US07748960B1

A rotary shaft to hub connection, such as that used between a centrifugal compressor or pump and a shaft. The hub includes inner and outer axial extending members that fit within inner and outer annular grooves formed within the rotary shaft so that a tight fit between the shaft and the hub is maintained during high speed rotation. An inwardly extending projection is formed on the outer axial extending member of the hub that forms a tight fit against the shaft.
US07748957B2

A livewell/baitwell pump includes a replaceable cartridge for arranging in a pump cartridge body of a pump cartridge assembly. The replaceable cartridge is rotatably coupled to the pump cartridge body and locked in place by a pre-loaded locking lever that securely engages a locking edge of the pump cartridge body and holds the replaceable cartridge therein. The pre-loaded locking lever is spring-loaded and pivotally arranged on the replaceable cartridge to snap into place and lock the replaceable cartridge when the locking lever is rotated passed the locking edge, so that the replaceable cartridge may be installed in the cartridge body using one hand. In operation, when the replaceable cartridge is rotated into the pump-cartridge body to a desired locking position, the pre-loaded locking lever engages the locking edge of the pump cartridge body. The locking edge is formed on an annular rim on the pump cartridge body as a raised edge. Moreover, the pre-loaded locking lever is pressed inwardly, then twisted in order to remove the replaceable cartridge from the pump cartridge body, so that the replaceable cartridge may be removed from the cartridge body using one hand. The pre-loaded locking lever includes a bias member, such as a spring or other suitable elastic member or material, for continuously urging the pre-loaded locking lever against the replaceable cartridge.
US07748946B2

A cooling system and method is provided for a wind turbine. The cooling system is used to cool at least one component in the wind turbine, and includes a filter system having at least one primary filter and at least one secondary filter. A switch selects between the primary filter and the secondary filter. A cooling circuit includes at least one conduit and a coolant medium. The filter system can switch from the primary filter to the secondary filter.
US07748943B2

Provided is a lifting system for a vehicle comprising a first track mounted within said vehicle, a second track mounted within said vehicle, a first lifting arm extendable from said first track, a second lifting arm extendable from said second track, a first windable support extendable from said first lifting arm, and a second windable support extendable from said second lifting arm.
US07748919B2

A packaging and applicator device comprising: a body; a block of fluidizable substance that is stationary relative to the body while the substance is in the solid state, said block of substance projecting beyond the body to define at least one surface serving as an applicator surface; and a reshaper member for reshaping the applicator surface, said reshaper member being positionable on the body to co-operate therewith to define at least one cavity into which the substance can flow when fluidized by supplying heat, the substance retaining the shape of the cavity when it returns to the solid state after cooling.
US07748918B2

Disclosed herein is a method that relates to paper waste reduction with a point of sale printer. The method comprising, establishing a length of paper available (PA) estimate during loading of paper into a point of sale printer and tracking a length of paper used (PU). The method further comprising, continuously updating the PA by subtracting the PU from the PA, and alerting an operator to replenish paper in the printer in response to the PA being less than a desired length of paper wasted (DPW). Additionally, the method updates the new roll paper available (NRPA) to ensure that the difference between actual paper wasted (APW) and the desired length of paper wasted (DPW) is minimal.
US07748910B2

An optical system comprising a substrate and an optical waveguide which is formed on the substrate and to which optical fibers are optically coupled. The optical waveguide has a plurality of straight core portions which obliquely intersect each other. The substrate has positioning sections for positioning a plurality of optical fibers optically coupled to two or more of the plurality of the core portions, the positioning sections having grooves on which the respective optical fibers are supported. When the plurality of optical fibers are supported on the respective grooves, offsets between centers of the plurality of the core portions and respective centers of the plurality of the optical fibers coupled to the core portions are equal to or less than 5 μm.
US07748906B2

An engaging device of a linear sliding rail includes a sliding rail and a sliding block. The sliding block comprises a sliding base body, a supporting body and two connecting bodies. The front and rear ends of the sliding base body have a positioning plate respectively. The two locking pieces each comprises hooks. The hook locks the two connecting bodies at the front and rear ends of the sliding base body. The hook abuts against one end of the abutting piece. The other end of the abutting piece abuts against front and rear end faces of the supporting body respectively. Via this arrangement, when the locking piece locks the two connecting bodies at both ends of the sliding base body, it also generating a pre-pressure to press the supporting body, thereby assembling the supporting body and the two connecting bodies on the sliding base body tightly and firmly.
US07748903B2

A container for transferring a product with crossed protection, having a flexible portion connected to an opening provided with a flange in which is mounted a door that is mobile between a closed position and at least one open position, is characterized in that it includes a guide member 15 adapted to cause an internal portion of the wall of the flexible portion to project through the flange 11A or to retract that portion inside the container. A container of this kind is used to transfer a powder, a granular material or small objects, in particular, from the bottom of the container or from another container.
US07748901B2

Systems and methods presented herein provide for the testing and reconfiguration of x-ray devices. In one embodiment, a test bed effectuates testing of an acquired x-ray device to determine a cause of the inoperability of the device. The x-ray device test bed may be provided to test a plurality of x-ray devices and, therefore, readily adaptable to such devices. The x-ray device test bed may include a mount for an x-ray tube. A variable power supply may be coupled to the x-ray tube to provide the requisite high-voltage electrical energy thereto. The x-ray device test bed may also include a mount for an imaging module (e.g., a “flat-panel sensor”). A processor may be coupled to the imaging module to determine the operational characteristics thereof. If certain x-ray components are deemed inoperable, the x-ray components may be replaced such that the x-ray device may be reintroduced to a medical industry segment.
US07748899B2

An X-ray radiology device comprising a rotating and flat lift. For this X-ray device to operate correctly, it is necessary to obtain and maintain, for all the incidence angles, a perfect alignment of the focal point of the X-ray tube, the element observed and the detector. This geometric imperative is achieved in one embodiment by means of a compensation system. The compensation system includes a cam fitted to a free end of the lift. The compensation system includes a lever in contact with the profile of the cam. The lever is in contact with the detector or the tube connected to the lift. Thus, when the lift rotates, the cam pushes the lever, which in return pushes the tube or the detector in order to align it.
US07748897B2

A method for monitoring the proper functioning of a temperature-dependent resistor, particularly a NTC resistor, for measuring the temperature of a medium heated by a heat source. Said medium is preferably the air flow in a clothes dryer for drying clothes. In order to increase the safety of a device, in particular a clothes dryer, where the temperature-dependent resistor is used in combination with a heat source, it is checked, once the heat source is switched on, whether the temperature measured by the resistor after a first predetermined period of time following the switching on of the heat source falls below a predetermined temperature threshold value. If this is the case, monitoring of a resistor-temperature curve characteristic of the temperature-dependent resistor is carried out.
US07748895B2

A method (and system) of predicting a thermal state of a transient thermal system, includes combining sensor outputs and thermal parameters to construct a consistent set of estimates of internal temperature of a transient thermal system.
US07748892B2

An active ingredient, such as particles of a pharmaceutical agent, is uniformly distributed within a transdermal vehicle, such as a gel or other viscous material. The method comprises filling said first container with a non-uniform mixture of a transdermal vehicle and said active ingredient, mounting the first container on a support member, and securing a second container to the first container. The first container has a restricted opening at its proximal end and a piston mounted movably within the first container for movement between a first position proximate said first container distal end to a position proximate said first container proximal end. The second container has a restricted opening at its proximal end and a piston mounted movably within the first container for movement from a first position proximate the second container distal end to a position proximate said second container proximal end. The first container restricted opening and said second container restricted openings are in open communication. The first container's piston is moved from its position proximate the distal end to a position proximate the proximal end and thereby forcing said mixture from the first container into said second container. The positions of the first and second container relative to said support member, are reversed and the process is repeated moving the mixture back and forth between the two containers until a uniform mixture is achieved.
US07748891B2

A drinking water distribution reservoir has a new draft tube mixing arrangement. An intermediate opening in the draft tube enables water to flow between the central passage of the draft tube and an intermediate portion of the tank. Directional walls can provided on the intermediate opening to help direct flow, and a check valve can be used to prevent flow from the intermediate section of the tank into the draft tube or prevent flow from the draft tube into the intermediate section of the tank. A venturi portion can also be provided on the draft tube to help draw water from the intermediate portion of the tank into the draft tube.
US07748880B2

A vehicle lamp with a projection lens; a light source; a shade, which forms a cutoff line; a reflector, which reflects a light from the light source toward the projection lens such that the light passes near an upper end portion of the shade so as to irradiate a forward direction along an optical axis with the light emitted from the projection lens; an overhead sign reflecting surface, which is provided near an upper end edge of the reflector and reflects the light from the light source; and an overhead sign light receiving surface, which is provided near the upper end portion of the shade and reflects the light from the reflecting surface toward the projection lens so as to irradiate upward irradiation light from the projection lens. The overhead sign reflecting surface includes a plurality of reflecting surfaces, which emit reflected light of different patterns.
US07748870B2

A LED lamp bulb structure is disclosed, wherein a lamp controller is installed inside a lamp head and the bottom surface thereof is fixed by an upper cover. At the bottom surface of the upper cover, a heat dispersing fin set, which has at least a heat conducting tube installed therein, and a lower cover are fixed therein. Furthermore, a bulb housing, which has a tray mounted therein, is screwed around the peripheral edge of the lower cover, and at the bottom of the tray, plural LED lamp sets corresponding to plural heat conducting tubes are outwardly extended. Therefore, the heat produced by the LED lamp set can have a heat exchange through plural heat conducting tubes and heat dispersing fin set for achieving a better heat dispersing efficiency and for more effectively dispersing the heat.
US07748864B1

A switch actuating holster and accompanying switched device. When the switched device is withdrawn from the holster, the holster causes the switch to be actuated. The switch has an A position and a B position. The holster has a magnet that is positioned adjacent to the switch of the electrical device. As the device is withdrawn from the holster, the magnet of the holster pulls the switch to a B position and against the stop. As the device is inserted into the holster, the magnet of the holster pushes the magnet of the device against a stop in the A position. The switch may also be manually actuated.
US07748855B2

A projector includes a plane mirror that is disposed at one end side of an end portion of a screen and a projection optical system that is disposed at a position that is separated from a reflection surface side of the plane mirror. A light shielding plate is provided to at least one of two positions; one is between a fourth mirror and the plane mirror of the projection optical system, and the other is between the plane mirror and the screen.
US07748853B2

A lighting device used for an image display device including a light modulator that modulates light emitted from a light source device includes: a diffractive optical element on which the light emitted from the light source device is made incident and that generates diffractive light from the light made incident thereon and lights the light modulator with the diffractive light; and a light shielding member that is arranged between the diffractive optical element and the light modulator and shields 0-th order light emitted to the light modulator.
US07748845B2

A method of maintaining circadian rhythm of a subject comprising selectively substantially blocking retinal exposure of the subject to light having a wavelength shorter than a specified wavelength during the night, and an apparatus for carrying out the claimed method comprising an optical filter that selectively at least substantially blocks light having a wavelength shorter than the specified wavelength.
US07748844B2

A contact lens providing high visual acuity with the comfort of a soft lens includes a thin layer of hard lens material at the front surface of the contact lens; and a second soft lens material layer at the posterior portion of the lens. The soft lens provides a contact area substantially in contact with the central region of the cornea. The first layer is bonded on top of the second layer directly or through a third elastic material layer. Manufacturing methods overcome problems of swelling of the soft lens component during hydration.
US07748837B2

A method for ink jet printing with light-curing ink, which includes the steps of printing a first ink dot of a color, irradiating the first ink dot with light, printing a second ink dot with the same color and which at least partially overlaps with the first ink dot, and irradiating the second ink dot with light.
US07748835B2

An ink-jet recording device for supplying ink to a recording head from at least one ink cartridge having a bottom wall, and first and second side walls connected to each other through the bottom wall and facing each other, the ink cartridge further having an ink supply port at the bottom wall, a first retaining member extending from the first side wall and a recess provided in the vicinity of the second side wall, the retaining member having a first engagement portion displaceable toward and away from the first side wall. The recording device comprises a carriage having at least one ink cartridge mounting region adapted to receive the ink cartridge, a plurality of one identification members that are protruded from a bottom of the ink cartridge mounting region in a direction parallel to an insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the carriage, and that are positioned and configured so that the identification members are received by the recess of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is compatible to the ink cartridge mounting region; an ink supply needle positioned in the bottom of the ink cartridge storage region and configured for connection to the ink supply port of the ink cartridge, and a first engagement portion positioned and configured to engage the engagement portion of the ink cartridge.
US07748833B2

The invention relates to an ink distribution structure for an inkjet printer. The distribution structure has a laminated stack for supplying ink to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits. The stack includes five distinct layers. A first layer has an even number of discrete ink holes per printhead integrated circuit, each group of discrete ink holes arranged in a rectangular array with four aligned rows of ink holes parallel to a respective integrated circuit. The first layer has underside recesses each for discretely communicating with one of the ink holes of the two center-most rows of four holes. A second layer has a pair of slots each for receiving ink from one of the underside recesses of the first layer, the second layer also having ink holes which are aligned with the outer two groups of ink holes of the first layer. A third layer has an even number of ink holes corresponding with each integrated circuit, the outermost of these holes aligned with outermost holes of the first and second layers. A fourth layer has an array of integrated circuit slots each for receiving an upper portion of a respective integrated circuit, and a fifth layer has an array of integrated circuit slots each for receiving the integrated circuit and a nozzle guard assembly.
US07748830B2

A printhead reservoir has an input ink port and a chamber to receive ink from an ink source through the input ink port. The reservoir also has a filter in a path between the input ink port and the chamber. A printhead includes a reservoir having an input ink port, a chamber to receive ink from an ink source through the input port and a filter in a path between the input port and the storage plate. The printhead also includes an array of jets to draw ink from the chamber and control circuitry to control the jets so as to selectively output ink through the jets onto a substrate. A reservoir has a filter to receive ink, a vented chamber to collect ink received from the filter and at least one jet to receive ink from the vented chamber. The vented chamber is between the ink filter and the fluid path to the jets in order to remove the filter portion of the pressure drop to the jets.
US07748827B2

A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a wafer assembly defining spaced groups of ink supply channels. Groups of ink ejection nozzle arrangements extend from the wafer assembly and are in fluid communication with respective ink supply channel groups. Each group of nozzle arrangements includes a pair of rows of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes an ink ejection head from which an actuator tail extends and is arranged so that actuator tails of one group of nozzle arrangements are interleaved with actuator tails of any adjacent groups of nozzle arrangements.
US07748824B2

An ejecting apparatus is provided for readily controlling ejection even when the number of nozzles is increased. In each of N heads in an ejecting apparatus, DA equals a distance between a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, and a distance between the second nozzle array in one arbitrary head of the N heads and the first nozzle array in another head adjacent to this arbitrary head in the Y-axis direction is substantially equal to an integer multiple of DA.
US07748817B2

A liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head having a nozzle, a cleaning mechanism, and a controller. The controller includes a timer device, first memory section, second memory section, power supply, determining section, and tracked time correction section. If determination of the determining section is positive when the power supply is resumed, the tracked time correcting section reads out tracked time information from the second memory section and causes the timer device to start time tracking from the time indicated by the tracked time information that was stored when power supply to the liquid ejection apparatus was stopped. If the controller determines that the difference between the tracked time and the end time indicated by end time information stored in the first memory section is longer than or equal to a predetermined period, the controller operates the cleaning mechanism to carry out the cleaning.
US07748815B2

Embodiments of nozzle disable systems and methods are disclosed.
US07748812B2

A liquid jet apparatus according to the present invention includes a drive waveform generator adapted to generate a drive waveform signal, a modulator adapted to execute pulse modulation on the drive waveform signal, a digital power amplifier adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal, on which the pulse modulation is executed by the modulator, with a pair of switching elements push-pull coupled with each other, a low pass filter adapted to smooth the amplified digital signal obtained by the power-amplification of the digital power amplifier, and a modulation period adjustment circuit adapted to adjust a modulation period of the pulse modulation of the modulator in accordance with a reset signal forming a basis of timing for driving an actuator.
US07748807B2

Method and apparatus for printing onto a rotating media is described. According to one embodiment, the printing system includes a print head that is laterally displaced from a radial printing radius, a rotating mechanism to rotate the media, and a controller to print onto an annular print area. The annular print area is defined by an inner hub circumference, two lines substantially parallel to the radial printing radius and tangential to the inner hub circumference, and an outer edge of the media. The print head moves about the annular print area by one or more motion mechanism and prints images onto the media.
US07748806B2

A shelf arrangement is provided which includes a support surface, a frame, and an electrical control interface positioned and accessible at a front of the shelf arrangement, the control interface arranged to transmit a control signal to a location remote from the shelf arrangement. The frame may include a pair of laterally spaced apart front-to-rear brackets supporting the support surface. The support surface may be a part of a shelf member. A pair of rods may extend laterally between the brackets. The frame may be at least partially overmolded with plastic.
US07748803B2

A horizontal dispensing container comprising a base, opposed side structures including vertically spaced support members for slidably supporting removable, hinged shelves, and opposed rectangular frames is provided. The rectangular frames define openings on front and rear sides of the container through which parts may be loaded onto the slidable shelves inside the container. At least some of the movable shelves have front and rear sections separated by a hinge, the front section being pivotal downwardly to allow access to parts on the rear section of the shelf.
US07748799B2

The invention relates to a drive device for a furniture part that is displaceably mounted in relation to a furniture body, in particular for a drawer or similar. The device includes an energy accumulator device, which supports the displacement of the furniture part. According to the invention, the displaceable furniture part can be essentially displaced into a fully open position by the energy accumulator device, thus partially discharging the energy accumulator device. The energy accumulator device is then re-charged during the closing operation of the displaceable furniture part. The energy accumulator device only acts on part of the displacement path of the furniture part.
US07748798B2

Furniture such as bathroom vanities are suitable to be shipped in collapsed form and then readily assembled/erected at the installation site. A back wall folds forwardly as bracing along the front folds vertically in one form. There can be a multi-piece collapsible brace between opposed side walls with four pivot points.
US07748780B2

A juvenile seat pad is adapted to be placed on a juvenile seat such as a juvenile vehicle seat. The pad is configured to be altered to produce either a large-sized infant receptacle suitable for full-term and growing infants or a relatively smaller small-sized infant receptacle suitable for premature infants.
US07748779B2

A vehicle seat has an energy-absorbing device connected to a transverse support member of the seat frame. The device has a plurality of rib members configured to plastically deform in response to an impact between an object and the device, thereby absorbing energy from the object. The device has a shell portion with a pair of intersecting side walls having a generally U-shaped profile defining a recess, and the rib members are connected to each of the side walls within the recess. The shell portion is one piece, and the shell portion and rib members are formed of molded plastic. Each rib member is equally spaced within the recess.
US07748765B2

A sub-assembly of a lift-glass hinge is disclosed. The sub-assembly includes a conductive connection member including a central portion, a first terminal end and a second terminal end; a first conductive lead; and a second conductive lead, wherein each of the first and second conductive leads include a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first conductive lead is connected proximate one of the first and second terminal ends of the conductive connection member, wherein the first end of the second conductive lead is connected proximate the central portion of the conductive connection member. A lift-glass hinge is also disclosed. A vehicle system is also disclosed.
US07748752B2

A pipe connecting device (10) for connecting two pipeline portions (12, 14) of an aircraft pipeline system comprises a bridge portion (16), the cross-sectional form of which is matched to a cross-sectional form of the pipeline portions (12, 14) that are to be connected to each other. The pipe connecting device (10) further comprises a first receiving portion (18), which is constituted by two limbs (20, 22) extending from the bridge portion (16) in a first direction, and which is adapted to receive an edge portion (38) of a first pipeline portion (12) of the aircraft pipeline system, and a second receiving portion (24), which is constituted by two limbs (26, 28) extending from the bridge portion (16) in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and which is adapted to receive an edge portion (40) of a second pipeline portion (14) of the aircraft pipeline system.
US07748742B2

In an energy absorbing steering system including a steering shaft to which a steering member is coupled, and a steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft, at least one of the steering shaft and the steering column includes an impact absorbing portion that contracts when a load equal to or higher than a predetermined value is applied, and the impact absorbing portion includes a first impact absorbing portion having a first impact absorption load, and a second impact absorbing portion having a second impact absorption load different from the first impact absorption load.
US07748739B2

Various embodiments of the invention provide a device for protecting the cushion material of an inflatable element from inflator gases and particulate matter. The device along with an inflator and an airbag may be placed in a housing. The device includes a first strip and a second strip. Each of the first strip and second strip includes at least one opening. Each of the openings are surrounded by a plurality of holes. The second strip may be placed above the first strip in a suitable position.
US07748737B2

A method of inflating an airbag with a fluid includes sending a signal to open a first valve and opening the first valve. The method also includes directing a control pressure through the first valve and toward a second valve. The method further includes throttling the second valve in response to the control pressure. The throttling of the second valve produces a variable inflation mass flow rate of the fluid at a second valve outlet. Opening the first valve and closing the first valve are performed as a step function to achieve a desired predetermined variable inflation mass flow rate of the airbag.
US07748730B2

Deployment performance of an airbag may be improved by improving an air tightness of an leg airbag system that includes a knee airbag for restraining occupant's legs and a gas generator that generates a jet of gas to inflate the knee airbag. An end of the gas generator is connected to a gas generator ignition control cable and passes through an insertion opening. The insertion opening has an area smaller than a cross section area of the end of the gas generator.
US07748726B2

A leading or trailing arm vehicle suspension system comprised of a fabricated vehicle axle and an arm assembly. The arm assembly includes an axle bracket attached to the axle and a leading or trailing arm attached to the axle bracket. The arm provides bending stiffness to control axle windup and longitudinal stiffness to control axle position is disclosed. The axle bracket is attached to the vehicle axle with a through-bolt connection. The axle bracket or the arm includes rack and pinion mounting attachment holes and also includes other built-in features providing efficient transfer of loads into the vehicle axle.
US07748710B2

A sheet-conveying device conveys a recording medium to a sheet support surface positioned downstream of the sheet-conveying device in a sheet-conveying direction when recording an image with an image-recording unit. A drive roller and a follower roller define a nip line therebetween. The nip line is positioned above the sheet support surface. A first support member rotatably supports the follower roller. A moving unit moves the first support member from a first position to a second position upstream of the first position in the paper-conveying direction immediately after a trailing edge of the recording medium leaves the sheet-conveying unit.
US07748700B2

Sheet feeding device including: a tray unit having a feeding tray for supporting a loaded-on document's trailing end, and a tilting tray for supporting its leading end; a feeding unit that feeds loaded-on documents from off the feeding and tilting trays; and an elevating mechanism that raises/lowers the tilting tray between the positions where documents are set onto and fed from it. The tilting tray is elevated by a lever that comes out of an opening in a feeding-unit cover, in which state the tray unit, which is pivotable with respect to the sheet feeding unit, is kept from pivoting. Otherwise, when the tray unit is pivoted upward from or returned to the load-on document position, tilting-tray movement, in conjunction with the pivoting action, with respect to the feeding tray is restrained.
US07748692B2

A sheet tray device including (a) a first tray and (b) a second tray which is disposed on an upper side of the first tray and which includes (b-1) a support member which bridges between opposite side walls of the first tray and which is movable relative to the opposite side walls, and (b-2) a supported body pivotably supported by the support member. Each of the opposite side walls includes a first rail portion and a second rail portion that is located on an upper side of the first rail portion. The support member includes (i) a main slide portion that is slidably held in contact with an upper surface of the first rail portion, (ii) a removal-preventing slide portion that extends through a space between the first and second rail portions, and (iii) a rotation-preventing slide portion that is slidably held in contact with a side surface of the first rail portion. Also disclosed is an image forming apparatus including the sheet tray device.
US07748685B2

A winch assembly (10) comprises a winch drum (18) rotatable about a first axis and carrying a spoolable medium, such as wireline (14) for use in deploying and retrieving tooling into and from a well bore. A carriage sheave (30) mounted on a drive screw (34) is positioned adjacent the winch drum (18), wherein the drive screw (34) is rotatable about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis. In use, the carriage sheave (30) engages the spoolable medium and is translated by the drive screw (34) in reverse directions to follow the fleeting motion of the spoolable medium as the medium is paid out and/or in from the winch drum (18). In a disclosed embodiment, the winch drum (18) is mounted vertically on a tubular body (22), through which tubular body (22) the spoolable medium extends into the well bore. In one embodiment the winch assembly (10) forms part of a subsea well intervention system.
US07748683B1

An electrically controlled proportional valve provides for precise control of armature movement using an armature which is positioned at the center of the valve by centering leaf springs. The armature is supported and biased axially by angled leaf springs that support the armature in an orbital fashion. These angled orbital leaf springs support the armature for elastic movement in the axial direction, and hold it biased against a first port, so that the armature functions as a valve element, which normally closes that port. A magnet coil is positioned so that when an electrical current passes through the coil, it exerts a force on the armature which overcomes the bias of the orbital leaf springs and draws the armature away from the first port and toward the magnet coil.
US07748680B2

A stand for a display is provided. The stand can reduce a delivery volume of the display and can provide for adjustment of a rotation angle thereof during use. The stand may include a support connected to a lower portion of the display, a pivot block pivotably coupled to the support, a rear base connected to the pivot block, a swivel that pivotably couples the pivot block and the rear base, and a front base coupled to the rear base.
US07748679B2

A container securing device includes a housing portion, with a cylindrical shape, the top of which is open, and which is intended to house a beverage container. A flap is positioned within a hole that is formed within a surrounding wall of the housing portion, and is installed so as to be capable of moving either out of the housing portion, or into the housing portion, in response to the container being inserted into, or extracted from, the housing portion. An impelling (biasing) component forces the flap toward the interior direction of the housing unit. The flap is capable of moving to a location that secures the container when the container is fully housed within the housing portion.
US07748677B2

A compressed gas cylinder hanger having resiliently flexible engagement with the neck of the compressed gas cylinder to fix or resist rotation of the compressed gas cylinder hanger about neck.
US07748663B1

A mating and connection system for securing adjacent stages of a launch vehicle. The system includes a locking flange connected to each of a first vehicle stage and a second vehicle stage. A compression ring is positioned internal to the first and second vehicle stages. The compression ring is shaped to compress together the locking flanges of the first and second stages upon engagement with the locking flanges. A locking jack is capable of being activated from an exterior of the first and second stages and operates to selectively move the compression ring into and out of engagement with the locking flanges.
US07748662B2

A method and apparatus for aerial fire suppression utilizing a potable fire retardant chemical dispensing system, readily adaptable, without extensive aircraft modification, to various makes of aircraft, for dispensing current types of forest and range fire fighting chemicals. The aerial delivery system is self contained and reusable. It enables cargo/utility aircraft to carry and dump a load, under control. The aerial delivery system is capable of attachment at the wing box, pressurized delivery from the nozzles, and nozzles directed straight downward.
US07748660B2

A spooling tool for paying out a fiber optic cable prewound on a spool region of a drop box or on an associated spool, when installing a cable at a user's premises. In one embodiment, the tool includes a base plate and a stud projecting from one side of the plate. An elongate arbor has one end secured to the stud in such a manner as to support the arbor perpendicular to the base plate. The arbor is dimensioned to pass through an axial passage in the box so that the box pivots on the arbor when the cable is unwound by an installer. A cap mechanism at the opposite end of the arbor retains the drop box on the arbor, and applies enough drag on the box to inhibit it from free wheeling on the arbor.
US07748654B2

A medical waste disposal device having a blade that rotates and chops medical waste into chips and other small particles. The blade includes at least one opening with at least one sharpened edge. The blade also has at least one raised portion adjacent to the sharpened edges. The blade cooperates with a cutting plate to chop or scissor the medical waste. The raised portion pushes chopped medical waste away from the blade and the cutting plate.
US07748653B2

A method and apparatus for treating materials or material mixtures in a treatment apparatus operating on the principle of the double-action impact mill, which includes a discharge conveyor (34), such as a discharge screw. A material layer (40) is maintained between the discharge opening and the discharge conveyor, using the material exiting the outermost ring (16″) of the treatment apparatus through the discharge opening (30), which layer prevents free discharge of the material to be treated from the treatment apparatus.
US07748650B1

The present invention provides an attachment for emitting water from a water source. The attachment comprises an inlet end, a transitional section connected to the inlet end, an outlet end connected to the transitional section opposite from the inlet end, and a reinforcement member attached to the transitional sectional and the outlet end to support the transitional section. The inlet end includes an external cover and an internal sleeve disposed within and spaced from the external cover.
US07748645B2

