Document	Document Title
US09010942B2	Mobile electronic device and image projection unit According to an aspect, a mobile electronic device includes an image projecting unit and a processing unit. The image projecting unit projects an image to a projection area. The processing unit is configured to acquire information for a second image related to a first image placed in the projection area, and cause the image projecting unit to project the second image based on the information acquired.
US09010938B2	Projector with multiple different types of illumination devices A projector according to an embodiment of the invention includes: an illumination device adapted to generate an illumination light; and a light modulation device adapted to modulate the illumination light in accordance with image information, wherein the illumination device includes a first illumination device including a fluorescence generation section adapted to generate a fluorescence from an excitation light generated by a first solid-state light source, and a second illumination device including a rod integrator optical system adapted to equalize an in-plane light intensity distribution of a colored light generated by a second solid-state light source.
US09010935B2	Systems and methods for noninvasive analysis of retinal health and function A method for noninvasive analysis of a retina includes exposing the retina to one or more first sets of at least three illumination light signals. The at least three illumination light signals each have a different wavelength. The method also includes optically collecting a reflected light signal for each of the at least three illumination light signals of the one or more first sets. Each of the reflected light signals is a portion of the respective illumination light signal reflected by the retina. The method further includes detecting the reflected light signals of the one or more first sets as a function of intensity. The method still further includes determining a first opsin density using the detected intensity of each of the reflected light signals of the one or more first sets.
US09010918B2	Inkjet recording method and inkjet recording device An inkjet recording method including applying stimuli to inkjet recording ink to make the ink jet onto recording medium, wherein the recording medium includes support, and surface layer provided on at least one surface of the support, where transfer amount of pure water with contact time of 100 ms determined by measuring the surface of the recording medium to which the surface layer is provided by dynamic scanning absorptometer is 1 to 10 mL/m2, the recording medium is surface-treated through corona discharge or plasma treatment, the ink contains water-dispersible colorant, organic solvent, surfactant, and water, the organic solvent contains at least one polyhydric alcohol having equilibrium moisture content of 30% by mass or greater at 23° C. and 80% RH, and dynamic surface tension of the ink, as measured by maximum bubble pressure method with surface lifetime of 15 ms, is 35 mN/m or lower at 25° C.
US09010915B2	Aqueous ink composition and image forming apparatus Disclosed is an aqueous ink composition, including an aqueous solvent, a coloring agent dissolved or dispersed in the aqueous solvent, an ABA-type amphipathic polymer including a hydrophobic segment A and a hydrophilic segment B, and an anionic surfactant configured to dissolve or disperse the ABA-type amphipathic polymer in the aqueous solvent, wherein a viscosity of the aqueous ink composition is changed depending on a pH thereof.
US09010913B1	Ink cartridge An ink cartridge includes a socket portion provided at one end of an ink storage container and configured to be fitted to and detached from a joint portion of a printing machine, an ink supply port provided in the socket portion, and an inner plug configured to seal an ink passage to the ink supply port in response to biasing force applied from a side of the ink storage container. An insertion shaft, provided in the joint portion, pressing the inner plug against the biasing force upon a fitting of the socket portion to the joint portion enables the ink passage to communicate with the ink supply port. An ink holding portion of the inner plug with the insertion shaft pulled out from the ink holding portion after inserted holds the ink near the ink supply port.
US09010912B2	Printer control device, printing system, method for controlling printer and recording medium A printer driver that controls operations of an ink jet printer which is capable of being refilled with ink from the outside, causes a computer to execute an acquiring function of acquiring attribute information on a destination country or region where the ink jet printer is to be used, an input function of allowing an ink ID number which is assigned to the ink that is to be refilled to be entered, an ink determining function of determining whether the ink is genuine or not by analyzing the ink ID number which has been entered, a selection/execution function of selecting one of a plurality of processes for a non-genuine ink on the basis of the attribute information, if the ink is determined to be not genuine and executing the selected process.
US09010881B2	Braking apparatus for vehicle An electronic control unit inputs from temperature sensors a temperature of the heating side of a thermoelectric conversion section assembled to each of brake units provided for left and right rear wheels. When the temperature of the heating side is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the electronic control unit drives and controls a brake hydraulic pressure control section so as to operate the brake units preferentially over brake units provided for left and right front wheels. With this operation, each of the brake units generates friction heat, and heats the heating side of the corresponding thermoelectric conversion section, whereby the thermoelectric conversion section efficiently collects thermal energy and generates electrical power. Meanwhile, when the heating side temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the electronic control unit drives and controls the brake hydraulic pressure control section so as to decrease the proportion of the braking forces applied by the brake units and increase the proportion of the braking forces applied by the brake units.
US09010877B2	Wheel assemblies A hub assembly includes a retainer housing, a retaining member, a biasing element, and an occlusion. The retainer housing includes a wheel mounting sleeve and a pin sleeve. The wheel mounting sleeve includes an axle bore configured to receive an axle. The pin sleeve has a first end and a second end. The pin sleeve includes a conduit between the first end and the second end. The first end is in fluid communication with the axle bore. The retaining member and the biasing element are in the conduit. The retaining member is configured to engage a groove in an axle. The biasing element is configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore. The occlusion is proximate to the second end of the pin sleeve. The occlusion is configured to inhibit the retaining member from exiting the conduit at least prior to coupling the hub assembly to a wheel.
US09010875B2	Hub for a bicycle A hub with a hub body, the hub body having two end units and a tubular center part, and the center part being disposed between, and received at, the end units. At least one end unit includes a tubular inserting portion onto which the center part having a tubular slip-on portion is pushed. The inserting portion and the slip-on portion overlap in an overlapping region.
US09010867B2	Stool with tilted orientation An article of furniture is disclosed. The article of furniture comprises a stool configured to be used on a generally horizontal surface such as a floor. The stool comprises a seat and a base comprising a rounded bottom surface configured to rest upon the floor. A mass is positioned beneath the seat so that the base is at equilibrium in a first tilted orientation relative to the floor. The base can be tilted to second tilted orientation relative to the floor by tilting the rounded bottom surface of the base relative to the floor.
US09010865B2	Automotive vehicle seat system A restraint system for a removable vehicle seat is attached to the vehicle seat. A restraint tower associated with the restraint system transfers energy generated during vehicle impact.
US09010859B2	Chair assembly A chair assembly includes a base structure, a seat support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure, a back support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure and including an upwardly extending portion adapted to move between an upright position and a reclined position, a control link having a first end pivotably coupled to the seat support structure and a second end pivotably coupled to the back support structure, a back support surface having an upper portion pivotably coupled to the back support, and a back link pivotably coupled to the seat support structure, wherein the back support surface is moved forward by the back link relative to the upwardly extending portion of the back support structure as the back support structure is moved from the upright position to the reclined position.
US09010848B2	Diagonal strut device, method for manufacturing same and motor vehicle underfloor reinforced by means of diagonal structure device A diagonal strut device (1) for reinforcing arrangement on an undercarriage of a motor vehicle. The diagonal strut device (1) has a plurality of struts (2) made from a fibet-reinforced plastic composite material, which extend away from a central joint element (3). Each strut (2) can be connected to the undercarriage via it's end facing away from the central joint element (3). For this, a connecting joint element (4) is arranged on the end of each strut (2) facing away from the central joint element (3). The central joint element (3) and the connecting joint elements (4) are formed from a light metal material. The central joint element (3) and the connecting joint elements (4) are then connected to the struts (2) by an at least firmly bonded cast joint. Further, a method for the production of a diagonal strut device (1), as well as a motor vehicle undercarriage, which uses the diagonal strut device (1) for reinforcement.
US09010841B1	Vehicle door trim panel assembly A door assembly for an automotive vehicle. The door assembly includes a vehicle door frame and an upper trim panel mounted to the vehicle door frame. The upper trim panel having an upper surface where the upper surface is angled down towards the exterior of the vehicle. The door assembly further including a sub-assembly having a first trim panel and a second trim panel. The first trim panel is mounted to the vehicle door frame behind the upper trim panel. A bracket on the first trim panel adapted to accept the second trim panel. A first surface of the first trim panel and a second surface of the second trim panel rest within the same plane to create a flush surface to give the same or a similar appearance of a one piece trim panel assembly.
US09010830B2	Shelving systems A shelving system includes side members that each define a first channel having a slide disposed therein. A cross member extends between and connects the slides. The cross member defines a second channel having a guide member disposed therein. The guide member defines a third channel and a flange. A container includes side walls having a rail. One of the rails is movably disposed in the third channel. The rails include a first locking element and a second locking element. The handle includes a third locking element that engages the first locking element. The handle is movable between a first position in which the second locking element engages the flange and the container is fixed relative to the guide member and a second position in which the second locking element is spaced apart from the flange and the container can translate relative to the guide member.
US09010824B2	Cargo strap with handle A cargo strap with carrying handle and mechanism for securing the cargo strap around a load. A first end of the cargo strap is preferably removably anchored to the strap securing mechanism by a clevis pin that permits rapid and easy disconnection of the first end of the cargo strap from the strap securing mechanism. The second end of the cargo strap is retained within the strap securing mechanism and prevented from removal therefrom by a stop proximate the second end of the cargo strap. The stop is preferably constructed as a loop formed in the second end of the cargo strap and sewn to the strap with a strap flap portion intermediate the second end of the cargo strap and the strap securing mechanism. The strap securing mechanism preferably has either a ratchet style mechanism with a reel or a modified cam buckle mechanism.
US09010817B2	Lens holder apparatus and system and method An apparatus for safely retaining an eye implant lens for transport and access for inspection and use in which a holding apparatus has a chamber for holding a lens. In one embodiment the chamber has a pin on which a lens can be placed and a ramp leading to the pin so that a gripping member can slide up the ramp into proper placement to grip the lens and remove it. The gripper can be configured so that after removing the lens from the holding apparatus, it can be used to implant the lens. Also, a system including the apparatus and a bottle assembly that will hold the apparatus in the bottle. A method for holding an eye implant lens in which a lens is placed in the apparatus which can then be placed in a bottle assembly.
US09010814B2	Quick fill fluid connector A fluid connector having a longitudinal axis and selective open and closed conditions, the connector only in its closed condition adapted to threadedly engage a mating fluid fitting. The fluid connector includes an elongate conduit member extending along the longitudinal axis, an annular collar disposed about and having axial movement relative to the conduit member between the connector open and closed conditions, and a plurality of split nut members circumferentially distributed about the conduit member and having axial movement relative to the collar between the connector open and closed conditions. The plurality of split nut members and the collar are jointly rotatably about the longitudinal axis, and each split nut member has a distal end defining a threaded nut segment. The split nut member distal ends in the connector closed condition are constrained by the collar against radially separating movement relative to the longitudinal axis and cooperatively define a nut configured to threadedly engage a mating fluid fitting. The split nut member distal ends in the connector open condition have an expanded configuration in which, relative to the connector closed condition, they are radially separated from the longitudinal axis and not cooperatively positioned to threadedly engage a mating fluid fitting.
US09010798B2	Self-contained dolly assembly A dolly assembly including a plurality of hollow interior guide members and one or more rail members, cooperatively structured, configured and dimensioned to be selectively disposed in an operative, weight supporting orientation or a self-contained orientation of reduced dimension and configuration, which facilitates storage. The operative orientation comprises the one or more rail member removably interconnecting the two guide members in spaced relation to one another, wherein a plurality of castors are removably connected to and disposed in movable supporting relation with the interconnected guide and rail members, when in the operative orientation. The self-contained orientation comprises the guide members detached from the operative orientation and the guide members removably connected in confronting, predetermined facing relation to one another, such that the rail members and castors are enclosed within one or both of the hollow interiors of the confronting guide members.
US09010787B2	Tilt-in-space wheelchair using multiple controlling paths A wheelchair is disclosed herein. The wheelchair includes a base frame extending in a fore-aft direction and a lateral direction perpendicular to the fore-aft direction. The wheelchair also includes a plurality of wheels supporting the base frame for movement. The wheelchair also includes a seat frame operable to support a seat and a wheelchair occupant sitting in the seat. The wheelchair also includes a support assembly interconnecting the seat frame to the base frame for pivoting movement between an upright position, a fully-tilted position and an intermediate position between the upright position and the fully-tilted position. The support assembly utilizes a plurality of control paths to direct the seat frame in translating and rotating planar body motion that defines a fixed centrode. A center of gravity of the seat frame and the seat and the wheelchair occupant is definable in operation. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality of control paths are arranged such that the center of gravity is directable during pivoting movement of the seat frame along a follower path being at least one of substantially horizontal and concave with the center of gravity vertically lower in the intermediate position than in at least one of the upright position and the fully-tilted position. In another aspect of the disclosure, the seat frame is adjustably positionable relative to the base frame in the fore-aft direction such that the position of the center of gravity is settable through adjust along a single axis to create an alignment of the center of gravity with the fixed centrode and thereby creates stability within the limits of the range of motion of the system.
US09010785B2	Pneumatic suspension system of a motor vehicle and method A suspension system includes spring bellows that are associated with pneumatic springs of vehicle axles, are connectable by lines having level control valves to a main pressure line, and can be shut off with respect thereto. The main line is connectable by valves alternately to a compressed air source and a sink, and can be shut of with respect thereto. To set different air mass flow rates when air is supplied to/removed from the bellows, the bellows of the springs at least on a vehicle axle or side can be connected to the main line in parallel with the connecting lines, at least by further connecting lines having further level control valves, and can be shut off with respect thereto. The further valves have nozzle cross-sectional surfaces the same size as the other level control valves. Chokes are downstream of the further valves in the ventilation direction, the cross-sectional surfaces thereof being smaller than the nozzle cross-sectional surfaces of the further valves.
US09010782B2	Vehicle with a four bar link suspension system provided with improved roll characteristics The present invention relates to a vehicle and a method for improving the roll characteristics of a vehicle. The vehicle includes an axle, a sprung mass, a first control arm, a second control arm, a third control arm, a first pivotable joint, a second pivotable joint, a third pivotable joint, and a fourth pivotable joint. The torsional stiffness of the first control arm, the second control arm, the first pivotable joint, the second pivotable joint, the third pivotable joint, and the fourth pivotable joint are substantially equal to or greater than the torsional stiffness of the axle, whereby the axle bends and twists during a sprung mass roll event in order to limit an amount of roll.
US09010779B1	Apparatus for lifting, stabilizing, and mobilizing an elderly or disabled person In one embodiment, an elderly assistance apparatus comprises a frame, wheels, and a lever mechanism. The lever is comprised of caregiver leverage handles, patient lifts, and a fulcrum. In another embodiment the elderly assistance apparatus may comprise patient stabilizers. In one embodiment, the stabilizers are mounted crutches.
US09010772B2	Apparatus and methods for relocating assembled non-penetrating anchors A carrier for an assembled fall hazard anchor includes a frame including a rear bar and first and second carrier handles connected to the rear bar to define a plane. Wheels are rotatably connected to opposite ends of the rear bar and located outwardly of the carrier handles. First and second abutments are secured to the rear bar intermediate the carrier handles and extend downward for a substantial portion of the radius of the wheels. A swiveling hook is located intermediate the carrier handles and at an adjustable spacing above the plane and spaced in front of the rear bar. With the carrier handles not pivoted by the user, the ring of the assembled anchor can be received in the swiveling hook. The swiveling hook with an adjusted spacing, the ring and the assembled anchor can be raised by pivoting the carrier handles about the rear bar.
US09010768B2	Suspension system for a vehicle A utility vehicle is disclosed. The utility vehicle may include storage areas under the dash. The utility vehicle may include suspension systems for utility vehicles having shocks with both a fluidic stiffness adjustment and a mechanical stiffness adjustment. The utility vehicle may include an electrical power steering.
US09010763B2	Leaf seal A leaf seal has a pair of annular packs of stacked leaves. Each pack is mountable to one of the components with its leaves extending towards the other component such that the leaf edges of at least one of the packs are presented for wiping contact with the other component. The packs are axially spaced from each other by a controlled axial clearance. Within each pack the leaves are stacked face-to-face such that neighboring leaves are separated from each other by interleaf gaps which allow an axial leakage flow through the seal. Further, within each pack the packs are positioned such that, when viewed in the axial direction, the leaves of each pack of the pair substantially obscure the interleaf gaps of the other pack of the pair. The controlled axial clearance is the dominant flow restriction in the seal determining the amount of leakage flow through the seal.
US09010758B1	Playing card holder A playing card holder includes a first and second opposing panel defining a playing card retaining space therein, and a foldable kickstand for selectively supporting the playing card holder in an upright orientation. The playing card holder includes a plurality of protrusions or other card retention structures extending into the retaining space to engage the playing cards therein.
US09010742B2	Part fixturing systems having expanding clamping devices A part fixturing system for securing a workpiece includes an expanding clamping device and a work holding device. The expanding clamping device includes a clamp base portion, first and second traversing wedge blocks, an actuation screw, and a clamp plate portion. The clamp base portion comprises a longitudinal recess, and the traversing wedge blocks are located inside the longitudinal recess, each block including an inclined contact surface and a threaded aperture. The actuation screw passes through the longitudinal recess of the clamp base portion and the threaded apertures of the traversing wedge blocks. The clamp plate portion comprises first and second declined contact surfaces. The work holding device comprises first and second support columns that define a longitudinal loading envelope. The expanding clamping device is positioned inside the longitudinal loading envelope of the work holding device and couples the workpiece to the first and second support columns.
US09010741B2	Suspension bump stop and strut device The suspension bump stop device comprises a rolling bearing (44) that forms an axial bump stop, equipped with an upper ring (46), with a lower ring (48) and with a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the rings, the upper and lower rings being supported respectively by an upper cup (40) and a lower cup (42), the lower cup forming a bearing means for a suspension spring (18), at least one sealing lip being provided on one of the cups so that it bears against a bearing surface portion of the other cup. The bearing surface portion is substantially cylindrical, the sealing lip being directed downwards away from the rolling bearing and bearing with radial interference against the said surface portion, the said substantially cylindrical surface portion being connected towards the top to a shoulder against which the lip can bear if the two cups become radially eccentric relative to one another.
US09010735B2	Contact reaction tower A contact reaction tower, including: a central cylinder; and an outer cylinder. Lift pipes and a water inlet pipe(s) are installed in the central cylinder, reflux windows are formed on the wall of the central cylinder, and the water flow circulation between the central cylinder and the outer cylinder is realized through the lift pipes, the water inlet pipe(s), and the reflux windows, such that the water flow internal circulation of the whole contact reaction tower is realized. The contact reaction tower is sealed in its entirety from the outside environment, and a gas guide pipe is installed at the top of the contact reaction tower.
US09010726B2	Reduced length actuation system A technique provides a component actuation system in a space efficient form. A movable actuator member may be positioned within a corresponding housing in a manner which forms an annulus between the movable actuator member and the surrounding wall of the housing. A spring is located in the annulus and is designed such that the spring extends part way along a circumference of the actuator member to create an open annular region between circumferential ends of the spring. The open annular region provides space for a system related component without requiring additional longitudinal or radial space.
US09010721B2	Valve switchbox A switchbox for monitoring the position of a manual quarter-turn valve has a housing mountable to the valve to be monitored/controlled. A handle-driven shaft extends through the housing, with one end of the shaft couplable to the valve stem such that movement of the shaft moves the valve stem. One or more shaft position sensor switches interact with a cam on the shaft to signal shaft position and/or provide control signals. A plate coupled to the shaft articulates within a recess on the surface of the switchbox to limit motion of the valve to an operable range, such as between full ON and full OFF. The switchbox has a pair of lock tabs with lock apertures. A lock aperture in the plate is alignable with the lock tab apertures to receive a pin or padlock for locking the valve in a selected position. A potentiometer can be utilized in place of a switch as a shaft position sensor. The switchbox may be used with an original or new handle and may feature detents to allow a range of valve settings.
US09010719B2	Flow control device A flow control device is capable of performing accurate flow control over a wide pressure range. The flow control device includes: a housing; a diaphragm splitting the housing into a gas chamber side to which gas is introduced and a fluid chamber side through which fluid passes, and being activated by the differential pressure generated between the gas chamber side and the fluid chamber side; and a valve body which operates in integration with the diaphragm to regulate the flow of the fluid introduced to the fluid chamber side. The diaphragm includes: a base part provided in a substantially central part of the diaphragm; and a thin film part provided on the outer rim of the base part. An opposing surface which is provided on the fluid chamber side to oppose the diaphragm includes a retaining form which retains the shape of the thin film part deformed by the differential pressure.
US09010718B2	Seal assembly for a pressure plate in a blowout preventer A seal assembly for sealing a pressure plate against an opening in a blowout preventer body has a seal groove formed in the pressure plate and a seal in the seal groove. The seal groove has a first groove portion adjacent to a sealing face of the blowout preventer, and a second groove portion extending past the sealing face into the opening of the blowout preventer body. The seal has a first seal portion in the first groove portion and a second seal portion in the second groove portion.
US09010716B2	Vibration-damping device This vibration-damping device (1) includes: a bracket member (3) connected to one of a vibration-generator and a vibration-receiver; and a vibration-damping member (2A, 2B) including: a cylindrical first mounting member (20A, 20B) fitted inside a fitting part (30) provided in the bracket member (3), a second mounting member (21A, 21B) connected to the other of the vibration generator and the vibration receiver, and an elastic body (22A, 22B) that elastically connects the first mounting member (20A, 20B) and the second mounting member (21A, 21B). The first mounting member (20A, 20B) and the fitting part (30) are each formed in a shape having a plurality of radii of different lengths in a plan view.
US09010713B2	Seat track locking system for vehicle A seat track for a vehicle which can be adjusted forward and backward, in more detail, a seat track locking system for a vehicle which includes a plurality of locks for fixation or movement of the track that are spaced from each other by a half of a pitch thereby finely adjusting the seat track while maintaining the existing fixing-strength of the seat track. The seat track locking system for a vehicle having the configuration described above has an effect of ensuring strength against shock and load when the seat track is fixed, and allowing fine adjustment when the seat is adjusted forward and backward.
US09010710B1	Telescoping support stand apparatus A telescoping support stand comprising a first tube partially defining a first enclosed area and a second tube partially defining a second enclosed area. A first end of the second tube may be telescopically slidable within the first tube. The telescoping support stand may also comprise a first locking mechanism attached to the second tube. The first locking mechanism may releasably secure the first tube to the second tube. The telescoping support stand may also comprise a first air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to flow between the first and second enclosed areas. The telescoping support stand may further comprise a release mechanism and a release rod attached to the first locking mechanism. The release mechanism may comprise a displacement member adjacent to the release rod, the displacement member being configured to displace the release rod and release the first locking mechanism.
US09010709B1	Medical service system on articulating arm with electromagnetic brakes A modular ceiling-mounted medical services system including a vertical column supported by an articulating arm assembly. Rotational joints connect the column to the lower arm, the lower arm to the upper arm, and the upper arm to the ceiling mount. Rotational movement at each of the joints is controlled by an electrically-released electromagnetic brake, and all of the brakes may be controlled by a switch panel on the column. Thus, the entire assembly is held in place until the switch is activated. Slight hand pressure is sufficient to operate the switch while simultaneously pushing or pulling the column into the desired position. The service lines that supply the outlets in the column all pass through large central openings in the brakes.
US09010701B1	Portable and collapsible stand for supporting an object A stand for supporting an object comprises: a first main support leg; a second main support leg; a first vertical support member pivotally connected to the first main support leg; and a second vertical support member pivotally connected to the second main support leg, such that first and second vertical support members can be rotated relative to the first and second main support legs to configure the stand in a storage position or a deployed position. The stand further comprises a hinge that operably joins the first vertical support member to the second vertical support member. The stand further comprises a first rear leg configured for sliding movement relative to the first main support leg between a retracted position and an extended position; and a second rear leg configured for sliding movement relative to the second main support leg between a refracted position and an extended position.
US09010699B2	Display mounting system A mounting system for use in mounting products such as audio/visual devices to a surface such as a wall. According to various embodiments, one or more surface mounting structures are configured to attach to a surface such as a wall, while one or more device mounting structures are configured to attach to a device such as a flat panel display. Mating “touch” or “burr” fasteners on at least one surface mounting structure and at least one device mounting structure serve to inhibit the movement or rotation of these components relative to each other when the mounting system is in an assembled position.
US09010695B2	Cable suspension device The present invention relates to problems how to keep cable arrangement functional, or at least make the damage as little as possible, after being exposed to different types of mechanical overloads. The problems are solved by methods and arrangements in which the securing means and the contact material of the securing means are arranged so that the cable can slide through the securing means when it is exposed to mechanical overloads.
US09010693B1	Collapsible wing and unmanned aircraft system including collapsible wing A collapsible wing, methods of producing the collapsible wing, and an unmanned aircraft system that includes the collapsible wing are provided.
US09010688B2	Structural joint having continuous skin with inside and outside stringers Apparatus and methods provide for a structural joint utilizing overlapping blade stringers coupled to opposing sides of a continuous skin. According to embodiments described herein, a structural joint includes a number of inside blade stringers associated with a first component are coupled to an inside surface of a continuous skin. A number of outside blade stringers associated with a second component may be coupled to an outside surface of the continuous skin. The inside blade stringers and outside blade stringers may overlap on opposing surfaces of the continuous skin.
US09010687B2	Insulating blanket for an aircraft and assembly integrating such a blanket This invention proposes an insulation blanket for an aircraft, the said blanket coming in the form of a strip of insulation material of elongated shape having two more or less parallel longitudinal edges (12).This blanket comprises: at least one bar (14) extending over one face of the insulation blanket (6), from one longitudinal edge (12) to the other thereof, as well as means for holding (18) the said bar (14), and the bar (14) bears at least one system support intended to receive a system (30, 32).
US09010684B2	Automated inspection of soft-tooled hollow structure A system and method that allow inspection of hollow structures made of composite material, such as an integrally stiffened wing box of an aircraft. A wing box comprises top and bottom skins connected by a plurality of spaced spars. The system employs a plurality of scanners for inspecting different portions of each spar. The system uses dynamically controlled magnetic coupling to connect an external drive tractor to computer-controlled scanners that carry respective sensors, e.g., linear ultrasonic transducer arrays. A system operator can control the various components by means of a graphical user interface comprising multiple interaction regions that represent the individual scanner motion paths and are associated with respective motion script files.
US09010679B2	Hybrid spherical and thrust bearing According to one embodiment, a bearing is situated between a pitch link and a swashplate or a hub. The bearing comprises an outer housing having a first opening therethrough, an elastomeric bearing adjacent the housing inside the first opening and having a second opening therethrough, and an inner housing adjacent the elastomeric bearing inside the second opening and having a third opening therethrough. The inner housing comprising a first inner surface and a second inner surface defining the third opening. A first member is adjacent the first inner surface inside the third opening having a fourth opening therethrough. A second member is adjacent the second inner surface inside the third opening having a fifth opening therethrough coaxial with the fourth opening.
US09010678B1	Rapid deployment air and water vehicle A vehicle which is adaptable for both flight and water travel includes: a body; a wing, a stabilizer, or a first propelling member; and at least one attachment member. The body is configured to fly through air and to move through water. The at least one attachment member attaches the wing, the stabilizer, or the first propelling member to the body while the body is in flight. The at least one attachment member detaches at least a portion of the wing, at least a portion of the stabilizer, or at least a portion of the first propelling member from the body when the body is in the water.
US09010677B2	Replaceable cover for bars in a printing system A paper transport system for transporting a web in a printing system includes a stationary bar positioned such that the web slides over a portion of an exterior surface of the bar, a rotatable source roller for supplying unused cover material, and a rotatable take-up roller for receiving used cover material. Cover material extends between the source roller and the take-up roller and is disposed over the portion of the exterior surface of the bar that the web slides over. A locking mechanism can be used to maintain tension in the cover material.
US09010674B2	Roll sheet supporting apparatus A roll sheet supporting apparatus includes a pair of rotation shafts which are respectively fitted into end portions of the hollow portion of the core tube and configured to support the roll sheet rotatably and capable of being drawn out, an engaging member movable between a projecting position and a retracting position, wherein the engaging member projects from an outer circumferential surface of the each rotation shaft abutting on the core tube to engage with the core tube at the projecting position and retracts inward from the outer circumferential surface of the each rotation shaft at the retracting position, and an engaging member moving unit configured to move the engaging member between the projecting position and the retracting position.
US09010672B2	Belt retractor A belt retractor has a frame (10), a belt spool (12) that is rotatably mounted in the frame (10), and a force limiter (22) that is adapted to reach a force limiting position. A guide-in mechanism (26) is provided which causes the force limiter (22) to reach the force limiting position as a function of the length of belt webbing withdrawn.
US09010671B2	Fishing reel A fishing reel has a reel body and an adjusting device. The reel body has a spool that is made of metal. The adjusting device has an adjusting button, an adjusting base and a magnetic set. The adjusting button has an adjusting structure being spiral, facing the spool and forming a step between a highest part and a lowest part of the adjusting structure. The adjusting base has a coordinating portion being spiral, facing the adjusting structure and forming a step between a highest part and a lowest part of the coordinating portion. The magnet set is mounted on the adjusting base and faces the spool.
US09010668B2	Safety device for food cutting machine The invention relates to a magnetic safety device especially designed for use with a combined food cutting and processing machine. An assembly of elements work together to move a magnet vertically and modify the relative position of said magnet with respect to a magnetic detector/sensor located in the interior of the motor block of the combined food cutting machine.
US09010666B2	Jet mill and method for operation of a jet mill A method for the operation of a jet mill with an integrated dynamic air classifier, wherein particles are fed as grinding stock into a grinding chamber of the jet mill and are ground there into ultra-fine particles by grinding, in that superheated steam or technical gases is/are used as working stock, wherein at least one surface-active additive is fed to the grinding stock for stabilization of the generated ultra-fine particles. A jet mill for performing this method, having an integrated dynamic air classifier, and a grinding chamber into which superheated steam or technical gases are provided as working stock via working stock feed devices as grinding stock and in which the grinding stock is ground into ultra-fine particles by grinding, and wherein feeding devices for at least one surface-active additive for stabilization of the generated ultra-fine particles are provided.
US09010660B2	Integrated sprinkler head multi-nozzle/shut-off system A sprinkler head with plural selectable nozzles includes a sprinkler body having inlet and outlet bores aligned along a first axis; a nozzle magazine rotatably supported on the sprinkler body, the nozzle magazine carrying at least two nozzles and provided with at least one shut-off surface portion located between the at least two nozzles. The nozzles are selectively rotatable into an operative position between the inlet and outlet bores, the nozzle magazine being rotatable about a second axis angularly offset from the first axis.
US09010655B2	System for securing a rail on level solid ground The invention relates to a system for securing a rail, including a guide plate for providing lateral support for the rail to be secured, a spring element supported on the guide plate and having at least one spring arm exerting an elastic retaining force on the base of the rail, and tensioning means for tensioning the spring element. Such a system allows an optimally secure support of the rail even in the case of a level ground having no indentations or stop shoulders, whilst being easy to handle and having only a small number of components to be mounted in each case, by providing a support angle which may be connected to the solid ground and which has a bearing surface against which the guide plate rests on the side facing away from the rail base. According to the invention the support angles are made from a plastic material, in order to facilitate assembly and improve the function of the support angles in practical use.
US09010652B2	Color restoration for color space encoded image Embodiments of the present disclosure can include devices for storing and exchanging color space encoded images. The encoded images can store input data into high capacity multi-colored composite two-dimensional pictures having different symbols organized in specific order using sets in a color space. The encoding can include performing two-level error correction and generating frames based on the color space for formatting and calibrating the encoded images during decoding. The decoding can use the frames to perform color restoration and distortion correction. The decoding can be based on a pseudo-Euclidean distance between a distorted color and a color in a color calibration cells. In some embodiments, an encoded image can be further divided into sub-images during encoding for simplified distortion correction.
US09010643B2	Selective working distance range restriction in imaging system An imaging system for electro-optically reading a symbol located within a range of working distances from the system, utilizes a solid-state imager for capturing return light from the symbol and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the captured return light, and a controller for decoding the electrical signal into data indicative of the symbol A memory stores a known set of values for a plurality of optical characteristics of the symbol, such as size and contrast characteristics of the symbol when the symbol lies in a restricted zone within the range of working distances. The controller is operative, after the symbol has been successfully decoded, for processing the size and contrast characteristics of the decoded symbol, and for determining that the decoded symbol has been successfully read within the restricted zone when each size and contrast characteristic lies within the known set of values stored by the memory.
US09010627B1	Initiating a kiosk transaction A method of initiating a banking transaction at a banking terminal is provided. The method includes optically capturing machine readable identification data of the banking terminal by a mobile device of a customer. A terminal identifier of the banking terminal is determined based on the machine readable identification data. Account information and the terminal identifier are transmitted from the mobile device for delivery to a server. The account information is associated with the customer and stored in the mobile device. The method also includes the step of transmitting the account information from the server to the banking terminal using the terminal identifier and receiving a customer transaction request from the customer at the banking terminal.
