnus rotor
The invention relates to a ship comprising a plurality of Magnus rotors. Each Magnus rotor is associated with an electric motor which can be controlled individually and which is used to rotate the Magnus rotor. Each electric motor is associated with a converter in order to control the rotational speed and/or the rotational direction of the electric motor. The ship also comprises a central control unit which is connected to the converters, to control the individual converters, in order to control the rotational speed and/or the rotational direction of the Magnus rotors, independently from the other Magnus rotors. The ship also comprises an electric motor as the main drive of the ship, a converter for controlling the electric motor is associated with the electric motor. Said control unit controls the Magnus rotor in a first operational mode in such a manner that a maximal drive force is reached.
US08875635B2 Ballast delivery and computation system and method
A method for delivering ballast to a section of railroad track includes measuring an existing ballast profile of a section of railroad track using a remote sensing system, and providing a signal indicative thereof to a first computer. Using the first computer, the existing ballast profile is compared with an ideal ballast profile to compute a track file representing a volume of additional ballast needed as a function of linear position along the section of railroad track, and data representing the track file is transmitted to a second computer of an automatic ballast dump train. Ballast is dumped along the section of railroad track according to the track file under control of the second computer.
US08875633B2 Adhesive lip for a high strength polymer-based cartridge casing and manufacturing method
A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing can include a first end having a mouth and a neck extending away from the mouth. Next, a shoulder extends below the neck and away from the first end. The cartridge can have a frangible portion capable of being split upon discharge of a projectile. A projectile can be disposed in the mouth and a relief can be disposed on the neck near the mouth and projectile. The relief can form a gap between the neck and the projectile to receive an adhesive.
US08875632B2 Method of manufacturing colored shot for shot shells
A method for providing permanently colored steel shot for shot shells through anodizing and shells manufactured utilizing the shot.
US08875627B2 Machine for the in-line transformation of single-use products, heat-printed with coloured waxes and paraffins
The invention describes a machine (10) for the in-line transformation of single-use products, comprising at least one unwinding group (12) for one or more reels (14) of web-shaped material (100), which constitutes the base support for said product, at least one printing group (18), arranged downstream of said unwinding group (12), capable of heat-printing decorative patterns, trademarks and/or inscriptions with a paraffin or natural wax-based ink (W) and/or mixtures thereof on the web-shaped material (100), and at least one folding and cutting group (20), arranged downstream of the printing group (18), wherein the printed web-shaped material (100) is folded and cut to form said products. The printing group (18) is provided with at least one melting or fluidifying group for feeding and heating the coloured waxes and paraffins (W), which need to be fluidified to be able to be applied onto the web-shaped material (100), and with one or more heating means (38; 58, 60, 62) capable of avoiding the cooling, and therefore the solidification, of the coloured waxes and paraffins (W) fed by the melting group before the waxes (W) themselves have been applied onto the web-shaped material (100).
US08875626B2 Machining oil applying apparatus
A machining oil applying apparatus that applies machining oil onto a thin metal plate that is being conveyed toward a press apparatus includes: an upper surface applying unit that is impregnated with machining oil, contacts an upper surface of the thin plate and applies the machining oil onto the upper surface; a lower surface applying unit that is impregnated with the machining oil, contacts an lower surface of the thin plate and applies the machining oil onto the lower surface; and an applying unit moving portion that causes the upper surface applying unit and the lower surface applying unit to move reciprocally in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the thin plate, wherein the upper surface applying unit and the lower surface applying unit always move in respectively opposite directions perpendicular to the conveying direction.
US08875623B2 Apparatus for producing a pasta filata cheese
An apparatus for producing a pasta filata cheese product, such as a Mozzarella-type cheese, in a continuous process without emulsifier or pH regulator additives requires preparing a typical pasta filata-type cheese curd and supplying the curd in cut pieces to one end of a processing chamber (14). The chamber (14) has an agitator (18) which rotates to work, knead, stretch and move the curd through the chamber. At the same time, steam is injected into the curd in the chamber through a plurality of injection nozzles (23) spaced along the length of the chamber (14) to heat and cook the cheese while it is simultaneously mechanically worked. The cooked product exiting from the chamber (14) is molded to a desired shape.
US08875618B2 Appliance for fine steam-frothing a milk-based liquid
An appliance for heating and frothing a milk-containing liquid. The appliance includes a steam supply arrangement having an outlet with an opening for delivering into the milk-containing liquid bubbles of steam. The outlet is associated with a valve for adjusting the bubble size of the steam bubbles delivered into the liquid from the steam outlet opening.
US08875616B2 Facility for introducing hop into a tank
A facility for introducing hop into a tank has a hop receiving tank that can be hermetically sealed and has an outflow and an inert gas supply at its bottom. The facility furthermore has a mixing apparatus that has two inlet pipes on its inflow side and an outlet pipe on the outflow side. This facility is adapted to a method for introducing hop into a tank, in which hop is put into a hop receiving container, air is expelled from the hop receiving container by inert gas and the hop with beer or “young beer” is supplied to the mixing apparatus.
US08875615B1 Two piston cylinder
A two piston cylinder providing asymmetrical expansion and retraction capabilities is disclosed having two linked expansion chambers and a single chamber for retraction. The retraction chamber is situated between the two expansion chambers, and the expansion chambers are linked together by a tube passing through the piston that provides hydraulic fluid to both the retraction chamber and one of the expansion chambers.
US08875614B2 Adjustable gas block for an indirect gas operated firearm
A firearm including a barrel, receiver, indirect gas system and an adjustable gas block. Four positions of adjustment are provided for on the adjustable gas block, each of which provides a different setting to regulate gas flow into the host firearm's operating system. A position of adjustment is selected based on how the firearm is being used. The provided positions of adjustment are calibrated for the standard use of the host firearm, use of a silencer, use of the firearm under hard or adverse conditions or when it is necessary to increase the firearm's rate of fire, and to block the flow of gas into the operating system. The provided gas block is designed to function with an indirect gas operating system, but could be adapted for use with a direct gas impingement system as well. Excess gas from the operating system is not vented from the gas block thereby eliminating the generation of additional muzzle flash and sound. No tool is required to manipulate the adjustment mechanism of the gas block.
US08875613B2 Removable inspection panel
A removable inspection panel for use with a projectile containment assembly in a shoot house or on a firing range where the firing of live ammunition is carried out is provided. The inspection panel is removably attached to a supporting structure between the supporting structure and a projectile containment assembly. The inspection panel is removable from the top of the supporting structure, for example, for periodic inspection of the condition of the inspection panel. Any detectable damage to the surface of the inspection panel facing the projectile containment assembly indicates immanent failure of the projectile containment assembly.
US08875608B2 Sheet slitting mechanism with automated size adjustment
This invention provides a slitter assembly with automated adjustment of slitter elements that allows for driven rotation of elements on the associated drive shaft during operation while enabling the elements to be moved freely along the drive shaft during setup and subsequently secured to the shaft free of lateral movement. This ensures that adjustment of the slitter elements is accurate, repeatable and reliable. In an illustrative embodiment, the slitter elements each comprise a pair of coaxial members including a blade member and a locking member. The blade member contains a slitter blade and overlies the locking member which is nested therewith. The locking member directly engages the drive shaft surface with a wedge assembly structure. The members are spring-loaded with respect to each other so that the two surfaces are normally biased to cam together and exert a hoop stress on the drive shaft.
US08875604B2 Machine tool
There is provided a machine tool which holds a large number of tools and capable of performing various kinds of works without replacing the tools, which is easy to operate and which allows faster and accurate operations with less number of movable parts. A front tool post (141) and a back spindle (120) are configured to be integrally movable in a Y-axis direction, and a plurality of front working tools (140) and a plurality of back working tools (130) are disposed on the front and back tool posts (141) and (131), respectively, in a plurality of tiers in the Y-axis direction.
US08875600B1 Spiral light bulb changing device
A spiral light bulb changing device includes an elongated member that has a handle connection portion and a bulb engagement portion. The bulb engagement portion has a pair of extension sections forming a slot adapted for receiving a spiral light bulb. Each of the extension sections has an upper surface. The upper surface of each of the extension sections has a plurality of wells therein. The wells are aligned with each other along a line traversing and orientated perpendicular to the slot. A pair of spacing prongs is provided. Each of the spacing prongs is removably positioned in one of the wells such that the slot is positioned between the spacing prongs. The spacing prongs each have a length such that the spacing prongs are adapted to abut a base of the light bulb when the slot receives the straight distal section of the spiral light bulb.
US08875599B2 Wire stripping apparatus
A wire stripping apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a clamping device for holding a first portion, a cutter having a plurality of first edges, the first edges being movable toward and away from one another in a first direction wherein the first edges provide a cut in the insulation of the wire at the second portion, and a remover having a plurality of second edges, the second edges being movable toward and away from one another in a second direction different from the first direction wherein the second edges move toward one another to grasp a third portion adjacent to the second portion of the wire away from the first portion of the wire. The remover is movable in the lengthwise direction of the wire wherein the remover moves in the lengthwise direction of the wire away from the first portion to remove the insulation from the wire.
US08875598B2 Unit type wave gear device
A unit type wave gear device (1) has a unit housing (2), one end of which is defined by a two-stage cross roller bearing (7). The two-stage cross roller bearing (7) has: an inner cross roller bearing formed by an inner ring (13), an intermediate ring (12), and inner rollers (17) inserted into an inner track (16); and has an outer cross roller bearing formed by an outer ring (11), the intermediate ring (12), and outer rollers (15) inserted into an outer track (14). A flexible externally-toothed gear (22) affixed to the intermediate ring (12) is rotatably supported by the unit housing (2) via the outer cross roller bearing. An input shaft (4) affixed to the inner ring (13) and a wave generator (23) affixed to the input shaft (4) are rotatably supported by the intermediate ring (12) via the inner cross roller bearing. A unit type wave gear device can be realized in which the number of components are reduced and a large moment load is applied.
US08875597B2 Steering wheel
A steering wheel has a rim with an armature substantially encapsulated by foam. The foam includes a major foam member and a separate minor foam member. The major foam member has a cross-sectional profile effective to cover a major cross-sectional extent of the armature and define a gap in the foam member adjacent the armature. The gap has a maximum cross-sectional width which is equal to or less than the cross-sectional width of the armature, and is substantially filled by said minor foam member.
US08875595B2 Operating mechanism for a parking brake
An operating mechanism for a parking brake. The operating mechanism includes a manual brake lever pivotably coupled to a bearing block by a tubular holder. The manual brake lever is fixed to the tubular holder. The mechanism also includes a locking device adapted to fix the manual brake lever in a predetermined pivoting position, an activation rod guided inside the manual brake lever and operatively connected to the locking device, and a transfer element connected to the tubular holder. The transfer element is adapted to transmit movement of the manual lever to the parking brake.
US08875580B2 Method and apparatus to detect wire pathologies near crimped connector
A method and apparatus for evaluating and/or quantifying damage to wire strands of a wire caused during installation of a crimped wire connector, involves launching an ultrasonic wave having known characteristics into a wire at a location that is either the crimp or is adjacent the crimped wire connector, and detecting changes in the characteristics (e.g., amplitude and/or phase shift) of the wave as it is propagates along a length of the wire.
US08875578B2 Electronic damper circuit for MEMS sensors and resonators
An apparatus includes a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device including a mass anchored to a substrate. The MEMS device is configured to generate an output signal indicative of motion of the mass with respect to the substrate. The MEMS device includes a feedback module configured to provide a control signal to the MEMS device. The control signal is based on the output signal. The MEMS device is configured to apply a damping force to the mass in response to the control signal.
US08875575B2 Yaw rate sensor
A yaw rate sensor includes: at least one Coriolis element; a drive device connected to the Coriolis element and configured to drive a vibration of the Coriolis element; a detection device having at least one rotor; and a coupling device connected to the detection device and to the Coriolis element. The coupling device is configured to couple a deflection in the plane of vibration of the Coriolis element to the detection device in a direction orthogonal to the vibration, so that when the Coriolis element is deflected a torque for driving the at least one rotor is transmitted from the Coriolis element to the at least one rotor.
US08875569B2 Level sensor and reservoir for housing liquid
A sensor for determining level of liquid in a reservoir, a reservoir containing such sensor, and a method for determining level using such sensor. The sensor comprises a liquid-proof housing, at least one actuator operatively connected to the inner side of the housing and configured to generate vibrations, and at least one vibration sensor operatively connected town inner side of the housing and configured to measure vibrations. The actuator comprises an electromagnet directly or indirectly fixedly connected to the inner side of the housing, and a permanent magnet movably suspended in the housing, wherein the electromagnet and the permanent magnet are configured such that activation of the actuator creates an oscillating mutual displacement in parallel with a longitudinal center axis of the electromagnet.
US08875564B2 Method and device for detecting contaminants in a fluid
A method and a device detects contaminants in a fluid (1). Fluid (2) with particles is conveyed by a first metering pump (3) to a device (4) for measuring the contamination or the particle density in the contaminated fluid (2). Before entering the device (4) for measuring the contamination, the fluid is mixed with cleaned fluid (5) in a defined mixing ratio. The particle density or the contamination of the mixed fluid (6) is measured. The particle density or the contamination of the contaminated fluid (2) is determined by an arithmetic unit (7).
US08875562B2 Filter and membrane defect detection system
The present invention is directed to a method of locating leaks in a substrate (30) having a first and a second surface wherein the substrate (30) is adapted for preventing the flow of a fluid, or components contained in the fluid, through the substrate (30) from the first surface to the second surface, and a system (10) useful in the method, wherein the method comprises: a) isolating the first surface from the second surface; b) creating a pressure differential between the first surface and the second surface wherein the pressure on the first surface is higher than the pressure on the second surface; c) contacting the second surface or the exit (32) of the device (11) containing the substrate (30) with a baffle (23), wherein the baffle (23) has a plurality of interconnected parts which form a pattern and the baffle (23) is of a sufficient size to cover the second surface of the substrate (30) or the fluid exit point (32) of the device the substrate (30) is disposed in and the parts of the baffle (23) create openings that particles (33) can pass through; d) exposing the surface of the baffle (23) to light from a source of diffuse light (24); e) contacting the first side of the substrate (30) with a carrying fluid containing particles (33) of a particle size that the substrate (30) is a designed to retain in the first surface of the substrate (30); f) monitoring the space above the surface of the baffles (23) for the light scattered by particles (33) that have passed through the substrate (30).
US08875555B2 Bossed disc-like member manufacturing method and bossed disc-like member manufacturing apparatus
A bossed disc-like member manufacturing method and apparatus with which it is possible to simply form a boss portion with a desired height. The method includes a level difference formation step that moves a second portion, which is positioned on the inner peripheral side of a first portion in a radial direction of a disc-like blank, relative to the first portion in a first direction which is the thickness direction of the blank, thus forming a level difference between the first portion and the second portion. A conical portion formation step moves the second portion relative to the first portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction, eliminating the level difference. In this manner, a conical portion is formed in the second direction on the inner side of the second portion; and a burring step performs a burring process on the conical portion, thus forming the boss portion.
US08875554B2 Hemming a flange with compression to form a sharp edge
A tool and method of hemming a panel wherein the tool engages a flange to apply a compressive force with a stop initially preventing a distal end of the flange from moving inwardly. The hemming tool bends the intermediate portion of the flange between the flange bend and the distal end toward the panel. The stop is withdrawn to allow the flange to be progressively formed toward the panel until the distal end is aligned with the intermediate portion.
US08875553B2 Method and mould arrangement for explosion forming
The invention is intended to improve a tool arrangement and method for explosive forming of a workpiece by means of gas explosion, in which the workpiece is arranged in a intake area of a molding tool, wherein the intake area is at least partially filled with liquid and the explosion is triggered by means of ignition of an explosive gas mixture, to the effect that the tool arrangement and the method are suitable and simplified for mass production. This object is solved by means of a tool arrangement and a method for explosive forming of a workpiece by means of gas explosion, in which the workpiece is arranged in a intake area of a molding tool, wherein the intake area is at least partially filled with liquid and the explosion is triggered by means of ignition of an explosive gas mixture, in which the explosive gas mixture is provided at least partially above the surface of the liquid before the ignition.
US08875552B2 Lock cylinder
The invention relates to a lock cylinder for a baggage lock having a cylinder housing, furthermore having a cylinder core which is rotatable in the cylinder housing and which has a keyway with a key introduction opening and having a plurality of tumblers which are arranged in two rows which are oppositely disposed along the key channel, with the lock cylinder being able to be actuated by means of an associated dimpled key which comprises, on two mutually oppositely disposed flat sides, a respective coding section provided with dimples and a respective end section adjoining said coding section and extending up to the tip of the key, with the associated key in particular being of the type TSA006 and with the tumbler of at least one of the rows furthest from the key introduction opening being arranged in a section of the key channel which receives the dimple-free end section of the associated key.
US08875548B2 Laundry treating appliance with cleaning system for residual treating chemistry
A method and apparatus for at least partially removing residual treating chemistry on an interface between a removable treating chemistry reservoir and a dispensing system of a laundry treating appliance.
US08875547B2 Washing machine, and ozone generator
Provided is an ozone generator (47) including two sheets of ozone generating electrodes (156, 157). These two ozone generating electrodes (156, 157) are arranged in a treating passage (152) in series along an air flowing direction. Thus, the air to come in from an air inlet port flows at first along the ozone generating electrode (156) of the first sheet, and receives, while flowing, the creeping discharge of the first ozone generating electrode (156) thereby to generate the ozone. The air thus having generated the ozone further flows in the treating passage (152) to the ozone generating electrode (157) of the second sheet, and receives, while flowing, the creeping discharge of the second ozone generating electrode (157) thereby to generate the additional ozone. The highly dense ozone can be used to clean the washing water.
US08875544B2 Burner apparatus, submerged combustion melters including the burner, and methods of use
Apparatus includes a first and second conduits configured to form an annulus between them. An adjustable structure includes a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a circumferential surface abutting a portion of the internal surface of the second conduit. The structure is adjustable axially in relation to and removably attached to the first conduit via a hub. The hub defines a central passage for fuel or oxidant. The body has one or more non-central through passages configured such that flow of an oxidant or fuel therethrough causes the fuel or oxidant to intersect flow of fuel or oxidant exiting from the central passage in a region above the upper surface of the body.
US08875526B1 Temperature and humidity air treatment system
A temperature and humidity air treatment system for air directed to an enclosed environment has a heat exchanger joined with a water vapor remover having a phase change material to cool air and condense water vapor in the air and subsequently heat the cool air by absorbing heat from humid warm air flowing through the heat exchanger.
US08875517B2 Diffuser for turbine engine including indented annular webs
A diffuser for a turbine engine that includes two annular webs extending inside one another and connected between them by substantially radial vanes, wherein the downstream peripheral edge of at least one of the webs includes indentions evenly distributed about the longitudinal axis of the diffuser.
US08875512B2 Distribution pipeline power plant
A distribution pipeline power plant, comprising: an input, configured to receive a fluid that has been heated using energy derived from a geothermal field; an expander, configured to extract energy from the fluid that has been heated using energy derived from a geothermal field; and an output configured to transfer at least some of the energy extracted from the fluid that has been heated using energy derived from a geothermal field to a circulator to drive a further fluid along a distribution pipeline.
US08875508B2 Electric booster
An object of the present invention is to provide an electric booster enabling an easy connection of an ECU and a stator. An ECU casing containing boards and (ECU) is attached to the outer surface of the casing body so as to be located near a stator of an electric motor. The opening of the casing body is closed by a rear cover. A flat-portion through-hole (through-hole) is formed through the casing body. Bus bars connecting the stator and the ECU are disposed through the flat-portion through-hole. The bus bars are disposed such that one ends thereof are coupled with the stator while the other ends thereof protrude from the flat-portion through-hole. When the electric booster is assembled, since the stator and the bus bars are disposed at the casing body having the flat-portion through-hole, it is possible to easily assemble the casing body and the rear cover with the bus bars inserted through the flat-portion through-hole.
US08875507B2 Pump displacement control mechanism
A control arm assembly connected with a hydraulic pump allows for the adjustment of pump displacement by turning a threaded adjustment rod clockwise or counter-clockwise to move a half nut connected with a control rod vertically up or down in a slot of an arm to the desired set point. The half nut has a partial thread that engages the thread of the adjustment rod to control the vertical movement. The design allows for the positive repeatable finite adjustment of the half nut with minimal backlash that reduces the difficulty of the setting process in labor and assembly time. Once the desired set point has been met the adjustment rod is clamped tight to the second arm by tightening the nut against the notch to lock up the assembly to prevent any movement.
US08875505B2 Internal combustion engine and method for controlling internal combustion engine speed
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention a method for controlling a speed of an internal combustion engine includes shutting off fuel flow into a cylinder to reduce the speed of the internal combustion engine. The method also includes providing an electrical load to an alternator of the internal combustion engine, further reducing the speed of the internal combustion engine.
US08875501B2 Power system for controlling phosphorus aging
A method of controlling a power system including an engine and an exhaust treatment system having an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The method includes determining a catalyst parameter indicative of a conversion efficiency of the exhaust treatment device. The method further includes determining a weighted index based on the catalyst parameter. The method further includes determining a plurality of first index values. In the method, each first index value of the plurality of first index values is predicted as a function of a corresponding respective aftertreatment control strategy. The method further includes selecting an aftertreatment control strategy based on a comparison between the weighted index and each first index value of the plurality of first index values. In the method, the selected aftertreatment control strategy changes the catalyst parameter. The method also includes operating the exhaust treatment system according to settings corresponding to the selected aftertreatment control strategy.
US08875500B2 Mounting foot for an after-treatment component
A mounting foot for mounting an after-treatment component to a frame is disclosed. The mounting foot may have a pad connectable to the frame. The mounting foot may also have a slider slidably connected to the pad. In addition, the mounting foot may have a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket may have a first end connectable to the after-treatment component and a second end connected to the slider.
US08875496B2 Regeneration control system for exhaust filter and method
A regeneration control system for an exhaust filter in an internal combustion engine system includes a first sensing mechanism for monitoring an exhaust flow resistance of the exhaust filter, and a second sensing mechanism for monitoring an attenuation of electromagnetic energy transmitted through the exhaust filter. The regeneration control system further includes an electronic controller coupled with the sensing mechanisms and configured to output a filter regeneration command responsive to an amount of particulate matter trapped within the exhaust filter. The electronic controller is further configured to weight data from the first and second sensing mechanisms in determining the amount of particulate matter. Weighting of the data may be responsive to an operating state of the internal combustion engine system. Related methodology is also disclosed.
US08875492B2 Exhaust pipe injection control device
An exhaust pipe injection control device for controlling an appropriate fuel injection amount regardless of engine rotation speed. The exhaust pipe injection control device includes: a target injection amount setting unit which sets, according to an engine rotation speed and an exhaust gas flow rate, a target injection amount that is injected in a single injection from an exhaust pipe injector; a base pulse width (“BPW”) map in which a fuel injection time of the exhaust pipe injector is set so that, with respect to the target injection amount and an exhaust pipe injection fuel pressure, fuel in the target injection amount is injected; and an exhaust pipe injection executing unit which performs injection from the exhaust pipe injector by referring to the BPW map based on the target injection amount and the exhaust pipe injection fuel pressure.
US08875483B2 Gas turbine generator set
A gas turbine generator set includes a compressor unit including at least one compressor, at least one generator and at least one combustion chamber. Exhaust gases from at least one turbine are recirculated for a further thermal utilization. At least one cooling fluid compressor is configured to compress a cooling fluid including at least one of fresh air and a portion of the recirculated exhaust gases for a cooling of thermally loaded parts.
US08875480B2 Method of pulling a film tube or hood down over a stack of objects
The invention relates to a method for drawing a tubular film (1) over a stack of goods (2), wherein the tubular film is first gathered on a gathering device (R/Ü). The gathered tubular film is then drawn over the stack of goods using a covering device, in that the covering device is moved along the stack of goods and the tubular film is thereby ungathered. After reaching an end region of the stack of goods, the covering device is moved along a segment of the stack of goods (Λ) opposite the covering direction, so that a first tubular film segment (15) is laid on the tubular film already contacting the stack of goods. The covering device is then moved along at least part of the segment of the stack of goods in the covering direction again, so that a second tubular film segment (16) is laid on the first tubular film segment.
US08875479B2 Polymeric coating applicators and methods of filling same
A method of filling CARC (chemical agent resistant coating) applicators ensures integrity of the CARC paint. The method incorporates the steps of the steps of pre-priming a container and applicator with a solvent to ensure evacuation of air; pre-reducing the chemical agent resistant coating with a reduction thinning agent to a final viscosity such that the final assembled applicator produces an atomization mist suitable to apply said coating; agitating the pre-reduced coating on a paint shaker; continuously purging a hermetically sealed chamber with nitrogen or another dry inert gas; preheating all items that will come in direct contact with said coating to eliminate any residual moisture within each item; assembling said dry preheated items and immediately transferring them into said chamber inserting steel sphere agitation units into a dried container, such that each container contains three small spheres and one large sphere; transferring the coating into said chamber prior to opening said container; filling said container; and purging the filled container with nitrogen or other inert gas then immediately sealing said container and removing it from said chamber.
US08875473B1 Gutter installation assembly
A gutter installation assembly for holding a gutter, a ferrule and a fastener proximate a roof edge includes a holder that may be positioned proximate the roof edge. A vertical portion of the holder may be gripped by a user. A U-shaped portion of the holder is coupled to the vertical portion of the holder. The U-shaped portion of the holder may position the ferrule and the fastener proximate the roof edge. A retainer is coupled to the U-shaped portion of the holder. The retainer may retain the fastener on the U-shaped portion of the holder. A horizontal portion of the holder is coupled to the vertical portion of the holder. The horizontal portion of the holder may support the gutter. The user drives the fastener into the roof edge so the fastener retains the gutter on the roof edge.
US08875471B2 Method and apparatus for lifting and leveling a concrete panel
A lifting apparatus to be embedded within a precast concrete panel or slab to enable the panel to be lifted, positioned atop a road bed, and elevated above the road bed. A lifting apparatus is located at each corner of the panel. Each lifting apparatus has a threaded sleeve extending through the panel to receive a removable threaded lifting bolt by which to establish a lifting point at which a lifting force is applied to lift and position the panel. When the threaded lifting bolt is rotated completely through the threaded sleeve, a pushing force is applied against a base plate, whereby to elevate the panel above the road bed as is necessary to make the panel level with adjacent panels during the construction or repair of a roadway. Grout is pumped through the panel to fill the space between the panel and the road bed.
US08875467B2 Adjustable bracket for the attachment of building cladding systems
A device for use in the fastening of a panel or cladding to a wall is disclosed. The device includes a base plate, a panel connecting plate, and a connecting assembly that connects the panel connecting plate to the base plate and that is constructed and arranged so as to provide minimal thermal bridging between the base plate and the panel connecting plate through an insulation layer that covers the base plate and the wall while simultaneously providing structural integrity for attaching the panel or cladding to the wall.
US08875466B1 Modular elevated walkway system
A modular elevated walkway system elevates a person and places them in close proximity to an engine compartment to enable the person to conduct maintenance on components of the engine. The system includes a plurality of platform units. Each of the platform units is coupled to an adjacently positioned one of the platform units. Each of the platform units includes a platform having a planar upper surface configured for supporting the weight of a person standing thereupon. A plurality of legs is coupled to and extends downwardly from the associated platform. The legs are configured to support the associated platform above a ground surface.
US08875465B2 Flooring panel or wall panel and use thereof
Flooring panel or wall panel and a use thereof in a wet room. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove and tongue forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. The groove and the tongue are preferably made of water tight material and formed with a snap-together joint.
US08875464B2 Building panels of solid wood
Building panels each comprise an upper first element of solid wood fixed to a lower second element of solid wood. The first and the lower second element are of different wood species. The building panels are provided with a mechanical locking system which comprises a locking strip at a first edge of a first building panel. The locking strip is provided with a locking element configured to cooperate with a locking groove at a second edge of a second building panel for horizontal locking of the first and the second building panels when a tension force is applied. The fiber direction of the first and the lower second elements is essentially along the first and the second edges. The lower second element has about the same or higher moisture shrinkage value than the first element. The locking strip comprises material of the lower second element.
US08875463B2 Siding system
A building product for attachment to a surface of a building includes a plurality of siding members, and a plurality of spacers, wherein the siding members and spacers are assembled to resemble a plurality of individual siding shingles.