A crop sprayer, including: a chassis; a number of wheels which support the chassis; an engine for driving at least one of the number of wheels so as to propel said chassis; a chemical receptacle, supported by the chassis, for receiving and holding a chemical solution therein; a boom arm mounted to the chassis including a plurality of nozzles operable for dispersing chemicals; a control handle for controlling the position of the boom arm and the dispersion of the chemicals through at least a portion of the plurality of nozzles, wherein the control handle has an adjustable position to accommodate various size operators.
US07748638B2

An accessed object having a non-contact IC module including a semiconductor device and a module-side antenna formed extending over two sides of an accessed object, wherein the module-side antenna consists of a first module-side antenna and a second module-side antenna continuous to the first module-side antenna, wherein the first module-side antenna secures a necessary antenna effective area by coming into face-to-face relation with a first apparatus-side antenna on communication apparatus to communicate with the accessed object, and wherein the second module-side antenna is disposed close to the second apparatus-side antenna in an access direction different from the direction in which the first apparatus-side antenna makes access to the accessed object.
US07748637B2

A smart card includes a plurality of function blocks, and a laser attack detector configured to detect an external laser attack on at least one of the plurality of function blocks. The laser attack detector may include a plurality of chain blocks connected in a chain configuration, and each of the chain blocks is configured to change the level of a detection value stored therein in response to an external laser attack.
US07748634B1

A handheld electronic book reader device is equipped with dual displays. The device includes a first display for presenting visible representations of textual or graphic content related to the electronic book. The device also includes a second display positioned alongside the first display. The second display includes a plurality of graphic elements that correspond to portions of the first display. Also, the second display is responsive to user input to one of the graphic elements to perform an action on the content that is shown in the portion of the first display that corresponds to the one element.
US07748632B2

A portable data terminal including an elongated housing and a vertical grip. The housing has a battery well that extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing. A battery pack has a longitudinal axis that, when seated in the battery well, extends traverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the battery pack having an integrated latch that engages a recess in the battery well.
US07748631B2

A solid-state imager is mounted at a point-of-transaction workstation for capturing images of one- and two-dimensional indicia and is operated at high speed to resist image blurring due to relative movement between the target and the imager. Dedicated hardware assistance and computation resources are allocated to decode multiple, continuous and simultaneous video streams from multiple imagers at the workstation.
US07748621B2

Electronic transaction receipts in remote non-networked sales equipment are sent through infrared or radio frequency means to portable electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDA's)/smart cellular telephones that are in the possession of the consumer. These portable devices are possessed by the consumer and are in very close proximity to the POS device transmitting the information. Security procedures also verify the receiving device to avoid inadvertent transmissions and to provide addition security for the transmission. The information and records received by these portable devices may be stored and uploaded into other electronic media at the discretion of the consumer.
US07748619B2

Apparatuses and methods for dispensing magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, other cards, and/or other items from kiosks and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a card dispensing apparatus includes at least a first card hopper and a card transport assembly. The first card hopper is configured to hold a stack of cards that includes at least a first card stacked on a second card. The card transport assembly includes a card carrier moveable between a first position proximate to the first card hopper and a second position spaced apart from the first card hopper. The card carrier is configured to lift the first card off the second card when the card carrier is in the first position. The card carrier is further configured to release the first card toward an outlet when the card carrier is in the second position. In one embodiment, the card carrier can move the first card past a card reader/writer for reading information from, and/or writing information to, the card as it carries the card from the first position to the second position.
US07748618B2

A managed service for a near field transaction that may include a server to register a wireless device with the managed service, provide authentication information to the wireless device for use in establishing an identity of the wireless device. The server may provide authorization information to a register on behalf of the wireless device to establish the identity to the register, where the identity, when valid, allows the wireless device to participate in the near field transaction via a secure near field communication session with the register, receive transaction information from the register or the wireless device, and store the transaction information with a transaction identifier, where the transaction identifier is used to recall the transaction information on behalf of the register or the wireless device.
US07748610B2

This invention relates to a packaging device (1) for packaging a stack of sheet objects that have an attributable monetary value in a container (4), the device (1) comprising means (34, 35) for determining value data relating to the monetary value attributed to a sheet object to be stacked in the container (4), and an RF reader/writer (52) for writing said value data to an RFID device (21) associated with the container (4).
US07748609B2

A client-side application extension executable on a host computer from within a web-browser having the capability of executing at least one web-browser add-on to provide a user access to a smart card, connected to the host computer having a smart card resource manager, via the web-browser. The web-browser extension has instructions to direct the central processing unit to access data on the smart card via a web-browser and platform independent interface module and a web-browser and platform dependent wrapper module connected to the web-browser and platform independent interface module and to the smart card resource manager having a function processing module operable to receive a call to the at least one function for accessing data on the smart card and for transforming the function call into a corresponding call to the smart card resource manager.
US07748608B2

An identification token includes a body and an RFID IC embedded in the body. An antenna is also embedded in the body and is coupled to the RFID IC. A switch is embedded in the body and coupled to at least one of the RFID IC and the antenna. The switch is located at a switch location in the body. The switch is actuatable by being pressed by a user's finger. The identification token also includes a printed indication on the body for indicating the switch location to the user of the identification token.
US07748602B2

Methods and apparatus for a form for a postcard mailer are disclosed. An example form includes a substrate sheet having top and bottom edges, first and second side edges, and first and second faces. The form also includes at least first and second fold lines dividing the sheet into at least first, second, and third panels with a hang tag removably coupled to at least a portion of one of the first, second or third panels. Finally, the form has a first adhesive area provided on the first face of at least one of the second or third panels and a second adhesive area provided on the second face of at least one of the first and second panels, wherein the first and second adhesive areas adhere the third panel to the first face of the second panel and the first panel to the second face of the second panel when the substrate sheet is folded about the fold lines.
US07748594B2

A solder repairing apparatus includes a stage designed to place the surface of at least a specific part of an object along a reference plane within a specific spot defined on the stage. A heating unit applies a thermal energy to the specific spot. A dividing plate is designed to move into the specific spot in a vertical attitude perpendicular to the reference plane. The dividing plate exhibits a low solder wettability. The solder melts in response to the application of the thermal energy. When the dividing plate in the vertical attitude enters the specific spot, the dividing plate gets into the solder. Since the dividing plate exhibits a low solder wettability, the dividing plate repels the solder. The solder is divided into two parts. The division of the solder reliably eliminates a short circuit in the electronic circuit.
US07748593B2

A friction stir welding apparatus and a method of operating the friction stir welding apparatus are disclosed. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a rotary tool whose extremity constitutes a probe, a retaining arm which supports the rotary tool, and a roller provided at a position of the retaining arm opposite the rotary tool. The method includes adjusting the retaining arm so as to position workpieces between the rotary tool and the roller while adjusting the roller to turn in a direction where a joint line of the workpieces extends, rotating the rotary tool and lowering the probe until the probe presses the workpieces, gradually inserting the probe into the joint line, and moving the probe along the joint line.
US07748588B2

A magazine includes guide portions formed at a pair of side walls to be opposed to each other for introducing to guide a portion of a nail shaft portion, an opening portion formed on a base end side of a nose portion relative to the guide portion of one of the side walls, a first attaching portion formed on a front end side of the nose portion relative to the guide portion of the one side wall, a second attaching portion formed on the base end side of the nose portion relative to the guide portion of the other side wall, and a notched portion formed on the front end side of the nose portion relative to the guide portion of the other side wall.
US07748582B2

A combination blanket and seat article is disclosed. The blanket portion comprises a king-size terry cloth sheet with two removable seat cushions installed in pockets. Straps attaché the seat back to the seat cushion and secure the seat for comfort. Weights around the periphery of the blanket secure it in place. The blanket portion can be used separately from the seat portion. When the seat is inserted, the back portion can be rolled to form a pillow. A strap is provided to hold the rolled back in position. Handles are provided for carrying the article. Shoulder straps are also provided to enable carrying the article as a backpack.
US07748581B2

A three-dimensional collar shape retaining hanger prevents collars of a plurality of garments from being crushed and is capable of being stacked in a large number. The hanger has a hook portion and a hanger body. Between the hook portion and the hanger body, a connecting plate part which is a central collar supporting portion body is provided to connect the hook portion and the hanger body. A pair of first curved parts which protrudes toward a rear side of the hanger so as to abut on a rear neck portion of a collar is connected to right and left sides of the connecting plate part. To end portions of the first curved parts, a pair of second curved parts is connected at each distal end thereof. Each base end of the second curved parts is connected to the hanger body. A portion between the distal end and the base end of each of the second curved parts protrudes toward the front side of the hanger so as to abut on an inside of a front portion of the collar. By this structure, a curve on a rear neck portion of a collar is supported by the first curved parts while a curve on a front portion of the collar is supported by the second curved parts, thereby retaining a whole curve of the collar. Therefore, when a large number of garments hung on the three-dimensional collar shape retaining hangers are stacked, the collars are not crushed.
US07748580B2

A fluid dispenser head for associating with a fluid reservoir (1), the head having: a stationary base (2) formed by, or for mounting on, the reservoir; a rotary actuator element (3) mounted in rotary manner on the base (2) so as to turn about an axis of rotation between two extreme abutment positions; and a dispenser orifice (30) that can be closed selectively by turning the element on the base. The two extreme abutment positions define two open positions of the dispenser orifice separated by at least one position in which the dispenser orifice is closed. The dispenser orifice (30) is situated on the axis of rotation of the element on the base.
US07748576B2

A pump assembly with a pressable head includes a push tube, an inner tube, a stop valve, and an outer tube; a top of the push tube passing through the outer tube; the push tube communicates with the inner tube; a bottom of the inner tube is formed with an annular plug; the annular plug of the inner tube has a plurality of via holes defined therein. The via holes have inclined inner walls. A top of the inner tube has a stop valve; the stop valve is a flat structure; an elastic structure is formed on a periphery of the stop valve; by elastic deformation of the elastic structure, the stop valve tightly adheres to an inner wall of the outer tube; an interior of the outer tube has a stepped structure with a greater diameter at an upper side and a smaller diameter at a lower side.
US07748569B2

A hanging spice dispenser comprises a plate assembly and a container assembly for storing spices. The plate assembly comprises a non-magnetic planer plate and a plurality of magnetic elements embedded at pre-determined locations. The container assembly comprises a generally cylindrical spice container, a removable cap and a magnetic element. Magnetic attraction force between the magnetic element of the container assembly and the magnetic element of the plate assembly is exerted when the container assembly is placed in proximity to the plate assembly. The container assembly is capable of detaching from the bottom surface of the plate assembly when force is applied to the container assembly. The removable cap and the plate assembly form self-seal in order to prevent air and moisture from entering into the generally cylindrical container. This invention relates to spice dispensers, and the principal use of the invention is for dispensing spices in a kitchen.
US07748567B2

A single dose dual fluid cartridge for use with a hand-held applicator is disclosed. With the disclosed dual fluid cartridge, a hand-held applicator may be used to dispense and mix two component end products (e.g. an adhesive). Such an ability to dispense a single dose of a two component end product is especially useful in the dental field.
US07748546B2

A rack truss for use in forming shelf-type storage racks which may be assembled at the site using bolts and/or which includes reinforcement at the lower level of the rack truss.
US07748543B2

A dish rack assembly has a dish rack, and a base having a bottom wall on which the dish rack is positioned. The base includes a first edge having a first water outlet provided adjacent the first edge, and a second edge having a second water outlet provided adjacent the second edge. The second edge is adjacent to the first edge. A removable water stopper can be secured to either the first water outlet or the second water outlet. In addition, a first leg can be positioned adjacent a third edge that is opposite to the first edge, and a second leg can be positioned adjacent a fourth edge that is opposite to the second edge.
US07748538B2

A kit for making a holder for a pet food dish or bowl and the holder itself. The holder is arranged to be readily initially assembled from the kit and once assembled to be disassembled and reassembled whenever desired. The holder comprises a base member having an upstanding peripheral sidewall, a pair of side splash-guard members and a rear splash-guard member. The side splash-guard members are arranged to be releasably mounted on respective portions of the peripheral sidewall opposite each other. The rear splash-guard member is arranged to be releasably mounted on another respective portion of the peripheral sidewall between the side splash-guard members. The base member has a bottom wall on which the at least one pet food dish or bowl may be disposed.
US07748536B2

A snack holder includes a generally cylindrical cup sized and shaped lower section and a larger container or multiple container upper or adjacent section for holding snack foods, additional cups and the like. The snack holder is formed from a single sheet of paper or foldable material that is cut and folded into a desired configuration having a lower or bottom frustoconical or truncated cylindrical section, and an upper generally rectangular parallelepiped container section.
US07748529B2

A surgical instrument case which includes a primary case which is substantially rectangular and has a pair of opposite side walls, a pair of opposite end walls and a bottom wall. A secondary case fits within the primary case, and the secondary case has at least one attachment element on an outside surface of the secondary case. The at least one attachment element is configured for connecting to at least one of the side walls and the end walls when the secondary case is mounted on an outside of at least one of the opposite side walls and the opposite end walls.
US07748526B2

The invention relates to a mixing device with a first chamber (1) for a first component, in particular a powder [a liquid], a second chamber (12) for a second component, in particular a liquid [powder], and a divider means (11, 13) separating the first and the second chamber. The second chamber is defined by an inner hollow cylinder (10) which is arranged so as to be moved in a piston-like fashion in an outer hollow body (2) defining the first chamber. According to the invention, the first chamber comprises an evacuation opening (5) which is adapted to be connected with a vacuum source. The invention further relates to a method for vacuum packaging the mixing device.
US07748521B2

A conveyer belt abrasion detecting apparatus which can automatically detect a conveyer belt abrasion quantity easily and accurately during operation. A plurality of magnet sheets (M1-M5) magnetized in a thickness direction are arranged so that polarities on the surface are in the same direction and are embedded deeper stepwise in a longitudinal direction of a belt main body (2). A magnetic sensor (4) for detecting changes of the magnetic forces of the magnet sheets (M1-M5) is arranged at a position where the magnet sheets (M1-M5) pass through.
US07748514B2

A conveyance device suitable for an automobile assembling plant has an object loading and unloading conveyance device between a hanging conveyance line, in which a pallet supporting a door is conveyed while being supported by a hanging hanger, and an object loading and unloading position on the floor side. The conveyance device also has a pallet transferring position set above the object loading and unloading position, a horizontal conveyance device, which conveys a pallet between the pallet transferring position and a hanger stop position, and an elevating conveyance device which conveys the pallet vertically between the object loading and unloading position and the pallet transferring position. The elevating conveyance device rotates a plurality of pallet mounting bases in an endless cyclic elevating path while holding these in erect postures, and the pallet mounting bases are arranged at even intervals equal to the distance between the upper and lower positions.
US07748512B2

A container lock with a housing and, positioned in it, a bolt that can be displaced by actuating a handle, with an insertion shaft for inserting a coin, with a scanning device for scanning the diameter of the coin inserted into the insertion shaft as far as a scanning position, where the scanning device interacts with a blocking device in such a way that the bolt can be displaced only with a coin having a correct diameter. It is proposed that the scanning device should configure a fixing jaw, which securely grips the coin that is inserted in the insertion shaft so that it is partly accessible from outside in the scanning position with the bolt pre-locked to prevent its withdrawal.
US07748504B2

A hydraulic servo for a brake in an automatic transmission has a piston secured against rotation without provision of a protrusion on the piston engaging the transmission casing. The piston of the hydraulic servo has an inner cylindrical surface configured to grasp, along their lengths, return springs compressed between the piston and a return plate to which the return springs are fixed. The return plate is bolted to a bulkhead portion of the transmission case and, thus, the piston member is fixed to the bulkhead portion and thereby prevented from rotating.
US07748503B2

A cable fixing point for fastening at least one cable includes a cable end fastening for the cable end and a rotary mounting for the cable end fastening, wherein the rotary mounting enables rotation of the cable end fastening about an axis and the axis can be aligned by a tension force acting on the cable. In an elevator for transporting at least one load carrier by at least one cable movable in its longitudinal direction wherein the respective cable at the cable end is disposed under a tension force, the direction of which is variable in dependence on a position of the load carrier, this cable fixing point permits rotation of the cable at the cable fixing point about an axis which is aligned in the respective direction of the tension force and/or in the respective longitudinal direction of a cable segment adjoining the cable fixing point.
US07748502B2

In an elevator apparatus, a single car is raised and lowered by a plurality of hoisting machines. An elevator control device for controlling the hoisting machines generates speed commands separately for the hoisting machines. When a current value of one of the hoisting machines reaches a current set value, which is set in advance during acceleration of the car, the elevator control device applies the speed command for that one of the hoisting machines, whose current value has reached the current set value, to the other hoisting machine as well.
US07748499B2

A lubrication flow control mechanism for a power transmission includes a bearing member and a spring biasing the bearing member in a direction. The bearing member and the spring cooperate to sufficiently restrict flow past the bearing to cause increased fluid flow to a lubrication-requiring member located downstream of the bearing. A method of limiting lubrication flow in a transmission is also provided.
US07748490B2

An electrically operable wheelchair having a seat, a base with a pair of motors respectively coupled with the main support wheels, a position detection assembly, and a controller coupled with the position detection assembly and the motors for controlling wheelchair operation in order to effect desired wheelchair movements. The hands-free input device of the invention, which includes the position detection assembly and a position detection device, provides input signals representative of desired wheelchair movements to the controller. The position detection device detects the position of the seat. Movement of the seat, rather than a joystick, creates the voltage signals which are then transmitted to the wheelchair controller.
US07748487B2

This invention provides a device capable of covering the surface of an object situated in a gas with a region filled with a liquid and of moving such region, capable of sucking and collecting such liquid from the surface of the object wetted by the liquid and of drying such surface, and is capable of allowing such region to adhere to and crawl along the surface of the subject, while conducting ultrasonic flaw detection or ultrasonic cleaning of the surface of the object.This invention provides a device comprising a stereoshaped first region having an annular surface A and a stereoshaped second region having an annular surface B wherein the surface A is the boundary surface between the surface of an object and the first region and the surface B is the boundary surface between the surface of an object and the second region, the portion defining the outer boundary of the surface A is provided with an outer seal member, the portion defining the inner boundary of the surface A is provided with an inner seal member, the first region is connected to a gas suction means, the second region is connected to a liquid supply means, the first region is located on the downstream side of the gas surrounding the device, the first region is located on the downstream side of the second region, and the liquid flowing out of the second region reaches the first region and is subsequently transported by suction to the suction means.
US07748486B2

Self-leveling legs are used to accommodate landing a ducted fan hovercraft on a sloped surface such as a roof-top. These legs move to accommodate a variation of slope within their range of motion irrespective to the azimuth of the vehicle body. The configuration and operation of the landing legs allow the hovercraft to land in a stable fashion with the hovercraft vehicle body maintained in a vertical orientation. The basic kinematics of the present invention is the displacement of one landing leg upwards is connected by a horizontal member to the opposite leg and displaces it downwards, and visa-versa. Planar surface contact is accomplished by the unique curvature of the legs and the splay of the legs from the vehicle body.
US07748483B2

The present invention provides an accessory drive system for a parallel electric hybrid vehicle. The apparatus includes an engine and a motor/generator independently connectable to a transmission. At least one torque-transmitting device selectably connects an engine and a motor/generator with a transmission. A drive pulley is connected to an output shaft of the engine. A plurality of driven pulleys are each connected to an accessory. A drive belt connectively couples the drive pulley and the plurality of driven pulleys, and is operable to transfer drive forces between the drive pulley and the plurality of driven pulleys. A controller is operatively connected to the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator, and is configured to control the torque-transmitting device, the engine and the motor/generator to ensure the plurality of accessories are adequately powered.
US07748481B2

A hybrid powertrain is provided including an internal combustion engine sufficiently configured for operation in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode of operation. An electric motor and an electric storage device are provided in parallel hybrid combination with the internal combustion engine. A transmission is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The engine may operate in one of a two-stroke and a four-stroke cycle.
US07748479B2

A brace or gusset is added to the first and last flight blade of an auger length for stability and reinforcement. The braces are generally box shaped with the flight blade as the box bottom. The brace walls are welded together along with a top panel. The brace is adjacent the auger shaft on one end and complementary shaped on one side to conform to the shape of the flight helix. A deflector is added to the last flight blade to distribute dirt and debris away from the first flight blade on the subsequent auger length. The auger length is reinforced against the twisting torque and compressive forces that occur at the first and last flight blade.
US07748477B2

A boring system and method for same, relating to the boring system and method therefor, in particular to the boring system and method therefor for forming boring holes on the ground, which includes a bit unit for boring the ground, a connecting rod connected with a driving device for transmitting driving force to the bit unit, and a guide unit connected with the connecting rod in a longitudinal direction, the guide unit guiding movement of the bit unit along a guide groove which is formed in a casing inserted into an adjacent boring hole in a longitudinal direction, is disclosed.
US07748476B2

A gripper mechanism for downhole tool is disclosed that includes a linkage mechanism and a flexible toe disposed over the linkage mechanism. In operation, an axial force generated by a power section of the gripper expands the linkage mechanism, which applies a radial expansion force to the flexible toe. For certain expansion diameters, the expansion force can be primarily transmitted to the toe from a roller-ramp interface expanding the linkage. For other expansion diameters, the expansion force can be primarily transmitted to the toe by expansion of the linkage in a three-bar linkage configuration. For other expansion diameters, the expansion force can be primarily transmitted to the toe by expansion of the linkage in a four-bar linkage configuration. Thus, the gripper can provide a desired expansion force over a large range of expansion diameters.
US07748473B2

A top drive system for wellbore operations, the top drive system including motor apparatus, a main shaft driven by the motor apparatus, the main shaft having a top end and a bottom end, a quill connected to the main shaft, a gear system interconnected with the quill and the motor apparatus, and a multi-seal system for sealing against the quill. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
US07748470B2

Apparatus for trimming grass around sprinkler heads or tending a small garden area includes a tubular member having a plurality of serrations formed on one end for cutting grass around such sprinkler heads. A housing member partially disposed for reciprocal movement within the tubular member. A plate disposed for closing one end of housing member and having an outer periphery engageable with an inner surface of such tubular member for guiding during reciprocal movement. A second guide disposed around outer periphery of such housing member intermediate each end thereof. Another elongated rod like member engages an end of such first elongated rod like member. A caged biasing means is disposed over the second rod like member for absorbing shock during use of apparatus and a mechanism for manipulating the apparatus while trimming such grass around such sprinkler head or tending such small garden area.
US07748466B2

A method for inserting a tool into a wellbore includes uncoiling a coiled tubing into the wellbore to a selected depth therein. When the tubing is at the selected depth, the tubing is uncoupled. A tool is inserted into the interior of the tubing. The tubing is reconnected, and the tool is moved along the interior of the tubing.
US07748460B2

A tubing string assembly for fluid treatment of a wellbore includes substantially pressure holding closures spaced along the tubing string, which each close at least one port through the tubing string wall. The closures are openable by a sleeve drivable through the tubing string inner bore.
US07748457B2

Methods and systems for creating fractures in a geological formation surrounding a well bore. In one implementation, a treatment material may be disposed at the bottom of the well bore. One or more propellant apparatuses may be immersed in the treatment material and a propellant may then be burned inside a first propellant apparatus to create fractures in the geological formation.
US07748455B2

A two part epoxy resin system is surface mixed in a method of primary cementing a well. This surface mixed epoxy resin is then placed in the annulus of the well. Finally, the mixture in situ forms a hard impermeable mass.
US07748451B2

The present invention relates to improved low-quality particulates and methods of making such improved particulates. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising providing a slurry comprising a treatment fluid and low-quality particulates at least partially coated with an aqueous tackifying composition, wherein the aqueous tackifying composition comprises an aqueous tackifier compound and an aqueous liquid; introducing the slurry into a subterranean formation; and, depositing the coated, low-quality particulates into the portion of this subterranean formation. A method of improving particulates, comprising at least partially coating low-quality particulates with an aqueous tackifying composition, wherein the aqueous tackifying composition comprises an aqueous tackifier compound and an aqueous liquid.
US07748446B2

A Seismic source comprising an actuator having a rotary part (104) and a reciprocative part (105), conversion means (109) in the form of corrugated surfaces to convert a rotation of the rotary part (104) into a reciprocal movement of the reciprocative part (105), and a vibrator body (106) that is connected to the reciprocative part (105) of the actuator by means of a spring (107).
US07748435B2

A temperature regulator having a heat exchange unit and a power supply and control unit and providing a heat-exchange apparatus, which can be installed in a minimal space and yet is very easy to handle. The temperature regulator includes a heat exchange unit which has a tank, a pump and a heat exchanger, and circulates a liquid to exchange heat with circulating liquid, and a power supply and control unit which has a power supply and control device, and controls temperature of the circulating liquid. The heat exchange unit and the power supply and control unit are arranged in an interior of a main frame.
US07748432B2

A support assembly for a collapsible automobile shade such as a pleated or folding screen which can be selectively moved between a collapsed position for storage and an open position for placement in a vehicle window. The support assembly consists of one or more arcuate compressible members which extend beyond the perimeter of the pleated or folding screen. Each of the arcuate compressible members is resiliently compressible, for the purpose of conforming to an edge or perimeter of an automobile window in which the shade is installed, while maintaining the screen in an open position, thereby supplying an expansive force to hold the shade in place in the open position. The shade can also be provided with a pocket.
US07748425B2

A method and apparatus are provided, for handling the backing film in a fiber placement process, by winding-up the backing film, into a roll, as the backing film is separated from a fiber tow. The backing film is wound-up in such a manner that it can be fed back out to rejoin the tow, should it be necessary to rewind a portion of the tow during the fiber placement process. The backing film may be wound onto a paper or cardboard core for ease of removal and handling.
US07748421B2

The concept of using a cutting element proximate the end of an excavator or similar device, along with the concept of using a cogged belt pulley configuration, an overhead load adaptor, a single- or multiple-pivoting drum configuration, and other concepts disclosed herein. The present invention also provides an improvement of the prior art by providing a chipping action, which is according to the present invention an improvement over prior art shredding configurations.
US07748412B2

In one embodiment, a hose is provided which includes a tubular inner core layer and a tubular outer layer. A single reinforcing layer is disposed between the tubular inner core layer and the tubular outer layer and is formed strands having a 1-over, 1-under braid pattern, a 3-over, 3-under braid pattern, or a 4-over, 4-under braid pattern. The strands define a coverage of the tubular inner core layer of at least about 75%.
US07748410B2

A first liquid fed into a first flow passage 6 of a fluid handling apparatus travels to the open end thereof on the side of a second flow passage 7 due to capillarity. The movement of the first liquid is uniformed on the cross section of the flow passage by the function of a capillarity promoting portion 220 or 230 of the bottom 21 of the first flow passage 6. Then, the movement of a second liquid fed into the second flow passage 7 is uniformed on the cross section of the flow passage by the function of the capillarity promoting portion 220 or 230 of the bottom 21 of the second flow passage 7. Thus, the movement of the front end of the second liquid is substantially uniformed to surely extrude gas from the second flow passage 7 to the outside via a fourth flow passage 10.
US07748409B2

A fluid carrying system is disclosed including a fluid transport component and an overmold component.
US07748394B2

A dishwasher with a system for filling level recognition may be achieved which reliably determines the fluid level inside the dishwasher without the use of moving parts, whereby the dishwasher is provided with at least one capacitive filling level sensor for recognition of the fluid level of the rinsing fluid contained in the dishwasher, the electrical capacitance of which changes depending on the height of the fluid level. The fluid level in the dishwasher can thus be reliably determined without the need for moving parts and merely by the use of electronic components. The system further permits a non-contact filling level recognition, whereby the filling level sensor and the rinsing fluid do not come into contact.
US07748393B2

A produce cleaning machine provides baskets for holding large and small produce items and water sprayers for directing water jets onto the produce from above and below. One basket is motorized to rotate to more evenly clean the produce, while a further basket can be rolled in and out of the machine to make loading and unloading easier. The force of the spray is adjustable and the rotational speed of the motor is as well to provide for special handling of the produce. Rotation after cleaning is used to help dry the produce, and ultraviolet emission is used to sanitize the produce.
US07748390B2

A stretch comb hair retainer has opposed combs (11, 13) connected together by elastic strands (a-h) that are secured at spaced intervals along the spines of the combs. The elastic strands are interwoven to form a elastic mesh (25) of stretchable openings (27, 29) between the combs which hold down the hair. Hair can be pulled through any of the multiple stretchable openings of the mesh if and as desired to create particular hair styles. The individual elastic strands of the elastic mesh can be used without decorative elements on the strands, or with decorative elements such as decorative beads (31, 33) of various sizes and shapes.
US07748389B2

The present invention relates to apparatus for methods for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes an expandable anchor with leaflet engagement elements on the proximal end of the anchor and a replacement valve. The leaflet engagement elements can be used to prevent distal migration and insure proper positioning of the apparatus.
US07748388B2