US09010624B2	Method in which a mobile phone reads a bar code located on a defective domestic appliance and is automatically connected to customer service A method for supporting an operator of a household appliance, in particular a domestic appliance, by making contact with customer service for the household appliance with the aid of a portable communication device is disclosed. A machine-readable code affixed to the household appliance, in particular the domestic appliance, is detected by an optical detection device of the portable communication device. On the basis of the detected code, a communication link is established between the portable communication device and communication equipment of customer service, specifically automatically via the portable communication device.
US09010620B2	Carton with handle A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel. A single phase handle extends in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel. The single phase handle can comprise at least one grip portion extending adjacent a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion. The handle opening can comprise a first opening in the at least one top panel and a second opening in the reinforcement panel. The second opening can be generally aligned with the first opening.
US09010616B2	Low void solder joint for multiple reflow applications A method is provided for the forming of a metallic solder joint without a liquid flux to create a solder joint that has minimal voids and can be reflowed multiple times without void propagation. This process can be done for any solder alloy, and is most specifically used in the application of first level thermal interface in a IC or micro processor or BGA microprocessor.
US09010610B2	Buttress retention system for linear endostaplers An end effector for use with a surgical stapler comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface, wherein the first and second side surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate have overmolded zones, a buttress releasably disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and the anvil plate, and a pair of sutures wherein each suture is bonded to the respective overmolded zones of the first and second side surfaces configured to retain the respective buttress atop the respective tissue contacting surfaces.
US09010601B2	Tape dispenser A tape dispenser includes a hollow body and a blade unit. The body has a frame, a blade seat and an opening. A reception portion is formed between the body and the frame so as to accommodate the tape. The opening communicates with inside of the body and the blade unit is located in the blade seat. The blade unit has a blade for cutting the tape.
US09010593B2	System for connecting a bracelet to a watch case System for connecting a bracelet to a watch case by means of a link, the watch case comprising a caseband and a back cover, the link comprising a first hollow element and a second element partly nesting in the first hollow element, the first hollow element carrying a first means of fastening to the watch case and the second element carrying a second means of fastening to an adjacent bracelet link, characterized in that the watch case includes a mechanical device arranged to pivot the second element about a transverse axis to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, the second element transmitting the pivoting motion thereof to the first element which pivots in turn and which is pressed against the caseband of the watch case.
US09010591B2	Carrying device A device for carrying bottles includes a holding ring (2), in whose interior a container, in particular a bottle or a can (beverage can), can be accommodated. An annular loop (3) is assigned to the holding ring (2). The lower loop-like area (4) can be rubberized on the inside and can hold the container from below. The upper loop-like area (5) of the annular loop (3) is used to carry the device (1) together with the container in the hand or placed over a shoulder of a user. The annular loop (3) is firmly connected in an area (7) to the holding ring (2); conversely, another area (8) of the annular loop (3) opposite to the fastened area (7) can be moved relative to the holding ring (2) (arrow 9).
US09010589B2	Self sealing bag in box cap assembly A cap assembly having a body, a sealing membrane and a retaining ring. A spout engagement channel is positioned on the bottom surface of the body. An opening extends through the body and includes a recessed circumferential channel and a membrane engaging flange. The sealing membrane covers the opening and includes a body engaging flange and a pierceable surface. The sealing membrane is positioned upon the membrane engaging flange so that the body engaging flange and the membrane engaging flange are in overlying engagement. The retaining ring includes a tab, a sealing membrane engagement surface and an inner wall structure. The retaining ring is positioned in overlying engagement with the sealing membrane. Extension of the tab into the recessed circumferential channel releasably maintains said overlying engagement and biases the retaining ring against the membrane. The inner wall structure of the retaining ring extends radially inward beyond the membrane engaging flange.
US09010575B2	Piping bag and nozzle The present invention relates to improvements in the dispensing of foodstuffs from piping bags. The use of piping bags to dispense decorative materials, such as icing, on to surfaces is well known and has been in use for many years. When used in conjunction with a nozzle, such piping bags allow for the dispensing of decorative materials to create messages or patterns. The nozzle can have a variety different shapes and sizes which allow for the ribbon of decorative material to have the desired appearance when expelled from the bag. Existing piping bags are limited in that they typically only have a single compartment in which the decorative material can be placed. The present invention seeks to provide a piping bag and nozzle assembly which allows for the simultaneous and controllable dispensing of two or more decorative materials on to surfaces to create messages or patterns.
US09010569B1	Bottle-warming container device A bottle-warming container device maintains the warmth of baby bottles for an extended period of time to ensure that warmed bottles are available when needed. The device includes a container having a bottom side and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the bottom side. The perimeter wall and the bottom side define an interior space of the container configured to hold a plurality of baby bottles. A pad is positioned in the interior space and comprises an insulating material wherein the pad is configured for preventing heat transfer between the interior space and the extrinsic environment relative to the interior space. A plurality of slots extends through the pad wherein the slots are configured to receive the baby bottles. A flexible portion of the pad is positioned around each slot wherein a size of the slots is selectively adjustable.
US09010558B2	Bottle container with handle The invention relates to a bottle container with a handle. A mounting projecting portion is provided on the bottle body, and a handle member is provided with a mounting hole which allows the mounting projecting portion to be inserted thereinto, and a handle portion which extends from the mounting portion, and is mounted on the bottle body by inserting the mounting projecting portion into the mounting hole, and then rotating the mounting projecting portion relative to the bottle body. The bottle body is provided with a rotation preventing member which accommodates the handle portion to prevent the relative rotation of the bottle body and the handle member in a state where the handle member has been mounted.
US09010557B2	Commemorative hollow-stem vesselware Product is a commemorative and/or functional drinking vessel of any size that contains thematic emblems, imagery, graphics, and labels displayed on the cup, with associated thematic objects contained within a hollow stem of any diameter or length. Hollow-stem vesselware is defined as any vessel that is supported by a hollow stem with thematic object and foot. This iconic work is a memorable souvenir, award, or gift for people of all walks of life, and can be custom-designed to meet any customer need. The hollow stem containing thematic objects is not found within any other market with such style and poise. This item lends instant class and character to any event or memorabilia collection.
US09010545B2	Ultrafiltration membranes and methods of making The present invention is an integral multilayered composite membrane having at least one ultrafiltration layer made by cocasting or sequentially casting a plurality of polymer solutions onto a support to form a multilayered liquid sheet and immersing the sheet into a liquid coagulation bath to effect phase separation and form a multilayered composite membrane having at least one ultrafiltration layer.
US09010534B2	Packaging structure of liquid crystal glass panel The present invention provides a liquid crystal glass panel packaging structure, which includes a package box and a plurality of cushioning bodies arranged inside the package box. The package box includes a lower case and an upper case mating the lower case. The cushioning bodies are airbag cushioning bodies arranged inside the lower case at locations corresponding to corners of a liquid crystal glass panel. The liquid crystal glass panel packaging structure uses airbag cushioning bodies to serve as cushioning devices for a liquid crystal glass panel, whereby with the airbag cushioning bodies being arranged at locations corresponding to corners of the liquid crystal glass panel, better protection is provided to the liquid crystal glass panel to prevent the product from being damaged by external forces. Further, the cushioning bodies of the present invention have a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, and can effectively lower down the manufacturing cost.
US09010529B2	Foldable cover A foldable cover for protecting or supporting a portable electronic device is provided. The foldable cover comprises a supporting unit and a fixing unit. The supporting unit comprises a plurality of first separations, a convergent part and a plurality of first slab-shaped parts. Each first separation is connected to the convergent part. The fixing unit is connected to the supporting unit to fix the portable electronic device. When the first slab-shaped parts are located at the same surface, the supporting unit covers the portable electronic device. When a three dimensional structure is formed by the first separations, the convergent part and the first slab-shaped parts, the supporting unit supports the portable electronic device.
US09010526B2	Conveyor belt system A conveyor belt system includes a conveyor belt running in longitudinal direction and support roller assemblies spaced apart along the conveyor belt and each having four support rollers distributed about the outer periphery of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is shaped into a tube having overlapping edges by an annular positioning of the support rollers. The conveyor belt extends, viewed in cross-section, from an edge lying on the inside at the overlap in a circumferential direction to an edge lying on the outside. The edges overlap at a last support roller, viewed in circumferential direction, and a distance between the last support roller, viewed in circumferential direction, and a center of gravity of a clear profile bounded by the support rollers is greater than a corresponding distance of the adjacently lying first support roller in circumferential direction.
US09010522B2	Method and apparatus for conveying a cellulosic feedstock An apparatus for conveying a cellulosic feedstock is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an enclosed volume having a lower surface comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending portions. Each longitudinally extending portion has an inner surface that is arcuate in transverse section. A plurality of conveyance members are provided within the enclosed volume. Each conveyance member is associated with one of the inner surfaces and configured to sweep the one of the inner surfaces. Additionally, a method for treating a cellulosic feedstock is disclosed. The method comprises providing a cellulosic feedstock being less than 100% saturated moisture. The cellulosic feedstock is introduced into a longitudinally extending enclosed volume, and conveyed longitudinally through the enclosed volume while being mixed.
US09010513B2	Pneumatic clutch with improved capacity and longevity Pneumatic fan drive assembly with improved capacity, longevity and heat control. The output member is positioned radially internally of the output member. The friction mechanism has longer movement (moment) arms and torque. The friction engagement has an increased friction surface arm. A portion of the heat generated by the friction mechanism is evacuated to the atmosphere rather than being completely internalized in the assembly. The friction material for the friction lining alternatively can be formed of a plasma spray.
US09010507B2	Torque converter with a clutch centering feature A torque converter, including: a cover; a pump shell fixed to the cover; and a vibration damper with a plurality of springs, and a cover plate partially surrounding the springs. The torque converter includes a torque convert clutch with: a piston plate; and a drive plate with a first portion and a plurality of second portions including distal ends circumferentially aligned with the springs and circumferentially disposed between pairs of adjacent springs, and a plurality of centering protrusions extending radially outward beyond the distal ends or inward of the distal ends. The second portions are arranged to engage the springs to transmit the torque. When the torque converter is not rotating, the centering protrusions are free of contact with the cover plate. When the torque converter rotates at a rate greater than a threshold speed, the centering protrusions contact the cover plate to limit radial displacement of the drive plate.
US09010505B2	Shock absorber A shock absorber is provided. The shock absorber includes: a piston rod; an inner passage having an inlet port at an outer periphery of the piston rod; and a stopper installed at the outer periphery of the piston rod. The stopper is disposed to surround the inlet port of the inner passage, and an outer passage extending from an upper portion of the stopper to the inlet port is formed between the stopper and the piston rod.
US09010501B2	Manual wheel chocks with enhanced bracing upon depolyment An example wheel restraint includes a track to be positioned adjacent a vehicle approach path of a loading dock. A shuttle is pivotally coupled to the track via a track follower and pivots between a home position and a deployed position about a shuttle axis substantially parallel to and offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the track. A barrier is pivotally coupled to the shuttle and pivots between a non-blocking position and a blocking position about a pivot axis substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the track such that the shuttle rotates in a first direction about the shuttle axis when the shuttle moves from the home position to the deployed position and bather rotates in a second direction about the pivot axis when the barrier moves from the non-blocking position to the blocking position, where the first direction being different than the second direction.
US09010493B2	Lubrication arrangement A lubrication system for a work tool, such as a demolition hammer, on a machine, such as an excavator or a loader. The lubrication system is mounted on drive line fluid connectors of the machine, such as hydraulic or pneumatic hoses. The lubrication system is fully supported by the connectors only and does not require mounting to the machine itself. The lubrication system includes a movable spool powered by the drive fluid of the machine, the spool reciprocating within a sleeve to force lubricant through passages to the work tool.
US09010472B2	Parking brake nested footrest assembly A footrest assembly includes a body portion having an upper contact surface adapted to support a vehicle occupant's foot at a predetermined angle. The footrest assembly includes mounting members adapted to couple the footrest assembly to a base unit disposed on a vehicle floorboard. The footrest assembly includes a depression or recess adapted to receive a parking brake pedal when the parking brake is in a fully actuated position. Thus, the footrest assembly is configured to provide a footrest option in a vehicle interior that would otherwise not have the space requirements to accommodate a footrest, while also allowing for full functionality of a parking brake pedal.
US09010469B2	Generation control device A generation control device for a hybrid vehicle in which an electrical generator is driven by an engine, and a battery is charged by operation of the electrical generator and the engine, includes: a shift position detection unit that detects a shift position; a brake detection unit that detects whether a brake is on or off; a charging start unit; an increasing/decreasing unit that conducts increasing operation or decreasing operation; and a control unit that starts to charge the battery when the shift position is a non-travel position, the brake is on, and the charging start unit is operated. The control unit that, after starting to charge the battery, increases a parameter related to the electrical generation when the increasing operation is conducted, or the decreases the parameter when the decreasing operation is conducted. The control unit controls the engine and the power generator based on the set parameter.
US09010461B2	Guide wire for ranging and subsurface broadcast telemetry A managed bulk drilling system that employs a guide wire for ranging and crosswell telemetry. Some system embodiments include multiple drilling assemblies operating in the vicinity of a reference well that contains an electrical cable. The electrical cable is coupled to a surface control system. The control system uses the electrical cable as part of an antenna to receive uplink signals from the drilling assemblies and to broadcast down-link signals to the drilling assemblies. The uplink signals can include position data and the downlink signals can include individual steering commands to adjust the trajectories of each drilling assembly. The cable can also generate a guidance field for the drilling assemblies to detect and follow.
US09010458B2	Pressure pulse fracturing system The present invention provides for an assembly for creating a pressure pulse in a liquid-filled cavity within a fracturable material such as a boulder wherein the primary energy storage element is disposed in a transducer at the boulder to improve the coupling of energy between the energy storage unit and the fluid in the boulder.
US09010448B2	Safety valve with electrical actuator and tubing pressure balancing A well tool for use with a subterranean well can include a flow passage extending longitudinally through the well tool, an internal chamber containing a dielectric fluid, and a flow path which alternates direction, and which provides pressure communication between the internal chamber and the flow passage. A method of controlling operation of a well tool can include actuating an actuator positioned in an internal chamber of the well tool, a dielectric fluid being disposed in the chamber, and the chamber being pressure balanced with a flow passage extending longitudinally through the well tool, and varying the actuating, based on measurements made by at least one sensor of the well tool.
US09010438B2	Fluid treatment system A fluid treatment system comprises a fluid treatment module having a fluid inlet and first and second fluid outlets. A pump is provided to establish a first pressure differential between the fluid inlet and one of the first and second fluid outlets of the fluid treatment module, and an eductor is provided to establish a second pressure differential between the fluid inlet and the other of the first and second fluid outlets of the fluid treatment module. The pump is adapted to deliver a motive fluid to the eductor.
US09010434B2	Method for connecting two coupling parts of a subsea coupling arrangement to each other A method for connecting coupling parts of a subsea coupling arrangement, the coupling parts having at least one sealing surface, in which the coupling parts are connected by displacing the coupling parts towards each other, wherein a watertight seal is formed when the coupling parts are connected, feeding filtered sea water through a channel into a space between the coupling parts during the displacement, flowing the filtered sea water over the sealing surfaces to prevent particles and dirt from being trapped between the sealing surfaces, and discharging the filtered sea water from the space into surroundings of the subsea coupling arrangement.
US09010433B2	Positive retraction latch locking dog for a rotating control device A latch and method for use is provided for latching an item of oilfield equipment. The latch has a housing containing a latch member, and the latch member is movable between a radially engaged position in which it is engaged with the item of oilfield equipment, and a radially retracted position in which it is disengaged from the item of oilfield equipment. An actuator is configured to drive the latch member into the radially engaged position. Further, the actuator is configured to drive the latch member toward the radially retracted position.
US09010427B2	Smart Drop-off tool and hang-off tool for a logging string A hang-off tool for supporting a tool inside a tubular member includes a logging string configured to generate logging data, a computing system coupled to the logging string and configured to communicate the logging data to another tool, and a radially expandable member having a retracted position and an expanded position. The radially expandable member is configured to engage a radially-increased profile of an inner surface of the tubular member in the expanded position to support the hang-off tool. The radially expandable member is also configured not to engage the radially-increased profile in the retracted position.
US09010422B2	Remote activated deflector A wellbore y-block junction comprises a first bore channel, a second bore channel, a deflector selectable to a neutral position, to a first bore channel selected position, and to a second bore channel selected position, a radio receiver, and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to command the deflector position to one of the neutral position, the first bore channel selected position, or the second bore channel selected position based on an input from the radio receiver.
US09010420B2	Sonic oil recovery apparatus for use in a well A sonic oil recovery apparatus for use in a well has an injector tubing extending interior of the casing of the well, and a resonator tube affixed to or within the injector tubing. The resonator tube has an interior flow pathway so as to allow a fluid to flow therethrough from the injector tubing. The resonator tube is suitable for transmitting an acoustic signal approximately equal to the resonate frequency of a formation in the well. The resonator tube can have a plurality of orifices plates formed therein such that the fluid flowing through the resonator tube generates the acoustic signal. The resonator tube can alternatively be a solid state acoustic resonator therein.
US09010413B2	Ball drop wellhead control apparatus A ball drop wellhead control apparatus provides a control ball between one of a frac ball drop and a frac ball injector used to drop frac balls into a frac fluid stream being pumped into a subterranean well to ensure that only frac balls intended to be dropped reach the frac fluid stream.
US09010411B1	Downhole tool and method of use Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a downhole tool useable for isolating sections of a wellbore that includes a mandrel, the mandrel further having a body comprising an external surface, and an inner bore formed therein; a distal end; and a proximate end; wherein the mandrel is made of composite material, wherein a set of shear threads are disposed along a surface of the inner bore at the proximate end. Embodiments of the tool include a slip disposed about the mandrel, wherein the slip comprises a one-piece configuration.
US09010408B1	Grazing-angle thermal emission (GATE) and thermal antenna array (TAA) for multi-channel thermal communications Altering the direction of thermal radiation of any objects into any construction directions including grazing angles. Embodiments of the invention provide a new technique for thermal control and management.
US09010407B2	Waste water heat recovery system A waste water heat recovery system may include a waste water conduit, a plurality of heat exchanger modules, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The plurality of heat exchanger modules may be disposed on an outer surface of the waste water conduit. Each of the plurality of heat exchanger modules may include a first conduction member, a second conduction member, and a serpentine potable water conduit seated between the first and second conduction members. The inlet manifold may receive potable water from a water source and may be fluidly connected to an inlet of the potable water conduit of each of the plurality of heat exchanger modules. The outlet manifold may be fluidly connected to an outlet of the potable water conduit of each of the plurality of heat exchanger modules.
US09010405B1	Fluid-cooled heat sink with improved fin areas and efficiencies for use in cooling various devices The disclosure provides a fluid-cooled heat sink having a heat transfer base and a plurality of heat transfer fins in thermal communication with the heat transfer base, where the heat transfer base and the heat transfer fins form a central fluid channel through which a forced or free cooling fluid may flow. The heat transfer pins are arranged around the central fluid channel with a flow space provided between adjacent pins, allowing for some portion of the central fluid channel flow to divert through the flow space. The arrangement reduces the pressure drop of the flow through the fins, optimizes average heat transfer coefficients, reduces contact and fin-pin resistances, and reduces the physical footprint of the heat sink in an operating environment.
US09010402B2	Method and apparatus for interlocking load carrying elements A method for interlocking structural steel components with a metal-filled interlock is disclosed herein. The method comprises placing a mold about aligned contoured portions of structural steel components and attaching a crucible and a spout to the mold. The crucible is charged with exothermic reactive metals which are ignited, forming a molten metal filler. The molten metal filler melts a metal plug in the crucible or spout and the molten metal filler flows into the mold and about the aligned contoured portions of the structural steel components. Cooling of the molten metal filler forms a metal-filled interlock. Molds for performing the disclosed method are also disclosed herein.
US09010400B2	Covering device and coupling module thereof A coupling device of a shading member, includes a frame and two coupling modules. Each coupling module includes a main member fixed to a top or a bottom of the shading member, two positioning members connected to the main member, and two controlling members connected to the positioning members. The positioning members are received in the main member, each of which has a gear to engage a rack of the frame. The positioning members are movable by moving the controlling members to make the gears engage or disengage the racks. As a result, the shading member is able to be assembled or disassembled in an easy way.
US09010395B2	Method and device for the automated production of dry fibrous preforms A device for laying up a dry preform having an elongated shape includes a punch that reproduces the elongated shape of the dry preform, a depositing assembly, and a mobile carrier that moves at least one of the punch and the depositing assembly. The depositing assembly deposits, onto the punch, a fibrous band including a small amount of binding agent to make up the dry preform having a cross-section with at least two non-coplanar wings. The depositing assembly also includes pressing devices that press the fibrous band, a channel that pre-shapes the fibrous band to have the cross-section, and a calibration device that applies a normal pressure to all surfaces of the dry preform that are opposite from the punch while cooling the pressed portion of the fibrous band to control a thickness of the dry preform having the cross-section.
US09010393B2	Rubber composition for tire comprising an organosilicon coupling system Tyre and rubber composition for tyre, based on at least one isoprene elastomer (for example natural rubber), an inorganic filler as reinforcing filler (for example silica) and a coupling system which provides the bonding between the said reinforcing inorganic filler and the isoprene elastomer, the said coupling system comprising, in combination: as first coupling agent, a silane sulphide compound; as second coupling agent, an at least bifunctional organosilicon compound (for example an organosilane or an organosiloxane) which can be grafted to the elastomer by means of an azodicarbonyl functional group (—CO—N═N—CO—).
US09010382B2	Apparatus and method for filling multi-chamber containers with bulk materials An apparatus and method are provided for filling multi-chamber containers with different loose bulk materials. The apparatus and method may be particularly well-suited to packaging at least one bulk material, which is susceptible to water, chemicals, or other contaminants, with at least one other bulk material. The apparatus is a machine that includes separate hoppers for handling the separate bulk materials, and directs the separate bulk materials into different chambers of a multi-chamber container, which is then transported away from the machine for storage or use. The machine may include one or more movable hoppers supported on tracks, for moving the bulk materials to the hoppers that direct the bulk materials into different chambers of the multi-chamber container. A controller and data logger may be provided to control the apparatus and record the quantity and/or weight of the contents of each multi-chamber container.
US09010378B2	Fluid liner fabrication and installation The present application relates to fluid liners. One example includes first and second recycled geosynthetic sheets having overlapping portions. A heat welded splice is formed along the overlapping portions creates a fluid seal between the first and second recycled geosynthetic sheets so that the first and second geosynthetic sheets collectively function as a fluid liner.
US09010374B2	Regulator valve with integrated direct acting solenoid A control valve for an automatic transmission includes a valve body including a chamber and a control pressure port, metering edges formed in the valve body at the control pressure port, a reference surface formed in the valve body, a spool displaceable along the chamber, and a solenoid module including a pin for displacing the spool, and located in the chamber by contact with the reference surface.
US09010373B2	Pressure balanced valve with diaphragm valve member end seal A diaphragm sealed, pressure balanced valve assembly includes a valve body and a cartridge connected to the valve body. The cartridge includes a cartridge loading end having a retaining member engaged to the cartridge loading end. A valve member slides coaxial to a longitudinal axis of the valve body. A resilient material first diaphragm is connected to and extends diametrically outward from the valve member having a diaphragm body clasped between the retaining member and the cartridge loading end, creating a first diaphragm fluid pressure boundary. A resilient material second diaphragm is connected to and extends diametrically outward from the valve member at an opposite end of the valve member with respect to the first diaphragm and has a diaphragm body clasped between first and second adjustable retention members, creating a second diaphragm fluid pressure boundary.
US09010372B2	Changeover valve A changeover valve (1) including a valve housing (2), which has at least one inlet opening (3) and at least three outlet openings (4, 5, 6), of which outlet openings (4, 5, 6), by a changeover shaft (7) displaceably guided in the valve housing (2), one outlet opening can optionally respectively be assigned to the at least one inlet opening (3), two sealing elements (8, 9), which (8, 9) are displaceably guided on the changeover shaft (7) between two drivers (10, 11) and are kept at a distance from each other with the aid of at least one pressure element (12), a switching tube (13), which is displaceably guided in the valve housing (2) via two circumferential annular guide surfaces (14, 15) provided on the tube circumference thereof, and at least one switching tube opening (16) provided between the annular guide surfaces (14, 15). An axial actuating movement of the changeover shaft (7) can be transferred at least to one of the two sealing elements (8, 9) in such a way that either both sealing elements (8, 9) bear with outer circumferential sealing surfaces (18, 19) on the sealing surfaces (22, 23) of the valve housing (2) that surround a fluid passage (20, 21) and one of the sealing elements (8, 9) closes the adjacent circumferential front edge of the switching tube (13) with an inner circumferential sealing surface (24, 25) while the other sealing element (9, 8) remains at a distance from the other circumferential front edge of the switching tube (13), serving as a fluid passage, or both inner circumferential sealing surfaces (24, 25) of the sealing elements (8, 9) bear on the adjacent circumferential front edges of the switching tube (13) while the one sealing element (8, 9) uses the outer circumferential sealing surface (18, 19) thereof to load the adjacent mating sealing surface (22, 23) surrounding the fluid passage, and the other sealing element (9, 8) is spaced apart from the mating sealing surface (25, 24) assigned thereto and surrounding a fluid passage (21, 20).
US09010370B2	Valve assembly A rotary valve is disclosed. The valve comprises a drive shaft, a rotor coupled to the drive shaft, a least one bearing surface coupled to the rotor, a stator adjacent to the rotor, at least one solid bearing surface coupled to the stator, and at least one ring bearing surface coupled to the stator.
US09010368B2	Gas modulation and temperature control valve An apparatus comprises a body, a first poppet, and a second poppet. The body comprises a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel. The first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are operable to be fluidly isolated from each other. The first poppet is positioned in the first fluid channel, and the first poppet is operable to be moveable within the first fluid channel. The second poppet is positioned within the second fluid channel, and the second poppet is operable to be moveable within the second fluid channel. The first poppet and the second poppet are operable to be mechanically coupled together such that movement of the first poppet within the first channel is operable to cause sympathetic movement of the second poppet within the second fluid channel.
US09010363B2	Drain valve A drain valve allows for drainage of fluids while preventing backflow of gases from a drainage system through the drain valve. A drain valve can have a first, sealed position in which a component of the valve seals an opening through the valve and a second, open position in which the component of the valve is separated from the opening to allow a fluid to drain through the valve. When the fluid has drained through, the component of the valve can return to the closed position. The valve can include a pressure relief conduit to help equalize pressure across the valve and permit unrestrained draining of fluid through the valve.
US09010360B1	Flow control/shut-off valve assembly A flow valve assembly includes a valve operable between an open position and a closed position and a controller operatively coupled to the valve to operate the valve between the open position and the closed position. A mechanically or electrically operated assembly is provided to determine an amount of fluid flow through the valve when the valve is in the open position. A mechanically or electrically operated mechanism moves the valve from the open position to the closed position when the amount of fluid flow exceeds a predetermined value. A method of operating the valve is also provided.
US09010359B2	Safety protection device and control method thereof The safety protection device contains a control unit, a transmission unit, and a throttle unit. The control method contains the following steps: step A: setting a condition parameter X of the control unit; step B: engaging the safety protection device into an operational mode; step C: determining if an external condition X0 satisfies the condition parameter X; if yes, continuing to the step D; otherwise, returning to the step B; and step D: turning off the throttle unit through the transmission unit driven by the control unit. A valve is configured inside the throttle unit and connected to a base through a driving device and to the transmission unit. The control unit contains an energy storage/release device configured on the throttle unit. A moveable block is configured inside the energy storage/release device. The transmission unit, together with the block, controls the open and close of the valve.
US09010347B2	Portable awning for the car A portable awning for the car. The present invention is to overcome the deficiency of bad effect of insulation and inconvenience for user. The point of solution includes a casing able to be separated into two portions along the length direction, and an awning body able be stored within the said two portions of the casing respectively, is characterized in that: the said awning body is a foldable body with continuous honeycomb section, the said two portions of the casing are provided with fixed structure used for fixing the car. Each Honeycomb Tube of the said awning body is an opening structure at the both ends.
US09010341B1	Hair extension clip A hair clip having a rectangular base frame, with a plurality of prongs forming a unitary structure with the base frame, is disclosed. A weft clip frame is fixedly attached to, or forms a unitary structure with, the base frame. The weft clips which are attached thereto form a U-shape with a portion of said U-shape on either side of the rectangular base frame and extend over an uppermost extremity of the rectangular base, while the lower end of the rectangular base has openings of prongs for attaching hair thereto. The weft clips, in embodiments, hold the weft of a hair extension between the weft clip and rectangular base, such as in a portal of the weft clip opening only towards the top of the rectangular base.
US09010337B2	Smoking article with flavor delivery system A flavor delivery release system for a cigarette or cigarette package. The system includes a cigarette, at least one capsule containing a flavorant, the capsule positioned on an external surface of the cigarette; and wherein the flavorant is released upon rupturing the capsule.
US09010334B2	Cheek pouch anchor The cheek pouch anchor, formed of a resilient filament, fits within a user's cheek pouch. The anchor dynamically spans a user's inter-occlusal space and lip opening as a user's jaws open and close. The anchor can be formed of inter-connected, conversely-adjustable loops to enable user adjustment of its span. It can stabilize a work piece, such as an airway, in a user's mouth. The cheek path airway fits a path between a user's lips and through the user's cheek pouch and rear-jaw gap, avoiding the user's bite. It provides supplemental air to a user's rear-mouth cavity independently of a user's nasal airways while a user's lips remain closed. It can be used in combination with mandibular jaw-control and tongue-control devices whereby the combination mitigates breathing restrictions in a user's nasal and throat airways. It can be manufactured in-line and folded by a user to fit the user's cheek pathway.
US09010333B2	Cuffed medical tubes A cuffed silicone tracheostomy tube has two tapered recesses on its outer surface in which opposite ends of a resilient cuff are bonded using an adhesive or solvent. Two shallow ribs extend around the tube on the inner edge of each recess, projecting outwardly to prevent the adhesive or solvent spreading onto the inflatable portion of the cuff. The cuff has several shallow ribs extending around the cuff and spaced along its inflatable portion to promote even inflation.
US09010332B2	Expandable inter vivos tube A flexible expandable inter vivos tube includes at least one arched segmented portion, a corresponding movable element and at least one positioning mechanism. The at least one arched segmented portion and corresponding movable element forming a flexible closed longitudinally expandable tube. The at least one arched segment includes an H-shaped connector having at least one cavity that allows variable slidable movement of a free end portion of the corresponding movable element. A flexible membrane is contained in the at least one cavity so that the hydraulic or air pressure within an inner rib of the H-shaped connector expands the movable element and, thus, the circumference of the flexible inter vivos tube are increased. The flexible membrane attached to the free end portion limits the travel of the movable element within a corresponding one of the at least one cavity.
US09010330B2	Patient interface systems A patient interface structure for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient includes a front plate configured to conform to the shape of the patient's face; a mouth cushion defining a breathing chamber and provided to the front plate and configured to seal around the patient's mouth; and a nasal cushion configured to seal the patient's nasal airways. The nasal cushion is supported by the mouth cushion, does not contact a bridge of the patient's nose in use, and extends at least partially into the breathing chamber. A patient interface system includes a patient interface structure and a patient interface structure positioning system configured to position, stabilize and secure the patient interface structure in sealing engagement with the patient's face.
US09010326B2	Compressible connector for an inner cannula A tracheal tube assembly includes an outer cannula configured to be positioned in a patient airway and an inner cannula configured to be disposed inside the outer cannula. The tracheal tube assembly further includes a flange member secured about the outer cannula, and an outer cannula connector coupled to a proximal end of the outer cannula. The inner cannula includes a compressible proximal end region that is compressed while secured inside the outer cannula connector.
US09010323B2	Inhaler and sieve for an inhaler An inhaler (1) includes a sieve part (9) for administrating powdered substances such as medical substances. The inhaler (1) includes a suction air channel (6) leading to a mouthpiece (4), a substance supply container (8) that is moveable inside a receiving chamber (7) and the sieve part (9) disposed in the suction air channel (6) between the receiving chamber (7) and the mouthpiece (4). The sieve part includes a retaining edge (10), a sieve area contained in a cross sectional area within the retaining edge (10), and a protruding area (12) that protrudes to one side and has a flat portion (13).
US09010315B2	Solar collector based on carbon nanotubes and solar heating system using the same A solar collector includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface, a sidewall, a transparent cover, and a heat-absorbing layer. The sidewall is arranged on the periphery of the top surface of the substrate. The transparent cover is disposed on the sidewall opposite to the substrate to form a sealed chamber. The heat-absorbing layer is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and includes a carbon nanotube film having a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube film are joined end-to-end.