US08875461B2 Foundation wall system
A foundation wall includes a frame having a front side and a back side. The frame further includes a plurality of vertical stud members having a first end and a second end, a top beam attached to the first end of the plurality of vertical stud members, and a bottom beam attached to the second end of the plurality of vertical stud members to define a plurality of cavities between adjoining vertical stud members. Rigid insulation is adapted for positioning in the plurality of cavities to become a load-bearing part of the frame. One or more structural sheets is affixed to the front side of the frame and to the back side of the frame. A waterproof bond is formed along an interface between edges of the one or more structural sheets and a periphery around the front side and the back side of the frame.
US08875443B2 Flexible seal for recreational vehicles
A seal assembly located at the intersection of an extension room and wall of a recreation vehicle, the seal assembly having a flap seal, a bulb snap-in member attached to the flap seal, and a bulb seal member attachable to the bulb snap-in member in a snap-fit manner The flap seal may be made removable from the bulb snap-in member. Two flap seals may be used to attach to either side of the recreation vehicle wall. The two flap seals may be connectable with each other and adjustable via a longitudinal mating shaft on one flap seal and a longitudinal mating shaft receiving member on the second flap seal. The seal assembly may be manufactured by a multi-extrusion process so that various components can be made of different materials, such as different types of plastic.
US08875441B2 Adaptive ultrasound detecting system for a door assembly
Embodiments of an adaptive ultrasound detecting system for a door assembly include an ultrasound transducer assembly mounted to the door assembly and a controller coupled to the ultrasound transducer assembly. The ultrasound transducer assembly is adapted to emit ultrasound detecting beams within the door path, and to trigger a detecting signal indicative of a body located within the door path when the body intersects at least one of the ultrasound detecting beams. The controller is adapted to receive information indicative of a position of the door along the path, and to vary emitting at least one detecting beam in accordance to the position of the door relative to the ultrasound detecting beams.
US08875431B2 Artwork preservation system
The present invention relates to artwork preservation, and more particularly to an artwork preservation system that utilizes vacuum and is particularly suited to framed artwork. The artwork preservation system includes: a pair of corrugated planar members constructed and arranged to overlap a front side and back side of an artwork; at least one securing element, such as hook and loop fastener, for mating the first and second corrugated boards when the artwork is placed there between; a layer of air cushioning; and a sealable bag. The system may further include a vacuum pump for removing air from the sealable bag.
US08875426B2 Signage system
A signage system (10) including one or more visual display devices (11), each mounted for display behind the windshield (15) of one or more parked and ignition-off vehicles (16). Each sign (11) has a visual display surface (12) that is capable of forming an illuminated graphic display (13) on the visual display surface (12). The visual display surface (12) would be visible to observers in front of the vehicle (16). The system (10) includes wireless communication hardware (60) that allows the visual display (11) to be programmed by a remote programming device (41). Each of the display devices (11) can be programmed to have a separate message and each message would scroll from left to right across the display surface (12) in a time coordinated manner so that the message appears to scroll consistently from left to right across the visual field of the plurality of display surfaces (12).
US08875423B2 Implement tooth assembly with tip and adapter
A ground engaging tip of a tooth assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement, is provided, wherein the tooth assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to a base edge of the ground engaging implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The adapter nose and an adapter cavity of the tip may be configured with surfaces to increase retention when downward forces are applied to the tip.
US08875412B1 Grain drying apparatus
A dryer burner apparatus includes a gas supply line that is fluidly coupled to a gas supply. A burner tube is fluidly coupled the gas supply line and has a top side and a bottom side. The burner tube has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and the apertures are positioned in the bottom side. An air mixer is positioned below the burner tube. The air mixer has a plurality of air openings extending therethrough. A blower directs air upwardly to the burner tube so that the air can be heated by the burner tube.
US08875405B2 Micro surgical knife with safety feature
A surgical knife safety handle device comprises a handle body being essentially solid. A movable guard engages with the body for longitudinal movement between an extended position and a retracted position. The guard encloses a knife blade. The operation is an intuitive push/pull to extend or retract guard. The guard is formed of a clear material with a low profile that does not interfere with vision in use. The guard includes a leaf spring. The spring has a hemispherical protrusion on its underside that engages with a slot on the handle for positive engagement and an audible “click” when it seats.
US08875399B2 Dental implant with interlocking and centering threads
A dental implant device for insertion into a bore defined in bone for use with a prosthetic tooth or dental appliance includes an abutment with a plurality of male keys disposed about the distal end of the abutment capable of being affixed to the prosthetic tooth or dental appliance, an implantable anchor having a proximal and distal end, a plurality of female keyways defined into the proximal end of the anchor, the keyways capable of coupling to the male keys of the abutment and thereby preventing relative rotation of the abutment and anchor; an interlocking thread helically defined around a longitudinal axis of the anchor, the thread being adapted to couple to the bore defined in the bone and means for coupling the abutment to the implant anchor.
US08875393B2 Cooling channel formed in a wall
A method for forming at least one cooling channel in a wall which is cooled by cool air flowing in the channel is provided. The channel includes a hole and a diffusion portion, the hole opening out at one end into the inside surface of the wall, and at its other end into the diffusion portion where it forms an orifice. The diffusion portion flares around the orifice and opens out into the outside surface of the wall. The diffusion portion has a bottom whose front end is substantially plane, sloping, and extending in front of the orifice, and also has a margin extending behind, round the sides, and in front of the orifice, the margin joining the sides of the front end.
US08875391B2 Methods for making leads with radially-aligned segmented electrodes for electrical stimulation systems
A method of making a stimulation lead includes attaching multiple segmented electrodes to a carrier. Each of the segmented electrodes has a curved form extending over an arc in the range of 10 to 345 degrees. The method further includes attaching conductors to the segmented electrodes; forming the carrier into a cylinder with segmented electrodes disposed within the cylinder; molding a lead body around the segmented electrodes disposed on the carrier; and removing at least a portion of the carrier to separate the segmented electrodes.
US08875388B1 Apparatus and method for placement of angle plates in transverse duct flanges
An apparatus and method are described for inserting angle plates in transverse duct flanges. The apparatus is especially useful in inserting angle plates into transverse duct flanges of duct fittings. Packages for holding angle plates are also described.
US08875386B1 Transport comb for head stack assembly
An HSA transport comb includes an alignment pin extending from the comb body into a tooling hole of the actuator arm, and a separator finger in contact with a suspension assembly of an HGA with the transport comb in a second angular orientation with respect to the actuator arm, but not in a first angular orientation. The transport comb includes a restraining tower extending into a mass-reduction opening of the actuator arm. The restraining tower includes a first lobe that fits within the mass-reduction opening with the transport comb in the first angular orientation, but not with the transport comb in the second angular orientation. The restraining tower also includes a first neck that fits within the mass-reduction opening with the transport comb in either angular orientation, and has a neck height that is greater than the actuator arm thickness.
US08875382B2 Method of assembling superconductor bearing
A method for assembling a superconducting bearing, wherein the superconducting bearing has a first bearing ring including a first body made of a type-2 superconducting material and a second bearing ring including a second body made of a type-2 superconducting material, the method including the following steps: assembling the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring; and, applying an external magnetic field, which permeates both bodies to the first body and to the second body.
US08875379B2 Method of manufacturing a fluid flow measuring device
Methods of manufacturing a fluid flow measuring device are provided. In an embodiment of the present invention, shields are disposed to prevent or reduce circulating electrical currents from causing a voltage difference that would adversely affect the measured voltage difference between two adjacent electrodes. Groups of sensors, e.g., two or more, may be placed within the shield. The shields may have any cross-section shape. A magnetic field source is disposed proximate the electrodes such that the magnetic field source is oriented to generate a magnetic field substantially orthogonal to an imaginary line intersecting each pair of electrodes. A voltage measuring circuit is electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes and configured to measure a voltage difference between each pair of electrodes.
US08875375B2 Fire engine hose connector
A method for using a fire engine hose connector system is reported. The system allows for rapid connection between the fire hose and the fire engine, and more importantly the system enables even more rapid disconnection. The fire engine and fire fighting personnel may make a rapid escape form an overtaking wildfire. The ability to rapidly disconnect and escape from the fire scene allows the fire engine and personnel to access hydrant supplies that would otherwise not be available due to safety procedures that preclude connection when the long disconnect time requirements of prior art connectors place the escape of the fire engine and personnel at risk in a rapidly moving fire.
US08875364B2 Insulated pipe coupling
A pipe coupling apparatus for coupling together first and second opposing pipe flanges includes a number of gripping elements which are connected to the second pipe flange and are engageable with the first pipe flange. A locking element is displaceably arranged on the second pipe flange to lock the gripping elements to the first pipe flange when the pipe flanges are coupled together, and an insulating element extends around the second pipe flange and is connected to the locking element. The apparatus includes an actuating tool for displacing the first insulating element and thus the locking element.
US08875359B2 Rotary drum of fiber-stacking device
A rotary drum for a fiber-stacking device includes a drum body, pattern plates each having a single fiber-stacking depression, and holding mechanisms each detachably holding a corresponding pattern plate on the outer circumferential surface of the drum body. Each holding mechanism has a fixed hook and a moveable hook. The fixed hook is immovably attached to one side of the drum body and forms a first groove with the drum body. The movable hook is attached to the other side of the drum body to be moveable between a holding position and a release position, forms a second groove with the drum body at the holding position, and opens the second groove at the release position. When the movable hook is at the holding position, the two side parts of the pattern plate are accommodated inside the first and second grooves.
US08875357B2 Clip
A clip and a method for using the clip is shown and described herein. The clip may include a base, a pair of flaps, a pair of arms and at least one wing. The pair of flaps may be mutually confronting and extend outwardly from the base, wherein each flap includes a tab. The pair of arms may be mutually confronting and extend outwardly from the base, wherein each arm includes a tab. The method may utilize a clip to secure a first component to a second component. The method may include rotating the clip or the first component in a first direction thereby securing each other together. The second component may be placed onto the clip. The first component and clip may be serviceable by rotating the first component in a second direction opposite that of the first to remove the first component from the clip.
US08875353B2 Detangling device, method of making and using the same
Described herein are axially and radially swivelable detangling connector devices that are suitable for preventing entanglement, or detangling, of a device or means that is used to secure one or more mobile objects or subjects to one or more objects or subjects. Methods of making and using the disclosed devices are also provided herein.
US08875352B2 Braking structure for handle body
A braking structure for a turning body includes an engagement device rotatably engaging a movable-side portion of a rotation damper with a base at a rotation center of the movable-side portion; a first fixing device fixing the movable-side portion relative to the turning body; and a second fixing device fixing a stationary-side portion of the rotation damper relative to the base. The engagement device includes an axis protrusion provided on one side of either the movable-side portion or the base, and a receiving portion provided on the other side of either the movable-side portion or the base, and receiving the axis protrusion from a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotation. Also, an inserting path for the axis protrusion continuing to the receiving portion is adapted to expand in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis by an elastic deformation when the inserting path receives the axis protrusion.
US08875342B2 Bleed air valve of a surface cleaning apparatus
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. The surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a cyclone comprising a cyclone air outlet and positioned in the air flow passage downstream of the dirty air inlet. A suction motor is provided in the air flow passage downstream of the cyclone. A pre-motor filter is upstream of the suction motor and downstream of the cyclone. The pre-motor filter has an upstream side and a downstream side. The surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a bleed valve having an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet is positioned between the suction motor and the downstream side of the pre-motor filter and facing the downstream side of the pre-motor filter.
US08875339B2 Dustpan
A dustpan (10) comprises a body (12), a blade (20), and a rear support (22). The body (12) receives materials that are removed from a surface (24). The blade (20) and the rear support (22) are coupled to the body (12). The blade (20) includes a first end (20F), a second end (20S), a first contact point (25A) near the first end (20F), and a second contact point (25B) near the second end (20S). The rear support (22) includes a third contact point (25C) and a fourth contact point (25D). Each of the contact points (25A), (25B), (25C), (25D) contact the surface (24) when the dustpan (10) is in a resting position. Downward pressure on the dustpan (10) establishes firm and continuous contact between the blade (20) and the surface (24) along the length of the blade (20) from the first contact point (25A) to the second contact point (25B).
US08875337B2 Long-handled device for personal hygiene and daily living
A long-handled personal holder device for personal cleaning, hygiene, and daily living, and is made of resilient material with extendable finger-like grips. The grips are configured to surely grip a tool, but also to release (e.g., so that a user does not have to soil their hands). The curved handle allows proper reach, and is designed for easy break-down, rinsing and cleaning, and for placement in a compact carry bag. The grips can grip a larger personal hygiene flushable wipe, a smaller flushable pad, a sponge for shower use, and/or a an ointment pad; and are also able to hold more rigidly-handled personal tools, such as a toothbrush, shaver, makeup applicator, pencil, pen, brush, and similar items.
US08875333B2 Washing machine performing shower rinsing and method of controlling the same
A method of controlling a washing machine to perform shower rinsing, including repeatedly performing a process to store water supplied to a washing tub in the washing tub and discharge the water from the washing tub while rotating the washing tub during the shower rinsing is described. In a state in which laundry clings to the washing tub by a spin-drying operation, it may be possible to rinse the laundry clinging to the upper part of the washing tub using water supplied to the washing tub rotating at the predetermined velocity, to rinse the laundry clinging to the lower part of the washing tub using the water stored in the washing tub according to the off operation of a drainage unit, and to periodically replace water necessary to rinse the laundry by discharging the used water from the washing tub according to the periodic operation of the drainage unit.
US08875326B1 Fitted sheet
A sheet that includes an upper portion, a lower portion, four side portions and at least one strap is disclosed. The four side portions correspond to a first pair of sides and a second pair of sides. The first pair of sides corresponds to a top side and a bottom side opposite of each other. The second pair of sides corresponds to a left side and a right side opposite of each other. The upper portion is opposite the lower portion. The lower portion has an opening. At least one strap is attached to a point in the lower portion and an opposite point in the lower portion and extends across the opening in lower portion. At least one strap has a single indicator. The indicator indicates the position and/or size of the sheet.
US08875320B2 Pressure (snap-in) flange for installing toilets
A pressure flange is provided for installing toilets. The pressure flange includes a sealing ring disposed so as to make direct contact with a bottom of a toilet base. A rigid main column is configured to connect the toilet to a sewer line in a bathroom facility, with the column having an upper tube section with a larger inner diameter section above a vertical tube section having a smaller inner diameter. The column has an oval shaped collar at a top of the upper tube section, with the collar having oppositely extending ears. A flex-line type pressure gasket is disposed around at least the vertical tube section of the column. The pressure gasket is an accordion or corrugated-type of gasket that enables the pressure flange to be fitted into the sewer line by applying downward pressure, wherein the pressure flange can be installed without the use of tools by pushing the pressure flange down into the sewer line in the bathroom and tightening and connecting the pressure flange with anchor bolts and wing nuts to a toilet base.
US08875319B2 Protective element for use in sport
A user wearable article of protective equipment for protecting a portion of a body of the user. The article of protective equipment generally conforms to the portion of the body of the user to be protected when worn by the user. The article of protective equipment includes: (i) an energy absorbent core, the core having a body-facing side and an opposing non-body-facing side, the core comprising a polymeric foam; and (ii) an outer shell generally covering the non-body-facing side of the core, the outer shell being deformable during the use of the article of protective equipment by the user.
US08875316B2 Method of producing a collapsible hat
Methods of forming collapsible hats are provided. One method includes forming a front portion of the collapsible hat, and forming at least one band portion of the collapsible hat extending from the front portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of top portions of the collapsible hat extending from the at least one band portion. The plurality of top portions are formed to be coupled at a single point in a use configuration of the collapsible hat to form a top portion of the collapsible hat. The single point at which the plurality of top portions are configured to be coupled is proximate to a center of the top portion of the collapsible hat.
US08881298B2 System for preventing unauthorized acquisition of information and method thereof
A server apparatus includes: an output detector for detecting output-processing which is processing of outputting data from the application program into a shared area; and an output control section for storing instruction information in the shared area, instead of storing the output data outputted from the application program therein, in response to the detection of the output-processing, the instruction information specifying an acquisition method by which an authorized client apparatus acquires the output data. The client apparatus includes: a reading detection section for detecting reading-processing which is processing of reading data from the shared area; and a reading control section which reads the instruction information from the shared area in response to the detection of the reading-processing, and which acquires the output data by the acquisition method specified by the instruction information.
US08881296B2 Marking and obscuring sensitive values in traces
In one embodiment, a method for processing trace data is provided. The method generates trace data during execution of the target application and obtains criteria for identifying whether a value in the trace data is sensitive. An initial occurrence of a sensitive value in the trace data is identified based on the obtained criteria. The method then stores the sensitive value in a data structure accessible by an obscuring process. The obscuring process receives the trace data and obscures occurrences of the sensitive value in the trace data prior to providing the trace data for display.
US08881287B1 Systems and methods for library function identification in automatic malware signature generation
A computer-implemented method for facilitating automatic malware signature generation may comprise disassembling a malware program, identifying one or more byte sequences within the disassembled malware program that have a likelihood of being representative of one or more library functions contained within the malware program, and preventing the one or more byte sequences from being included within one or more malware signatures. Corresponding systems and computer-readable storage media are also disclosed.
US08881283B2 System and method of malware sample collection on mobile networks
A collection agent monitors a mobile network for data samples containing executable code. The collection agent accepts executables and forwards them to a sample collection center for further analysis, reporting, or in some instances initiating one or more mitigating actions. Depending on the network protocol being monitored, the collection agent responds to connection attempts from nearby mobile devices.
US08881276B2 Dynamically generated whitelist for high throughput intrusion prevention system (IPS) functionality
In one embodiment, detecting network data, retrieving a whitelist associated with the detected network data, and selectively applying an intrusion prevention policy based on the retrieved whitelist are provided.
US08881262B2 Image processing apparatus and user authentication method for image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a first authentication unit configured to authenticate a user, a second authentication unit configured to authenticate the user, an operation unit configured to receive an operation from the user, a logout unit configured to set the user in a logout state in which the user is unauthenticated, if a predetermined time has passed without the operation unit receiving any operation from the user while the user is authenticated by the first authentication unit or the second authentication unit, and a change unit configured to change the predetermined time to a second time shorter than a first time, if the user is unauthenticated by the second authentication unit while the user is authenticated by the first authentication unit and the second authentication unit.
US08881258B2 System, method, and computer program for preventing infections from spreading in a network environment using dynamic application of a firewall policy
A method for containing a threat in network environment using dynamic firewall policies is provided. In one example embodiment, the method can include detecting a threat originating from a first node having a source address in a network, applying a local firewall policy to block connections with the source address, and broadcasting an alert to a second node in the network. In more particular embodiments, an alert may be sent to a network administrator identifying the source address and providing remedial information. In yet other particular embodiments, the method may also include applying a remote firewall policy to the first node blocking outgoing connections from the first node.
US08881252B2 System and method for physical access control
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a system and method for managing authentication tokens that operate across multiple types of physical resources binding the tokens to one or more external electronic Identity Providers; generating tokens; authenticating the tokens at multiple physical resources; managing access to physical resources by linking the tokens to the electronic identities; translating the tokens to the appropriate physical token type based on infrastructure services available at the point of service; validating tokens at the physical resource; tracking and conveying usage information; and making use of social group relationships and other data defined by individual usage to, among other things, simplify the process of granting user-generated credentials to persons connected to a given individual via the Identity Provider or an external social network, for example.
US08881251B1 Electronic authentication using pictures and images
A method and system for user authentication uses photos, pictures, images, pictures of words, logos, graphics, icons, or pictures of colors (graphical elements) as password elements (graphical password) to gain access to a secure platform, section of a platform, specific content, website, computer, mobile device or other electronic device (secure content). The Method and system provide the creation, use in authentication and maintenance of the graphical password. Graphical password creation is initiated through user selection and platform storage of a subset of one or more platform provided or user provided graphical elements (secret graphical elements). The graphical elements are photos, pictures or images that are memorable to the user and are from within one or more relevant categories, e.g. colors, playing cards, animals. A graphical user interface (GUI) having virtual dials, wheels, reels or keypads to display images is used to implement the login/authentication process.
US08881246B2 System and method for providing secured integrated engineering analysis
A method, computer-readable medium, and semiconductor device for securing integrated engineering analysis are provided. A die ID is generated from a lot ID, wafer ID, die coordinates, or other product information. The die ID is encrypted with a key and written to the die. The encryption key and encrypted die ID may be stored in a secure storage. A die is fabricated with an encryption module and an unencrypted die ID. The encryption module is provided with an unencrypted die ID, encrypts the unencrypted die ID, and writes the encrypted die ID to a die fuse.
US08881235B2 Service-based authentication to a network
A method and a system for service-based authentication of a terminal to a network is described, wherein the terminal comprises a number of communications interfaces, each communications interface allowing the terminal to set-up a predetermined communication channel with the network. The method comprises the steps of: sending a service request for access to a network service; receiving in response to the service request an authentication request from the network; identifying the communication channel through which the authentication request was received; and, sending an authentication response RES to the network, wherein the authentication response depends on the identified communication channel.
US08881233B2 Resource management via periodic distributed time
Systems and methods for providing resource management in a distributed network are disclosed. A loose collection of devices in a network may not be aware of the power restrictions for other devices. Wall powered devices will generally have drastically different power settings than battery powered mobile devices. The invention provides a federation policy for time that can be used to slave to a local service responsible for understanding the local resource requirements of each device (or node) on the network. In such a distributed time system, all services in a particular time domain may be sped up, slowed down, or completely halted.
US08881232B2 Visualization of access permission status
Queries regarding access permissions of users and rights to directories in a complex enterprise are executed in near real-time, using lookups to tables that form a condensed database maintained for each file server. User information is condensed by arranging users in user groups having common data access rights. Directory permissions storage is condensed by showing only distinctive permissions to a directory in a table entry, and referencing inherited permissions of parent directories. The tables indicate recursive and ancestral relationships among the user groups and directories. They are developed and updated in advance of any queries. A consolidated view of the query results is presented on a single display screen. Using the tables results can be obtained without exhaustive searches of large file system tables.
US08881230B2 Secure social web orchestration via a security model
A method includes receiving, by a first computer, input from a first user. The method further includes creating, by the first computer, a hierarchical class tree implementing security profiles based on the input from the user. The hierarchical class tree identifies data, actions, and behaviors pertaining to content, and the security profiles restrict access and use of that user's content. The method also includes transmitting, by the first computer, a portion of the hierarchical class tree to a second computer. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.
US08881227B2 Secure web container for a secure online user environment
Disclosed herein are systems and methods that allow for secure access to websites and web-based applications and other resources available through the browser. Also described are systems and methods for invocation of a secure web container which may display data representative of a requesting party's application at a user's machine. The secure web container is invoked upon receipt of an API call from the requesting party. Thus, described in the present specification are systems and methods for constructing and destroying private, secure, browsing environments (a secure disposable web container), insulating the user and requesting parties from the threats associated with being online for the purposes of providing secure, policy-based interaction with a requesting party's online services.
US08881223B2 Enterprise security assessment sharing for off-premise users using globally distributed infrastructure
Secure content management is enabled as a cloud-based service through which security protection and policy enforcement may be implemented for both on-premise network users and off-premise or roaming users. The global SCM service integrates the security functionalities—such as anti-virus, spyware, and phishing protection, firewall, intrusion detection, centralized management, and the like—that are typically provided by enterprise network SCM appliance hardware or servers into a cloud-based service that users reach via Internet-based points-of-presence (“POPs”). The POPs are configured with forward proxy servers, and in some implementations, caching and network acceleration components, and coupled to hubs which provide configuration management and identity management services such as active directory services.
US08881222B2 Multimedia interactive simulator
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device, including a centralized controller to: distribute multimedia content to permit a television (TV) emulator client at one or more retail store locations to simulate a plurality of features of a television system interactively by using a media controller; and periodically update the multimedia content distributed to the TV emulator client. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08881221B1 Method and an apparatus for processing a broadcast signal including an interactive broadcast service
A method of processing a broadcast signal including an interactive broadcast service at a transmitter is disclosed. The method comprises generating an parameter table containing metadata about applications and interactive broadcast events targeted to the applications, dividing the parameter table into a plurality of parameter blocks, inserting each of the parameter blocks into each of a plurality of parameter table sections, generating a trigger which is a signaling element to identify signaling and establish timing of playout of the interactive broadcast events, inserting the trigger into a closed caption channel of the broadcast signal, transmitting the broadcast signal including the closed caption channel and a specific channel carrying the plurality of parameter table sections, wherein the trigger includes location information specifying a location of the parameter table in the broadcast signal.
US08881213B2 Alignment of video frames
In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with determination of frame alignment. In embodiments, a similarity value matrix may be determined representing similarity values for pairs of frames from two pieces of video content. An alignment score matrix may be determined from the similarity scores. Multiple sets of frames may be selected from the two pieces of video content and alignment score matrices determined for each set. From these alignment score matrices, an alignment of frames may be determined. In embodiments, a Needleman-Wunsch process may be used to compute alignment scores as well as to compute alignments based on alignment score matrices. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08881209B2 Feedback loop content recommendation
Techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate the performance of feedback-based weighted content recommendation. According to various embodiments, input data for performing media content recommendation analysis may be identified. The input data may describe the presentation of a plurality of media content items in association with a plurality of content management accounts. The input data may comprise a plurality of data points. Each of the data points may identify respective feedback data for a respective one of the media content items previously recommended for presentation in association with a respective one of the content management accounts. The feedback data may identify a viewer reaction to the recommended media content item. For each or selected ones of the data points, a respective weighting factor based on the feedback data for the respective media content item presented in association with the respective content management account may be applied.
US08881204B2 Method for providing access to media content through a server
A system for providing devices such as WCDs, televisions, stereos, video game systems, etc. access to media content through an entity such as a web server. In accordance with at least one embodiment, UPnP or DLNA compliant devices may utilize a user's home network to access a user's media library from on an online media service. The media service may provide a user interface to the device to enable the user to access his media library. The media may be stored on a networked storage device connected to the media service, on the user's network devices, on the user's WCD, etc. The media service may automatically query the user's WCD to determine the presence of other persons in his proximity, and determine their preferences. A customized media stream that is suitable for the whole group may be generated based at least in part on the combined preferences of the group.
US08881203B2 Digital multimedia recorder with functionality following loss of provider network service
A network addressable appliance with digital multimedia recording capabilities has limited access including playback of stored multimedia content upon faulty connection with a service provider network. Upon a connectivity event, the network addressable appliance compares a retrieved hardware address for a connected residential gateway to a stored hardware address for an assigned residential gateway. If the two hardware addresses correspond, the network addressable appliance provides playback to stored multimedia content. The system helps prevent violations of digital rights management rules by restricting access to stored multimedia content while the network addressable appliance is connected to an unauthorized residential gateway. The system provides a user with limited access (i.e. playback) to multimedia content during service provider network outages.
US08881198B2 Method for simultaneously providing DVB-H and streaming services in a portable terminal
A method for providing Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) and streaming services in a portable terminal includes receiving Electronic Service Guide (ESG) data of DVB-H and displaying a DVB-H channel, confirming whether a field associated with a streaming channel is present in a reserved field of the received ESG data, and if the associated field is present in the ESG data, displaying a steaming channel corresponding to the associated field together with the DVB-H channel.
US08881196B2 Video playback apparatus, information providing apparatus, information providing system, information providing method and program
A video playback apparatus for playing back a recorded program video which is connected with an ECG server for providing information related to a program through a communication network includes a designation information transmitting portion to transmit designation information designating a program containing a specific recorded program video to the ECG server, a related information receiving portion to receive a related information associated with the designated program, which is selected from related information each containing an ECG scenario related to each program video constituting a program and a scheduled time of each program video and stored in association with the program, from the ECG server, and a display/playback control portion to control display of the ECG scenario related to the specific program video in synchronization with playback of the specific program video based on the scheduled time of the program video.
US08881195B2 Test system for a set-top box
The present application is directed to a test system for testing set-top boxes which provide a video output to a televisión. The test system records the execution of a test script, inputs to the set-top box and video output, each separately with a time stamp. The test system has a graphical user interface for playing back the video, inputs and scripts in a synchronised fashion.
US08881189B2 Inferring demographic compositions of television audiences
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for inferring a demographic composition of a television audience of a television program. In one aspect, a method extrapolates television audience demographics from rated programs to unrated programs by attributing demographics of rated programs to unrated programs when the rated and unrated program are related by demographically rated channel tunes.
US08881179B2 Cross-platform application programming interfaces for applications
Concepts and technologies are described herein for cross-platform application programming interfaces for applications. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, the cross-platform APIs support interoperability and extensibility with various application programs using a single language and/or set of APIs. Extensions authored for a particular application program may be used with other application programs that expose the same or a similar set of APIs, even if other object models or APIs associated with the application programs differ from one another. Thus, the APIs support cross-platform, cross-device, and cross-version compatibility of extensions.