It is disclosed that a long elevation time is obtained and the efficiency of resection can be improved by providing an endoscopic injectable preparation using high molecular weight hyaluronic acid having an average molecular weight of 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 or its salt.In treating early cancer or other neoplastic mucosal lesion, the lesion is resected with handling of an endoscope (“endoscopic mucosal resection”) instead of performing a major surgical operation such as laparotomy, thoracotomy or organ excision. In performing endoscopic mucosal resection, physiological saline, or a solution of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid or its salt is injected into a stratum below the site of lesion scheduled for resection to elevate the site of lesion, thereby increasing the efficiency of resection. To raise the efficiency of endoscopic mucosal resection, however, the development of an injectable preparation presenting a longer elevation time and requiring a low injection pressure has been desired.
US07748383B1

Air filters for use in nostrils, building structures and vehicles. The air filter is washable, reusable, non-toxic, and, for nostrils, comfortable to wear. It filters or stops allergens, while allowing airflow.
US07748379B2

Apparatus, methods, and kits for treating symptoms associated with common ailments, such as headaches, rhinitis, asthma, epilepsy, nervous disorders and the like, are provided. The apparatus comprises dispensers for carbon dioxide and other therapeutic gases. The methods comprise delivering small volumes of these gases to patients in a manner where the gas infuses into a body region in order to bathe the mucous membranes therein. It has been found that even very short exposure of patients to small volumes and high concentrations of such gases can provide significant relief from symptoms.
US07748377B2

A nebulized fluid, generated by vibrating an aerosolization element, is introduced into a breathing circuit during a certain interval of a patient's breathing cycle. In some embodiments, the fluid comprises an antibiotic that is selected to treat a pulmonary infection resulting from mechanical ventilation.
US07748365B2

A gas powered internal combustion engine in which the gas is provided from pressurized liquid gas in an LPG container and in which the LPG container is rigidly mounted adjacent to the internal combustion engine at a preselected angle to be in conductive heat transfer relationship to the internal combustion engine and in vibration receiving relationship to the internal combustion engine whereby the liquified gas in the LPG container is heated and the effective surface area thereof is increased.
US07748364B2

The invention relates to a fuel-injection system (102), in which a rail (120) is provided for each injector between a high-pressure fuel pump (111) and said injectors (116).
US07748361B2

Disclosed is a piston for a combustion engine, comprising a cooling duct with a single inlet port and at least two outlet ports, at least two of which are separated from each other regarding the discharged coolant. Also disclosed is a combustion engine comprising at least one such piston.
US07748358B2

A variable valve train apparatus (20) has a formed on a camshaft, a rocking cam driven by the cam, an intake valve or an exhaust valve driven by the rocking cam, a control shaft provided for rotation and side by side with the camshaft, a control arm having one end held on the control shaft and the other end projecting from the control shaft, an actuator which rotates the control shaft to displace the control arm, a transmission arm connected to the other end of the control arm for rocking motion around a rocking axis in substantially the same direction as an axial direction of the control shaft and transmits a displacement of the control arm to the rocking cam, and an adjustment mechanism which adjusts a distance between an axis of the control shaft and the rocking axis of the transmission arm.
US07748349B2

A submersible rotatable cage for fish farming comprises a central axle, a buoyant structure positioned about the central, a netting attached to the buoyant structure and an actuator in operable communication with at least part of the buoyant structure and adapted to facilitate rotation of the buoyant structure about the central axle while the cage is in a submerged position. The cage can form part of a system, which includes a net cleaning apparatus, a tethering mechanism and sweep net, that can be used for nearly complete underwater fish farming.
US07748344B2

An ion shower system is disclosed and comprises a plasma source operable to generate source gas ions within a chamber. The plasma source further comprises a plurality of conductor segments and a plurality of capacitors, wherein the conductor segments are serially connected through the plurality of capacitors. The plasma source further comprises an antenna drive circuit coupled to the plurality of conductor segments that provides power to the conductor segments and capacitors at a predetermined frequency. The ion shower system also comprises a source gas inlet that provides a source gas to the chamber. The conductor segments, capacitors and antenna drive circuit cooperatively provide energy to charged particles in the chamber, thereby energizing the charged particles and generating a plasma comprising source gas ions and electrons within the chamber due to ionizing collisions between the energized charged particles and the source gas.
US07748340B1

The officiating flag apparatus is partly an air pump having a pump with removably attachable air fitting. An air gauge is disposed on and in communication with the pump. An officiating flag is attached to the pump, thereby combining a pump, an air pressure gauge, and an officiating flag in one apparatus.
US07748337B2

An automatic boat washing system including several brush assemblies mounted on a vertically movable cage supported by a mainframe assembly and side ballast tanks is disclosed. The vertical position of the movable cage and brush assemblies may be adjusted in relation to the mainframe and ballast tanks during operation of the system. Rollers are used for supporting and drawing boats through the automatic boat washing assembly. The automatic boat washing assembly of the present invention may be used to clean powerboats in areas below the waterline in order to improve boat performance.
US07748326B2

A docking station for a monorail carrier system is provided. The carrier system includes a trolley that is configured to repositionably support a payload, and is adapted for interactive movement along a transfer bridge. The docking station includes a receiver plate having a rail-side portion perpendicularly oriented with a first interface portion that has one or more magnets attached thereto. A clamp assembly is attached to the rail-side portion, and operates to fasten the receiver plate to the transfer bridge at a predetermined location. The docking station also includes a docking plate having a trolley-side portion configured to securely attach to the trolley, and a second interface portion perpendicularly oriented with the trolley-side portion. The second interface portion is configured to magnetically cooperate with the first interface portion and thereby temporarily suspend the trolley at the predetermined location.
US07748324B2

A method to ensure payload activation of ordnance independently of a preset period of time including the steps of providing a power source to a clock, a detonator and a trigger circuit; the clock providing an initial count and a terminal count; the initial count providing a trigger signal to the trigger; the trigger circuit providing a terminal count signal to a self-destruct system if a malfunction results in no clock operation.
US07748318B2

A multi-color rotary printing machine has one printing plate support assigned to the colors that are transferred onto the print substrate. This printing plate support supports a printing plate and is attached to a mandrel or a cylinder of a rotary printing machine in order to transfer the print image onto the print substrate. The rotary printing machine has register devices that determine the position of the printing plates with respect to one another and that have sensors to determine the positions of the printing plate support in the printing machine.
US07748317B2

The invention relates to an automatic handling and transportation device for a printer housing. The device comprises a basic mobile unit movable on a first route and at least one handling unit mounted on the basic mobile unit. The handling unit includes a support for guiding and supporting housings born on a second route parallel to a housing-bearing assembly on a printing machine, able to be aligned with the same and an grasping/holding device, adapted to hold a housing and move it on the second route between a transferral position in which the grasping/holding device interacts with the housing installed on the housing-bearing assembly, and a transportation position in which the housing, held by the grasping/holding device is on the support, and vice-versa.
US07748300B2

Pliers, with two arms that are joined together via an articulation pin. One of the arms has a protuberance with a lateral channel that extends via one of the orifices, a pusher being located in the channel and having an inner channel that accommodates a spring that acts between the pusher and the arm. The articulation pin is joined by means of screwing to the pusher in the region of the lateral channel, a toothed claw being arranged coaxially therebetween with mechanical continuity. The pusher is continued as an extension located on the walls of the other orifice in the work position. Applicable to hand tools.
US07748298B2

A self-energizing and de-energizing adjustable gripping tool for engaging a work piece to impart work thereto includes a first element and second element connected for relative movement. The second element includes an actuation portion having a plurality of slots. The first element includes gripping elements which are each associated with a force transfer element which engages one of the slots such that movement of the second element relative to the first element actuates the gripping elements to engage the work piece.
US07748294B2

The present invention relates to a tattoo device having a single DC coil with a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit to control when the single DC coil is energized. Such arrangement eliminates the need for a set screw as in traditional tattoo machines and allows for a lighter device having fewer vibrations, better balance, and improved precision when being used.
US07748285B2

A precision motion transducer is provided in the present invention. The precision motion transducer is provided with a first elastic body. An end of the first elastic body is connected to an end of a second elastic body, while the other end of the second elastic body is fixed to a base via a fixing means. A motion input means is connected to the other end of the first elastic body for inputting motion inputs, while a motion output means is provided at a location where the first elastic body is connected with the second elastic body for outputting motion outputs. The modulus of elastic of the first elastic body is smaller than the modulus of elastic of the second elastic body, whereby relatively large motion inputs can be converted to more precise and finer motion inputs, so as to attain precise positioning control.
US07748284B2

A lubricating element for rolling element tracks, particularly linear motion systems, has a body composed of a lubricant-storing material, which includes an application section capable of being brought in contact with a rolling element bearing surface to supply lubricant; the body has an elongated shape in a first storage region adjacent to the application section, and a lubricant flow through the first storage region triggered via the dispensing of lubricant at the application section is essentially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the first storage region.
US07748274B2

Document inspection system comprising a transport system for transporting documents along a transport path (12) through an inspection station. At least one ultrasonic inspection apparatus at the inspection station, the apparatus including ultrasonic transmitting and receiving transducers (42,44) arranged on opposite sides of the transport path, and a processing system for monitoring ultrasonic signals received by the receiving transducer. An ultrasonic absorbing material (300) is provided around the transducers and facing the transport path for absorbing ultrasound reflected by a document. Document guide apparatus (312,314), having a lower coefficient of friction than the absorbing material, extends partially over the absorbing material (300) so as to prevent documents contacting the absorbing material in use while leaving the absorbing material exposed to the transport path at least adjacent the transducers.
US07748262B2

A coolant flow measurement device includes a coolant flow circuit, a cooling system, a purge system, a variable speed fluid pump, a differential pressure gage and a primary flow meter. The coolant flow circuit may be attached to a an HVAC system of the vehicle such that coolant may be circulated through the HVAC system of the vehicle. The cooling system may cool the coolant in the coolant flow circuit. The purge system may be used to purge air from the coolant flow circuit. The variable speed fluid pump may be operable to balance the fluid pressure between the device inlet and the device outlet. The primary flow meter may be operable to measure the coolant flow in the coolant flow circuit. The differential pressure gage measures a pressure differential between the device inlet and the device outlet.
US07748261B2

An internal combustion engine torque estimation device that accurately estimates the torque of an internal combustion engine without being affected by engine speed changes. A reference signal, which is output at predetermined rotation angle intervals of a crankshaft for the engine, is acquired. In accordance with the reference signal, the amount of change in the rotation speed of the crankshaft is acquired as a rotational fluctuation. A filtering process is performed on the rotational fluctuation in synchronism with reference signal output timing to extract a frequency component synchronized with a combustion cycle of the engine. The torque of the engine is estimated in accordance with the extracted frequency component.
US07748259B2

Systems and methods for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) surface analysis. Exemplary embodiments include systems and methods for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) surface analysis, including a SOFC having a ceramic surface, a scanner adjacent the ceramic surface for collecting data related to the ceramic surface, a structure for retaining the SOFC with respect to the scanner, a device for collecting a processing the ceramic surface data and a process residing on the device, the process for analyzing and presenting the ceramic surface data.
US07748252B2

A phantom device for mimicking anatomical structures, comprising: at least one electronic device layer comprising segmented areas of liquid crystals for forming a graphic layout of an anatomical structure; the segments comprising dyes of various absorbing characteristics for mimicking anatomical structures such as blood vessels; the areas further comprising electrically controllable optical diffuser and/or absorber elements for varying the absorption in the segments so as to mimic dynamical properties of said anatomical structure.
US07748246B1

A handle and housing assembly includes a housing having front and rear sides. A handle is connected on the front side of the housing to a shaft that extends through the housing along a forwardly-rearwardly extending axis. The handle may turn the shaft about the axis to turn components connected to a rear portion of the shaft, and/or the handle may move shaft-connected components forwardly and rearwardly along the axis of the shaft. In some embodiments, the housing defines a forwardly facing recess, and the handle is nestable within and extendable from the recess. In some embodiments, the handle and housing are provided with padlockable formations that extend side by side when the handle is in its nested or retracted position. In some embodiments, rearwardly extending housing-carried formations cooperate with a shaft-connected component to limit the permitted range of turning movement of the shaft about the principal axis, and/or the formations extend along opposite sides of a path of travel followed by a lock bolt to guide the lock bolt as it moves between locked and unlocked positions to selectively prevent and permit turning of the shaft about the principal axis.
US07748242B2

A drum type washing machine includes a water tub, a drum mounted in the water tub so as to be rotatable a wash operation and a dehydration operation are carried out, the drum including an end plate, a drum support provided on the end plate of the drum and including a mount portion on which a shaft supporting the drum is mounted thereon, and a cover covering the mount portion of the drum support so that the mount portion is rendered substantially planar.
US07748232B2

A food container and refrigerator having the same are provided, by which contents accommodated in the food container may be taken out of the food container. The food container includes a main body having an entrance on a top side of the main body, a cover opening or closing the entrance of the main body, and a locking unit having one side connected to the main body and the other side detachably engaged with an upper part of the cover to prevent the cover from being opened.
US07748217B2

A real-time system for modeling a turbo-charged engine includes a model configured to estimate various exhaust states such as turbine inlet pressure, turbine outlet pressure, turbine outlet temperature, turbine mass flow rate and waste-gate valve mass flow rate. The model is dependent only on the availability of normal operating values available in a conventionally-configured automotive controller and one or more measured intake side parameters such as ambient pressure, boost pressure, ambient temperature and compressor mass flow rate. The model is constructed to reflect a high-level application of energy conservation between the turbine (generated power) and compressor (absorbed power). A method for the indirect measurement of turbine and waste-gate flow uses turbine inlet and outlet pressure, inlet temperature and engine mass air flow rate measurements. A method for the indirect measurement of turbine efficiency avoids the need for manufacturer's turbine data.
US07748214B2

An exhaust gas purification system for a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. An internal combustion engine and an electric motor are each arranged for providing power output for the vehicle. An exhaust gas purification device is provided in an exhaust gas passage of the engine to treat exhaust gas components contained in the exhaust gas from the engine. A controller is arranged and configured to selectively perform a regeneration operation of the exhaust gas purification device to burn and remove deposits accumulated in the exhaust gas purification device. The controller is further arranged and configured to control the internal combustion engine and the electric motor such that the exhaust gas purification device is restrained from reaching an excessive temperature during the regeneration operation of the exhaust gas purification device.
US07748212B2

An exhaust aftertreatment system has a side inlet flow diffuser and provides even flow exhaust distribution to an aftertreatment element.
US07748209B1

A small single use gas turbine engine with a twin spool rotor shaft and a bypass fan, the rotor shafts being supported for rotation by bearings in the front and rear compartments of the engine. A portion of the bypass fan air is diverted to flow through the bearings in order to provide for cooling of the high speed bearings. Because a large amount of cooling air is required to cool the bearings, an air in tube is positioned in each of the guide vanes in the turbine section to provide for a cooling air passage leading into the rear bearings. In the front bearings, cooling air from the bypass fan is bled off from a location just upstream from the entrance to the centrifugal compressor. A fuel mist tube supplies fuel mist to the cooling air before passing through the bearings to provide extra cooling for the bearings and to provide lubrication to improve the service life of the engine. Because the cooling air is supplied by the bypass fan, the pressure is high enough and the volume is large enough to provide adequate cooling for the high rotational speed bearings used in such a small and high rotating gas turbine engine.
US07748200B2

A reclosable, tamper-proof, fillable package includes a first side panel and a second side panel joined to each other along a pair of spaced side seals. A bottom wall extends between the first and second side panels with the bottom wall and the first and second side panels defining a package interior. A tamper-evident structure having opposite sides connected to each other extends above a combined zipper closure and slider device, and is connected to the zipper closure. Only one side of the tamper-evident structure is initially connected to one of the first and second side panels so that a fill opening adapted to receive a product is created between the other side of the tamper-evident structure and the other of the first and second side panels.
US07748195B2

A support or jack that hangs from the tabs of a poured concrete wall. The support may include a hook that engages in an opening in the tab, to connect the support to the wall. The support may include a slot in which the tab is received, to connect the support to the wall.
US07748188B2

The present invention is a fastening member formed of a single steel plate for fastening exterior panels to a building frame and a structure using the fastening member. The fastening member includes, a base plate portion functioning as a fastening portion to a building frame side, a central supporting portion to be in contact with the rear surface of an upper exterior panel at the time of the fastening, and an engaging portion extended from a lower end of the central supporting portion, the engaging portion being configured to be engaged with upper and lower ends of exterior panels at the time of the fastening. Between an upwardly extended portion and a downwardly extended portion constituting the engaging portion, a cutout for decreasing the rigidity of the engaging portion is formed.
US07748187B2

A bracket for joining at least two spanning members, such as a board and a supporting member, includes a generally planar unitary body having front and rear sections, and a mid-section. The front and rear sections include locking members, which interlock when two brackets are aligned to each other. The bracket allows building of a structure, such as a deck, from top, where the nail or screw heads are hidden.
US07748185B2

A grid simulating muntins for a multi-sheet unit includes a plurality of interconnected vertical and horizontal elongated members. The ends of the elongated members are shaped to engage interior surface of a spacer frame to position the grid within the spacer frame. Shaping the ends of the elongated members eliminates the need for muntin clips.
US07748178B2

The device which serves for the adjustable mounting of a panel (1) to a frame element (5) provided with a lower assembly profile (51) comprises an anchoring bolt (4) serving to hold the panel (1) which comprises anchoring pins (42) on both sides which are held in grooves which lie opposite each other within the assembly profile (51). The panel consists of two glass panels (1a, 1b) connected to each other which comprise at least two recesses (11a, 11b) corresponding to each other, in which preferably cylindrical, outer eccentric elements (2a, 2b) are held preferably in a clearance-free way, which comprise eccentrically arranged, preferably cylindrical openings (21a, 21b) which are orientated concentrically with each other after assembly and preferably hold the introduced shaft (31) of an inner eccentric element (3) in a clearance-free way, which shaft (31) comprises an eccentrically arranged, preferably cylindrical opening (311), in which the anchoring bolt (4) is held.
US07748177B2

A modular tile configured to interlock with multiple tiles to form a modular floor covering over a floor. The tile includes a top surface having a periphery defining side walls extending downward from the top surface, the side walls having a coupling portion configured to couple with other tiles adjacent thereto to form the modular floor covering. The tile also includes a bottom side, opposite the top surface, having a support grid including an array of downward extending polymeric post structures, at least some of the post structures including at least one resilient end portion with a radial end surface configured to be positioned against the floor to facilitate controlled deflection of the post structures. The post structures may comprise primary and secondary post structures, with the secondary post structures limiting the deflection of the primary post structures.
US07748168B2

A panel mounting system to secure a protective panel to a building including a portal or window having a frame including an inner surface formed about the periphery thereof to receive and secure the panel mounting system thereto so that the protective panel covers the portal or window when the panel mounting system is secured in place, the panel mounting system comprising an elongated cross-bar including end portions formed on opposite ends thereof having a first securing assembly including a first panel attachment device formed thereon telescopingly coupled to one end portion of the elongated cross-bar by a first positioning assembly movable between a retracted position and an extended position and a second securing assembly including a second panel attachment device formed thereon telescopingly coupled to the other end portion of the elongated cross-bar by a second positioning assembly movable between an extended position and a retracted position such that the first securing assembly and the second securing assembly engage the inner surface of the frame on opposite sides of the portal or window when the first positioning assembly is moved from the retracted position to the extended position and the second positioning assembly is moved from the extended position to the retracted position when the first positioning assembly is moved from the retracted to the extended position, the first panel attachment device and the second attachment device configured to secure the protective panel to the panel mounting system when the panel mounting system is secured within the portal or window.
US07748160B1

An elongated tubular pesticide dispersion tube is fixed in place in the outer brick wall of a building having an inner structural wall. The dispersion tube can be installed in the mortar between courses of brick during construction or added to an existing structure by drilling a hole through the outer brick wall. A plug is used to seal the dispersion tube when the appliance is not actively being used as to inject a pesticide, an insecticide, or a chemical through the dispersion tube and into the gap between the outer brick wall and the inner structural wall. The method of using the novel appliance to inject a pesticide, an insecticide, or a chemical product into the gap between the outer brick wall and the inner structural wall, thereby sealing the area formed between them is also described.
US07748149B1

An illuminated dispenser and display apparatus for advertisements provides a solar powered display box for real estate flyers or brochures. The box includes a back panel, two side panels, a transparent front panel, a bottom, and a hinged lid or top panel so that a person can lift the lid open and remove a brochure. An internal bright white LED illuminates the front panel and the contents of the box. Power is supplied by an internal rechargeable battery, recharged by a solar panel mounted on the top of the hinged lid. A photo sensor activates the LED during low light conditions. An optional feature provides the inside wall of the back panel with one or a plurality of shelves or detents to accommodate information-bearing cards, such as business cards.
US07748146B2

A method for configuring a shellfish dredge is described. In an embodiment of the invention, a bag on a shellfish dredge has a front side and a back side and is attached to a tow. The front side of the bag has a pair of end peaks, one or more central peaks and an open area for catching shellfish. The end peaks are attached to the tow and the central peaks are attached to vertical chains connected to the tow. The bag is of a depth to catch and contain shellfish.
US07748144B2

Children's footwear configured to have the appearance of a motor vehicle. The footwear has a light emitting device, a sound emitting device, and a remote transmitter for controlling the light emitting device and the sound emitting device. The footwear may come in a variety of motor vehicle appearances.
US07748136B2

A remote center compliance device is provided. The remote center compliance device includes a measuring sensor disposed at a limiter, a measuring block, or an elastic body to measure a force-insertion force or a location displacement of a force-insertion apparatus.
US07748129B2

An apparatus for displaying or measuring a trigonometric sine or cosine is provided, which includes a planar surface with a circle or a portion thereof and a bisecting line through the center of the circle. Two arms are attached to the apparatus. The circle, bisecting line and second arm include incremental markings that correspond to the degree and/or radian measurements of the unit circle, trigonometric cosine and trigonometric sine, respectively. A method is also provided which includes rotating one of the arms to a position along the circle to form an angle. Based upon the position of the first and second arms the trigonometric cosine and trigonometric sine of the angle can be read. An electronic display device that displays the trigonometric sine and trigonometric cosine of an angle can also be included.
US07748124B1

A scalpel assembly utilizing an ejectable blade allowing easy installation and removal of the blade. Use of an ejectable blade permits a used or contaminated blade to fall freely from the scalpel assembly without direct contact with the blade.
US07748123B2

A hand-held hair cutting appliance has a housing, a first cutting blade, and a second cutting blade. The first cutting blade is capable of reciprocating movement relative to the housing. A drive assembly is operatively connected to the first cutting blade for drivingly reciprocating the first cutting blade relative to the housing. A counter weight is adapted for reciprocating movement relative to the housing in response to reciprocating movement of the first cutting blade. The counter weight has at least one of a mass and a location relative to the first cutting blade to thereby at least partially counter-balance the reciprocating movement of the first cutting blade.
US07748100B2

A pipe joint restraint (16) includes a pocket (74) having a fulcrum (92) a fixed distance from the centerline (26) of an annular retaining gland (22) and about which a gripping element (76) pivots to move a gripping edge (75) toward the centerline (26) so as to grip a pipe (14) engaged by the gripping element (76) in response to thrust forces on the pipe (14). The length of gripping edge (75) is selected for the material of pipe (14). Adjustable element (78) operatively connects to the gripping element (76) and fulcrum (92) to pivot with the gripping element (76). Adjustable element (78) and may be torqued to a common, predetermined torque whether the pipe (14) is metal or polymeric.
US07748096B2

A recycling facilitating system including an item identification data input unit for inputting item identification data, an item disassembly data memory for storing item disassembly data in correspondence with the item identification data, an item disassembly data retrieval unit for retrieving the item disassembly data, a disassembly diagram constructing unit for constructing the disassembly diagram based on the item disassembly data, and a disassembly diagram output unit for outputting the disassembly diagram; the disassembly diagram constructing unit determines the progress status of an operation step of disassembling the item to be recycled by identifying a component that was removed during the operation step, and, in accordance with the progress status, constructs one of a plurality of disassembly diagrams, which can be constructed from the item disassembly data that was retrieved by the item disassembly data retrieval unit.
US07748088B1

An apparatus for securing a pair of trousers about a torso includes a face plate and a flexible member that is attached along three perimeter sides of the flexible member to a rear surface of the face plate. A conventional type of a fastener assembly for a belt is attached to the flexible member. A first end of the belt is attached to a rear of the fastener assembly and a second end of the belt engages with a hook, the hook being attached to an opposite end of the fastener assembly. An opening between the face plate and the flexible member along a side of the flexible member that is not attached to the face plate is provided on the remaining side of the flexible member into which a credit card and a picture-identification card, such as a driver's license can be inserted or removed.
US07748082B2

A damper arrangement is provided for parts of furniture that can be pivoted in relation to each other. The arrangement includes at least one damper having a linear damping course, and at least two abutment parts which can be respectively fixed to one of the parts of the furniture, or can be supported thereon in an especially sliding manner. The abutment parts are interconnected in such a way that they can be pivoted by at least one articulated axis. The damper is arranged in such a way that the direction of the linear damping course thereof is at an angle to a parallel line, deviating (offset) from a vertical line, preferably essentially parallel to the articulated axis.
US07748073B2

The present invention is an apparatus for sweeping the indoor or outdoor floors. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a telescoping elongated handle with an attached sweeping member. The sweeping member is made of several layers of Vietnam Dot' Grass which is secured to the lower end of the elongated handle. The lower edge of the grass is cut in the shape of an arc. In another embodiment of the present invention, the elongated stalk of the grass is secured around the elongated handle. The lower edge of the grass of this embodiment is cut in the shape of an one-half arc shape.
US07748068B2

A decoration solar panel bridge supplying power sources, for commercial and residential applications, incorporates at least one solar panel in a decoration bridge comprising members of frame, cross brace and board. The wide boards including solar panels cover straight beams and cross braces as a partial or full surface of the bridge. The slice boards cover the top arc beams or alternative round beams as partial surfaces of the bridge. Each solar panel output power and dimension can be designed for desired power consumption and needed. The alternative frame members can be used to construct different shapes of the bridge and can replace the curve shape frame members. The decoration bridge includes optional members: safety fence members, supporting members and handrail members. Solar powered lights can be installed at the top of safety poles and solar powered light stands can replace the vertical spindle of handrails.
US07748067B2

Provided is a method of minimizing an unbalanced load of laundry within a clothes laundering machine before a high-speed spinning phase. The method includes rotating a drum of the clothes laundering machine at a suitable rotational speed to initially retain at least a portion of the laundry within the drum against an inner surface of the drum; and determining that an unbalanced distribution of the laundry exists within the drum. In response to determining that the unbalanced distribution of laundry exists within the drum, initiating a laundry distribution phase to redistribute the laundry within the drum to reduce at least one of the unbalance mass to a level that is less than or equal to a maximum allowable mass value, and the elevation torque to a level that is less than or equal to a maximum allowable elevation torque. The laundry distribution phase includes decelerating the rotational speed of the drum to a reduced speed that allows at least a portion of the laundry retained against the inner surface of the drum to separate from the inner surface of the drum to be re-distributed within the drum, and subsequent to said decelerating, accelerating the rotational speed of the drum to a suitable speed that is greater than the reduced speed for retaining the re-distributed portion of the laundry against the inner surface of the drum.
US07748058B2

A clothing system includes a set of first pants having a corresponding set of first cuffs and includes a second of second pants having a corresponding set of second cuffs. The sets of pants have different size ranges, but each set has the same outside circumference on the legs of the pants for that set. Each of cuffs in a set has the same inside circumference that will fit the outside circumference for the legs of the corresponding set of pants. Fasteners on the inside circumferences of the cuffs are used to attach and hold the cuffs to fasteners on the outside circumference of the pant legs.
US07752663B2

An analysis unit which effectively detects incidents on the basis of events detected by a security unit such as an intrusion detection system (IDS) or a firewall (FW) installed in a network stores statistical information that is frequency-distributed information of event information obtained from the collection unit, frequency component information obtained by frequency-analyzing the statistical information and the result obtained by making analysis on the basis of the frequency component. The collection unit collects and normalizes event log information outputted by IDS or FW to be stored in an event database (DB). An alert notification unit includes an alert database (DB) for storing an alert instruction transmitted from the analysis unit and an alert notification destination and reports occurrence of incidents to a manager or the like in accordance with the instruction.
US07752659B2

A method and system is described for selectively downloading antidotes onto a client computer. The client computer is connected via a network interface card (NIC) to a network that contains an anti-virus server. The NIC is initially logically isolated from the client computer, thus permitting the NIC to autonomously examine packets to and from the client computer and the network. The NIC selectively accepts packets only from trusted Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that conform to a security format such as Internet Protocol Security (IPSec).
US07752653B1