US09010313B2	Cookery air purification and exhaust system An air filtration and exhaust system is described. The system comprises a microcontroller, a power supply, and a series of sensors that detect the presence of airborne contaminants such as ultra fine particles, smoke, natural gas and radon gas. In the presence of these airborne contaminants, the system is designed to inactivate and prevent operation of nearby food preparation appliances. Once these contaminants have been safely removed, the operation of these appliances is restored. In addition, the ventilation system may be equipped with a purification subassembly, which safely and efficiently removes such containments from the area. The system may also comprise an alarm that is activatable in the presence of these contaminants.
US09010311B1	Apparatus, system and method for using a diamond-impregnated wire to cut an object An apparatus, a system and a method may use a diamond-impregnated wire loop to cut an underwater pipeline. The apparatus may have a frame, a carriage attached to the frame and/or pulleys connected to the carriage. The diamond-impregnated wire loop may be connected to the pulleys. The carriage may move relative to the frame to direct the diamond-impregnated wire loop in a forward direction relative to the frame and/or through the pipeline.
US09010308B1	Trigger mechanism for a crossbow A trigger assembly for a crossbow comprises a string retainer and a trigger mechanism. The trigger assembly can further comprise a piston, a safety mechanism, a secondary safety mechanism, a bolt sensor, or a pair of rotating sears. The string retainer can comprise a pair of opposed jaws.
US09010305B2	Octane separation system and operating method An engine method, comprising delivering fuel with an octane level above a threshold to a first fuel tank and delivering fuel with an octane level below a threshold to a second fuel tank; monitoring a staleness of fuel within first fuel tank and the second fuel tank; delivering fuel with an octane level above the threshold to an engine in response to the staleness of fuel of the first fuel tank; and delivering fuel with an octane level below the threshold to the engine in response the staleness of fuel of the second fuel tank.
US09010302B2	Control apparatus of a direct injection gasoline engine In a direct injection gasoline engine, at acceleration operation, an amount of internal EGR is increased by advancing exhaust valve closing timing, and also fuel injection pressure is increased. In this case, range of increase in fuel injection pressure is determined on the basis of the exhaust valve closing timing at present.
US09010293B2	Combustion control via homogeneous combustion radical ignition (HCRI) or partial HCRI in cyclic IC engines A process is provided for improving combustion control and fuel efficiency in rotary and reciprocating IC engines by enabling leaner combustion at higher compression ratios using less heat for ignition. Embodiments employ secondary chambers of minimal total volume within a cylinder periphery. These chambers communicate with a main chamber via conduits and enable a radical ignition (“RI”) species generation and supply process that starts in earlier cycles to be augmented and used in later cycles. Measures regulate the RI species generated and provided to the main chamber. These species alter dominant chain-initiation reactions of the combustion ignition mechanism. Also employed when preferable are fluids of higher heat of vaporization and volatility but lower ignitability than the fuel. This process improves combustion in radical ignition engines and radical augmented spark and compression ignition engines.
US09010280B2	Hot-water supply system When a detection temperature by a hot-water tank thermister (42) has been equal to or lower than a re-heating determination temperature over at least a re-heating determination time, a tank controller (50) performs a sterilization process by heating hot water within a hot-water tank (31) by means of a heat pump unit (60); and when the detection temperature by the hot-water tank thermister (42) has been equal to or lower than a determination temperature for prohibiting the use of stored hot water over at least a determination time for prohibiting the use of stored hot water, the tank controller (50) performs only a temperature regulation control via heating while keeping a hot-water flow regulation valve (34) in a closed state.
US09010271B2	Method and system to whiten a golf hole An apparatus includes a container holding a whitening material, and a dispenser to release the whitening material from the container, wherein the dispenser is configured to simultaneously dispense the whitening material in a spray pattern 360 degrees around the dispenser.
US09010251B2	Urban transport installation using track ropes Overhead public transport installation for urban and peri-urban environment using track ropes with overhead stations, each comprising a platform situated below the level of the boarding/disembarkation platforms and consistent with the overhead clearance of the road transport system in terms of the difference in level that corresponds to the sag in the track ropes.
US09010249B2	Explosive bulk charge An explosive bulk charge, including: a first contact surface configured to be selectively disposed substantially adjacent to a structure or material; a second end surface configured to selectively receive a detonator; and a curvilinear side surface joining the first contact surface and the second end surface. The first contact surface, the second end surface, and the curvilinear side surface form a bi-truncated hemispherical structure. The first contact surface, the second end surface, and the curvilinear side surface are formed from an explosive material. Optionally, the first contact surface and the second end surface each have a substantially circular shape. Optionally, the first contact surface and the second end surface consist of planar structures that are aligned substantially parallel or slightly tilted with respect to one another. The curvilinear side surface has one of a smooth curved geometry, an elliptical geometry, and a parabolic geometry.
US09010248B1	40 mm gun sleeve cartridge case for M320 grenade launcher ammunition A non-spinning 40 mm ammunition round for firing in an M320 grenade launcher. The round includes a cylindrical shaped gun sleeve cartridge case, which covers the standard rifling inside the M320, and thus presents a smooth bore surface to the fired ammunition. Because the ammunition is not launched in a spinning mode, it may now comprise those guidance and camera components as may be desired which components would not have been possible to employ on a round that is spinning.
US09010245B2	Operation of a cold foil apparatus by a printing press A method of transferring a transfer foil having an image forming layer through a transfer gap of a printing press under a foil cycle timing control that is selectively changeable such that it can be turned on, turned off, or is adjustable in its frequency and period of operation as a function of operating parameters of the press.
US09010240B2	Square balers A square baler includes a control system having a closed loop mode of operation in which at least one of the volume of the feeder duct and the threshold pressure of the pressure sensor is varied automatically to maintain the capacity parameter within one of a plurality of desired capacity ranges. The desired capacity range is selected by the control system in such a manner as to maintain the width of each slice in the finished bale within predetermined limits.
US09010238B2	Tea-maker having a closable pouring spout A beverage maker which has an open top container, a filter insert and a lid. The lid comprises a lid lower part having a lower lid wall in which an insertion opening is configured for inserting the filter insert. In order to prevent liquid from pouring or squirting out of the container and in order to reduce heat losses, the lid lower part is sealingly held on the container, a pouring spout is configured in the lower lid wall and the lid comprises a closure for the pouring spout. The closure has a lever which is mounted above the lower lid wall to be swivelable about a horizontal axis. The lever has an actuation region in order to swivel the lever from a first position in which the closure closes the pouring spout to a second position in which the closure releases the pouring spout.
US09010231B1	Combined bulletproof shield and desk item An apparatus is provided having a rigid bulletproof member enclosed in a housing of flexible material. A pair of handles is coupled to the housing to enable a user to operate the apparatus in a first mode by grasping the handles and locating the housing to shield the user from one or more bullets, and at other times in a second mode with the back surface of the housing upon a desk or other surface. In the second mode that apparatus serves as a typical desktop item of a desk pad enabled by providing multiple holders along the front surface for retaining one or more corners or a portion of the top and/or bottom of a rectangular member or item, such as a desktop calendar, blotter paper or media, paper pad, or the like.
US09010230B2	Anti-ballistic shelters An anti-ballistic shelter is provided. The antiballistic shelter includes a frame having two or more support members and one or more wall surfaces. The one or more wall surfaces include a flexible high strength layered anti-ballistic material attached to the frame. The flexible high strength layered anti-ballistic material is layered in at least two directions and is attached to the frame in an inverted T construction including a calculated stretch material portion, one or more breakaway stitches and one or more holding stitches.
US09010228B2	Barrier mounting apparatus An assembly for use in a shield includes a protective panel, protective panel securing hardware and an adjustable mount. The protective panel is ballistic-resistant and/or blast resistant. The protective panel securing hardware secures the protective panel to the adjustable mount and to extend in an upwards direction from the adjustable mount. The adjustable mount is structured and sized to be securable on top of shield bases having a plurality of alternative geometries.
US09010223B2	Tool bit A tool bit includes a plurality of fins each having first and second ends and extended radially and longitudinally and including the second end thereof forming two opposite lateral sides each including a reinforcing section extended therefrom. Two adjacent fins of the plurality of fins form a recess therebetween, which has a curved periphery interconnecting two adjacent reinforcing sections of the two adjacent fins. Each fin defines a first length from the end thereof to the curved periphery of the recess extended from the second end thereof. The first length is smaller than a second length defined between two opposite peripheral sides of a hexagonal periphery of a connecting end of the tool bit.
US09010217B2	Bicycle pedals with locking function A bicycle pedal with a locking function has a base and a securing member. The base is positioned on a side of the bicycle and has a U-shaped main body and a through hole disposed on the main body. The securing member has a securing rod with an end attached to the bicycle and disposed through the through hole, and a stopping portion disposed at another end of the securing rod. wherein the main body is capable of sliding along the securing rod between a locking position and a non-locking position, and when the main body is at the locking position, the main body moves to one end of the securing rod and pushes against the stopping portion to prevent wheels from rotating, and when the main body is at the non-locking position, the main body moves to another end of the securing rod to release the wheels.
US09010215B2	Sliding sleeve The invention relates to a telescopable steering spindle having an inner spindle and an outer spindle, which are arranged coaxially in relation to one another and have an out-of-round cross section for torque transmission, wherein an intermediate space is provided between the outer spindle and the inner spindle, a sliding sleeve being arranged in the said intermediate space, wherein the sliding sleeve is provided with a surface structuring on at least one surface facing the inner spindle or the outer spindle.
US09010209B2	Scissors gear assembly A gear assembly including a main gear including a first hub, a first gear ring positioned about the first hub, and a first helically splined region. The gear assembly further includes a sub-gear co-axially disposed relative to the main gear with a resilient member disposed therebetween. The sub-gear including a second hub, a second gear ring positioned about the second hub, and a second helically splined region complementary to the first helically splined region.
US09010205B2	Linear slide having integral carriage and nut assembly A linear slide is provided. The linear slide includes a guide rail, a carriage arrangement and a drive mechanism. The carriage arrangement includes a sidecar or nut arrangement for engagement with a screw of the drive mechanism. The nut arrangement is laterally offset from a carriage of the carriage arrangement.
US09010195B2	Apparatus for applying horizontal load to underwater pile using ground penetration of suction pile and method for measuring horizontal resistance of underwater pile using the same A horizontal resistance of an underwater pile is measured using a horizontal load applying apparatus which applies a horizontal load to the underwater pile to measure a horizontal resistance of the underwater pile by changing a direction of a penetration force generated when a suction pile penetrates an underwater ground.
US09010194B2	Pressure sensor with interconnector having a compliant pin assembly A pin and circuit board assembly includes at least three pins (24′, 24″). Each pin includes a first end (35) and a second end (37). All of the first ends of the pins are arranged on a common plane. The second ends of at least two of the pins are disposed on the common plane and a second end of at least one of the pins, other than the two pins, are disposed on a second plane that is offset from the common plane. The second end of each pin is spaced apart from a second end of another pin substantially at an angle of 360/N, where N is the total number of pins. A printed circuit board (22′) includes at least three pin holes (28′, 28″), each arranged to receive a second end of an associated pin in a press-fit arrangement. The assembly avoids tilting of the PCB upon inserting the pins.
US09010192B2	Manometer quick connect device for testing gas pressure of a household cooking appliance A manometer quick connect device is provided for pressure testing a gas outlet of a household cooking appliance. The manometer quick connect device include a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the body having a hollow cavity extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the first end of the body includes a feature for coupling the manometer quick connect device to a manometer, and a seal at the second end of the body, wherein the seal includes a sealing surface for sealing the hollow cavity of the body to a surface of the gas outlet, the seal including an opening for providing fluid communication between the hollow cavity and an orifice of the gas outlet.
US09010190B2	Stress isolated MEMS structures and methods of manufacture A MEMS pressure sensor may be manufactured to include a backing substrate having a diaphragm backing portion and a pedestal portion. A diaphragm substrate may be manufactured to include a pedestal portion and a diaphragm that is mounted to the diaphragm backing portion of the backing substrate to form a stress isolated MEMS die. The pedestal portions of the backing and diaphragm substrates form a pedestal of the stress isolated MEMS die. The pedestal is configured for isolating the diaphragm from stresses including packaging and mounting stress imparted on the stress isolated MEMS die.
US09010179B2	Device for measuring the ionization current in a radiofrequency ignition system for an internal combustion engine A device for radiofrequency ignition of an internal combustion engine, including a power supply circuit including a transformer with a secondary winding connected to at least one resonator that has a resonant frequency in excess of 1 MHz and including two electrodes configured to generate a spark to initiate combustion of a combustible mixture in a cylinder of the engine in response to an ignition command. A measuring capacitor is connected in series between the secondary winding and the resonator, a measurement circuit measures a current at terminals of the measuring capacitor, the current providing an electrical image of how combustion is progressing, and a protection circuit is connected between the capacitor and the measurement circuit and is configured to spare the current measurement acquisition time from electrical effects caused by the ignition command.
US09010174B2	Method and device for the membrane-based analysis of gas components A method and a device for the analysis of gas components of a matrix employ two sensors, which each comprise a cavity enclosed by a membrane. Both membranes, each on one side of the matrix and on the other side, are exposed to a purge gas and subsequently, the timeline of the differential pressure Δps starting at a start time tA is measured, which is created between the sensors as a consequence of permeation of gas components of the matrix and/or the purge gas through both membranes. From the timeline, a point of time tE is determined, at which the measured differential pressure equals the differential pressure at the point of time tA, whereby the gas component of the matrix, which is different from the purge gas, and its genesis is determined from the time difference Δt=tE−tA.
US09010160B2	Apparatus for deflecting a spray of wash liquid to a desired location in a cleaning appliance An apparatus for deflecting a spray of wash liquid to a desired location in either a drum or tub of a cleaning appliance along different flow paths and/or flow patterns according to the velocity of the wash liquid.
US09010155B2	Laser annealing apparatus A laser annealing apparatus includes a lens unit configured to transmit a laser beam to be irradiated onto an irradiation target; a lens unit housing accommodating the lens unit and having an opening configured to allow the laser beam to pass through the opening; a blocking plate configured to block at least a portion of the laser beam reflected by the irradiation target after being transmitted through the lens unit to the irradiation target; and a cooling unit between the blocking plate and the lens unit housing.
US09010152B2	Ion transport membranes in float glass manufacturing Ion transport membranes are integrated with a glass melting furnace and a float glass bath. Only feeds of air, steam and hydrocarbon are necessary for producing hot oxygen for the melting furnace and a mixture of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen for the float glass bath.
US09010146B1	Wearable decorative articles The specification describes a wearable decorative article comprising at least first and second separate body components selectively inter-relatable with each other in a predetermined order of assembly to thereby define a unitary article, such as, for example, a ring, pendant, watch, etc. When the at least first and second separate body components are assembled to define the unitary article, at least the first and second separate body components further define a bounded opening dimensioned to receive a retaining member, such as, for instance, a finger or neck-encircling band, wrist, etc. therein. The unitary article is characterized in that it can be completely disassembled into the at least first and second separate body components only if a retaining member is not present in the bounded opening.
US09010141B2	Computer cooling system and method of use A reliable, leak-tolerant liquid cooling system with a backup air-cooling system for computers is provided. The system may use a vacuum pump and a liquid pump and/or an air compressor in combination to provide negative fluid pressure so that liquid does not leak out of the system near electrical components. Alternatively, the system can use a single vacuum pump and a valve assembly to circulate coolant. The system distributes flow and pressure with a series of pressure regulating valves so that an array of computers can be serviced by a single cooling system. The system provides both air and liquid cooling so that if the liquid cooling system does not provide adequate cooling, the air cooling system will be automatically activated. The heat may be removed from the building efficiently with a cooling tower.
US09010139B2	Air conditioning system and method of using solar cell An air conditioning system using a solar cell, which uses the electricity effectively by heating the heat devices for designated time and a method for driving the system. The air conditioning system includes a solar cell generating electricity from solar light, a power distribution control part controlling operating voltage of the electricity of the solar cell and distributing to a battery or to the heating element, a control terminal generating a user command signal and an interface part controlling the power distribution control part in response to a command signal from the control terminal.
US09010137B2	Air conditioner Disclosed is an air conditioner which can obtain an energy-saving effect without any change to the setting temperature set by a user and, accordingly, without causing discomfort to the user. If a capacity restriction mode is set to at least one of indoor units Y1 and Y2, the setting temperature Ts in the indoor units Y1 and Y2 is not changed and is maintained at a value set by the user and a compressor 1 is operated with the capacity less than the normal capacity.
US09010132B2	Methods, devices and systems for extraction of thermal energy from a heat conducting metal conduit Provided are methods, devices and systems for controlled removal of thermal energy from a fluid within a thermally conducting metal conduit. The system allows for the in situ formation of a reversible plug that can stop the flow of fluid through the conduit, particularly without inducing thermally induced stress fractures or breaches in the conduit. The devices and systems include a thermal transfer device that can be adapted to be in thermal communication with a thermal conducting metal conduit containing a fluid, particularly a flowing fluid. The devices and systems allows for controlled re-heating of the conduit without inducing thermally induced stress fractures or breaches in the conduit to restore fluid flow through the conduit.
US09010131B2	Methods and apparatus for Dewar and cold shield assemblies A Dewar apparatus includes a focal plane array (FPA) component coupled to an FPA carrier, and a cold bridge coupled to the FPA carrier. A cold shield is aligned with the optical axis and coupled to the cold bridge (e.g., via a direct-metal bond), and at least one cryostat enclosure is similarly coupled to the cold bridge such that it has an axis that is noncollinear with the optical axis.
US09010128B2	Cooling device A cooling device includes a magnetocaloric unit disposed between a heat sink and a heat load, an electromagnet operably connected with the magnetocaloric unit, and at least one refrigerant storage included in the magnetocaloric unit, wherein the magnetocaloric unit is cooled down by using an evaporation heat of a refrigerant in the refrigerant storage.
US09010126B2	Gas turbine engine with variable area fan nozzle bladder system A turbofan engine includes a variable area fan nozzle which effectively changes the physical area and geometry within a fan bypass flow path to manipulate the pressure ratio of the bypass flow with a multitude of bladders circumferentially located about a core cowl.
US09010122B2	Turbine engine combustor and stator vane assembly A turbine engine assembly includes a combustor and a stator vane arrangement having a plurality of stator vanes. The combustor includes a combustor wall that extends axially from a combustor bulkhead to a distal combustor wall end, which is located adjacent to the stator vane arrangement. The combustor wall includes a support shell with a plurality of impingement apertures, and a heat shield with a plurality of effusion apertures. The combustor wall end includes a plurality of circumferentially extending film cooled regions. At least one of the film cooled regions is circumferentially aligned with one of the stator vanes and includes a cooling aperture.
US09010118B2	Output controller for stirling engine An output controller for a stirling engine is provided in a cooling system that causes common cooling water to flow through both the stirling engine and an internal combustion engine serving as a motive power source other than the stirling engine. The output controller for the stirling engine includes a temperature adjustment portion that adjusts a temperature of the cooling water supplied to the stirling engine. Specifically, the temperature adjustment portion includes a temperature adjustment valve capable of adjusting the temperature of the cooling water supplied to the stirling engine by switchably setting at least one of partial cooling paths and into a communication state.
US09010114B2	Air charge system and method for an internal combustion engine An air charge system for an internal combustion engine may include a charge path having a charge inlet configured to receive air, and a charge outlet configured to convey air to an intake of the internal combustion engine; a first compressor in the charge path, the first compressor being driven by a motor and configured to receive the air from the charge inlet and increase temperature, pressure and volumetric flow rate of the air in the charge path; a first valve in the charge path downstream of the first compressor configured to divert at least a portion of the air leaving the first compressor from exiting the charge path through the charge outlet; and a controller configured to modulate at least one of the first valve and a speed of the motor to adjust a volumetric flow rate of air leaving the charge outlet.
US09010111B2	Compressor comprising a swirl generator, for a motor vehicle The invention relates to the operation of a supercharged internal combustion engine (2) of a vehicle, wherein an air/volumetric flow current is adjusted by means of an adjustable swirl generator (8) arranged upstream of a supercharge system, taking into consideration an adjustable valve overlap of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine (2). The invention also relates to a vehicle drive comprising a supercharged internal combustion engine (2), a supercharge system of the internal combustion engine (2), an adjustable, variable valve train of the internal combustion engine (2), a control device and an adjustable swirl generator (8). Said swirl generator (8) is arranged upstream of a supercharge unit of the supercharge system, the control device is connected to the swirl generator (8) and to the variable valve train and has a control which correlates a setting of the variable valve train with a setting of the swirl generator (8) to produce a valve overlap for rinsing a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine (2).
US09010104B2	Fluid-working machine valve timing A fluid-working machine has a working chamber of cyclically varying volume, high and low pressure manifolds, and high and low pressure valves for regulating the flow of fluid between the working chamber and the high and low pressure manifolds respectively. A controller actively controls at least one said valve to determine the net displacement of working fluid of the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. At least one said valve is a variable timing valve and the controller causes the valve to open or close at a time determined taking into account one or more properties of the performance of the fluid working machine measured during an earlier cycle of working chamber volume.
US09010102B2	Device and method for controlling hydraulic pump of construction machinery The present invention relates to a device for controlling a hydraulic pump of construction machinery. The device has a first pump supplying working fluid through a swing control valve to a swing motor, and a second pump supplying working fluid through a work tool control valve to a work tool actuator, and includes: a first tilting angle control unit for controlling a discharge flow of the first pump by controlling a tilting angle of the first pump according to an input pump control signal; and a controller deducting a discharge pressure (P2) of the second pump from a discharge pressure (P1) of the first pump to calculate a pump difference pressure-(P1-P2), comparing the calculated pump difference pressure (P1-P2) to a reference difference pressure and, when the calculated pump difference pressure (P1-P2) is greater than the reference difference pressure, outputting the pump control signal to the first tilting angle control unit to make the discharge pressure (P1) of the first pump equal to or less than a first reference pressure that is less than or equal to a swing relief pressure.
US09010086B2	Device and method for treating exhaust gas containing soot particles and motor vehicle having the device and carrying out the method A device for treating exhaust gas containing soot particles, includes at least one ionization element for ionizing soot particles and at least one separation device having a surface precipitator for depositing ionized soot particles. The at least one surface precipitator includes at least two at least partially electrically conductive neutralization regions that are electrically insulated from each other in order to neutralize ionized soot particles. A method for converting soot particles of an exhaust gas includes applying different electric potentials. A motor vehicle includes the device and carries out the method.
US09010080B2	Elastic chain and ornamental item made with said elastic chain An extensible chain includes a plurality of cage-shaped elements (2) connected to one another in succession, each one of which includes a flat central body (3) from which two or more lateral arms (4) branch off whose free ends are slidingly inserted in an adjacent cage-shaped element. The adjacent elements define an intermediate space in which there is a spring (6) obtained from a plane metal sheet element from which two tabs (6b) depart that are opposite each other with respect to the base of the metal sheet element and are positioned above it at a distance (H) that, when the spring is at rest, exceeds the distance between the free ends of the lateral arms (4) of any cage-shaped element and the central body (3) of the adjacent cage-shaped element.
US09010077B2	Riding lawn mower with friction drive A riding lawn mower may include a cutting deck coupled to a cutting blade, an engine, a deck drive coupled to the engine to receive power for operating the cutting blade, a ground drive coupled to the engine to receive power for movement of the riding lawn mower over ground, and a friction drive coupling the deck drive to the engine.
US09010061B2	Lattice girder A lattice girder for support of a tunnel structure includes coupling elements arranged on ends of the lattice girder. Each coupling element has two sheet-metal strips having each an end formed with a loop. Extending between the coupling elements in a longitudinal direction of the lattice girder are two lower bars and an upper bar arranged to define corners of a triangle in cross section. A framework made of single braces connects the lower bars with the upper bar. Connectors are received in the loops of the sheet-metal strips.
US09010055B2	Extra strength backing stud having notched flanges Disclosed herein is an elongated C-shaped backing stud having a plurality of receiving notches positioned along its outer flanges. The backing stud is fastened to the studs of a sheet metal wall assembly by means of a plurality of fasteners, and such that the plurality of studs of the wall assembly abuts a planar web portion of the backing stud. The backing stud may be characterized in that (i) the ratio of the width of the web portion to the width of the backing stud flanges ranges from about 8 to 16, (ii) the ratio of the width of the backing stud flanges to width of the outer returns is at least about one, and (iii) the ratio of the width of the plurality of studs to the width of the outer returns ranges from about 6 to 8. The backing stud is configured to support wall hung grab bars, hand rails, cabinets, shelves, and the like.
US09010048B2	System and method for installing ornamental molding In some embodiments, a method of installing molding may include coupling a first molding block in a first corner formed by a first surface and a third surface and at a first distance from a second corner formed by the first surface and a second surface. The method may include coupling a lower side adjacent a first end of a first molding to a portion of a third surface of the first molding block such that a second end of the first molding is adjacent the second corner. The method may include coupling a second molding block in a third corner formed by a second surface and a third surface and at a second distance from the second corner. The method may include coupling a second molding to the second molding block such that the second ends of the first and second moldings connect forming a first joint forming a substantially right angle.
US09010046B1	Molding strip for fabric walls and ceilings A molding strip for fabric and wall systems has a base for securing it to a wall and at least two pairs of flexible gripping members that face each other at fabric entry slots for different fabric receiving cavities. In one embodiment, one pair of flexible gripping walls is arranged where an edge of the base and an adjacent wall or ceiling intersect and the other pair is arranged on a protruding member. The flexible gripping walls have gripping teeth to secure the fabric after insertion of fabric into a collection cavity.
US09009998B2	Motion greeting cards The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object.
US09009987B2	Clothing dryer and control method thereof A clothing dryer capable of effectively drying a small amount of substance, and a control method thereof by changing an algorithm of a sensor-dry course, which is configured to control an operation rate, a degree of drying or a temperature of drying, to be adapted to the small load of substance in a case where the substance to be dried has a small load when compared to the entire volume of the clothing dryer, so that the drying efficiency is enhanced regardless of the load of the substance, and a separate option button is provided for a sensor-dry course, so that a small load of substance is dried adaptively to the material characteristic of the substance for a respective dry course, thereby enhancing the drying efficiency.
US09009985B2	Probe deployment mechanism of measuring machine with isolated locator coupling A probe deployment mechanism of a coordinate measuring machine provides for extending and retracting a probe. The probe is displaceable with respect to the actuator body connected to the measuring machine. A locator coupling secures the probe to the actuator body at the extended position for taking measurements. A drive coupled to the probe displaces the probe between the extended and retracted positions but at the extended position, the drive is releasable from the probe for kinetically isolating the locator coupling.
US09009982B1	Dustless drywall cutting tool A drywall-cutting tool comprises a rotary blade of a thin design that cuts a very small kerf resulting in a smooth cut as well as a small amount of dust. Any dust that is generated is immediately vacuumed away by an on-board vacuum system that collects the dust in a removable dust bag. Additionally, the saw is provided with an adjustable depth mechanism for the most common thicknesses of drywall. This feature allows for accurate cuts, especially in remodeling scenarios where drywall must be cut without damaging other building components behind the drywall.
US09009953B2	Manufacturing apparatus for flattened tube fins A manufacturing apparatus manufactures flattened tube fins in which cutaway portions for inserting flattened tubes for heat exchanging are formed. The manufacturing apparatus includes: a press apparatus with a mold apparatus that forms the cutaway portions in an unmachined metal thin plate to produce a metal strip; an inter-row slit apparatus cutting the metal strip with the formed cutaway portions into predetermined widths to form metal strips of product width arranged in the width direction; and a cutoff apparatus cutting each metal strip of the product width formed by the inter-row slit apparatus into predetermined lengths. A plurality of box-like magazines whose upper surfaces are open are arranged in the width direction downstream of the cutoff apparatus to stack the flattened tube fins formed by the cutoff apparatus cutting into lengths.
US09009952B2	Apparatus for assembling a lens module and an image sensor to form a camera module, and a method of assembling the same An apparatus for assembling a lens module and an image sensor to form a camera module. The apparatus comprises i) a positioning system for adjusting a relative arrangement between the lens module and the image sensor; and ii) an inspection system operative to view fiducials of the lens modules and the image sensor. In particular, the positioning system is configured to align the lens module and the image sensor based on a relative alignment of the respective fiducials of the lens module and the image sensor as viewed by the inspection system. A method of assembling a lens module and an image sensor to form a camera module is also disclosed.
US09009943B2	Tool for tractor P.T.O A tool facilitating operable interconnection between a power take off (P.T.O.) shaft and an input shaft of a driven accessory includes a wrench for engaging the splined P.T.O. shaft and turning the shaft to rotationally align with the input shaft of cooperating structure.
US09009938B2	Tool for removing from or joining together a bearing and a hub A tool for removing a spindle and/or elastomeric bearing from a hub generally includes a coupler, an arm, and a weight slidably engaged with the arm. The weight is slidable with respect to the arm along a predetermined stroke that limits the travel of the weight. The coupler may be secured to a spindle, which spindle is in turn secured to a bearing, or the coupler may be secured directly to the bearing. An operator may slide the weight between a first position adjacent the coupler and a second position opposite the coupler to impart kinetic energy to the spindle and/or bearing, thereby removing the bearing from or the bearing installing into a hub, depending on whether the kinetic energy is in an inboard or outboard direction.
US09009937B2	Sleeve removal tool and sleeve removal method The object of the invention is to provide a sleeve removal tool that is able to easily remove a sleeve from a tap without damaging the sleeve. The sleeve removal tool has a first fastening member and a second fastening member. The first fastening member has a first contact surface and inner screw section, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The first contact surface comes in contact with the flange of the sleeve all around one ring shaped surface. An inner screw section is provided such that it protrudes in the axial direction from the first contact surface. The second fastening member has a second contact surface and outer screw section, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The first contact surface comes in contact all around the other ring shaped surface of the flange.
US09009928B2	Fastening device A fastening device for connecting an attachment to a support part has a cover plate and side walls which are integrally formed on the cover plate and form a U-shaped profile. Mutually opposite edge wings and supporting cheeks supported on supporting edges are present on shaft arms. This results in a highly rigid, block-like construction of the fastening device which is highly resistant to very high pull-out forces.
US09009926B2	Portable object with an interchangeable bracelet or strap The present invention concerns a portable object including a case (2) and a bracelet or strap (14). The case includes a middle part (4) from which two pairs of horns (12) extend, the horns of each pair being connected by a guide element (50) defining a space in conjunction with the middle part. The portable object includes securing means (18) including a locking part (20, 20′) inserted in each end (30) of the bracelet or strap and at least one groove (22) located on the middle part (4). The securing means (18) is arranged to enable each end of the bracelet or strap to be inserted in the space defined by the middle part and the horns of each pair connected by the guide element (50), such that the locking part (20) cooperates elastically with said groove to secure said bracelet or strap to the case in a simple manner.
US09009924B2	Clip-closure A clip-closure (1, 2) for closing container systems made from film, includes first closure and second closure part (4,5). A connecting device secures the second closure part (5) to the first closure part (4) in the assembled state. The first closure part (4) may be of U-shaped configuration and includes two limbs (7, 8). The second closure part (5) is of W-shaped configuration and includes a central limb (6) as well as two side limbs (9, 10) spaced apart therefrom. A first part of the connecting device is provided on the limbs (7, 8) of the first closure part (4), and a second part of the connecting device is provided on the side limbs (9, 10) of the second closure part (5). The disclosure also relates to opening tools (41).
US09009920B1	Motorized extension pole A motorized extension pole including a first hollow pole member having a second pole member telescopically mounted in said first pole member. The second pole member is selectively moved between extended and retracted positions with respect to said first pole member by a battery powered drive motor. The drive motor is mounted within a handle attached to the inner end of the first pole member. A coupling mechanism interconnects the handle to the first pole member which permits the first pole member to be selectively rotated without rotating the handle so that the control switch on the handle is always located in a convenient position. The pole also includes limit switches for controlling the retraction and extension of the second pole member.
US09009916B2	Door arrangement A door arrangement includes a first part, in particular a door leaf, a second part, in particular a door frame, on which the first part is pivotably articulated about a pivot axis, a closing hinge, which connects the first part and the second part, for a closing movement of the first part relative to the second part and a damping hinge connecting the first part and the second part, to damp the closing movement. The door arrangement can be displaced between a closed position, in particular in which the first part rests in a closing manner on the second part, and an opened position, in which the first part is pivoted at a pivoting angle that differs from zero about the pivot axis in relation to the second part.
US09009914B2	Vacuum cleaner A vacuum cleaner has a cyclone separator for separating dirt and other contaminants from a dirt-containing working airstream and a collection chamber collecting the separated dirt. The vacuum cleaner can further include handle defining a fines catcher downstream of the cyclonic separation stage for collecting fine dirt, where the handle can be used to remove the fines catcher and/or an exhaust grill from the cyclone separator.