US08881174B2 Computing device and function module management method
A method for managing function modules using a computing device. The computing device loads the function modules according to a serial number corresponding to a filename and a directory path of each function module. The computing device obtains register commands from an interface of each function module and saves the register commands into a command library. The computing device searches for a register command in the command library when the register command is inputted by an input device connected to the computing device, and executes the searched register command of the function module.
US08881172B2 Configuration interface manager
A method and system for managing configuration interfaces. In one embodiment, a system includes a user interface for receiving a user login, causing a configuration process to be invoked, and receiving user input for managing the configuration process. A log file is used to store log file information in response to the received user input for managing the configuration process. The log file can be used by a process monitor to determine if there is any recent user activity. The process monitor can determine whether the log file has been changed in response to the received user input during a specific time interval. In response to a determination that the log file has not been changed in response to the received user input during the specific time interval, the process monitor can terminate the configuration process.
US08881164B2 Computer process with utilization reduction
A system includes computer-readable storage media encoded with code defining a computer process. The computer process is configured to monitor its own resource utilization so that it can detect a resource-utilization condition. In response to a detection of the utilization condition, the computer process causes its own resource utilization to be reduced.
US08881158B2 Schedule decision device, parallel execution device, schedule decision method, and program
A schedule decision method acquires dependencies of execution sequences required for a plurality of sub tasks into which a first task has been divided; generates a plurality of sub task structure candidates that satisfy said dependencies and for which a plurality of processing devices execute said plurality of sub tasks; generates a plurality of schedule candidates by further assigning at least one second task to each of said sub task structure candidates; computes an effective degree that represents effectiveness of executions of said first task and said second task for each of said plurality of schedule candidates; and decides a schedule candidate used for the executions of said first task and said second task from said plurality of schedule candidates based on said effective degrees.
US08881153B2 Speculative thread execution with hardware transactional memory
In an embodiment, if a self thread has more than one conflict, a transaction of the self thread is aborted and restarted. If the self thread has only one conflict and an enemy thread of the self thread has more than one conflict, the transaction of the self thread is committed. If the self thread only conflicts with the enemy thread and the enemy thread only conflicts with the self thread and the self thread has a key that has a higher priority than a key of the enemy thread, the transaction of the self thread is committed. If the self thread only conflicts with the enemy thread, the enemy thread only conflicts with the self thread, and the self thread has a key that has a lower priority than the key of the enemy thread, the transaction of the self thread is aborted.
US08881150B2 Virtual machine, virtual machine system and method for controlling virtual machine
In an exemplary computing machine of the invention, a shared IO device used by a first virtual machine and the second virtual machine includes a physical IO device and a virtual IO device controlled by the physical IO device. In the case of detecting that the first driver has transmitted a stop signal for stopping the physical IO device, a hypervisor keeps the stop signal from being transmitted to the shared IO device, determines whether or not a processing request transmitted by the second driver to the virtual IO device has been completed, and stops the physical IO device with the completion of the processing request as a trigger.
US08881146B2 System for configuring a virtual image instance including receiving a configuration file specifying software information corresponding to a desired instance of a networked node or cluster
A method and apparatus for creating a machine image to be used in instantiating virtual nodes in a cloud computing environment. A virtual machine operating system image is created based on the configuration file. The machine operating system image is loaded in the cloud environment as a machine instance. An EBS disk is created based on the configuration file, and the EBS disk is attached to the machine instance. The method and apparatus allow software to be provisioned on the fly merely by being specified in the configuration file, which can be an XML file or other declarative document.
US08881136B2 Identifying optimal upgrade scenarios in a networked computing environment
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to mitigate the risk of downtime or failed upgrades to a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing infrastructure). This approach generally comprises pre-testing and evaluating potential upgrade paths to identify potential problems, and optionally recommending one or more optimal configurations. Specifically, if a proposed upgrade is identified as having potential points of failure (e.g., based on pre-testing), an end user/customer may be so notified. If the upgrade has several potential successful configurations, such configurations may be evaluated to identify a configuration that appears to have the greatest likelihood of a successful installation scenario. Optionally, the end user may then choose to redirect workload(s) to a successfully configured system that has been provisioned and pre-tested.
US08881135B2 Information processing apparatus for associating event information in an image input device with an application program that operates according to the event information
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus which can be connected to an image input device, by installing an application program and a control program, can activate the application program by an event occurring by user's operations in the image input device, and cause the control program to control the image input device by an instruction of the application program includes installing the control program in an operating system of the information processing apparatus, determining whether the application program is installed in the information processing apparatus, when the application program is not installed, installing on the information processing apparatus an event correspondence application program which can be activated by the same event as the application program and can install the application program in the information processing apparatus, and registering the event correspondence application program as an application program which is activated by the event in the information processing apparatus.
US08881125B2 Indirect software performance analysis
Performance impact of a computing system component on a transient end-to-end system operation is estimated by profiling an overall characteristic for a transient end-to-end system operation, and simultaneously profiling a program code component for a second characteristic, thereby collecting a first pair of data points, repeating the operational period while introducing a known artificial delay into the program code component, and while profiling the overall performance characteristic for the system and for the program code component, thereby collecting pairs of data points for each repetition of the operational period for each of the artificial delays; curve fitting and analyzing intercepts of the collected data points to estimate the effect of the artificial delays in the program code component on the transient end-to-end system operation; and reporting the estimate correlated to potential optimal transient end-to-end system operation.
US08881124B2 Compiler device, compiler program, and loop parallelization method
According to the conventional loop parallelization method, when a loop in which a value of a loop-carried dependency variable can be calculated in all of the iterations without sequentially executing the loop from the start, it is determined that DOALL parallelization is not applicable due to the loop-carried dependency variable. Accordingly, the loop is sequentially executed or parallelized by using DOACROSS parallelization that executes a loop including a loop-carried dependency variable. That is, there is a problem that an expression including a loop-carried dependency cannot be parallelized and efficiently processed with use of a multi-processor. By generating initial value calculating codes, the loop-carried dependency in a source code prior to parallelization can be solved, and by dividing a loop included in the source code into subloops that can be executed in parallel, the multi-processor can efficiently process the source code.
US08881119B2 Computer program product containing instructions for providing a processor the capability of executing an application derived from a compiled form
An integrated circuit card is used with a terminal. The integrated circuit card includes a memory that stores an interpreter and an application that has a high level programming language format. A processor of the card is configured to use the interpreter to interpret the application for execution and to use a communicator of the card to communicate with the terminal.
US08881109B1 Runtime documentation of software testing
Embodiments of a system (such as a computer system), a method, and a computer-program product (e.g., software) for use with the computer system are described. These embodiments may be used to test software that includes instructions for a graphical user interface with objects that receive values in associated fields. In particular, during testing, the system identifies the objects and associated expected values in the software, tests the software based on the identified objects and the expected values, and generates a flow file which includes the testing operations and corresponding results. Moreover, during the testing, the system may generate a compliance document which includes the testing operations and the results. Additionally, the system compares differences between the flow file and a previous flow file (associated with previous testing), and presents the differences to a quality-assurance analyst who evaluates whether or not the differences are consistent with design changes between the software and a previous version of the software.
US08881101B2 Binding between a layout engine and a scripting engine
Various embodiments provide an interface between a Web browser's layout engine and a scripting engine. The interface enables objects from the layout engine to be recognized by a memory manager in the scripting engine and interact in a streamlined, efficient manner. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the interface allows browser layout engine objects to be created as objects that are native to the scripting engine. Alternately or additionally, in some embodiments, the native objects are further configured to proxy functionality between the layout engine and the scripting engine.
US08881096B2 Computer product, IP model generating apparatus, and IP model generating method
A computer-readable recording medium stores therein an IP model that combines source code of IPs that include an interface representing input/output of data; a register storing the data; a behavior executing processing based on the data; and a state performing wait processing according to time information from the interface and a connection code indicative of a connecting relation between the IPs.
US08881091B2 Determining software complexity
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for determining software complexity. A plurality of versions of a software module whose complexity is to be determined are compressed. Lengths of the compressed versions are compared, one with another, to provide complexity metrics.
US08881089B1 Physical synthesis optimization with fast metric check
A system, process, etc. according to some embodiments, which includes operations that include selecting one of a plurality of solutions (“selected solution”) for optimization of an integrated circuit design during physical synthesis. The operations can further include performing on the selected solution a fast evaluation of a specific metric without updating design documents (e.g., without updating a netlist or metric map). If the evaluation of the specific metric is non-satisfactory, then the candidate solution is rejected. If the evaluation of the specific metric is satisfactory, then a design document is updated and a full evaluation of the specific metric (and other metrics) can be performed.
US08881086B2 Integrated circuit devices and methods and apparatuses for designing integrated circuit devices
Methods and apparatuses for an Integrated Circuit (IC) with a shielding of wires. In at least one embodiment, an integrated Circuit (IC) device comprises a first plurality of signal wires disposed within a substrate a shielding mesh disposed on the substrate. In at least one embodiment, the shielding mesh comprises a first plurality of connected wires for a first reference voltage and a second plurality of connected wires for a second reference voltage. Wherein at least a first portion of each of the first plurality of the signal wires is shielded between one of the first plurality of connected wires and one of the second plurality of connected wires from adjacent signal wires and a second portion of the first plurality of signal wires are adjacent to each other in a region defined by the first and second pluralities of connected wires.
US08881084B2 FinFET boundary optimization
A method for generating a layout for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a first layout. A portion of the first layout is defined as a first FinFET region. The first FinFET region has first and second sides that each extend approximately in a first direction. The method includes performing a first design rule check (DRC) simulation. The method includes obtaining a first DRC simulation result. The method includes defining a second FinFET region by moving the first side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes performing a second DRC simulation. The method includes obtaining a second DRC simulation result. The method includes selecting one of the first and second FinFET regions based on the first and second DRC simulation results. The method includes generating a second layout using the selected FinFET region.
US08881075B2 Method for measuring assertion density in a system of verifying integrated circuit design
An assertion-based verification tool for circuit designs includes an effective measurement of assertion density for any given generated set of assertions. A register-transfer level (RTL) description of an integrated circuit (IC) is used to compute a set of predicates. Then, determination is made as to the number of predicates that are satisfiable on the given set of assertions received respective of the RTL description. Thereafter, simulation traces for the RTL are received and the number of predicates satisfiable on the simulation traces is computed. A figure of merit of assertion density is determined from the ratio of the respective numbers of predicates. The set of assertions may be modified as required to satisfy a predetermined threshold value of assertion density, to assure that a circuit is rigorously tested by the verification tool.
US08881072B2 Method for compensating for variations in structures of an integrated circuit
A method of for compensating for variations in structures of an integrated circuit. The method includes (a) selecting a mask design shape and selecting a region of the mask design shape; (b) applying a model-based optical proximity correction to all of the mask design shape; and after (b), (c) applying a rules-based optical proximity correction to the selected region of the mask design shape.
US08881071B2 Photolithography mask design simplification
A photolithography mask design is simplified. In one example, a target mask design is optimized for a photolithography mask. Medial axes of the design and assist features on the optimized mask are identified. These are simplified to lines. Lines that are distant from a respective design feature are pruned. The remaining lines are simplified and then thickened to form assist features.
US08881069B1 Process enhancing safe SRAF printing using etch aware print avoidance
A method of SRAF printing using etch-aware SRAF print avoidance engines and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include performing mask to resist simulations for a mask having both a plurality of features to be formed on a substrate and a plurality of sub resolution assist features (SRAFs); detecting SRAFs of the plurality that will print through to a resist; checking dimensions of the detected SRAFs to determine whether one or more of the SRAFs will etch through to the substrate; modifying the one or more of the SRAFs; and forming the mask after the one or more of the SRAFs have been modified.
US08881060B2 Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing folders
A multifunction device displays a plurality of selectable user interface objects on the display. In response to detecting the first input, the device moves a first object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects across the display to a location on the display that is proximate to a second object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects. In response to detecting that the first input meets predefined folder-creation criteria while the first object is proximate to the second object, the device creates a folder that contains the first object and the second object.
US08881053B2 Modal launching
Embodiments are described for handling display of modal windows in a multi-screen device. In embodiments, a modal window will be launched and displayed in a display which receives the input that resulted in the display of the modal window. The other portions of a first display or second display, not displaying the modal window, are made inactive. In other embodiments, the modal window occupies only a first display and the second display remains active.
US08881047B2 Systems and methods for dynamic background user interface(s)
Some aspects relate to providing a graphical interface for an application, underlying a graphical interface provided by an operating system shell. In an example, an input device (e.g., a mouse) generates an event associated with a location of a graphical display. The event is intercepted by a code segment provided in conjunction with the application, which determines whether the location is associated with a defined portion of the display associated with an actionable area of the graphical interface for the application, and that the location is not also associated with an element of the OS shell graphical interface (and if applicable, an active window of another application). If those conditions hold, then the event is redirected to the application, which can become active or take one or more actions. In a particular example, the defined portion of the display is visually distinguishable on a wallpaper image stored in video memory.
US08881045B2 Method and apparatus for generating prompt information of a mobile terminal
A method and apparatus for generating prompt information of a mobile terminal are disclosed. The method includes: selecting a start point and an end point in a multimedia file; clipping a part of the multimedia file between the start point and the end point in the multimedia file; and encoding the clipped part of the multimedia file, and generating prompt information of the mobile terminal. An apparatuses for generating prompt information of a mobile terminal is also disclosed. Therefore, the present invention enables a user to control the generation of prompt information of a mobile terminal.
US08881042B2 System and method for providing secondary content using a colour controller
A method of providing secondary content on a mobile device such that the secondary content is associated with a controller and is a member of one of a plurality of content categories. The method includes displaying primary content on an interface of the mobile device; receiving the secondary content at the mobile device; applying a visual property to the controller, the visual property identifying the content category that the secondary content is a member of. Further, after receiving the secondary content at the mobile device, the controller is displayed on the interface of the mobile device such that the controller does not visually interfere with the displayed primary content. Upon receiving input selecting the controller, the secondary content associated with the controller is displayed on the interface of the mobile device.
US08881033B2 Systems and methods for adaptive content distribution
An application displaying primary content, such as a webpage, may include unused space. The unused space may exist within the application displaying the primary content (e.g., within the browser window) or on other portions of the display (e.g., outside of the browser window). The unused space is identified and leveraged to display secondary content on the client display along with the primary content. The secondary content may be adaptable to conform to different sizes and/or configurations of the unused space. The secondary content may be updated as the user interacts with elements on the client display.
US08881030B2 System and method for enhancing socialization in virtual worlds
There is provided a system and method for inducing a reply from a first client connected to a virtual world to facilitate a social interaction using a second client connected to the virtual world. There is provided a method for inducing a reply from a first client connected to a virtual world to facilitate a social interaction using a second client connected to the virtual world, the method comprising locating, in the virtual world, an avatar of the second client in a proximity of an avatar of the first client, executing a social action using the avatar of the second client such that the social action is observable by the first client but not observable by the second client, receiving the reply from the first client in response to the social action, and rendering the reply from first client using the avatar of the first client.
US08881027B1 Teleforum participant screening
A method and apparatus of providing a teleforum. The method includes generating simultaneous outbound invitation calls to multiple invitees and transmitting a message to each invitee, inviting him or her to become a teleforum participant. Teleforum participants who accept the invitation are connected to the teleforum in a listen-only mode. During the teleforum, a teleforum participant may request active participation in the teleforum. The method also includes allowing the participant to actively participate in the teleforum. Active participation may include but is not limited to such activities as: speaking to the teleforum, asking a question, responding to a poll, making a donation, providing information, leaving a message, being transferred to a subconference, receiving feedback from participants, leaving a voicemail, volunteering for future activities or receiving media transmitted outside of the teleforum.
US08881015B2 System and method for delivering documents to participants of work-flow events or tasks
A system and method for transmitting documents from a document device, such as an MFP. The MFP accesses calendar and workflow servers to determine a list of information items. A user can select an information item for which the document is to be associated and the document device will then determine all of the associated document destinations, e.g., workspaces, email addresses, and the like, and then subsequently transmit the documents to all of the document destinations that are associated with the information item or a subset of the document destination associated with the information item as selected by the user.
US08881014B2 Web based sales presentation method and system with synchronized display
Systems and methods for facilitating web based sales presentations with synchronized display are provided According to one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request from a sales representative to have an invitation sent to a customer to remotely view a presentation; sending a communication to the customer inviting the customer to view the presentation; storing the presentation at a storage unit associated with a server system; displaying at a first separate computer system of the sales representative, navigational links for selecting a slide of the presentation; in response to the customer selecting a URL included in the communication to the customer, displaying, at a second separate computer system of the customer, the presentation; and synchronizing a display of the presentation at the first separate computer system of the sales representative and the display of the presentation at the second separate computer system of the customer.
US08881010B2 Adapting trick commands to prior usage
Adapting trick commands to prior trick command usage is disclosed. In one example, during playback of a video content item, a user input of a sequence of trick commands is received that has a net effect on a playback location in the video content item, and in response to the sequence of trick commands, response to a later trick command is adapted based upon the net effect of the sequence of trick commands.
US08881009B2 Synthetic audiovisual description scheme, method and system for MPEG-7
A method and system for description of synthetic audiovisual content makes it easier for humans, software components or devices to identify, manage, categorize, search, browse and retrieve such content. For instance, a user may wish to search for specific synthetic audiovisual objects in digital libraries, Internet web sites or broadcast media; such a search is enabled by the invention. Key characteristics of synthetic audiovisual content itself such as the underlying 2d or 3d models and parameters for animation of these models are used to describe it. More precisely, to represent features of synthetic audiovisual content, depending on the description scheme to be used, a number of descriptors are selected and assigned values. The description scheme instantiated with descriptor values is used to generate the description, which is then stored for actual use during query/search. Typically, a user, to search for a needed synthetic audiovisual content initiates a query that is passed on to a search engine that then retrieves the candidate content from one or more databases whose description closely matches the query criteria specified by the user.
US08881007B2 Method and system for visual cues to facilitate navigation through an ordered set of documents
Systems and methods for organizing a repository of unstructured documents into groups of ordered reading lists, i.e., document trails, comprising an ordered list of documents that relate to each by subject matter. Text analytics and natural language processing steps group documents, chose the most important/relevant documents from each group, and organize the documents into a suggested reading order. Document fragments are also analyzed by such analytic and processing steps to identify preselected fragment characteristic aspects. Documents within each document trail may be marked up or highlighted to indicate which paragraphs therein contain such aspects as novel or useful information, or information that is not useful or redundant.
US08880986B2 Systems and methods for improved data detection processing
The present invention is related to systems and methods for enhancing data detection in a data processing system. In one embodiment, a data processing system is disclosed that includes a data detector circuit that is governed at least in part based upon selected coefficients. The selected coefficients are selected as either a first set of coefficients or a second set of coefficients where the second set of coefficients has fewer coefficients than the first set of coefficients.
US08880980B1 System and method for expeditious transfer of data from source to destination in error corrected manner
A system and method for expeditious transfer of data from a source device to a destination device in error corrected manner are provided. The system and method avoid the substantial delay in utilizing an intermediate buffer, determining error, and remediating the detected errors before even initializing a transfer of an input data from the source device to the destination device. Upon completion of error correction, only those portions corrected are retransmitted to the destination memory rather than the complete corrected input data. A by-pass section is provided for copying input data to the destination memory with at least a degree of parallelism with the error detection of the input data delivered to a parallel buffer coupled with the correction section by a splitter section.
US08880978B2 Utilizing a local area network memory and a dispersed storage network memory to access data
A method begins by a processing module encoding data based on a decode threshold parameter and a pillar width parameter to produce a set of encoded data slices and selecting a local area network (LAN) pillar width value of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices for storage in LAN available memories, wherein the LAN pillar width value is based on the decode threshold parameter, the pillar width parameter, and quantities of the LAN available memories. The method continues with the processing module selecting a wide area network (WAN) pillar width value of encoded data slices of the set of encode data slices for storage in a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory of a wide area network, wherein the WAN pillar width value is based on the decode threshold parameter and the pillar width parameter.
US08880968B2 Interposer having functional leads, TAP, trigger unit, and monitor circuitry
The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for improving interposers to include embedded monitoring instruments for real time monitoring digital signals, analog signals, voltage signals and temperature sensors located in the interposer. An embedded monitor trigger unit controls the starting and stopping of the real time monitoring operations. The embedded monitoring instruments are accessible via an 1149.1 TAP interface on the interposer.
US08880962B2 Maintenance planning and failure prediction from data observed within a time window
A system, method and computer program product for predicting a failure of equipment from prior maintenance data of the equipment collected during a time duration estimate a number of preceding failures of the equipment prior to the time duration. The system, method and computer program product construct a model, based on the prior maintenance data, of an impact of an external intervention on a failure of the equipment. The system, method and computer program product construct a model, based on the constructed model of the impact of the external intervention and the estimated number of preceding failures, a replacement policy of the equipment and a probability of a subsequent failure of the equipment in a subsequent time period.
US08880961B2 System and method of computation by signature analysis
A system and method for processing data for use with a microcontroller having a processing unit provides for sending an input data address to a memory as part of a read request for input data stored in the memory, receiving the input data from the memory, generating a plurality of trace signals, generating a first plurality of signatures based upon the plurality of trace signals, receiving a second plurality of corresponding signatures from a second microcontroller, comparing each signature of the first plurality of signatures to each corresponding signature of the second plurality of corresponding signatures, generating a first error signal if the comparison produces at least one mismatch, and utilizing the first error signal to generate one or more disable signals for disabling operation of one or more devices under control of the microcontroller.
US08880956B2 Facilitating processing in a communications environment using stop signaling
Processing, such as debug and/or recovery processing, within a communications environment is facilitated. Responsive to detecting an event, a stop signal is propagated through a communications network of the communications environment, and each network element that receives the stop signal, transmits the signal to its neighbors (if any), and then performs an action depending on its specific programming. The action can be to take no action, perform a debugging action or perform a recovery action. The elements that receive the signal and perform the same action as other elements form a coordinated network providing a coordinated result.
US08880950B2 Method, apparatus or software for processing exceptions produced by an application program
A method, apparatus and software is disclosed in which original exceptions issued by an application program are encoded as substitute exceptions with associated metadata identifying the original exception so as to enable to enable a first application program receiving the exception but not arranged to process the original exception to process the substitute exception and to enable a second application program receiving the exception and arranged to process the original exception to extract and process that original exception.
US08880943B2 Restarting event and alert analysis after a shutdown in a distributed processing system
Restarting event and alert analysis after a shutdown in a distributed processing system, including: identifying a shutdown condition of the distributed processing system, the incident analyzer including a plurality of event analyzers and a monitor that monitors the plurality of event analyzers; and determining whether the shutdown was a planned shutdown or an unplanned shutdown; if the shutdown was planned, storing an identification of the last event in an event log that was injected in an event queue at the time of the planned shutdown and restarting event and alert analysis using the next event identified in the event log; and if the shutdown was unplanned, for each event analyzer, identifying the last event included in the last event pool that the event analyzer closed; and restarting event and alert analysis at the event analyzer using the next event received by the event analyzer after the identified last event.
US08880940B2 Pessimistic data reading in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a processing module receiving a data retrieval request and determining a read threshold number of dispersed storage (DS). The method continues with the processing module sending read request messages to DS units and receiving encoded data slices to produce received encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module determining an incremental number of encoded data slices based on the number of received encoded data slices, determining an incremental number of DS units, and sending a read request message to each of the incremental number of DS units when the number of received encoded data slices compares unfavorably to a decode threshold number. The method continues with the processing module dispersed storage error decoding the received encoded data slices to produce data when the number of received encoded data slices compares favorably to the decode threshold number of encoded data slices.
US08880939B2 Storage subsystem and method for recovering data in storage subsystem
When a double failure occurs in a storage device storing a mutual conversion table such as a track management information table in thin provisioning, the storage address of the track within the storage subsystem cannot be specified and user data is lost. In order to solve the problem, the present invention provides a storage subsystem capable of recovering data by referring to a track address stored in an accessible track management information table or a user data section, renewing the damaged track management information table to restore the corresponding relationship between track management information tables, and enabling the user data to be accessed again.
US08880938B2 Reducing impact of a repair action in a switch fabric
Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card.
US08880929B2 Indirect clock measuring and media adjustment
A method for indirectly measuring the clock rate of a media rendering subsystem, in a media rendering device that has a separate hardware clock for rendering the media, by using the rate at which data requests are made of the CPU in the media rendering device and using the CPU clock to provide additional accuracy in measuring the clock rate.
US08880909B2 Auto-detect polling for correct handshake to USB client
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for providing power to a USB client device and polling for a correct protocol. A USB host device provides power and a first part of a first handshake determined by a first protocol. The host then monitors the client for a second part of the first handshake. When the second part of the first handshake is detected by the host, the client recognizes that power may be applied according to the first protocol. When the second part of the first handshake is not presented by the client device, the host provides a first part of a second handshake according to a second protocol. When the second part of the second handshake is provided by the client, the host the client recognizes that power may be applied according to the second protocol.
US08880906B2 Storing encrypted contents in digital archives
A digital archive for storing encrypted content includes a header section and a body. The header section includes real headers, wherein at least a portion of each real headers is encrypted, and fake headers, wherein each of the fake headers is filled with cryptographically random bytes, wherein the fake headers are substantially more than the real headers. The body includes real contents, wherein at least a portion of each real content is encrypted, and fake contents in the rest of the body, wherein the fake content contains additional cryptographically random bytes, wherein the amount of the fake content is substantially greater than the amount of the real contents, wherein each of the real headers refers to a corresponding real content in the body and contains decryption information for the corresponding real content.
US08880904B2 System and method for securing data
The invention relates to a system and method for making data secure. The inventive system is characterized in that it comprises:—a monotonic counter;—a computational entity;—a physical data medium comprising one or a plurality of data blocks, a first master block comprising the last value recovered from the monotonic counter, an identifier of the last data block written on said medium, a first authentication code guaranteeing the authenticity of the written data block or blocks, a second authentication code calculated from the last written data block, said data being fixed at a neutral value, and a third authentication code guaranteeing the authenticity of the first master block, and a second master block forming a replica of the first master block; and—an authentication key. The invention is used, in particular, to make data secure against playback and sudden interruptions in service in embedded systems.
US08880901B2 Secure address handling in a processor
An embodiment generally pertains to a method of secure address handling in a processor. The method includes detecting an instruction that implicitly designates a target address and retrieving an encoded location associated with the target address. The method also includes decoding the encoded location to determine the target address. Another embodiment generally relates to detecting an instruction having an operand designating an encoded target address and determining a location of a target instruction associated with the target address. The method also includes determining a location of a subsequent instruction and encoding the location of the subsequent instruction. The method further includes storing the encoded location of the subsequent instruction.
US08880899B1 Systems and methods for facilitating flip-resistant media fingerprinting
Systems and methods for facilitating media fingerprinting are provided. In one aspect, a system can include: a memory, a microprocessor, a communication component that receives media; and a media fingerprinting component that fingerprints the media. The media fingerprinting component employs a fingerprint generation component stored in the memory and includes: a first hash generation component that generates sets of hashes corresponding to versions of the media; and a second hash generation component that computes a final hash based, at least, on hashing the sets of hashes. In some aspects, the media fingerprinting component can generate a flip-resistant fingerprint based, at least, on the final hash. In some aspects, the flip-resistant fingerprint is the final hash.
US08880897B2 Method and apparatus for incremental code signing
The present invention discloses a method for quickly and easily authenticating large computer program. The system operates by first sealing the computer program with digital signature in an incremental manner. Specifically, the computer program is divided into a set of pages and a hash value is calculated for each page. The set of hash values is formed into a hash value array and then the hash value array is then sealed with a digital signature. The computer program is then distributed along with the hash value array and the digital signature. To authenticate the computer program, a recipient first verifies the authenticity of the hash value array with the digital signature and a public key. Once the hash value array has been authenticated, the recipient can then verify the authenticity of each page of the computer program by calculating a hash of a page to be loaded and then comparing with an associated hash value in the authenticated hash value array. If the hash values do not match, then execution may be halted.
US08880895B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for recovering a password using user-selected third party authorization
A password recovery technique for access to a system includes receiving a request from a first party to recover the first party's password to access the system, receiving a selection of a second party from the first party, sending a message to the second party requesting that the second party authorize the request to recover the first party's password, receiving authorization from the second party for the request to recover the first party's password, and resetting the first party's password responsive to receiving authorization from the second party.