A method and apparatus for registering auto-configured network addresses includes receiving first data at a networking device connected to a host at a physical connection. The first data is received from a first server and indicates authentication information associated with the host. A first message is received at the networking device from the host. The first message requests configuration information and includes a logical network address for the host determined at least in part by the host. A second message is generated based on the first message and the first data. The second message is sent to a second server that registers the host by associating the logical network address with the first data.
US07752642B2

Disclosed is a method and system in which “labels,” comprising supplemental information such as advertising, promotional, or informational elements including interactive elements, may be superimposed post-production into a video stream. This can be done by using overlay screens including interactive overlay screens or by combining video segments. As such, the labels do not have to physically be part of the actual scene during filming. Once a video stream is created, a space for available advertising is designated either manually or automatically by pattern recognition techniques. A list of available advertising space is generated. During viewing of television broadcasts, advertisements are placed in the video signal. Labels are displayed by superimposing an HTML page that is blank except for the advertisement onto the video signal. Advertisements can be superimposed post-production, and can be personalized and localized. The advertisements can be customized on a per-household basis.
US07752641B2

A disk apparatus includes a bracket, a loading motor, a gear unit, and a slider cam. The loading motor is attached to the bracket. The gear unit is installed in the bracket and is connected with the loading motor for power transmission from the loading motor. The slider cam is transversely movable between a transverse loading/unloading position and a transverse reading position. The slider cam operatively mates with the gear unit and slidably engages with the bracket at a first cam portion and a second cam portion thereof. The first cam portion is engageable with the bracket in a plane different from the second cam portion.
US07752634B1

A method and apparatus to employ a service proxy to personalize service messages by automatically supplying the interface parameters used for communications between a Service provider and its client businesses. The service proxy does this according to context parameters that the client businesses specify during configuration of the messages used to communicate with one or more services. For simpler administration, the context variables may be organized in multiple kinds of hierarchies by which communications parameters specified at a higher level are automatically applied to categories at a lower level, although parameters specified directly for a lower-level category will override parameters from a higher category.
US07752630B2

Techniques for adaptive load balancing using behavior modification hints are disclosed, including, in at least one embodiment, monitoring a server's operating conditions; determining, based on the server's operating conditions, when to send a behavior modification hint to one or more clients that are being served by the server; generating the behavior modification hint based on the server's operating conditions; and sending the behavior modification hint to the one or more clients. In at least one embodiment, a client receives the behavior modification hint and, based on the behavior modification hint, alters a timeout value related to the server or alters its preferred server.
US07752623B1

In one embodiment, a method for allocating resources in a shared resource domain comprises gathering performance data for multiple applications, determining that an application of the multiple applications is not achieving a service level objective (SLO), calculating an additional amount of a resource for the application estimated to cause the application to achieve the SLO, and examining, before initiating reallocation operations, at least one system characteristic to determine whether the calculated additional amount of the resource would improve performance of the application.
US07752622B1

A method for scheduling computing jobs in a scheduling event includes selecting a computing job that is ready for scheduling the first computing job being associated with at least one required resource. A computing node is identified that is able to satisfy the at least one required resource during a first time period having a start time and an end time. A second computing job is determined to have previously been scheduled to execute during a second time period; wherein the second time period overlaps the first time period. At a time prior to scheduling the first computing job, a determination is made as to whether the second computing job is preemptible by the first computing job. If so, execution of the second computing job is preempted by the first computing job if the second computing job has been determined to be preemptible by the first computing job if the priority of the first computing job is greater than the priority of the second computing job by at least a threshold amount, and if preempting the second job frees at least one of the at least one required resource for use by the first computing job. Execution of the first computing job is scheduled to take place on a first computing node during the first time period, where a start time associated with the first time period is a time selected from the group consisting of a current time and a future time.
US07752620B2

Administration of locks for critical sections of computer programs in a computer that supports a multiplicity of logical partitions that include determining by a thread executing on a virtual processor executing in a time slice on a physical processor whether an expected lock time for a critical section of the thread exceeds a remaining entitlement of the virtual processor in the time slice and deferring acquisition of a lock if the expected lock time exceeds the remaining entitlement.
US07752608B1

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments, domain knowledge is translated into a knowledge-based system. In some embodiments, a formal specification is derived from rules of a knowledge-based system, the formal specification is analyzed, and flaws in the formal specification are used to identify and correct errors in the domain knowledge, from which a knowledge-based system is translated.
US07752605B2

A data race detection system is described which precisely identifies data races in concurrent programs. The system and techniques described utilize locksets to maintain information while searching through executions of a concurrent program. The locksets are updated according to program statements in the concurrent program. The dynamic updating of the locksets, combined with a less conservative approach then used in existing lockset data race detection techniques, allows the technique to be precise; that is, the technique does not report false positives when searching a program.
US07752604B2

An architecture that allows target service interactions to be realistically simulated in a development environment. The architecture includes a proxy service, an interaction recorder, an interaction store and an emulator service. The proxy service delegates service requests received from a client component to a target service. If it is in “record” mode, the proxy service routes any interaction data corresponding to the interaction (between the target service and the client component) to the interaction recorder. Upon receipt, the interaction recorder records the interaction data in the interaction store. Later, the proxy service can be placed in “replay” mode so that a subsequent service request for the target service is delegated to the emulator service. Upon receipt, the emulator service retrieves the corresponding interaction data from the data store and replays the same to emulate/simulate the target service.
US07752603B2

Data element values are shared between a first software component and a second software component of a document processing framework. The components can capture, process, or route a digital image of a document and access a configuration file that is generated for the image. A data element attribute and value pair is placed in the configuration file. The value of the data element is a tag that includes an identifier identifying the first software component and a tag name. The first software component is executed on the image, produces a tag value corresponding to the tag name, searches the configuration file for the tag by the identifier, replaces the tag with the tag value in the configuration file, and terminates. The second software component is executed on the image after the first software component has terminated and reads the data element attribute and value pair.
US07752594B2

A failure analysis apparatus 10 is composed of an inspection information acquirer 11 for acquiring at least a pattern image P1 of a semiconductor device, a layout information acquirer 12 for acquiring a layout image P3, a failure analyzer 13 for analyzing a failure of the semiconductor device, and an analysis screen display controller 14 for letting a display device 40 display information about the failure analysis. The analysis screen display controller 14 generates a superimposed image in which the pattern image P1 and the layout image P3 are superimposed, as an image of the semiconductor device to be displayed by the display device 40, and sets a transmittance of the layout image P3 relative to the pattern image P1 in the superimposed image. This substantializes a semiconductor failure analysis apparatus, analysis method, analysis program, and analysis system capable of securely and efficiently carrying out the analysis of the failure of the semiconductor device.
US07752588B2

Techniques for placement of integrated circuit elements include global placement, detailed placement, timing closure, and routing. The integrated circuit is described by a netlist specifying interconnections of morphable devices. The detailed placement uses, for example, Simultaneous Dynamical Integration, wherein the morphable-devices correspond to nodes influenced by forces, including timing forces. The timing forces are derived, for example, from a timing graph; path delay; slack; and drive resistance of the elements. The timing closure uses timing-driven buffering and timing-driven resizing to reduce maximum delay and/or transition time, and/or to fix hold time. Nets having high capacitance and/or fanout, and timing critical nets are preferentially processed. Timing-driven buffering applies buffering solutions to segments of route trees, combines solutions of adjoining segments, and prunes sets of solutions. Timing-driven resizing morphably replaces selected elements with upsized versions thereof.
US07752585B2

Best and most recent NDR types are selected for all RLM's in a design in order to achieve timing closure. The selection employed uses two levels of filtering to examine the NDR types for each RLM, and based on the outcome of the filtering selects the most appropriate NDR type for input to the timing analysis. In one arrangement, the selection scheme is completely automated and is performed at the beginning of a timing analysis via script-driven processes.
US07752583B2

A method of verifying a digital design is disclosed. The method comprises generating a reference model for a first digital design and creating an operational model for a second digital design, wherein the first digital design and the second digital design are intended to have a same logical function. A plurality of testcase types are then created by constraining one or more internal signals, and one or more test scripts representing the plurality of testcase types are produced. The method also includes verifying the second digital design with a testing simulation program by comparing results of the test scripts from the operational model and the reference model.
US07752580B2

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a system and an associated method for analyzing an integrated circuit to determine the value of a particular attribute (i.e., a physical or electrical property) in that integrated circuit. In the embodiments, an open deterministic sequencing technique is used to select a sequence of points representing centers of sample windows in an integrated circuit layout. Then, the value of the particular attribute is determined for each sample window and the results are accumulated in order to infer an overall value for that particular attribute for the entire integrated circuit layout. This sequencing technique has the advantage of allowing additional sample windows to be added and/or the sizes and shapes of the windows to be varied without hindering the quality of the sample.
US07752557B2

A method and system of visually coding search results is provided. Using a search query containing a plurality of search terms, a web search is conducted and a set of search results is obtained. Occurrence frequencies of the search terms in the returned document are tallied and used to formulate a number of occurrence indicators having color shades based on the occurrence frequencies of the search terms. The search results are then displayed in two levels of detail with a first portion of the search results displayed in a first format and a second portion displayed in a second format. The occurrence indicators for the search terms are displayed beside each returned document to indicate to a user the frequency of the search terms in the search results.
US07752554B2

Various embodiments employ methods and techniques to enable users, and others, to manage or otherwise become more informed about applications or bots with which they interact. The methods and techniques, in at least some embodiments, can provide various types of indications, visual or otherwise, that pertain to various types of ratings that can be assigned to applications or bots and which can enable a user and others to assess the propriety, level and nature of their interaction with an application or bot.
US07752553B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide an aggregated event stream that indicates activities to a user across a range of online services. Embodiments may include a web site, a client application, or mobile device. In particular, a display is provided to a user that indicates various events in a “stacked” format. Each block of the stacked format represents one or more events originating from the user's own activities or activities of the user's contacts in their social network. Activities may originate from accounts on other online services that the user linked to their account or profile. The stacked format is updated in substantially real time to provide the user a sense of the activities of their social network around them.
US07752552B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a way of embedding a display of activities relevant to a social network in a third party website. In particular, embodiments of the present invention provide for an embedded aggregated event stream. In particular, a display is provided to a user that indicates various events in a “stacked” format. Each block of the stacked format represents one or more events originating from the user's own activities or activities of the user's contacts in their social network. Activities may originate from accounts on other online services that the user linked to their account or profile. The stacked format is updated in substantially real time to provide the user a sense of the activities of their social network around them.
US07752543B2

Effects are applied to a shape that is generated from a merged text path. The merged text path is created from text paths that are associated with a text run. Boolean operations may be used to create the merged text path. The merged text path removes any overlap and redundancy of the characters within the text run. The shape that is generated from the merged text path maintains the text path information that is associated with the text run such that additional effects may be applied to the shape.
US07752541B2

Disclosed is a system, method, and program for displaying pages in a viewer program on a computer display monitor. The viewer program displays an application window. The viewer program downloads a first and second pages from one of multiple servers over a network and then automatically concurrently displays the first page in a first pane and the second page in a second pane in the application window according to predefined settings specifying how pages are to be displayed in the first and second panes. The viewer program then downloads a third page from one of multiple servers over the network and automatically concurrently displays the third page in one of the first and second panes and one of the first and second pages in the other pane according to the predefined settings. A fourth page is then downloaded from one of multiple servers over the network and the viewer program then automatically concurrently displays the third and fourth pages in the first and second panes according to the predefined settings.
US07752536B2

For standalone spreadsheet applications and/or Web-based spreadsheet services, the ability to designate, discover and set parameters for spreadsheet documents is provided. When creating a spreadsheet document, the ability to designate certain cells or ranges of cells as parameters to a spreadsheet is enabled. Furthermore, whether viewed in a standalone spreadsheet application or via a Web service, the ability to discover these parameters through the user interface or object model is provided. The ability to set or change these parameters one at a time or in bulk and drive the changes into the calculation model is also provided. Accordingly, whether viewed in a standalone spreadsheet application or via a Web rendering service, the effect of the parameters entered by the user can be calculated and viewed at once. The ability to suspend recalculation of a workbook until all relevant values, such as a current set of parameters, are obtained is also enabled.
US07752532B2

Methods and apparatus for providing linear erasure codes. In one aspect, a method is provided for encoding a set of data values into a code symbol. The method includes determining an index sequence that defines selected data values to be used to generate the code symbol, and determining a value sequence that defines factors to be multiplied by the selected data values to generate the code symbol. The method also includes generating a packet header that describes the index sequence and the value sequence.
US07752531B2

A detector includes a Viterbi based detector and an erasure detector that detects as erasures one or more bits associated with a decoding window in which survivor paths do not merge within the decoding window.
US07752529B2

Combined LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) encoder and syndrome checker. A novel approach is presented by which the encoding processing and at least a portion of the decoding processing of an LDPC coded signal can be performed using a shared circuitry. The LDPC encoding processing and syndrome calculation operations (in accordance with the LDPC decoding processing) can be performed using a common circuitry having a portion of which whose connectivity is only slightly modified depending on whether encoding or decoding is being performed. To effectuate this selection (between encoding and decoding), any of a variety of means can be employed including the use of multiplexers that are operable to select a first connectivity (for encoding) and a second connectivity (for decoding). This can result in a hardware savings of space, cost, and complexity since a shared circuitry can perform both encoding and at least part of the decoding processing.
US07752515B2

An architecture and methodology for test data compression using combinational functions to provide serial coupling between consecutive segments of a scan-chain are described. Compressed serial-scan sequences are derived starting from scan state identifying desired Care_In values and using symbolic computations iteratively in order to determine the necessary previous scan-chain state until computed previous scan-chain state matches given known starting scan-chain state. A novel design for a new flip-flop is also presented that allows implementing scan-chains that can be easily started and stopped without requiring an additional control signal. Extensions of the architecture and methodology are discussed to handle unknown (X) values in scan-chains, proper clocking of compressed data into multiple scan-chains, the use of a data-spreading network and the use of a pseudo-random signal generator to feed the segmented scan-chains in order to implement Built In Self Test (BIST).
US07752512B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a first circuit having a plurality of scan chains; a second circuit connected with input/output signals of the first circuit; and a third circuit connected with the second circuit through the first circuit. The plurality of scan chains comprises a first scan chain that contains flip-flops whose input/output signals are connected with the second circuit, and a second scan chain that does not contain any flip-flop whose input/output signal is connected with the second circuit. The flip-flops operate as a shift register at a scan path test, and when the third circuit exchanges signals with the second circuit through the flip-flops of the first scan chain, the second scan chain of the first circuit operates as a shift register.
US07752511B2

A method for providing a signal indicative of a set single bit flag, which is set for a scan cycle responsive to a detection of a fault in an Input/Output (I/O) device of a programmable logic controller (PLC) system or an I/O interface of the PLC system. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07752510B2

An integrated device comprises a functional circuit, a test circuit for testing the functional circuit and for providing an error data item and a register element for storing the error data item and for outputting the error data item at an error data output of the integrated device responsive to an output signal. The register element is connected to a data input of the integrated device in order to accept a data item, which is applied to the data input, responsive to the output signal.
US07752507B2

A circuit arrangement for supporting and monitoring a microcontroller, which is constructed externally of the microcontroller, comprises a watchdog circuit for monitoring the microcontroller, which circuit outputs an error signal if not reset by the microcontroller within a watchdog period, and an interrupt circuit, which feeds important system messages to the microcontroller as interrupt events for processing. In order correctly to combine interrupt processing and watchdog operation, the watchdog circuit is connected to the interrupt circuit and cooperates therewith in such a way that the interrupt circuit feeds at most a predetermined number of interrupt events to the microcontroller within a watchdog period.
US07752503B2

A Controller Area Network (CAN) controller for a plurality of electronic devices electrically connected to form a control circuit in a CAN system, includes a controller and a circuit configuring device. The controller is electrically connected with the electronic devices to form two circuit terminals of the control circuit. The circuit configuring device is electrically connected with the controller in such a manner that when the electrical disconnection occurs in the CAN system, the circuit configuring device will re-configure the control circuit for switching the two circuit terminals at the electrical disconnection of the respective electronic device to by-pass the electrical disconnection from the control circuit, such that the circuit configuring device is electrically re-connected to the two circuit terminals for completing the control circuit in a closed manner so as to keep the electronic devices functioning in the CAN system.
US07752502B2

A state table includes a plurality of possible states of a computer system and the corresponding actions which produce transitions between source and target states. A set of test programs is stored, each test program performing an action in the state table. A test selects an action corresponding to the current state of the computer system; executes the test program which performs the selected action; determines the state of the computer system after the test program has executed; and compares the determined state to the state indicated in the state table as the target state to the selected action on the source state. When an error is found, instead of stopping execution, the test operations to be performed are dynamically reconfigured. Weightings are dynamically allocated to actions in the state table to create a weighted set, and selection of the next test is carried out using random selection over the weighted set. Thus, the continued testing is biased over time towards particular transitions and/or states near to the error location. This enables a tester to discover any other bugs in the same area and also to obtain further diagnostic data on the failure.
US07752500B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a method and an apparatus to collect and dynamically update processor polling information. In one method embodiment, the present invention collects processor polling information at boot time to be provided to an operating system. The processor polling information describes operating conditions of an integrated processing system. The operating system is then notified that a triggering event has occurred that may potentially alter the operating conditions of the integrated processor system. Providing to the operating system updated processor polling information during runtime to reflect the operating conditions of the integrated processor system after the occurrence of the triggering event.
US07752499B2

A system and method for using resource pools and instruction pools for processor design verification and validation is presented. A test case generator organizes processor resources into resource pools using a resource pool mask. Next, the test case generator separates instructions into instruction pools based upon the resources that each instruction requires. The test case generator then creates a test case using one or more sub test cases by assigning a resource pool to each sub test case, identifying instruction pools that correspond the assigned test case, and building each sub test case using instructions included in the identified instruction pools.
US07752494B2

Aligning execution point of duplicate copies of a user program by exchanging information about instructions executed. At least some of the exemplary embodiments may be a method of operating duplicate copies of a user program in a first and second processor, allowing at least one of the user programs to execute until retired instruction counter values in each processor are substantially the same, and then executing a number of instructions of each user program. Of the instructions executed, at least some of the instructions are decoded and the inputs of each decoded instruction determined (the decoding substantially simultaneously with executing in each processor). The method further may include exchanging among the processors addresses of decoded instructions and values indicative of inputs of the decoded instructions, determining that an execution point of the user program in the first processor lags with respect to an execution point of the user program in the second processor using at least the addresses of the decoded instructions, and advancing the first processor until the execution point within each user program is substantially aligned.
US07752490B2

A memory system includes normal memory modules serially connected, and a backup memory module, and a switch circuit for replacing a failed one of the normal memory modules by the backup memory module. The switch circuit inserts the backup memory module in the serial connection of the normal memory modules excepting the failed normal memory module.
US07752488B2

A method is disclosed to adjust error thresholds in a data storage and retrieval system. The method supplies a data storage and retrieval system comprising memory and microcode, wherein that microcode comprises one or more default error thresholds. The method determines if the memory comprises one or more operational error thresholds. If the method determines that the memory comprises one or more operational error thresholds, then the method operates the data storage and retrieval system using those one or more operational error thresholds. Alternatively, if the method determines that the memory does not comprise one or more operational error thresholds, then the method sets the one or more default error thresholds as the one or more operational error thresholds.
US07752487B1

A method, system and program product for group policy backup management in an enterprise network having a plurality of domains. A list of group policies for a domain is retrieved and a digital signature is determined for each policy on the list of policies for the domain. The digital signature for each policy in the domain is compared with a corresponding previous digital signature for the same policy. If the current digital signature for each policy matches the corresponding previous digital signature for the same policy, no backup is performed. Each policy having a current digital signature that does not match the corresponding previous digital signature for the same policy is backed up. The preceding steps are repeated for each domain in a plurality of domains within the enterprise network computing environment. Individual policies can also be backed up or restored upon user request. The system contains a group policy backup component for automatically backing up each modified policy in each domain, and a group policy backup manager component for backing up and restoring individual policies in a domain.
US07752480B2

A system and method for switching digital circuit clock net driver without losing clock pulses is presented. A device uses glitchless clock selection logic, which includes an edge detector, to select a clock signal to provide to device circuitry based upon the device circuitry's performance requirements. When the rising edges of a first clock signal and a second clock signal align, the edge detector momentarily pulses a clock switch signal, which is used to clock in a clock selection signal to a multiplexer. As a result, when the clock selection signal is high, the device waits until the clock edges are aligned before switching clock signals.
US07752477B2

A signal processor includes a reference clock generator configured to generate a reference clock as a synchronization reference for a signal processing. A counter is configured to count the reference clock. A frequency controller is configured to sample a count value of the counter by utilizing an input clock, to compare an increment value increased from the last sampled value with an expected value, and to control a frequency of the reference clock in accordance with a comparison result.
US07752472B2

A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) communication system dynamically provides power and data communications over a communications link. In a computing environment made up of one or more personal computing devices (PCD) and/or one or more powered devices (PD), power source equipment (PSE) determines an allocated amount of power to be supplied to each device. The personal computing devices include a unified LAN-On-Motherboard (LOM) that combines the functionality of a powered device (PD) controller of a conventional PD and a LOM of a conventional personal computing device into a single unified subsystem. The unified LOM includes a standard or universal interface between the LOM and PD controller so that different types of PD devices with differing functionality can be easily married to the LOM, without requiring significant hardware or software redesign. The universal or standard interface includes a physical interface between the LOM and the PD controller and a compatible communication protocol to govern the communications between the LOM and the PD controller. This allows the LOM to be mixed and matched with any PD controller, enabling OEMs to economically provide multiple product models with varying degrees of PD and LOM functionality.
US07752470B2

A method and system for power management including device controller-based device use evaluation and power-state control provides improved performance in a power-managed processing system. Per-device usage information is measured and evaluated during process execution and is retrieved from the device controller upon a context switch, so that upon reactivation of the process, the previous usage evaluation state can be restored. The device controller can then provide for per-process control of attached device power management states without intervention by the processor and without losing the historical evaluation state when a process is switched out. The device controller can control power-saving states of connected devices in conformity with the usage evaluation without processor intervention and across multiple process execution slices. The device controller may be a memory controller and the controlled devices memory modules or banks within modules if individual banks can be power-managed. Local thresholds provide the decision-making mechanism for each controlled device. The thresholds may be history-based, fixed or adaptive and are generally set initially by the operating system and may be updated by the memory controller adaptively or using historical collected usage evaluation counts or alternatively by the operating system via a system processor.
US07752453B2

A method of encrypting and transmitting data and a system for transmitting encrypted data. The method includes one or more different encryption algorithms, and may include employing different encryption algorithms to achieve multiple levels of encryption. A first encryption algorithm is based upon multiple rearrangements of bits representing data to obtain encoded data. A second encryption algorithm is based upon performing multiple XOR operations on bits representing data so that each data word is at least encoded with previous data words. The system comprises first and second computers and a plurality of communication parameters. The two computers are communicably connected to a network, and the second computer is adapted to route a transmission to the first computer. The transmission includes a data part and a header part, both of which are encrypted by the second computer utilizing the communication parameters. The first computer decrypts the transmission utilizing the communication parameters.
US07752447B2

A processing apparatus for transmitting electronic information on copyrighted work, which has a predetermined amount of data, with an electronic signature being added thereto, includes division-processing device which divides the electronic information on copyrighted work into at least two parts, electronic-signature-operating device which operates to add the electronic signature for every part of the electronic information on copyrighted work divided by the division-processing device, and information-transmitting device which synthesizes the electronic information on copyrighted work to which the electronic-signature-operating device operates to add the electronic signature and electronic signature information for determining whether the electronic signature is legitimate and transmits the synthesized information.
US07752445B2

Authentication of a hardware token connected to a computer includes storing, in the hardware token, a computer public key Ck generated in the computer; reading out, from the hardware token to the computer, a user public key Uk, registering the user public key Uk from the computer with a certificate authority, and receiving a certificate issued from the certificate authority with respect to the user public key Uk, and storing the issued certificate for the user public key Uk in the hardware token.
US07752439B2

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for process-based access controls on computer resources to processes. An access mechanism is provided in which a specific invoker obtains an object access identity (ACI). Another mechanism is provided in which a specific object, such as a file system resource, requires a specific object access identity to obtain one of the forms of access denoted by an access control list. A process may “grant” an identifier that is later “required” for a system resource access. Objects may specify their own access requirements and permitted access modes. The granted identifier, ACI, is stored in the process's credentials once these credentials match a specific “grant” entry in the access control list. This identifier has no meaning outside of being used to make an access decision for a specific resource. When a process tries to access the object, the object's access control list is scanned for “required” entries. If a match occurs between the “required” entry's identifier and the ACI stored, access to the object is granted with access rights specified in the “require” entries.
US07752428B2

In some embodiments, the invention involves extending trusted computing environments to the boot firmware. In at least one embodiment, the present invention is intended to enable the trusted environment to be extended forward to the pre-boot environment in addition to post-OS load environment. Embodiments of the present invention enable the trusted environment to extend to the firmware at power-on. The firmware is integrated within the secure perimeter which was previously only available to the OS. In other words, the BIOS is made to be a trusted entity, as well as the OS. Extensible firmware interface (EFI) modules are signed with a public key. The processor has an embedded private key. EFI modules are verified using the keys to ensure a trusted environment from boot to OS launch. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07752414B2

A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable program code are provided for storing data items in a computer. A plurality of hash functions of data values in a data item are computed. A corresponding memory location is determined for one of the plurality of hash functions. The data item and a key portion and a payload portion of all data items are stored contiguously within the memory location.Also provided for are retrieving data items in a computer. A plurality of hash functions of data values in a probe key are computed. A corresponding memory location is determined for each of the plurality of hash functions. Data items in each memory location are examined to determine a match with the probe key. Responsive to a match, a payload of the matching stored data item is returned. All of the steps are performed free of conditional branch instructions.
US07752413B2

A method and apparatus for communicating between threads in a processor. The method includes reserving a first portion of a cache in a processor for an inbox. The inbox is associated with a first thread being executed by the processor. The method also includes receiving a packet from a second thread, wherein the packet includes an access request. The method further includes using inbox control circuitry for the inbox to process the received packet and determine whether to grant the access request included in the packet.
US07752411B2

In some embodiments, a chip includes a link interface, monitoring circuitry to provide an activity indicator that is indicative of activity of the chip, and scheduling circuitry to schedule commands. The chip also includes mode selection circuitry to select a first mode or a second mode for the scheduling circuitry depending on the activity indicator, wherein in the first mode the scheduling circuitry schedules certain commands as separate single commands and in the second mode the scheduling circuitry schedules at least one consolidated command to represent more than one of the separate single commands. Other embodiments are described.
US07752407B1

Circuits, methods, and apparatus for storing application data, keys, authorization codes, or other information in a volatile memory on an FPGA. To prevent erasure of the stored information when power to the FPGA is removed, or when the FPGA is configured, or when applications are installed, a battery powers the memory. The battery power may be interrupted, for example if a tamper is detected, in order to erase the contents of the memory. Access to data stored in memory may also be limited by using authorization codes or encryption. For example, an application may only be granted access if it provides the correct authorization code. Alternately, an application may encrypt data with a key before it is stored. Only an application with the correct key can make further use of the data.
US07752406B2

Memory corruption can be suppressed. When data stored in a random access area are read, the read data (physical block) are retrieved by a logic block number and newest data are read by referring to an incremental counter of data having that logic block number. When data are stored in the random access area, the incremental counter and the logic block number of data already stored in the random access area are referred and a physical block set to be unnecessary is set to a writer buffer, and then the data are written to this write buffer.
US07752403B1

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing and maintaining secure distributed randomly redundant data storage.
US07752395B1

A network storage server has a non-volatile mass storage facility, a main cache and a victim cache. A technique of intelligently determining whether to cache a data block in the victim cache includes determining whether to store the data block in the victim cache based on a first caching policy and the type of data contained within the data block. The first caching policy may be a global policy. The determination of whether to store the data block in the victim cache further may be based on a second caching policy, which may be a volume-specific control of service (CoS) policy.
US07752386B1

Responding to IO requests made by an application to an operating system within a computing device implements IO performance acceleration that interfaces with the logical and physical disk management components of the operating system and within that pathway provides a system memory based disk block cache. The logical disk management component of the operating system identifies logical disk addresses for IO requests sent from the application to the operating system. These addresses are translated to physical disk addresses that correspond to disk blocks available on a physical storage resource. The disk block cache stores cached disk blocks that correspond to the disk blocks available on the physical storage resource, such that IO requests may be fulfilled from the disk block cache. Provision of the disk block cache between the logical and physical disk management components accommodates tailoring of efficiency to any applications making IO requests, and flexible interaction with various different physical disks.
US07752382B2