US09009909B2	Windshield wiper The instant disclosure provides a wiper, comprising a wiper connector, a flexible member, a reinforcing member, a rigid frame, a plurality of fastening members and a wiper blade. The flexible member includes a central loading portion and two distal loading portion extending symmetrically from two ends of the central loading portion, where the central loading portion has a zero curvature. The reinforcing member is sleevingly coupled to the flexible member. A front-facing side of the reinforcing member has at least one wind-deflecting rib formed thereon. The rigid frame is arranged on the central loading portion to connect the wiper connector. The fastening member is engaged to the second loading portion. The wiper blade is inserted through the plurality of fastening members. Thus, a better conformity can be achieved between the windshield and the wiper through the wind pressure while driving to provide a better water removal effect.
US09009908B2	Lotion applicator and method therefor A device for applying lotion to a user's body has a foam layer. A cover layer is applied to a top surface of the foam layer. A pair of openings formed through the foam layer and the cover layer. A reinforcement layer is applied around each opening. A tab member is formed along an outer perimeter of the strip member.
US09009890B2	Valance A valance for a bed includes an attachment portion having one or more installation pockets. The attachment portion is configured to lie between a mattress and a bed frame. The valance also includes a skirt portion that is attached to an outer periphery of the attachment portion and depends downwardly from the attachment portion when the valance is installed onto the bed.
US09009889B1	Pillowcase with a pocket A pillowcase with storage includes a pillow portion and a storage portion extending from an opening of the pillow portion. The pillow portion includes a top panel and a bottom panel coupled together to form a pillow pocket, having an opening to receive a pillow. The storage portion defines at least one storage compartment and internally attaches to the pillow portion, within its opening. The storage portion can optionally include a closure to retain its contents. The storage portion can be configured to hold electronic devices, books, medications, reading glasses, phones, and so forth, in a manner that does not interfere with the use of a pillow inside the pillow portion.
US09009888B1	Health care bed with variably sized bed frame and method of use thereof A health care bed, including a floor engaging base frame and a bed frame including at least two bed sections hingedly connected to each other and having a central frame portion and left and right wing sections having at least a retracted position and an extended position relative to the central frame portion; and a locking mechanism with at least one rocker bar, at least one spring and at least one locking button for releasably locking the wing sections in the retracted and extended positions.
US09009882B2	Hand wash wall hung sink to avoid spread of infectious disease A sink is described herein which includes a basin including an upper rim having a back portion, and an interior surface having a sloped surface portion and a bottom surface portion, wherein the sloped surface portion extends from the back portion of the upper rim into the bottom surface portion; a faucet member extending upwardly from an upper portion of the sloped surface; and a drain opening extending through the bottom surface portion, wherein the faucet member is positioned such that liquid from the faucet member flows onto the sloped surface portion into the bottom surface portion and into the drain opening. A method for preventing splashing of a liquid from a sink is also provided herein.
US09009872B2	Swimming goggles The present invention is to provide swimming goggles including left and right frames, a connecting element interconnecting the left and right frames, padding portions, and buckling devices respectively attached to outer sides of the left and right frames for connecting and guiding a head strap, wherein the connecting element has left and right portions for integrally covering inner sides of the left and right frames. The connecting element has flexibility to allow the connecting element to be perfectly fitted to a user's nose bridge. Furthermore, flexible elements are disposed between the buckling devices and outer sides of the left and right frames to allow the swimming goggles to be fitted to the user's face. Accordingly, the swimming goggles are ergonomically designed and provide comfort in wearing without water leakage.
US09009871B2	Protective headwear A protective headwear comprising a first shell half and a second shell half coupled to each other by first and second elastic strips. The combination of first and second shell halves forms a protective cage for protecting a person's head. A plurality of pads is coupled to an inner surface of the protective cage. The pads are positioned to contact strong areas on the person's head when the protective cage is worn and to provide spacing between the cage and the person's head. A baseball cap may be coupled to an outer surface of the cage to form a lightweight, unobtrusive, and protective headwear.
US09009868B2	Glove structure, in particular for motorcycling sector A motorcycle glove structure comprises a system for protecting the fingers, made with a double layer of plastic, the first layer (26) of which is injected directly and coextensively onto a flat part made of leather or similar material or fabric (24). The second layer (28) made of impact and abrasion resistant plastic is injection-molded over the first layer and preferably has projections (30) opposite the minor knuckles. The structure also comprises a shield (38) which is made of impact and abrasion resistant plastic applied to the back of the hand and which has at the front portions (40) shaped so as to mate with projections (32) formed at the end of said second layer (28) for protecting the fingers, said co-operating projections being positioned opposite the makor knuckles of the hand. The shield (38) has, co-operating therewith, a sleeve part (48) which is fixed to the glove beyond the wrist line and is provided with a rib (54) against which the rear end of said shield comes into contact when a force is applied in the direction from the fingers towards the wrist.
US09009863B2	Shirts and shorts having elastic and non-stretch portions and bands to provide hip and posture support One aspect of the invention may be characterized as a shirt configured to counteract detrimental upper body movement. The shirt has a base layer, a plurality of inelastic bands, and a load distribution portion. The plurality of inelastic bands are coupled to the base layer, and include a first cross-connecting band, a second cross-connecting band, a third cross-connecting band, and a fourth cross-connecting band. The load distribution portion is also coupled to the base layer, and anchors ends of the first, second, third, and fourth cross-connecting bands. Further, the first, second, third, and fourth cross-connecting bands and the load distribution portion are configured to limit internal rotation and anterior tilting of the scapula when the shirt is worn by a user.
US09009862B2	Welding helmet equipped with light switching window Disclosed herein is a welding helmet in which a worker may transmit and block external light as necessary by forming a light switching window for blocking external light from a side surface of the welding helmet (helmet). The welding helmet equipped with a light switching window, which includes a helmet body portion which protects the worker's face and a cartridge which blocks harmful light generated during welding to protect the worker's eyes, includes a light switching window formed on a side surface of the helmet body portion such that external light is transmitted or blocked by the light switching window. The light switching window has a structure in which it may be possible to identify risk factors around a work area and a worker may block unnecessary light as necessary. Particularly, since an operating radius is enlarged, it may be possible to provide the worker with convenience.
US09015861B2	Modification of atomic force microscopy tips by deposition of nanoparticles with an aggregate source The present invention relates to a method for covering Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) tips by depositing a material in the form of nanoparticles with an aggregate source.
US09015844B1	Techniques for web application vulnerability scanning Techniques for web application vulnerability scanning are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for web application vulnerability scanning comprising crawling a web application for content associated with the web application, generating a client security policy based on the content associated with the web application, and scanning the web application for vulnerabilities based on the client security policy.
US09015842B2	Method and system for protection against information stealing software A system and method for identifying infection of unwanted software on an electronic device is disclosed. A software agent configured to generate a bait and is installed on the electronic device. The bait can simulate a situation in which the user performs a login session and submits personal information or it may just contain artificial sensitive information. Parameters may be inserted into the bait such as the identity of the electronic device that the bait is installed upon. The output of the electronic device is monitored and analyzed for attempts of transmitting the bait. The output is analyzed by correlating the output with the bait and can be done by comparing information about the bait with the traffic over a computer network in order to decide about the existence and the location of unwanted software. Furthermore, it is possible to store information about the bait in a database and then compare information about a user with the information in the database in order to determine if the electronic device that transmitted the bait contains unwanted software.
US09015833B2	Defense against DNS DoS attack A method for defending a computer system comprising a DNS server against a DoS or a DDoS attack directed at said DNS server comprises replacing the address of said system provided by a user to a client software with an alternative address, wherein said address is replaced by a software agent associated with said user, such that said client software is capable of connecting with said system.
US09015831B2	Method and apparatus for static taint analysis of computer program code A method is provided to infer taintedness in code expressions encoded in a computer readable device comprising: configuring a computer system to, store a representation of a computer program that is to be evaluated in non-transitory storage media; identify within the representation a pointer cast operation; determine whether an identified cast operation involves a cast from a pointer to a raw memory data type to a pointer to a structured data type; determine whether a structured data type casted to is associated with indicia of externalness; designating data addressed by that pointer as tainted; and determine whether data designated as tainted is consumed by an operation in the computer program that acts as a taintedness sink.
US09015830B2	Verification apparatus and verification method A verification apparatus for verifying a verified apparatus corresponding to a first apparatus included in a plurality of information processing apparatuses includes a storage and a processor. The storage stores captured data acquired by capturing data transmitted and received among the plurality of information processing apparatuses. The processor receives first data transmitted from the verified apparatus. The first data is destined for a second apparatus included in the plurality of information processing apparatuses. The processor extracts, from the storage, second data transmitted from the second apparatus in response to third data transmitted from the first apparatus to the second apparatus. The third data corresponds to the first data. The processor transmits the extracted second data to the verified apparatus.
US09015826B2	Mobile platform security apparatus and method A mobile platform security apparatus and method is provided. The apparatus may perform a security setting by generating a first authentication key, a second authentication key, and a third authentication key for each function called by an application program. The apparatus may store the first authentication key and an identifier for identifying the application program in a first storage unit, the second authentication key and the identifier in a secret domain of a second storage unit, and register the third authentication key and the identifier as a function parameter in the application program. Subsequently, if the function is called by the application program, the apparatus may determine values for the first authentication key, the second authentication key, and the third authentication key corresponding to the called function, and may perform authentication processing using the three authentication key values.
US09015823B2	Firewalls in logical networks Some embodiments provide a method for configuring a logical firewall in a hosting system that includes a set of nodes. The logical firewall is part of a logical network that includes a set of logical forwarding elements. The method receives a configuration for the firewall that specifies packet processing rules for the firewall. The method identifies several of the nodes on which to implement the logical forwarding elements. The method distributes the firewall configuration for implementation on the identified nodes. At a node, the firewall of some embodiments receives a packet, from a managed switching element within the node, through a software port between the managed switching element and the distributed firewall application. The firewall determines whether to allow the packet based on the received configuration. When the packet is allowed, the firewall the packet back to the managed switching element through the software port.
US09015813B2	Systems and methods for authentication, verification, and payments Computer systems and methods are provided for authenticating a user seeking to conduct at least one interaction with a secured capability provided by a computer. The method includes providing a first identifier to at least one verification server and providing a second identifier to an electronic device being used by the user. The first identifier and the second identifier each corresponds to the secured capability. The method further includes providing the electronic device with a user-selectable link configured to, upon being selected by the user, initiate a program to run on the electronic device. The program is configured to transmit a third identifier to the at least one verification server. The third identifier corresponds to the secured capability. The method further includes receiving authorization information from at least one of the electronic device and the at least one verification server. The method further includes using a processor (e.g., a processor of the computer) to provide the user with access to conduct the at least one interaction with the secured capability in response at least to the authorization information.
US09015811B2	Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing media content by capturing media content at a client device and storing the media content at a network accessible media repository Media content is managed by defining a list of authorized recipients in a network accessible security information repository, recording media content at a client device, obtaining the list of authorized recipients at the client device, associating at least one of the authorized recipients with the media content, and transmitting the media content along with information identifying the at least one of the authorized recipients associated therewith from the client device to a network accessible media repository for storage therein. The media content includes audio, video, and/or image content.
US09015807B2	Authorizing application access to secure resources An application submits a permission request to a resource server. In response to receiving the request, the resource server generates a user interface that asks the user to grant or deny the requested permissions. If the permissions are granted, data is stored indicating that the application has the requested permissions. When a runtime request for a resource is received, the resource server determines whether the request has been made by a user, by an application, or by an application on behalf of a user. If the request is made by an application only, the request is granted only if the application has permission to access the resource by way of a direct call not on behalf of a user. If the request is made by an application on behalf of a user, the request is granted only if both the user and the application have sufficient permission.
US09015802B1	Personally identifiable information detection Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for privacy protection. In one aspect, a method includes accessing personally identifiable information (PII) type definitions that characterize PII types; identifying PII type information included in content of a web page, the PII type information being information matching at least one PII type definition; identifying secondary information included in the content of the web page, the secondary information being information that is predefined as being associated with PII type information; determining a risk score from the PII type information and the secondary information; and classifying the web page as a personal information exposure risk if the risk score meets a confidentiality threshold, wherein the personal information exposure risk is indicative of the web page including personally identifiable information.
US09015801B1	Methods and systems for handling recovery messages A method may include receiving, by a computing device, a recovery message directed to a first account associated with a messaging service provider. The recovery message may include access information associated with a second account of an online service provider. In an embodiment, the method may include, in response to receiving a recovery message, determining whether one or more suspicious events involving the first account have occurred, in response to determining that one or more suspicious events have occurred, prompting a user to provide authentication information in order to access the recovery message, receiving one or more responses from a user, verifying the one or more responses, and in response to determining that each of the responses is correct, granting access, by the computing device, to the recovery message.
US09015791B2	Method of managing web application policy using smart card, and web server and mobile terminal for implementing the same A method of managing policy information in a mobile terminal by requesting an external policy management server for information about whether a change has been made to policy information and updating the policy information in a smart card web server of the mobile terminal to control access to resources based on the updated policy information.
US09015790B2	Integrating sudo rules with entities represented in an LDAP directory A method and apparatus for integrating Sudo rules into a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) repository. An LDAP directory server receives a request to add a sudo rule to the LDAP repository. The sudo rule defines at least one sudo command and one or more entities associated with the execution of the sudo command. The LDAP directory server creates an LDAP entry for the sudo rule, and links in the LDAP entry of the sudo rule an LDAP entry of the sudo command and LDAP entries of the entities associated with the execution of the sudo command.
US09015770B2	Digital broadcasting reception apparatus and digital broadcasting reception method A digital broadcasting reception apparatus (100) is provided with: a reception unit (111, 121) that receives a signal; a signal strength detection unit (112, 122) that detects the received strength of the received signal; a channel scan control unit (125) that detects receivable physical channels; an area map storage unit (129) that stores coverage area information indicating coverage areas; a current position detection unit (127) that detects the current position; a tuning control unit (118) that determines a distance threshold value on the basis of the received strength detected by the signal strength detection unit when the channel scan control unit (125) detects a physical channel and the current position, at which the detection was made, is not included within the coverage area of the detected physical channel; and an area map generating unit (128) that expands the coverage area on the basis of the determined distance threshold value.
US09015768B2	Digital television signal, digital television receiver, and method of processing digital television signal A DTV receiver includes a receiver to receive a digital television signal including a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances that appear in transport stream packets with common PID values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header further contains a protocol version field indicating a protocol version and a private indicator field indicating a private indicator a demodulator to demodulate the digital television signal and an identifier to identify at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances.
US09015767B2	Digital television signal, digital television receiver, and method of processing digital television signal A DTV receiver includes a receiver to receive a digital television signal including a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances that appear in transport stream packets with common PID values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header further contains a protocol version field indicating a protocol version and a last section number field indicating a last section number, a demodulator to demodulate the digital television signal and an identifier to identify at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances.
US09015762B2	Differentiated PSIP table update interval technology An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US09015749B2	System and method for modifying advertisement responsive to EPG information A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement.In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.
US09015747B2	Advertisement rotation A system and method for delivering content over a network is provided. Content may be primary content (e.g., music or a movie) or ancillary content (e.g., an advertisement). The ancillary content may further be classified as universal ancillary content that all users of the present system will receive; targeted ancillary content that particular users of the present system will receive; and context-specific ancillary content that users of the present system and viewing particular primary content will receive. The type of primary and/or ancillary content delivered to the user will depend, in part, on indicia of the user of a device receiving the content. The present invention seeks to ensure that a user has relevant and up-to-date ancillary content notwithstanding the nature or date of the primary content. Feedback data concerning the viewing of the ancillary content may also be generated such that a provider of the advertisement and/or product may provide targeted advertisements and improved products and services.
US09015743B2	Methods and apparatus to monitor audio/visual content from various sources Methods and apparatus to monitor audio/visual content from various sources are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to monitor a media presentation can include counting zero crossings associated with a plurality of audio samples of an audio signal corresponding to the media presentation, and determining whether the audio signal is muted based on whether a number of zero crossings satisfies a first threshold. Such example methods can also include, when the audio signal is determined to not be muted, determining a source of the media presentation based on whether the audio signal is determined to be compressed.
US09015741B2	Method and system for remotely controlling consumer electronic devices A media system replaces content in a first sequence of media content. The media system presents the first sequence of media content to an end-user and generates a fingerprint of the sequence of media content. The fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the first sequence of media content and determine a reference position within the first sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for a replacement sequence of content to a content replacement system, and receives replacement media content selected based on the identified first sequence of media content. The media system presents the replacement media content to the end-user instead of the first sequence of media content. Presenting the replacement media content begins at a position in the first sequence of media content that is determined based on the reference position.
US09015740B2	Systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual devices Example systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual (A/V) devices are disclosed. A disclosed example method receives media content from an A/V source device, embeds a video overlay in the wirelessly received media content, and wirelessly transmits the media content and the video overlay to the wireless A/V device. The example method wirelessly receives audience identification information in response to the transmitted video overlay, and wirelessly receives audience behavior information.
US09015730B1	Natural language access to application programming interfaces Users of online services may avoid having to gain knowledge of the intricacies of specific Application Programming Interface (API) syntaxes and elements by using natural language requests which are processed to extract components of the request. The components are then used to find one or more matches of known APIs, and then at least one structured API call is constructed by mapping the request's components to the structured API call's elements. The system can then invoke the online service on behalf of the client, and return the results to the client, or it can return the constructed structured API call to the client. The known API details can be initialized and updated by ingesting the description documents for the structured APIs, and then using natural language processing to extract components from the descriptions, which can then be utilized in the matching process to further enhance the results of the tool.
US09015729B2	Mobile apparatus executing efficient dataflow execution for mobile context monitoring, method of executing dataflow using the same, method of context monitoring using the same and context monitoring system including the same A mobile apparatus includes a processing planner and a plan processor. The processing planner generates a plurality of resource use plans in response to a context monitoring query (CMQ) of an application, and selects a final plan satisfying a request of the CMQ among the resource use plans. The plan processor executes the final plan. Accordingly, the mobile apparatus may support resource-efficient context monitoring.
US09015720B2	Efficient state transition among multiple programs on multi-threaded processors by executing cache priming program A system and method to optimize processor performance and minimizing average thread latency by selectively loading a cache when a program state, resources required for execution of a program or the program itself change, is described. An embodiment of the invention supports a “cache priming program” that is selectively executed for a first thread/program/sub-routine of each process. Such a program is optimized for situations when instructions and other program data are not yet resident in cache(s), and/or whenever resources required for program execution or the program itself changes. By pre-loading the cache with two resources required for two instructions for only a first thread, average thread latency is reduced because the resources are already present in the cache. Since, such a mechanism is carried out only for one thread in a program cycle, pitfalls of a conventional general pre-fetch scheme that involves parsing of the program in advance to determine which resources and instructions will be needed at a later time, are avoided.
US09015719B2	Scheduling of tasks to be performed by a non-coherent device A method for scheduling tasks to be processed by one of a plurality of non-coherent processing devices, at least two of the devices being heterogeneous devices and at least some of said tasks being targeted to a specific one of the processing devices. The devices process data that is stored in local storage and in a memory accessible by at least some of the devices. The method includes the steps of: for each of a plurality of non-dependent tasks to be processed by the device, determining consistency operations required to be performed prior to processing the non-dependent task; performing the consistency operations for one of the non-dependent tasks and on completion issuing the task to the device for processing; performing consistency operations for a further non-dependent task such that, on completion of the consistency operations, the device can process the further task.
US09015717B2	Method for processing tasks in parallel and selecting a network for communication In a micro processor unit, when processing to be requested to another processor unit which connects via a network, occurs during task processing in a task processing unit in an application SPU, a communication controller in a PU specifies a network with which a processor unit, which is a request destination, connects. An interface selector in the application SPU selects one network included in the specified networks, with the view of communication capability or the like, and writes that information in a look-aside buffer. In case that processing for the same processing target is requested next time and after that, a system SPU or the PU transmits the processing request depending on required communication capability.
US09015715B2	Common contiguous memory region optimized long distance virtual machine migration Embodiments relate to migrating a virtual machine (VM) between work groups. A first machine in a first work group generates a migration request that identifies one or more contiguous memory regions used by the VM for operation. The first machine transmits the migration request to a plurality of work groups. The first machine receives a score from each of the plurality of work groups indicating a number of contiguous memory regions identified in the migration request that are available at the respective work group. A second work group in the plurality of work groups is identified as a destination for the VM based on the scores and a distance of the second work group from the first machine. A migration of the VM from the first machine to a second machine in the second work group is caused based on the identification of the second work group as the destination.
US09015712B1	Environment template-driven environment provisioning in a virtual infrastructure A system for automated provisioning of heterogeneous virtual environments comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive an environment template, receive an environment configuration, and provision an environment using the environment template and the environment configuration. The environment template is built using a blueprint. The environment configuration comprises an environment endpoint. The environment is for deploying an application. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US09015709B2	Hypervisor-agnostic method of configuring a virtual machine In one embodiment, there is a method for configuring a virtual machine where there are two storage mechanisms available to the virtual machine: a first storage containing virtual machine operating information, and a second storage including virtual machine configuration information. The configuration information in the second storage is used to configure the virtual machine, including changing the information in the operating storage. The configuration information can pertain to the hypervisor, any logical container within the hypervisor, and any operating environment within on of the logical containers. In a further embodiment, the configuration information from the second storage can be saved and provided to another virtual machine, and used to configure the second virtual machine in a similar fashion. Each virtual machine can have an independent copy of the second storage, or the storage can be mounted in the first machine, unmounted, and then mounted in the second machine.
US09015708B2	System for improving the performance of high performance computing applications on cloud using integrated load balancing A non-transitory computer-implemented method of load balancing includes calculating an expected cost set associated with an application-specific task of an application executing on a processing resource in a cloud computing environment, and communicating the expected cost set from the processing resource to a cloud management system. Resource mapping of applications currently executing in the cloud computing environment are retrieved, and the application-specific task is assigned to a specific computational resource in the cloud computing environment based on the expected cost set and the resource mapping of applications currently executing in the cloud computing environment. A task to VM (virtual machine) assignment is determined based on the assignment of the application-specific task to the specific computational resource. The task to VM assignment is transferred from the cloud management system to the application executing on the processing resource in the cloud computing environment.
US09015707B2	Virtual machine rapid provisioning system A rapid provisioning method for connecting to a cloud, copying blocks of a virtual machine image to the cloud and booting the virtual machine image in the cloud, wherein some aspects of copying the blocks and booting the virtual machine are contemporaneous or overlap. The method may include starting with copying the blocks of the virtual machine and continuing to copy the blocks of the virtual machine image while the virtual machine image boots in the cloud. The method may also include starting with booting the virtual machine in the cloud from the customer computer and continuing to boot while copying the blocks transferred during boot to cloud storage.
US09015701B2	Methods and articles of manufacture for hosting a safety critical application on an uncontrolled data processing device Methods and articles of manufacture for hosting a safety critical application on an uncontrolled data processing device are provided. Various combinations of installation, functional, host integrity, coexistence, interoperability, power management, and environment checks are performed at various times to determine if the safety critical application operates properly on the device. The operation of the SCA on the UDPD may be controlled accordingly.
US09015699B2	Methods and articles of manufacture for hosting a safety critical application on an uncontrolled data processing device Methods and articles of manufacture for hosting a safety critical application on an uncontrolled data processing device are provided. Various combinations of installation, functional, host integrity, coexistence, interoperability, power management, and environment checks are performed at various times to determine if the safety critical application operates properly on the device. The operation of the SCA on the UDPD may be controlled accordingly.
US09015693B2	System and method for modifying and updating a speech recognition program The system provides a speech recognition program, an update website for updating a speech recognition program, and a way of storing data. A user may utilize an update website, to add, modify, and delete items that may comprise speech commands, dll's, multimedia files, executable code, and other information. Speech recognition program may communicate with update website to request information about possible updates. Update website may send a response consisting of information to speech recognition program. Speech recognition program may utilize received information to decide what items to download. A speech recognition program may send one or more requests to update website to download items. Update website may respond by transmitting, requested items to a speech recognition program that overwrite existing items with newly received items.
US09015690B2	Proactive loop fusion of non-adjacent loops with intervening control flow instructions A system and method for optimization of code with non-adjacent loops. A compiler builds a node tree, which is not a control flow graph, that represents parent-child relationships of nodes of a computer program. Each node represents a control flow statement or a straight-line block of statements of the computer program. If a non-adjacent loop pair of nodes satisfy predetermined conditions, the compiler may perform legal code transformations on the computer program and corresponding node transformations on the node tree. These transformations may make adjacent this pair of loop nodes. The compiler may be configured to perform legal code transformations, such as head and tail duplication, code motion, and if-merging, in order to make adjacent these two loop nodes. Then loop fusion may be performed on this loop pair in order to increase instruction level parallelism (ILP) within an optimized version of the original source code.
US09015689B2	Stack data management for software managed multi-core processors Methods and apparatus for managing stack data in multi-core processors having scratchpad memory or limited local memory. In one embodiment, stack data management calls are inserted into software in accordance with an integer linear programming formulation and a smart stack data management heuristic. In another embodiment, stack management and pointer management functions are inserted before and after function calls and pointer references, respectively. The calls may be inserted in an automated fashion by a compiler utilizing an optimized stack data management runtime library.
US09015684B1	Profiler-based optimization of automatically generated code A device generates code with a technical computing environment (TCE) based on a model and information associated with a target processor, registers an algorithm with the TCE, automatically sets optimization parameters applied during generation of the code based on the algorithm, executes the generated code, receives feedback based on execution of the generated code, and uses the feedback to automatically update the optimization parameters and to automatically regenerate the code with the TCE until an optimal code is achieved for the target processor.
US09015681B1	Creating and using array creation routines or a family of routines separate from algorithmic code A device obtains first program code that identifies a function, an input argument to which the function is to be applied when the first program code is executed, and a class identifier that identifies second program code that includes a set of routines. The set of routines includes a routine that identifies a manner in which a return value of the function is to be generated, when the first program code is executed. The second program code is stored separately from the first program code. The device executes the first program code, obtains the second program code based on executing the first program code, and executes the routine to generate the return value, based on the function, the input argument, and the class identifier. The device provides the return value.
US09015666B2	Updating product documentation using automated test scripts Techniques are disclosed for generating and updating product documentation. The techniques include monitoring a script being executed to test the functionality of an application. The script may have one or more tags associated with corresponding tags in documentation associated with the application. The techniques further include capturing, during execution of the script, content items from the application based on the one or more tags of the script and inserting the captured content items into the documentation at locations indicated by the corresponding tags of the documentation.
US09015659B2	Method, computer program product, and system for non-blocking dynamic update of statically typed class-based object-oriented software Under the present invention, a method, computer program product, and system for non-blocking dynamic update of statically-typed class-based object-oriented software executing as byte-code on a virtual machine within an actively running computer system is provided. A set of objects instantiated from an existing module or multiple modules (identifiable collections of application resources and class definitions in the form of byte-code representations) is ready for execution on a virtual machine in an actively running computer system. New versions of one or more modules corresponding to those already loaded into the actively running virtual machine are dynamically loaded into the virtual machine for the purpose of updating the running software. The class definitions within the loaded modules are prepared for dynamic update by inserting byte-code that enables transparent state transfer and shared object identity between objects of a former version and the new version of a class. On the event of a software update, the objects instantiated from a former version of an updated class become uninitialized surrogate objects with the potential to redirect to their future corresponding objects. Corresponding objects are created lazily on first access of the declaring class members. Besides lazy redirection of the behavior of objects and classes, non-blocking dynamic update is achieved by lazy migration of the state offormer objects and classes while locking on a temporary field access lock. Thus, the algorithm for controlling field access and state migration is completely lock-free both before and after state migration; hence the performance degradation is minimal. Finally, any unreferenced objects are removed from memory.
US09015658B2	Automatic program generation device and automatic program generation method A device and method automatically generate a program for buffering differences based on characteristics of a component. A buffer program for buffering differences of the way to use a component during different software environments is automatically generated. The device includes a controller for executing automatic generation of the buffer program, a memory including control information and a processing program, an input device for inputting the processing content of the component, and an output device for outputting the automatically generated buffer program. The memory records a plurality of forms for buffering the component as the control information and the controller extracts characteristic information based on the processing content of the component and records the extracted characteristic information as control information in the memory, selects a specified form based on the characteristic information, and generates the buffer program based on the selected form and the characteristic information.
US09015655B2	Generating a diverse program A system for generating a diverse program can include a diversification unit configured to generate the diverse program that can include a given set of instructions implemented as machine code and/or assembly language instructions based on a compiled program. The compiled program can include another set of instructions implemented as machine code and/or assembly language instructions.
US09015654B2	System for providing test environments for executing and analysing test routines A system is operable to provide one or more test environments for executing and analyzing test routine. The system includes one or more user interfaces coupled via a communication network to a server arrangement for hosting a plurality of emulations of wireless communication devices or terminals. The server arrangement is operable to receive one or more software applications for execution upon the wireless communication devices or terminals, and one or more test routines for use in testing the wireless communication devices or terminals. Moreover, the server arrangement is operable to execute one or more the software applications and apply the one or more test routines thereto. Furthermore, the server arrangement is operable to monitor operation of the wireless communication devices or terminals and to provide corresponding test results to the one or more user interfaces.
US09015651B2	Gateway data distribution engine Implementations include a method, system, and apparatus for receiving, from a user communicably connected to a network, a selection of one or more gateway service data categories; receiving, from the user, a selection of an operating platform of a mobile device operable to be communicably connected to the network; generating a configuration file comprising a selection of gateway service data associated with one or more gateway service data categories and the operating platform selection; generating a data store file and a development library associated with the operating platform selection; transferring the configuration file, the data store file, and the development library to a repository communicably connected to the network; and generating an application template comprising the configuration file, the data store file, and the development library, wherein the mobile application is developed on the mobile device from the application template while the mobile device is communicably disconnected from the network.
US09015650B2	Unified datacenter storage model Modeling an application deployed in a distributed system. The method includes accessing an infrastructure model of a distributed system. The infrastructure model includes a model of specific physical hardware including unique identifiers for each piece of hardware and an identification of interconnections of the physical hardware. The method further includes accessing an application model for an application. The application model defines the components that make up the application and how the components are to be deployed. The method further includes deploying the application in the distributed system by deploying elements of the application on hardware modeled in the infrastructure model. The method further includes using the infrastructure model and the application model deployment creating a deployment model defining how the application is deployed on the physical hardware.
US09015647B2	Dynamic printed circuit board design reuse Techniques for enabling the dynamic reuse of printed circuit board designs are provided. A master printed circuit board design comprising a plurality of modular flexible designs is received. Additionally, a target design that includes ones of the plurality of flexible designs is identified. Subsequently, as the master design, or ones of the plurality of flexible designs within the master design, are modified, the target design is correspondingly modified. With some implementations, the master design is housed within a library. The library may be used to implement versioning capability for the flexible designs. With further implementations, the master design may itself be a target design.
US09015643B2	System, method, and computer program product for applying a callback function to data values A system, method, and computer program product are provided for applying a callback function to data values. In use, a plurality of data values and a callback function are identified. Additionally, the callback function is recursively applied to the plurality of data values in order to determine a result. Further, the result is returned.
US09015639B2	Methods and systems for navigating a list with gestures Methods and systems for facilitating the navigation of a list of content items with gestures are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a computing device detects simple gestures, and in response, display a preview of content items preceding, or following a currently selected content item, from the list of content items. Upon detecting a selection gesture, the computing device updates the view of the currently selected content item to display the newly selected content item.
US09015633B2	Data management apparatus and method for organizing data elements into multiple categories for display A data management apparatus includes a storage device operative to store positional information on objects in a data element space, that is created by organizing a plurality of data elements into a plurality of categories, assigning a subspace to each of the plurality of categories, placing a plurality of subspaces in a multidimensional space, and distributing, in each of the subspaces respectively assigned to the plurality of categories, the objects representing data elements belonging to the associated category; a display unit operative to establish a viewing position and a viewing direction in the data element space, and to generate and display an image of the data element space by referring to the storage device and by rendering the objects located in the data element space; and a control unit operative to acknowledge an instruction for updating the viewing position or viewing direction so as to update them.
US09015632B2	System and method for 3-dimensional display of data A system and methodology for displaying a dynamic, multi-dimensional representation of a database via an internet coupled processor and associated hardware. A browser enabled applet communicates with internet database server(s). Hierarchies of account users are able to program display parameters and view and edit data contained in multiple authorized databases (e.g. financial or investment portfolios). A three-dimensional geometric display (e.g. Cube) is populated with real time position and multi-position group data obtained from available database servers. The system is responsive to user commands to three-dimensionally display the multi-tiered, multi-dimensional data in a presently preferred 3D Cubic form as well rotate the display to other 3D and 2D orientations and to display associated alphanumeric, text and/or 2D graphic data.