US08880889B1 Systems and methods for remote authorization of financial transactions using public key infrastructure (PKI)
The invention relates to systems and methods for secure, remote, wireless submission of financial transactions. Authentication and authorization functionality are provided through use of proof of possession tests, a token service that provides a user device with a token that includes user entitlement data, and high assurance digital certificates.
US08880887B2 Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for secure digital communications and networks
Provided are system, methods, and computer-readable media for systems, methods, and computer-readable media for secure digital communications and networks. The system provides for secure communication between nodes through the use of a subscription between two nodes based on unique identifiers that are unique to each node, and communication between nodes without a subscription may be blocked. Additionally, secure communications between a node and a remote node are dynamically encrypted using asymmetric and symmetric encryption. The encryption algorithms and key lengths may be changed at each subsequent negotiation between a node and a remote node.
US08880883B2 Secure end-to-end permitting system for device operations
A permitting system for controlling devices in a system includes a permit issuing agent that receives a command to be sent to a device. Based upon at least one attribute of the command, the permit issuing agent identifies one or more business logic modules that is pertinent to the command. Each business logic module has a respectively different set of business rules associated with it. Each identified business logic module determines whether the command complies with the business rules associated with that module. If the command is determined to comply with the business rules of all of the identified business logic modules, the agent issues a permit for the command, and the permit is sent to the device for execution of the command.
US08880877B2 Method for assembling authorization certificate chains
A method for assembling authorization certificate chains among an authorizer, a client, and a third party allows the client to retain control over third party access. The client stores a first certificate from the authorizer providing access to a protected resource and delegates some or all of the privileges in the first certificate to the third party in a second certificate. The client stores a universal resource identifier (URI) associated with both the first certificate and the third party and provides the second certificate and the URI to the third party. The third party requests access to the protected resource by providing the second certificate and the URI, without knowledge or possession of the first certificate. When the authorizer accesses the URI, the client provides the first certificate to the authorizer, so that the client retains control over the third party's access.
US08880873B2 Method, system and device for authenticating cardless terminal using application server
An authentication method, system and device are provided by the embodiments of the present invention. Said method includes the following steps: an Application Server (AS) receives an AS access request, which carries a user identifier, transmitted by a User Equipment (UE); the AS generates a key generation request based on the user identifier and transmits it to a network side; the AS receives the key transmitted by the network side, and authenticates the UE according to the key. In the present invention, generating the key between a terminal without a card and the AS is implemented, and the AS authenticates the UE using the generated key, and the security of the data transmission is improved.
US08880872B2 System, method and program product for consolidated authentication
A first computer sends a request to the second computer to access the application. The second computer determines that the user has not yet been authenticated to the application. The second computer redirects the request to a third computer. The third computer determines that the user has been authenticated to the third computer. The third computer authenticates the user to the application. The second computer returns a session key to the third computer for a session between the application and the user. The session has a scope of the second computer or the application but not a scope of a domain. The third computer generates another session key with a scope of the domain and sends the domain-scope session key to the first computer.
US08880866B2 Method and system for disabling communication paths in a multiprocessor fabric by setting register values to disable the communication paths specified by a configuration
Disabling communication in a multiprocessor fabric. The multiprocessor fabric may include a plurality of processors and a plurality of communication elements and each of the plurality of communication elements may include a memory. A configuration may be received for the multiprocessor fabric, which specifies disabling of communication paths between one or more of: one or more processors and one or more communication elements; one or more processors and one or more other processors; or one or more communication elements and one or more other communication elements. Accordingly, the multiprocessor fabric may be automatically configured in hardware to disable the communication paths specified by the configuration. The multiprocessor fabric may be operated to execute a software application according to the configuration.
US08880864B2 Parallelizing multiple boot images with virtual machines
A system and method are presented for converting a multi-boot computer to a virtual machine. Existing boot images on a multi-boot computer are identified and converted into virtual machine instances. Each virtual machine instance represents an operating system and is capable of running at the same time. Finally, a new hosting operating system is installed. The new hosting operating system launches and manages the converted virtual machine instances.
US08880856B1 Efficient arithmetic logic units
A processor may include a conditional arithmetic logic unit and a main arithmetic logic unit. The conditional arithmetic logic unit may perform a first arithmetic logic operation to generate a first result, and output the result. The main arithmetic logic unit may select input buses among a plurality of data buses that carry the first result from the conditional arithmetic logic unit, perform a second arithmetic logic operation on data provided by the selected input buses to generate a second result, and write the second result in a storage component.
US08880842B2 Dynamic detection and reduction of unaligned I/O operations
Detection and reduction of unaligned input/output (“I/O”) requests is implemented by a storage server determining an alignment value for data stored by the server within a storage system on behalf of a first client, writing the alignment value to a portion of the volume that stores the data for the first client, but not to a portion of the volume that stores data for a second client, and changing a location of data within the portion of the volume that stores the data for the first client, but not a location of data in the portion of the volume that stores data for the second client, to an alignment corresponding to the alignment value. The alignment value is applied to I/O requests directed to the portion of the volume that stores the data blocks for the first client after the location of the data blocks has been changed.
US08880840B2 Writing adjacent tracks to a stride, based on a comparison of a destaging of tracks to a defragmentation of the stride
Compressed data is maintained in a plurality of strides of a redundant array of independent disks, wherein a stride is configurable to store a plurality of tracks. A request is received to write one or more tracks. The one or more tracks are written to a selected stride of the plurality of strides, based on comparing the number of operations required to destage selected tracks from the selected stride to the number of operations required to defragment the compressed data in the selected stride.
US08880837B2 Preemptively allocating extents to a data set
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for preemptively allocating extents to a data set in a storage system. A data set is comprised of a plurality of extents configured in at least one volume in the storage system. A first extent is allocated to the data set in a first volume to extend the data set. A determination is made as to whether a second extent can be allocated to the data set in the first volume in response to the allocating of the first extent. The second extent in a second volume is allocated for the data set in response to determining that the second extent cannot be allocated to the data set in the first volume.
US08880832B2 Controller for storage devices and method for controlling storage devices
A controller is connectable to a host system and a plurality of storage devices. A monitor unit monitors operating status of a plurality of storage devices and sets the operating status of the storage devices in a status table. Upon receiving a write command from the host system, a command responding unit receives write data sent from the host system within a certain period of time after the write command, holds the write data received in a buffer memory, instructs a timer to start counting, sets a write destination for data in the status table, outputs a control signal that gives an instruction to write data to the storage device of the write destination, and returns a write completion response corresponding to the write command to the host system when receiving the deadline notification from the timer.
US08880826B2 System and method for write once read many (WORM) storage in an information handling system
A Write-Once Read-Many (WORM) memory controller receives data from a processing system that is addressed to a location in a storage device, stores the data and a tag at the location, receives second data from the processing system that is addressed to the location, determines that the location includes the tag, and prevents the second data from being stored at the location based upon the presence of the tag. A WORM memory device sends a reply to a controller in response to an initialization command. The reply includes an address number that corresponds with the storage capacity of the WORM memory device. The WORM memory device sends another reply to another controller in response to another initialization command. The initialization commands are different from each other. The other initialization reply includes an address number of zero.
US08880821B1 Determining whether to migrate from a source storage device to a target storage device
Determining whether to migrate from a source storage device to a target storage device includes determining if the target storage device is accessible by hosts that access the source storage device, determining if reservation information stored on the target storage device matches reservation information stored on the source storage device and migrating from the source storage device to the target storage device if the target storage device is accessible by hosts that access the source storage device and reservation information stored on the target storage device matches reservation information stored on the source storage device. Determining whether to migrate from a source storage device to a target storage device may also include, in response to initially determining that the reservation information stored on the target storage device does not match the reservation information stored on the source storage device, attempting to match the reservation information.
US08880804B2 Storage apparatus and data management method
A storage apparatus includes storage devices of a plurality of types of varying performance, and a control unit which manages each of storage areas provided by the storage devices of the plurality of types by means of storage tiers of a plurality of different types, and assigns the storage areas in page units to a virtual volume from any of the storage tiers among the storage tiers of the plurality of types. If the data I/O request is received from the host, the control unit assigns storage areas in page units from the uppermost storage tier to the target areas of the virtual volume corresponding to the I/O request The control unit changes the page unit storage area assignment to predetermined areas of the virtual volume from an upper storage tier to a lower storage tier in accordance with the speed of processing of the data I/O request.
US08880776B2 Data access at a storage device using cluster information
Systems and methods for accessing data at a data storage device are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving cluster information at a controller of a data storage device, the data storage device further including a memory, the cluster information being associated with a data file that is stored at the memory. The method also includes accessing the cluster information to locate at least one region of the memory corresponding to the data file. The method further includes accessing data from the data file at the at least one region of the memory that is identified by the cluster information. Accessing of data from the data file includes the controller executing an internal application.
US08880775B2 System and method of garbage collection in a memory device
In a particular embodiment, a controller is adapted to perform a garbage collection operation to remove redundant data, to predict a performance parameter associated with performance of the garbage collection operation, and to abort the garbage collection operation when the predicted performance parameter exceeds a threshold.
US08880763B2 Electronic device
A communication system enabling protection at times of serial communication failure without providing a watchdog timer for each of multiple slave control units is provided in a configuration in which a master control unit and multiple slave control units are connected by serial communication. A communication system provided with multiple slave control units 102 that perform transmission and reception of serial data with a master control unit 101 for controlling serial communication and a watchdog timer 105 that simultaneously resets the multiple slave control units 102 is configured such that a watchdog signal from the master control unit 101 is input to the watchdog timer 105 via at least one of multiple serial communication lines.
US08880760B2 Self organizing heap method includes a packet reordering method based on packet passing rules only reordering packets from a load/unload input signal is asserted
In one aspect a memory module storing a plurality of packets is provided. A self organizing heap contains elements associated with each of the packets. The self organizing heap reorders the packets based on packet passing rules. In another aspect, a plurality of elements associated with packets is provided. Each element includes a state machine. The state machine operates in accordance with packet passing rules. The state machine reorders the packets by selective swapping of adjacent elements.
US08880756B1 Direct memory access controller
Systems and methods for direct memory access are described. One example system includes a memory module that includes a first memory portion that maintains transfer descriptors of direct memory access (DMA) channels, and a second memory portion that maintains transfer descriptors of enabled DMA channels. The system includes a controller coupled to the memory module, the controller includes one or more DMA channels coupled to a system bus, a channel arbiter that selects one of the enabled DMA channels as an active DMA channel for data transfer including re-arbitrating after each burst or beat in a given transfer, and an active channel buffer that receives a transfer descriptor of the active DMA channel from the second memory portion. The controller is configured to write back the transfer descriptor of the active DMA channel into the second memory portion when the active DMA channel loses arbitration.
US08880745B2 Efficient scheduling of transactions from multiple masters
Data-transfer transactions from multiple masters may be balanced by taking snapshots of the transactions stored in a buffer, and executing transactions from each master back-to-back.
US08880734B2 Block floating point compression with exponent token codes
A method and apparatus for compressing signal samples uses block floating point representations where the number of bits per mantissa is determined by the maximum magnitude sample in the group. The compressor defines groups of signal samples having a fixed number of samples per group. The maximum magnitude sample in the group determines an exponent value corresponding to the number of bits for representing the maximum sample value. The exponent values are encoded to form exponent tokens. Exponent differences between consecutive exponent values may be encoded individually or jointly. The samples in the group are mapped to corresponding mantissas, each mantissa having a number of bits based on the exponent value. Removing LSBs depending on the exponent value produces mantissas having fewer bits. Feedback control monitors the compressed bit rate and/or a quality metric. This abstract does not limit the scope of the invention as described in the claims.
US08880730B2 Method and system for managing destination addresses
A method for downloading destination addresses associated with a given client device from a server to the client device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining a resource limitation of the client device, sorting the addresses, and transmitting a subset of the sorted addresses from the server to the device, wherein the transmitted sorted address subset is determined by the resource limitation.There is also provided a system and server for supporting Instant Messaging (IM). The system comprises a telecommunications network interconnecting a plurality of IM clients and an IM server, the plurality of IM clients configured to exchange instant messages with one another via the telecommunications network and the IM server, each of the IM clients having an associated IM address, the IM server comprising a memory for storing a plurality of IM addresses, a set of the IM addresses corresponding to each of the IM clients and wherein a given set comprises at least one IM address other than an IM address of the IM client to which the given set corresponds, wherein on occurrence of a triggering event associated with a particular IM client the IM server selects a subset of the IM addresses from the set of addresses corresponding to the particular IM client based on a resource limitation of the particular IM client and transmits the selected IM address subset to the particular IM client.
US08880719B2 Method and system for multicast delivery of multimedia content on demand
A server in connection with a plurality of multimedia sources that has a plurality of clients. The server determines if at least one of the clients is requesting to receive at least one of the sources. The server then multicasts these requested sources to the requesting clients, respectively. If none of the clients is requesting a particular source, the server does not multicast that particular source. If all of the clients cease requesting a particular source that the server is currently multicasting, the server terminates the multicast of that particular source.
US08880718B2 Geo-location video archive system and method
A system and method for recording, uploading, and archiving video recordings, including a front-end and a back-end application. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a front-end application wherein video is recorded using a mobile device. The recorded video is embedded with date, time and GPS location data. The video is stored on an online back-end database which catalogs the video according to the embedded data elements. The video may be selectively reviewed by relevant experts or emergency personnel for immediate response to the uploaded video and/or distribution to the proper parties. The video may also be archived for later review and use by any number of end-users.
US08880712B2 Submission of metadata content and media content to a media distribution system
The disclosed embodiments related generally to the submission of metadata content and media content to a media distribution system. The media content can include, for example, audio, video, image, or podcast data. In accordance with one embodiment, a client submitting metadata content can validate the metadata content prior to submission of the metadata content and/or associated media content. A media distribution system receiving metadata content can also validate the metadata content.
US08880706B1 Method and systems for enabling interaction between a device that comprises a display and a separable mobile core
A system for enabling interaction with a user interface device, comprising a separable transportable mobile core comprising a radio transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a communication component, wherein the mobile core receives indicia of the user interface device and communicates the indicia to a computer, wherein the computer authenticates the user interface device and transmits an instruction to the mobile core, and wherein the instruction enables the mobile core to interact with the user interface device.
US08880705B2 Systems and methods for dynamic creation and release of proxy mobile IP connections
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating dynamic addition and release of IP addresses in an established Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIP) sessions, for example, based on the demand of a mobile device. An example method comprises receiving from the mobile device a request to add a second IP interface type to a current communication session associated with a first IP interface type, wherein the second IP interface type is different from the first IP interface type. The method further includes receiving from the home network a set of IP addresses of the second IP interface type and establishing one or more IP flows of the second IP interface type using one or more received IP addresses. The method further includes associating the one or more IP flows of the second IP interface type with the current communication session for the mobile device.
US08880694B2 Server system and control method for same
The server system includes a server apparatus transmitting and receiving file data based on an access request transmitted from a client apparatus; and a management apparatus managing the server apparatus, wherein the server apparatus includes a plurality of virtual server parts controlling transmission and reception of the data independently for each of the predetermined client apparatuses; a data flow configuration part configuring a data flow for each of the file data transmitted to and received by the virtual server parts based on a command from the management apparatus; and a load control part controlling a data flow for each of the file data to control load of the virtual server parts based on the data flow for each of the file data configured by the data flow configuration part.
US08880693B2 Network service provider-assisted authentication
A data store includes previously collected client data records, each previously collected client data record associated with a respective first network address. A verification module is communicatively coupled to the data store, the module configured to determine that it is a competent verification module and to receive a verification request including user data and a second network address and further configured to respond with an indication of whether the user data corresponds to the previously collected client data record identified by the first network address corresponding to the second network address.
US08880681B2 Network characterisation
Methods and systems for assigning information indicative of a network characteristic to one of a plurality of data units traversing a path across a network, said data units having associated therewith values indicative of said network characteristic, said path having at least one portion passing through a lower-capability region and at least one portion passing through a higher-capability region, said lower-capability region being a region in which information indicative of said network characteristic may be represented by values having a first resolution, and said higher-capability region being a region in which information indicative of said network characteristic may be represented by values having a second resolution, said second resolution being greater than said first resolution, said one data unit being a data unit entering said higher-capability region.
US08880680B2 System for distributed personal device management
A personal device management server device comprises a processing device, first and second communication interfaces, and a memory. The first communication interface is coupled with the processing device and is arranged to communicate with a wireless communication network. The second communication interface is coupled with the processing device and is arranged to communicate with a client device. The memory is coupled with the processing device and arranged to store instructions comprising a personal device management system. The personal device management system is arranged to control allocation of one or more components of a communication service with the individual client device elements via the second communication interface.
US08880672B2 Modifying redistribution sets of users based on expiration time
Methods, computer-readable media, and systems for modifying redistribution sets of users based on expiration time. A redistribution set including multiple present users to whom selected content is presentable for a pre-defined duration is received. Multiple past users who were included in the redistribution set have previously been removed from the redistribution set based on an expiration of the pre-defined duration. In response to detecting a modification to the pre-defined duration, the redistribution set of users is modified to include one or more past users or to exclude one or more present users. The redistribution set thus modified is used to target content to users in the modified redistribution set.
US08880669B2 Method and apparatus to detect unidentified inventory
Techniques are disclosed for detecting unidentified inventory in a network. In one embodiment, data that was collected from a plurality of network devices is received. The data includes at least one device identifier for a neighboring network device of at least one network device of the plurality of network devices. The at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device is compared to one or more device identifiers of known network devices. In response to determining that the at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device does not match a device identifier for the known network devices, the at least one device identifier is added to a list of unidentified inventory.
US08880661B2 Management of data nodes in an application server
Described herein are systems and methods for managing nodes in a data grid from within an application server. The system includes an application server having an administrative user interface, and a data grid including a plurality of nodes operating as a cluster, wherein each node in the data grid has node attributes that define node functionality. A configuration repository provided by the application server is accessible to the administrative user interface, and stores configuration information used by the administrative user interface to directly manage the plurality of nodes in the data grid. Upon receiving interpreted configuration information from the application server at a node manager client on the application server, the node manager client modifies the operation of the plurality of nodes in the data grid by overriding node attributes according to the interpreted configuration information, wherein the plurality of nodes thereafter operate according to the configuration information.
US08880657B1 System and method for configuring and managing virtual grids
Some embodiments provide a hosting system for provisioning and managing servers (e.g., virtual servers, dedicated servers). In some embodiments, the hosting system receives a configuration for one or more servers for a particular entity (e.g., customer, user). The hosting system then identifies a grid identity and a set of virtual local area network (VLAN) identities for the particular entity. The hosting system then deploys the set of servers on one or more of the hardware nodes using the grid identity and the set of VLAN identities. In some embodiments, the set of VLAN identities includes a first VLAN identity for a private network and a second VLAN identity for a public network.
US08880654B2 Protocol adapter for passing diagnostic messages between vehicle networks and a host computer
A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between networks within a vehicle and a host computer. The protocol adapter operates as a voltage translator to support J1708 software. The protocol adapter also recognizes when the protocol adapter is connected to a host computer running the J1939 and/or J1708 protocols and automatically switches to that protocol.
US08880649B2 Automatic content retrieval based on location-based screen tags
Systems and methods automatically obtain contents and display the contents on location-specific display screens, based on content attributes associated with the screens. Associating content attributes (“tags”) with the screens allows administrators to specify the types of contents desired for display on the screens. For example, an establishment that caters to customers of a particular demographic (such as 21-27 year old singles, families with children, fans of rock-and-roll music, “bikers,” sports fans or ice cream lovers) may associate one or more content attributes (such as “dating,” “Disney,” “Led Zeppelin,” or “Red Sox”) with its display screen. The system then automatically obtains contents based on the attribute(s) and displays the contents on the screen. Patrons with mobile telephones or web-based users may send text messages for display on the screen or play interactive games displayed on the screen, as described in the incorporated patent application. However, even absent such activity, the disclosed systems and methods populate the screen with potentially ever-changing contents, thereby keeping the screen “fresh” and avoiding a situation known as the “ghost town” effect. The system may obtain the contents to be displayed from a variety of sources. For example, Twitter messages (“Tweets”) that contain or are otherwise associated (such as via “hashtags”) with a content attribute of a screen may be displayed.
US08880631B2 Apparatus and methods for multi-mode asynchronous communication
A method includes receiving at a host device a first communication associated with a transaction from at least one electronic device included in a set of electronic devices. The host device includes at least a memory, a processor, and a database. The first communication received at a first time and via a first communication mode. The method includes sending a response to the first communication at a second time after the first time and independent of the first time. The host devices receives a second communication associated with the transaction from the at least one electronic device at a third time. The first communication, the response to the first communication, and the second communication are displayable in a persistent record of the transaction regardless of a difference between the first time and the third time.
US08880630B2 Method and apparatus for creating a social network map of non-voice communications
A method, apparatus and computer readable medium for creating a social network map using non-voice communications are disclosed. For example, the method registers employment data of an employee, monitors non-voice communications of the employee, generates a social network map of the non-voice communications of the employee and analyzes the social network map to provide at least one correlation.
US08880619B2 Direct access electronic mail (email) distribution and synchronization system with trusted or verified IMAP-Idle implementation
A communications system includes a network engine that communicates with a plurality of a user subscribed mobile wireless communications devices via a communications network for sending and receiving emails. A direct access server is connected to the network engine for polling electronic mailboxes of users from an email source and retrieving electronic messages from the electronic mailboxes and pushing any electronic mailboxes to the network engine to selected users subscribed mobile wireless communications devices. The direct access server communicates with an email source using the internet message access protocol (IMAP) and IMAP-Idle supportable connections in a communications channel to accept real-time notifications. The direct access server verifies an Idle command functionality on the communications channel before relying on the communications channel for new mail notifications.
US08880612B1 Mobile device proxy for instant messaging
A proxy for SMS-based wireless instant messaging (IM) is located on a network server. The proxy provides an on-line IM presence for a mobile device user and facilitates multiple cross-platform IM services without requiring protocol specific functionality locally installed on the mobile device. According to an embodiment, the proxy is configured with information about the user such as userID and login information. In operation, the proxy may log into a plurality of IM systems and provide an indication of the user's presence. Upon receiving IM messages directed to the user, the proxy may 1) automatically reply; 2) forward a converted message to the user's current presence; 3) forward a converted message to the user's on-line message repository; and/or 4) store the message for future delivery. The proxy may also provide presence information of contacts for the mobile device user. Upon receiving SMS messages from the user, the proxy may 1) determine the appropriate IM protocol; 2) log-in the appropriate IM system; 3) send the message to the intended recipient.
US08880602B2 Embedding an autograph in an electronic book
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for embedding an autograph into digital media, particularly an electronic book. A system is described that includes an author's device running a signing application and at least one reader's device storing a copy of the electronic book. Depending on the proximity of the reader's device to the author's device, the author's device automatically performs different autographing tasks.
US08880600B2 Creating groups of users in a social networking system
A social networking system facilitates a user's creation of a group of other users from among the user's connections in the user's social network. The created groups may be used, for example, to publish information to certain user-defined groups or to define privacy settings or other access rights to the user's content according to such user-defined groups. When a user adds connections to a group, the social networking system determines suggested connections that have not been added to the group, based on a similarity of the suggested connections with one or more of the connections who have been added to the group. These suggested connections are then presented to the user to facilitate the creation of the group. Both positive and negative feedback may be used to generate a useful set of suggestions, which may be updated as the user further defines the group.
US08880593B2 Transient market resource locator
Technologies and implementations for locating transient transaction resources are generally disclosed.
US08880586B2 Metadata subscription registry
Updated metadata can be requested from a set of remote servers according to a subscription registry. The subscription registry can include information for retrieving metadata from the remote servers. The requested updated metadata can be received from the remote servers. The metadata can be impact analysis and lineage metadata, and it can be requested from and received at an impact analysis and lineage metadata service. In addition, at least a portion of the metadata from the remote servers can be parsed, and a reference to a new remote server can be discovered in the metadata. Information for retrieving metadata from the new remote server can be added to the subscription registry, and metadata can be retrieved from the new remote server according to the subscription registry.
US08880585B1 Peer-to-peer quorum sensing
Disclosed are various systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums embodying programs that are configured to detect a quorum of peers in a peer to peer network. In one embodiment, a first one of a plurality of peers receives a message from one of a plurality of second ones of the peers, the message including at least one peer identifier listed in association with a corresponding at least one property value, where the peers communicate with each other on a peer to peer network. The at least one peer identifier is written in association with a corresponding at least one property value in a memory associated with the first one of the peers when the at least one peer identifier does not exist in the memory. Also, a quorum of peer identifiers existing in the memory that are associated with respective property values that match a predefined criteria are detected, and a predefined action is implemented in the first one of the peers upon detecting the quorum.
US08880581B2 System and method for classification of media in VoIP sessions with RTP source profiling/tagging
System and method to perform a directive by a first SIP User Agent (UA) engaged in a peer-to-peer communication session with a second SIP User Agent (UA), the method including: arming the first SIP User Agent (UA) to define the directive; setting a trigger condition in the first SIP User Agent (UA) to perform the directive if the trigger condition becomes true; monitoring, by use of a processor within the first SIP User Agent (UA), for the trigger condition in the communication session; and if the trigger condition becomes true, performing by use of a processor the directive without usage of a back-to-back user agent.
US08880580B2 Systems and methods for establishing and maintaining virtual computing clouds
Networking systems and methods for establishing and maintaining virtual computing clouds are disclosed. A networking system can comprise a server and various instances of a software agent, each agent being installed on a computing device participating in a virtual computing cloud. The server can maintain account setting for a user, wherein the settings can indicate which files on indicated computing devices are included in the virtual computing cloud. The networking system can selectively synchronize data between the computing devices automatically and in a secure manner, and can transmit data in real time to simulate local storage when synchronization of certain files is inappropriate in light of file incompatibility. As a result, the networking system can provide the user with a seamless, automatic system and method for accessing a total computing environment.
US08880577B2 Modulo operation method and apparatus for same
The present invention provides a modulo operation method. The modulo operation method, in a case where the square of a divisor N is greater than or equal to a dividend C, includes: determining the number of computation stages n satisfying 2n
US08880573B2 System and method of dynamic precision operations
In an embodiment, a method performs computer operations using a first fractional precision and a second fractional precision. A computer program has a source variable, a destination variable, and an operation. The source variable has a first dynamic fractional precision, the destination variable has a second dynamic fractional precision that differs from the first dynamic fractional precision, and the operation is related to the source variable and the destination variable. The source variable is aligned to a format of the destination variable, according to the first dynamic fractional precision and the second dynamic fractional precision. The operation is performed using the destination variable and the source variable. A value is assigned to the destination variable according to the operation. In this manner, a single codebase may be written that operates on various hardware that each have different bit precision capabilities, without requiring additional development and verification effort.
US08880568B2 Report generation for a navigation-related database
Systems, devices, features, and methods for updating a geographic database, such as a navigation-related database, and/or reporting discrepancies associated with geographic data of the geographic database are disclosed. For example, one method comprises capturing a photograph of an observed geographic feature in a geographic region. Comment information corresponding to the observed geographic feature may be stored. The comment information is indicative of a discrepancy between the observed geographic feature and the geographic data corresponding to the geographic region. The comment information may be associated with the photograph to generate a report, and the report is transmitted.
US08880557B2 Method, program, and system for dividing tree structure of structured document
A method and system for dividing a tree structure of a structured document based on a tree structure defined by a schema of the structured document. The method includes the following steps: calculating an index value of size of a subtree having each element as a root for at least part of at least one element included in the tree structure defined by the schema, and deciding on a division pattern using the index value, where the division pattern is used to divide the tree structure of the structured document to which the schema is applied so that the size of the subtree, after being divided, meets a predetermined standard.
US08880542B2 Simply querying across time
A temporal relational database includes a relational database framework that allows for all the capabilities of a standard relational database with the addition of the concept of time. Transactions, which can be modifications of attribute values or changes to the database schema, can be stored with temporal histories. Through the use of these temporal histories, the temporal database is able to seamlessly respond to queries for times that are in the past, present, or future. Furthermore, transactions can be entered into the temporal relational database that are not effective until some point in the future, thus allowing for seamless migration of the data and schema of a database. Applications that access data in a temporal database may retrieve a time appropriate schema from the temporal database. An exemplary use of a temporal database to manage roles and responsibilities within an organization is described.
US08880541B2 Qualification of website data and analysis using anomalies relative to historic patterns
Tools and techniques are provided to assist detection of invalid clicks in website activity data. A system calculates or otherwise obtains a historic click quality characterization based on historic web analytics data. The system then identifies a click quality anomaly in the website activity data, namely, a departure from the historic click quality characterization. The identified anomalies may then be used to help guide searches for invalid clicks.