A flash memory storage system includes a memory array containing a plurality of memory cells and a controller for controlling the flash memory array. The controller dedicates a first group of memory cells to operate with a first number of bits per cell and a second, separate group of memory cells to operate with a second number of bits per cell. A mechanism is provided to apply wear leveling techniques separately to the two groups of cells to evenly wear out the memory cells.
US07752373B2

A system and method for controlling memory operations is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a memory controller that can request control of a contact that is shared between a first memory device and a second memory device. In a particular embodiment, the memory controller includes a state machine to request and receive control of the contact. In another particular embodiment, the first memory device is a non-volatile memory device and the second memory device is a volatile memory device.
US07752372B2

A device, system and method adapted to expand a high speed data bus, such as a PCI Express (PCIe) bus, over a serial link with an expansion unit having a high speed data bus, such as a PCIe bus, without using a bridging or switching device. One primary advantage of not using a bridge or switch is that the expansion interface is completely transparent to the BIOS, processor, CPU, OS, or any other component(s) on the host motherboard be they hardware, firmware, or software. This invention does not require additional protocols such as TCP/IP, Serial ATA, Gigabit Ethernet, etc. There is also no implicit hardware or device driver latency resulting from a bridge or switch.
US07752369B2

A system for formal verification of bounded fairness properties of pseudo random number generators and arbiters that use random priority-based arbitration schemes. The formal verification system determines an upper bound of a request-to-grant delay of an arbiter in terms of a number of complete random sequences. The formal verification system also determines, in terms of a number of clock cycles, an upper bound and a lower bound of a length of a complete random sequence in the random number sequence generated by a random number generator used by the arbiter. The formal verification system then determines a worst case request-to-grant delay bounds of the arbiter system, in terms of a number of clock cycles, by combining the upper bound of the request-to-grant delay of the arbiter with the upper bound of the length of the complete random sequence and the lower bound of the length of the complete random sequence.
US07752368B2

A computer system associated with a plurality of interrupt sources that produce interrupt signals may include interrupt signal processing blocks corresponding to the interrupt sources, respectively. Each of the interrupt processing blocks can include: a counter for generating an interrupt count value associated with the number of interrupt signals received from the corresponding interrupt source; a first register for storing the interrupt count value; a logic circuit for to generate an interrupt request signal according to the interrupt count value; and a second register for storing a service routine address associated with the interrupt source.
US07752361B2

A system including a storage processing device with an input/output module. The input/output module has port processors to receive and transmit network traffic. The input/output module also has a switch connecting the port processors. Each port processor categorizes the network traffic as fast path network traffic or control path network traffic. The switch routes fast path network traffic from an ingress port processor to a specified egress port processor. The storage processing device also includes a control module to process the control path network traffic received from the ingress port processor. The control module routes processed control path network traffic to the switch for routing to a defined egress port processor. The control module is connected to the input/output module. The input/output module and the control module are configured to interactively support data virtualization, data migration, data journaling, and snapshotting. The distributed control and fast path processors achieve scaling of storage network software. The storage processors provide line-speed processing of storage data using a rich set of storage-optimized hardware acceleration engines. The multi-protocol switching fabric provides a low-latency, protocol-neutral interconnect that integrally links all components with any-to-any non-blocking throughput.
US07752355B2

An asynchronous data transfer interface is provided across a boundary that allows high bandwidth data transfers which are packet based as defined by PCI_Express architecture, and has general utility in processor-based applications like servers, desktop applications, and mobile applications. A shared set of multi-port RAM buffers allow both an application layer AL and a transaction layer TL access to a communication protocol layer in a defined process that allows both the application layer AL and the transaction layer TL to read and manage the buffers in a 16 byte boundary in a manner that allows a data credit to be decoupled from a header credit.
US07752354B2

A management system that controls a restart interface in a data processing system. The management system switches control of the interface from a distributed network managed by the caches to the management system. The management system is capable of detecting errors and seizing control of the interface in order to remedy any errors that occur within the interface.
US07752352B2

Host computing systems with the ability to efficiently identify the Infiniband™ (IB) addressing parameters corresponding to Fiber Channel I/O devices that are accessible through IB-to-Fiber Channel adapters. An efficient apparatus and program product is described to store the IB addressing parameters pertaining to individual Fiber Channel I/O devices on a subnet administration database, and an efficient mechanism to recover from the database, the IB addressing parameters corresponding to all physical paths by which a desired Fiber Channel I/O device is accessible.
US07752345B2

Aspects of the invention relate to methods for automatically configuring a device and a device capable of being automatically configured. According to one embodiment the device is a printer and a dynamic IP address is obtained using a wired connection; a connection is established with a server using the wired connection and the dynamic IP address; configuration information is downloaded from the server; a static IP address is assigned to the printer using the configuration information; and a connection is established with a server using a wireless connection and the static IP address. The configuration information may include setting information and address information. The setting information may be used to configure the settings of the printer and the address information may be used to assign a static IP address to the printer. The configuration information may include information relating to a wireless network.
US07752344B2

The invention is based on the object of specifying a parameterization device which is particularly user-friendly and which makes it possible to parameterize electrical devices with little expenditure of time and therefore in a particularly cost-effective manner. This object is achieved according to the invention by a parameterization device for generating parameterization signals determining device-specific operating parameters for one or more electrical devices of an electrical arrangement, having an input device, to which operating functions desired on the part of the user for the individual devices can be input independently of the device, having a memory device, in which a large number of electrical devices are recorded with their operating functions and their respective device-specific operating parameters, a processing device, which evaluates the operating functions input on the part of the user and reads a list of all those devices which fulfil the operating functions desired on the part of the user from the memory device, an output device, by means of which the list is supplied to the user for the purpose of selecting the device, and a signal generation device, which generates, for each device selected on the part of the user, in each case those parameterization signals which correspond to the operating parameters stored in the memory device.
US07752336B2

A method and apparatus for resource locator identifier rewrite have been presented. A security device receives from a resource host over a non-secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) session a response to a request received from a client over a secure HTTP session. The response includes a uniform resource locator (URL) that is supposed to be for a resource host, but the URL does not designate a secure resource access protocol and the resource host requires the secure resource access protocol. The URL is located in the response and modified to designate the secure resource access protocol. After modification, the response is transmitted via the secure resource access protocol session to the client.
US07752332B2

Routing in a wireless network of communication devices that are located within a network boundary moves network traffic from a first communication device to a second communication device. A geometric indicator of network connectivity is constructed that identifies a curve on which network nodes are located and a network location for each node of the wireless network is determined, so that the network location of a node p identifies a node on the geometric indicator curve that is closest to the node p and indicates connectivity from the node p to the closest node of the geometric indicator curve. A routing scheme is determined, to route in the wireless network from the first communication device to the second communication device based on the respective determined network locations for the first and second communication devices.
US07752330B2

A computer program product includes instructions for causing a processor to: alert a client of the configuration of said computer program product; use a memory space for buffering the network application data destined for the client; release the network application data to the client, based on at least one occurrence of a specified condition that promotes energy savings; and purposely delay at least some of said data with an amount of time greater than zero to promote energy savings.
US07752329B1

Techniques are provided for the configuration of a home-networking system. Home-networking configuration information may be stored on a host system in a manner accessible to the home-networking system and migrated to a home-networking gateway or router that has not yet been configured. Wireless configuration information may be stored on a home-networking gateway or router and used to configure one or more wireless access points through the use of a physical connection, such as a wired communications pathway. One or more wireless home-networking devices may be configured based on wireless configuration information stored in a central repository on a host system or a home-networking system. The wireless configuration information may be accessible only through the use of a security code.
US07752319B2

In one aspect a method for implementation of a firewall application is provided, whereby, in one step of the initiation of a connection from the first to the second terminal, authentication of the first terminal is transmitted and, after successful authentication a selected address is communicated to the firewall device. In another aspect, an arrangement for carrying out the method is provided.
US07752317B1

Systems and methods for insuring that a client computer has up-to-date virus protection are provided, and include initiating a boot sequence pursuant to a boot image on a client computer for accessing a network, accessing a remote management server according to a preliminary instruction from the boot image, determining whether the client includes a latest virus file and forwarding the latest virus file if the client does not include the latest virus file.
US07752313B2

An example embodiment for using a Partner Web Site within a Web Hosting Community starts with a Hosting Provider creating the Partner Web Site, a Community Web Site, and operating one or more Hosting Servers. A Partner, from the Partner Web Site, may make an application available for purchase and use to a plurality of Hosting Customers. At least one of the Hosting Customers, from the Community Web Site, may purchase and utilize the application with their Hosted Web Site.
US07752306B2

Methods of managing a network comprising a plurality of agents. The methods may comprise the step of receiving a periodic status message from each of a first group of agents selected from the plurality of agents The methods may also comprise the steps of querying a router on a local portion of the network positioned to handle communications between components on the local portion of the network and components on a remote portion of the network, and receiving from the router an indication of a second group of agents from the plurality of agents that are communicating through the router. In addition, the methods may comprise the steps of comparing the first group of agents to the second group of agents, and generating a list of agents communicating through the router from which periodic status messages are not being received.
US07752303B2

Application data is reported in response to monitoring an application transaction. Application data is obtained for an initial period of time. A function which estimates the application data is then identified for the reported application data. After identifying the function, subsequent application data is obtained, and function data is generated from the subsequent application data. The function data may be associated with function parameters associated with the identified function. A function can then be constructed from the reported function data. The function constructed from the function data may estimate application data associated with the monitored transactions.
US07752290B2

A method having the following steps for managing device drivers in an information processing apparatus connectable to peripheral devices is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining version information for device drivers in the information processing apparatus and information on peripheral devices that can be controlled by the device drivers, a recognizing unnecessary device drivers among possibly multiple versions of device drivers that reside in the storage device of the information processing apparatus and correspond to a particular peripheral device, based on the obtained version information and peripheral devices information, and controlling deletion of device drivers that have been recognized as unnecessary.
US07752286B2

An electronic item management and archival system for managing and archiving items. Each item includes at least one of image data, audio data, and video data. The system includes a server configured to receive items, archive at least one of the received items to an archive, and retrieve at least one of the archived items from the archive. In some embodiments, the server also includes architecture that supports a pool of threads promoting multiple, independent archive and retrieve operations concurrently.
US07752281B2

A system for managing data in multiple data processing devices using common data paths. Embodiments of the invention comprise a first data processing system comprising a cacheable coherent memory space; and a second data processing system communicatively coupled to the first data processing system with the second data processing system comprising at least one bridge, wherein the bridge is operable to perform an uncacheable remote access to the cacheable coherent memory space of the first data processing system. In some embodiments, the access performed by the bridge comprises a data write to the memory of the first data processing system for incorporation into the cacheable coherent memory space of the first data system. In other embodiments, the access performed by the bridge comprises a data read from the cacheable coherent memory space of the first data system.
US07752279B2

To perform thread-based message prioritization, metadata may be extracted from a received electronic message. Based on the extracted message metadata and accumulated metadata extracted from previously received messages, a message thread to which the received electronic message belongs may be identified. Based on a set of thread priority assessment criteria, a priority level for the message thread may be determined. At least part of the message thread may be processed according to the priority level. The processing may be altering a notification behavior of an electronic messaging client for electronic messages of the message thread. Thread priority assessment may be based on user-configurable criteria that may be set via a graphical user interface. Message thread identification may also be based on user-configurable criteria that may be set via a graphical user interface.
US07752275B2

An event manager is disclosed for sending services through an email communication. The event manager provides a template through which a user may select an available service that he wishes to send as an attachment to an email. The event manager enables the user to attach electronic services such as an audio file, a video file, a gift certificate, or a money transfer, among others, to an email message and package it with items such as wallpaper or background music, among others, to send to another email user.
US07752274B2

An apparatus and method are disclosed for selectively filtering and inspecting incoming e-mail. The steps to selectively filter and inspect incoming e-mail include: assigning a risk value to each section of an incoming e-mail, presenting the incoming e-mail with sections blocked based on the risk value, and selectively disclosing blocked sections of the e-mail to a reviewer based on input from the reviewer. The method provides a way for a reviewer to filter risky e-mails based on multiple criteria, and safely review filtered e-mails to ensure legitimate e-mails are not incorrectly filtered.
US07752273B2

When the status of a client X is changed to a status i, a group management unit generates a group agent Xi, corresponding to the status i and registers the generated group agent in the server S, and the presence issuing unit issues the status i and the identifier of the group agent Xi. Initially, a member management unit of the group agent xi manages the client X only. When other clients, such as clients B and C, that are observing the status of the client X send an instant message (IM) to the group agent Xi identified by the issued identifier, an IM delivery unit of the group agent Xi adds the clients B and C, which are IM senders, to the members managed by the member management unit and sends the IM to all members.
US07752271B2

Described is a method for retracting an instant message from a receiver in an instant messaging session. A request is made to retract the instant message from the receiver. If the receiver is present in the session, the instant message is removed from the user interface of the receiver. Notification is sent to the requestor to indicate whether the instant message was successfully retracted and whether the instant message was saved by the receiver. Optionally, the method allows an entry made in an instant messaging log to be retracted when the corresponding instant message is retracted.
US07752267B2

A scanner capable of functioning as a data transmission management device that makes a determination as to whether data should be allowed to be reused at a file transmission destination based on the nature of the particular destination, produces a reusable file, and transmits it to the destination, if it determines that the reuse of the data is allowed because the destination is within the area of the first network N1 to which the scanner is connected; or it produces difficult-to-reuse file and transmits it to the destination, if it determines that the reuse of the data is disallowed because the destination is outside of the area of the first network N1.
US07752265B2

A system and method are disclosed for providing source indicators for one or more elements of an aggregate media collection of a user in a media sharing system. In one embodiment, a local media collection of a user is aggregated with one or more shared media collections hosted by corresponding user devices of other users participating in the media sharing system to provide an aggregate media collection for the user. Via a Graphical User Interface (GUI), for each element of at least a subset of elements of the aggregate media collection, one or more source indicators are presented in association with the element to identify a source or sources of the element in the media sharing system. The elements of the aggregate media collection include at least a subset of media items in the aggregate media collection, playlists including media items from the aggregate media collection, or both.
US07752264B2

A method for adjusting an instant messaging control mechanism can include the steps of determining a control setting for an instant messaging control mechanism based upon a calendar application entry, and responsive to the determining step, automatically adjusting the instant messaging control mechanism to the control setting. In one embodiment, the determining step can be performed by a calendar application to which the calendar application entry corresponds and can be performed responsive to a calendar event. In a further embodiment, the calendar application can establish a time at which the control setting is to be adjusted. The adjusting step can occur at approximately the established time, where the calendar event can occur in advance of the established time.
US07752259B2

The public service message location broadcast system and method provides for broadcasting a message to communication receiving devices located within a defined geographic broadcast target area. The broadcast target area is defined by a broadcast agent using a broadcast agent webpage and a broadcast service bureau transmits the broadcast message to one or more local carriers who provide telecommunication service to the broadcast target area. The local carrier transmits the broadcast message to targeted users within the broadcast target area.
US07752251B1

An method and system for hosting information exchange groups on a wide area network is disclosed, using various tools for promoting topical organization and self-evolution of the information exchange groups, and of a system of information exchange groups. These tools include methods for providing user rating of posts within the exchange group, for rating and ranking users of the exchange group, for rating and ranking links to related information pages and especially to related exchange groups operating according to the methods of the invention, and for continuously updating rating and ranking information. Additionally, methods are provided for users to found exchange groups, to filter information in exchange groups according to specified user preferences, and to protect private information from inadvertent disclosure to other users of the exchange group.
US07752228B2

Methods and systems are provided for processing data objects in a computer system. In one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises (a) storing a first data object in a database in a non volatile storage, (b) creating a second data object assigned to the first data object, step (b) being triggered by step (a), and (c) processing the second data object by means of an object processor, the object processor creating a third data object using data contained in the second data object, data contained in the first data object and data contained in the database by applying a set of one or more pre-settable rules to the data contained in the first and second data objects and in the database.
US07752225B2

Techniques for migrating duration trees from a source database server (or instance) to a destination database server (or instance) are provided. A duration is a memory management construct that allows database components to group related areas of memory together. A source duration tree is captured at the source database server and combined with a destination duration tree at the destination database server. Any duration identifiers in the source duration tree that conflict with (i.e., are the same as) a duration identifier in the destination duration tree are mapped to new duration identifiers.
US07752220B2

A system and method for receiving a query and determining candidate alternate queries. A query may be parsed into concepts and then candidates for alternate terms may be determined for either the whole query or the determined concepts. Candidates are scored for their respective similarity to the original query. After scoring, at least one candidate is chosen and may be used as a possible alternate query choice for a user or used to serve bidded advertisements to the user.
US07752214B2

An extended environment data structure that is part of a digital asset that is transmittable over one or more multi-tiered networks. The data structure has one or more common descriptors to provide a unique identification of the digital asset on the networks; one or more asset dependency descriptors to identify one or more associated digital assets, associated digital assets are associated with the digital asset by a joint membership as parts of a whole; and has one or more target server dependencies descriptors to identify a base execution environment on one or more target computers. In an alternative exemplary embodiment and/or exemplary method, one or more EIS server dependencies descriptors are included to identify an EIS execution environment on the respective EIS from which the asset resides. In still other exemplary embodiments and/or exemplary methods, other descriptors are included in the extended environment data structure.
US07752211B1

A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for tracking a plurality of objects being stored are disclosed. In an embodiment, this comprises determining an application associated with the objects being stored, selecting a hint or longest pathname containing the plurality of objects, and storing the selection in the index. The hint may be generated by concatenating at least a portion of a name of each object being stored into the hint, concatenating hash values of the names of the objects, or producing a bitmap of hash values of the names of the objects, depending on available space. In an embodiment, each hint generation may be tried in succession based on determining whether the previous hint fits into the space available for storing the hint.
US07752209B2

Improved capabilities for positioning content on a mobile communication facility, based in part on the likelihood of interaction with the content, are disclosed for mobile communications facilities, such as cell phones. These and other capabilities are employed to improve the likelihood of user interaction with content presented to a mobile communication facility, such as positioning content to appropriate or desirable mobile communication facilities.
US07752208B2

A method and system are provided for detection of authors across different types of information sources such as across documents on the Web. The method includes obtaining a compression signature for a document, and determining the similarity between compression signatures of two or more documents. If the similarity is greater than a threshold measure, the two or more documents are considered to be by the same author. Scored pairs of documents are clustered to provide a group of documents by the same author.The group of documents by the same author can be used for user profiling, noise reduction, contribution sizing, detecting fraudulent contributions, obtaining other search results by the same author, or mating a document with undisclosed authorship to a document of known author.
US07752206B2

Managing a mass storage system that comprises a first and second storage space. A file index is generated listing each file along with a first characteristic quantity (FCQ), a second characteristic quantity (SCQ), and status information. Status information specifies if the file is held on the first or second storage space. A sample of files is selected from the file index containing a given number of files, wherein status information of each file specifies the first storage space. The FCQ of each file in the sample is used to determine the first critical value (FCV). The SCQ of each file in the sample is used to determine the second critical value (SCV). A first subset of files comprising each file where FCQ is larger than FCV, SCQ is larger than SCV, and specified by status information to be held on the first storage device is determined.
US07752205B2

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing content management security to federated content repositories in a content management system and for interacting with a virtual content repository. These mechanisms and methods can enable embodiments to provide secure access to repositories based upon policies defined at a federated repository level and to secure repository access at the federated level based upon policies defined for differing classes of users. These abilities of embodiments can enable users to create services and applications by integrating content from unsecured repositories.
US07752193B2

An indexing engine generates a full text index of English and non-English files provided to the indexing engine. The indexing engine receives an input file for indexing, and normalizes the unique words contained in the input file. The normalizing includes stripping the words of any diacritical marks, taking into account different multilingual issues, case folding the words into lowercase, and the like. The normalized words are stored in a dictionary, and a word record is generated for each stored word. Each word record includes a flag that indicates whether one or more variations exist in the input file for the normalized word. One or more tables store information on the variations for the normalized words. When a query engine is invoked to search for an input query word, the variations are searched only if the user has set an option to consider such variations.
US07752192B2

The present invention provides a computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer usable program product for indexing data. A controller identifies a set of data to be indexed, wherein a set of data structure trees represents the set of data. The controller merges the set of data structure trees to form a unified tree, wherein the unified tree contains a node for each unit of data in the set of data. The controller assigns an identifier to the node for each unit of data in the set of data that describes the node within the unified tree. The controller then serializes the unified tree to form a set of sequential series that represents the set of data structure trees, wherein the set of sequential series forms an index for the set of data.
US07752183B2

A method, system, and computer instructions for using MD4 checksum to link transactions across machines. Transaction information is received, wherein transaction information comprises a checksum and topology information, and wherein the checksum serves as a unique identifier of the current transaction. A first data structure is populated with the checksum and attribute information for the current transaction. A second data structure is then populated with the checksum and topology information for the current transaction, wherein populating the second table preserves a root/parent/current transaction relationship. Preserving the root/parent/current transaction relationship allows for automatically linking a transaction to its related transactions when the transaction is uploaded from a client to a transaction database.
US07752182B1

A filtering method and apparatus for a portable electronic device such as a palmtop computer. The operating system's program registry is copied and then modified to direct all application data to a filter program such as a virus scanning filter program. If the filter program determines that the object is virus free, the copy of the program registry (filter registry) is queried by the filter program to determine the application program associated with the data object. The data object is then forwarded to the appropriate application program.
US07752179B1

A method for extracting a consistent set of entity identifiers including associating each of a first plurality of entity identifiers with at least one of a first plurality of GroupIDs, associating each of a second plurality of entity identifiers with at least one of a second plurality of GroupIDs, combining the first plurality of entity identifiers with the second plurality of entity identifiers to generate a third plurality of entity identifiers, where each of the third plurality of entity identifiers is associated with at least one of a third plurality of GroupIDs, linking at least one of the third plurality of GroupIDs with at least one of the first plurality of GroupIDs based on the third plurality of entity identifiers and the first plurality of entity identifiers, removing a contaminated entity identifier from the third plurality of entity identifiers to extract the consistent set of entity identifiers.
US07752175B2

A system, method and computer-readable media are provided for repairing corrupted data related to a software database. An electronic information technology system includes (1.) a logical page index; (2.) a free page map; and (3.) a computer-readable medium. The logical page index includes a plurality of logical page index pairs, each logical page index pair having a logical page number and a physical page location address of the computer-readable medium that reference a same record. The database system also includes a means to detect a logical page index pair having a logical page number and a physical page location that are not referencing a same record, and another means to search for a free page map entry that references the physical page address of the record referenced by the logical page index pair.
US07752171B2

A system and method for efficiently backing up and restoring computer files to a central storage system. A hashing key is computed for each file to be backed up on a target computer. The hashing key is compared to a list of hashing keys stored locally to see if the local file has been previously backed up. If the hashing key is not listed locally, then the hashing key is compared to a list of hashing keys of centrally backed up files. Only if the hashing key is not present in both the local and the central list is the file backed up. Backed up files may be renamed to their hashing key for further efficiencies.
US07752170B2

Methods, apparatus and computer program product implement enhanced dynamic copy-on-write storage compression. For a write operation, a freed block is detected by the COW storage for compressing freed blocks from the COW storage. Responsive to the detected freed block being a previously written block in the COW storage, the previously written block in the COW storage is deleted from the COW storage. Responsive to the detected freed block not being a previously written block in the COW storage, the block is marked as zero in the COW storage.
US07752167B1

A method and system for importing and exporting selected directory and calendar information of a first format found in various electronic media to and from personal information management computer applications of a second format is described. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system for importing directory and calendar information that is structured in standardized vCard and vCalendar formats from a first application to corresponding electronic address book and calendar applications via clipboard and automatic translator applications. The invention includes an automatic translator that takes the standardized information from the clipboard application and translates the vCard and vCalendar information into a format that is native to the corresponding target application, e.g., electronic address book and calendar applications. Additionally, the present invention discloses a method and system for exporting directory and calendar information by translating record entries from the databases of the address book and calendar applications of particular native formats to corresponding standardized vCard and vCalendar formats and exporting the standardized information via electronic mail.
US07752142B2

An on-line system and method for buyers and sellers of international container transportation services is disclosed. Specifically, the system offers importing and exporting customers the opportunity to request and select specific service patterns offered by participating carriers in the booking of full container shipments. The system includes user interfaces that allow a shipper to track and trace containers across multiple carriers and an event notifications system, which notifies the user when an event has or has not occurred.
US07752141B1

An on-line value bearing item (VBI) printing system that includes one or more cryptographic modules and a central database is disclosed. The cryptographic modules are capable of implementing the USPS Information Based Indicia Program Postal Security Device Performance Criteria and other required VBI standards. The modules encipher the information stored in the central database for all of the on-line VBI system customers and are capable of preventing access to the database by unauthorized users. Additionally, the cryptographic module is capable of preventing unauthorized and undetected modification, including the unauthorized modification, substitution, insertion, and deletion of VBI related data and cryptographically critical security parameters.
US07752140B1

A licensing server source distributes a so-called license configuration file to a client for purposes of enabling operation of a software application installed on a computer. When a user initiates execution of the vendor software for the first time, code associated with the software application accesses the license configuration file for purposes of obtaining authorization (e.g., one or more activation certificates) to operate the software application. Depending on the type of license configuration file forwarded to the respective client, the license configuration file can include either a corresponding activation certificate to operate the software or include an address of a remote source (e.g., address) in which to register and obtain authorization to operate the software application. Enabling retrieval of the activation certificate directly from the license configuration file (as a possible alternative to requiring remote registering and authentication to obtain authorization) enables immediate use of the software application.
US07752139B2

A method and system for software license management that allows a user to easily move a software license from one computer to another and the software vendor to control unlicensed use. A server maintains user account information including computers licensed to run the software and computers no longer licensed to run the software. A computer is enabled to run the software in an initialization process, and re-enabled by the server from time to time in an automatic re-enable process. If a non-enabled computer attempts to run the software, the user is given a choice to acquire a new license for the computer, move the license from an existing licensed computer to the current computer, or exit. If a new license is bought or an existing license moved, the server updates the information of enabled and no-longer-enabled computers accordingly.
US07752138B1

A method and system is disclosed for dynamic licensing of software products in a distributed system. A job is generated by a master (or client) and the tasks in the job are distributed to a cluster of workers for the distributed execution of the job. The tasks are distributed with information on the software products for which the master is licensed. The workers receive the tasks with the information on the software products for which the master is licensed. The workers dynamically provide licenses for the software products which the master is licensed for. The workers execute the tasks using the dynamically provided licenses for the software products. The results from the execution of the tasks are returned to the client.
US07752137B2

A subset of unique codes are generated from a set of codes. The subset of codes are stored in a database on a secure server and each of the codes is marked on a corresponding instantiation of the product. The marked instantiations are distributed. During their distribution, the marked instantiations are verified for authenticity and for routing. This verification is performed by reading or scanning the codes on the instantiations, and transmitting that information to the secure server for comparison against the codes and other information located in the database contained therein.
US07752131B1

This disclosure describes a child support payment and child support disbursement system at a processing entity (such as a state disbursement unit or any other commercial, governmental, or other entity), wherein an employee (who is a noncustodial parent who owes a child support obligation) authorizes a child support payment and child support disbursement to an employer and the employer processes the child support payment and child support disbursement through a processing entity. The processing entity processes the child support payment as a debit-based transaction and processes the child support disbursement as an addendum-based transaction. The payment may be made to the processing entity, to a state, or to any other entity. The disbursement may be made to a custodial parent, to a state, to a state entity, or to any other recipient.
US07752125B1

A modern business enterprise will have a large number of heterogeneous assets. The risk associated with a selected asset from the heterogeneous assets can be assessed. In one embodiment, the present invention includes selecting the asset from a plurality of heterogeneous assets for risk analysis, and collecting a plurality of risk factors associated with the selected asset. The risk associated with the asset can be determined by providing the plurality of risk factors to a non-linear statistical data model to derive a risk score associated with the asset.
US07752119B2

An auction analysis system predicts auction results. The analysis system may determine item, seller, or auction characteristics from prior or pending auctions. The analysis system also obtains item characteristics of an item for which a result prediction is sought, either by a buyer or by a seller. A price predictor in the system accepts the auction and item characteristics and predicts an auction result based on the characteristics.
US07752115B2

A fair exchange is disclosed to reduce potential inequities in an electronic trading environment. Market data is sent from a host system to client devices through one or more synchronized local communication servers such that the data can be displayed simultaneously or nearly simultaneously at each client device. Market data sent to client devices might include price information. Likewise, a host system may transaction data sent from client devices via the local communication servers. The ordering of transaction data is based, at least in part, on when the local communication servers received the transaction data from the client devices. Transaction data sent to a host system might include order information.
US07752109B2