US09015622B2	Profile-based performance tuning of computing systems Some embodiments of a system and a method to tune a computing system based on a profile have been presented. A profile as used herein broadly refers to a file containing various parameters of a computing system, such as kernel parameters (e.g., buffer size, network setup, etc.), usable to configure the computing system. For instance, a set of profiles are stored in a computer-readable storage device in a computing system, such as a server, a personal computer, a laptop computer, etc. A processing device miming on the computing system may receive a user selection of one of the set of profiles. In response to the user selection, the processing device may load the selected profile onto the computing system in order to tune the computing system according to the selected profile.
US09015621B2	Command user interface for displaying multiple sections of software functionality controls To increase command-access efficiency and to optimize a user's available user interface work space, an improved user interface is provided for displaying logical groupings of selectable software functionality controls that are associated with one or more selected top-level functionalities. Upon selection of a top-level functionality tab, selectable functionalities associated with the top-level functionality tab are divided into logical groupings and are presented in a customizable functionality control section below the tab. Upon selection of a different top-level functionality tab, selectable functionalities associated with the subsequently selected top-level functionality tab may either replace the first functionality control section or may be displayed in a separate functionality control section adjacent to the first functionality control section if real estate is available in the user interface.
US09015619B2	Pop-up panel for multiple messages One embodiment is directed to a system or pop-up panel module for configuring a pop-up panel. The system or module include a controller and/or processor. The controller and/or processor may be configured to receive a plurality of actions requiring a validation, and invoke a call to a model layer to validate at least one of the plurality of actions. Based on a result of the validation, a message corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of actions is retrieved, and the retrieved message is stored in an object. The controller and/or processor may be further configured to provide a pop-up panel that references contents of the object and displays the message stored in the object, and to re-use the object to store a message for each of the plurality of actions requiring validation.
US09015607B2	Virtual space providing apparatus and method Provided is an apparatus and method for providing a virtual space associated with a user. The apparatus may include a storage to store context information of the user of the virtual space, and a controller to provide, to another user, the virtual space transformed based on the context information of the user when the other user visits the virtual space of the user. The context information may include at least one of a connection time when the user connects to the virtual space, a location of the user during the connection time, a current emotion of the user as determined by the user, and a current status of the user as determined by the user.
US09015602B2	Restoring an occluded window in application sharing software A method and apparatus for restoring an occluded window in application sharing. The method includes the steps of: detecting whether an unshared window occludes part of all of a shared window; making the unshared window semitransparent by an alpha blending operation in response to detecting an unshared window that occludes part or all of a shared window; changing the value of the alpha factor in the alpha blending operation, thus obtaining two alpha blended images; and restoring the occluded shared window by using the two alpha blended images.
US09015597B2	Generation and implementation of a social utility grid Information is gathered regarding a first party. Social relationships between the first party and other parties are determined by transforming the gathered information into the social relationships. Relationship types of the social relationships between the first party and the other parties are determined by transforming the gathered information into the relationship types. Relationship strengths of the social relationships between the first and the other parties are determined by transforming the gathered information into the relationship strengths. The social utility grid is generated based on the social relationships between the first party and the other parties, the relationship types of the social relationships, and the relationship strengths of the social relationships.
US09015595B2	Self-targeting local AD system A system for serving localized advertisements receives data that defines an advertisement from an advertiser and determines a geographic location of the advertiser. The system also receives a request to serve an advertisement from a browser operated by a user and determines a geographic location associated with the user. The system communicates the advertisement to the browser if the geographic location associated with the user matches the geographic location of the advertiser.
US09015591B2	Dynamic visualization generation and implementation Embodiments are directed to selecting and applying data-specific presentations, to adaptively selecting visual presentations based on historical data and to providing rendering hints for data presentations. In one scenario, a computer system receives an indication that a visual presentation is to be applied to a specified portion of data. The computer system analyzes the specified data to determine which of a plurality of data presentations is most relevant for the specified data. The relevance is based on relevancy factors including one or more of the following: end-user profile, structure of the specified data and patterns within the specified data. The computer system then applies the determined appropriate visual presentation to the specified data.
US09015589B2	Virtual community for incentivized viewing of multimedia content A computer implemented method and system for creating a virtual community network for incentivized multimedia content viewing is provided. A first viewer receives the multimedia content for viewing on a client device from a server provided in a networked environment. The first viewer refers the multimedia content to one or more second viewers in the networked environment for viewing and further referrals. The server controls access to the multimedia content and confirms viewing of the multimedia content by the first viewer, the second viewers, and nth viewers from further referrals using a random challenge. The server generates response reports based on viewing of the multimedia content. The server credits the first viewer, the second viewers, the nth viewers, etc. with one or more items of value based on referring of the multimedia content, multimedia content view confirmation, and/or registration of the second viewers, the nth viewers, etc, with the server.
US09015587B2	Home network device and method of receiving and transmitting sound information using the same A home network device and a method of receiving and transmitting sound information using the same are provided. The home network device includes a reception unit, a display unit and a sound playing unit. The reception unit receives a user interface, which is used to control a control target device, and sound information, which is synchronized with the user interface, from the control target device connected through a home network. The display unit displays the received user interface. The sound playing unit plays the received sound information when the user interface is displayed.
US09015585B2	Method and apparatus for providing predefined feedback A method and apparatus utilized in operating a feedback forum in an online auction environment is described. Instead of allowing users of the system to enter free-form comments for and about other users, a number of predefined feedback comments are provided that relate to an auction transaction. Users leaving feedback for other users are permitted to select a comment they desire to leave for or about another user relative to a transaction. The predefined feedback comments selected by the users are associated with the users whom the comment is about, and at some time thereafter, the predefined feedback comment is displayed for viewing by other users of the system.
US09015583B2	Editing apparatus and an editing method Editing apparatus and an editing method for editing a plurality of files, which are recorded on a storage part and correspond to one shot. The editing method includes a determination step determining a generation order in time sequence of a plurality of files which correspond to one shot and include interframe coded data; and an integration step S12 of arranging the plurality of files in the generation order and integrating the arranged files. The editing method may further include a displaying step of displaying one clip corresponding to the integrated files, and editing step editing the clip.
US09015580B2	System and method for online and mobile memories and greeting service A system, a method, and a user interface are described for personalizing and sending stationery/cards. A reminder list on the user interface includes a list of reminder entries each identifying an upcoming event including events generated based on a specified relationship between the user and one or more contacts of the user. A recommendation region is populated one or more recommended stationery/card designs associated with one of the entries in the reminder list. A stationery/card personalization engine provides the user with a set of personalization options related to the selected stationery/card design, and generates personalized stationery based on the selected stationery/card design and the user input.
US09015578B2	Dynamic optimization of available display space Embodiments provide for systems, methods, and computer program products for optimizing content rendered at a display unit by dynamically formatting the content layout based on a display unit's parameters. For example, content is received from a server. The content is capable of being rendered at a number of remote display devices with various display parameters. In addition, a number of display rules are also received. The display rules specify how content should be rendered in terms of content layout and properties by the remote display devices based on the parameters of the display devices. The display rules are compared with the parameters of a display device that is used to render the content. Based on the comparison, at least one of the display rules is applied such that the layout of the content on the display device is optimized for the particular parameters of the display device.
US09015566B2	Power and pin efficient chip-to-chip communications with common-mode rejection and SSO resilience In bus communications methods and apparatus, a first set of physical signals representing the information to be conveyed over the bus is provided, and mapped to a codeword of a spherical code, wherein a codeword is representable as a vector of a plurality of components and the bus uses at least as many signal lines as components of the vector that are used, mapping the codeword to a second set of physical signals, wherein components of the second set of physical signals can have values from a set of component values having at least three distinct values for at least one component, and providing the second set of physical signals for transmission over the data bus in a physical form.
US09015558B2	Systems and methods for error detection and correction in a memory module which includes a memory buffer The present systems include a memory module containing a plurality of RAM chips, typically DRAM, and a memory buffer arranged to buffer data between the DRAM and a host controller. The memory buffer includes an error detection and correction circuit arranged to ensure the integrity of the stored data words. One way in which this may be accomplished is by computing parity bits for each data word and storing them in parallel with each data word. The error detection and correction circuit can be arranged to detect and correct single errors, or multi-errors if the host controller includes its own error detection and correction circuit. Alternatively, the locations of faulty storage cells can be determined and stored in an address match table, which is then used to control multiplexers that direct data around the faulty cells, to redundant DRAM chips in one embodiment or to embedded SRAM in another.
US09015557B2	Simultaneous data transfer and error control to reduce latency and improve throughput to a host The disclosed embodiments provide a system that transfers data from a storage device to a host. The system includes a communication mechanism that receives a request to read a set of blocks from the host. Next, upon reading each block from the set of blocks from the storage device, the communication mechanism transfers the block over an interface with the host. The system also includes an error-detection apparatus that performs error detection on the block upon reading the block, and an error-correction apparatus that performs error correction on the block if an error is detected in the block. The communication mechanism may then retransfer the block to the host after the error is removed from the block.
US09015552B2	Data deduplication using CRC-seed differentiation between data and stubs Various embodiments for differentiating between data and stubs pointing to a parent copy of deduplicated data are provided. Undeduplicated data is stored with a checksum of an initial value as a first cyclic redundancy check (CRC) seed. A stub pointing to the parent copy of the deduplicated data is stored with an additional checksum of a differing, additional initial value as a second CRC seed.
US09015545B2	Solid state drive tester Disclosed is a solid state drive tester which divides the functions of generating and comparing test pattern data and Frame Information Structure (FIS) data with each other into each other to implement the functions as separate logics, so that entire test time is decreased by reducing load of a processor. The solid state drive tester includes a host terminal for receiving a test condition for testing a storage from a user, and a test control unit creating a test pattern corresponding to the test condition, and adaptively selecting an interface according to an interface type of the storage to be tested to test the storage using the test pattern, wherein the test control unit is divided into a control module for controlling the test of the storage and a test execution module for practically executing the test in hardware to test a plurality of storages in real time.
US09015540B2	Blind and decision directed multi-level channel estimation Data which is read back from a multi-level storage device is received. For each bin in a set of bins, a portion of reads which fall into that particular bin and which are to be maintained is received. The set of bins is adjusted so that the read-back data, after assignment using the adjusted set of bins, matches the received portions of reads which are to be maintained.
US09015533B1	Error handling for asynchronous applications Various embodiments are disclosed herein including systems and methods for implementing exception-based error handling in asynchronous, parallel, multi-threaded, and other distributed systems. Embodiments implement exception-based error handling in asynchronous workflow systems, providing try/catch blocks and tree-based cancellation of pending and currently executing activities.
US09015529B2	System for remote installed sound compliance testing A network communication system includes a central control system that may transmit a request packet over a network to an apparatus that is configured to operate in an alarm system. The alarm system may be configured in accordance with a standard or protocol. The request packet may include instructions that instruct the apparatus to perform one or more tests that determine whether the apparatus is compliant with the standard or protocol. The apparatus may be configured to receive the packet from over the network and perform the tests in accordance with the instructions. The apparatus may report test results of the tests to the central control system by sending a reply packet that includes the test results over the network to the central control system.
US09015526B2	Restoring method and computer system A NAS device providing a snapshot function for executing CoW processing in multiple successive block units is provided, wherein upon restoring a file saved in a file system sharing from a snapshot, the speed for restoring files is enhanced by restoring only data blocks that have been changed within the data blocks constituting a file, to thereby reduce the amount of data being restored and cut down CoW processing. Upon restoring a file stored in file system sharing from a snapshot file, data blocks storing different data between the restore source file and the restore destination file are specified based on a differential map table and a differential block table, and only the specified data blocks are restored. Further, upon restoring data from a file other than the snapshot, the data blocks constituting the restore source file and the restore destination file are compared, and only the data blocks storing different data are restored.
US09015521B2	Method for switching a node controller link, processor system, and node Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for switching an NC link, a processor system, and a node, where the processor system includes more than two nodes capable of communicating with each other, each node includes a node controller NC chip, a host bus adapter HBA apparatus, and at least one CPU, the NC chip is connected to each CPU in a node where the NC chip is located, and the HBA apparatus is connected to each CPU in a node where the HBA apparatus is located; an NC link borne by the NC chip is corresponding to an HBA link borne by the HBA apparatus. By using an HBA apparatus to deploy a redundant link, the cost of deploying the redundant link is reduced effectively under a premise of ensuring the reliability of the processor system.
US09015516B2	Storing event data and a time value in memory with an event logging module Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to storing event data and a time value in memory with an event logging module. Example embodiments of the event logging module include event command storage, clock command storage, and memory command storage.
US09015511B2	Non main CPU/OS based operational environment A computing system is described that includes a main system bus that remains active while said computing system operates within a non main CPU/OS based operational state. The computing system also includes a controller that operates functional tasks while the computing system is within the non main CPU/OS based operational state. The computing system also includes an I/O unit coupled to the main system bus that remains active while the computing system operates within the non main CPU/OS based operational state.
US09015508B2	Semiconductor device and automobile control system Even after power-down, distinction between a transition from a PLL normal-oscillation state and a transition from a PLL self-oscillation is allowed.A semiconductor device includes a first region which, after having transited from a power-supply state to a power-down state, returns to the power-supply state again, a second region which holds a power source voltage regardless of power-down of the first region, and an oscillator which generates a first clock signal supplied to the first region. The first region includes a PLL circuit. The second region includes an information holding unit capable of holding information which can distinguish whether the operation mode of the PLL circuit is a PLL normal-oscillation mode or a PLL self-oscillation mode, and determines the operation mode of the PLL circuit when the first region has returned from the power-down state to the power-supply state, according to the information held in the information holding unit.
US09015501B2	Structure for asymmetrical performance multi-processors A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design, for allocating processing functions between a primary processor and a secondary processor is disclosed. A primary processor is provided that performs routine processing duties, including execution of application program code, while the secondary processor is in a sleep state. When the load on the primary processor is deemed to be excessive, the secondary processor is awakened from a sleep state and assigned to perform processing functions that would otherwise need to be performed by the primary processor. If temperatures in the system rise above a threshold, the secondary processor is returned to the sleep state.
US09015493B2	Multitenant-aware protection service Implementing a data protection service. One method includes receiving a request to provision a first tenant among a plurality of tenants managed by a single data protection service. A tenant is defined as an entity among a plurality of entities. A single data protection service provides data protection services to all tenants in the plurality of tenants. A first encryption key used to decrypt the first tenant's data at the data store is stored. The first encryption key is specific to the first tenant and thus cannot be used to decrypt other tenants' data at the data store from among the plurality of tenants. Rather each tenant in the plurality of tenants is associated with an encryption key, not usable by other tenants, used at the data store to decrypt data on a tenant and corresponding key basis.
US09015491B2	Method and apparatus for managing private data in multifunction peripheral A method and apparatus is provided for managing private data, such as a phone book, in a multifunction peripheral (MFP) used by multiple users. The method involves receiving user information and performing user authentication, and reading data stored in a user area allocated to the authenticated user in a storage unit divided into a number of user areas. Accordingly, when private data is managed in an MFP used by multiple users, by dividing a storage unit in which data is stored into a number of user areas, allocating the divided user areas to users, and allowing a user to access only a user area allocated to the user through an authentication process, the private data can be fully prevented from being accessed by other users, and it will be unlikely for a user to be confused because of other user data.
US09015478B2	System and method for preventing web crawler access Preventing web crawler access includes receiving a request for a webpage that includes web content that is to be protected from a web crawler, encrypting the web content to be protected to generate encrypted content and responding to the request, including sending the encrypted content and a decryption instruction. The decryption instruction is configured to allow a web browser to decrypt the encrypted content.
US09015476B1	Cryptographic device operable in a challenge-response mode Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for implementing cryptographic devices operable in a challenge-response mode are provided herein. A method includes storing a set of authentication information in a first cryptographic device associated with a user, receiving a challenge in the first cryptographic device in connection with a user authentication request responsive to a request from the user to access a protected resource, wherein the challenge comprises an index of at least one non-sequential portion of the authentication information stored in the first cryptographic device, and outputting a non-sequential portion of the authentication information from the set of authentication information stored in the first cryptographic device in response to the challenge for use in authenticating the user.
US09015470B2	Adaptive video server with fast initialization and methods for use therewith A streaming video server includes a virtual file system that stores playlist data corresponding to a plurality of video programs available from at least one video source and that stores at least one initial video program segment for each of the plurality of video segments. The streaming video server receives a request for a selected one of the plurality of video programs from a client device. The selected one of the plurality of video programs is retrieved from the at least one video source in response to the request. A plurality of encoded segments are generated from the selected one of the plurality of video programs, based on rate data. A multiplexer generates a plurality of output segments from the at least one initial video program segment corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of video programs and the plurality of encoded video program segments.
US09015464B2	Electronic device and start-up method thereof An electronic device and a method for starting up the same, wherein the electronic device includes a firmware control unit, a power supply state storage unit, a basic input output unit, and an Ethernet interface coupled to power supply apparatus to a Power over Ethernet to receive a power supply via a network cable. The firmware control unit determines whether the power supply state of the power supply is in a first power mode, by checking a power supply state signal. When the power supply state is not in the first power mode, the basic input output unit executes a second power booting program. The firmware control unit communicates with the power supply apparatus via a network, increases the rated power of the power supply, sets the power supply state signal for controlling the power supply state to be in the first power mode, and restarts the electronic device.
US09015462B2	Display device and booting method thereof A display device and a booting method thereof are provided. The booting method includes during a standby mode, receiving a remote control signal and storing the remote control signal; and in response to a power signal being received within a predefined period of time of the receipt of the remote control signal, booting the display device to display a display screen corresponding to the remote control signal. Therefore, it is possible for a user to readily execute a desired function of the display device when booting the display device.
US09015459B2	Method of initializing operation of a memory system Provided is a method of initializing operation of a memory system. The method includes receiving an initialization signal, performing a first initializing operation that uses initialization data in response to the receiving of the initialization signal, setting a forced reset mode when an operation standby signal is not enabled by the first initializing operation, and performing a second initializing operation that does not use the initialization data in response to the setting of the forced reset mode.
US09015457B2	System and method for configuring an information handling system by implementing a customized configuration of a personality module In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure a method of configuring an information handling system comprises configuring a base platform of an information handling system. The method further comprises installing a personality module on the base platform. The personality module is configured to store personality information associated with an information handling resource of the information handling system. The method additionally comprises executing the personality module and installing software associated with the information handling system after executing the personality module.
US09015456B1	Indicator for developer mode A dual-mode computing system and machine-implemented method for providing an indication of an operating mode of the system. The system including a processor, a memory storing verified code, a secure memory coupled to a processor and a developer mode indicator coupled to the secure memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute verified code to perform operations comprising initiating boot up of the system. The operations further comprising accessing a developer mode state stored within the secure memory to determine whether the system is in developer mode, wherein the developer mode allows the system to execute unverified code, activating the developer mode indicator when it is determined that the system is in developer mode and locking the secure memory to ignore subsequent calls to modify the developer mode state when it is determined that the system is in developer mode.
US09015453B2	Packing odd bytes from two source registers of packed data An apparatus includes an instruction decoder, first and second source registers and a circuit coupled to the decoder to receive packed data from the source registers and to unpack the packed data responsive to an unpack instruction received by the decoder. A first packed data element and a third packed data element are received from the first source register. A second packed data element and a fourth packed data element are received from the second source register. The circuit copies the packed data elements into a destination register resulting with the second packed data element adjacent to the first packed data element, the third packed data element adjacent to the second packed data element, and the fourth packed data element adjacent to the third packed data element.
US09015441B2	Memory usage scanning A memory scanning system may scan memory objects to determine usage frequency by scanning each memory object using a mapping of the processes stored in memory. The scanning may be performed multiple times to generate a usage history for each page or unit of memory. In some cases, scanning may be performed at different frequencies to determine multiple classifications of usage. The mapping may create a detailed topology of memory usage, including multiple classifications of access frequency, as well as several other classifications. Based on the topology, the objects in memory may be copied to another storage medium or optimized for performance or power consumption.
US09015434B2	Storage system, and apparatus and method for controlling storage A rebuild control unit splits a rebuild process into partial processes and instructs an access processing unit to execute the partial processes. In the rebuild process, data identical to data recorded in a first storage device that constitutes RLU #1 is generated based on data read from, among storage devices constituting RLU #1, storage devices other than the first storage device and written to a spare storage device included in a storage system. Each partial process includes a combination of an operation of reading data from a split range created by splitting a data readout target range into fixed-size intervals and an operation of writing data in another storage device based on the data read from the split range. In response to the instruction from the rebuild control unit to execute the multiple partial processes, the access processing unit executes the instructed partial processes in parallel.
US09015429B2	Method and apparatus for an efficient hardware implementation of dictionary based lossless compression A method, computer readable medium, and apparatus for implementing a compression are disclosed. For example, the method receives a first portion of an input data at a first register, determines a first address based upon the first portion of the input data, reads the first address in a memory to determine if a value stored in the first address is zero, stores a code for the first address of the memory in the first register if the value of the first address is zero, receives a second portion of the input data at a second register, determines a second address based upon the second portion of the input data in the memory, obtains the code from the first register if the second address and the first address are the same and writes the code from the first register in the first address of the memory.
US09015427B2	Systems and methods for employing an electronically-readable monitoring module associated with a customer replaceable component to update a non-volatile memory in an image forming device A system and method are provided for updating a non-volatile memory (NVM) in an image forming device by employing the programmability of an electronically readable/writable memory module such as a customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) associated with a customer replaceable unit (CRU) as a vehicle for completing the needed updates in NVM values at the time of replacement of the CRU. Replacement of the CRU, where such replacement is verified by return of an expended CRU to the manufacturer, provides confirmation of updates to the NVM values. The CRUM provides a secure means to change image output terminal (IOT) set points and CRU related values stored in NVM locations that otherwise would require a manufacturers' customer service personnel visit to update. By providing an NVM location (chain/link), the value to be used and a one-time use authentication string, an automated update to the NVM is performed in a secure manner.
US09015425B2	Apparatus, systems, and methods for nameless writes An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for implementing nameless storage operations. Storage clients can access and allocate portions of an address space of a non-volatile storage device to a nameless storage request. The methods include receiving from a storage client, a nameless storage request configured for storing data in an unspecified, available address of a logical block address of a non-volatile storage device, determining whether there exists enough logical capacity in the logical address space to satisfy the nameless storage request, allocating a logical identifier to the nameless storage request, and sending the allocated logical identifier to the storage client. Other embodiments are described.
US09015424B2	Write transaction management within a memory interconnect A memory interconnect between transaction masters and a shared memory. A first snoop request is sent to other transaction masters to trigger them to invalidate any local copy of that data they may hold and for them to return any cached line of data corresponding to the write line of data that is dirty. A first write transaction is sent to the shared memory. When and if any cached line of data is received from the further transaction masters, then the portion data is used to form a second write transaction which is sent to the shared memory and writes the remaining portions of the cached line of data which were not written by the first write transaction in to the shared memory. The serialization circuitry stalls any transaction requests to the write line of data until the first write transaction.
US09015419B2	Avoiding aborts due to associativity conflicts in a transactional environment Embodiments relate to a transactional read footprint after a cache line eviction. An aspect includes executing one or more read instructions in an active transaction. A cross invalidate (XI) request for a target cache line is received, and it is determined if the target cache line is part of a congruence class in a local cache. It is further determined whether an extension flag associated with the congruence class is set. The extension flag is used to indicate that cache lines of the congruence class associated with the active transaction have been replaced based only on being least recently used and that the target cache line is not in the cache. Execution of the active transaction continues based on determining that the extension flag is not set. Execution of the active transaction is aborted based on determining that the extension flag is set.
US09015418B2	Self-sizing dynamic cache for virtualized environments A method and system for self-sizing dynamic cache for virtualized environments is disclosed. The preferred embodiment self sizes unequal portions of the total amount of cache and allocates to a plurality of active virtualized machines (VM) according to VM requirements and administrative standards. As a new VM may emerge and request an amount of cache, the cache controller reclaims currently used cache from the active VM and reallocates the unequal portions of cache required by each VM. To ensure cache availability, a quick reclamation amount of cache is immediately available to each new VM as it makes the request begins operation. After reallocation, the newly created VM may rely on a guaranteed minimum quota of cache to ensure performance.
US09015413B2	Management of data using inheritable attributes Embodiments relate to a system and computer program product for data management. An aspect includes a method for assigning storage types to data based on access frequency. Past or historical data associated with current data usage is also considered prior to assignment. Once data frequency access is determined, the current data is assigned to a first tier of a plurality of hierarchical ordered tiers, each tier corresponding to at least one class of storage. In one embodiment, there may be a condition that overrides the assignment with option to override it. The tier assignment may also be preserved so that the current data can be appropriately assigned in the future.
US09015410B2	Storage control apparatus unit and storage system comprising multiple storage control apparatus units A first storage control apparatus unit has a first logical volume. A second storage control apparatus unit has a second logical volume, which is a virtual logical volume and is mapped to the first logical volume, and a third logical volume that is associated with the first logical volume. The second storage control apparatus unit receives, from a host, an I/O command which has information including, as information denoting an I/O-destination area, an ID of the second logical volume and an address of an area of the second logical volume. The second storage control apparatus unit identifies a logical volume having an area that serves as an entity of the I/O-destination area, and a storage control apparatus unit that has this logical volume.
US09015396B2	Reducing latency in a peripheral component interconnect express link A method and system are described for reducing latency in a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) link between a host and an endpoint. In the described embodiments, an interrupt is issued from the endpoint to the host using the PCIe link. Then, while the interrupt is pending at the host, the PCIe link is prevented from entering a power-saving mode with an exit latency greater than a predetermined time period.
US09015394B2	Chip select (‘CS’) multiplication in a serial peripheral interface (‘SPI’) system Chip select (‘CS’) multiplication in an SPI system that includes an SPI master, a CS multiplier, a plurality of SPI slaves, and a fall time detection circuit, where the SPI master is coupled to the CS multiplier and the fall time detection circuit by a CS signal line, the CS multiplier includes a plurality of CS outputs with each CS output coupled to an SPI slave, and CS multiplication includes: receiving, from the SPI master, the CS signal on the CS signal line; detecting fall time of the CS signal; and, if the fall time of the CS signal is less than a predefined threshold, configuring, by the fall-time detection circuit, the CS multiplier to vary from providing a CS signal on a first CS output to providing a CS signal on a second CS output.
US09015391B2	Dispatching of service requests in redundant storage virtualization subsystems A method for dispatching of service requests in a redundant storage virtualization subsystem including a plurality of storage virtualization controllers is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of the host entity issuing a first service request to a first one of the SVCs; the first SVC handling the first service request, acquiring a first result of servicing the first service request, and returning the first result to the host entity the result; and, the host entity issuing a second service request to a second one of the SVCs; and, the second SVC handling the second service request, acquiring a second result of servicing the second service request, and returning the second result to the host entity the result. A storage virtualization subsystem implementing the method, a computer system comprising such storage virtualization subsystem, and a storage media having machine-executable codes stored therein for performing the method are also disclosed.
US09015384B2	Methods and apparatus for transporting data through network tunnels Methods and apparatus for efficiently transporting data through network tunnels. In one embodiment, a tunneled device advertises certain capabilities to peer devices of a network, and discovers capabilities of peer devices of the network. In a second embodiment, each device of a tunneled network derives a network parameter from a transit protocol parameter for use in data networking.
US09015382B2	Customizable user interface for external devices A system and method for controlling an external device from a first device include a display and a user interface associated with the first device. The first device has a first controller and a first data port. An external device has an external controller and a second data port coupled to the first data port. The external device communicates a command and a command identifier to the first controller. The first controller causes the display to display the command. When the command is selected by the user interface, the first controller transmits the command identifier to the external controller through the first and second data port.
US09015380B2	Exchanging message data in a distributed computer system A method for exchanging message data in a distributed computer system between a sending and a receiving hardware system. The sending hardware system includes a first memory system and a receiving hardware system which includes a second memory system with a second data buffer and a second memory region. The sending hardware system and the receiving hardware system are coupled via a non-transparent bridge unit. The method includes allocating empty memory, writing information about the empty memory, copying payload data directly from the sending hardware system to the empty memory locations, and writing information about the copied payload data to the second data buffer of the second memory system inside the receiving hardware system. A computer program product for carrying out the method is also provided.
US09015376B2	Method for infrastructure messaging A low overhead method to handle inter process and peer to peer communication. A queue manager is used to create a list of messages with minimal configuration overhead. A hardware queue can be connected to another software task owned by the same core or a different processor core, or connected to a hardware DMA peripheral. There is no limitation on how many messages can be queued between the producer and consumer cores. The low latency interrupt generation to the processor cores is handled by an accumulator inside the QMSS which can be configured to generate interrupts based on a programmable threshold of descriptors in a queue. The accumulator thus removes the polling overhead from software and boosts performance by doing the descriptor pops and message transfer in the background.
US09015361B2	Electronic device and control method therefor An electronic device using a removable recording medium detects the operational mode supported by the recording medium when the attached recording medium has a communication function, and displays a menu with an item corresponding to the operational mode. When the item corresponding to the operational mode is selected from the menu, the electronic device communicates with an external device using the communication protocol corresponding to the selected item. When a recording medium with a communication function is attached, the electronic device enables commanding wireless communication with a target device with a simple operation and without knowing what communication protocol is used.
US09015360B2	Method of programming a USB device The invention is a method of programming a device comprising a USB® connector and a USB® chip. The USB® connector comprises first and second sets of connection pins. The USB® chip comprises a USB® interface and a programming interface. The method comprises a step of activating a selecting pin of said first set for selecting the programming interface and a step of sending programming data to the USB® chip through said second set and through the programming interface.
US09015355B2	Data storage architecture extension system and method A data storage architecture extension (DAX) system and method that daisy-chains multiple SATA disk drive storage elements to allow a single host bus adapter (HBA) to view the daisy-chain as one logical SATA disk drive is disclosed. The system/method may be broadly described as comprising a pass-thru disk drive controller (PTDDC) further comprising a pass-thru input (PTI) port, disk drive interface (DDI) port, and pass-thru output (PTO) port. The PTDDC intercepts and translates PTI port input to the requirements of a SATA disk drive connected to the DDI. Each PTDDC may be daisy-chained to other PTDDCs to permit a plethora of SATA drives to be associated with a given HBA, with the first PTDDC providing a presentation interface to the HBA integrating all SATA disk drive storage connected to the PTDDCs. Rack mounting of PTDDC-enabled SATA disk drives enables creation of inexpensive dynamically expandable petabyte-class storage arrays.
US09015351B1	Address translation for SR-IOV virtual function apertures Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise: an interface to receive a first address in a first address space for one of a plurality of resources, wherein each resource is associated with a respective first aperture in the first address space, and a respective second aperture in a second address space; and a translation module to translate the first address to a second address in the second address space; wherein the translation module includes address translation logic to swap a first sequence of bits in the first address with a second sequence of the bits in the first address; wherein a number of the bits in the second sequence is determined according to a number of the resources; and wherein a number of the bits in the first sequence is determined according to a difference between a size of the first aperture and a size of the second aperture.
US09015346B2	Identification of a private device in a public network Methods, network address translation (NAT) devices, network nodes and system for allowing identification of a private device in a public network or treating traffic of a private device in a public network. The NAT may allocate a private IPv4 address to the private device, reserve a block of ports on the public IPv4 address for the private device and send an identification of the block of ports to a network node in the public network. The network node of the public network may receive an identification of a block of ports on the public IPv4 address indicating that the block of ports is reserved for the private device and activate a rule for treating traffic of the private device.
US09015343B2	User control over content delivery Novel tools and techniques for Internet service providers to enable enhanced user control over content delivery. In an aspect of certain embodiments, these tools can allow the customer to select, on a variety of different bases, whether content should be obtained from the Internet or from a lower-cost source, such as a metropolitan content delivery network (“CDN”) operated by the ISP or a private peering connection with a content source. Both of these options can, for example, avoid accessing content over the Internet and thus can reduce ISP delivery costs. In some embodiments, these cost reductions can be passed to the consumer in the way the ISP accounts for the content delivery.
US09015342B2	Two-level structured overlay design for cluster management in a peer-to-peer network A method and system for designing file replication schemes in file sharing systems consider node storage constraints and node up/down statistics, file storage costs, and file transfer costs among the nodes, user request rates for the files, and user specified file availability requirements. Based on these considerations, a systematic method for designing file replication schemes can be implemented. The method first determines the number of copies of the files to be stored in the system to achieve the desired goal (e.g., to satisfy file availability requirements, or to maximize the system hit rate), and then selects the nodes at which to store the file copies to minimize the total expected cost. The file replication scheme for a peer-to-peer file sharing system in a distributed and adaptive manner can scale to a large number of nodes and files and can handle changes in the user request pattern over time.