US08880526B2 Phrase clustering
Systems and associated methods for enhanced concept understanding in large document collections through phrase clustering are described. Embodiments take as input an initial set of phrases and estimate centroids using a clustering process. Embodiments then generate new phrases around each of the current centroids using the current phrases. These new phrases are added to the current set, and the clustering process is iterated. Upon convergence, embodiments finalize clusters based on phrases of any given length.
US08880525B2 Full and semi-batch clustering
A method for clustering documents is provided. Each document is represented by a multidimensional data point. The data points are initially assigned to a respective cluster and serve as their initial representative points. Thereafter, in an iterative process, the data points are clustered among the clusters, by assigning the data points to the clusters based on a comparison measure of each data point with the cluster or its representative point, and a threshold of the comparison measure. Based on this clustering, a new representative point for each of the clusters can be computed. Optionally, overlapping clusters are merged. For the next iteration, the new representative points are used as the representative points. An assignment of the documents to the clusters is output, based on a clustering of the data points in the latest iteration. Multiple batches may be processed, retaining the initial clusters to which the original batch was assigned.
US08880520B2 Selectively adding social dimension to web searches
Embodiments are directed towards managing a display of search results by employing a query-classification for a search query to selectively display trust search results that are displayed distinct from non-trust search results. A search query is classified into a query-class. A search is then performed over non-trust sources, and selectively over trust data sources to obtain non-trust and trust search results, respectively. The trust search results are rank ordered based on various categories of search criteria, including, for example, explicit and implicit relationships. Based on the query-class, a different number of trust search results may be displayed. Further, a position for which the trust search results may be displayed may be based on the query-class. Moreover, the non-trust search results displayed distinct or separate from the trust search results to readily distinguish a type of source of the search results.
US08880512B2 Method, apparatus and system, for rewriting search queries
A search system includes: a data rewriting system that obtains, from a database, one or more search term candidates that are relevant to a present search query. The data rewriting system retrieves properties of the present search query and the one or more search term candidates, where the properties describe respective matching results of the present search query and the one or more search term candidates. Based at least in part on the matching results, the data rewriting system determines whether or not the present search query needs to be rewritten, and rewrites the present search query based at least in part on the matching results to provide a rewritten present search query if it is determined that the present search query needs to be rewritten. A search engine performs a search based at least in part on the rewritten present search query.
US08880511B2 Database query optimization and cost estimation
Described are systems and methods relating to database query optimization and query cost estimation. The approach is described in the context of searching balanced and semi-balanced tree indexes such as B-trees, B+ trees, and R-B trees. The described approach may be used for both simple and composite queries, and the described approach may be used for relational queries, i.e., where a variable is less than or greater than a certain value and the database is being used to find the set of records that satisfy the relation. Further, the described approach may be used for generalized N-ary tree queries and cost estimations.
US08880504B2 Tag management device, system and recording medium
A tag management device executes a process including adding, to data received, sort-free identifiers that identifies receiving order, and are monotonically increasing or monotonically decreasing numbers or character strings arranged in alphabetical order or a combination thereof; storing, sequentially in a first storing unit associated with a tag that is added to the received data, the identifiers added at the adding; storing, sequentially in a second storing unit in an associated manner, the received data and the identifiers added at the adding; and searching, when a storing unit associated with a tag to be searched for is the first storing unit, data associated with the tag to be searched for by joining, using an inner join or an outer join, information stored in the first storing unit and information stored in the second storing unit.
US08880501B2 Method and system for high performance integration, processing and searching of structured and unstructured data using coprocessors
Disclosed herein is a method and system for integrating an enterprise's structured and unstructured data to provide users and enterprise applications with efficient and intelligent access to that data. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, the generation of metadata indexes about unstructured data can be hardware-accelerated by processing streaming unstructured data through a reconfigurable logic device to generate the metadata about the unstructured data for the index.
US08880498B2 System and method for aggregating and ranking data from a plurality of web sites
System and method for collecting information from a plurality of related sites, analyzing the information and storing the relevant information in a data base for future use. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the system uses the provided list of sites, whether obtained automatically or separately, queries them and analyzes the result retrieved from each site. The information may also optionally and preferably be ranked.
US08880497B1 Computer-aided extraction of semantics from keywords to confirm match of buyer offers to seller bids
One embodiment involves a method and apparatus for mapping lexical keywords into entity description semantics in order to create unambiguous buyer-confirmed descriptions of entities. The method described herein relies on a computer program and some mechanism for computer data storage.
US08880487B1 Systems and methods for distributed rules processing
The invention provides in some aspects a distributed rules processing system that includes a first and second digital data processors that are coupled to one another by one or more networks. A rules base and a transactional data base are each coupled to one of the digital data processors; both may be coupled to the same digital data processor or otherwise. One or more coordination modules (e.g., “proxies”), each of which is associated with a respective one of the digital data processors, makes available to a selected one of those digital data processors from the other of those digital data processors (i) one or more selected rules from the rules base, and/or (ii) one or more data from the transactional database on which those rules are to be executed. The selected digital data processor executes one or more of the selected rules as a rules engine, executes one or more of the selected rules using a rules engine, and/or processes one or more data from the transactional database with rules executing on a rules engine.
US08880470B2 Method and system for performing live migration of persistent data of a virtual machine
A disclosed method includes distinguishing static and dynamic persistent data, copying the static persistent data at the source data store to the destination data store on a basis of frequencies of updates, copying the dynamic persistent data to the destination data store, updating a bitmap data structure during the copying of the dynamic persistent data to indicate which blocks of the dynamic persistent data have been modified during the copying step, identifying the blocks that have been modified during the copying step using the bitmap data structure, and iteratively copying the identified blocks to the destination data store. The method may further include determining when the number of the identified blocks is below a predetermined threshold and suspending the virtual machine prior to the next copying step.
US08880467B1 Smart sync—refreshing application state based on user migration patterns
A method of synchronizing data is provided. An embodiment of the method includes receiving, at a server, information identifying a detected user interaction with a device, determining, at the server, a probability that a user will access a service provided by the server using the device at a time, and generating, at the server, a session signature based on the determined probability, wherein the session signature is used by the device to generate refresh requests associated with the service.
US08880448B2 Predicting odor pleasantness with an electronic nose
Apparatus and method for assessing odors, comprises an electronic nose, to be applied to an odor and to output a structure identifying the odor; a neural network which maps an extracted structure to a first location on a pre-learned axis of odor pleasantness; and an output for outputting an assessment of an applied odor based on said first location. The assessment may be a prediction of how pleasant a user will consider the odor.
US08880447B2 Systems and methods for matching people based on perceived activities
Matching systems and methods for social networking systems can select matches for users based on observed activities. A matching system can include, for example, a preference unit, a monitoring unit, and a matching unit. Generally, the preference unit can receive and process matching preference information for a user; the monitoring unit can monitor the user's activities on or observable by the server; and the matching unit can select and recommend matches for the user based on the monitored activities. Thus, matches can be suggested to the user based on the user's observed activities, and not simply based on the user's potentially inaccurate self-description.
US08880446B2 Predictive analytics factory
An apparatus, system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for a predictive analytics factory. A receiver module is configured to receive training data. A function generator module is configured to determine a plurality of learned functions from multiple classes based on the training data. A predictive compiler module is configured to form a predictive ensemble comprising a subset of learned functions from the plurality of learned functions. The subset of learned functions is from at least two of the multiple classes.
US08880445B2 Method and apparatus for performing dynamic textual complexity analysis using machine learning artificial intelligence
A data processing system including one or more client devices, wherein each client device is connected to a network system and a data center unit. The data center unit includes a network interface unit, a user interface, one or more storage devices, wherein the one or more storage devices comprise one or more databases. Further, the data center unit includes a storage device controller and database manager for controlling the operation of storage devices and databases, a web server for providing web services to clients, a database server for providing database services to the one or more clients and a machine learning artificial intelligence application server for predicting textual complexity of data. The machine learning artificial intelligence application server includes one or more databases for storing data used to refine textual complexity analysis for improved accuracy of textual complexity predictions.
US08880443B2 BDD variable reordering using multiple computing devices
In one embodiment, a first computing device selects k first variable orders for a Binary Decision Diagram (BDD) representing a function having n variables, where n≧4 and k≧2. The first computing device distributes the k first variable orders among a plurality of second computing devices. For each of the k first variable orders distributed to one of the second computing devices, the first computing device receives, from the one second computing device, a local best variable order among the first variable order and one or more second variable orders derived from the first variable order. The first computing device determines a global best variable order for the BDD among all local best variable orders received from the second computing devices.
US08880440B2 Automatic combination and mapping of text-mining services
Embodiments of systems and methods for automatic combination of text mining services, may comprise an instance generation component and an auto-mapping component. From common text sources, the instance generation component generates instances for taxonomy elements attached to a particular text mining service. These instances are then forwarded to the auto-mapping component, which computes a mapping between different taxonomies. This mapping may be saved to avoid repeated instance generation and mapping processes for similar taxonomies. The computed mapping may in turn be input to a result combiner element, together with extraction results from calling the different text mining services. The result combiner returns the merged result sets to the execution, and finally to the user or API.
US08880438B1 Determining content relevance
System and methods allow for ranking relevance of parameters of a content item. A method includes: receiving, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of parameters of a content item and a plurality of corresponding initial relevance scores of the parameters indicating relevance of the parameters to the content item; estimating, using a statistical model, a plurality of revised relevance scores from the initial relevance scores, wherein each of the revised relevance scores is a function of at least two of the plurality of initial relevance scores; and ranking the plurality of parameters based on the revised relevance scores.
US08880437B1 System and method for integrating trading operations including the generation, processing and tracking of and trade documents
First and second components of the present invention, in combination, provide a customer interface for initiating a trade transaction and provides for the secure viewing of the status of the transaction. A third component assists in the automatic generation and verification of the voluminous and detailed documents required to support a trade transaction. The third component additionally tracks and assists in the management of the seller's manufacturing and shipment of the goods that form the basis of the trade transaction. A fourth component automatically generates a Letter of Credit from a Purchase Order and performs a reconciliation function on payments made pursuant to Letters of Credit or open Accounts.
US08880425B2 Mobile agent point-of-sale (POS)
Systems and methods are disclosed for conducting transactions and financial transfers utilizing a mobile device communicatively coupled with a mobile communications network and executing a mobile point-of-sale application. According to some embodiments, the mobile point-of-sale application is adapted to conduct money transfer transactions by communicating transaction information through the mobile communications network to a money transfer provider system that processes the money transfer and communicates receipt information to the mobile point-of-sale application. Additionally, according to some embodiments, an account associated with an agent of the money transfer provider can be used in money transfer transactions conducted by the mobile point-of-sale application.
US08880424B1 Digital advertising method and system
The present invention provides a method and system for inserting a digital advertisement into a window by a computer processor for display on a screen. First, an initial portion of the window containing only text is identified that is of sufficient size to accommodate the advertisement. Next the advertisement is inserted into the identified initial window portion behind the text so that the text is readable. Then, the color of the advertisement or of a portion of the text is subsequently adjusted so that the advertisement becomes more prominent. The text may contain text-related graphics and the advertisement may be placed as not to obstruct any such graphs. As a user scrolls the underlying content, the advertisement is then moved.
US08880422B1 Energy high performance capability assessment
A high performance capability assessment model helps an energy industry business meet the challenges of the global marketplace. As a result, the energy industry business can achieve the clarity, consistency, and well-defined execution of core processes that reduce inefficiencies and waste that result from unnecessary process complexity and exceptions. In addition, the high performance capability assessment model helps the energy industry business to identify specific areas in which improvements may be made and understand how to make the improvements, and establishes levels of capability along the way to reaching an ultimate capability goal.
US08880420B2 Utility for creating heatmaps for the study of competitive advantage in the restaurant marketplace
A utility builds and displays heatmaps of competitive activity that aid in studying the competitive advantage of a particular restaurant. The heatmaps are constructed based on activity logged with a restaurant service, and available within the restaurant service's database(s).
US08880414B2 Low bit rate codec
The present invention relates to improvements of predictive encoding/decoding operations performed on a signal which is transmitted over a packet switched network. The signal is encoded on a block by block basis in such way that a block A-B is predictive encoded independently of any preceding blocks. A start state 715 located somewhere between the end boundaries A and B of the block is encoded using any applicable coding method. Both block parts surrounding the start state is then predictive encoded based on the start state and in opposite directions with respect to each other, thereby resulting in a full encoded representation 745 of the block A-B. At the decoding end, corresponding decoding operations are performed.
US08880404B2 Devices for adaptively encoding and decoding a watermarked signal
An electronic device configured for adaptively encoding a watermarked signal is described. The electronic device includes modeler circuitry that determines watermark data based on a first signal. The electronic device also includes coder circuitry coupled to the modeler circuitry. The coder circuitry determines a low priority portion of a second signal and embeds the watermark data into the low priority portion of the second signal to produce a watermarked second signal.
US08880403B2 Methods and systems for obtaining language models for transcribing communications
A method for transcribing a spoken communication includes acts of receiving a spoken first communication from a first sender to a first recipient, obtaining information relating to a second communication, which is different from the first communication, from a second sender to a second recipient, using the obtained information to obtain a language model, and using the language model to transcribe the spoken first communication.
US08880383B1 Determining conductivity of aged fracture proppants for simulating flow in a fractured reservoir
In one example, formation fluid flow through a fractured reservoir is simulated using conductivity of aged proppants. A first conductivity profile is received for a proppant. The first conductivity profile describes an ability of the proppant to permit formation fluid flow through a fracture network under reservoir conditions in a fractured reservoir that includes the proppant in the fracture network. The proppant is aged for a duration under the reservoir conditions of the fractured reservoir over the duration. After the duration, a second conductivity profile for the aged proppant is determined. An adjusted conductivity profile for the proppant is determined based on the first conductivity profile and the second conductivity profile. The adjusted conductivity profile is provided as an input conductivity profile for the proppant. The reservoir simulator simulates formation fluid flow through the fractured reservoir using the input conductivity profile.
US08880371B2 Calibration of sensors or measuring systems
A method for adjusting a sensor, continuous sensor or automatic measuring system in an interstitium including the steps of adjusting the steepness of a measuring curve and a standard offset (standard axis intercept) prior to the use of the sensor, continuous sensor or measuring system, and adapting the offset by a point calibration by using a reference measure or value during the use. The present invention encompasses sensors, continuous sensors or automatic measuring systems calibrated or adjusted in accordance with the method, and in some embodiments, the offset adjusted prior to use is rectified according to the difference between a value determined by the sensor, continuous sensor or measuring system taking into account the standard steepness and the reference value.
US08880367B1 Method for accurately performing power estimation on a battery of an electronic device, and associated apparatus
A method for accurately performing power estimation on a battery of an electronic device includes: monitoring a charging current of the battery to obtain charging current data of the charging current with respect to time; and performing curve mapping according to the charging current data and according to a plurality of sets of predetermined curve characteristic data, in order to determine an estimation parameter corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined cycle counts, wherein the estimation parameter is utilized for performing power estimation, and the sets of predetermined curve characteristic data respectively correspond to the predetermined cycle counts, which represent estimated ages of the battery, respectively. At least one associated apparatus is also provided.
US08880362B2 System and method for monitoring paint flow in pavement marking applications
Presented herein are a system and method (i.e., utilities) for monitoring the flow of materials used to mark road surfaces and other surfaces. The utilities utilize one or more pressure sensors to monitor in-line pressure of road marking material to determine the amount of material being applied. Electronic equipment receives signals from the pressure sensors, temperature sensors and/or additional monitoring equipment to generate an output indicative of an amount of material flow. In a further arrangement, the equipment generates an output indicative of a thickness of the read marking material as applied to a surface.
US08880360B2 Mirror with media display device
A combination mirror and media display device assembly is provided. The combination mirror and media display device includes a mirror platform having a media display device viewing area and a media display device coupled to the mirror platform. The media display device is positioned to display images through the media display device viewing area.
US08880358B2 Sensing device
A sensing device including a sensor, a triggering mechanism and a covering is provided. The covering is positioned in contact with a body such that the triggering mechanism extends from a moving segment to a reference segment and across a joint center located therebetween. Movement of the moving segment activates the triggering mechanism to provide a force input to the sensor, actuating the sensor to generate an output defining at least one measurement of the movement. The measurement may be one or more of rotation, translation, velocity, acceleration, and joint angle. An intermediate mechanism may be interposed between the triggering mechanism and the sensor. The sensing device may include a means to process or record measurements corresponding to movement of the moving segment and joint center. A system and method of measuring the movement of a moving segment is also provided.
US08880357B2 Apparatus for estimating a resonant frequency of a wind turbine tower
The invention regards an apparatus for estimating a resonant frequency of a wind turbine tower, comprising a measuring module adapted for measuring acceleration values of the wind turbine tower wherein the acceleration values represent acceleration of the wind turbine tower, a filter module adapted for receiving the measured acceleration values, the filter module comprises a variable filter wherein the variable filter is adapted to attenuate frequencies in a band hereby attenuating frequencies for an output of the filter module, an adaptive algorithm module comprising an adaptive algorithm wherein the adaptive algorithm module is adapted for communicating with the filter module and wherein the adaptive algorithm is adapted to minimize the energy of the output of the filter module by adjusting the band of attenuated frequencies, a resonant frequency estimating module adapted for estimating the resonant frequency of a wind turbine tower based on the attenuated frequencies.
US08880354B2 System for magnetic resonance spectroscopy of brain tissue for pattern-based diagnostics
A system and method for preprocessing magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data of brain tissue for pattern-based diagnostics is disclosed. The MRS preprocessing system includes an MRS preprocessing module that executes an operation that normalizes MRS spectrum data, recalibrates and scales the normalized MRS spectrum data, and then renormalizes the scaled MRS spectrum data. The resulting preprocessed MRS data is used to assist in identifying abnormalities in tissues shown in MRS scans.
US08880345B2 Route generation system, route generation method, and program
Provided is a route generation device capable of generating an appropriate route. A route generation system of one embodiment of the present invention includes: analysis sections that analyze aerial image data to identify the land state of an area included in an aerial image; a storage section that stores traffic cost information associating a traffic-cost coefficient indicating traffic difficulty with the land state; a route searching section that calculates traffic costs of a plurality of routes from a start point to an end point by referring to the analysis results of the analysis sections and the traffic cost information and that determines a route candidate to be used from the start point to the end point based on the calculation results.
US08880339B1 Schematic display for vertical navigation
A schematic display for presenting vertical navigation (VNAV) data is disclosed. A planned route such as a flight plan is divided into a series of VNAV legs, and only a VNAV schematic that corresponds to the active VNAV leg is displayed. The VNAV schematic in accordance with the present disclosure is a profile-view schematic for the active VNAV leg, providing a visual representation indicating the locations of the upcoming Top of Climb (TOC) or Top of Descent (TOD). Additional VNAV data may also be presented to provide content context. Since the schematic display in accordance with the present disclosure only displays VNAV data relevant to the active VNAV leg at a given time, the complexities associated with displaying the VNAV schematic is reduced, making the VNAV data easy to read and understand.
US08880334B2 Machine control system having autonomous edge dumping
A control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of machines operating at a worksite. The control system may have a plurality of communicating devices, and a plurality of onboard controllers, each mountable to the plurality of machines. The control system may also have an offboard controller in communication with the plurality of onboard controllers via the plurality of communicating devices. The offboard controller may be configured to selectively assign each of a plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets for use by each of the plurality of machines based on an order in which the plurality of machines arrive at a dump location. The offboard controller may be further configured to make a determination that lanes extending to two dump targets of the plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets overlap, and selectively skip assignment of one of the two dump targets based on the determination.
US08880332B2 People guidance using kiosk and user ID
A method for providing navigation information to a user, the method including: inputting identification associated with the user into one terminal of a plurality of terminals distributed throughout an area visited by the user, each terminal being located in a kiosk and operating in kiosk mode; inputting a destination; computing a route from the kiosk to the destination; and presenting the route as the navigation information to the user.
US08880327B2 Method, apparatus and computer program for determining the location of a user in an area
Apparatus for orientating a user in a space wherein the space comprises a plurality of zones of which only certain zones constitute functional zones wherein each functional zone includes a first type device containing information relating to the position of the zone in the space and wherein the first type device is reactive to the presence of a second type device associated with the user to provide the user with the information to determine the orientation of the user in the space. A method of orientating the user within the space and guiding the user toward one or more features in the space is also disclosed.
US08880325B2 Method and device for ensuring the accuracy and the integrity of an aircraft position on the ground
An assist device for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of position information of an aircraft on the ground includes a processing unit for determining in the airport (AE) a zone (ZP) of insensitivity to multipath GPS signals, the zone (ZP) having a rectangular shape, which is determined relative to the threshold (O) of the runway, and which has a length (L1) equal to the length of the runway and a width (L2) depending on a maximum illumination distance (D). The device further includes a unit for verifying, while the aircraft is moving in the airport (AE), whether the position relative to position information of the aircraft is inside said runway zone (ZP). A method for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of position information of an aircraft on the ground is also disclosed herein.
US08880320B2 Method for controlling the speed of an internal combustion engine supercharged by means of a turbocharger
A method controls an internal-combustion engine (1) supercharged by a turbocharger (12) and including a turbine (13) and compressor (14). The control method includes steps of determining a pressure objective downstream of the compressor (14), determining a critical threshold of a reduced-mass-flow rate that delimits on a “reduced-mass-flow rate/compression ratio” plane a critical area substantially close to achievement of sonic conditions, and filtering by a first filter the pressure objective downstream of the compressor (14) when a current reduced-mass-flow rate is higher than the critical threshold.
US08880316B2 Control apparatus for vehicle
When various automatic steering is performed, a steering reaction transmitted from steered wheels is suppressed without making it interfere with a driver's steering input. A control apparatus (100) for controlling a vehicle (10), the vehicle provided with: a tire steer angle varying device (400, 800) capable of changing a tire steer angle of at least one wheel of front wheels and rear wheels independently of a driver's operation for promoting a change in the tire steer angle; and a braking/driving force varying device (300, 600) capable of changing a left-right braking/driving force difference of the at least one wheel is provided with: a setting device for setting a target value of a vehicle state quantity for defining a target motion state of the vehicle; and a determining device for determining a target value of the tire steer angle of the front wheels or the rear wheels and target values of left-right braking/driving forces of the front wheels or the rear wheels such that the vehicle state quantity has the set target value and such that a steering reaction torque has a predetermined target value, on the basis of a relative relation between: the steering reaction toque and the vehicle state quantity; and the tire steer angle and the left-right braking/driving force difference.
US08880303B2 Vehicle control unit and vehicle equipped with the same
A vehicle control unit and a vehicle equipped with the vehicle control unit are provided, the vehicle control unit being capable of preventing a shift change from being permitted in a direction opposite to a vehicle traveling direction caused by an erroneous operation of a shift lever during a traveling mode. In the vehicle control unit for controlling the vehicle on the basis of a shift range detecting unit configured to detect a shift range selected by a shift operation and a vehicle speed detecting unit configured to detect a vehicle speed, when the shift range detecting unit detects the shift range in a direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction in a state where the vehicle speed detecting unit detects a vehicle speed not less than a first speed V1, the vehicle control is carried out so that a compulsory deceleration is carried out by means of a deceleration unit provided in the vehicle instead of permitting the shift change corresponding to the shift range, the shift change being desirably permitted when the vehicle speed detecting unit detects that the vehicle speed decreases down to a vehicle speed not more than the first speed V1.
US08880297B2 Control device for vehicle seat
A control device for a vehicle seat is provided. This control device for the vehicle seat is provided with a control unit. In order to improve the performance of getting into and out of a vehicle, the control unit executes an away movement for moving the vehicle seat to the rear of the vehicle when a preset away condition is satisfied, and when a preset return condition is satisfied in this state, executes a return movement for moving the vehicle seat to the front of the vehicle. The return condition includes, as a first return condition, a vehicle door being closed with a portable key in the vehicle.
US08880296B2 Techniques for improving safe operation of a vehicle
Vehicle control system and method in which restrictions on travel of the vehicle are determined based on an indication of the visibility of a driver and information about objects moving in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle are considered. The travel restrictions include preventing a passing maneuver on a two-lane road when an oncoming vehicle precludes safely initiating or completing an already-initiated passing maneuver. A warning system is provided to warn a driver about the travel restrictions so that the driver will, hopefully, not attempt an unsafe maneuver.
US08880295B2 Torque based end of travel soft stop
A control system for controlling a steering system near an end of travel region is provided. The control system includes a first module that selectively estimates a command adjust value based on a hand wheel position and a hand wheel torque. A second module generates a motor assist command based on the command adjust value to control the steering system.
US08880294B2 Proactive electronic stability control system
A method of controlling stability of a vehicle comprises monitoring vehicle information with an electronic control unit. An approaching unstable driving condition is detected from the vehicle information with an electronic control unit. A signal is sent from the electronic control unit to at least one vehicle system to apply at least one proactive vehicle stability control action prior to the occurrence of the unstable driving condition.
US08880287B2 Steering-wheel-hold detection for lane keeping assist feature
A system and method for determining whether a vehicle driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle will include an electric power steering (EPS) system and may include an active front steering (AFS) system. The vehicle may further include autonomous or semi-autonomous driving features or safety features, such as Lane Centering Control (LCC) or Lane Keeping Assist (LKA). The system monitors steering torque and steering angle signals, determines a resonant frequency of oscillation of the steering system from the measured data, and compares the resonant frequency to a known natural frequency of the steering system. If the resonant frequency is lower than the known natural frequency, then the system knows that the vehicle driver is holding the steering wheel. A measured steering torque greater than a threshold value is also taken as an immediate indication of the driver holding the steering wheel.
US08880285B2 Flexible coaching platform for telematics system
A telematics system provides a platform for generating coaching tips, feedback, and simple indices based on driving behavior, historical information, heursistics and expert knowledge. The coaching tips are displayed on the policyholder portal and text describing the tips is completely configurable by an administrator on the server for the application. Furthermore, both ‘driving behavior’ and ‘environmentally friendly (green) driving’ tips can be supported.
US08880274B2 Cellphone based vehicle diagnostic system
A vehicular diagnostic communications system, and components thereof, are provided for an apparatus and technique for communicating vehicular diagnostic information over a cellphone network. The system includes a code reader having a vehicle diagnostic port connector for receiving vehicle diagnostic information from the vehicle diagnostic port. The code reader also has a local connectivity network circuit for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the vehicle diagnostic port connector and a local connectivity circuit. A cellphone is arranged in communication with the local connectivity network for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the code reader and a cellular telephone network.
US08880273B1 System and method for determining position and distance of objects using road fiducials
Aspects of the invention relate generally to autonomous vehicles. The features described improve the safety, use, driver experience, and performance of these vehicles by using ground markers to determine the position of the surrounding objects. In particular, the autonomous vehicle is capable of detecting nearby objects, such as vehicles and pedestrians, and is able to determine the position of these objects based on whether they have passed over ground markers.
US08880270B1 Location-aware notifications and applications for autonomous vehicles
Methods and apparatus are disclosed related to autonomous vehicle applications for selecting destinations. A control system of an autonomous vehicle can determine a status of the autonomous vehicle. The control system can determine a possible destination of the autonomous vehicle. The control system can generate and provide a hint related to the possible destination based on the status of the autonomous vehicle. The control system can receive input related to the hint. Based on the input, the control system can determine whether to navigate the autonomous vehicle to the possible destination. After determining to navigate the autonomous vehicle to the possible destination, the control system can direct the autonomous vehicle to travel to the possible destination.
US08880264B2 Charging control apparatus for electric vehicle
A charging control apparatus for an electric vehicle comprises: a charging efficiency computation device 21 for computing the charging efficiency of a driving battery 2; a state of change computation device 22 for computing the state of change of the driving battery 2; and a switching device 25 for switching, in response to a request from a user of the vehicle, between a first charging mode in which the charger 7 is controlled based on the charging efficiency to charge the driving battery 2, and a second charging mode in which the charger 7 is controlled based on the state of change to charge the driving battery 2.
US08880256B2 Method and apparatus for state selection stabilization for electrified powertrains
A method for stabilizing selection between a plurality of operating range states of an electro-mechanical multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, at least one electric machine, and a driveline includes requesting operation of the transmission in a preferred operating range state while a shift from a first operating range state to a second operating range state is in progress prior to achieving the second operating range state. Powertrain information is monitored and compared to a driver perception threshold only if a change of mind condition is detected. The shift to the second operating range state is avoided and a shift to the preferred operating range state is commanded if the powertrain information does not violate the driver perception threshold.