There is disclosed a technique for determining parameters of a long-term lease of an asset. The method involves determining a set of payments defining an amortisation path from an initial value (A) to a final residual value (M) of said asset over a long-term lease period, and determining a plurality of sets of short-term lease payments such that the plurality of sets of short-term lease paths define respectively one or more interim short-term lease paths (ADF, DGI, GJL) and a final short-term lease path (JM), each interim short-term lease path (ADF, DGI, GJL) consisting of an amortisation portion that corresponds to said amortisation path (AD, DG, GJ) for a respective short-term lease period and a termination amortisation portion (DF, GI, JL) that links the amortisation portion to a short-term termination value falling on a residual value path to said final residual value at a position such that the short-term lease corresponding to the short-term lease path satisfies a predetermined value condition, and the final short-term lease path (JM) consisting of an amortisation portion, whereby the plurality of amortisation portions of the interim and final short-term lease paths correspond collectively to said amortisation path.
US07752091B2

An automated accounting and reporting system supports flexible assignments of accounting objects to financial statements. At a reporting time, financial statement items may be generated from accounting objects by surveying the stored accounting objects and copying and aggregating key figures from the accounting object to the financial statement items. The financial statement items form the basis of the financial statements. The copying and aggregating may occur as specified in a plurality of rule sets. To change assignments between the accounting objects and financial statements, it is sufficient to provide a replacement rule set that specifies different copy and aggregation operations.
US07752087B2

Systems and methods are provide for optimizing the result of an availability check of a required quantity of products, wherein a plurality of rounding algorithms are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises a first step of rounding, according to at least one predetermined rounding algorithm, the required quantity of products. The method may also comprise a second step of checking availability of the rounded quantity of products and a third step of rounding down, according to the at least one predetermined rounding algorithm, the available quantity of products if the available quantity of products is lower than the rounded required quantity of products.
US07752080B1

An invention is provided for affording interaction between service consumers and service providers via centralized hub. The invention includes a service session scheduling component that schedules a service session between a service consumer and a selected service provider selected by the service consumer. The invention also includes a service management session delivery component capable of provisioning communication for the service session between the service consumer and the selected service provider. A service payment management component is also included that facilitates a payment from the service consumer to the service provider. In addition, the service payment management component facilitates a payment from the service provider to a system account.
US07752064B2

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for operations management. More specifically, the present invention determines robust processes for performing one or more tasks.
US07752062B1

A pension insurance plan system and method protect the outstanding balance of a defined contribution plan loan secured by participant's plan assets, eliminating adverse tax consequences to the plan beneficiary in the event of the death or disability of the participant and ensuring that the full plan account balance passes intact to beneficiary in such event.
US07752056B2

A system and method for controlling patient access to an entertainment program to encourage a patient to comply with a treatment plan. The method includes the step of collecting compliance data from the patient. In one embodiment, the compliance data includes measurements of a physiological condition of the patient as well as patient answers to compliance questions. The method further includes the step of comparing the compliance data to evaluation criteria selected by a healthcare provider to determine if the patient is in compliance with the treatment plan. If the patient is in compliance, access is granted to the entertainment program. If the patient is not in compliance, access to the entertainment program is restricted. In the preferred embodiment, the method includes the additional steps of transmitting and displaying the patient's compliance data and compliance status to the healthcare provider.
US07752055B1

A method is provided for determining a return on investment for software testing. The method includes determining an average cost to correct software errors found in production. The method further includes classifying these software errors based on the size of the application and the size of the error and averaging the cost to correct the errors within each classification. The method additionally includes determining software faults during software testing and classifying these faults based upon the same classifications set forth for the software errors found in production. The method then requires transferring the average cost to correct production errors within each classification to each software fault found during testing with the same classification. The method additionally adds all of the average costs to correct the software errors for each software fault found during testing and subtracts the cost of the testing. The method concludes by displaying the result.
US07752047B2

An ambient condition detector incorporates speech recognition circuitry for the receipt of verbal commands in a selected language. The commands can be used to initiate functions, such as tests of various components of the detector, or over-all detector operation. Test results can be reported audible, for example by tones, verbally or optically. Recognizable commands and messages can be pre-recorded and not user alterable. Other types of functions can be verbally initiated. Alternately, the user can expand upon the pre-recorded set of commands, or, can record a user specific set of commands.
US07752037B2

A method of determining a pitch period of an audio signal using a correlation-based signal derived from the audio signal. The correlation-based signal includes known peaks each corresponding to a respective one of known time lags. The known peaks includes a global maximum peak. The method comprises: (a) determining if a candidate peak among the local peaks exceeds a peak threshold; (b) determining if a candidate time lag corresponding to the candidate peak is within a predetermined range of at least one integer sub-multiple of the time lag corresponding to the global maximum peak; and (c) setting the pitch period equal to the candidate time lag when the determinations of both steps (a) and (b) are true.
US07752024B2

A network management system includes a fault diagnosis engine, a topology mapper, an impact analyzer and a help desk system. The topology mapper includes a discovery module, a memory, and a presentation module. The discovery module is constructed and arranged to discover network elements in a communications network. The memory constructed and arranged to store topology data received from the discovery module. The presentation module constructed and arranged to present data related to topology of the communication network.
US07752022B2

The invention is a method, having applications for the development of reservoirs, for predicting the production of an underground reservoir, comprising generating and updating a parameterized geologic model from production data and seismic data and in particular 4D seismic data which may be used in development of oil reservoirs. According to the method, production data are simulated from the geologic model and a flow simulator, and a petro-elastic depth model is deduced therefrom. A depth/time conversion model is then defined, by means of which the petro-elastic model is converted into time. The model is adjusted by correcting the lag induced by the depth/time conversion and by recalibrating the model. The geologic model is optimized by comparing, through an objective function, the real measurements with the simulation responses (production responses and seismic attributes in time) by updating in particular the depth/time conversion model.
US07752014B2

A method includes accessing a first non-volatile memory associated with a compressor using a processor associated with at least one of a second non-volatile memory and an operating memory. A method further includes storing compressor data from at least one of the second non-volatile memory and the operating memory in the first non-volatile memory and accessing the compressor data in the first non-volatile memory to evaluate compressor performance.
US07752013B1

A method, system, and medium are provided for of identifying one or more servers associated with meaningful variance characteristics, including receiving a set of current performance data associated with a server; comparing at least a portion of the current performance data against former performance data; determining whether the current performance data varies from the former utilization by a threshold amount; and if so, identifying the server as a candidate for potentially approaching operating capacity.
US07752011B2

A portable apparatus including a first interface configured to input speed data of a user or location data of the user from a positioning unit utilizing external reference points is disclosed. The portable apparatus also includes a second interface configured to input motion data of a user from a self-contained activity determining unit. Furthermore, the portable apparatus includes a processing unit configured to constitute, if the first interface only inputs the location data, speed data from the location data, select filtering characteristics based on the motion data, filter the speed data with the selected filtering characteristics, and determine physiological data of the user with the filtered speed data.
US07752009B2

A method of checking the height of a mail item relative to at least one dimensional threshold SH defining a change in postage. The mail items are advanced at a constant speed V along a reference surface. The presence of a mail item is detected relative to a given point of the reference surface. First and second times t1, t2 for which the same mail item is present at the first and second distances d1, d2 relative to the reference surface is detected. The ratio t2/t1 is compared with a value equal to (1−ε), where ε represents a correction coefficient of less than 1 that depends on the tolerances for detection of the presence of a mail item. The height of a mail item is considered greater than the dimensional threshold SH if, and only if, the relationship t2/t1>1−ε is true.
US07752007B2

A setting information management method executed by a backup program stored in a portable storage medium by a processing computer of an analyzer, comprising: determining a type of the analyzer in which the backup program is executed from a plurality of types of analyzers; acquiring setting information of a program introduced to the processing computer based on the determination result; and storing the acquired setting information in the portable storage medium. A setting information management system, a setting information management device, and a computer program product is also disclosed.
US07752001B2

The present invention provides a method of correcting coordinates so as to quickly and properly arrange a sample in a field of view in a review apparatus for moving a sample stage onto the specified coordinates to review the sample. A review apparatus according to the present invention, which is a review apparatus for moving a sample stage onto coordinates previously calculated by a checking apparatus to review the sample, has a function of retaining a plurality of coordinate correction tables to correct a deviation between a coordinate value previously calculated by a checking apparatus and an actual sample position detected by the review apparatus. The review apparatus evaluates correction accuracy of the plurality of coordinate correction tables and applies one of the coordinate correction tables with the maximum evaluation value.
US07751995B2

A capacitance measurement method employing a floating gate of a semiconductor device in a circuit having a MOSFET in which a drain is connected to a ground and a source and a gate are connected to each other, and a capacitor having a capacitance Cr connected to the gate, includes: obtaining a slope S from a relationship between voltage Vs of the source and a voltage Vf applied to the capacitor; setting a standard slope S0 as a y-intercept of a first-order linear equation obtained from a relationship between the slope S depending on the source current Is and the Vo(Is); and calculating a gate-to-drain overlap capacitance Cdgo of the MOSFET based on a capacitance Cr of the capacitor and the standard slop S0.
US07751994B2

A method and apparatus for intelligent battery safety management. Some embodiments of a method for managing battery operation may include receiving a battery pack in a device, where the battery pack is rechargeable and includes a battery cell. In some embodiments data may be collected regarding the operation of the battery cell in the device, and the collected data may be compared with a set of battery reference data. In some embodiments a determination may be made whether the battery cell is non-authentic or defective based at least in part on the comparison between the collected data and the battery reference data.
US07751984B2

A method and a computer system, for providing an assessment for disease status of a disease, such as a cardiovascular disease, employ construction of image-based 3D computational model of an organ representative of the disease status; computationally obtaining a certain mechanical distribution using the 3D-organ model; and computational, quantitative analysis of the mechanical distribution to provide an assessment for disease status of a disease. The image-based 3D computational model includes a fluid-structure interaction and multiple components within the organ.
US07751983B2

The invention relates to a table of botanical ingredients useful for blending combinations that produce a pleasing, desired organoleptic effect. The botanical ingredients are, for example, essential oils or herbs and spices. The table includes different groups of cells of the table. Each group includes ingredients that possess varying degrees of similarity in one or more characteristics. Each cell corresponds to a single ingredient. The groups are arranged such that adjacent cells in the same or different groups correspond to ingredients that possess the closest similarities in one or more characteristics. The invention further relates to methods of preparing the table.
US07751978B1

A method of presenting weather phenomenon information including receiving weather data. At least one weather phenomenon represented by the weather data is identified. A plurality of current parameters related to the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon is determined. A plurality of historical parameters corresponding to one or more previous states of the at least one weather phenomenon is associated with the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon if at least one previous state of the at least one weather phenomenon has been identified. A plurality of forecasted parameters for the at least one weather phenomenon is calculated. Characteristics of the at least one weather phenomenon based on at least a first subset of the current parameters, the historical parameters, and the forecasted parameters are displayed.
US07751965B2

When a start command of an engine is given in the presence of the driver's power demand, the start control sets the ignition timing of the engine to a power demand ignition timing, in order to enable quick output of a large power from the engine in response to the driver's power demand. When the start command of the engine is given in the absence of the driver's power demand in a vehicle drive state, there is little possibility of the occurrence of gear chattering noise because of application of a torque to a driveshaft. The start control accordingly sets the ignition timing of the engine to a vibration control ignition timing, in order to reduce the vibration of the vehicle body. When the start command of the engine is given in the absence of the driver's power demand in a vehicle stop state, on the other hand, application of a small torque may cause the occurrence of chattering noise. The start control accordingly sets the ignition timing of the engine to a chattering control ignition timing, in order to generate a certain level of torque that prevents repeated contact and separation of gears in a gear mechanism even in the event of an engine-induced torque variation.
US07751963B2

An active engine mount assembly for counteracting resultant forces in active fuel management systems, wherein resultant forces are transmitted to a frame of a motorized vehicle generated by the deactivation of at least one cylinder in an internal combustion engine. The active engine mount assembly is fluidly connected to a hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic circuit is operatively connected to an engine crankshaft and operable to actively generate pressure pulses having frequencies self-synchronized with the rotational speed of the crankshaft.
US07751962B2

A vehicle travel controlling apparatus and method in which a target vehicle speed for when a vehicle travels along a curve is calculated based on a radius of the curve, and the vehicle speed is controlled based on the calculated target vehicle speed. When an accelerator operation performed by a driver is detected, the controller corrects the target vehicle speed based on a vehicle position where the acceleration operation is performed.
US07751960B2

A vehicle stability enhancement system that is adapted for an estimated driver workload. The system includes a driver workload estimation processor that estimates the driver workload based on certain factors, such as the vehicle speed or driver-behavior factors. The driver workload estimation is used to adjust the damping ratio and natural frequency in dynamic filters in a command interpreter to adjust a desired yaw rate signal and a desired side-slip signal. The driver workload estimation is also used to generate a yaw rate multiplication factor and a side-slip multiplication factor that modify a yaw rate stability signal and a side-slip stability signal in a feedback control processor that generates a stability control signal.
US07751954B2

The operating system for a construction machine gives advice on efficient operation to an operator. A specified state value relating to the operational condition of the construction machine, for example, the hydraulic oil pressure or engine speed, is detected (S101), and the frequency distribution of the state value in prescribed time intervals is calculated (S102). The variable range of the state value is classified into plural regions beforehand, and different target values are pre-set for each these regions. For each region, the frequency distribution is compared with the target value (S104, 106, 108, 110, 112), and as a result of the comparison, a applicable message is selected from the prescribed messages and output (S105, 107, 109, 111, 113). The output message may also be selected according to the combination of the comparison results for the plural state values such as the hydraulic oil pressure and engine speed.
US07751941B2

The present technique provides for the use of spectroscopic probes, such as Raman probes, within the conduits or other equipment of a polyolefin production system and upstream systems. The Raman probe or other spectroscopic probes may be used to obtain spectroscopic measurements of the contents of the conduits or other equipment. The spectroscopic measurements may be processed and analyzed to determine one or more properties of interest of the contents.
US07751939B2

An apparatus and method of optimally correcting a static deflection caused by a weight of an end effector coupled to a robot arm or a load on the end effector when the end effector is activated to handle a large sheet of glass. A deflection angle of the end effector is corrected by inserting a compensation member into a joint of the robot arm, and the static deflection caused by the weight of the handling robot when conveying the sheet of glass is also corrected in real time.
US07751935B2

A method of controlling vibration of a moving system having driving and driven units includes measuring an acceleration of the driven unit, generating a nominal acceleration by subtracting gravity from the measured acceleration, generating a control driving force according to the nominal acceleration, the driving force having a direction opposite to that of the measured acceleration, and applying the control driving force to the driven unit.
US07751934B2

The invention relates to a program controlled stirrer for producing pharmaceutical or cosmetic recipes, comprising a stirring unit which consists of a stirring tool which engages with a mixing receptacle. According to the invention, the stirring unit is coupled to a micro-processor which determines the length of stirring time and stirring speed at the stirring unit in a program-controlled manner. The micro-processor executes a data-processing program with the following steps: input of variable data; input of constant data; determination of the length of stirring time and stirring speed in order to produce the desired amount of the recipe by combining the variable and constant data; conversion of the determined length of stirring time and stirring speed into corresponding first current or voltage values; control of the stirring unit with said first current or voltage values. Preferably, the size of the receptacle is inputted as variable data, whereby the data-processing program calculates the number of necessary rotations of the stirring tool using the constant data stored in the data memory, then controls the stirring unit correspondingly.
US07751932B1

A system for monitoring and dispensing medical items includes a plurality of hook registers (10). Each of the hook registers includes sensors (48, 60, 62, 64) sensing the removal or addition of a medical item to the storage location on the hook register. Each hook register has a microprocessor (66) connected to the sensor which stores a count of the items added or removed from the location. The microprocessor also includes location identifying information specifically associated with the particular hook register. The microprocessor is periodically polled by a controller (72) which reads and stores the count and location identifying information from each of the hook registers. The controller information is periodically read by a data terminal (76) which is connected through a local area network (82) to a remote computer (84) having a processor and data store. A user of the data terminal is enabled to specify a patient for whom medical items will be used when the items are removed from the hook registers or other storage locations. In addition, the system also monitors inventories of items and levels of usage by users. The system also monitors and controls the dispense of other medical items from box registers (110) as well as controls the dispense of items from secure storage locations such as electronic lock drawers (96) and medicine dispensers (100).
US07751926B2

A computerized method for aiding a user in selecting a proper power source for a welding, heating, or cutting application is provided. The user is prompted to provide data about the process type, power source type, and materials used in the application, and is provided with data regarding typical applications and skill levels required for various applications. By applying the process information provided and providing data prompted by the computer system, the user is guided to select an appropriate power source for the user's application and general requirements.
US07751924B2

An apparatus for placing solder bumps on a mold plate includes: a solder fill head configured for dispensing molten solder onto the mold plate, the solder fill head also configured for relative movement over the mold plate; and a control mechanism configured for controlling positions of the solder fill head relative to the mold plate. The control mechanism includes: a control input signal containing data about an ideal positioning of the solder fill head; a plurality of sensors positioned on the solder fill head, the sensors configured for providing data about a gap between the solder fill head and the mold plate; a position controller configured for receiving the gap data and comparing the gap data with the control input signal, wherein the position controller provides an inequality signal if the gap data and the control input signal are not equal; an amplifier configured for receiving the inequality signal and amplifying it; and an actuator configured for receiving the amplified inequality signal and controlling movement of the solder fill head in response to the inequality signal received. The control mechanism may be a servo control mechanism. The sensors may be gap sensors.
US07751923B2

A process for the automatic control of the thickness of extruded film lowers the deviations in the thickness of the film more quickly after the start of the extrusion process. The process includes the measurement of the thickness profile of the film just extruded by means of a thickness-measuring probe. The thickness-measuring probe is moved along the surface of the film substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the extruded film. The thickness-measuring probe records a thickness profile of the film for each measuring cycle at least over parts of the expansion of the film perpendicular to its conveying direction. While providing statistical values in relation to older measured values, the latest measured values during a predetermined time-frame at the start of the extrusion process are more heavily weighted by a computer than those measured during the normal operation.
US07751920B2

A computing system, method, and computer program product facilitates data mining of information, for example image data, relating to a surface of a manufactured product when the manufactured product is processed using a tool relative to which the manufactured product may be randomly oriented. For each manufactured object, data pertaining to the surface is converted into a weight distribution. A rotational axis along which each surface would tend to rotate under the action of gravity with the surface supported at its geometric centroid is determined. The sets of data can then be properly oriented relative to one another for data mining by aligning the rotational axis of each set of data.
US07751918B2

Methods of configuring a cooling subassembly for an electronics system are provided, that is, for establishing a coolant-carrying tube layout for interconnecting multiple liquid-cooled cold plates in series-fluid communication for cooling multiple heat-generating electronic components of an electronics system. The electronic components are to be plugged in fixed relation into a preconfigured motherboard, and the tube layout includes at least one rigid coolant-carrying tube. Simplified analysis is initially performed to evaluate stress on the rigid tube(s) and determine if loss of actuation load on the electronic components exceeds an acceptable threshold, and if so, at least one tube having high stress is identified and reconfigured. Thereafter, analysis is performed to determine whether, with available actuation load on the cooling subassembly, electrical connection loading between the electronic components and the supporting motherboard is above an acceptable minimum level. If so, the coolant-carrying tube layout is chosen as a final design.
US07751911B2

A failure alarm device includes: an operation instruction capturing unit; an operation status signal capturing unit; and a timing and alarming unit for starting timing when the operation instruction capturing unit captures a start-operation instruction and the operation status signal capturing unit captures an operation status signal indicative of that the CMP apparatus is in the preset operation status, and for alarming if a duration of the operation status signal indicative times out. During operation of the CMP apparatus, when there occurs an unexpected failure in a computer or control software or the CMP apparatus is powered off, an alarm can be initiated in a timely way so as to inform an apparatus engineer to obviate the failure, and wafer rejects in the CMP apparatus can be avoided. A failure alarm method is also provided.
US07751910B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that estimates the value of a virtual sensor. The system first samples values for performance metrics using external sensors that are coupled to a system and internal sensors that are built into the system. Next, the system generates an inferential sensing model for the system from the sampled values. Then, during operation, the system samples values of performance metrics using the internal sensors and uses the inferential sensing model and the sampled values from the internal sensors to estimate the values of performance metrics for removed external sensors (i.e., virtual sensors).
US07751908B2

A thermal process system. The thermal process system comprises a thermal processor, a metrology tool, and a controller. The thermal processor performs a thermal process as defined by a heating model to form a film on a wafer surface. The metrology tool, interfaced with the thermal processor, inspects thickness of the film. The controller, coupled with the thermal processor and the metrology tool, generates the heating model of the thermal processor and calibrates the heating model according to a preset slope coefficient matrix and the measured thickness.
US07751906B2

The object is to provide a method for operating and/or observing at least one field device in the simplest possible manner. A first central control device which executes the automation engineering software generates a first command to control the at least one field device and transmits the first command to the at least one field device. At least a second central control device which executes the automation engineering software generates a similar second command for controlling the at least one field device and transmits the second command to the at least one field device. The at least one field device receives the transmitted first and second commands and executes at least one of the received commands. An automation system for carrying out the method is also provided.
US07751902B1

A push-pull amplifier efficiency provides a 4:1 (12 dB) course adjustment of power output by using a single digital control input. The amplifier is provided with an input voltage (VDD) having sixteen steps ranging from 1.25 volts to 3.00 volts. Based on the digital control, an integrated circuit switches between a high power mode and a low power mode. In the low power mode, the output voltage is equivalent to the input voltage. In the high power mode, the amplifier provides an output of twice the input voltage (or four times the power).
US07751894B1

Various systems and methods are provided for intervening where aberrant heart and/or respiratory functionality is detected. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide a monitor capable of detecting the occurrence of various aberrant events, and in some cases for intervening in the event. In some cases, a pacemaker or some other medical device detects an abnormality, and an information signal indicating the detected abnormality is transmitted from the pacemaker to a bedside monitor or some other monitor associated with the patient. Based on the received information signal, the bedside monitor can deliver an appropriate therapy. Such a therapy can be, but are not limited to, the sounding of an audible alarm to awake the patient, and/or the programming of a medical device implanted in the patient. Further, in some cases, the detected aberrant behavior and/or events surrounding the aberrant behavior can be transmitted from the bedside monitor to a remote monitor. Information can be retrieved from the remote monitor by a clinician and used in real time, or at a later time to diagnose and/or treat the patient.
US07751891B2

A method and an apparatus for projecting an end of service (EOS) and/or an elective replacement indication (ERI) of a component in an implantable device and for determining an impedance experienced by a lead associated with the implantable device. An active charge depletion of an implantable device is determined. An inactive charge depletion of the implantable device is determined. A time period until an end of service (EOS) and/or elective replacement indication (ERI) of a power supply associated with the IMD based upon the active charge depletion, the inactive charge depletion, and the initial and final (EOS) battery charges, is determined. Furthermore, to determine the impedance described above, a substantially constant current signal is provided through a first terminal and a second terminal of the lead. A voltage across the first and second terminals is measured. An impedance across the first and second terminals is determined based upon the constant current signal and the measured voltage.
US07751883B2

Systems and methods for promoting coronary angiogenesis employ a combination of mechanical, metabolic and biochemical stimuli.
US07751875B2

The invention relates to the analysis of ECG data by exploiting computerized three-dimensional spatial presentation of the measured data using the vector concept. A three-dimensional presentation of the human heart may be correlated with waveforms specific for standard ECG or derived ECG signals based on the dipole approximation of the heart electrical activity. The three-dimensional heart model may be rotated, and the ECG signals are interactively linked to the model. In the visualization process, different types of signal presentation may be used, including graphical presentation of the heart vector hodograph, graphical presentation of the signal waveform in an arbitrary chosen point on the heart, and graphical presentation of the map of equipotential lines on the heart in a chosen moment. Additional tools for analyzing ECG data are also provided which may be interactively used with the display tools.
US07751874B2

A medical display for analyzing heart signals includes a cardiographic display which displays an electrocardiograph (ECG) heart signal segment of a patient having a magnitude and location in vector format within a single three-dimensional (3D) coordinate system (vectorcardiograph) sampled at incremental time intervals. The display communicates with a central processing unit (CPU) that implements an algorithm to permit a user to selectively and visually display a comparison of the patient ECG with at least one known display in vector format within a single three-dimensional (3D) coordinate system. The display also permits a user to selectively and visually convert and display an ECG heart signal segment into a color-coded projection of a time sequence, A method for analyzing heart signals includes implementing the algorithm to selectively and visually compare the ECG heart signal with at least one known display in vector format selected from the group.
US07751871B2

Disclosed is an optical imaging method and device enabling display and 3D measurement of tridimensional objects (1), whereby at least two individual images are captured one after the other and the image conversion is controlled or regulated differently for these individual images. By employing adustable optical means (10-14) for the illumination of the object or in the optical path for the imaging of the object on the image converter (15) it is possible to acquire a larger amount of visual information on the object observed than that which is available in an individual image due to the limitations imposed by the design of the converter used (15). The invention relates to processes and design forms of the device enabling recording units to be designed, using simply and generally commercial components, which are able to display and measure larger objects (1) despite a reduced field of vision imposed by the design. This is especially useful for diagnosis in invasive applications in the bodies of humans or animals.
US07751867B2

A method is provided for establishing contact of a medical device against a three-dimensional surface geometry within a subject body, the method comprising obtaining a three-dimensional tissue surface geometry of an anatomical region within the subject body, obtaining a target location on the surface for the device to contact, determining local surface geometry information in a neighborhood of the target location, and using this information to determine a change of at least one control variable for effecting an over-torque of the medical device to enhance contact of the device with the target surface.
US07751860B2

A variable configuration apparatus has components or sub-systems. At least some components (200 and 201) have mechanical coupling elements (101 and 102 and 103) that enable the configuration of the apparatus to be varied by changing at least one of the relative orientation and position of those components or subsystems. These mechanical coupling elements (101 and 102 and 103) incorporate wireless signal coupling elements (205 and 206) that cooperate to provide a wireless coupling which enables wireless coupling between the components. The wireless coupling may be used to transfer at least one of data and power between the components. The wireless signal coupling elements may be capacitive coupling elements that provide capacitive coupling between the components or sub-systems. In an example, the apparatus is a video camera and one component or sub-system is a display screen (201) and another component or sub-system is the main body (200) of the video camera (200).
US07751854B2

A method and apparatus is described for modifying a smart antenna processing strategy determined from a set of signals received at an array of antenna elements of a wireless station, such as a set of weights for processing received antenna signals or forming a set of antenna signals for transmission. The method and apparatus uses the signatures of one or more interferers to produce a modified processing strategy that improves the nulling to the one or more interferers in that, when the modified strategy is applied on the downlink, the transmit signal strength in the direction of the one or more interferers is decreased, and, when the modified strategy is applied on the uplink, the sensitivity to signals from the direction of the one or more interferers is decreased.
US07751852B2

Generally, the present invention provides stations for one or more portable electronic devices (PEDs) and methods for such stations. A station can support a PED, and sense when the PED would be notifying its user about a wireless signal that is received from a remote transmitter. When the station so senses, it further generates a human-perceptible indication to help notify the user, who might have walked away. The human-perceptible indication can include, a call sound, a light signal, etc. This way, for example, when the PED is only vibrating, the call sound can be such that the station rings like a regular home telephone, and/or the light signal can be such that the station lights up without distracting coworkers as much. As such, the user can always keep the PED at the “Silent” annunciation mode.
US07751850B2

A multimode communication integrated circuit comprising baseband processing circuitry with a shared radio interface. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise a processor module adapted to perform various processing (e.g., baseband processing) in support of multimode communications. A first radio module may be communicatively coupled to the processor module through a common communication interface. A second radio module may also be communicatively coupled to the processor module through the common communication interface. The common communication interface may, for example, be adapted to communicate information over a communication bus that is shared between the processor module and a plurality of radio modules (e.g., the first and second radio modules).
US07751842B2

Disclosed is a method for enabling a receiving-side Push-To-Talk (PTT)-over-Cellular (PoC) user to acquire ad-hoc group invitee information and selectively establishing a PoC session according to preference when a pre-established session and an auto-answer mode have been set between a receiving-side PoC user equipment and a PoC server in a PoC system. Particularly, in order to efficiently utilize the receiving-side Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session setting, disclosed are a solution for transferring information related to other users expected to participate in group communication through user-plane signaling, and in addition, access rules, service setting, timers and a method for changing a response set between the client and server in order to support the solution.
US07751839B2