US09015331B2	Method for implementing a convergent wireless local area network (WLAN) authentication and privacy infrastructure (WAPI) network architecture in a local MAC mode A method for implementing a convergent Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Authentication and Privacy Infrastructure (WAPI) network architecture in a local Medium Access Control (MAC) mode is provided and includes the following steps: the MAC function and WAPI function of Access Point (AP) are divided between Wireless Terminal Point (WTP) and Access Controller (AC) to construct a local MAC mode; the convergence of WAPI protocol and the convergent WLAN network architecture is implemented in the local MAC mode; the process of association and connection between Station (STA), WTP and AC is performed; the process of notification of the beginning of the execution of the WLAN Authentication Infrastructure (WAI) protocol between AC and WTP is performed; the process of the execution of the WAI protocol between STA and AC is performed; the process of notification of the end of the execution of the WAI protocol between AC and WTP is performed; the process of encrypted communication between WTP and STA is performed by use of WPI.
US09015323B2	Global server load balancing A global server load-balancing (GSLB) switch serves as a proxy to an authoritative DNS and communicates with numerous site switches that are coupled to host servers serving specific applications. The GSLB switch receives from site switches operational information regarding host servers within the site switches neighborhood. When a client program requests a resolution of a host name, the GSLB switch, acting as a proxy of an authoritative DNS, returns one or more ordered IP addresses for the host name. The IP addresses are ordered using metrics that include the information collected from the site switches or based on other metric information. Examples of metrics include weighted site, weighted IP, and active bindings metrics. The GSLB switch places the address that is deemed “best” at the top of the list.
US09015316B2	Correlation of asynchronous business transactions The present technology monitors a web application provided by one or more services. A service may be provided by applications. The monitoring system provides end-to-end business transaction visibility, identifies performance issues quickly and has dynamical scaling capability across monitored systems including cloud systems, virtual systems and physical infrastructures. A message may be placed in an asynchronous queue. The message may be associated with a business transaction. The message in the asynchronous queue may be retrieved by an application. Business transaction information associated with the message may be transmitted to a server by the application.
US09015313B2	Providing actionable content to a computing device based on user actions Methods and apparatus related to identifying content accessed on a computing device that is likely actionable on another computing device. Some implementations are directed to methods and apparatus for identifying a computing device of a user, identifying content accessed on another computing device by the user, determining content that is actionable on the computing device, determining a confidence level that the actionable content is of interest to the user, and providing the actionable content for use on the computing device if the confidence level satisfies a threshold. The confidence level may be based on an indication of time passage between the user accessing the content on the other computing device and the identified use of the computing device.
US09015301B2	Information infrastructure management tools with extractor, secure storage, content analysis and classification and method therefor The present invention is a method of organizing and processing data in a distributed computing system. The invention is also implemented as a computer program on a computer medium and as a distributed computer system. Software modules can be configured as hardware. The method and system organizes select content which is important to an enterprise operating said distributed computing system. The select content is represented by one or more predetermined words, characters, images, data elements or data objects. The computing system has a plurality of select content data stores for respective ones of a plurality of enterprise designated categorical filters which include content-based filters, contextual filters and taxonomic classification filters, all operatively coupled over a communications network. A data input is processed through at least one activated categorical filter to obtain select content, and contextually associated select content and taxonomically associated select content as aggregated select content. The aggregated select content is stored in the corresponding select content data store. A data process from the group of data processes including a copy process, a data extract process, a data archive process, a data distribution process and a data destruction process is associated with the activated categorical filter and the method and system applies the associated data process to a further data input based upon a result of that further data being processed by the activated categorical filter utilizing the aggregated select content data.
US09015296B2	Method of managing network element settings The invention relates to a method of managing network element (NE) settings in a communications network. The invention comprises defining a proxy (AC) for the network element (NE) to be managed; loading information on the present settings of said network element (NE) to said proxy (AC); loading information on the new settings of said network element (NE) to said proxy (AC); comparing the new settings of the network element (NE) with its present settings in the proxy (AC); and if the new settings of the network element (NE) differ from its present settings, generating management operations in the proxy (AC) for replacing the present settings with the new settings in the network element (NE); and updating the new settings to the network element (NE) by means of said management operations at the moment determined by the network management element.
US09015285B1	User interface for accessing media at a geographic location A system and method for accessing a media item on a mobile device are described. The mobile device includes a media placement application and a media display application. The media placement application receives a selection of a media item generated by the mobile device. The media placement application generates access conditions for the media item based on geolocation and position information of the mobile device associated with the selected media item. The media display application monitors the geolocation and position of the mobile device and determines whether the geolocation and position of the mobile device meet the access conditions of the selected media item. The media display application generates a notification that the selected media item is available to view in a display of the mobile device in response to determining that the geolocation and position of the mobile device meet the access conditions of the selected media item.
US09015273B2	Methods and devices for transmitting and receiving sequential content in a content centric network Provided is a scheme of transmitting sequential content (or data) in a content centric network (CCN). The scheme includes a push scheme which may reduce a load on a network and inefficiency of a transmission that results from a constant transmission of a content request message between devices.
US09015253B1	System and method for copying text messages of a minor to be monitored by a guardian The present invention provides methods, systems, and computer program products for copying text messages sent to or from a user, such as a child or minor to a location external to the user's mobile device, for review by a third party having a legal right to view the user's messages, such as a parent or guardian. One aspect of the invention is a method of copying a user's messages. The text message carrier server system receives a text message from a sender addressed to a receiver. It sends the text message to the receiver. It also checks a monitor list for the receiver or the sender, and when the receiver or the sender is on the monitor list, it sends a copy of the text message content to a remote text message monitoring system.
US09015249B2	System and method for associating audio data with image file data Methods and apparatus for associating audio file data with image file data according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a social object creation module that is configured to combine multiple files type into a single social media object that may be shared by users. The social object creation module may be installed on a computing device to enable the computing device to create the social object by combining a digital image with an audio file into a single object or data package that may be communicated to another computing device over a communication network.
US09015248B2	Managing updates at clients used by a user to access a cloud-based collaboration service System and method for managing updates at clients used by a user to access a cloud-based collaboration service are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, for storing a representation of the action to queues of clients associated with the user in a distributed database cluster based on an action type of an action performed by a collaborator of the user. The clients of the user are selected based on the client category and the action type of the action, to receive a notification as a result of the action or to perform a synchronization with changes that occurred as a result of the action.
US09015241B2	Apparatus and method for video conferencing A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a controller to capture one or more images of a conference room using a video camera, generate an illumination model for a plurality of lights associated with the conference room based on the images, and illuminate at least a portion of the lights based on the illumination model during a video conference call that utilizes the video camera, where the video conference call is implemented using an interactive television network. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09015232B2	Content management application for an interactive environment The content management application is an intranet application which provides a process for implementing changes to an internet website of a company by providing the company the ability to define and enforce a common style of page layout. The application can be accessed via a desktop browser and multiple users may access the application for multiple reasons at the same time. The application also dynamically generates new page designs and new component design with various people assigned to groups or teams enabling the continuous creation and processing of content. Once the content is created and reviewed, it is then launched onto the company's internet site for viewing by the internet users accessing the company's web page.
US09015231B1	Distributed anonymized communications A server is configured to communicate with a group of clients over a network. Each of the clients obtains a corresponding informational message comprising security-related information such as an indication of compromise (IOC), inserts noise in the information message to generate an anonymized message, and communicates the anonymized message to the server. The anonymized messages communicated by the respective clients to the server may be configured so as to prevent the server from identifying any individual client associated with a particular one of the anonymized messages, while also allowing the server to extract from the anonymized messages collectively one or more characteristics of the underlying informational messages. A given client may insert noise in an informational message by, for example, selecting a noise value from a specified range of noise values, and combining the informational message and the selected noise value to generate the anonymized message.
US09015225B2	Systems and methods for delivering messages over a network Systems and methods are described for delivering messages from one or more service hosts to clients via a network. A first request identifying the client is received at the message server, and a connection is established and maintained between the message server and the client in response to the first request. When a subsequent request that identifies the client is received from the service host, a message is transmitted from the message server to the client over the previously-established connection. The methods and techniques may be used, for example, to provide messages from various services to placeshifting devices or other clients communicating via the network.
US09015222B2	Method and system for managing one or more processes in a business center The present invention provides a system and a method for managing a customer contact center. The system includes a one click sign-in module, a client-host, and a control module. The one click sign-in module enables one-click authentication of an agent for logging in to a plurality of applications during a data transaction. The client-host displays the plurality of applications to the agent on a single screen to enable access to critical information related to the data transaction from the plurality of applications. Further, the control module records the critical information of the data transaction for data analysis to manage one or more processes related to the data transaction.
US09015219B2	Apparatus for signal processing A signal processor includes one or more memory banks, wherein each memory bank stores filter coefficients; and one or more coefficient multiplexer units; each coefficient multiplexer unit being associated with a memory bank, and retrieves a filter coefficient based on a number of received input samples. The processor includes one or more multiply and accumulate (MAC) units, each MAC unit being associated with a coefficient multiplexer unit and determines a product of the retrieved filter coefficient with an input sample; retrieves a previous value stored in an associated register; computes a summation of the previous value and the product; and stores the summation in the associated register. The processor includes an output multiplexer unit to select a register, and to provide a value stored in the register as an output.
US09015216B2	Fast static rotator/shifter with non two's complemented decode and fast mask generation In one embodiment, a rotator, a mask generator, and circuitry configured to mask the rotated operand output by the rotator with the output mask generated by the mask generator perform a shift operation. The rotator is configured to rotate the input operand by the shift count. The mask generator is configured to generate an output mask by decoding a most significant bit (MSB) field of the shift count to generate a first mask, decoding a least significant bit (LSB) field of the shift count to generate a second mask, logically ANDing the bits of the second mask with the corresponding bit of the first mask and logically ORing the result with an adjacent bit of the first mask that is selected responsive to the shift direction.
US09015209B2	Download management of discardable files A request is received to store a file in a storage area of a storage device, the file being discardable and having associated therewith data in a data structure associated with the storage device. The file is marked as a discardable file. In some implementations a file system structure of the data structure is marked to indicate that the file is a discardable file, where in other implementations, the file itself is marked to indicate that the file is a discardable file. A download manager determines a download condition associated with the request to store the discardable file in the storage area of the storage device and determines whether to delay a download to the storage device of the discardable file based on the determined download condition. The download manager manages the download of the discardable file to the storage device based on the determination of whether to delay the download of the discardable file to the storage device.
US09015204B2	Onboarding resources to an identity management system A process of onboarding a resource into an identity management system is disclosed. The identity management system is configured to connect users with resources and manage user identities and security entitlements of the connected resources. The process of onboarding a resource includes marking or tagging resource fields with semantic markers.
US09015193B1	Recursive aggregates Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for expressing and evaluating aggregation functions, including aggregation functions in the context of recursive aggregates, in data languages that implement fixed point semantics. One of the methods includes receiving input specifying, explicitly or implicitly, an aggregation function agg having an input type and an output type, a relation s that has a domain and a range and that represents one or more entities to be aggregated over, and a relation t that is a relation from the range of s to the input type of the aggregation function agg; and evaluating an aggregation construct agg* to calculate a relation between the domain of s and the output type of the aggregation function agg according to agg*(s, t)={(m, agg(n))\|∃d: (m,d)εs,nεπ{\|t(y)\|yεs(m)\|}}.
US09015192B1	Systems and methods for improved processing of personalized message queries Systems and methods for displaying electronic messages are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method includes, at a computing device, displaying an electronic message user interface and receiving a search query while displaying the electronic message user interface. The search query corresponds to a category identifier, of a plurality of predefined category identifiers. The method also includes, in response to receiving the search query, displaying one or more electronic messages, in a plurality of electronic messages, that satisfy the search query and concurrently displaying a set of data associated with an object identifier in a respective electronic message of the one or more electronic messages. The object identifier corresponds to the category identifier, and the set of data includes one or more entries defined in a data configuration associated with the category identifier.
US09015189B2	Method and system for providing information using a supplementary device A method and system for providing access to information via a supplementary device is provided. User access to primary information via a primary device is monitored. Key information related to the primary content is obtained by extracting and analyzing metadata sources for the primary information. Then, supplementary information related to the primary information is obtained based on the key information. The supplementary information is provided for user access via the supplementary device.
US09015185B2	Ontology based recommendation systems and methods A search technology generates recommendations with minimal user data and participation, and provides better interpretation of user data, such as popularity, thus obtaining breadth and quality in recommendations. It is sensitive to the semantic content of natural language terms and lets users briefly describe the intended recipient (i.e., interests, eccentricities, previously successful gifts). Based on that input, the recommendation software system and method determines the meaning of the entered terms and creatively discover connections to gift recommendations from the vast array of possibilities. The user may then make a selection from these recommendations. The search/recommendation engine allows the user to find gifts through connections that are not limited to previously available information on the Internet. Thus, interests can be connected to buying behavior by relating terms to respective items.
US09015182B2	Product placement engine and method A product placement engine and method for automatically identifying products for association with a document, the engine including a parser, an analysis module adapted to determine word scores and to adjust the word scores of the words by predetermined weightings, a keyword constructor module adapted to construct a keyword query search string using words having the highest word scores, a search engine adapted to search a products database having product records to identify products satisfying the keyword query search string and assign product scores, and a post processing module adapted to identify word matches in each of the product records and the document and update the product score.
US09015181B2	Systems and methods for managing single instancing data Described in detail herein are systems and methods for managing single instancing data. Using a single instance database and other constructs (e.g. sparse files), data density on archival media (e.g. magnetic tape) is improved, and the number of files per storage operation is reduced. According to one aspect of a method for managing single instancing data, for each storage operation, a chunk folder is created on a storage device that stores single instancing data. The chunk folder contains three files: 1) a file that contains data objects that have been single instanced; 2) a file that contains data objects that have not been eligible for single instancing; and 3) a metadata file used to track the location of data objects within the other files. A second storage operation subsequent to a first storage operation contains references to data objects in the chunk folder created by the first storage operation instead of the data objects themselves.
US09015174B2	Likefarm determination A plurality of web documents that include indicators corresponding to one or more selectable like objects may be obtained. A corresponding web domain associated with each of the plurality of obtained web documents may be determined. A domain total like object count of the indicators corresponding to the one or more selectable like objects may be determined for each one of the obtained plurality of web documents, for each determined corresponding web domain. A candidate group of the corresponding web domains may be determined based on a comparison of a predetermined first threshold value with one or more of the domain total like object counts. A likefarm domain confidence score may be determined for each one of a second group of the corresponding web domains based on a decision tree function that is based on a plurality of domain attributes.
US09015171B2	Method and system for linking and delinking data records Exemplary systems and methods for linking entity references to entities and identifying associations between entities are presented. In particular, a method for delinking one or more entity references linked to a same entity is provided, where the one or more entity references have at least one common data field. The method comprises the steps of evaluating at least one actual measurement of the entity based at least in part on one or more field values of the one or more entity references, determining a difference between the at least one actual measurement and at least one predefined measurement associated with the entity and delinking the one or more entity references based at least in part on a comparison of the difference and a defined threshold.
US09015169B2	Tenant placement in multitenant cloud databases with data sharing A method for tenant placement in a multi-tenant system is shown that includes creating a weighted graph of tenants and sharing relationships between tenants, where a weight for each tenant and each sharing relationship represents an associated degree of resource consumption; and adding one or more tenants to a database using a processor based on said weighted graph and a database capacity, such that the combined weight of the added tenants and the sharing relationships belonging to the added tenants are within the database capacity. If a tenant cannot be added to the database without exceeding the database capacity, a new database is created and the one or more tenants are added to the new database, subject to a new database capacity. The adding and creating steps are repeated until all tenants have been added to a database.
US09015165B1	Text-SQL relational database The present invention is a method and system for storing, retrieving, and updating data stored in a persistent Name/Value storage container. The system and method combine similar data into data strings using a programming language referred to as Text-SQL that separates and relates the data using delimiters. The data strings are further combined into groups of like data strings that are also organized using delimiters. These groups of data strings are assigned a name and stored in a Name/Value storage container with the value being the grouped data string. The present invention uses simple dot-notation to parse the data strings into specific detailed information, which may be accomplished through an application programming interface (Text-SQL API) that provides functions for updating, deleting, retrieving, and storing data. The API utilizes a standard syntax for use with Cookies, HTML5 sessionStorage, and HTML5 localStorage providing cross-browser functionality and simplified programming.
US09015163B1	Using cross-matching between users and matching against reference data to facilitate content identification Techniques for identifying video and/or audio content are presented. An identification management component (IMC) groups users determined to be at least potentially be watching the same content based on first content fingerprints associated with respective content viewed by the users on communication devices, and a defined matching criterion. IMC facilitates identifying the content associated with the group of users based on first content fingerprints associated with the group of users and first reference content fingerprints. IMC receives a second content fingerprint associated with a communication device of a user in the group, sends the second content fingerprint to a third-party identification component for comparison with second reference content fingerprints, and receives content identification information in response. IMC identifies the content for the group of users based on the content identification information and/or the content identification made based on the first content fingerprints associated with the group.
US09015159B1	Method for searching media Data sets representing published items are input, for example, scanned-in or sent electronically, and stored in a searchable database. Each data set includes text from at least one published item. Responsive to the search query, a search engine searches for and identifies relevant web pages and data sets representing published items and ranked characterizations are returned for the relevant web pages and published items. An electronic path may be provided with the published item. The electronic path may be a hyperlink from a characterization of a relevant published item to a more complete electronic representation of the relevant published item. Publishers may provide authorization to display copyrighted materials through a permission protocol.
US09015156B2	Interactive computing recommendation facility with learning based on user feedback and interaction The present application provides a method for content ranking for recommending content to a community of users. Recommending content to a community of users is provided by identifying data sources associated with a user of the recommendation system. Each data source comprises content items. Hyperlinks embedded in the content items from the data sources associated with the user are extracted. The hyperlinks and a set of user preferences are used to rank new time-sensitive content items associated with a plurality of data sources. A set of ranked time sensitive customized content items are presented to the user as recommended content.
US09015152B1	Managing search results Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a set of search results. The set of search results is responsive to a search query received from a user. The method includes determining whether the search query is a navigational query or an exploratory query. The method also includes determining a number of search results to be presented to the user depending on whether the search query is determined to be a navigational query or an exploratory query.
US09015146B2	Managing access to data in a multi-temperature database An optimization technique is provided that optimizes data access by mapping each table, or row and/or column in a table, to a particular query, depending on whether the data in said table, row or column is ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ data. In one aspect, the invention features a method for optimizing the access time of an SQL query to a database including data. The method includes receiving, for each query type, a data frequency access measure and associating each query type with a processing rule set, according to the received data frequency access measure.
US09015145B2	Method and apparatus for automatic configuration of meta-heuristic algorithms in a problem solving environment A method and system are presented for configuring a search algorithm for solving a combinatorial optimization problem. The search algorithm has a number of procedural components. Each procedural component is configured using a respective data structure. The data structure has a tree structure, including traversal split nodes, each of which represents a choice to be made when configuring the procedural component of the search algorithm. Configuring the procedural component corresponds to traversing the tree structure, and the traversal is performed automatically. At each of the traversal split nodes, the choice of which direction to take through the tree structure is made randomly, using a respective probabilistic function. Thus, a population of candidate algorithms is generated. These are evaluated, and the probabilistic functions modified.
US09015132B2	Name search using multiple bitmap distributions Provided are techniques for matching names. For a first bitmap distribution, it is determined whether a first bitmap signature of a query name and a second bitmap signature of a target name have a number of character n-grams overlapping that meet or exceed a threshold to generate a first preliminary value. For a second bitmap distribution that is different from the first bitmap distribution, it is determined whether a third bitmap signature of the query name and a fourth bitmap signature of the target name have a number of character n-grams overlapping that meet or exceed a threshold to generate a second preliminary value. The first preliminary value and the second preliminary value are combined, and, if the combination results in a value of true, it is determined that the query name and the target name are to be further processed.
US09015131B2	Information management method, and computer for providing information When an online storage service is used to expand a storage capacity of a file server, an amount of communication in synchronization processing and an amount of data retained on the online storage service are reduced to save an amount of charge. In a kernel module provided with a storage area on the online storage service, files are divided into block files and managed, and blocks overlapping with an already registered and saved block file group are not uploaded, but only configuration information of the files is changed. A mechanism is adopted, in which DBs for managing meta information and elimination of duplication are divided and managed, and only updated sections are appropriately uploaded.
US09015127B2	File archiving system and method A method for archiving a file that has multiple file parts stored on multiple object storage devices of a computer system includes the steps of saving the file parts on one or more archive devices, allowing one or more changes to be made to the file during the saving step, and applying at least one of the changes made during the saving step to one of the file parts stored on a respective object storage device. Furthermore, the method is performed such that the file parts saved on the one or more archive devices do not include the one or more changes made to the file during the saving step.
US09015119B2	Performing a background copy process during a backup operation In one embodiment, a system includes a performance monitoring facility of a database adapted for measuring performance of the database regularly, a data protection manager for controlling a backup operation of the database on a storage subsystem, logic adapted for providing an interface between the performance monitoring facility of the database and the data protection manager, logic adapted for starting the backup operation while informing the performance monitoring facility about the starting of the backup operation, logic adapted for continuously evaluating performance of the database to determine when a predefined performance criterion is violated, and logic adapted for sending information from the performance monitoring facility to the data protection manager to cause compliance with the predefined performance criterion in response to the predefined performance criterion being violated.
US09015118B2	Determining and presenting provenance and lineage for content in a content management system Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for determining provenance and lineage for content elements in a content management system. An option to track provenance and lineage data for the content element is provided in response to a content element being entered into a content management system. A provenance metadata attribute and a lineage metadata attribute are associated with the content element in response to selecting the option to track provenance and lineage data. An extent of difference is determined between the original content element and the changed content element in response to a change of content being made to the content element. The provenance metadata attribute is updated to reflect the determined extent of difference. It is determined what user changed the content element, and the lineage metadata attribute is updated to reflect the user's involvement in changing the content element.
US09015114B2	Data synchronization in a cloud infrastructure A synchronization infrastructure that synchronizes data stored between components in a cloud infrastructure system is described. A first component in the cloud infrastructure system may store subscription information related to a subscription order which may in turn be utilized by a second component in the cloud infrastructure system to orchestrate the provisioning of services and resources for the order placed by the customer. The synchronization architecture utilizes transactionally consistent checkpoints that describe the state of the data stored in the components to synchronize the data between these components.
US09015110B2	Automatic updating of aggregations for aggregating data In one embodiment, a method receives a specification for aggregating data from processing of beacons. A beacon is associated with an event occurring at a client while a user is interacting with a web application and including unstructured data. The method then parses the specification to automatically generate an aggregation to aggregate structured data that has been converted from the unstructured data and stores dependency information for changes to the aggregation. State information is analyzed and the dependency information to determine when a change in the state information indicates that a change should be made to the aggregation. The method then dynamically changes the aggregation based on the analyzing to generate a new aggregation to aggregate different data based on changed information.
US09015109B2	Systems, methods, and computer readable media for maintaining recommendations in a media recommendation system Methods and systems for generating media item recommendations are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method may include using at least a processor and memory for receiving candidate media items associated with one or more computing devices that either has recently played or is currently playing a media item currently being played by another computing device. The method may also include determining recommendation scores for the candidate media items based on occurrence counts of the media items within a predetermined time period. Further, the method may include generating a media item recommendation for the other computing device based on the recommendation scores.
US09015107B2	Temporal relational database management system 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.
US09015100B2	Preceding-vehicle identifying apparatus and following-distance control apparatus The preceding vehicle identifying apparatus calculates an integrated probability of existence of a curved road ahead of an own vehicle based on at least two of the curvature of the curved road, the track of a vehicle running ahead of the own vehicle and the own vehicle' having entered the curved road. The preceding vehicle identifying apparatus further calculates an own-vehicle lane probability which is a probability that the vehicle is running in the same lane as an own-vehicle lane in which the own vehicle is running based on the distance between a predicted running line of the own vehicle and the track of the vehicle running ahead of the own vehicle, and compensates the calculated own-vehicle lane probability based on the integrated probability.
US09015087B2	Methods, systems, and products for interfacing with neurological and biological networks Methods, systems, and products provide interfaces between intrahost networks and interhost networks within biological hosts. Neuroregional translations are performed to route communications to and from the biological hosts. Bioregional translations may also be performed to route communications to and from the biological hosts.
US09015085B2	Identification of entities likely to engage in a behavior To entities that are likely to engage in a behavior, a behavior discrimination threshold for each of a plurality of behavior variables is determined. Variable values for each entity of a plurality of target entities and for each of the behavior variables are compared to the relevant behavior discrimination threshold to provide identifying variables for each entity. An index value is determined for each of the plurality of target entities based on the identifying variables for that entity. An index threshold is determined such that those entities of the target entities having index values that meet or exceed the index threshold are likely to exhibit or engage in the behavior more frequently than a random sampling of the plurality of training entities. Actions designed to affect the likelihood that the resulting targeted entities will engage in the behavior may be directed to the targeted entities.
US09015063B2	Secure device based NFC payment transactions A method for transmitting data between a mobile communication device and a server. The method includes running a mobile application on the mobile communication device. The mobile application is hosted on the mobile communication device through the server as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The method further includes transmitting data associated with the mobile application between the mobile communication device and the server, in which transmission of the data between the mobile communication device and the server is monitored through the server.
US09015061B2	Passenger guidance display system, passenger guidance display apparatus, and passenger guidance display method The present invention provides a passenger guidance display system comprising a service managing apparatus configured to manage on-rail information and a service schedule of a train and a passenger guidance display apparatus provided in a station premise and configured to perform display of passenger guidance using service information of a train scheduled to arrive next transmitted from the service managing apparatus. The passenger guidance display apparatus includes an advertisement database including advertisement data associated with service information of trains, a display control unit configured to select, from the advertisement database, advertisement data associated with the service information of the train scheduled to arrive transmitted from the service managing apparatus and combine the selected advertisement data and the service information to create, as one screen, a guidance video including advertisement guidance, and a display device configured to display the guidance video according to control by the display control unit.
US09015053B2	Audio coding device and audio coding method, audio decoding device and audio decoding method, and program There is provided an audio coding device including a first windowing part that multiplies an audio signal by a first window function, a second windowing part that multiplies the audio signal by a second window function having a characteristic different from a characteristic of the first window function, a window selecting part that selects the first window function or the second window function as an optimum window function based on the audio signal multiplied by the first windowing part and the audio signal multiplied by the second windowing part, a coding part that codes a frequency spectrum of the audio signal multiplied by the optimum window function, and a transmitting part that transmits the frequency spectrum coded by the coding part and window function information representing the optimum window function.
US09015051B2	Reconstruction of audio channels with direction parameters indicating direction of origin An audio signal having at least one audio channel and associated direction parameters indicating a direction of origin of a portion of the audio channel with respect to a recording position is reconstructed to derive a reconstructed audio signal. A desired direction of origin with respect to the recording position is selected. The portion of the audio channel is modified for deriving a reconstructed portion of the reconstructed audio signal, wherein the modifying includes increasing an intensity of the portion of the audio channel having direction parameters indicating a direction of origin close to the desired direction of origin with respect to another portion of the audio channel having direction parameters indicating a direction of origin further away from the desired direction of origin.
US09015046B2	Methods and apparatus for real-time interaction analysis in call centers A method and system for indicating in real time that an interaction is associated with a problem or issue, comprising: receiving a segment of an interaction in which a representative of the organization participates; extracting a feature from the segment; extracting a global feature associated with the interaction; aggregating the feature and the global feature; and classifying the segment or the interaction in association with the problem or issue by applying a model to the feature and the global feature. The method and system may also use features extracted from earlier segments within the interaction. The method and system can also evaluate the model based on features extracted from training interactions and manual tagging assigned to the interactions or segments thereof.
US09015041B2	Time warp activation signal provider, audio signal encoder, method for providing a time warp activation signal, method for encoding an audio signal and computer programs An audio encoder has a window function controller, a windower, a time warper with a final quality check functionality, a time/frequency converter, a TNS stage or a quantizer encoder, the window function controller, the time warper, the TNS stage or an additional noise filling analyzer are controlled by signal analysis results obtained by a time warp analyzer or a signal classifier. Furthermore, a decoder applies a noise filling operation using a manipulated noise filling estimate depending on a harmonic or speech characteristic of the audio signal.
US09015039B2	Adaptive encoding pitch lag for voiced speech System and method embodiments for dual modes pitch coding are provided. The system and method embodiments are configured to adaptively code pitch lags of a voiced speech signal using one of two pitch coding modes according to a pitch length, stability, or both. The two pitch coding modes include a first pitch coding mode with relatively high precision and reduced dynamic range, and a second pitch coding mode with relatively large dynamic range and reduced precision. The first pitch coding mode is used upon determining that the voiced speech signal has a relatively short or substantially stable pitch. The second pitch coding mode is used upon determining that the voiced speech signal has a relatively long or less stable pitch or is a substantially noisy signal.
US09015036B2	Automatic context sensitive language correction using an internet corpus particularly for small keyboard devices A computer-assisted language correction system particularly suitable for use with small keyboard devices including spelling correction functionality, misused word correction functionality and grammar correction functionality utilizing contextual feature-sequence functionality employing an interne corpus.
US09015034B2	Methods and devices for generating an action item summary Methods and devices for generating an action item summary are described. In one example embodiment, the present application describes a processor-implemented method. The method includes: receiving a request for creation of an action item, the action item comprising a record of a proposed future action; obtaining context information associated with the action item; storing the action item and context information; and generating a sentence describing the action item based on the context information associated with the action item.
US09015032B2	Multilingual speech recognition and public announcement Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product to deliver an announcement to people, such as a public announcement. A computer receives input representative of audio from one or more people speaking in one or more natural languages. The computer processes the input to identify the languages being spoken, and identifies a relative proportion of each of the identified languages. Using these proportions, the computer determines one or more languages in which to deliver the announcement. The computer then causes to be delivered the announcement in the determined languages. In other embodiments, the computer can also determine an order in which to deliver the announcement. Further, the computer can transmit the announcement in the determined languages and order for delivery in aural or visual form.
US09015028B2	Handheld electronic device with text disambiguation In view of the foregoing, an improved handheld electronic device includes a keypad in the form of a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. As a user enters keystrokes, the device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants from which a user can choose. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry, and when initiating an activity session on a word such as during editing, the display outputs variants of the entire word being edited, rather than providing as variants only those parts of a word that are being edited. The device also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. In certain predefined circumstances, the disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided. Additionally, the device can facilitate the selection of variants by displaying a graphic of a special key of the keypad that enables a user to progressively select variants generally without changing the position of the user's hands on the device.
US09015027B2	Fast emulation of virtually addressed control flow Two or more processes for executing a source application are emulated using: a virtual trampoline memory in which each emulated process has a respective private trampoline memory; and a shared code heap memory. Each emulated process only sees the shared code heap and its respective private trampoline memory. A respective equivalent target instruction fragment for writing to the code heap is generated for each of multiple source instruction fragments from the application, each target instruction fragment being indexed by its physical address in the code heap. Each of at least one jump instruction in the fragment is replaced with a jump to a corresponding slot in the virtual trampoline memory. A trap is written to each corresponding private trampoline slot, each trap adapted to be replaced by a jump to an address in the code heap corresponding to the jump destination.
US09015023B2	Device specific configuration of operating voltage A method and circuit for device specific configuration of an operating voltage is provided. A circuit design is analyzed to determine a maximum gate-level delay for the circuit design. A minimum voltage value corresponding to the maximum gate-level delay is determined along with a default voltage value corresponding to a default gate-level delay. A voltage scaling factor corresponding to the minimum voltage and default voltage values is determined. The circuit design is synthesized such that the synthesized design includes the voltage scaling value. The synthesized design specifies setting an operating voltage to a value of a startup voltage value scaled by the voltage scaling value.
US09015018B2	Boundary system designer for wireless aircraft networks An aircraft design system comprising a components database having designs for components configured for use in an aircraft, a materials database having materials selected for desired types of wireless signal propagation, and a boundary designer. The boundary designer is configured to identify a configuration for wireless networks in the aircraft. The boundary designer is further configured to select a number of boundaries for the wireless networks that provide a desired propagation of wireless signals for the wireless networks. The boundary designer is further configured to select a configuration for a number of the components from the designs in the components database and select a number of materials for the number of the components to form the number of boundaries for the wireless networks.