US08880247B2 Method for planning a landing approach of an aircraft, computer program product with a landing approach plan stored thereon, as well as device for planning a landing approach
A method and computer program product for planning a landing approach of an aircraft based on an actual position or first nominal position of the aircraft during its approach for landing on a runway, including providing a stabilization flight path section and stabilization region and/or stabilization point defined by an altitude profile by at least one configuration change point in the stabilization flight path section with a change of the overall profile configuration of the airfoils and with a predetermined final approach flight status of the aircraft, and checking or changing position of the at least one configuration change measure in a change and/or the addition of an additional configuration change measure to the stabilization flight path section and by changing a speed profile along the stabilization flight path section so that the aircraft reaches the predetermined final approach flight status in the stabilization region or at the stabilization point.
US08880245B2 Method and device for aiding the management of the flight of an aircraft
The device comprises servocontrol means which automatically control, in a combined manner, an automatic thrust system of the aircraft and airbrakes of the aircraft, as a supplement to usual means for steering the vertical trajectory, so that the aircraft attains a speed setpoint and/or altitude setpoint, at the location defined by a geographical constraint.
US08880242B2 Structural health management with active control using integrated elasticity measurement
A system and method for actively controlling a structure is disclosed. At least one non-optimal event is identified in real-time based on at least one real-time elasticity measurement, if an event threshold exceeds a predetermined value. In response to an active control command, a control mechanism is then activated in real-time to compensate for the non-optimal event.
US08880241B2 Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) small unmanned aerial system for monitoring oil and gas pipelines
Extended-range monitoring and surveillance of facilities and infrastructure—such as oil, water, and gas pipelines and power lines—employs autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable, small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) aircraft and docking platforms for accommodating the sUAS aircraft. Monitoring and surveillance of facilities using one or more embodiments may be performed continually by the sUAS flying autonomously along a pre-programmed flight path. The sUAS aircraft may have an integrated gas collector and analyzer unit, and capability for downloading collected data and analyzer information from the sUAS aircraft to the docking platforms. The gas collector and analyzer unit may provide remote sensing and in-situ investigation of leaks and other environmental concerns as part of a “standoff” (e.g., remote from operators of the system or the facilities) survey that can keep field operators out of harm's way and monitor health of the environment.
US08880233B2 Method and apparatus for delivering power using external data
A control system for an energy storage system located behind a utility meter uses a unique, feedback-based, communication and control method to reliably and efficiently maximize economic return of the energy storage system. Operating parameters for the energy storage system are calculated at an external, centralized data center, and are selected to prevent electrical power demand of an electric load location from exceeding a specified set-point by discharging energy storage devices, such as DC batteries, through a bidirectional energy converter during peak demand events. The control system can operate autonomously in the case of a communications failure.
US08880230B2 Operating method for a wind park
The present invention concerns a method of operating a wind park having a plurality of wind power installations. A wind power installation includes an electrical energy storage means associated with the wind power installation to store electrical energy which is consumed for starting up the wind power installation after stoppage and consumed for emergency shutdown of the wind power installation. In some embodiments, the wind power installation includes a control system to control taking of energy from the electrical energy storage means for an emergency shutdown procedure such that a sufficient emergency shutdown reserve is maintained in the electrical energy storage means to start a first wind power installation without consuming energy from a network.
US08880209B2 3D modeling apparatus, 3D modeling method, and modeled object
A 3D modeling apparatus includes: a support body which supports a modeled object formed by laminating a resin material that is cured by energy of an energy ray; an illumination mechanism which illuminates the resin material with the energy ray, on the basis of image data of laminated cross-sections which constitutes 3D data of an object to be modeled which is an object of modeling, in order to form the modeled object; and a supply mechanism which supplies a material that constitutes a part of the modeled object and is different from the resin material, to the resin material that is cured as being illuminated by the illumination mechanism, on the basis of the cross-section image data.
US08880203B2 On-line alignment of a process analytical model with actual process operation
A batch modeling and analysis system uses a simple and computationally inexpensive technique to align data collected from an on-going, currently running or on-line batch process with a batch model formed for the batch process so as to enable the reliable determination of the current operational state of the on-line batch process with respect to the batch model. This data alignment technique enables further statistical processing techniques, such as projection to latent sources (PLS) and principle component analysis (PCA) techniques, to be applied to the on-line batch data to perform analyses on the quality of the currently running batch. These analyses, in turn, provide useful information to a user, such as a batch operator, that enables the user to determine the quality of the batch at the present time, based on the batch model, and the likelihood that the desired batch output quality metrics will be reached at the end of the batch run.
US08880195B2 Transurethral systems and methods for ablation treatment of prostate tissue
Transurethral systems and methods for delivering electrical energy and controlled, mild heating to a prostate tissue of a patient for destruction of cancerous and/or hyperplastic tissue. A method includes positioning an elongate urethral probe having an expandable member with electrode elements at a target location in the patient's urethra, and inflating or expanding at the target location. Secondary electrodes are positioned within or adjacent to the prostate tissue and spaced from the electrode elements of the expandable member, and an alternating electrical current flow is established between the electrode elements of the expandable member and the one or more secondary electrodes. Current delivery can be selected so as to destroy or ablate cancerous cells of the prostate tissue.
US08880192B2 Electrode cuffs
An electrode assembly includes electrodes and a cuff, shaped so as to define a tubular housing that defines a longitudinal axis therealong, two edges, and a slit between the two edges. When the housing is closed, respective contact surfaces of the two edges touch each other, and the housing defines an inner surface that faces and surrounds the axis, to which inner surface the electrodes are fixed. The cuff further defines three or more annular insulating elements that extend toward the axis from the inner surface of the housing at respective longitudinal positions along the housing, such that the inner surface of the housing and pairs of the insulating elements define, at respective longitudinal positions along the housing, respective chambers open toward the axis. The housing is shaped such that the contact surfaces of the two edges extend toward the axis and protrude into the chambers.
US08880185B2 Renal denervation and stimulation employing wireless vascular energy transfer arrangement
Devices, systems, and methods provide for intravascular or extravascular delivery of renal denervation therapy and/or renal control stimulation therapy. Wireless vascular thermal transfer apparatuses and methods provide for one or both of production of current densities sufficient to ablate renal nerves and terminate renal sympathetic nerve activity, and production of current densities sufficient to induce endothelium dependent vasodilation of the renal artery bed. A common apparatus may be used for both renal ablation and control of renal function locally after renal denervation.
US08880184B2 Spacers for use with transcutaneous energy transfer system
A transcutaneous energy transfer system, method and kit for an implantable medical device having componentry for providing a therapeutic output and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the componentry and is adapted to be implanted at a location in a patient. An external power source has a primary coil contained in a housing. The external power source is capable of providing energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil of the external power source is placed in proximity of the secondary coil of the implantable medical device. A holder is adapted to be externally positioned with respect to the patient at a spot in proximity of the location of the implantable medical device and secured at the location. A spacer, removably coupled to the holder, has an opening receiving the protrusion. A plurality of spacers can be used. The number is spacers is selectable based on the size of the protrusion.
US08880182B2 Fitting a cochlear implant
A computer-implemented method for fitting a medical implant to a recipient, the medical implant being operative to stimulate a physiological system of the recipient over a plurality of stimulation channels. The method includes: determining, based on measurements, an initial stimulation profile for the plurality of stimulation channels; determining a representative stimulus level of the initial stimulation profile; determining a fitting stimulation profile by modifying the shape a shape of the initial stimulation based on the representative stimulus level profile; and configuring the medical implant according to the fitting stimulation profile.
US08880173B2 Device for providing transdermal electrical stimulation at an adjustable position on a head
A device for providing transdermal electrical stimulation at an adjustable position on a head. The device including a supporting member economically shaped and configured to be fixedly supported about an anatomical body part; the supporting member being adjustably positionable in only two directions substantially perpendicular to one another. No electrical stimulation is provided by the supporting member. Alternatively, the device includes at least one pair of electrodes for producing the transdermal electrical stimulation to the head. The electrodes are mounted to a securing member shaped and configured to be releasably securable only about a plurality of strands of hair at a predetermined fixed orientation without being secured about any anatomical body part.
US08880163B2 Method and a system for classifying neural signals, and a method of selecting electrodes for direct neural control
A classification method for classifying neural signals, the method comprising the following steps: a) using a plurality of electrodes over a determined period of time to acquire a plurality of neural signal samples; b) estimating a covariance matrix of said neural signals; and c) classifying said neural signals, the classification being performed: either in the Riemann manifold of symmetric positive definite matrices of dimensions equal to the dimensions of said covariance matrix; or else in a tangent space of said Riemann manifold. A method of selecting neural signal acquisition electrodes based on the Riemann geometry of covariance matrices of said signals. An application of said classification method and of said method of selecting electrodes to direct neural control.
US08880161B2 Methods and devices for accurately classifying cardiac activity
Methods, systems, and devices for signal analysis in an implanted cardiac monitoring and treatment device such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. In some examples, captured data including detected events is analyzed to identify likely overdetection of cardiac events. In some illustrative examples, when overdetection is identified, data may be modified to correct for overdetection, to reduce the impact of overdetection, or to ignore overdetected data. Several examples emphasize the use of morphology analysis using correlation to static templates and/or inter-event correlation analysis.
US08880157B2 Methods, devices and a marker for physical condition testing
The present invention relates to methods and devices for testing the physical condition of an individual. The methods and devices rely on the use of a marker of physical condition, and have applications including determining an individuals state of physical recovery from prior physical or athletic activity, determining an individuals physiological readiness for optimal physical performance, determining changes in the risk of (or for assessing progression of) cardiovascular disease in an individual, and for determining exercise and/or athletic training instructions for an individual based on their recovery state, physiological readiness to perform, and/or their cardiovascular disease risk status. The methods and devices require a comparison between the rate of increase in heart rate of an individual during a sub-maximal physical activity, and a predetermined reference measurement. A rate of increase in heart rate which is faster or slower than the predetermined reference measurement will allow determination of the individuals recovery state, physiological readiness to perform, and/or their cardiovascular disease risk status.
US08880152B2 System for determining the position of a knee prosthesis
The present application provides an apparatus and method for determining a position of a joint prosthesis using a computer assisted orthopedic surgery system in support of an arthroplasty surgery. The apparatus and method includes attaching a first locatable element to a first bone on one side of a joint, providing a sensor having a second locatable element and moving the sensor in proximity of the joint to locate a plurality of positions of the sensor relative to the first locatable element using a tracking device. The apparatus and method further includes selecting a generic model of a joint, determining the generic model in response to the plurality of positions located using the tracking device to generate a deformed model determining a position for a joint prosthesis on the deformed model, and outputting on a display the determined position upon the deformed model.
US08880151B1 Surgical needle for a surgical system with optical recognition
A system for image-guided surgery may include a visual imaging system, a medical tool comprising a shaft and a tip, wherein the shaft of the tool includes an optically detectable feature that allows a position of the tip to be determined, and a display configured to display a real-time representation of the medical tool including the position of the tip regardless of whether the tip is obstructed or visible.
US08880148B2 Treatment process of radiological images for detection of stenosis
A treatment process of radiological images is provided. The process comprises obtaining at least one set of images. For each set, the process comprises: segmenting an at least one first image to obtain an at least one first segmented image and to detect a plurality of arteries of the region of interest and an at least one second image to obtain an at least one second segmented image and to detect and isolate the tool; defining in the at least one first segmented image a plurality of lines, wherein each line defines an artery; determining, from the second segmented image and the defined lines, an artery of interest corresponding to the artery in which a tool has been inserted; and applying a quantitative analysis algorithm of coronary lesions to the artery of interest to detect lesion of the artery of interest.
US08880147B2 Sensor assembly tethered within catheter wall
A distal tip assembly for an elongate medical device having an axis comprises a shaft having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a wall, and a central lumen extending axially between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion. The distal tip assembly further comprises a position sensor disposed in an outer sleeve such that the sensor can shift relative to the sleeve. The sleeve is disposed at least in part in the wall and is substantially fixed thereto.
US08880143B2 Apparatus and method for estimating the bone mineral density to asses bone fractures risk
The present invention relates to a method for estimating the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) using image data collected in emergency situation, i.e. without following specific protocols. In particular, the invention discloses a method for assessing the risk of bone fractures using as one indicator a BMD of one or more bones. The BMD is calculated using a universal constant which provides a value of BMD having a certain error in respect to its true value. However this error does not substantially affect the assessment of the risk of fracture of one or more bones.
US08880141B2 Photoacoustic imaging devices and methods of making and using the same
A photoacoustic imaging device includes an array of light sources configured and arranged to illuminate a target region and an array of ultrasonic transducers between the array of light sources and the target region. The array of transducers may be fixedly coupled to the array of light sources, and the array of ultrasonic transducers may be configured and arranged to receive ultrasound transmissions from the target region.
US08880140B2 Electrode and electrode positioning arrangement for abdominal fetal electrocardiogram detection
The invention relates to large area electrodes suitable for use in a fetal heart rate monitoring systems. The electrode comprises: a cutaneous gel contact (10) for sensing fetal electrocardiogram signals from a human pregnant subject; an electrical conductor (12) electrically connected to the gel contact (10) so as to define a first electrical contact region; a connector (14) in electrical contact with the electrical conductor (12) for connection to a lead wire; and a substructure (16) for attachment to a human pregnant subject. The gel contact (10) and the electrical conductor (12) are arranged on the substructure (16) to allow a contact surface (11) of the gel contact (10) to be in electrical communication with the skin of a human pregnant subject to define a second electrical contact region. The second electrical contact region has an area greater than 370 square millimeters. When arranged on a predefined electrode topology on the abdomen the success rate of fetal heart rate detection is significantly improved. The topology may be incorporated into a flat flexible cable which provides a comfortable and reproducible electrode arrangement allowing an untrained person to apply electrodes to a pregnant mother's abdomen.
US08880124B2 Communication device, method and system for providing previews of voice calls
A method, system and apparatus for providing previews of voice calls are provided. A voice call from a communication device to a remote communication device is initiated, via a communication interface. Sound data is received via a microphone, prior to the voice call being established. Preview data is transmitted in association with the voice call to the remote communication device, via the communication interface, the preview data indicative of the sound data, and the preview data for presentation at the remote communication device prior to the voice call being established.
US08880106B2 Operation of devices supporting multiple SIMs
Exemplary embodiments are directed to operation of a device supporting multiple SIMs. A method may include detecting a paging collision scenario between a first subscription and at least a second subscription. The method may further include modifying a page reading operation of at least one of the first subscription and the at least a second subscription to avoid a paging collision between the first subscription and the at least a second subscription. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described in the application.
US08880100B2 Proximity based social networking
A system and method for proximity based social networking is disclosed between mobile computing devices each having a short range communication (SRC) device using near field magnetic induction. The SRC devices can include at least two antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity. The method comprises defining a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by a communication range of the SRC devices. A proximity signal is communicated in the proximity boundary between the SRC devices. Information can be exchanged between the mobile computing devices based on the settings of a social networking filter module.
US08880097B1 Systems and methods for statistically associating mobile devices to households
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for associating a mobile device to a household. In various embodiments, a plurality of latitude-longitude pairs is received for a mobile device during a time period. The latitude-longitude pairs are organized into a plurality of clusters corresponding to geographic regions visited by the mobile device during the time period. For each cluster, a score is calculated that represents a likelihood that a user of the mobile device resides in a household within the cluster. The cluster with the highest score is identified as being the location of the user's household. The computation is preferably conducted recursively over time periods. The mobile device is then associated with the user's household.
US08880089B2 Mobile communication system and radio resource assignment method
In a mobile communication system including a first base station and a second base station, the first base station includes: a user information obtaining unit configured to obtain user information in the first base station, and the second base station includes: a user information obtaining unit configured to obtain user information in the second base station; a base station internal information collection unit configured to collect user information in the first and the second base stations; and a resource assignment determination unit configured to determine radio resources that can be used by the first base station and radio resources that can be used by the second base station based on the user information in the first and the second base stations.
US08880072B2 Apparatus and method for searching for an allowed femtocell in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for searching for an allowed femtocell in a wireless communication system. A method for providing neighbor base station information from a femto base station to a User Equipment (UE) allowed to access in a wireless communication system includes, when the allowed UE initially accesses or when the neighbor base station information of the femto base station is changed, generating a message comprising the neighbor base station information of the femto base station. The method also includes sending the generated message to the allowed UE.
US08880071B2 Vertical handover composite quality measures
A composite quality measure helps determine a target for a vertical handover between different connection types. Various measurements are normalized, weighted and summed to produce composite quality measures. A composite quality measure may be compared to a target value and the corresponding connection may be added to a feasibility table if the composite quality measure is above the target.
US08880069B2 Communication system
A communication system is described in which a home base station operating in a hybrid access mode is able to provide preferential connectivity to mobile communication devices that are members of a closed subscriber group associated with the home base station compared to mobile communication devices that are not members of the closed subscriber group.
US08880061B2 Enabling handoff for multiple packet data network connections
Techniques for enabling handoff for multiple packet data network connection include selecting, when roaming from a current access network (AN) supporting multiple concurrent packet data network (PDN) connections to a handover target AN not supporting multiple concurrent PDN connections, a single PDN connection, from among multiple active PDN connections, for operation in the handover target AN and exchanging messages to register the single PDN connection in the handover target AN.
US08880058B2 Automatic tuning system
A system and method, automatically adaptable for use on multiple platforms, configured to reduce echoes heard by an end user of a remote communication device is provided. The system is configured to transmit communication from the remote communication device to a speaker, and to pick up communication from the microphone to the remote communication device. The system and method is directed towards emitting a test signal and processing the signal so as to calculate a phase shift to be applied to an outgoing auditory signal. The calculated phase shift is configured to cancel the test signal.
US08880056B2 Systems and methods for mobile phone validation
A method for validating the operational characteristics of a mobile phone is provided. The message may include sending a message from the mobile phone to network testing equipment. This message may alert the network testing equipment that a debug state of the mobile phone is enabled. The method may also include sending test data from the network testing equipment to the mobile phone. The method may further include receiving the test data at the mobile phone. The method may yet further include creating a log of received data at the mobile phone. In addition, the method may include using short message service signaling to send at least a portion of the logged data from the mobile phone to the network test equipment.
US08880043B1 Abbreviated-dialing code telecommunications with social media integration
Abbreviated-dialing codes are used to facilitate access to and information exchanged with social-media websites. Based on the code and/or other information contained in the call, a post may be made to, or information obtained from, a social-media website.
US08880039B2 Method and apparatus for intelligently composing a multimedia message for a mobile radio system
The invention presently proposed relates to a method and an apparatus for intelligently composing a multimedia message for a mobile radio system. In this method, a digital voice message is received from a digital answering service, a blank multimedia message is generated and the received multimedia message is added, the available amount of data remaining in the multimedia message is calculated, the digital voice message is analyzed, and a suitable multimedia content is selected in dependence on the remaining available amount of data in the multimedia message and the analysis result, and finally the multimedia content thus selected is added to the multimedia message including the received digital voice message.
US08880035B1 User customizable reverse ring tone
An improved system and method to provide important information either, as voice, text, picture, holographic image or video from the called party to a calling party before the called party answers a telephone. The information may be a recorded voice, text, image or video message. The called party may send a voice message, for example, and send it along with a call alerting message. The voice message may be recorded beforehand. Instead of the calling party's telephone playing a ringback signal, the recorded voice message is played or a data/bearer stream is heard. The calling party hears the voice message instead of the ringback tone normally heard when there is an incoming telephone call. If the calling and called party have telephones, such as mobile phones, IP phones, IP softphones, PDA with telephony capabilities, etc., which allow for multimedia messages such as text, images and video messages, the called party's recorded voice message may include text, images or video.
US08880034B2 Data segmentation profiles
A mobile communication device provides a user with the ability to set up one or more profiles on the device. Each profile is configured to segment the user's data and applications and selectively restrict access from an active profile to user data and applications associated with other profiles on the device. The mobile communication device stores profile configuration data including profile selection criteria used to automatically associate items of user data with profiles on the device. When an item of user data is received on the device, the device automatically identifies a profile to associate with the received item based on the profile selection criteria, and the received item is stored in the device so as to be associated with the identified profile. Exemplary profile selection criteria include criteria based on a current time or location, a currently active profile, a data type of the received item, and a source of the received item.
US08880031B1 System of providing information to a telephony subscriber
An information fulfillment system provides information to a user having a wireless communication device. Upon manual or automatic input of an access code to the wireless communication device, the fulfillment center delivers information based on the access code. Automatic verification, connection, and/or billing modification processes are provided for implementation of the system and method.
US08880026B2 Method and apparatus for providing network services to a mobile user equipment
The present invention provides a method and apparatus of providing network services to a mobile user equipment, where the mobile user equipment is connected to a fixed access network via a Femtocell base station and thus connected to the mobile core network. The mobile core network provides an access token to a Femtocell base station. The Femtocell requests the fixed access network with the access token to perform network resource configuration for the mobile user equipment. The mobile user equipment establishes a network service connection based on the network resource configuration. In this way, technically, it may be guaranteed that the mobile user equipment can be legal listened. Dependent on different service attributes of the mobile user equipment, different network access manners may be implemented, such that operators of mobile and fixed access networks may reasonably commercially apportion the charges based on their respective network resource occupation situations.
US08880019B1 Emergency alert system (EAS) message service profile
The service profile of an emergency alert system (EAS) message provides an indication of the alert and technology attributes associate with the delivery of the emergency alert message. In an example configuration, the service profile comprises an alert profile and a technology profile. The alert profile contains information pertaining to alert attributes and alert attribute contents. The technology profile contains information pertaining to text attributes, audio attributes, in band video attributes, out of band video/multimode attribute, and/or multimedia attributes.
US08880004B2 System and method for resolving conflicts between air interfaces in a wireless communication system
A device and method for resolving conflicts between air interfaces in a wireless communication system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises communicating over a first air interface, receiving a request for resources for concurrent use in communicating over a second air interface, determining that a conflict does not exist between resources for the first air interface and at least a portion of the requested resources for the second air interface, and concurrently communicating over the first air interface using resources for the first air interface and communicating over the second air interface using at least a portion of the requested resources for the second air interface.
US08880001B1 Collaborative positioning, navigation and timing
A method for providing collaborative PNT for a plurality of nodes in a distributed sensing system is disclosed. The method may include receiving carrier phase and pseudorange measurements from a first node and a second node of the plurality of nodes; providing a process model for each node, where the process model for each node is configured for modeling error characteristics associated with that node; determining an error covariance between the first node and the second node; and estimating a PNT solution for the first node and a PNT solution for the second node based on: the carrier phase and pseudorange measurements received from the first node, the carrier phase and pseudorange measurements received from the second node, the process model for the first node, the process model for the second node, and the error covariance between the first node and the second node.
US08879998B2 Assessing interference environment for wireless communication devices
Disclosed is a device and method to automate the process of measuring RF noise, correlating measured noise with known sources, and making adjustments to the noise-measuring and reporting process. A wireless communication device is coupled to equipment at a fixed location, and transmits data about the operation of the equipment back to an operator, via a provider's network. Examples include fixed wireless terminals. A management entity aboard the wireless communication device performs the measurements via a transceiver and performs remedial actions when required, without requiring an onsite technician or remote assistance. The management entity may include a spectrum analyzer.
US08879997B2 Method and apparatus for antenna radiation cross polar suppression
Cross-polar discrimination (XPD) of a dual orthogonal cross-polarized antenna is maximized via a cross-coupling network between base station MIMO branches prior to connection to the base station antenna. In one embodiment, a cross coupling network combines each MIMO branch signal with an attenuated phase reversed (phase shifted) copy of the other MIMO branch signal. The amount of attenuation for each branch is equivalent to the cross polar suppression required for each antenna array. The cross-coupling can be applied at different stages of signal processing within a base station.
US08879991B2 Short-range wireless communication apparatus and method for establishing connection thereof
A short-range wireless communication apparatus and method establish a connection thereof by simply selecting a connection target through a camera and providing an identifiable image of a target. In the method, the apparatus captures an identifiable image of a connection target device and recognizes identifiable information corresponding to the captured identifiable image. Then the apparatus either automatically selects or in conjunction with user approval selects the connection target device corresponding to the recognized identifiable information and establishes a connection with the selected target device through a short-range wireless communication.
US08879988B2 Receiver for a telecommunications system
Methods and apparatus in a near-field communication system, in which a modulated signal received in a Reader is clipped by applying upper and lower clip levels. After clipping, the modulated part of the signal corresponds to a greater portion of the overall signal, and thus the requirements placed on an analog-to-digital converter for the clipped signal are reduced. In a first mode of operation, prior to or at the start of reception of the load-modulated signal, the clip levels may be set in a feedforward manner on the basis of preset values or a detected change in the overall signal; in a second mode of operation, once the clipped signal is available, the clip levels may be set in a feedback manner on the basis of the clipped signal.
US08879986B2 Wireless bidirectional communications between a mobile device and associated secure element using inaudible sound waves
In some embodiments, a system includes a mobile communication device and a secure element physically coupled to the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device includes a first wireless transceiver, first processor, first memory, first speaker, first microphone, and first Audio To Digital conversion (ADC). The secure element includes a second wireless transceiver, second processor, second memory, second speaker, second microphone, a second Audio To Digital converter (ADC), and a second Digital to Audio converter (DAC). The mobile communication device is configured to transmit data via the first speaker to the secure element microphone using inaudible sound waves. The secure element is configured to transmit data wirelessly via the second speaker to the mobile communication device using inaudible sound waves.
US08879975B2 Fuser member
There is disclosed a fuser member that includes a substrate layer and a surface layer disposed on the substrate layer. The surface layer includes a fluoropolymer having dispersed therein fluorinated graphene particles. A method of manufacturing a fuser member is also provided.
US08879973B2 Fixing device provided with heater having sealed portion with improved orientation
A fixing device includes: a tubular member; a heater; a nip member; a stay; and a backup member. The heater including: a glass tube; and a heat source. The nip member confronts the heater in a confronting direction. The glass tube has an axis defining an axial direction. The glass tube includes a glass tube body having end portions in the axial direction and sealed portions formed integrally with the end portions. Each sealed portion is formed in a plate shape and protrudes radially outwardly from the glass tube body when viewing in the axial direction. Each sealed portion is oriented in a first direction and defines a cross-sectional distance between one end portion and another end portion of the sealed portion in the confronting direction greater than a cross-sectional length of the glass tube in a second direction perpendicular to the confronting direction and the axial direction.
US08879972B2 Fuser and image-forming apparatus
A fuser includes a cylindrical heating rotating body including a heat generator and a pressure rotating body including a circumferential face which has contact with the heating rotating body to form a nip portion for fusing, wherein a disk-like outside plate, which is exposed outside, is provided in one end or both ends of the heating rotating body in a rotation axis direction, a disk-like inside plate is provided in an inner circumferential face of the heating rotating body on an inside of the outside plate to have an interval relative to the outside plate, a center vent is provided near a center of the outside plate, an outer edge vent is provided in an outer edge or the neighborhood thereof of the outside plate, and a flow path, which connects the center vent and the outer edge vent, is provided between the outside vent and the inside vent.
US08879970B2 Image forming apparatus which uses electrostatic latent image for color misregistration correction
An image forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to form electrostatic latent images for correction on a photosensitive member; a voltage application unit configured to apply a voltage to a process unit; a current detection unit configured to detect a current to the voltage application unit via the process unit when the voltage is applied to the process unit; and a conversion unit configured to convert an output value detected by the current detection unit such that a variation range of the output value detected by the current detection unit at a formation period of the electrostatic latent image for correction becomes larger than a variation range of the output value detected by the current detection unit at a one-rotation period of the photosensitive member on which the electrostatic latent image is not formed.
US08879967B2 Development device and image formation apparatus
A development device includes a developer carrier configured to develop an electrostatic latent image by causing a developer to adhere to an electrostatic latent image carrier, a first supply member disposed in non-contact with the developer carrier and configured to supply a developer to the developer carrier, a second supply member disposed in contact with the first supply member below the first supply member and configured to supply the developer to the first supply member, and a developer holder configured to hold the developer for replenishing the second supply member. The first supply member and the second supply member rotate so that the surfaces thereof move in the same direction at their opposed parts.