A method for the bandwidth optimization of at least one sector in a communication network is provided. The communication network comprises at least one mobile device (106) and a base station controller (102). A Data Rate Control (DRC) cover value of a first mobile device (106) is set for a first sector. The method includes comparing a number of active users of the first sector with a threshold bandwidth when a DRC of the first sector is in lock for the first mobile device. Further, a second sector with available bandwidth and a DRC in lock for the first mobile device (106) is searched, when the number of active users of the first sector is greater than the threshold bandwidth. Furthermore, the first mobile device (106) is removed from the first sector and redirected to the second sector when the second sector exists.
US07751837B2

A method and system are provided for processing a message, which is being delivered from one mobile network to another. A request to send routing instructions of the message to a store-and-forward center of a transmitting mobile network is received at a moderator server of a receiving mobile network. The routing instructions are generated in the moderator server, so that the routing instructions instruct the store-and-forward center to route the message to a gateway server of the receiving mobile network. The routing instructions are transmitted from the moderator server to the store-and-forward center. Then the message, which has been sent according to the routing instructions from the store-and-forward center of the transmitting mobile network, is received at the gateway server. From the gateway server the message is forwarded for modifying and archiving purposes of the message.
US07751836B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for preventing the delivery of unwanted SMS messages, such as those containing unsolicited commercial messages or spam, in a communications network. More particularly, SMS messages are intercepted prior to delivery and at least a portion of the SMS message content is encapsulated within an electronic mail (e-mail) message. The e-mail message is communicated to an e-mail spam filtering resource in a data network, where spam screening/filtering algorithms are applied. The e-mail message is discarded at the e-mail spam filtering resource if the message fails spam screening. Alternatively, or in addition, the results of the spam screening may be returned with the original message for another network node to process accordingly. In any case, if the message passes spam screening, the original SMS message that is associated with the e-mail message may be delivered to/toward the intended message recipient.
US07751833B2

A system and method for determining the location of a base transceiver station (BTS) are provided. A personal BTS can determine its location using information transmitted by neighboring BTSs or from mobile station transmissions to neighboring BTSs. If the personal BTS cannot determine its location using information from neighboring BTSs or from mobile station transmissions, the personal BTS can contact a cellular network operator to request that a technician come out to verify the location.
US07751827B2

A method of estimating the location of a mobile device, comprising the steps of: collecting location information; selecting at least one of a plurality of different location methods to provide a location estimate; and providing a location estimate based on the at least one selected location method.
US07751820B2

There are a wireless access network comprising a radio network gateway apparatus (101), radio access network control apparatus (102a), (102b) and a base stations (103a), (103b) and a terminal (104) accommodated in the wireless access network and when the terminal (104) enters into a new cell B, a packet data is transmitted from the source radio access network control apparatus (102a) to the target radio access network control apparatus (102b). Further, when the terminal (104) switches the radio access network control apparatus (102) with which the terminal (104) communicates, the target radio access network control apparatus (102b) switches a transmission line of a data to be transmitted to the terminal (104) from a wireless data to a packet data in the source radio access network control apparatus (102a), and from the source packet data to a target packet data in a synchronized manner at each timing. This reduces traffic which occurs when switching a radio access network control apparatus to be communicated while the terminal moves between cells and prevent packet interruption in a wireless access network providing packet transmission service.
US07751815B2

The present non-terrestrial feature transparency system spoofs the Air-to-Ground Network and the ground-based cellular communication network into thinking that the wireless subscriber devices have no special considerations associated with their operation, even though the wireless subscriber devices are located on an aircraft in flight. This architecture requires that the non-terrestrial feature transparency system on board the aircraft replicate the full functionality of a given wireless subscriber device, that has a certain predetermined feature set from a ground-based wireless service provider, at another wireless subscriber device located within the aircraft. This mirroring of wireless subscriber device attributes enables a localized cell for in-cabin communication yet retains the same wireless subscriber device attributes for the air-to-ground link. The Air-to-Ground Network transmits both the subscriber data (comprising voice and/or other data) as well as feature set data between the Aircraft in-Cabin Network and the ground-based cellular communication network to thereby enable the wireless subscriber devices that are located in the aircraft to receive consistent wireless communication services in both the terrestrial (ground-based) and non-terrestrial regions.
US07751813B2

A method and system for testing a wireless device, the system comprising: a remote user interface for interacting with the data device from a remote location; and a wireless network for communication with the wireless data device from a remote location, wherein a tester can send information to and receive information from the wireless device over said wireless network and can monitor said wireless device and send inputs to the wireless device over the remote user interface thereby forming a closed loop communications path.
US07751800B2

The present invention relates to a communication system and method, an information processing terminal and method, and an information processing device and method which enable simple and secure restricted access. When a PDA 11 is brought close, a reader 2 of a personal computer 1 reads a device ID form an IC tag 12. The personal computer 1 registers device IDs on a connection permission list, and permits only devices registered on the list to connect. When being instructed to perform accessing, the PDA 11 controls a communication unit to access the personal computer 1 and to transmits its device ID. The personal computer 1 determines whether or not the transmitted ID is registered on the connection permission list, and permits the connection when determining that the ID is registered. The present invention can be applied to various information processing devices such as a personal computer and a PDA.
US07751795B2

A method and system for communicating audio signals between an input device and an output device via a network. The output device can include loudspeakers and headphones. In some embodiments an output device, for example a center channel speaker, transmits audio signals to other output devices. In some embodiments, the output device is coupled to, or combined with, a speaker stand or speaker bracket. The network can be wireless, wired, infrared, RF, and powerline.
US07751785B2

A system and method for wireless communication. The system can include a transmitter that transmits a data signal having a time period without data transmission. The system can also include a receiver including a first antenna, a second antenna, a switch that activates one of the first antenna and the second antenna, and a processor that estimates a first signal-to-noise ratio for the first antenna and a second signal-to-noise ratio for the second antenna during the time period without data transmission. The processor can control the switch to select one of the first antenna and the second antenna based on a comparison between the first signal-to-noise ratio and the second signal-to-noise ratio.
US07751778B1

Methods and systems are disclosed for improving data transmission rates in a wireless communication system. An example method may be implemented in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations defining a plurality of wireless coverage areas in which a mobile station can engage in radio frequency (RF) communication with the base stations where the method includes determining a location of the mobile station. Based on the determined location of the mobile station, the method further includes determining whether activating an inactive signal repeater would increase a rate at which data is able to be communicated from the base stations to the mobile station. In the event that that it is determined that activating the signal repeater would increase the rate at which data is able to be communicated, the method still further includes activating the signal repeater.
US07751772B2

According to one embodiment, when a recording process of transferring, via an output buffer, received broadcast contents over a network and recording them on external recording equipment and an acquisition process of acquiring, via an input buffer, AV contents obtained from external equipment over the network are carried out concurrently, the amount of data to be acquired by the acquisition process is limited when the amount of data stored in the output buffer has reached a preset value.
US07751771B2

The present invention relates to a sheet transport apparatus comprising; sheet transport means capable of conveying sheets at a transfer speed that is the same as a transfer speed α of sheet in an image forming position where an image is formed on the sheet, and at a transfer speed β that is faster than the transfer speed α, skew feeding correction means which corrects skew feeding of sheet conveyed by the sheet transport means and which feeds the sheet to the image forming position where the image is formed, and sheet interval control means for controlling a distance between a sheet and a next sheet by changing timing at which the transfer speed of the sheet is reduced from the transfer speed β to the transfer speed α at upstream side from the skew feeding correction means in a sheet conveying direction.
US07751770B2

Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, which comprises an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed, a sweep roller for removing residual toner particles from the image bearing member, and a recovery roller for recovering the toner particles from the sweep roller. The recovery roller has a diameter of 10 mm or less, and a surface roughness Rz of 1.6 μm to 6.4 μm.
US07751760B2

An image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member for transporting developer to an opposing position opposing an image bearing member. Regularly-disposed concave sections are formed on a surface of the developer bearing member. An alternating voltage that includes a first voltage for moving developer from the developer bearing member toward the image bearing member, and a second voltage for moving developer from the image bearing member toward the developer bearing member is applied to the developer bearing member. A cycle period of the alternating voltage is larger than a minimum width of the concave section in a circumferential direction of the developer bearing member divided by a moving velocity of a surface of the rotating developer bearing member.
US07751759B2

An image forming apparatus is provided with an apparatus main body including a developing device, a toner container detachably mountable into the apparatus main body and adapted to replenish the developing device with toner particles, and a lever member settable to a locking position by a biasing force of a specified biasing member to interlock the toner container with the apparatus main body while being pressed down against the biasing force of the biasing member to unlock the toner container. The lever member has an operation surface to be pressed, and the operation surface includes an inclined surface sloped downward toward a side where an operator would face.
US07751755B2

A disclosed image forming apparatus includes plural image creating units arranged along a belt surface of a transfer belt; a first electric motor for driving a fixing unit; a second electric motor for driving one of the image creating units and the transfer belt; a third electric motor for driving the rest of the image creating units; a detecting unit for detecting a remaining toner amount in each image creating unit; a timing setting unit for determining a startup timing according to the remaining toner amount and delaying the startup timing if the remaining toner amount is large; and a startup control unit for starting up each of the first electric motor, the second electric motor, and, according to need, the third electric motor, one at a time after the preceding one has been started up, according to the determined startup timings.
US07751752B2

An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable brush in contact with an image bearing member at a position downstream of transfer means and upstream of charging means in a rotational direction of the image bearing member. The rotational brush is configured to supply electrical charge to residual toner that remains on the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus executes a mode for removing toner particles attached to the brush by setting a peripheral speed of the brush to be lower than that of the image bearing member during an image forming time period and setting the peripheral speed of the brush to be higher than that of the image bearing member during at least part of a non-image forming time period.
US07751748B2

An image-forming device includes a plurality of photosensitive drums, a plurality of drum gears, a plurality of drive gears and a removal allowing unit. Each drum gear has a first target portion. Each drive gear has a second target portion. The removal allowing unit allows each photosensitive drum to be removed from the casing only when the first target portion of the drum gear is positionally in coincidence with a first position and when the second target portion of the drive gear is positionally in coincidence with a second position.
US07751741B2

An optical sensor includes a light-emitting element for directing light to an image, a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected by the image, a normal detection optical path for allowing the light emitted by the light-emitting element and the light reflected from the image to follow a normal detection optical path during normal operation, a calibration reflecting plate disposed inside the optical sensor for reflecting light from the light-emitting element when sensitivity is calibrated, a calibration optical path for allowing the light emitted by the light-emitting element to follow a calibration optical path to the light-receiving element when the emitted light is reflected by the calibration reflecting plate, and a first optical function element disposed in the calibration optical path and switchable between a light permeating state, in which the light passes therethrough, and a light intercepting state, in which the light is blocked, when voltage is applied.
US07751736B2

In an image density correction method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an image density correction is carried out by obtaining an actual toner amount through obtaining a density of a between-sheet patch image having been formed during continuous printing, reconstructing relational characteristics in which the actual toner amount is associated with each variation in developing biases, by considering that the actual toner amount and a reference toner amount are to be made in agreement, when a determination that the actual toner amount disagrees with the reference toner amount is made, and resetting a developing bias for realizing the reference toner amount based on the reconstructed relational characteristics and the reference toner amount. By this means, a high quality image can be obtained by suppressing color fluctuations with printing efficiency maintained at a high level even if large color fluctuations occur during continuous printing.
US07751727B2

An expense recovery system for a digital MFD in the form of a modification to the application program interface of the MFD to allow input of identifiers for the user, the client and the job and to transmit this information and other transaction data to a host computer for billing purposes. Data entry is made faster and more accurate by minimizing keystrokes. The information is transmitted over a network and, optionally, the host computer may be located remote from the MFD.
US07751725B2

The present invention provides an optical receiver that includes a monitoring unit with a function to prevent the unit from misjudging of the loss-of-signal state. In particular, the present invention is applicable to the monitoring unit that receives the signal to be judged from the processing unit posterior to the optical converting unit that couples with the processing unit via the capacitor. The signal reflects the second or higher order response lag due to the coupling capacitor. The monitoring unit of the invention generates the loss-of-alarm signal when the signal is continuously smaller than the first reference by a preset time and continuously greater than the second reference by the present time.
US07751717B2

An optical transceiver host computing system (hereinafter simply referred as the “host”) printed circuit board has multiple optical transceivers directly mounted to it. Each optical transceiver is configured to convert an electrical signal into an optical signal and to transmit the optical signal and to receive an optical signal and convert the received signal into an electrical signal. By directly mounting the optical transceivers to the host printed circuit board, an increased number of transceivers may be supported by a single host without increasing the overall size of the host.
US07751708B2

An optical transmission system capable of time difference correction without lengthening guard times, thereby improving optical packet transmission efficiency. A switching processor sets identical switching timing for input ports thereof such that signals input from the input ports are switched at the same timing. When an optical dummy packet is received, the switching processor switches the optical dummy packet to be returned to the originating node. A time difference corrector detects synchroneity of the switched and looped-back optical dummy packet and, if asynchronism is detected, varies readout timing until synchroneity is attained, thereby correcting the time difference so that the optical dummy packet may fit in the switching time range and thus can be switched normally.
US07751701B2

A human face is detected from an image. On the basis of a size of the detected face and a focal length of a taking lens, a subject distance is calculated. Further, a depth of field is calculated on the basis of the calculated subject distance, the focal length of the taking lens and a stop diameter. The calculated depth of field is analyzed. When it is judged that the depth of field is deep, shooting is performed as it is. When it is judged that the depth of field is shallow, the stop diameter is reduced to deepen the depth of field. In addition, sensitivity of a CCD image sensor is heightened to correct brightness of the image.
US07751697B2

A housing for underwater imaging comprising a first section for housing an optical instrument; a second section secured to the first section adapted to house a window; a window disposed within the second section; and a buffer ring disposed between the window and the first section. The buffer ring is a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion approximately equal to that of the window. In the best mode, the window is optical grade glass and the buffer ring is aluminum foil. In the illustrative embodiment, a mounting ring is disposed between the buffer ring and the second section of the housing. The mounting ring is steel and must be polished, lapped, stainless steel as well. The buffer ring protects the glass window from the mounting ring. A third ring is disposed over the window and secures it to the second section of the housing. The second section is removable relative to the first section to allow for a camera to be placed within the housing and secured thereby for deep-sea underwater use at high pressure.
US07751696B2

A camera according to the present invention has a housing that has a first hole and a second hole, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a waterproof sheet that covers the microphone and the loudspeaker, and allows air-vibration to be transmitted. The microphone is arranged in the housing, in accordance with a position of the first hole. The loudspeaker is arranged in the housing, in accordance with a position of the second hole. The loudspeaker and the microphone are adjacent to each other, and the waterproof sheet is constructed as one-piece sheet.
US07751691B2

A reproducing apparatus includes a reproducing unit that reproduces a video data sequence including video data of a plurality of pictures from a recording medium. The video data sequence is encoded by a coding method in which the amount of data per picture changes from one picture to another. The reproducing apparatus further includes an error correcting unit that corrects the reproduced video data sequence for an error, and a control unit that substitutes data of a picture including an error that is uncorrectable by the error correcting unit with predetermined encoded data so as to output the same image as a picture immediately previous to the picture including the uncorrectable error when the video data sequence is decoded.
US07751684B2

A signal processor includes a buffer memory for storing the image signal for output as a main image signal; a point setting section for storing a position on a temporal axis of the main image signal as a registration point in response to a given capture command, the main image signal corresponding to the capture command; a playback control section for causing the buffer memory to output an image frame following the registration point in response to a given playback command; a video capture section for generating a registration image based on at least one image frame in a neighborhood of the registration point of the main image signal outputted from the buffer memory, and storing the registration image; and an image superimposing section for superimposing the registration image onto the main image signal for display in a signal screen to generate a composite image signal.
US07751683B1

A technique for marking scene changes within video files. A video file with multiple frames is stored on a data store connected to a computer. Initially, the video file is received by an encoder or other processor. The frames of the video file are analyzed to identify scene changes between frames. Each frame of the video file includes a field that is marked with scene change data. Within the encoder, fields of frames are marked to represent scene changes.
US07751674B2

The present invention provides modular cassettes for fiber management applications. Cassettes in accordance with the present invention comprise plural functional components that nest into a main housing portion to support various application and fiber types. In accordance with the present invention, such components can be added or removed depending on the application and configuration needs of the use environment. Advantageously, cassettes in accordance with the present invention incorporate resilient connections and nested internal components for easy assembly and disassembly with minimal tools.
US07751671B1

A mounting assembly for mounting an optical member to a panel can comprise a mounting portion configured to contact a top surface of the panel when mounted to the panel and a receiving portion to receive optical hardware such as an optical detector so that a field of view of the optical detector substantially encompasses the top surface of the panel when the mounting assembly is mounted thereto. The assembly can include an attachment member to attach the mounting portion to the panel and to limit axial movement along or about an axis parallel to an edge of the panel when the mounting assembly is mounted to the panel. The body of the mounting portion may also be shaped to limit axial movement, such as by including a lip in contact with edges of the panel and/or a base portion that contacts the top surface of the panel when mounted.
US07751670B2

A laser display device, which eliminates speckles generated in the transmission of laser beams and uniformly mixes laser beams of various colors, and an optical coupler therefor. The laser display device includes light sources emitting laser beams; an image display unit displaying an image by the laser beams; and a speckle elimination unit located on a path of the laser beams, and including at least one panel having an uneven part and disposed on an optical axis of the light sources.
US07751669B2

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a waveguide, which includes a three-dimensional photonic crystal including a first linear defect and a second linear defect. The first linear defect is disposed at part of columnar structures and is formed of a medium different from the columnar structures. The second linear defect is disposed at part of columnar structures extending in the longitudinal direction of the first linear defect and is formed of a medium having a refractive index different from that of the medium used for the columnar structures. The second linear defect is separated from the first linear defect by a distance of at least 0.5 times the out-of-plane lattice period of the three-dimensional photonic crystal in a direction in which layers including the columnar structures are stacked.
US07751664B2

A door handle apparatus for a vehicle, opening and closing a vehicle door, the door handle apparatus includes an informing portion for visually informing a state of the vehicle door, including a locking/unlocking state thereof, to a user by a decorative light, which is a visible light, an operation detecting portion for optically detecting an active-direct operation to the door handle apparatus by the user based on changes in an detection light, and an optical waveguide for transmitting the decorative light and the detection light, which is inputted from a first end portion of the optical waveguide, to a second end portion of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide functioning as the informing portion by leaking the decorative light on a transmission path so as to be outwardly emitted and as the operation detecting portion by outputting the detection light from the second end portion of the optical waveguide.
US07751661B2

There is provided a light emitting device using an optical component capable of emitting light having a wavelength different from that of light exit from an optical fiber and obtaining light of high output, and capable of being easily attached to an end of the optical fiber. The optical component includes an optical fiber holding member for holding an optical fiber, a light conversion member, and a cap having an inner hole allowing the light conversion member and the optical fiber holding member to be inserted into and an engagement part with an opening for engaging inserted members at one end of the inner hole. The light conversion member inserted into the inner hole of the cap is fitted into the inner hole with the optical fiber holding member pressed against the engagement part. The opening of the engagement part is smaller than a maximum diameter of the light conversion member.
US07751641B2

Disclosed systems and methods for enhancing digital images to reduce visual noise and artifacts. In particular, the systems and methods include detecting information edges in images and processing an image at different spatial frequencies.
US07751640B2

Sharpness is adjusted for more appropriately representing a predetermined structure in an image. A parameter acquisition unit obtains a weighting parameter for a principal component representing a degree of sharpness in a face region detected by a face detection unit as an example of the predetermined structure in the image, by fitting to the face region a mathematical model generated by a statistical method such as AAM based on a plurality of sample images representing human faces in different degrees of sharpness. Based on a value of the parameter, sharpness is adjusted in at least a part of the image. For example, a parameter changing unit changes the value of the parameter to a preset optimal face sharpness value, and an image reconstruction unit reconstructs the image based on the parameter having been changed and outputs the image having been subjected to the sharpness adjustment processing.
US07751636B2

A method of decoding CAVLC transform coefficients encoded from an image uses a plurality of registers for storing coefficients and flags and a plurality of MUX devices for selecting data input for corresponding registers. The method includes receiving transform coefficients including first and second encoded data corresponding to an image, generating a trailing-one coefficient with a sign indicated by the first encoded data together with a flag value corresponding to a status of the trailing-one coefficient, and generating a non-trailing zero coefficient according to the second encoded data together with a flag value corresponding to a status of the non-trailing zero coefficient.
US07751633B1

In a method for compressing an image, source data is converted into a series of blocks each containing one or more colors. A baseline target block size is determined based upon a target compression ratio for the source data. For each block in turn, a compression mode is selected from mode families, where the mode families include an n-color mode family, an interpolated mode family, a raw mode family, a BTC-VQ mode family, a lossless mode family, and a 4×4 transform mode family. In addition, for each block in turn, the block is compressed using the selected compression mode to yield a corresponding compressed block.
US07751629B2

Provided are a method and apparatus for decoding a mixed code that is a combination of first and second code images. In the method, a mixed code image is obtained by receiving the original image having the mixed code image and removing noise from the original image. Next, the colors, shades, and brightnesses of pixels of the mixed code image are categorized into groups based on a predetermined threshold, the mixed code image is divided into first and second code images, and first and second information are extracted by decoding the first and second code images, respectively. The first and second code images can be effectively decoded by decoding interpretation information, construction information, error control information, and code direction information stored in the first and/or second code images.
US07751609B1

A method and apparatus is provided for determining thickness of films or layers during chemical-mechanical planarization/polishing (CMP) of a semiconductor substrate or wafer in situ. The method may be used to determine end-point during CMP especially of oxide films deposited on the substrate or wafer. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) capturing images of the surface of the substrate using high speed imaging; b) performing pattern recognition on the captured images; c) selecting one of the captured images based on the pattern recognition; and d) converting the selected image into a thickness measurement. In one form, the high speed imaging comprises a high speed camera, while in another form, the high speed imaging comprises a conventional camera and a laser pulse or flash tube. In yet another embodiment, reflective laser interference patterns of the substrate are captured and analyzed for interference pattern changes that can signal a practical end-point.
US07751607B2

The present invention is a multi-stage detection algorithm using a successive nodule candidate refinement approach. The detection algorithm involves four major steps. First, the lung region is segmented from a whole lung CT scan. This is followed by a hypothesis generation stage in which nodule candidate locations are identified from the lung region. In the third stage, nodule candidate sub-images pass through a streaking artifact removal process. The nodule candidates are then successively refined using a sequence of filters of increasing complexity. A first filter uses attachment area information to remove vessels and large vessel bifurcation points from the nodule candidate list. A second filter removes small bifurcation points. The invention also improves the consistency of nodule segmentations. This invention uses rigid-body registration, histogram-matching, and a rule-based adjustment system to remove missegmented voxels between two segmentations of the same nodule at different times.
US07751591B2

A method of representing a 2-dimensional image comprises deriving at least one 1-dimensional representation of the image by projecting the image onto at least one axis, and applying a Fourier transform to said 1-dimensional representation. The representation can be used for estimation of dominant motion between images.
US07751589B2

Estimation of a 3D layout of roads and paths traveled by pedestrians is achieved by observing the pedestrians and estimating road parameters from the pedestrian's size and position in a sequence of video frames. The system includes a foreground object detection unit to analyze video frames of a 3D scene and detect objects and object positions in video frames, an object scale prediction unit to estimate 3D transformation parameters for the objects and to predict heights of the objects based at least in part on the parameters, and a road map detection unit to estimate road boundaries of the 3D scene using the object positions to generate the road map.
US07751579B2

The present invention relates to systems and methods for protecting acoustic devices. In particular embodiments, barriers are useful for preventing a variety of solid, liquid, and vapor contaminants from modifiying or damaging the performance of acoustic transducers, while at the same time providing essentially an acoustically transparent passage of sound.
US07751576B2

A loudspeaker apparatus has an improved reproduction characteristic of signals of small sound volumes. The loudspeaker apparatus includes a small-signal loudspeaker unit operable to output first signals in the range of a predetermined level or below of the input audio signals, with a characteristic in which the linearity of output frequency with respect to input signals is substantially secured in the range of the predetermined level or below; and a large-signal loudspeaker unit operable to output signals in the range of a predetermined level or above of the input audio signals, with a characteristic in which the linearity of output frequency with respect to input signals is substantially secured in the range of the predetermined level or above, wherein the linearity of an input-output characteristic is secured regarding both small-amplitude and large-amplitude signals.
US07751572B2

An audio signal having at least two channels can be efficiently down-mixed into a downmixe signal and a residual signal, when the down-mixing rule used depends on a spatial parameter that is derived from the audio signal and that is post-processed by a limiter to apply a certain limit to the derived spatial parameter with the aim of avoiding instabilities during the up-mixing or down-mixing process. By having a down-mixing rule that dynamically depends on parameters describing an interrelation between the audio channels, one can assure that the energy within the down-mixed residual signal is as minimal as possible, which is advantageous in the view of coding efficiency. By post processing the spatial parameter with a limiter prior to using it in the down-mixing, one can avoid instabilities in the down- or up-mixing, which otherwise could result in a disturbance of the spatial perception of the encoded or decoded audio signal.
US07751570B2

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for managing keys. During operation, the system receives a request from a user at a database to encrypt/decrypt data at the database. In response to this request, the system sends a user-token to the user, wherein the user-token includes a user-key encrypted with a user-secret thereby enabling the user to decrypt the user-key with the user-secret. Next, the system receives the decrypted user-key from the user. The system then uses the user-key to encrypt/decrypt the data at the database. Finally, the system deletes the user-key at the database.
US07751567B2

Methods and apparatus are presented for providing local authentication of subscribers traveling outside their home systems. A subscriber identification token 230 provides authentication support by generating a signature 370 based upon a key that is held secret from a mobile unit 220. A mobile unit 220 that is programmed to wrongfully retain keys from a subscriber identification token 230 after a subscriber has removed his or her token is prevented from subsequently accessing the subscriber's account.
US07751566B2

Systems including both distributed and centralized architectures for providing multiple levels of security using “virtual” switches. Ports and channels are assigned the same time slots on a TDMA bus only when they have matching security levels.
US07751564B2

In certain embodiments, a method of partially dual encrypting a digital video signal involves examining unencrypted packets of data in the digital video signal to identify a specified packet type. The specified packet type includes packets occurring in a star pattern approximately situated at approximately a center of an image; encrypting packets identified as being of the specified packet type using a first encryption method to produce first encrypted packets; encrypting the packets identified as being of the specified packet type using a second encryption method to produce second encrypted packets; and replacing the unencrypted packets of the specified packet type with the first encrypted packets and the second encrypted packets in the digital video signal to produce a partially dual encrypted video signal. This abstract should not be considered limiting since embodiments consistent with the present invention may involve more, different or fewer elements.
US07751562B2

To supply of a data set, e.g. the content of a copy protected audio CD, which is stored in a database (6), e.g. to a user PC (2) on which said content of a copy protected audio CD cannot be accessed, the following steps are performed: receiving a serial code of a set of serial codes assigned to said data set (S3); verifying of said received serial code (S4); in case of a positive verification, accessing said data set corresponding to said received and positively verified serial code from said database (S5, S6); and outputting of at least parts of said accessed data (S7).
US07751560B2

A method of processing digital content consistent with certain embodiments involves receiving a signal containing the digital content, wherein the digital content has a first encrypted sample of the digital content, the sample being encrypted under a first encryption method, a second encrypted sample of the digital content, the sample being encrypted under a second encryption method, and an unencrypted portion; and decrypting the first encrypted sample to produce a decrypted sample. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US07751559B2

Provided are a method, system and article of manufacture, wherein a cryptographic key generator generates a cryptographic key. The cryptographic key generator encrypts the cryptographic key with a session key that is available to both the cryptographic key generator and a cryptographic unit. The encrypted cryptographic key is transmitted across a link from the cryptographic key generator to the cryptographic unit.
US07751558B2

A digital message can be sent from a sender to a recipient in a public-key based cryptosystem comprising a hierarchy of authorizers. A message recipient can decrypt a message from a message sender only if the recipient possesses up-to-date authority from an authorizer. Other features are also provided.
US07751553B2

Methods and apparatus to provide voice control of dial tone and audio message in a telephone in an initial off-hook period. A telephone system has a telephone with a receiver having an off-hook position. The telephone system provides a user with control of a telephone function. The telephone system includes an audio output to provide an audio message to the receiver in the off-hook position. The audio message includes an option for playing the audio message or a dial tone the next instance the receiver is in the off-hook position. A control interface receives a selected option in response to a user command.
US07751545B2