US09015016B2	System and method for three-dimensional schematic capture and result visualization of multi-physics system models A 3-D multi-physics design environment (“3-D design environment”) for designing and simulating multi-physics devices such as MEMS devices is discussed. The 3-D design environment is programmatically integrated with a system modeling environment that is suitable for system-level design and simulation of analog-signal ICs, mixed-signal ICs and multi-physics systems. A parameterized MEMS device model is created in a 3-D graphical view in the 3-D design environment using parameterized model components that are each associated with an underlying behavioral model. After the MEMS device model is completed, it may be exported to a system modeling environment without subjecting the model to preliminary finite element meshing.
US09015015B2	System for supporting robot hardware design and method thereof The present invention relates to a system and a method for supporting robotic hardware design, and the method comprises: loading a template which has information on the mechanical structure, operating mechanism, power transmission and motion data of robot modules; modifying the information for use in a simulator for further designing the robot modules; analyzing the behavior of each robot module according to respective motion data; applying the resulting data to modify each robot module according to simulation API; and controlling the selection/combination of robot parts for simulator assembly according to API and the resulting templates, databases on which robot parts are required and databases for information on selection/combination of robot parts and assembly of each robot module. The above system and method provide an optimal way to design robot hardware and reduce the time required for robot hardware design.
US09015012B2	Completion of partial coverage tasks A method, apparatus and product for completion of partial coverage tasks. The method comprising obtaining a partial coverage task defining a test with respect to a functional coverage model of a System Under Test (SUT), wherein the functional coverage model defining functional attributes and respective domains thereof, wherein the functional coverage model further defining one or more restrictions on value combinations of the functional attributes; and enhancing the partial coverage task to include an assignment of a value to a functional attribute, wherein the functional attribute is unassigned in the partial coverage task, wherein the value is an only valid assignment to the functional attribute in view of assignments of other functional attributes and in view of the restrictions.
US09015011B2	Assistant tool A design assistant tool may automatically generate a functional design diagram representative of a system based on a processed requirements specification including a plurality of processed requirement statements and use cases. The design assistant tool may apply heuristic rules to the processed requirement statements and/or the processed use cases to determine various components of a functional design diagram. The design assistant tool may generate a technical design module based on the functional design diagram. The design assistant tool may allow various aspects of the functional design diagram to be modified to generate the technical design diagram.
US09015007B2	Sensor array processor with multichannel reconstruction from random array sampling A method and system for reconstructing random samples taken across multiple sensors of a sensor array, so that each sensor's output is reconstructed. The samples are processed using a compressive sensing process. The compressive sensing process uses a time-space transform basis that represents the multi-channel data in terms of both a frequency component and an azimuthal component.
US09015006B2	Automated enablement of performance data collection Performance data for a healthy system is captured and used to create benchmarks that represent behavior of the computing environment in a healthy state. Current behavior (e.g, run-time characteristics) of the computing environment are monitored in an on-going manner, and are compared to the benchmarks. When a benchmark is violated, performance data capture is dynamically and automatically enabled. Or, if performance data is already being captured, then performance data capture may be enabled for a larger subset of possible data. Optionally, performance data capture may be automatically disabled upon detecting that the current behavior of the computing environment has returned to a healthy state where benchmarks are no longer violated.
US09015003B2	Water monitoring system An Anti-Terrorism water quality monitoring system for continuously monitoring a potable water treatment system and related potable water distribution network that provides potable water to a municipality, city, housing development or other potable water consumer. The system includes the collection of data from the water distribution system and from the water treatment facility and from advanced separation processes which are integrated into analytical instruments. The data collected are stored in a remote database on a remote server computer or bank of computers and accessible by Homeland Security or its designated agency. Preferred parameters of monitoring include the turbidity and disinfectant such as chlorine, hypochlorous acid, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, ozone, chlorine dioxide, chloramines, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid.
US09014992B2	Sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly A wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between outer and inner members, and sensor units are fitted to one of the outer and inner members, which serves as a stationary member. Each of the sensor units includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments fixed to the stationary member, and two or more sensors fitted to the strain generating member for detecting strains occurring in the strain generating member. The two or more contact fixing members are arranged at the same axial positions of the outer diametric surface of the stationary member in a fashion spaced in a circumferential direction. A calculating section is provided for estimating the load acting in the wheel support bearing assembly by the sum of respective output signals of the sensors.
US09014983B1	Platform, systems, and methods for obtaining shore and near shore environmental data via crowdsourced sensor network The platforms, systems, methods and computer readable media provided herein monitor a shore and near shore environment using a plurality of sensors, each sensor associated with a near shore water recreationist or near shore water recreationist equipment. The platforms, systems, methods and computer readable media provided herein include a server application configured to generate and transmit an environmental data report. The platforms, systems, methods and computer readable media provided herein include a device configured to receive the environmental data report.
US09014982B2	Method for analysis of relevance and interdependencies in geoscience data A computer-implemented method for evaluating a geoscience data analysis question. The user inputs the question to the computer through a graphical user interface or a text command interface (11). The computer is programmed to derive a statistical measure for evaluating the question (12). One or more data elements (14) are inputted to the computer, and the derived statistical measure is applied to the data elements and computed (13).
US09014979B2	Generating photogenic routes from starting to destination locations A method of computing at least one photogenic route from a starting location to a destination location, including; computing photogenic values for images in a large collection representing a geographic region that includes the starting location and the destination location; computing a photogenic index for each route segment based on computed photogenic values of images taken along the route segment; computing at least one photogenic route from the starting location to the destination location and presenting the route(s) to a user.
US09014975B2	System on a chip inertial navigation system A system on a chip and a method for inertial navigation. The system includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on a single plane. The PCB includes a number of sensors configured to measure position, acceleration, angular rate, magnetic fields, pressure, and temperature measurements. The PCB also includes one or more processors in communications with the number of sensors configured to process the measurements to output a position, velocity, attitude, and acceleration.
US09014974B2	Predictive scheduling of navigation tasks Disclosed are systems, apparatus, devices, methods, computer program products, and other implementations, including a method of controlling navigation tasks on a mobile device that includes obtaining data representative of a route of travel for the mobile device, obtaining a list of navigation tasks associated with the route of travel for the mobile device, and performing one or more navigation tasks in accordance with the list of navigation tasks based, at least in part, on proximity of the mobile device to one or more points on the route of travel. Performing the one or more navigation tasks includes one or more of, for example, obtaining satellite positioning assistance data in response to a determination that the mobile device is transitioning from an indoor area to an outdoor area, and/or establishing a communication link with an access point.
US09014956B2	Distance determination and type of aircraft determination during docking at the gate A device for detecting an object moving in a space includes a measuring device aimed at the object, the measuring device detecting a distance pattern which contains the distances of at least two different points on the object to the measuring device. The measuring device detects the object in the space if at least one part of the distance pattern remains constant over time.
US09014952B2	Method and system for improving stopping and starting of a turbocharged engine A system and method for improving engine starting and stopping is described. In one example, turbine vanes are adjusted to increase engine exhaust backpressure to reduce engine stopping time and to limit engine speed overshoot during engine starting. The system and method may reduce engine emissions and improve a vehicle driving experience.
US09014938B2	Travel control apparatus for four-wheel drive vehicle and travel control method for four-wheel drive vehicle A travel control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a throttle controller, a driving force distributor, a four-wheel drive controller, a vehicle stability assist controller, a requested target drive torque calculator, and an estimated drive torque calculator. In a case where a failure detector detects a failure and the four-wheel drive controller changes a drive control from a four-wheel drive control to a two-wheel drive control, the travel control apparatus sends a first throttle control signal to the throttle controller and changes the drive control from the four-wheel drive control to the two-wheel drive control when an estimated drive torque is greater than an requested target drive torque, and the travel control apparatus changes the drive control from the four-wheel drive control to the two-wheel drive control without sending the first throttle control signal when the estimated drive torque is not greater than the requested target drive torque.
US09014924B2	System and method for estimating material characteristics A system for determining material characteristics of a material of a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a first estimate of the material characteristics and utilizes a planning system to determine an expected profile. The expected profile is based at least in part upon the first estimate of the material characteristics. The controller determines an actual profile of the work surface, compares the expected profile to the actual profile, and determines a second estimate of the material characteristics based at least in part upon the difference between the expected profile and the actual profile.
US09014923B2	Position control apparatus and method for working machine of construction machinery Disclosed is a position control apparatus for a working machine of a construction machinery, including: a boom driving unit for driving a boom; a bucket driving unit for driving a bucket; a working tool manipulating part for generating a manipulation signal for driving the boom driving unit and the bucket driving unit; a kick-down switch for generating a kick-down signal for lowering a gear stage; and a controller for, if the kick-down signal is generated by the kick-down switch and the manipulation signal is generated by the working tool manipulating part, outputting a control signal to the boom driving unit and the bucket driving unit to move the boom and the bucket to a preset position.
US09014922B2	System and method for optimizing a cut location A system for determining a cut location at a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a desired operating parameter and a final design plane of the work surface and determines an actual profile of the work surface. The controller determines a plurality of target profiles corresponding to different cut locations. The target profiles are based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile, slot parameters, and the actual profile of the work surface. The controller further determines an optimized target profile relative to the desired operating parameter and the optimized target profile defines an optimized cut location.
US09014918B2	Health monitoring systems and techniques for vehicle systems Systems and methods for monitoring health of one or more subsystems of a vehicle system are disclosed. At least one sensor can be operatively coupled to a vehicle subsystem having an operational signature and a control system is coupled to the at least one sensor. Using information provided by the at least one sensor, the control system is structured to generate a reference signature of the subsystem during a learning phase and an operational signature of the subsystem subsequent to the learning phase. Systems and methods for identifying the particular subsystem exhibiting degraded performance are also disclosed.
US09014905B1	Cyclist hand signal detection by an autonomous vehicle Methods and systems for detecting hand signals of a cyclist by an autonomous vehicle are described. An example method may involve a computing device receiving a plurality of data points corresponding to an environment of an autonomous vehicle. The computing device may then determine one or more subsets of data points from the plurality of data points indicative of at least a body region of a cyclist. Further, based on an output of a comparison of the one or more subsets with one or more predetermined sets of cycling signals, the computing device may determine an expected adjustment of one or more of a speed of the cyclist and a direction of movement of the cyclist. Still further, based on the expected adjustment, the computing device may provide instructions to adjust one or more of a speed of the autonomous vehicle and a direction of movement of the autonomous vehicle.
US09014902B1	Method of material handling with automatic guided vehicles A system and method of automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) that is capable of providing synchronized travel along a line or path while maintaining a desired takt time such that regular manufacturing operations may be performed to material or workpieces on the vehicle without the need for a traditional conveyor systems.
US09014900B2	Hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a motor; a battery; a navigation system; and a controller configured to carry out navigation coordination traveling, the controller being configured to stop the navigation coordination traveling when a state of charge of the battery becomes lower than or equal to a first switching threshold, the controller being configured to resume the navigation coordination traveling when the state of charge of the battery becomes higher than or equal to a second switching threshold higher than the first switching threshold, the controller being configured to set a first predetermined state of charge for the first switching threshold when there is no regenerative travel section, and the controller being configured to set a second predetermined state of charge lower than the first predetermined state of charge when there is the regenerative travel section.
US09014874B2	Tactical robot controller An unmanned systems operator control system includes a hand held controller with a set of switches and control enumeration software specially configured to report a superset of virtual switches based on the physical switches. A core unit includes a first unmanned system control application subscribing to a first switch subset of the superset and outputting commands controlling a first unmanned system based on activation of the set of switches. A second unmanned system control application subscribes to a second switch subset of the superset and outputs commands controlling a second unmanned system based on activation of the set of switches. A mode switching subsystem is configured, in a first state, to map the set of switches to the first switch subset and, in a second state, to map the set of switches to the second switch subset.
US09014870B2	Container system, cabinet, and heat dissipation method for container system A container system including cabinets, a main control unit connected to the cabinets and a heat dissipation zone is mentioned. The cabinet includes a plurality of serving zones each of which further includes a master server and at least one slave server. The heat dissipation zone is disposed at a side of the serving zone and coupled to the main control unit. Each slave server is coupled to the master server. The slave server includes at least one temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor is used for outputting temperature information to the master server when receiving the temperature demand. The master server collects the temperature information transmitted by each slave server. The master server forwards the temperature information to the main control unit. The main control unit drives the heat dissipation zone to dissipate heat of the serving zone according to the temperature information.
US09014862B2	Hydraulic pressure control apparatus A hydraulic pressure control apparatus includes a solenoid valve; a hysteresis hydraulic pressure correction amount calculation section calculating a hysteresis hydraulic pressure correction amount and a command current control section controlling the command current in accordance with the hysteresis hydraulic pressure correction amount. The hysteresis hydraulic pressure correction amount calculation section has, as a reference map, a full hysteresis characteristic, and is configured to make a plurality of reduction maps obtained by reducing the reference map in accordance with a turn-round position at one of minor loops from a past to a present time when the minor loop continues, and to calculate the hysteresis hydraulic pressure correction amount by summation of hysteresis hydraulic pressure correction amounts obtained by the reduction maps in the same command current position.
US09014861B2	Method and system for noise-controlled operation of a wind turbine A method for noise-reduced operation a wind is provided. The method includes determining a wind speed during normal operation of the wind turbine and determining a weighted rotor speed setpoint for a rotor of the wind turbine so that a noise emission of the wind turbine for the wind speed is reduced compared to nominal noise emission of the wind turbine at the wind speed. Using the weighted rotor speed setpoint, a torque setpoint for a power conversion assembly connected to the rotor is determined. The torque setpoint is applied to the power conversion assembly to control the wind turbine.
US09014859B2	System for controlling an ambient air parameter A control system for controlling at least one environmental parameter in an operating area in response to sensor signals. The system includes a central control unit, actuators and mobile sensor units, and also at least one, preferably a plurality, of communication nodes which are placed in the operating area. Each one of the communication nodes is configured to mediate signals between the sensor units and the central control unit in a monitoring area by wirelessly receiving sensor signals from sensor units located within its monitoring area and forwarding the sensor signals to the central control unit. A monitoring area of a communication node is defined by the signal coverage of the communication node.
US09014852B2	Behavior control system A system capable of causing an agent to continuously execute a plurality of different subtasks while securing the continuity of behavior of the agent is provided. A plurality of state variable trajectories representing the time series of a state variable of an object are generated according to a stochastic transition model in which the state variable of the object is represented as a random variable. The stochastic transition model is defined so that the transition mode of the state variable is determined according to an execution probability of each subtask in which a probability distribution is represented by a Dirichlet distribution. An operation of the agent is controlled so that the state of the object transits according to one state variable trajectory (desired state variable trajectory) maximizing or optimizing the joint probability of a whole of the stochastic transition model among the plurality of state variable trajectories.
US09014845B2	Item verification apparatus and method A system for verifying whether an item retracted into a self-service terminal is the same item that was output from the self-service terminal, wherein the signature data sets generated prior to output and following retraction of the item are compared. A method of verifying whether an item retracted into a self-service terminal is the same item that was output from the self-service terminal is also disclosed.
US09014844B2	Methods and apparatus for stacking receptacles in materials handling facilities Methods and apparatus for stacking receptacles in materials handling facilities. An automated receptacle stacker may be integrated into a materials handling system to receive empty receptacles from upstream stations via an input conveyance mechanism, add the receptacles to a stack in a stack hopper, detect when the stack is complete, and output the stack onto an output conveyance mechanism. The output conveyance mechanism may convey the stack to a palletization station, and the stacker may begin another stack. This process may continue to build and output stacks of empty receptacles. In some implementations the receptacles may be stackable only when oriented correctly; in these implementations, orientation of the receptacles may be detected prior to stacking and incorrectly oriented receptacles may be either rotated to the correct orientation or diverted to a second receptacle stacker.
US09014841B2	Device and method for removing tested semiconductor components A device for removing tested semiconductor components from a clamping carrier having fixed stop elements and movable clamping elements, pre-tensioned by spring elements includes an actuation device arranged above the clamping carrier, which moves the clamping elements into an opening position enabling the clamping carrier to be discharged, and then moves the clamping elements into a rest position after discharge, an intermediate carrier, positioned under the clamping carrier during discharge, onto which the clamping carrier is emptied, a data memory in which data about each semiconductor component are stored, and a removal device, which removes the semiconductor components from the intermediate carrier and sorts them into at least two different categories in accordance with the data stored in the data memory.
US09014838B2	Sewing machine, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions A sewing machine includes a sewing portion, a processor, and a memory. The sewing portion is configured to perform sewing on a work cloth. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor to perform processes that include specifying an inside position that is a position inside a hole in at least one sequin that has been disposed on the work cloth in advance, creating sewing data based on the inside position that has been specified, and causing the sewing portion to sew the at least one sequin onto the work cloth, based on the sewing data that has been created. The sewing data includes at least needle drop point data and is data for sewing the at least one sequin onto the work cloth. The needle drop point data indicates a point where a sewing needle is to pierce the work cloth.
US09014837B2	Attachment for embroidery and sewing machines for creating crystal/rhinestone patterns and motifs, and software functions to control the attachment Method for creating a crystal/rhinestone template utilizing a sewing/embroidery machine to perforate a medium in a desired pattern. In the case of a multiple-needle sewing/embroidery machine, the machine's needle is replaced by a perforator blade and perforator blade holder which are attached to machine's needle bar. Machine's needle plate is replaced by perforator plate and waste holder. With a single-needle sewing/embroidery machine, machine's needle is replaced by a pressing tool attached to the machine's needle bar. A contact point, a spring, and an arm are attached to machine's presser foot. Machine's needle plate is replaced by perforator plate. A template medium is placed on a work surface of machine. Machine is operated by software that reads a user-specified pattern/motif outline for filling stones in vector form, using innate rules to move machine frame and control hole placement.
US09014835B2	Semi-automatic customization of plates for internal fracture fixation A method on a processor customizes a fixation plate for repairing a bone fracture. A digital CAD model of an implant contains smooth analytic geometry representations including NURBS. The CAD geometry is directly manipulated to generate a customized implant CAD model that conforms to the desired region of the bone surface of a patient. Direct manipulation of NURBS geometry is computationally fast and suitable for interactive planning. The patient specific customized implant is produced directly from the generated customized CAD model with a standard CNC machine before surgery. The patient customized implant is implanted in the patient.
US09014826B2	Mobile terminal A mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit for collecting external information or transmitting recommended operation information to a home appliance, and a controller for generating the recommended operation information for the home appliance based on the collected external information. The mobile terminal may provide customized recommended operation information for each home appliance without separately including a device for controlling one or more home appliances provided in a home.
US09014819B2	Autonomic arousal detection system and method Various approaches to detecting arousals from sleep involve generating signals modulated by muscle tone, brainwave activity, and/or other nervous system activity associated with a patient's autonomic arousal response. Generating the signals and/or detecting autonomic arousals from sleep may be performed using an implantable device. Arousal information may be useful to identify sleep disorder events associated with arousals from sleep, for diagnostic purposes, and/or for therapy adjustment.
US09014818B2	Energy harvester device for autonomous intracorporeal capsule A method for powering an autonomous intracorporeal leadless capsule includes the step of receiving a slow pressure variation at an external surface of a deformable member on the capsule. The deformable member is displacing in response to the slow pressure variation. The method further includes using a high pass mechanical filter to prevent the displacement from being transferred to an energy harvesting circuit within the capsule. The method further includes receiving a fast pressure variation at the external surface of the deformable member on the capsule, the deformable member displacing in response to the fast pressure variation. The method further includes via the high pass mechanical filter, passing the displacement to the energy harvesting circuit and creating energy using the displacement provided to the energy harvesting circuit.
US09014816B2	Medical lead with filler layer A medical lead includes a first wire coil having an outer diameter and a marker coil having an inner diameter. The marker coil is assembled over the first wire coil. The outer diameter first wire coil is smaller than the inner diameter of the marker coil thereby defining a gap. A second wire coil substantially fills the gap between the first wire coil and the marker coil. A ball weld is formed at an end of the medical lead adjacent each of the first and second wire coils and adjacent the marker coil.
US09014814B2	Methods of determining tissue contact based on radiometric signals Methods and systems are provided for detecting tissue contact prior to and/or during energy delivery to tissue. For example, the methods may include calculating temperature and detecting tissue contact based on signal(s) received from a radiometer. The radiometer may provide information about whether a treatment device is in contact with the tissue, and thus provide feedback to assist a clinician in properly contacting and treating the tissue.
US09014808B2	RF filter for an active medical device (AMD) for handling high RF power induced in an associated implanted lead from an external RF field An RF filter for an active medical device (AMD), for handling RF power induced in an associated lead from an external RF field at a selected MRI frequency or range frequencies includes a capacitor having a capacitance of between 100 and 10,000 picofarads, and a temperature stable dielectric having a dielectric constant of 200 or less and a temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC) within the range of plus 400 to minus 7112 parts per million per degree centigrade. The capacitor's dielectric loss tangent in ohms is less than five percent of the capacitor's equivalent series resistance (ESR) at the selected MRI RF frequency or range of frequencies.
US09014806B2	System and method for performing a capture test based on the analysis of a cardiac vectogram Performing a capture test on a stimulated cardiac cycle based on the analysis of a cardiac vectogram using an active medical device including circuits and control logic for delivering electrical stimulation pulses to a heart chamber; collecting electrical activity of the heart chamber and producing two distinct temporal components (Vbip, Vuni) from two distinct intracardiac electrogram EGM signals from the heart chamber. The capture test detects an occurrence of a depolarization wave induced by the stimulation of the heart chamber, and determines a two-dimensional non-temporal characteristic (VGM) representative of the stimulated cardiac cycle, from the variation of one of the temporal components (Vuni) versus the other temporal component (Vbip). A bi-dimensional analysis delivers at least one descriptor parameter of the two-dimensional non-temporal characteristic, and determines a presence or loss of a capture based on the at least one descriptor parameter.
US09014805B2	Active implantable medical device type such as a pacemaker with capture test by analysis of a vectogram A device produces at least two distinct temporal components (Vbip, Vuni) from two separate endocardial electrogram (EGM) signals concurrently collected. The capture test determines a non-temporal 2D characteristic (VGM) representative of the cardiac cycle to be analyzed. The VGM is constructed using variations of one of the temporal components (Vuni) according to the other (Vbip). The devices determines the presence or absence of capture by analysis of this characteristic relative to a two dimensional domain.
US09014804B2	Implantable medical device for treating neurological conditions including ECG sensing An implantable medical device such as an implantable pulse generator that includes EEG sensing for monitoring and treating neurological conditions, and leadless ECG sensing for monitoring cardiac signals. The device includes a connector block with provisions for cardiac leads which may be used/enabled when needed. If significant co-morbid cardiac events are observed in patients via the leadless ECG monitoring, then cardiac leads may be subsequently connected for therapeutic use.
US09014794B2	R-wave detection method A method for detecting an R-wave from an ECG signal derived from a living body, the ECG signal including a plurality of ECG channel signals, the method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of channel R-wave detectors each processing a distinct signal of the plurality of channel ECG signals to generate a distinct channel trigger signal of a plurality of channel trigger signals, and inputting each channel trigger signal into a composite R-wave detector to generate a composite R-wave trigger, whereby the composite R-wave detector more accurately detects R-waves than each of the plurality of channel R-wave detectors.
US09014788B2	Apparatus and method for real-time imaging and monitoring of an electrosurgical procedure An optical coherence tomography probe and laser combination device configured for real-time z-directional guidance of the incisional depth of a surgical procedure. It can be used alone or placed within the working channel of an endoscope. The device includes an OCT single mode fiber, and a laser fiber or laser hollow waveguide or electrical surgical wire positioned adjacent to the OCT single mode fiber. The single mode fiber is configured to move laterally when activated by an actuator to scan light data reflected from a sample that is positioned in front of a distal end of the device. The light data can be processed to generate a B-scan image. The device can collect data in real-time during lasing, or immediately prior to and following the cutting. The surgical tool, when coupled to a processor, can deactivate when the B-scan image identifies that the incision is within a predefined tolerance.
US09014786B2	Device and method for opening vascular obstructions The present invention is directed to a device and method for opening obstructed body internal passages and for sensing and characterizing tissues and substances in contact with the device. In general, the device comprises a catheter tube capable of inducing vibrations in a guidewire contained therein, wherein said vibrations of the guidewire are utilized for opening a passage through an occlusion. The in-vivo vibrations may be induced by means of a magnetic field actuating means and a guidewire comprising magnetic coupling means, or by means of transducers, which may be also used for the sensing. The invention also relates to the field of minimal invasive catheterization, particularly an apparatus for opening and/or removing obstructions occluding body internal passages by means of an active guidewire comprising a coil to which an alternating voltage can be applied. In that way the guidewire can vibrate if an external magnetic field is applied.
US09014784B2	Reconfigurable MRI-guided surgical apparatus Apparatus associated with improved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided needle biopsy procedures (e.g., breast needle biopsy) are described. One example apparatus includes a support structure configured to support a patient in a face-down prone position where a breast of the patient is positioned in a first free hanging pre-imaging position. The example apparatus includes an immobilization structure configured to reposition the breast into an immobilized position suitable for MRI and for medical instrument access. The immobilization structure may include a biopsy plate, a pressure plate, and MRI coils. The MRI coils are configured to be repositioned from a first position associated with the free hanging pre-imaging position to a second position associated with the immobilized position to facilitate improving the signal to noise ratio associated with signal received from the breast through the MRI coils. The biopsy plate is removable without removing either of the MRI coils.
US09014783B2	System for automated parameter setting in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging A system automatically calculates optimal protocol parameters for dark-blood (DB) preparation and inversion recovery. The system automatically determines pulse sequence timing parameters for MR imaging with blood related signal suppression. The system comprises an acquisition processor for acquiring data indicating a patient heart rate. A pulse timing processor automatically determines an acquisition time of an image data set readout, relative to a blood signal suppression related magnetization preparation pulse sequence, by calculating the acquisition time in response to inputs including, (a) the acquired patient heart rate, (b) data indicating a type of image contrast of the pulse sequence employed and (c) data indicating whether an anatomical signal suppression related magnetization preparation pulse sequence used has a slice selective, or non-slice selective, data acquisition readout.
US09014778B2	Disposable patch and reusable sensor assembly for use in medical device localization and mapping systems An patch and sensor assembly for use in an EP mapping system has two portions: a reusable portion and a disposable portion. The reusable portion houses the biosensors used in magnetic based location and mapping systems and the electrical lead necessary to communicate between the biosensor and the mapping system. The reusable portion may also contain a portion of the electrode necessary to receive electrical signals from the body of the patient. The disposable portion of the patch and sensor assembly contains an adhesive covered flexible patch having at least a portion of the electrode used to receive electrical signals form the body of the patient and may contain the electrical lead necessary to communicate such an electrical signal to the mapping system. The disposable portion contains a receptacle adapted to receive and mechanically secure the reusable portion to the disposable portion of the assembly. Such a patch and sensor assembly is useful in hybrid magnetic and impedance based location and mapping systems such as those used in electrophysiology.
US09014773B2	Analyte monitoring device and methods of use An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US09014772B2	Blood information measuring method and apparatus In a special mode, a superficial wavelength set having plural types of narrow band light in a blue wavelength band of 400 to 500 nm is chosen. The plural types of narrow band light are successively applied to an internal body portion. A CCD captures images of the internal body portion under the narrow band light. A blood information calculation section calculates an oxygen saturation level of hemoglobin in a blood vessel based on an image signal. A comparison section compares the calculated oxygen saturation level with a predetermined threshold value. When the oxygen saturation level is less than the threshold value, a hypoxic region detection signal is outputted to a wavelength set switching section. The wavelength set switching section switches from the superficial wavelength set to a middle wavelength set and to a deep wavelength set, so the oxygen saturation levels at middle and deep depths are measured.
US09014764B2	System and method for selecting ringtones A system and method for playing ringtones on a communication device. User preferences indicating a desired method for selecting a ringtone are received from the number of ringtones. The ringtone is selected from the number of ringtones based on the user preferences indicating the desired method for selecting the ringtone from the number of ringtones. Playback of the ringtone is initiated for playback on the communication device in response to being selected.
US09014762B2	Character input device, character input method, and character input program According to an aspect, a character input device includes: a display unit; a touch sensor for detecting a contact with a surface thereof; a character recognition processing unit for performing a first character recognition process for recognizing a character used for a first function and a second character recognition process for recognizing a character used for a second function, on the basis of a locus connecting positions where the contact is detected by the touch sensor; and an input control unit for displaying, on the display unit, a first input screen for the first function onto which the character recognized by the first character recognition process is input and/or a second input screen for the second function onto which the character recognized by the second character recognition process is input.
US09014746B2	Conserving the power of a node in a wireless communication system A method of reducing power consumption of a Radio Network Controller with a plurality of control units in a wireless communication system, each of the control units including one or more processors, the control units being adapted to operate in an active mode or adopt a power saving mode and a first control unit i operating in the active mode, the method comprising the steps of measuring a degree of utilization Cwi of the first control unit i, comparing the degree of utilization Cwi of the first control unit i with a first threshold Tsli, and changing the mode of the first control unit i to a power saving mode after a predetermined first period of time if the degree of utilization of the first control unit i is below the first threshold Tsli.
US09014742B2	Push-to-talk telecommunications system utilizing an voice-over-IP network A method and system to provide ad-hoc push-to-talk calls between a plurality of users in a wireless packet data telecommunications network are described. The system may include: a wireless communication network including push-to-talk (PTT) functionality, with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Proxy Server; a SIP Registrar and Location Server operable to store contact addresses of active mobile devices; a Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP) Media Gateway (PTT Server) operable to function as a call endpoint for each of a plurality of mobile devices wherein the plurality of mobile devices may be segmented into membership groups, the PTT Server further operable to multicast a communication from one member of the group to the other members of the group; and an Internet Protocol (IP) network interconnecting the SIP Proxy server, the SIP Registrar and Location Server, and the PTT Server.
US09014731B2	Method and system to enable communication through SMS communication channel The present invention provides a method and system to provide network aware applications on a mobile device that can communicate using existing SMS communication channels without resorting to other IP based communication channels that are costlier and are not available on many of the networks.
US09014718B2	Location sensing using channel fading fingerprinting A system and method are provided for providing precise location sensing for wireless devices in an indoor environment using channel fading fingerprinting. An indoor environment within which wireless devices are used is surveyed to develop a channel fading database for the indoor environment. The surveying of the indoor environment determines a specific channel fading profile according to 30 subcarrier frequencies in a wireless signal for numerous locations within the indoor environment. A wireless device scans for available wireless access points and extracts a channel fading profile for a current location of the wireless device. The extracted channel fading profile for the current location of the wireless device is compared with the channel fading database. A best match comparison between the extracted channel fading profile and the channel fading database is used to determine an actual physical location of the wireless device in the indoor environment.
US09014711B2	Communication system, communication method, base station, user equipment, and therein program The object of the present invention is to provide a technology of deciding CoMP point dynamically by considering the spectrum efficiency after channel-dependent scheduling with different possible combinations of CoMP points. According to the present invention, A wireless communication system, characterized in deciding number of CoMP (coordinated multipoint transmission and reception) point to a user equipment by using information related to scheduling.
US09014694B2	Non-orthogonal transmit mode A first user equipment UE operating in a first/strong transmission mode determines that a second UE is operating in a second/weak mode and is allocated a same radio resource as the first UE. The first UE determines a transport format for transmissions to the second UE and uses that to decode and cancel a transmission received on the radio resource which is directed to the second UE, mitigating interference with a further transmission directed to the first UE. Various examples are given of specific resource allocation signaling used to determine that the second UE is operating in the second mode and is allocated the same radio resource, such as implicitly by a specific downlink control indication format or an explicit indication in a resource allocation directed to the first UE. The first UE can determine the transport format of the second UE from network signaling.
US09014691B2	Performance diagnosis of wireless equipment and a wireless network over out-of-band communication Performance issues of wireless equipment (WE) or a wireless network are diagnosed through an alternative communication channel enabled by an alternative wireless network available to the WE. A service platform (SP) probes performance condition of the WE through a mobility control node (MCN) and, in response to a fault condition, collects data related to operation of the WE. Based at least on part of the data, the SP diagnoses the fault condition and related performance issue(s). To probe performance, the SP requests the MCN to collect data related to performance metric(s) of the WE. The alternative communication channel is established, and such data is collected therefrom, in response to low-grade connectivity amongst the MCN and the WE. The SP notifies the WE of at least the fault condition through the MCN or, in case of network fault condition, via the alternative communication channel.
US09014684B2	Method, network and device for information provision by using paging and cell broadcast services Informing a number of users about an emergency or other situation of public interest is accomplished using a broadcast service. A specific identifier is used in a paging message for activating broadcast service in terminals. A terminal checks a received paging message with regard to the presence of the specific identifier and when detecting the specific identifier, switches to a broadcast mode for receiving broadcast content. The received broadcast emergency content is notified and/or displayed to the users of the terminals.