US08879963B2 Toner supplying device and image forming apparatus using same
A toner supplying device including a secondary toner container, a first feeding member performing a first feeding operation of feeding toner from a toner container to the secondary container on demand, a second feeding member performing a second feeding operation of feeding the toner from the secondary container to a developing device on demand, and a toner supply controller controlling the amount of the toner in the secondary container to be greater than a predetermined amount. The controller performs first control in which when the first feeding operation is performed, the amount of the toner fed in the second feeding operation per unit of time is decreased, or second control in which when the amount of the toner fed in the second feeding operation is greater than a predetermined amount, the amount of the toner fed in the first feeding operation per unit of time is decreased.
US08879959B2 Systems and methods for remanufacturing imaging components
A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and three prongs extending longitudinally outward from the end surface.
US08879955B2 Drum unit and image forming apparatus having drum unit
A drum unit has a photosensitive drum, a circular tube member, a housing, and a bearing portion. The photosensitive drum includes a drum sleeve, a flange portion, and a supporting portion. The supporting portion is press-fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the circular tube member made of metal. The sliding surface of the circular tube member is rotatably inserted into the bearing portion attached to the housing of the drum unit.
US08879950B2 Image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum and exposing member movable between an exposure position close to the drum and an evacuation position evacuated from the drum
An image forming apparatus includes: a main apparatus body; an opening/closing member; a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and can be pulled out of an accommodating space along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum; an exposing member provided in the main apparatus body and movable between an exposure position and an evacuation position; and a movable mechanism including: a first movable member movable in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member; and a second movable member for moving the exposing member between the exposure position and the evacuation position in accordance with movement of the first movable member. The second movable member supports both end portions of the exposing member. The second movable member moves the exposing member to the exposure position or the evacuation position by the movement of the first movable member in accordance with the movement of the opening/closing member.
US08879949B2 Laser printer toner cartridge seal and method
A reassembled laser printer toner cartridge and method of manufacture including a cartridge seal assembly in which the remains of an OEM laser printer toner cartridge's toner hopper pull seal strip(s) is left in position, or a substitute conductive strip is put in the same position to simulate the OEM pull seal strip(s) if the OEM strips have been damaged or are missing in order to enable a repaired or remanufactured cartridge to cooperate with the printer in detecting measuring and displaying the amount of toner consumed from the cartridge and shut the printer down, once the toner cartridge is empty, and a toner cartridge hopper foam seal strip assembly that covers the remnants of the OEM seal strips and provides a seal to prevent leakage of toner from the re-filled toner cartridge.
US08879947B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is configured to form an image by using photosensitive drums. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an endless belt, a drawing member which rotatably supports cartridges, and is movable to a mounting position at which the photosensitive drums oppose the endless belt and to a separation position at which the photosensitive drums are further spaced from the endless belt than at the mounting position, and a cleaning unit including a first housing having a collecting member which is configured to contact the endless belt to collect developer on the endless belt and a second housing having an accommodating part which is configured to accommodate the developer collected by the collecting member. The first housing is provided to the apparatus main body and the second housing is provided to the drawing member.
US08879941B2 Cleaning device and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing staying of toner in a brush and reducing stress on a brush by discharge products are provided. A cleaning device includes upstream and downstream cleaning brushes and a cleaning roller, which respectively contact the surface of a secondary transfer belt, and first to third bias applying sections. The first bias applying section applies a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the normal toner to the upstream cleaning brush. The second bias applying section applies a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the normal toner and set to be not less than the absolute value of the bias voltage applied to the upstream cleaning brush, to the downstream cleaning brush. The third bias applying section applies a bias voltage having the same polarity as that of the normal toner to the cleaning roller.
US08879937B2 Image forming apparatus with electric field control
In an apparatus which forms an adjustment toner image outside an image area in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of an image bearing member, a toner change amount of the adjustment toner image which is directly transferred onto and adheres to a transfer roller without interposing a recording medium differs depending on a transfer electric field. Since the transfer electric field is in a direction for reversing a charging polarity of the toner, when the transfer electric field is large, the toner charge amount of the adjustment toner image is reduced. Therefore, in case that the transfer electric field is large, the cleaning electric field is set small. Thereby the toner of the adjustment toner image can be sufficiently cleaned off by an electrostatic cleaning member irrespective of the transfer voltage, and contamination on a back side of a recording material can be avoided.
US08879931B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an endless belt; a first driver for driving the belt in contact to an inner surface of the belt; a second driver for driving the belt in contact to an outer surface of the belt; and a tension detector for detecting a state of tension of the belt. The tension detector includes: a movable device, contacted to the belt in a region downstream of the second driver and upstream of the first driver and in a region upstream of the second driver and downstream of the first driver with respect to a rotational direction of the belt, capable of moving its position depending on the tension of the belt in the two regions; a member-to-be-detected capable of changing its position in interrelation with the movement of the movable device; and a detecting device for detecting the member-to-be-detected.
US08879929B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a corona charger, provided with an opening, for electrically charging the photosensitive member; a sheet-like shielding member for shielding the opening of the corona charger; a moving device for moving the shielding member in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive member; a potential sensor for detecting a potential of a portion of the photosensitive member chargeable by the corona charger; and a controller for detecting, on the basis of a result of detection of the potential of the portion of the photosensitive member by the potential sensor, whether or not a charging operation capable of electrically charging the photosensitive member by the corona charger is performed in a state in which the shielding member is located between the opening of the corona charger and the photosensitive member.
US08879923B2 Optical transmitter/receiver circuit device and receiver circuit
According to one embodiment, an optical transmitter/receiver circuit device includes a transmitter circuit including a transition time adjusting circuit to obtain a second voltage signal from a first voltage signal and a voltage-current converter circuit that converts the second voltage signal to a first current signal, a light-emitting element to convert the first current signal to an optical signal, a light-receiving element to convert the optical signal to a second current signal, and a receiver circuit including a current-voltage converter circuit that converts the second current signal to a third voltage signal, a pulse generation circuit to generate rise and fall pulse from the third voltage signal and a decoder circuit that generates a fourth voltage signal in synchronism with the pulse.
US08879919B2 Photonic communications device with an FM/PM discriminator and related methods
A communications device includes a transmitter device having first and second optical sources and generating respective first and second modulated optical carrier signals at first and second optical carrier frequencies based upon an input signal. The communications device also includes an optical waveguide coupled to the transmitter device, and a receiver device coupled to the optical waveguide and including an FM-PM discriminator having a transfer function with a positive slope portion and a negative slope portion so that the first optical carrier frequency is positioned on the positive slope portion and the second optical carrier frequency is positioned on the negative slope portion.
US08879918B1 Pluggable small form factor platform for optical passive devices
A pluggable platform in small form factor is described. In one embodiment, the pluggable platform is designed to accommodate passive optical devices and may retrofit into an existing system. Further, the pluggable platform in small form factor is provided with an interface for tractability of the passive optical devices being supported.
US08879911B2 Optical line terminal, dynamic bandwidth allocation method, and optical communication network
There is provided an optical line terminal that dynamically allocates communication bandwidth to a plurality of optical network units in an optical communication network, the optical line terminal including a minimum bandwidth allocation unit calculating allocation bandwidth of the plurality of optical network units based on bandwidth request information notified by the plurality of optical network units, a comparison unit comparing an allocation cycle given as the sum total of allocation bandwidth allocated to the plurality of optical network units respectively with a predetermined threshold value, a best-effort bandwidth allocation unit calculating remaining bandwidth as best-effort bandwidth of the plurality of optical network units when the allocation cycle is less than the threshold value, and a bandwidth allocation unit allocating communication bandwidth of the plurality of optical network units based on the allocation bandwidth and the best-effort bandwidth.
US08879907B2 Measurement apparatus, network design apparatus, transmission system, and network management apparatus
A measurement apparatus includes: a transmitter disposed at a transmission-side node and configured to transmit two pulsed lights with different wavelengths at time intervals to a reception-side node; a transmission controller configured to control the transmitter so as to transmit the two pulsed lights repeatedly while changing the time interval; a receiving unit disposed at the reception-side node and configured to receive the two pulsed lights from the transmitter via one or more relay nodes; a detection unit configured to detect a change in a phase of at least one of the two pulsed lights received by the receiving unit; and a measurement unit configured to measure, based on the time interval and the change in a phase detected by the detection unit, a dispersion value of each transmission line between two nodes of nodes including the transmission-side node, the reception-side node, and the one or more relay nodes.
US08879906B2 Optimal combined 2R/3R regenerators placement method for line network topologies in optical WDM networks
A method for optimal combined 2R/3R regenerators placement for optical transmission includes determining an optimal placement of multiple 2R and 3R regenerators that minimizes bit error rate BER at a destination node, determining an optimal number of the 2R and 3R regenerators that minimizes a total cost while satisfying the BER at the destination node, and determining an optimal placement of the 2R and 3R regenerators along a route in the optical transmission.
US08879900B2 Image blur correction device and imaging apparatus
An image blur correction device includes a lens unit which has at least one lens, and can be pivoted in two directions, which are orthogonal to each other, with respect to an outer housing, and a first driving motor and second driving motor which pivot the lens unit in the directions, in which a coil body having a plurality of coil sections, and a magnet placed to face the plurality of coil sections, are provided in the first driving motor and the second driving motor, a placement area, in which the plurality of coil sections are placed and a non-placement area, in which there are no coil sections, are formed, and the outer circumference of the non-placement area is positioned to the inside of a virtual circle that links the outer circumferences of each coil section in each plurality of coil section.
US08879894B2 Pixel analysis and frame alignment for background frames
Background frames can be completed from a collection of frames having foreground objects that are partially obscuring the pixels comprising the background. The special offset of a pixel represented across a collection of frames can be determined based on camera movement data. By determining the relative offset of a pixel represented in a first frame from the same pixel in other frames, pixel values representing a background object can be accumulated to derive a completed background frame.
US08879893B2 Scrambling and descrambling method for the transport of MPEG2 audio video data streams
A scrambling and descrambling method that includes reading of original PID and TSC bits in the PID and TSC fields of a packet header of an MPEG2 stream which is at least partially scrambled. A temporary PID may be written in a PID field in place of the original PID, and may be a function of the original PID value and TSC bits according to a correspondence table of an original PID and TSC bits with the temporary PIDs. The value zero may be written in the TSC field in place of the original value, and scrambling of the stream with modified fields may occur. Applications include the satellite transmission of partially scrambled MPEG2 digital signals.
US08879889B2 Closed captioning content based digital video recording systems and methods
An exemplary method includes a digital video recording system receiving input representative of one or more keywords from a user of a media content service, detecting the one or more keywords within closed captioning content associated with a media content instance available for access by the user by way of the media content service, and performing, in response to the detecting, one or more recording operations with respect to the media content instance. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08879886B2 Method and apparatus for configuring storage of video data from a plurality of sources
A method of configuring a storage device for recording video data from a plurality of video sources comprising the steps of providing a list of parameters that control settings of the plurality of video sources that affect the amount of video data that will be provided by a video source from the plurality of video sources, allowing a user to select a parameter from the list, allowing the user to change the selected parameter, determining the effect of changing the selected parameter on the amount of video storage available; and providing the user with feedback concerning the effect of changing the selected parameter.
US08879885B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: a display control section configured to display on a display section a picture based on a video signal and a caption synchronized with the picture and based on caption information attached to the video signal; and a character string information acquisition section configured to acquire character string information common to the caption information and to information related to music contents stored in a storage section, by comparing the caption information with the related information. The display control section displays on the display section the caption in which the common character string information acquired by the character string information acquisition section is highlighted in a predetermined manner.
US08879879B2 Optical fiber, in particular a laser fiber containing a doped glass fiber core and cladding around the fiberglass core
The invention relates to an optical fiber, in particular a laser fiber, containing a doped glass fiber core (1) and cladding (2) around the latter with a refraction index profile which decreases outwards from the fiber core. The optical fiber is distinguished by at least one intermediate layer (3, 4, 5) being disposed between the glass fiber core and the cladding to reduce the mechanical tension therebetween. In one advantageous embodiment, the intermediate layer is doped in such a way as to ensure a stepped mechanical tension distribution between the glass fiber core and the cladding, and is co-doped in such a way as to reduce the refractive index and counteract the refraction index-increasing effect of the intermediate layer doping. The invention further relates to an application of at least one doped barrier layer to a core region during preparation of the preform to avoid diffusion of special core dopants from the core during the collapse process, and to allow the diffusion of special dopants between the barrier layer and the core layer.
US08879872B2 Method and apparatus for restoring resolution of multi-view image
A method and apparatus for restoring a resolution of a low resolution view image from a multi-view image. In the resolution restoration method, detailed information may be generated using a reference image neighboring a criterion image, and a resolution of the criterion image may be restored using the detailed information.
US08879864B2 Generating sub-frame images for driving display
A frame image is input. First to Nth intermediate images are generated from the frame image. First to Nth sub-filters that have been generated by dividing an original filter are held, along with relative position information of pixels referred to by each of the sub-filters. Pixel values are collected of pixels in an ith intermediate range (1≦i≦N). N sub-frame images are created by obtaining a pixel value of a pixel of interest in an ith sub-frame image from a calculation value obtained using the ith sub-filter with respect to the collected pixel values.
US08879863B1 Method for determining noise level
A method for determining noise levels in a subband of an image. The method comprises receiving the subband of the image, defining block regions in at least two space domains of the subband, for each defined block region, identifying first wavelet coefficients associated with coordinate values in the at least two space domains in the defined block region, computing a correlation matrix between identified wavelet coefficients to determine the correlation between first wavelet coefficients according to the at least one color domain, computing second wavelet coefficients, the computation of second wavelet coefficients being based on the correlation matrix and the first wavelet coefficients, computing at least one noise level, the noise level computation being based on at least one second wavelet coefficient and providing the at least one noise level.
US08879857B2 Redundant data encoding methods and device
Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes A method of processing multimedia data, including obtaining content information of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data to form an encoded bitstream, said encoding comprising inserting at least one redundant block of intra-coded data into the encoded bitstream based on the content information. In some aspects, the encoding comprises encoding the multimedia data into a base layer and an enhancement layer, and wherein the intra-coded data is encoded using the quantization parameter for the base layer. In other aspects, the intra-coded data is encoded using the quantization parameter for the enhancement layer.
US08879854B2 Method and apparatus for recognizing an emotion of an individual based on facial action units
An apparatus and method are provided for recognizing an emotion of an individual based on Action Units. The method includes receiving an input AU string including one or more AUs that represents a facial expression of an individual from an AU detector; matching the input AU string with each of a plurality of AU strings, wherein each of the plurality of AU strings includes a set of highly discriminative AUs, each representing an emotion; identifying an AU string from the plurality of AU strings that best matches the input AU string; and outputting an emotion label corresponding to the best matching AU string that indicates the emotion of the individual.
US08879852B2 Non-contrast-enhanced 4D MRA using compressed sensing reconstruction
A reconstructed image is rendered of a patient by a processor from a set of undersampled MRI data by first subtracting two repetitions of the acquired data in k-space to create a third dataset. The processor reconstructs the image by minimizing an objective function under a constraint related to the third dataset, wherein the objective function includes applying a Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT) to a temporal dimension of data. The objective function under the constraint is expressed as arg minf{∥φ(f)∥1 subject to ∥Af−y∥2≦ε}. The reconstructed image is an angiogram which may be a 4D angiogram. The angiogram is used to diagnose a vascular disease.
US08879848B2 Machine vision based automatic maximal clamp measurement tool
System and method for measuring distances in an image. An image is received that includes curves corresponding to one or more objects in the image. Multiple curves in a specified region of interest (ROI) in the image are detected, where the ROI has a specified direction. Each curve includes respective curve points. A convex hull is determined based on the respective curve points. One or more candidate antipodal point pairs of the convex hull are determined. A first point pair of the one or more antipodal point pairs is selected based on one or more specified constraints. A clamp angle corresponding to the first point pair is determined. A distance between the first point pair along a direction specified by the clamp angle is determined. The first point pair, the distance, and the clamp angle are stored. Calibration information may be applied at any point during the process.
US08879844B2 High-performance closed-form single-scan calculation of oblong-shape rotation angles from optical image data of arbitrary size and location for user interface applications
A method and system for calculating oblong-shape rotation angles from optical image data of arbitrary size for user interface applications is described without the need of eigenvector routines and storage of the image data. The oblong shape may be of arbitrary size and location and need not be precisely elliptical. A few running sums are calculated and stored throughout each scan, and the results are obtained in closed form by simple post-scan computation. An algorithmic embodiment can execute on one or more hardware processors with limited or otherwise constrained computation power, available instruction cycles, available memory, etc. Hardware processors may CPUs found in desktops, laptops, tablets, or handheld computing devices. The resulting arrangement may be used for touch or optical user interfaces and other purposes.
US08879843B2 Image processing method
An image processing method is adapted for hue adjustment of an original image pixel. The original image pixel is composed of a plurality of pixel components each having a component value. The image processing method includes: determining a hue zone to which the original image pixel belongs based directly on the component values of the pixel components thereof; obtaining a shifted hue zone according to a predefined hue shift amount, the determined hue zone, and the component values of the pixel components of the original image pixel; and obtaining a hue shifted pixel according to the obtained shifted hue zone, and the component values of the pixel components of the original image pixel.
US08879838B2 Image coding method and apparatus and image decoding method and apparatus, based on characteristics of regions of image
Methods of efficiently coding and decoding an image by analyzing each of regions of the image are provided. In the image coding method, an image format and a coding mode of a first region of an image are determined, whether a current image format of the first region is to be switched is determined based on the determined image format, and the first region is coded based on the determined image format and coding mode.
US08879830B2 Control method and apparatus for stereoscopic display
A control method and apparatus for stereoscopic display is provided. The method includes: obtaining the position change information of glasses of a user (s101); and then calibrating the image of display according to the position change information of glasses of the user (s102). The control apparatus includes: an obtaining module (101) which obtains the position change information of glasses of a user; and a calibrating module (102) which calibrates the image of display according to the position change information of glasses of the user. Compared with the prior art, the present invention can effectively solves the problem that stereoscopic effect is not real, due to the stereo virtual image position changed along with the moving head position of the user.
US08879814B2 Method and apparatus for reducing motion related imaging artifacts using consistency values
A method for reducing, in an image, motion related imaging artifacts. The method includes obtaining a single image of a subject using a computed tomography (CT) imaging system, obtaining a plurality of images of the subject using a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging system, generating a plurality of consistency values, and utilizing the plurality of consistency values to register the CT image and the plurality of PET images.
US08879813B1 Systems and methods for automated interest region detection in retinal images
Embodiments disclose systems and methods that aid in screening, diagnosis and/or monitoring of medical conditions. The systems and methods may allow, for example, for automated identification and localization of lesions and other anatomical structures from medical data obtained from medical imaging devices, computation of image-based biomarkers including quantification of dynamics of lesions, and/or integration with telemedicine services, programs, or software.
US08879808B2 Synchronization of medical imaging systems
A method for interventional imaging of synchronizing a first dataset with a second dataset is provided. The datasets represent a region of interest in a patient, wherein the first dataset and the second dataset each corresponding to two different types of information on the region of interest and wherein the datasets are acquired by separate medical systems. The method comprises aligning the first dataset and the second dataset with at least two signals representing a physiological activity of the patient, the at least two signals having been recorded by the medical systems on a common time scale with the time scale used for acquiring the datasets.
US08879803B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for image clustering
Various methods for clustering images of faces are provided. One example method may include receiving a plurality of input clusters including a first cluster and at least a second cluster, where each input cluster including at least one feature that was extracted from an image. The example method may further include determining a first medoid for the first cluster and a second medoid for the second cluster, determining an inter-cluster distance between the first medoid and the second medoid, and merging the first cluster with the second cluster to generate a merged cluster in an instance in which the inter-cluster distance is less than a distance threshold. Similar and related example methods, example apparatuses, and example computer program products are also provided.
US08879802B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus comprises a face detection unit configured to periodically perform face detection processing of detecting a face area of a person from an image; an authentication unit configured to periodically perform personal authentication processing for the detected face area; and a calculation unit configured to calculate a determination criterion to select a face area as a target of the personal authentication processing from the detected face areas, wherein the authentication unit performs the personal authentication processing at a cycle longer than that of the face detection processing, and when the face detection unit detects the face areas from a plurality of images, selects a face area complying with the determination criterion calculated by the calculation unit from the face areas of the plurality of images as the target of the personal authentication processing.
US08879798B2 Frequency-dependent ray tracing through an interface
Computing systems and methods for improving processing of collected data are disclosed. In one embodiment, while ray-tracing through a sub-surface region, a frequency- dependent outgoing ray direction is computed from a point on an interface disposed in the sub-surface region when the ray tracing is at the interface.
US08879795B2 Collision warning system
A method of estimating a time to collision (TTC) of a vehicle with an object comprising: acquiring a plurality of images of the object; and determining a TTC from the images that is responsive to a relative velocity and relative acceleration between the vehicle and the object.
US08879785B1 Virtual postage based on image recognition
A number of approaches for using a camera or other device to capture an image of an arbitrary signature, drawing and/or other scribble rendered on a package and utilizing the captured image as electronic postage for shipping the package to the recipient destination. A sender wishing to send a package handwrites a signature or other scribble directly onto the package that is to be shipped. A mobile device (e.g., smartphone) can be used to capture an image of the scribble and perform image recognition to determine whether the captured image contains sufficient features to be distinct from other images stored in a database. If the image is sufficiently distinct, the image can be accepted as electronic postage for the package. When the package is picked up, the delivery person scans the scribble and matches it to the image on file to determine the recipient address and other shipping information.
US08879783B1 Comparing extracted card data with user data
Extracting card data comprises receiving, by one or more computing devices, a digital image of a card; perform an image recognition process on the digital representation of the card; identifying an image in the digital representation of the card; comparing the identified image to an image database comprising a plurality of images and determining that the identified image matches a stored image in the image database; determining a card type associated with the stored image and associating the card type with the card based on the determination that the identified image matches the stored image; and performing a particular optical character recognition algorithm on the digital representation of the card, the particular optical character recognition algorithm being based on the determined card type. Another example uses an issuer identification number to improve data extraction. Another example compares extracted data with user data to improve accuracy.
US08879778B2 Ultra-slim speaker unit capable of improving low-pitched sound characteristic and sound pressure and board equipped with the same
A speaker used as a household appliance is provided. The speaker has an ultra-slim structure suitable for an ultra-slim TV and is applied to a woofer speaker representing a superior low-pitched sound characteristic. The speaker has the ultra-slim structure and improves the low-pitched sound characteristic and sound pressure by increasing the amplitude. Outer appearances of a damper and a frame are changed to enlarge a diameter of a voice coil in comparison with an outer diameter of the speaker, the damper has a two-step structure such that a longitudinal amplitude of an upper side of the damper is increased to improve the low-pitched sound characteristic in a state in which a lower side of the damper is put on the frame, and a size of a vibration plate is enlarged to improve the low-pitched sound characteristic and sound pressure. A flat plate is used as the vibration plate.
US08879756B2 Voice film of multi-layered structure for flat type speaker
The present invention relates to a voice film having a multi-layered structure for a flat panel speaker, including a PCB configured to have permanent magnets disposed on the left and right sides thereof, to have a voice coil patterned therein and disposed between the permanent magnets on the left and right sides so that the voice coil is vibrated up and down, and to have a PCB structure of a stack structure and coil patterns formed on surfaces of the highest PCB, one or more intermediate layer PCBs, and the lowest PCB in the form of a consecutive spiral track, wherein the start points of coil patterns of adjacent PCBs formed in layers, from among the coil patterns, are shorted through a via hole and are bonded to the respective end points of the coil patterns of the adjacent PCBs at the end points of the coil patterns.
US08879754B2 Sound reproducing system with superimposed digital signal
A home use sound reproduction system for Hi-fi, with digital signal transfer from a playback unit via a control unit to one or more active loudspeakers, each including or arranged beside an amplifier unit. The control unit is arranged to control sound parameters and send both a digital sound information signal and a power signal for powering the amplifier units, and to superimpose the single ended or differential digital signal together with the power signal on at least one common lead in a cable.
US08879745B2 Method of deriving individualized gain compensation curves for hearing aid fitting
A method of deriving individual gain compensation curves for hearing aid fitting includes providing a system that detects, measures and records head azimuth for sound direction affirmation by a patient and provides a plurality of audio signals through a plurality of test sequences to the ears of the patient, including establishing a comfortable listening level of the patient, establishing binaural balance for right and left ears, establishing loudness discomfort levels of the patient, establishing thresholds-of-hearing levels of the patient and generating a binaurally balanced measurement array of measured equal-loudness levels and measured thresholds-of-hearing levels for both left and right ears.
US08879737B2 Method for producing two-dimensional code and reader for reading the two-dimensional code
A method of producing a two-dimensional code having a code area in which data codes coded as codewords are mapped. First type of data codes is mapped in the code area. The first type of data codes are coded as the codewords and indicating data to be disclosed. An end identification code is added to an end of a code string composed of the first type of data codes, the end identification code showing the end. Second type of data codes are mapped after the end identification code in the code area, the second type of data codes being coded as the codewords and indicating data to be kept in secret. Filler codes showing no data after the second type of data codes are mapped to fill up the code area, when a total amount of the codewords in the code area is less than a capacity of the code area.
US08879735B2 Shared secret arrangements and optical data transfer
Digital data is optically broadcast through an environment by controllably switching the brightness or chrominance of LED solid state lamps, or of other illumination sources (e.g., television screens and backlit computer displays). This optical data channel is useful to convey cryptographic key data by which devices within the environment can authenticate themselves to a secure network. In some embodiments, the optical modulation is sensed by the camera of a smartphone. The row data output by the smartphone's camera sensor is processed to extract the modulated data signal. In some monochrome embodiments, data communication speeds far in excess of the camera's frame rate (e.g., 30/second), or even the camera's row rate (e.g., 14,400/second) are achieved. Still greater rates can be achieved by conveying different data in different chrominance channels. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US08879734B2 Enhanced high availability for group VPN in broadcast environment
A light-weight resilient mechanism is used to synchronize server secure keying data with member devices in a highly-scalable distributed group virtual private network (VPN). A server device generates an initial secure keying data set, for the VPN, that includes a first version identifier, and sends, to member devices and via point-to-point messages, the secure keying data set. The server device sends, to the member devices, heartbeat push messages including the first version identifier. The server device generates an updated secure keying data set with a second version identifier and sends, to the member devices, a key push message that includes the updated data set. The server device sends, to the member devices, heartbeat push messages including the second version identifier. Member devices may use the first and second version identifiers to confirm that secure keying data sets are current and quickly identify if updates are missed.
US08879724B2 Differential power analysis—resistant cryptographic processing
Information leaked from smart cards and other tamper resistant cryptographic devices can be statistically analyzed to determine keys or other secret data. A data collection and analysis system is configured with an analog-to-digital converter connected to measure the device's consumption of electrical power, or some other property of the target device, that varies during the device's processing. As the target device performs cryptographic operations, data from the A/D converter are recorded for each cryptographic operation. The stored data are then processed using statistical analysis, yielding the entire key, or partial information about the key that can be used to accelerate a brute force search or other attack.
US08879723B2 Battery charging case with changeable panel for an electronic device
A charging case or system for an electronic device case, having a protective housing capable of aesthetic alteration, includes a replaceable and customizable shell and a rechargeable battery unit. A plurality of shells may have different images thereon and can be interchanged in a continuous sidewall portion to alter the look of the case. The shell images may include various colors, pictures, designs, logos, or even text.
US08879721B2 Audio communication system
An audio communication system includes a first analog/digital convertor, a second analog/digital convertor, and an echo canceller. The first analog/digital convertor converts an audio signal, which is input from a microphone, to a data signal. The second analog/digital convertor that converts an audio signal, which is input from an auxiliary input terminal, to a data signal. When an audio signal transmitted from the outside is received and output from a speaker, the echo canceller prevents an output of the speaker from being input through the microphone and echoed back to a recipient or remote device. An operating frequency of the echo canceller is relatively lower than a sampling frequency of the second analog/digital convertor.
US08879706B2 Methods, systems, and products for providing ring backs
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing a ring back to a calling party's communications device. A first call is placed to a called number. An identification sequence is received during the first call. When the first call ends, a second call is placed to a server. The identification sequence is sent to the server during the second call, and the ring back associated with the identification sequence is received. The ring back is stored in memory of the calling party's communications device and retrieved when subsequent calls are made to the called number. The ring back is then presented on the calling party's communications device to indicate the called number is ringing.
US08879704B2 Notification to users of events
A method and system for notifying users of events. User activity of a user is monitored, based on user notification information in a storage location. The user notification information pertains to a scheduled event. In response to a detection, from the monitoring, of a change in the user activity, it is ascertained that the change necessitates notifying the user of the scheduled event due to the change impacting whether the user can participate in the scheduled event. Then the user is notified of the scheduled event. The user notification information in the storage location is modified, based on the detected change in the user activity, in response to receipt of an instruction from the user to change the user notification information in the storage location.