US09014673B2	Enforcing device settings for mobile devices The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for enforcing device settings for mobile devices. Generally, a computer system enforces appropriate mobile device settings (e.g., policy and/or configuration settings) prior to permitting a mobile device to access maintained data. The computer system receives a request from a mobile device. The computer system determines that current mobile device settings are not appropriate for accessing the maintained data. The computer system sends device settings, representing a new mobile device configuration that is appropriate accessing the maintained data, to the mobile device. The computer system receives an indication that the mobile device is configured in accordance with the device settings. The computer system permits the mobile device to access the maintained data in response to receiving the indication that the mobile device is configured in accordance with the device settings.
US09014667B2	Telecommunications network and method for time-based network access The invention relates to a telecommunications network configured for providing access to a plurality of terminals is proposed and a method therefore. Each terminal comprises a unique identifier for accessing the telecommunications network. The telecommunications network comprises a register, an access request receiver and an access module. The register is configured for storing the unique identifier of at least one terminal in combination with at least one grant access time interval, or an equivalent thereof, during which access for the terminal is permitted. The access request receiver is configured for receiving the access request and the unique identifier for accessing the telecommunications network from the terminal. The access module is configured for denying access for the terminal if the access request is received outside the time interval, or the equivalent thereof.
US09014666B2	Authentication based on geo-location history Methods and apparatus are disclosed for authenticating a user based on the geo-location history of a geo-location-enabled wireless device (e.g., a GPS-enabled wireless telecommunications terminal, a smart card, an RFID tag, etc.). In a first illustrative embodiment, a user of a geo-location-enabled wireless telecommunications terminal (e.g., a GPS-enabled cell phone, a GPS-enabled notebook computer, etc.) who attempts to access a restricted resource is challenged with one or more questions that are generated from the terminal's geo-location history. In a second illustrative embodiment, a user of a data-processing system who attempts to access a restricted resource is asked to provide a username Z. The user is then challenged with one or more questions that are generated from the geo-location history of a wireless device that is associated with username Z (e.g., a cell phone that belongs to the user whose username is Z, etc.).
US09014663B2	Sponsored data plan management A method for managing a Sponsored Data Plan (SDP) is provided in a mobile telecommunications network. The method includes: receiving a first request for an initial charging policy report in response to a detection of a user's data session with an Application Server (AS) (14) of a content provider; sending, in response to the first request, the requested initial charging policy report toward a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) (16) such that the PCRF (16) selects a first Policy Charging Control Rule (PCC-Rule) in accordance with the report for enforcement at a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF); receiving a second request to perform an online subscription of the user to the SDP; and sending, in response to the second request, information about the SDP toward the PCRF (16) such that the PCRF (16) selects a second PCC-Rule in accordance with the information for enforcement at the PCEF.
US09014661B2	Mobile security technology In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes determining a location of a mobile computing device using one or more of a plurality of data sources; communicating, by the mobile computing device, with another computing device as part of a two-way video chat session over a first network connection, the communicating including transmitting the location of the mobile computing device; displaying, as part of the two-way video chat session, real-time video from the other computing device; recording video using one or more cameras that are accessible to the mobile computing device; and transmitting, over a second network connection, the video to a remote storage system for persistent storage.
US09014655B2	Wireless communication system A wireless communication system includes: a filter; and a semiconductor chip including a signal processing integrated circuit having an amplifier, wherein a main surface of the semiconductor chip is provided with a plurality of electrode terminals along an edge portion thereof; wherein the amplifier has a transistor including a control electrode, a first electrode through which a signal is outputted, and a second electrode to which a voltage is applied; wherein the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode of the transistor are connected to the electrode terminals, respectively; and wherein none of wirings are arranged between the electrode terminals and placements of the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode, making space between the electrodes and the electrode terminals narrow.
US09014645B2	Wireless communication device, method for controlling wireless communication device, program, and storage medium In a wireless communication device (10), adjustment means (matching controlling means (152)) changes a reactance of a matching section (17), determination means (calculation means (151), matching controlling means (152)) determines whether a resonance frequency of an antenna (11) exists on a side higher than or lower than the operation frequency of the antenna (11) on the basis of a change in an intensity of a signal, which change is caused by a change in the reactance and is detected by a signal intensity detection section (14), and the adjustment means adjusts the reactance so that the resonance frequency is closer to the operation frequency on the basis of a result of determination of the determination means.
US09014635B2	RFID beam forming system A multi-protocol, multi-band array antenna system may be used in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system reader and sensory networks. The antenna array may include array elements with an integrated low noise amplifier. The system may employ digital beam forming techniques for transmission and steering of a beam to a specific sensor tag or group of tags in a cell. The receive beam forming network is optimized for detecting signals from each sensor tag. Narrow and wideband interferences may be excised by an interference nulling algorithm. Space division multiplexing may be used by the antenna system to enhance system processing capacity.
US09014633B2	Bluetooth communication system and method for selectively switching modes of operation in between electronic devices Disclosed is a Bluetooth Communication System and related method thereof for switching mode of operations between electronic devices. The system comprising a first Bluetooth enabled electronic device, one or more second Bluetooth enabled electronic devices, wherein the first Bluetooth enabled electronic device comprising a Bluetooth chip, a processing circuitry, and a user operable interface configured thereon to switch the processing circuitry to a desired second Bluetooth enabled electronic devices, and switch operational mode of the desired second Bluetooth enabled electronic devices from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation or vice versa to establish a Bluetooth communication link between the first Bluetooth enabled electronic device and desired second Bluetooth enabled electronic device.
US09014628B2	Low power near-field communication devices Power consumption of near-field communication devices is regulated by waking the device for communications when a potential external near-field device is detected, and by adjusting the resonant antenna circuit to account for the detected change in antenna environment. Such near-field communication devices include a resonant loop antenna circuit. The resonant loop antenna circuit is connected to an integrated circuit that includes a controller for controlling near-field communications via the resonant loop antenna circuit, an inductance detection circuit to detect changes in the antenna inductance, a wake-on circuit responsive to a sufficient change in antenna inductance to transition the controller from a low power sleep mode to a communications mode, and an antenna tuning circuit to adjust the variable component of the resonant loop antenna circuit to compensate for changes in antenna inductance and to maintain the target range of operation.
US09014626B2	Low noise bias circuit for phased array antenna element An antenna element includes a bias network circuitry for: during a receive mode, charging a transmit supply capacitor from a transmit power source while decoupling a receive supply capacitor from a receiver power source and coupling the receive supply capacitor to discharge and thereby provide bias to the receiver; and during a transmit mode, charging the receive supply capacitor from the receive power source while decoupling the transmit supply capacitor from the transmit power source and coupling the transmit supply capacitor to discharge and thereby provide bias the transmitter. The antenna element includes a phase shifter/attenuator section having an amplifier and a phase shifter and wherein bias voltage is provided to the amplifier and phase shifter by the transmit supply capacitor during the transmit mode and the receive supply capacitor during the receive mode.
US09014625B2	Method and apparatus for generating dedicated data channels in inductive coupled RFID systems using band-pass modulation An inductive coupling apparatus for modifying an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal includes an inductive element. A variable impedance circuit includes an output electrically coupled to the inductive element. A band-pass delta sigma modulator is coupled to the variable impedance circuit and digitally controls the output of the variable impedance circuit. The incoming RF signal is modified as the coupled impedance of the inductive element is adjusted in accordance with the output of the variable impedance circuit.
US09014624B2	Method and apparatus for generating dedicated data channels in inductive coupled RFID systems An inductive coupling apparatus for modifying an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal includes an inductive element for modifying the incoming RF signal in accordance with a coupled impedance characteristic of the inductive element. A variable impedance circuit includes an output electrically coupled to the inductive element. A low pass delta sigma modulator is coupled to the variable impedance circuit and digitally controls the output of the variable impedance circuit, the coupled impedance of the inductive element being adjusted based on the output of the variable impedance circuit.
US09014622B2	Repeater with gain control and spatial isolation A repeater device may be utilized to enable forwarding extreme high frequency (EHF) communication between EHF-enabled wireless devices. The repeater device may utilize spatial isolation to prevent and/or reduce interference between received and transmitted EHF RF signals, wherein reception and/or transmission of EHF RF signals in the repeater device may be performed via narrow beams that may enable minimal interference by transmit EHF RF signals to reception of EHF RF. The repeater device may utilize phased arrays to enable performing beamforming, and signal processing operations, including shift and/or amplitude adjustment, may be performed on signals received and/or transmitted via antenna elements in the phased arrays to enable beamforming during reception and transmission of EHF RF signals. Signal processing operations performed in the repeater device may be modifiable to enable continued spatial isolation between receive and transmit EHF RF signal in the repeater device.
US09014614B2	Cognitive assessment and treatment platform utilizing a distributed tangible-graphical user interface device A cognitive disorder diagnostic system that employs cognitive cubes, gameplay associate with the cognitive cubes, and a data gathering as statistical analysis base device that may be a computer, that communicates the gathered data to a web server host according to a unique ID associated with particular cognitive cubes and further associated with a particular player. Using the statistical data gathered using the gameplay, various cognitive disorders may be successfully diagnosed and treated with higher reliability.
US09014613B2	Easily accessible ejection tray for image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an ejection portion from which a first sheet and a second sheet having images formed in the image forming unit are to be ejected, an ejection tray including a receiving portion configured to receive the sheet ejected from the ejection portion, and a stopper portion disposed on a downstream side of the ejection tray in a sheet ejection direction further than the ejection portion. The receiving portion has first and second recessed portions, which are recessed downward therefrom. The stopper portion is configured to stop the sheet ejected from the ejection portion. The recessed portions are located downstream from the ejection portion and upstream from the stopper portion in the sheet ejection direction, and spaced apart from each other at least in the sheet ejection direction.
US09014605B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: a developer-image carrier; a conveyance belt that contacts the developer-image carrier and conveys a developer image; and a transfer member contacting the conveyance belt from an opposite side of the developer-image carrier to transfer the developer image onto the conveyance belt. The transfer member includes a main roller body and a movable member including a first end portion fixed to a circumferential surface of the main roller body and a second end portion extending outward in a radial direction of the main oiler body and movable with respect to the first end portion. A rotation axis line of the main roller body is provided downstream of the rotation axis line of the developer-image carrier in a movement direction of the conveyance belt such that the main roller body contacts the developer-image carrier while interposing the conveyance belt therebetween.
US09014604B2	Roller device, image forming apparatus, and method for manufacturing roller A roller device includes a roller main body, a shaft member, flanges, a position restricting member, a plate-shaped member, a biasing member, and a securing member. The shaft member is inserted into the roller main body and the flanges in contact with both ends of the roller main body. The position restricting member is secured to the shaft member at an end portion side of the shaft member with respect to the flange. The position restricting member restricts an axial position of the flange. Movement of the plate-shaped member toward the end portion side in an axial direction is restricted by the position restricting member. The biasing member biases the flange toward a center side in the axial direction. The securing member is disposed at the end portion side of the shaft member with respect to the plate-shaped member. The securing member engages the position restricting member.
US09014601B2	Image forming apparatus A color image forming apparatus includes a first temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of an exposure device, a second temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of a photosensitive member, a color registration pattern detection unit configured to detect a color registration pattern formed on a transfer member, an actual-measurement-based color registration adjustment value calculation unit configured to calculate an actual-measurement-based color registration adjustment value from a result of the detection of the color registration pattern detection unit, and a prediction-based color registration adjustment value calculation unit configured to calculate a prediction-based color registration adjustment value from the temperature of the exposure device detected by the first temperature detection unit and the temperature of the photosensitive member detected by the second temperature detection unit.
US09014595B2	Image-forming device having holder unit, in which toner box is detechably mounted In an image forming device, a drawer may move in a moving direction between an accommodated position, in which the drawer is accommodated in a main casing, and a pull-out position, in which at least part of the drawer is outside of the main casing. Toner boxes may be detachably attachable to the drawer. Each toner box may include: a toner container that may accommodate toner therein and that may be formed with an opening; and a shutter that may move between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening. The drawer may include a plurality of operation portions in one to one correspondence with the plurality of toner boxes. Each operation portion may move the shutter of a corresponding toner box between the open position and the closed position.
US09014593B2	Sealing assembly, developing device, process unit, and image forming apparatus incorporating same A sealing assembly to contact a rotator includes a sealing member to slidably contact a surface of an end of the rotator in an axial direction of the rotator. The sealing member has an end in a circumferential direction thereof to contact the surface of the rotator with a first pressure. The end in the circumferential direction is fixed to a bearing surface formed on the opening on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side in a rotation direction of the rotator. The sealing member has an intermediate portion between an upstream end and a downstream end in the circumferential direction to contact the surface of the rotator with a second pressure lower than the first pressure.
US09014590B2	Cleaning member, charging device assembly, and image forming apparatus A cleaning member includes a shaft body and a spiral portion including a contact portion that is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, protrudes spirally, and comes into contact with a body to be cleaned with the rotation of the shaft body, steps that are formed on the contact portion and face a rotation direction of the shaft body and an end portion that is positioned on a side where the contact portion comes into contact with the body to be cleaned first in a width direction of the contact portion and of which the height from the shaft body is gradually reduced from the height of the contact portion so that the end portion does not come into contact with the body to be cleaned.
US09014586B2	Image processing apparatus and controlling method for controlling a fixing temperature An image processing apparatus controls a fixing temperature of a fixing device which fixes an image to be formed. The apparatus obtains an attribute of each page included in a print job including a plurality of pages. Then, the apparatus controls a fixing temperature for each page, based on a change of the obtained attribute by the obtaining unit between continuous pages. In a case where there is a change of a printing mode between the continuous pages, the apparatus sets a fixing temperature of a preceding page according to the change close to a fixing temperature of a following page.
US09014575B2	Sampling clock synchronizing apparatus, digital coherent receiving apparatus, and sampling clock synchronizing method In a sampling clock synchronizing apparatus, an A/D converter converts an analog signal to a digital signal based on a sampling clock, and a processor compensates a band limitation due to spectral narrowing by filter characteristics of characteristics opposite to those of the spectral narrowing with respect to a signal produced from the A/D converter subjected to the spectral narrowing, and detects a phase shift in the sampling clock based on a signal after the compensation of the spectral narrowing and synchronizes sampling timing.
US09014565B2	Optical microphone An optical microphone includes: a light source; a first polarizer for allowing linearly-polarized light, of light output from the light source, to pass therethrough; a second polarizer for allowing linearly-polarized light having a different polarization plane from the first polarizer to pass therethrough; a sound-receiving section including an acoustic medium having a smaller sound velocity than the air, wherein an acoustic signal propagates through the acoustic medium, the sound-receiving section being arranged so that the linearly-polarized light from the first polarizer passes through the acoustic medium and enters the second polarizer; and a photodetector for converting an intensity of light having passed through the second polarizer to an electric signal, wherein between the first polarizer and the second polarizer, the linearly-polarized light having passed through the first polarizer is given different phase shifts in two orthogonal directions which are each different from a polarization direction.
US09014559B2	Methods for efficient transmission in OTN networks In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure a method for shared mesh protection in an optical transport network comprises provisioning a route for each of a plurality of working demands through the optical transport network. The method further comprises provisioning a route for backup demands corresponding to each of the plurality of working demands. The method additionally comprises packing into a single optical data unit a first backup demand corresponding to a first of the plurality of working demands and a second backup demand corresponding to a second of the plurality of working demands, wherein the first and second of the plurality of working demands share at least one common link in the optical transport network. The method also comprises unpacking the first and second backup demands from the optical data unit.
US09014548B2	Cooling-water heating type heater Provided is a cooling-water heating type heater, and more particularly, a cooling-water heating type heater capable of effectively heating cooling-water, using a first pipe with a cylindrical first heating part and a second pipe with a second heating part.
US09014540B1	Techniques for provisioning local media players with content A local media player in network communication with a remote storage system stores a portion of content. It then compares the portion of content stored on the local media player with content stored on the remote storage system to determine if the portion of content is duplicated on the remote storage system. If so, the portion of content stored on the local media player is replaced with a pointer to a duplicate portion of content stored on the remote storage system. The portion of content is played back by the local media player at least in part by receiving the duplicate portion of content from the remote storage system if the portion of content has been replaced by a pointer, or by accessing the portion of content stored on the local media player if the portion of content has not been replaced by a pointer.
US09014516B2	Object information derived from object images Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image.
US09014512B2	Object information derived from object images Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image.
US09014509B2	Modifying digital images to increase interest level A method for increasing the interest level of a digital image to a particular person based on an interest level function that determines an interest level of a particular digital image to the particular person responsive to familiarity levels of image elements in the particular digital image. The initial digital image includes one or more image elements having associated initial familiarity levels, the initial digital image having an initial interest level as characterized by the interest level function responsive to the initial familiarity levels. The set of image elements are modified, thereby providing a modified digital image having an increased interest level to the particular person as characterized by the interest level function responsive to modified familiarity levels associated with the modified image elements. The modified digital image is then displayed to the particular person.
US09014501B2	Methods and systems for enhancing data Methods and systems for data analysis using covarying data. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of one or more lagged covariance matrices of data obtained over time may be generated and used to enhance the data.
US09014500B2	Digital media enhancement system, method, and apparatus Aspects are disclosed for enhancing digital media. In an aspect, a target object in a primary image is identified, and reference images that include the target object are located. The target object is then modified within the primary image according to data derived from analyzing the reference image. In another aspect, a primary file is received, and at least one reference file is referenced to generate enhancement data that facilitates enhancing the primary file from an extrapolation of the reference file. In yet another aspect, media files corresponding to a common event are aggregated, and a desired enhancement of a primary file is identified. Here, the desired enhancement corresponds to a modification of an obstruction included in the primary file. A reference file which includes data associated with the desired enhancement is then referenced, and the obstructed data is modified based on replacement data extrapolated from the reference file.
US09014493B2	Analytics assisted encoding Video analytics may be used to assist video encoding by selectively encoding only portions of a frame and using, instead, previously encoded portions. Previously encoded portions may be used when succeeding frames have a level of motion less than a threshold. In such case, all or part of succeeding frames may not be encoded, increasing bandwidth and speed in some embodiments.
US09014486B2	Systems and methods for tracking with discrete texture traces An active set of discrete texture traces to a target point is determined in a first video frame and is applied to a second video frame to detect the target location in a second video frame. An estimate is made of the target location in the second video frame. A score map is computed of an area of locations. A location with a highest score in the score map is the new target location. If a threshold value is not met the active set of texture traces is stored. A score map for each of stored active sets is computed to determine the target location. If no score meets the threshold the target location in a previous video frame is made the current target location and a new active set of discrete texture traces is determined. Systems that implement the steps of the methods are also provided.
US09014480B2	Identifying a maximally stable extremal region (MSER) in an image by skipping comparison of pixels in the region A difference in intensities of a pair of pixels in an image is repeatedly compared to a threshold, with the pair of pixels being separated by at least one pixel (“skipped pixel”). When the threshold is found to be exceeded, a selected position of a selected pixel in the pair, and at least one additional position adjacent to the selected position are added to a set of positions. The comparing and adding are performed multiple times to generate multiple such sets, each set identifying a region in the image, e.g. an MSER. Sets of positions, identifying regions whose attributes satisfy a test, are merged to obtain a merged set. Intensities of pixels identified in the merged set are used to generate binary values for the region, followed by classification of the region as text/non-text. Regions classified as text are supplied to an optical character recognition (OCR) system.
US09014468B2	Image processing apparatus, computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions and associated method An image processing apparatus may create text image data representing a text image, based on target image data representing a target image including text. The image processing apparatus may determine an extended text area in the target image based on information related to a sharpness of the text included in the target image. The extended text area may include a text area corresponding to pixels constituting text in the text image represented by the created text image data, and also include a surrounding area around the text area. The image processing apparatus may change a color of the extended text area to a color of a background of the target image to create background image data.
US09014464B2	Measurement device, measurement method, and computer program product According to an embodiment, a second calculator calculates a three-dimensional position of a measurement position and error in the three-dimensional position using a first image, the measurement position, a second image, and a correspondence position. A selection unit determines whether there is an image pair, in which error in the three-dimensional position becomes smaller than the error calculated by the second calculator, from among image pairs of the plurality of images, when there is an image pair, selects the image pair, and when there is no image pair, decides on the three-dimensional position. Each time an image pair is selected, the second calculator calculates a new three-dimensional position of the measurement position and error using new first and second images each included in the image pair, and first and second projection positions where the three-dimensional positions are projected onto the new first and second images, respectively.
US09014463B2	System for real-time stereo matching A system for real-time stereo matching is provided, which provides improved stereo matching speed and rate by gradually optimizing a disparity range used in the stereo matching based on the stereo matching result of the previous frame image and thus reducing unnecessary matching computations.
US09014461B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method and storage medium An image processing apparatus that processes a radiation image obtained from a detector in which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged includes: an obtainment unit that obtains a radiation image; a control unit that controls, in accordance with radiation dose characteristics of a first pixel in the detector and a first pixel value of the first pixel in the radiation image, a weighting coefficient for the first pixel value of the first pixel and a weighting coefficient for second pixel values that are different from the first pixel value; and a correction unit that corrects the first pixel value in the obtained radiation image based on the weighting coefficients.
US09014458B2	Valuable document identification method and system A valuable document identification method and system are provided. The method comprises, detecting features in different space ranges of a valuable document, and obtaining multi-source information Ω={Xi, Xj, . . . , Xn}, wherein Xi∩Xj≠φ, or Xi∩Xj≠φ and Xi<=>Xj; labeling the space position of Xj with Xi according to semantic constraints of Xi and Xj, and obtaining position constraints Ψij(x, y); extracting a characteristic value fi from Xi, and extracting a characteristic value fj from Xj according to the position constrains Ψij(x, y); determining whether fi, fj meet the characteristic criteria of the valuable document, if yes, then receiving the valuable document, or else, rejecting the valuable document. The method enables improved reliability and robustness of the valuable document identification system.
US09014448B2	Associating acquired images with objects A system for associating acquired images with objects is disclosed. It comprises an image selector (1) for selecting a stored image from a database (5) comprising a plurality of stored images, the database (5) comprising an association (21) between the stored image (6) and an object of interest; an image scanner (2) for acquiring a new image (9) comprising a representation (10) of at least part of the object of interest, during an imaging session; a user interface (3) for enabling a user, during the imaging session, to indicate that the new image (9) is to be associated with the object of interest; and an associating subsystem (4) for creating an association (23) between the new image (9) and the object of interest in the database. The user interface (3) is arranged for enabling a user to select the object of interest from a plurality of objects of interest associated with the stored image (6).
US09014440B2	Dental cysts detector A system and method for detecting a cyst from a dental radiographic image is provided. The system and method comprises comparing the radiographic image to a plurality of template images, calculating a cross correlation coefficient between a plurality of regions in the radiographic image and a corresponding plurality of regions in the template image, determining a cyst region in the radiographic image based on a value of the cross correlation coefficient and computing a severity level of the cyst.
US09014434B2	Method for scoring and controlling quality of food products in a dynamic production line A method for scoring and controlling the quality of dynamic food products transitioning in the processing steps is performed using image analysis. An image of a plurality of moving food products on a conveyor system is captured by on-line vision equipment and image analysis is performed on the image via an algorithm that determines the percentage of pixels having varying intensities of colors and applies predetermined preferences to predict consumer dissatisfaction. The entire group of food products of one or more images is given an overall appearance score and each individual food product is also scored such that each may be ranked from least to more acceptable. The ranked food products can then be ejected in the order of worst to better rank to increase the overall quality score of the entire group.
US09014429B2	Analyzing a segment of video There is disclosed a quick and efficient method for analyzing a segment of video, the segment of video having a plurality of frames. A reference portion is acquired from a reference frame of the plurality of frames. Plural subsequent portions are then acquired from a corresponding subsequent frame of the plurality of frames. Each subsequent portion is then compared with the reference portion, and an event is detected based upon each comparison. There is also disclosed a method of optimizing video including selectively storing, labeling, or viewing video based on the occurrence of events in the video. Furthermore, there is disclosed a method for creating a video summary of video which allows a used to scroll through and access selected parts of a video. The methods disclosed also provide advancements in the field of video surveillance analysis.
US09014428B2	Object detection using difference of image frames Object detection using a difference between image frames may include receiving a first image of a field of view, receiving a second image of the field of view, determining a difference between portions of the first image and corresponding portions of the second image, and declaring based on the difference between the portions of the first image and the corresponding portions of the second image that a specific object has been detected in the field of view.
US09014427B2	Medication storage device and method Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring and enhancing patient adherence to a prescription drug regimen are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a medication storage device includes a plurality of dose containers, each dose container having an interior region configured to contain a medication. The medication storage device also includes an event detection system that includes a plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors are configured to detect a change in each dose container of the plurality of dose containers. The medication storage device also includes an imaging system. The imaging system includes a plurality of image capture devices configured to capture an image of the interior region of each dose container of the plurality of dose containers. A communications module is configured to send an indication of the change detected by the event detection system and/or an image captured by the imaging device to a remote device.
US09014423B2	Method and system for catheter tracking in fluoroscopic images using adaptive discriminant learning and measurement fusion A method and system for adaptive discriminant learning and measurement fusion for image based catheter tracking is disclosed. An adaptive discriminant model is trained online based on a tracked object, such as a pigtail catheter tip, in at least one previous frame of a fluoroscopic image sequence. The object is tracked in the current frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence based at least on the adaptive discriminant model trained online. The object may be tracked in the current frame based on a fusion of three types of measurement models including the adaptive discriminant model trained online, an object detection model trained offline, and an online appearance model.
US09014422B2	Method of recognizing a moving feature in a video sequence A moving feature is recognized in a video sequence by comparing its movement with a characteristic pattern. Possible trajectories through the video sequence are generated for an object by identifying potential matches of points in pairs of frames of the video sequence. When looking for the characteristic pattern, a number of possible trajectories are analyzed. The possible trajectories may be selected so that they are suitable for analysis. This may include selecting longer trajectories that can be easier to analyze. Thereby where the object being tracked is momentarily behind another object a continuous trajectory is generated.
US09014420B2	Adaptive action detection Described is providing an action model (classifier) for automatically detecting actions in video clips, in which unlabeled data of a target dataset is used to adaptively train the action model based upon similar actions in a labeled source dataset. The target dataset comprising unlabeled video data is processed into a background model. The action model is generated from the background model using a source dataset comprising labeled data for an action of interest. The action model is iteratively refined, generally by fixing a current instance of the action model and using the current instance of the action model to search for a set of detected regions (subvolumes), and then fixing the set of subvolumes and updating the current instance of the action model based upon the set of subvolumes, and so on, for a plurality of iterations.
US09014414B2	Information processing apparatus and information processing method for processing image information at an arbitrary viewpoint in a physical space or virtual space An information processing apparatus configured to generate an MR image displayed on a display apparatus includes a segmentation unit configured to segment the generated MR image into a plurality of regions, a generation unit configured to generate a pattern image to be superimposed on one of the plurality of segmented regions or each of the plurality of segmented regions, a superimposition unit configured to superimpose the generated pattern image on one of the plurality of segmented regions or each of the plurality of segmented regions, and an output unit configured to output the MR image, including the pattern image superimposed thereon, to the display apparatus.
US09014411B2	Speaker grille and assembly A speaker grille is provided including a front portion capable of sound transmission and side portions extending from the front portion. Each side portion includes an edge and a projection that extends beyond the edge, where each side portion has a substantially similar capability for sound transmission as the front portion. In one embodiment, the speaker grille comprises a perforated metal material, a fabric cloth material attached to the perforated metal material on an interior surface of the grille, and a metal cloth material attached to the fabric cloth material such that the fabric cloth material is disposed between the metal cloth material and the perforated metal material.
US09014407B2	Hearing instrument system with a rechargeable battery A hearing instrument system with a rechargeable battery or accumulator is optimized for everyday use, in particular for EOL detection, and the performance and service life of the accumulator. A hearing instrument, an accumulator system, and a charging system each have an energy transfer interface and a communication interface. The energy transfer interface and communication interface on the accumulator side can establish an energy transfer link and/or communication link on the charge and hearing instrument side. The accumulator system provides energy to the hearing instrument and transmits state of charge information generated by an accumulator control facility to the hearing instrument by way of the respective communication link. The transmission of the state of charge information enables a reliable state of charge detection in the case of batteries, whose state of charge cannot be identified on their voltage, for instance Li-ion systems with closed-loop controlled voltage.
US09014406B2	Method for controlling a binaural hearing aid system and binaural hearing aid system Level compression applied to the acoustic signals (18) received by a binaural hearing aid system (1) counteracts the preservation of inter-aural level differences (ILD) and thereby reduces the user's ability to locate the sound source and consequently his or her ability to understand speech in noisy environments. It is therefore known to increase the gain (57) in the hearing aid (2) receiving the louder signal and/or decreasing the gain (58) in the hearing aid (3) receiving the quieter signal, which at least in part allows for preserving the ILDs. However, in some situations this instead reduces the user's ability to understand speech, e.g. when acoustic noise is received at one ear (4) at a higher level (53, 54) than simultaneous speech at the other ear (5). The present invention overcomes this problem by decreasing the gain (57) in the hearing aid (2) receiving the louder signal and/or increasing the gain (58) in the hearing aid (3) receiving the quieter signal, when the difference between the noise-floor levels (55, 56) of the two hearing aids (2, 3) increases.
US09014404B2	Directional electroacoustical transducing A multichannel audio system for radiating sound to a listening area that includes a plurality of listening spaces. The audio system includes directional audio devices, positioned in a first of the listening spaces, close to a head of a listener, for radiating first sound waves corresponding to components of one of the channels and nondirectional audio devices, positioned inside the listening area and outside the listening space, distant from the listening space, for radiating sound waves corresponding to components of a second of the channels.
US09014402B2	Acoustically isolated parabolic sound pickup assembly An acoustically isolated support and handle system for a sound pickup system includes vibrationally isolated, releasable connections for an adjustable microphone adapter in front of the reflector and for a pair of support handles and optionally a universal mounting bracket at the rear of the reflector. The handles provide a connection bracket for the optional use of a neck strap that would allow an operator to shift at least a portion of the weight of the device to the operator's neck and back while also providing the option for handheld aiming.
US09014401B2	Mixing apparatus Once a human operator selects one output channel using a port setting key and SEL key, output port parameters of a plurality of output ports connected with the selected output channel are displayed in a given arrangement on an output channel-port setting popup screen, and the thus-displayed output port parameters are allocated to controls of corresponding channel strips. Such arrangements allow parameter setting operation to be readily performed for each of the output ports.
US09014398B2	Charging circuit and amplifier A charging circuit includes a charge pump circuit, an integrating circuit, and a clock signal output circuit. The charge pump circuit generates a boosted voltage by boosting an input voltage at a rate in synchronization with an input clock signal. The integrating circuit is configured to integrate the boosted voltage to apply the integrated boosted voltage to a boost capacitor. The clock signal output circuit is configured to output a second clock signal that is higher in frequency than a first clock signal to the charge pump circuit as the clock signal for a predetermined period of time upon start up, and thereafter output the first clock signal to the charge pump circuit as the clock signal.
US09014395B2	Audio analysis apparatus and audio analysis system An audio analysis apparatus includes the following components. A main body includes a discrimination unit and a transmission unit. A strap is used for hanging the main body from a user's neck. A first audio acquisition device is provided to the strap or the main body. A second audio acquisition device is provided to the strap at a position where a distance between the second audio acquisition device and the user's mouth is smaller than the distance between the first audio acquisition device and the user's in a state where the strap is worn around the user's neck. The discrimination unit discriminates whether an acquired sound is an uttered voice of the user or of another person by comparing audio signals of the sound acquired by the first and second audio acquisition devices. The transmission unit transmits information including the discrimination result to an external apparatus.
US09014393B2	Stationary apparatus for portable electronic device A withdrawable portable device mounting apparatus is provided in a vehicle audio system, in which a mount capable of mounting a portable electronic device is drawn out using an electromotive force with a very simple manipulation by pressing a drive button or the like. The apparatus may include a case, a front panel provided at a front surface of the case to have a control panel, a mounting unit loading hole, and a loading button, a drive unit configured to drive a mounting unit through a mounting unit loading hole of the front panel in a withdrawable manner, a loading unit mutually operated with the drive unit to allow the mounting unit to be drawn in or out, and a mounting unit inserted into the front panel in a folded state during a drawing-in operation, and unfolded through the mounting unit loading hole during a drawing-out operation.
US09014391B2	System for controlling audio reproduction A system for controlling audio reproduction may include an interface operable to receive a data stream of an audio signal. The system may also include a processor. The processor may be operable to: analyze the data stream; divide the data stream into segments; associate audio classes with respective segments in accordance with audio classifications and the analysis of the data stream; and replace one or more of the segments associated with a specific audio class, with an audio file, based on information regarding the audio file and information regarding the specific audio class. Further, the system may include another interface operable to output a signal derived from the audio file, to drive a loudspeaker.

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