US08879702B1 Method and system for providing additional information to called parties
A system for providing additional information to called parties, the system comprises a base unit device for sending additional information to called parties, the base unit comprises a microprocessor, at least one Ethernet port, at least one telephone port, a first transceiver, and a first wireless antenna; and a display unit for receiving the additional information from the base unit device and displaying the additional information to the called parties, the display unit comprises a second transceiver, a liquid crystal display, a second wireless antenna, and a set of keys.
US08879695B2 System and method for selective voicemail transcription
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for selectively transcribing messages. Five general approaches are disclosed herein. The first approach is directed to checking for a transcription capable client, which transcribes messages when a client device is capable of receiving transcriptions. The second and third approaches are platform-controlled and user-controlled predefined selective transcription. One aspect of this approach is driven by transcription rules. The fourth approach is user-controlled on-demand selective transcription before the message is stored or deposited for transcription. An example of this is a user transferring an incoming caller to voicemail and indicating that the voicemail be transcribed. The fifth approach is user-controlled on-demand selective transcription after the message is stored. In one embodiment of this approach, a user must specifically request that a stored message be transcribed.
US08879693B2 System and method for voice-activated dialing over implicit and explicit NFA trunks
A system and method for voice-activated dialing using implicit and explicit trunks including receiving a call from the user telephone and establishing a first connection. In response to establishing the first connection, a second connection may be established over the implicit trunk. In response to establishing the second connection, a third connection may be initiated. In response to the user telephone sending a keyword, the implicit trunk may be disconnected and the call may be connected via the explicit trunk. If a spoken number is received, then the spoken number may be translated into a computer readable telephone number. Alternatively, if a dialed telephone number is received from the user telephone, the telephone number may be used to route the call. In response to receiving the telephone number, the explicit trunk may be disconnected and the call from the user telephone may be routed to the received telephone number.
US08879689B2 Radiographic image detecting device and control method thereof
An X-ray image detecting device has an FPD having a matrix of pixels each for accumulating signal charge in accordance with an X-ray irradiation amount. An imaging area of the FPD is partitioned into a plurality of divided sections A to I. Each of the divided sections A to I has a short pixel for detecting X-ray irradiation. In a synchronization control for controlling the FPD in synchronization with detection of a start of X-ray emission from an X-ray source, a control unit for controlling the X-ray image detecting device uses all the divided sections A to I. In an automatic exposure control for stopping the X-ray emission from the X-ray source by detecting a total X-ray irradiation amount, the control unit uses part of the divided sections, e.g. the short pixels of the divided sections that are judged to be opposed to an object in the synchronization control.
US08879686B2 Radiographic image detector, radiographic imaging apparatus, radiographic imaging system
The present invention provides a radiographic image detector that may maintain even resolution in 6 directions before and after 3-pixel binning process or 4-pixel binning process. A radiation detector is disposed with plural pixels that have hexagonal shaped pixel regions, arrayed in a honeycomb pattern. Scan lines connected to TFT switches in each of the pixels are disposed one for each of the pixel rows. Grouped scan lines are also disposed one for each of the pixel rows for reading and combining 3 pixels or 4 pixels worth of charges at the same timing for plural pixel groups, each configured from 3 pixels or 4 pixels in a radiation detection element. ON signals are simultaneously sent by the grouped scanned lines to the TFT switches to perform 3-pixel binning or 4-pixel binning.
US08879681B2 System and method for determining a time for safely sampling a signal of a clock domain
A system and method are provided for determining a time for safely sampling a signal of a dock domain. In one embodiment, a frequency estimate of a first clock domain is calculated utilizing a frequency estimator. Additionally, a time during which a signal from the first clock domain is unchanging is determined such that the signal is capable of being safely sampled by a second clock domain, using the frequency estimate. In another embodiment, a frequency estimate of a first dock domain is calculated utilizing a frequency estimator. Further, a phase estimate of the first clock domain is calculated based on the frequency estimate, utilizing a phase estimator. Moreover, a time during which a signal from the first clock domain is unchanging is determined such that the signal is capable of being safely sampled by a second clock domain, using the phase estimate.
US08879678B1 Method and apparatus for controlling finger lock state in a rake receiver
Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for improving current 1x triage algorithm for assigning and de-assigning fingers of a Rake receiver included in a wireless communications apparatus operable in the 1x network. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US08879674B2 System and method for correlating received signal over time and frequency
An approach is provided for correlation of a signal over time and frequency. The signal is correlated with a bit sequence over time instances and certain frequency offsets, wherein sub-segments of the signal are correlated with sub-segments of the bit sequence to generate a correlation factor associated with each signal sub-segment. The correlation factors are coherently combined to generate a final correlation factor, wherein a respective phase shift (for each frequency offset) is applied to each correlation factor to generate a set of frequency adjusted correlation factors, and the frequency adjusted correlation factors of a respective set are combined to generate the final correlation factor over the signal sub-segments, resulting in the matrix of final correlation factors over time and frequency. A signal parameter estimation is performed, based on the matrix of final correlation factors, to determine a highest correlation value for the signal over the frequency offsets.
US08879666B2 Electronic system, RF power amplifier and temperature compensation method thereof
A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier is disclosed. The RF power amplifier includes an adder circuit, an output-stage circuit and a differential circuit. The adder circuit has a first ratio and a second ratio, and receives a reference voltage and a feedback voltage so as to output an adder voltage after an operation, wherein the feedback voltage is a voltage with a negative temperature coefficient, and the reference voltage is sum of a first voltage with a negative temperature coefficient and a second voltage with positive temperature coefficient. The output-stage circuit is used for providing the feedback voltage. The differential circuit has a first multiplier factor, and the differential circuit makes the first multiplier factor be multiplied with the adder voltage so as to provide a voltage to the output-stage circuit. The RF power amplifier stabilizes an output current through adjusting the temperature coefficient of the reference voltage.
US08879643B2 Data substitution scheme for oversampled data
Low latency and computationally efficient techniques may be employed to account for errors in data such as low bit-width, oversampled data. In some aspects these techniques may be employed to mitigate audio artifacts associated with sigma-delta modulated audio data. In some aspects an error may be detected in a set of encoded data based on an outcome of a channel decoding process. Upon determining that a set of data may contain at least one error, the set of data may be replaced with another set of data that is based on one or more neighboring data sets. For example, in some aspects a set of data including at least one bit in error may be replaced with data that is generated by applying a cross-fading operation to neighboring data sets. In some aspects a given data bit may be flipped as a result of a linear prediction operation that is applied to PCM equivalent data that is associated with the given data bit and its neighboring data bits. In some aspects a set of data including at least one bit in error may be replaced with data that is generated by performing linear interpolation operations on PCM equivalent data that is associated with neighboring data sets.
US08879637B2 Method and an apparatus for processing a video signal by which coding efficiency of a video signal can be raised by using a mixed prediction mode in predicting different macroblock sizes
The present invention relates to a video signal decoding method for adding an intra prediction mode as a sub-macroblock type to prediction of a macroblock in coding a video signal. The present invention includes obtaining a macroblock type, when a macroblock includes the intra prediction coded sub-macroblock and the inter prediction coded sub-macroblock based on the macroblock type, obtaining prediction mode flag information indicating whether the sub-macroblock is the intra prediction coded or the inter prediction coded, and obtaining a prediction value of the sub-macroblock based on the prediction mode flag information. Accordingly, the present invention is able to raise coding efficiency of video signal by adding an intra prediction mode as a sub-macroblock type in predicting a macroblock.
US08879633B2 Fast multi-frame motion estimation with adaptive search strategies
A method includes examining a statistical distribution of motion vectors employed for motion compensation in a first frame of image data. The examining is to produce a distribution model of the motion vectors in the first frame. The method further includes selecting, based at least in part on the distribution model, a block-matching search pattern for use with respect to a second frame of image data. The second frame follows the first frame in a sequence of frames of image data.
US08879630B2 Method and system for processing B pictures with missing or invalid forward reference pictures
Methods and systems for processing B pictures with missing or invalid forward reference pictures are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include decoding of a contiguous sequence of B pictures that immediately follow a first I picture after a sequence header. The decoding of the B pictures may handle video edit codes in the AVS1-P2 format and/or random access points. Some embodiments of the invention may discard B pictures that refer to invalid or missing forward reference pictures, while other embodiments of the invention may interpolate B pictures. For an invalid forward reference picture, the interpolation algorithm for generating pictures may use the invalid forward reference picture and the backward reference picture. For a missing decoded forward reference picture, as in a random access, the interpolation algorithm for generating pictures may use the backward reference picture.
US08879624B2 Method and apparatus for coding image information, method and apparatus for decoding image information, method and apparatus for coding and decoding image information, and system of coding and transmitting image information
A decoding method decodes a bit stream in an image decoding apparatus. The method includes receiving a weight parameter that is added to a luma quantization parameter as the bit stream. The method also includes decoding, in a decoding unit in the image decoding apparatus, the bit stream, and generating a luma component of quantized coefficients and a chroma component of quantized coefficients. Further, the method includes performing, in a dequantization unit in the image decoding apparatus, dequantization on the luma component of quantized coefficients using the luma quantization parameter and the chroma component of quantized coefficients using a chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of the luma quantization parameter weighted by an add operation of the weight parameter. In addition, the method includes performing, in a transform unit in the image decoding apparatus, an inverse orthogonal transform.
US08879623B2 Picture-level rate control for video encoding a scene-change I picture
Computer-implemented rate control in encoding one or more video pictures is disclosed. A quantization parameter (QP) to be used for encoding a current picture one of the one or more video pictures is determined using rate control data that takes picture type, picture complexity, and a target bitcount into account in determining the QP. The current picture is encoded into a compressed format using the QP to generate an encoded current picture. The rate control data is updated based on statistical data determined from the encoded current picture.
US08879619B2 Method of parallel video coding based on scan order
A system encoding and decoding video that uses a parallel encoding and decoding technique.
US08879618B2 Decision feedback equalizer and transceiver
A decision feedback equalizer, transceiver, and method are provided, the equalizer having at least one comparator, the at least one comparator comprising a first stage, comprising a main branch having two track switches with a resistive load, an offset cancellation branch, a plurality of tap branches with transistor sizes smaller than the main branch, in which previous decisions of the equalizer are mixed with the tap weights using current-mode switching, and a cross coupled latch branch; and a second stage, comprising a comparator module for making decisions based on the outputs of the first stage and a clock input, and a plurality of flip-flops for storing the output of the comparator module.
US08879611B2 Fully-digital BIST for RF receivers
A built-in receiver self-test system provides on-chip testing with minimal change to the receiver footprint. The system digitally generates a two-tone test signal, and tests the nonlinearities of the receiver using the generated two-tone test signal. To that end, the self-test system comprises a stimulus generator, a downconverter, and a demodulator, all of which are disposed on a common receiver chip. The stimulus generator generates a test signal comprising first and second tones at respective first and second frequencies, where the first and second frequencies are spaced by an offset frequency, and where the first frequency comprises a non-integer multiple of the offset frequency. The downcoverter downconverts the test signal to generate an In-phase component and a Quadrature component. The demodulator measures an amplitude of the intermodulation tone by demodulating the In-phase and Quadrature components based on a reference frequency.
US08879601B1 Multi-wavelength laser diode module
Provided is a multi-wavelength laser diode module including a plurality of laser diodes having different consecutive light emission wavelength regions, a plurality of filters respectively corresponding to the plurality of laser diodes, and an optical waveguide path that transmits light emitted from the plurality of laser diodes to the plurality of filters and collects light reflected or transmitted by the plurality of filters to transmit the collected light to the outside.
US08879596B2 Semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor body having an active region that generates radiation and a ridge-shaped region, wherein the ridge-shaped region has a longitudinal axis running along an emission direction, a central axis of the semiconductor body runs in the emission direction and the longitudinal axis is arranged in a manner offset with respect to the central axis in a transverse direction.
US08879594B2 Efficient power control for an automatic laser driver
Systems and methods are provided to efficiently manage power in a laser a driver of an optical network unit (ONU) of a passive optical network (PON). Using information from an allocation map, the expected next allocated schedule for a transmission can be determined. The driver can be efficiently powered down and powered up based on the time remaining between the end of the current burst and the beginning of the next expected burst so that power is not wasted while the laser has no data to transmit.
US08879592B2 Semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser bar 2 is mounted onto a liquid-cooled heat sink 1. A molybdenum reinforcement member 3 is fixed onto the surface opposite to the surface on which the semiconductor laser module 2 is mounted. The molybdenum has a linear expansion coefficient less than that of the heat sink 1. Sub-mounts are preferably made of a Cu—W alloy, more preferably of the reinforcement member 3 molybdenum. In this case, the stresses that are imposed on the heat sink 1 when being expanded or contracted can cancel each other out.
US08879590B2 High output, mid infrared laser source assembly
A laser source assembly for providing an assembly output beam includes a first MIR laser source, a second MIR laser source, and a beam combiner. The first MIR laser source emits a first MIR beam that is in the MIR range and the second MIR laser source emits a second MIR beam that is in the MIR range. Further, the beam combiner spatially combines the first MIR beam and the second MIR beam to provide the assembly output beam. With this design, a plurality MIR laser sources can be packaged in a portable, common module, each of the MIR laser sources generates a narrow linewidth, accurately settable MIR beam, and the MIR beams are combined to create a multiple watt assembly output beam having the desired power.
US08879589B2 Stabilizing beam pointing of a frequency-converted laser system
A beam-stabilized laser system using optical frequency conversion in a nonlinear optical crystal is disclosed. An optimal phase-matching angle in the crystal depends on both wavelength and temperature. If the crystal temperature changes, the optimal phase-matching direction will change as well. A different wavelength can be selected so that the optimal phase-matching occurs along the original beam path and returns the output beam to the original direction. Thus, a central wavelength of the laser beam illuminating the nonlinear optical crystal can be slightly adjusted to compensate for the pointing drift. Since the illuminating wavelength can normally be tuned much faster than the crystal temperature, a more agile and responsive pointing stabilization can be achieved.
US08879585B2 Frame timing controller and frame timing control method for triggering at least receiver in mobile station to start receiving transmitted information of base station by referring to at least frame pointer
A frame timing controller includes a timer, a frame timing control unit, and a frame pointer processing circuit. The timer is arranged to generate a timer value according to a first clock signal with a first clock frequency. The frame timing control unit is for triggering at least a receiver to start receiving transmitted information of a base station according to at least a frame pointer and the timer value, wherein the receiver processes an input signal to generate first samples at a first sampling rate corresponding to a sampling clock frequency and processes the first samples to generate an output signal including second samples at a second sampling rate corresponding to a second clock frequency of a second clock signal different from the sampling clock frequency. The frame pointer processing circuit is for generating and updating the frame pointer according to the output signal of the receiver.
US08879580B2 Enhancing packet aggregation performance in coexisting wireless networks
A method of communications for a coexisting wireless network including a wireless combination (combo) device communicating via a first wireless network and second wireless network, and a first wireless device on the first network. During an activity interval for the second network (i) a transmit (Tx) time interval is longer in duration than a Tx packet duration and/or (ii) a receive (Rx) time interval is longer in duration than a Rx packet duration to provide remaining time. A frame aggregated packet is used on the first network that includes a plurality of data packets and a dummy packet or spoofing so that the frame aggregated packet is extended in time or indicates an extension sufficient to overlap the Tx time interval or Rx time interval. The combo device transmits or receives an acknowledgement (ACK) on the first network during the activity interval for the second wireless network.
US08879566B2 Method for grouping terminations
Method for grouping terminations of a media gateway by a grouping parameter. When a command containing a grouping parameter is received, the command is executed for a termination if the grouping parameter contained in the received command corresponds to the grouping parameter stored in connection with said termination.
US08879561B2 Dynamic bandwidth queue allocation
In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a plurality of queues configured to share an amount of bandwidth, the amount of bandwidth being allocated between the queues in accordance with a plurality of queue weighting factors associated with the queues. The system further includes an admission control subsystem configured to dynamically adjust the queue weighting factors when a predefined condition has been satisfied. In certain embodiments, the admission control subsystem is configured to adjust the queue weighting factors based on a ratio of bandwidth provisioned on the plurality of queues. In certain embodiments, each of the queues is associated with a different class of service.
US08879558B1 Dynamic remote packet capture
A device may be configured to receive information regarding one or more ports associated with a routing device; output, to the routing device, filter information associated with at least a particular port, of the one or more ports associated with the routing device, the filter information specifying one or more conditions associated with traffic of interest; receive, from the routing device, and based on the outputted filter information, information regarding traffic of interest received or sent by the routing device via the particular port, the traffic of interest being less than or equal to all traffic received or sent by the routing device via the particular port; and store or output a representation of at least a portion of the received information regarding the traffic of interest.
US08879555B2 Method and apparatus for forwarding packets by obtaining addresses of the packets using a preset forwarding information base entry
The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies, and discloses a method and an apparatus for forwarding packets to solve the problems in the prior art, namely, if a long Internet Protocol (IP) address needs to be searched for at the time of forwarding a packet, the number of Ternary Content Addressable Memories (TCAMs) need to be increased, or an external Random Access Memory (RAM) needs to be accessed for more times, which leads to a high cost and low performance. The method includes: extracting a first bit sequence from a destination address of a received packet, and using the first bit sequence as a key value; searching for a preset TCAM entry by using the key value, and obtaining an index value returned by the TCAM entry; and using the index value and a second group of bits in the destination address of the packet as conditions for searching, according to a predetermined algorithm, for a preset Forwarding Information Base (FIB) entry, and obtaining a forwarding address of the packet. The technical solution under the present invention is applicable to searching a table for an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address in a router.
US08879539B2 Method of and a system for establishing a call over an IP multi media communications system and a circuit switched communications system
A system and method for simultaneously supporting IMS signaling and Circuit Switched signaling during a call between a calling user terminal in an IP Multi media System (IMS) and a called user terminal in a Circuit Switched CS network. A first IP address is determined by the calling user terminal, the calling user terminal initiates the call using IMS signaling towards the called user terminal, the IMS signaling comprising the first IP address. The called user terminal then initiates a CS connection towards an IP Access Converter using CS signaling and comprising the first IP address. The IP Access Converter allocates a second IP address (IP2) to be used for data transfer with the calling user terminal. The IP Access Converter establishes the CS connection by providing said second IP address to the called user terminal using CS signaling and the called user terminal establishes the call, providing said second IP address to said calling user terminal using IMS signaling. Data transfer occurs between the calling user terminal and the IP Access Converter using the first IP address and second IP address, and between the IP Access Converter and the called user terminal through the CS connection.
US08879531B2 Mobile router capable of automatically detecting network connection mode and performing network connection setting, and method thereof
The present invention is to provide a mobile router, which can connect with a network transmission device capable of wired or wireless networking (e.g., a modem provided by a network service provider, a wireless LAN access point, or a mobile communication access point) in a corresponding one of at least three network connection modes based on a wired Ethernet, a wireless Local Area Network and a wireless Wide Area Network, so as to transmit a network packet from a terminal device (e.g., a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a mobile phone) to the Internet or vice versa through the network transmission device. The mobile router can automatically detect an applicable network connection mode and automatically apply network connection settings stored in a corresponding profile. If no such corresponding profile exists, the mobile router can automatically store the network connection settings manually input by the user as a profile.
US08879528B2 Method for allocating resources, in a mobile and meshed communications network, with limitation of the inter-cluster interference, system and network implementing the method
Allocation of communications resources, in a mobile meshed network structured as a plurality of clusters each comprising at least one node, includes: generating a chart of configurations each comprising a different allocation priority index for each time slot of the time window, the indices varying from 0 to n−1; assigning a configuration,—among the generated set of configurations, to each cluster such that a predetermined number Np of priority indices are not assigned to the same slots for the clusters which are mutually adjacent; and allocating the time slots to the intra cluster communications in the order of priorities which are defined in the configuration assigned to the cluster, the priority index associated with a slot increasing with the order of allotting of a slot to a new communication, a new slot being allotted only if all the slots whose priority index is smaller are already allocated to a communication.
US08879525B2 Method and arrangements for enhanced wireless access signalling in a wireless local area network
A method and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) (600), including a universal subscriber identity module USIM (625), for identifying a closed subscriber group (CSG) cell are disclosed. The WTRU (600) receives a broadcast from a cell including a cell identifier (ID). If the cell ID is associated with a CSG cell, the WTRU (600) determines whether the CSG ID is programmed in the USIM (625). The cell broadcast may include a single bit information element (IE) indicating that the cell is a CSG cell. If the cell ID is a CSG ID, the cell ID may further include a plurality of fields which indicate at least one of a country, a region, an operator, and a home evolved Node-B (HeNB) number. The cell broadcast may further include a bit indicating whether the CSG cell is public or private. The cell broadcast may further include a bit indicating that emergency calls are allowed from all users.
US08879522B2 Method, apparatus and system for mobility management and efficient information retrieval in a communications network
A method and apparatus of forming a generic overlay network for efficient information retrieval in a communications network, comprising receiving in a domain router a register request from a mobile communications apparatus, the register request including an identification of said mobile communications apparatus; looking-up an address to a next-hop router associated with the identification; sending the register request to the next-hop router; receiving a reply from the next-hop router; and if the reply includes an address to a home router, sending a reply to the mobile communications apparatus including the address of the home router, said reply initiating the establishment of a connection between the mobile communications apparatus and the home router.
US08879517B2 Systems and methods for assignment and allocation of mixed-type combinations of slots
Methods and systems for performing allocation of mixed-type combinations of slots are provided. Specifically, in a single assignment message, an allocation of slots over two frames and slots over four frames is performed. These can be RTTI and BTTI blocks for example.
US08879511B2 Assignment acknowledgement for a wireless communication system
A method, apparatus, and channel structure for acknowledging assignment messages is provided. The method and apparatus allow for efficient signaling based upon the resources.
US08879499B2 Radio communication terminal
A mobile communication terminal (100) has a path (T1) that supplies first and second upward link modulated transmission signals from a modulator-demodulator circuit (200) via a transmission filter (110A) to an adder (150), and a path (T2) that supplies signals via transmission filter (110B) to adder (150) depending on frequencies of signals. The adder (150) adds transmission signals supplied from the path (T1) and from the path (T2) and simultaneously sends them out via a transmitting and receiving antenna (101). The mobile communication terminal (100) supplies first and second forward link modulated reception signals received by transmitting and receiving antenna (101) via a reception filter (120) to the modulator-demodulator circuit (200).
US08879497B2 Terminal device, base station device, transmitting method and receiving method
The present invention pertains to a terminal device, which, when ARQ is used for communication that uses an uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands associated with the uplink unit band, and when a transmission mode that supports up to 2 TB in a PCell is set in the terminal, is capable of reducing the amount of signaling from a base station while eliminating a lack of PUCCH resources when semi-permanent scheduling (SPS) is used in the PCell. A control unit (208) in this device selects one value among values obtained by adding 1 to four PUCCH resource indexes, which have been preset for PUCCH resource 1 by the base station, on the basis of values for transmission power control information (TPC command for PUCCH) in a PDCCH, for which notification has been received at the start of SPS.
US08879483B2 Multi-device monitoring and control using intelligent device channel sharing
A shared logical device physical network address is assigned to each of a set of wireless physical devices. The set of wireless physical devices forms a logical device group addressable over a single wireless communication channel using the shared logical device physical network address within a wireless network. In response to receipt of a data packet addressed to a physical network address of one of the set of wireless physical devices from an application server, the physical network address is translated to the shared logical device physical network address with which the wireless physical device is logically grouped. The physical network address of the wireless physical device is embedded within the data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address. The data packet is sent to the shared logical device physical network address.
US08879479B2 Reactive scheduling methods and apparatus to enable peer-to-peer communication links in a wireless OFDMA system
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for scheduling resources in Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) communication networks for “direct link” or peer-to-peer communications among stations operating therein so that OFDMA resources can be allocated to a transmitter station for a peer-to-peer communication session with a receiver station such that near-far issues caused by peer-to-peer communication are reduced/avoided. The disclosed technologies can prevent peer-to-peer communication links using different sub-channels within the same time slot from creating near-far issues for other receiver stations that are within communication range.
US08879476B2 Method and apparatus for performing network registration
A method and apparatus for user location registration comprising registering subscriber location information associated with a device with a registration service in a first network, receiving, from a second network, a broadcast location request and sending, in response to the broadcast location request, the subscriber location information to the second network.
US08879472B2 Long training field (LTF) for use within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Long training field (LTF) for use within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Classification of a signal may be performed using one or more LTF's therein. While such one or more LTF's may also be employed for performing functions such as channel estimation, channel characterization, etc., one or more particular characteristics of an LTF extracted from a received signal may also be employed to classify the signal as corresponding to one of a number of possible signal types. For example, such LTF-based classification may be used to classify the respective channel bandwidths associated with the signal (e.g., as being either 1 MHz or 2 MHz channel bandwidth). Generally, one or more LTF fields within one or more signals are employed for any of a number of additional uses beyond or in addition to such functions as channel estimation, channel characterization, etc.
US08879471B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for filtering list in wireless request
Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments of the invention are disclosed to improve the discovery of wireless networks. In example embodiments of the invention, a method comprises: transmitting a wireless message including a list of one or more wireless devices, from which a response is not desired; and receiving zero or more responses from one or more other wireless devices that are not on the list.
US08879470B2 Cooperative beam forming method, apparatus and base station
The present invention proposes a method, device and base station for cooperative beam forming based on MBMS fixed grid of beams GoB. The cooperative beam forming method comprises following steps: grouping users into cell central user group and cell edge user group (S701); performing cell central user group multiplexing based on superposition coding (S702); performing cooperative beam forming operation based on fixed grid of beams GoB for cell edge user group (S703).
US08879465B2 System and method for multi-power signaling device
There is provided a system and method for operating multi-power signaling device. There is provided a system comprising a memory, a transmitter, and a processor. The processor chooses a power level from a plurality of transmit power levels to be used as the strength for broadcasting the next signal to be broadcasted. The selected power level value is converted into a digital value and inserted into the data content of the signal to be broadcasted. The transmitter broadcasts the signal at the strength of the prior selected power level.
US08879462B2 Method, system and device for transmitting uplink feedback information
There are a method, system and device for transmitting uplink feedback information by allocating a PUCCH resource to an RN device in LTE-A system so that the RN device can transmit uplink feedback information over the allocated PUCCH resource. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a base station selecting from a PUCCH resources pool at least one dedicated PUCCH resources for each RN device served by the base station and transmitting a resources index number corresponding to the PUCCH resource to the each RN device respectively in higher layer signaling, the resource index number is used for indicating the RN device to transmit the uplink feedback information over the PUCCH resources corresponding to the resources index number. In the embodiment of the present invention, a PUCCH resource can be allocated to the RN device in LTE-A system so that the RN device can transmit the uplink feedback information over the allocated PUCCH resources.
US08879457B2 Method and system for allocating resources to multimedia broadcast multicast control channel
The invention discloses a method and a system for allocating resource to a multimedia broadcast multicast control channel, wherein the method includes: an upper level network element allocating at least one multicast subframe to the MCCH; the upper level network element transmitting MCCH resource allocation information to a lower level network element, indicating the lower level network element to transmit channel information of the MCCH in the at least one multicast subframe. The invention solves a problem of lack of consistency of allocation of physical resource to the MCCH, supports the UE to perform a combination for the received multi-cell MCH signals, enhances signal gain, and improves user experience.
US08879456B2 Method for transmitting data in a network
A method for transmitting data from a primary station to a secondary station, includes the primary station signaling to the secondary station that a data message is to be received, and at the primary station transmitting the data message. The time of transmission of the data message relative to the time of the signaling depends on a state of the secondary station.
US08879455B1 Power management for multicast frames in wireless networks
A multicast delivery system facilitating power management. In particular implementations, a method includes maintaining in the memory a plurality of multicast stream queues, each multicast stream queue associated with a delivery interval; storing frames of respective multicast streams in a multicast stream queue based on a delivery interval associated with the multicast stream; and delivering multicast streams at respective delivery intervals to one or more wireless clients.
US08879448B2 Apparatus for controlling power of WiMedia media access control device and method using the same
An apparatus and method of controlling power of a wireless multimedia media access control (WiMedia MAC) device are provided. The method includes: determining whether a fragment of an MAC service data unit (MSDU) is lost when a fragment is received; extracting a duration field from the received fragment if it is determined that the fragment of the MSDU is lost; and converting a power mode into a low power mode during a period of time established in the duration field.