In one embodiment, a method for enhanced call pickup includes accessing data indicating a current status of each of one or more users in a call pickup group (CPG) with respect to an incoming phone call to a phone number corresponding to the CPG and communicating the data to one or more endpoints of one or more users in the CPG for display to one or more users in the CPG. A display of the data to a first user in the CPG facilitates the first user determining a current status of each of one or more second users in the CPG to facilitate a decision by the first user regarding whether to pick up the incoming phone call.
US07751532B2

The embodiments relate to methods and apparatuses for tracking data calls placed to or from a terminal of a call service subscriber using of an advanced intelligent network in real time in a communications network. A SDS query to an SCP in communication with a database is made when a specific trigger for a call assigned to a subscriber is detected. Call information and subscriber number data is extracted from the SDS query and saved in the database.
US07751529B2

A radiation image radiographing system 1 including a radiation image detector 5 detecting a radiated radiation to obtain image information, a console 6 operating the radiation image detector 5, and associating means for performing the association with the console 6 operating the radiation image detector 5 at the time of radiography, wherein the radiation image detector 5 includes a power supplying means 21 controlling the state of power supply according to the operation status of the console 6 associated by the associating means.
US07751525B2

The invention relates to a method for correcting x-ray scatter in projection radiography or in x-ray computer tomography, in which, for different observed objects, different scatter-correction convolution cores G are determined and in the examination of the respective objects object-specific scatter-correction convolution cores are applied to detector data which is created during the x-raying of these objects. The invention also relates to a projection radiography or x-ray computer tomography system which features programs in a processing system which executes the method described above when the system is operating.
US07751524B2

An X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes a gantry, a reconstruction processing unit which generates first volume data on the basis of a projection data set which covers an angle range of 180°+a fan angle and also generates second volume data on the basis of a projection data set which covers an angle range of 360°, a correction data generating unit which generates correction data for reducing a cone beam artifact on the basis of a difference between the first volume data and the second volume data, and a correction unit which corrects the first volume data on the basis of the correction data.
US07751521B2

A clock and data recovery apparatus reduces current consumption and enables easy integration. The inventive apparatus includes a first loop including a frequency/phase detection unit, a first charge pump unit, a multiplexing unit, a filtering unit, and a voltage controlled oscillator unit operating at a speed ¼ as fast as that of received data; a second loop having a phase detection unit operating at a speed ¼ as fast as a speed of received data, a second charge pump unit suitable for the phase detection unit, the multiplexing unit, the filtering unit, and the voltage controlled oscillator unit; a frequency lock detection unit for judging whether a frequency of a feedback clock signal falls within a desired frequency range; and a data recovery unit for recovering data from received data.
US07751517B2

System and method for data transfer with buffer control. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for synchronized data communication. The system includes a first communication interface for receiving data and a first clock signal. For example, the first clock signal is associated with a transmitting source. The system also includes a second communication interface for transmitting data. The system further includes a processing component for separating a single data stream into multiple data streams. The system additionally includes a clock that is configured to provide a second clock signal. Also, the system includes a plurality of buffer components for providing temporary storage for data streams. For example, each of the buffer components can be characterized by a predetermined buffer size. The plurality of buffering component includes a first buffer component and a second buffer component.
US07751513B2

A first signal path having an amplifier and a second signal path having an amplifier with adjustable gain factor are provided. A signal applied to the first and second signal paths is amplified and demodulated on the first signal path. Concurrently, the signal is amplified on the second signal path with a gain factor, and a power of the signal amplified by the second signal path is determined and used for determining the gain factor. A signal conditioning circuit has first and second signal paths and a first and a second operating state. In the first operating state, the first signal path is arranged for amplification for a demodulation, and the second signal path is arranged for amplification for determination of a power of the signal present. In the second operating state, one of the two signal paths is inactive and the other is arranged for demodulating the signal present.
US07751510B2

Estimation of channel characteristics and interference level in a time-varying multi-carrier multi-user systems is carried out concurrently. To perform the estimation, a multitude of data symbols and dedicated pilot symbols are transmitted over the channel. The estimate of the interference level is used to estimate the channel parameters.
US07751507B2

A circular Viterbi decoder is capable of improving a data decoding speed without being limited by a sampling speed of a sampling and holding circuit. An analog Viterbi decoder includes: a clock divider which generates a plurality of clock signals by dividing a clock frequency of an externally-input clock signal, a plurality of sampling and holding units which sample and hold input analog data according to the clock signals generated from the clock divider, and a multiplexer which sequentially and alternately outputs the analog data sampled and held by the sampling and holding units.
US07751504B2

A frequency modulation-frequency shift keying (FM/FSK) demodulator is provided, including a modulation signal input terminal for receiving a first modulation signal; a phase shifter for receiving the first modulation signal and then shifting its phase to output a second modulation signal; a multiplier connected to the modulation signal input terminal and the output of the phase shifter for multiplying the first modulation signal and the second modulation signal together to output a demodulation signal; an adder having at least two input terminals and an output terminal where the first input terminal receives the demodulation signal; a direct current (DC) compensation unit connected to the output terminal of the adder for compensating the DC of the demodulation signal and low-frequency offsets, and a demodulation signal output terminal connected to the output of the adder for outputting the demodulation signal.
US07751503B2

Embodiments of the invention consist in a method of carrier synchronization, comprising determining a frequency offset estimate from a rate of change of a phase difference between a local oscillator signal and a carrier signal of a received signal; and adjusting a frequency of the local oscillator signal by the frequency offset estimate.
US07751501B2

The present invention relates to a tracking system comprised in a receiver, which tracking system is operable to track rapid changes in frequency and phase offset. The tracking system comprises a first system operable to perform a pilot-based phase and frequency tracking. The tracking system also comprises a second system operable to perform data-based phase and frequency tracking. The tracking system also comprises a control means connected to said first system and to said second system, which control means is operable to gradually reduce the effect of said first system, i.e. said pilot-based phase and frequency tracking.
US07751500B2

A method and apparatus for efficiently selecting a demodulation scheme for a particular channel in a digital broadcast receiver supporting a plurality of demodulation schemes are provided. The method includes receiving the digital broadcast signal of the channel; attempting demodulation of the digital broadcast signal using a demodulation scheme corresponding to a sequential index; and if the demodulation attempt succeeds, restoring data and if the demodulation attempt does not succeed, attempting demodulation again using a demodulation scheme corresponding to a next sequential index.
US07751497B2

The present invention provides a method, receiver and transmitter for use in a SDAR system. The method involves generating a first modulated signal based on first input data. Additional modulation is superimposed on the first modulated signal based on additional input data, being spread across a plurality of symbols in the first modulated signal in a predetermined pattern to generate a modified signal which is then transmitted. The modified signal is decoded by performing a first demodulation of the first modulated signal then additional demodulation is performed to obtain additional input data. The superimposing step uses a plurality of offset sequence values to add the additional modulation to the first modulated signal. The offset sequence may appear as a pseudo-random distribution of offset sequence values, and may include at least one zero offset value. Alternatively, the additional modulated signal may be a formed as a direct sequence spread spectrum modulation and the offset sequence appearing as a pseudo-noise distribution. A Hadamard matrix sequence may be used as the direct sequence code.
US07751493B2

A method for rate adaptation with extended MCS set for wideband eigen-beamforming transmission. A signaling method over multiple channels in a wireless telecommunication system including a transmitter and a receiver, performs the steps of obtaining an information bit stream, selecting the number of transmission streams, selecting different transmission rates for each MIMO OFDM transmission, and transmitting the information bit stream from the transmitter via said multiple channels over a plurality of transmitter antennas to the receiver according to the selected transmission rate per channel. Selecting transmission rates further includes the steps of selecting the transmission rates based on the diversity order of each stream. The method selects different transmission modes for each MIMO OFDM transmission and provides a simple, fast and efficient scheme to select the transmission rate for each eigen-mode transmission.
US07751486B2

Presented herein are systems, methods, and devices for transmitting data comprising by comparing a new message with a buffered message representative of a previous message, recording an integer number of differences between the new message and the buffered message, generating a diff-word representative of the integer number of differences between the new message and the buffered message, appending the diff-word to the new message, and sending the new message with the diff-word to a receiver. The diff-word is used by the receiver to determine whether a received new message has the expected number of differences, and to determine whether to accept the new message.
US07751479B2

A method and apparatus for nonlinear multiple motion model and moving boundary extraction are disclosed. In one embodiment, an input image is received, the input image is partitioned into regions/blocks, and the new multiple motion model is applied to each region to extract the motions and associated moving boundaries.
US07751471B2

A pulse width modulation (PWM) Regulator System with automatically switching pulse skipping mode (PSM) is disclosed. The PWM regulator system comprises a PWM regulator, a PSM switching module and a pulse generator. The PWM regulator converts the input voltage by PWM. The PSM switching module determines to enter or exit the PSM. The pulse generator adaptively produces pulse signal for the switching regulator to operate in PSM.
US07751462B2

A YAG/Nd:YAG block where an Nd:YAG block ends in a peak integrated inside a YAG block. The YAG block has reflective surfaces positioned at 45° to one another. The angled reflective surfaces serve as a “mirror” within the laser cavity to effectively increase the length of the cavity by a factor greater than 2. Fused to the output end of the laser cavity are a polarizer, an active/passive Q-switch, a one quarter waveplate and an output coupler. In operation, the laser cavity is pumped either from the side or the end of the cavity. The optical components of the present invention are bonded to form one optical ‘block’. All the components are prealigned during the crystal manufacturing process to form the optical laser cavity. The width of the cavity should be selected such that nearly all of the laser diode pump output is absorbed by the cavity.
US07751456B2

A method for manufacturing an laser diode includes: providing a wafer having thereon a semiconductor structure; depositing an SiO2 film; forming channels and a waveguide ridge between the channels in the wafer; forming an SiO2 film over the wafer; forming a resist pattern covering the SiO2 film in the channels such that the top surfaces of the resist pattern are lower than the top surface of the deposited SiO2 film on the top of the waveguide ridge, the resist pattern exposing the SiO2 film on the top of the waveguide ridge; removing the SiO2 film and the deposited SiO2 film by wet etching, using the resist pattern as a mask, to expose a p-GaN layer in the waveguide ridge; and forming an electrode layer on the top surface of the p-GaN layer.
US07751441B2

In a third generation (UMTS) mobile radiotelephone system, data are transmitted between a base station and a mobile station in packet form via the air interface. A connection control protocol with the task of, inter alia, establishing whether and which of the data packets have been lost during the transmission, using control data, functions in both stations. These control data are added to each packet that is sent by the connection control protocol. Several packets can be transmitted within the transmission interval and the number of packets can vary from interval to interval. This allows different data transmission rates. The inventive method enables the number of packets that are sent via the air interface to be reduced, by transmitting larger, rather than more, packets within a predetermined interval, while not affecting the possibility of varying the data transmission rate.
US07751435B2

A node in a computer network predefines a threshold number (Max) as the maximum number of allowed call set up messages (CSMs) to be processed from a plurality of sources by the network node, and predefines a time frame window as the time within which no more than the threshold number (Max) CSMs are accepted for processing by the network node. The node detects each new incoming CSM in the network node. The node rejects each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs accepted for processing during the current time frame window equals the threshold number (Max). Otherwise, the node accepts each new incoming CSM that is not rejected. Also the node rejects each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs currently being processed by the network node equals the threshold number (Max).
US07751432B2

Systems and methods for a dispatch communication router are provided. The dispatch communication router allows calls between two or more dispatch communication networks which operate using different dispatch communication protocols. The dispatch communication router includes a protocol interworking function, a media control stack and a transcoding function. The dispatch communication router also includes a dispatch technology protocol stack for each different dispatch communication protocol supported by the router. The dispatch technology protocol stack converts dispatch communication signaling of a particular dispatch communication technology into a common protocol. The dispatch technology protocol stack can also convert dispatch communication media into a common dispatch communication media protocol and media format, or a separate transcoder can be provided to perform such conversion. The dispatch communication router of the present invention allows support of new dispatch communication technologies by adding a new dispatch technology protocol stack and communication coders (if necessary).
US07751419B2

A switching network for efficiently receiving and transmitting data packets having both frames and messages includes a crossbar switch with a plurality of surrounding ports for exclusively switching frames which normally consist of large data streams of 40 to 60 bytes. Then the ports are connected together in a message ring and small data entity messages, for example 4, 8, or 12 bytes, are switched from an input port to an output port around the ring avoiding congestion of the crossbar switch.
US07751418B2

An interface for controlling the transmission of data between integrated circuit (IC) chips. The interface comprises a data bus for transmitting data from a first integrated circuit chip to a second integrated circuit chip, and a control bus for transmitting control signals between the first and second integrated circuits. The first IC has a memory for receiving data for transmission to the second IC, and the second IC has a scheduler and a data output port, the scheduler being arranged to control the transfer of data from the memory of the first IC to the data output port of the second IC via the data bus. The interface is capable of stopping and reinitiating data transmission on detection of errors in transmitted data, and the interface may include a code transfer bus for transferring error detection code separately from associated data.
US07751415B2

Telecommunication systems with packet-switched multimedia terminals (1) and nodes (8,9) for packet-switched multimedia sessions and with servers (2,3) for exchanging multimedia signaling information for the packet-switched multimedia sessions and with terminating units (4) are provided with gateways (7) for in response to transferral messages originating from the packet-switched multimedia terminals (1) and arriving at the servers (2,3) transferring packet-switched multimedia sessions between packet-switched multimedia terminals (1) and nodes (8,9) to circuit-switched calls between gateways (7) and circuit-switched terminals (5) via switches (6), to continue possibly interrupted sessions via replacing calls. The servers (2,3) send invitation messages to gateways (7), which send setup messages to switches (6) for setting up circuit-switched calls via partly alternative communication paths. The servers (2,3) send information messages to terminating units (4) for bringing the terminating units (4) from session level to call level. Transferral messages are session Initiation Protocol REFER messages comprising predefined Uniform Resource Locators to be converted into call numbers defining circuit-switched terminals (5). Preferably, a packet-switched multimedia terminal (1) and a circuit-switched terminal (5) are one and the same terminal (99).
US07751412B1

New virtual circuits (VCs) may be configured by a router as they are brought up, eliminating any need for preconfiguration. Specific ports may be set up to autoconfigure (and certain ports may be excluded for security or other reasons). When a packet from an unconfigured VC arrives, the router may then determine if the source VC it is a valid VC, such as whether it is in a valid range and unique to the interface. The Operating System may then send a message configuring the VC once it has been determine it is valid. The configuration used may be one that is part of a standard template. The next time a packet comes in from the VC, it may then be handled in accordance with the template.
US07751411B2

A method of interfacing for packet and cell transfer between a first layer device and a second layer device, which includes dividing control information into an in-band portion and an out-of-band portion, transmitting the in-band portion in the data path, and transmitting the out-of-band portion outside of the data path.
US07751401B2

A method for processing packets. The method includes receiving a first packet by a first socket on a host, determining by the first socket to process the first packet using a first virtual Transmission Control Protocol offload engine (VTOE), transmitting the first packet to the first VTOE, wherein transmitting the first packet to the first VTOE bypasses a first virtual network stack interposed between the first socket and first VTOE, transmitting the first packet to a HW TOE operatively connected to the host, processing the first packet, using the HW TOE, to obtain a first processed packet; and transmitting the first processed packet to a network operatively connected to the HW TOE, where the HW TOE is associated with the first VTOE and a second VTOE in the host.
US07751396B2

Various embodiments are disclosed relating to multicast address signaling for power save delivery in a wireless network. According to an example embodiment, a wireless node may transmit a management frame (e.g., a PSMP frame) to identify a scheduled data transmission time for one or more receiver nodes in a wireless network. The management frame, for example, may include a number of fields relating to a multicast transmission, such as one or more of a first field set to a value indicating a multicast transmission, a second field identifying a multicast address, a third field identifying a time for the multicast transmission, and a fourth field identifying a duration for the multicast transmission.
US07751386B2

A CPU in an IP telephone apparatus automatically controls to transmit, from a network I/F to an ENUM server, a request for deleting a NAPTR record when an absent key is pressed. The CPU regularly transmits, from the network I/F to the ENUM server, an inquiry for a NAPTR record of another IP telephone apparatus. When the CPU receives, from the ENUM server via the network I/F, a response indicating that the NAPTR record of another IP telephone apparatus has been deleted, in response to the inquiry, the CPU turns OFF a lamp indicating that the user is available.
US07751374B2

A wireless network device comprises an RF transceiver that transmits and receives data packets and that periodically transmits or receives a beacon. A control module communicates with the RF transceiver, determines a default interframe space (IFS) time based on the beacon, and selects one of the default IFS time and a second IFS time that is less than or equal to the default IFS time based on a number of data packets received after the beacon.
US07751373B2

Synchronized UWB piconets for SOP (Simultaneously Operating Piconet) performance. A common backbone (either wired or wireless) is employed that provides a common CLK (clock signal) to all of the various PNCs (piconet coordinators) of various piconets that may operate within a sufficiently close region such that interference could undesirably occur. By providing a very reliable CLK signal from a common backbone to all of the PNCs of the various piconets operating within a substantially close proximity to one another, very precise synchronization may be ensured for all of the communications performed therein. The various piconets may then even operate using TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)—whose performance would be substantially compromised without effective synchronization. In addition, combined TFC (time frequency code) and TDMA may also be employed to support the communications therein thereby providing even another degree of orthogonality that provided by TDMA alone.
US07751367B2

Improved serving sector selection mechanisms are provided which convey sector load information to a wireless communicator. The wireless communicator can use carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio measurements and sector load information for each of its Active Set (AS) sectors (or all sectors in its Active Set (AS)) to determine the best serving sector.
US07751365B2

A wireless access point apparatus which is capable of configuring an efficient transmission frame for a plurality of wireless communication terminals connected to or accommodated in the wireless access point apparatus, and therefore flexibly coping with the plurality of wireless communication terminals having various communicating functions. A data transmission area including a non-collision area capable of exclusively using a wireless medium and a collision area where random access communication is carried out is set in a data transmission frame. It is determined whether or not a specific wireless communicating apparatus has been connected to or accommodated in the wireless access point apparatus, and the data transmission area is changed according to the determination result. Information indicative of a new data transmission area is sent to wireless communication terminals connected to or accommodated in the wireless access point apparatus, including the specific wireless communicating apparatus.
US07751363B1

Systems and methods for allocating traffic and associated control channels are provided. A downlink traffic control message can include an identification of a downlink traffic channel and an identification of an associated uplink control channel. An uplink traffic control message can include an identification of an uplink traffic channel and an identification of an associated downlink control channel in a frame subsequent to the frame of the uplink traffic channel. The associated control channels can be a feedback channel, which can provide power control information, retransmission request information, channel quality indication information and/or the like.
US07751359B1

A system and a method in a wireless network utilizing session initiation protocol (SIP) for call control. The SIP payload (SDP) contains a list of voice codecs to coordinate the selection of voice bearer resources (between a calling party and a called party) such that the number of transcoders in the voice bearer path is minimized. An additional aspect of the embodiment of the present invention includes a serving MSCe that is operable to determine whether to initiate or discontinue ringback to the calling party. If ring back is to be initiated, ringback can be initiated from a Serving MGW controlled by the serving MSCe. The call negotiation process according to the described embodiment of the invention eliminates the requirement for any transcoding in specific situations to result in the number of transcoders used in the voice bearer path to be reduced to 0 (TrFO, Transcoder Free Operation) or to 1 (RTO, remote transmitter operation).
US07751358B2

A data transmission method transmits data to a group of receiving communication devices in a communication system comprising at least one cellular network. The method includes defining, by an application server situated beyond a cellular network, a group of receiving communication devices in the cellular network, the application server having no visibility to locations of receiving devices in the cellular network. The method also includes receiving, in a broadcast/multicast network entity configured to provide broadcast and multicast services in the cellular network, data to be transmitted from the application server to the group. The method also includes transmitting the data from the broadcast/multicast network entity to the group using broadcast and/or multicast transmission. Furthermore, a network entity in a cellular network and a communication system are provided configured to implement the method.
US07751357B2

According to an embodiment of the invention the timing of one or more local communication windows can be defined using equations such that one or more local communication windows for two or more devices overlap. For example the periods between two consecutive local communication windows can be defined using a periodic equation such as: LAP Cycle Period=Δ*2n. In this equation n=0, 1, 2, . . . , N, where N and Δ can be fixed. For example, N and Δ can be numbers that are predetermined for a given network, a given set of network devices, etc. In one embodiment every device can become active every Δ*2n superframes. The frequency (n) can be determined based on, for example, incoming or outgoing message traffic, power consumption needs, etc.
US07751350B1

A full duplex radio bridge using two transceivers coupled to a first packet network, one for transmitting data toward another radio bridge coupled to a second packet network, and the other for receiving data transmitted from the first packet network toward said second packet network by a transceiver of the other radio bridge. Each radio bridge is coupled to its packet network through one network port whose transmit data path is coupled to one of the transceivers, and whose receive data path is coupled to receive data from the other transceiver. An inner loop and outer loop is used. Management packets are routed to the various transceivers using the inner loop and outer loop by routing and filtering functions. Payload packets are transmitted from one packet network to the other using only the outer loop.
US07751340B2

A method and system is provided for determining reliability of data from a network or federated device. In one example, data from different devices in the network are compared and a relationship between the devices is determined. The reliability may be based on the relationship of the devices and/or similarity of data from the devices. In another example, reliability of devices and/or data from the devices may be based on a historical reliability of the devices.
US07751338B2

A process for grouping cable modems by type/modulation profile and/or throughput ability into different logical groups. Each logical group is commanded to transmit on an upstream which has a burst profile set to effectively use the throughput ability of the cable modem. Some species monitor initial ranging bursts and separate CMs with inadequate power onto a lower throughput upstream. Some species monitor post registration data transmissions for various factors and subdivide groups into subgroups of overperformers and underperformers.
US07751335B2

A failure handling system capable of performing failure notification and shutoff control, thereby improving network operability. When failure is detected, an outgoing frame shutoff controller performs shutoff control on the local device such that the local device stops outputting communication frames to a receiving client device. A failure notifier notifies a network manager that the failure has been detected. On receiving a shutoff command, an incoming frame shutoff controller performs shutoff control on an originating client device such that the originating client device stops outputting the communication frames. A communication route manager manages communication routes through which the client devices communicate with each other across the network. On receiving a failure notification from a first transmission device, a shutoff information sender looks up the communication routes to identify a second transmission device connected with the originating client device, and sends a shutoff command to the second transmission device.
US07751334B2

Networks carry various kinds of traffic and ISPs are keen to analyze the traffic so as to be able to support QoS on the distinct traffic flows. Traffic can be broadly categorized into two types: plain traffic and encrypted traffic. Further, each of these traffic types is based on either a standard protocol or a proprietary protocol. While it is fairly straightforward to analyze traffic that are based on standard protocols, it is extremely difficult to analyze encrypted traffic based on proprietary protocols. A system for Skype traffic detection involves analyzing encrypted traffic based on proprietary peer to peer protocol. The proposed approach is based on building Skype traffic models and using the same to determine Skype traffic in the network traffic.
US07751332B2

A data routing method and system, the data routing method including: locating a destination node using a destination locating packet; establishing a preliminary route including anchor nodes based on a route where the destination locating packet is transmitted to the destination node; determining a link cost between neighbor nodes of each of the anchor nodes, and also between the anchor nodes and the neighbor nodes of each of the anchor nodes; generating minimum cost information with respect to a route consuming a minimum cost from the destination node to a source node using the link cost; and forming a data route from the destination node to the source node using the minimum cost information.
US07751327B2

Load balancing manager assigns to each cluster member a filter rule so as to divide traffic processing by a predetermined rule. According to the assigned rule, each cluster member obtains a packet multicast by a neighbor node, on a data link with the neighbor node. Each cluster member detects a session of the obtained packet to perform predetermined processing such as recording and updating of a state and application of a firewall packet filter.
US07751319B2

In a method for classifying data packet units, each comprising a group of data packet parameters which comprises a plurality of data packet parameters, a subgroup of data packet parameters for configuring a classification key is selected, the data packet units are divided into data packet classes on the basis of the classification key and a selected classification algorithm, and the data packet units are allocated to further data packet parameters which correspond to the respective data packet class.
US07751313B2

In a data transmission method and apparatus which can perform a switchover of all of the main lines without requiring much construction cost, a transmission apparatus sets, upon frame transmission or reception, combinations of a plurality of main lines with virtual paths established so as to include at least a part of a bandwidth of the main lines in one or more protection lines as redundant configurations. Upon frame transmission, the apparatus copies frames received in the main lines, assigns identifiers of the redundant configurations to the copied frames, and transmits the copied frames to the virtual paths of the redundant configurations. Upon frame reception, the apparatus determines whether the main lines or the virtual paths forming the redundant configurations are valid, deletes the identifiers of the redundant configurations assigned to frames received from the protection lines, and determines whether the frames from which the identifiers have been deleted should be respectively discarded or transferred depending on validity or invalidity of the main lines.
US07751305B2

A method for providing two or more broadcast services in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless communication system. The method comprises the steps of separately receiving broadcast services to be transmitted, and independently performing coding, interleaving and modulation on the broadcast services according to a required quality for each of the broadcast services; segmenting each of the modulated broadcast signals into minimum transmission units; time-division-multiplexing the segmented broadcast service signals; configuring a frame comprising information on the broadcast service in physical layer transmission information transmitted together with the broadcast service; and transmitting the frame.
US07751302B2

Provided are a method and an apparatus for reproducing information using a semiconductor probe. The apparatus includes a storage media including a ferroelectric recording layer which stores information by arranging a polarization direction of polarization domains of the ferroelectric recording layer and a physical recording layer disposed on the ferroelectric recording layer and whereupon information is written by forming pits in the physical recording layer, a semiconductor probe generating a composite signal including an electric field signal generated by an electric field variation of the ferroelectric recording layer of the storage media and a thermal signal generated by a temperature variation generated due to a variation in a shape of the physical recording layer, a signal detector detecting the composite signal from the semiconductor probe, and a demodulator demodulating the composite signal from the signal detector and extracting the electric field signal and the thermal signal from the composite signal.
US07751300B2

An optical disc includes a plurality of recording layers, each layer having a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area. A dedicated-reproducing area having a disc-related information zone, and a rewritable area are provided in at least one of the lead-in and lead-out areas of the optical disc. Accordingly, a reliability of a data recording/reproducing with respect to the optical disc is improved.
US07751298B2

A liquid crystal element for correcting wave aberration included in an optical disc apparatus, is controlled by a liquid crystal element control unit which has a memory portion that stores information about a variation with time of orientation direction of liquid crystal in the case where a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal, with respect to at least one type of voltage value. The liquid crystal element control unit has a drive voltage deciding portion that obtains time period after a predetermined drive voltage is applied to the liquid crystal element until a reproduced signal obtained by processing an electric signal converted by the light detecting unit becomes optimal, and decides a drive voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal element based on the obtained time period, the information stored in the memory portion, and the predetermined drive voltage.
US07751293B2

A test-write method for accurately and quickly determining recording conditions, and an apparatus suitable therefor. In a 2T-based strategy, recording pulse conditions are determined by separately test-writing an even-number length mark and an odd-number length mark, and then the relative positions of the even-number length mark and the odd-number length mark at the recording pulse start time are adjusted.
US07751288B2

A write power adjustment method and optical read/write apparatus for accurate optimum write power setup. Different levels of write power Pwm are used to perform a test write and calculate a modulation Mm corresponding to each level of write power Pwm. Different write power compensated values Pcn are used to calculate an evaluated value Smn=Mm×(Pwm−Pcn). Pcn that maximizes the linearity of the relationship between compensated write power (Pwm−Pcn) and evaluated value Smn is determined as an optimum write power compensated value PcO. Compensated write power PthO that provides a modulation of zero, that is, an evaluated value SmO of zero, when the relationship between compensated write power (Pwm−PcO) for PcO and evaluated value SmO is subjected to linear approximation is determined. PthO and optimum write power compensated value PcO are used to calculate a write power threshold Pth=PthO+PcO. A predetermined calculation is performed on Pth to determine optimum write power Popt. In contrast to a conventional write power adjustment method (κ method), the present invention makes it possible to accurately adjust for the optimum write power even when the optical disc's write power Pwm-to-evaluated value M×Pw relationship is not linear or its modulation M varies.
US07751273B2

A layout structure of a Sub-Word Line Driver (SWD) and a forming method thereof. A layout structure of an SWD may include first through fourth metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors. The layout structure may include a first area including an active area of the first MOS transistor, wherein a gate-poly (GP) of the first MOS transistor may be disposed in a predefined direction over a portion of the first area. The layout structure may also include a second area including an active area of the second through fourth MOS transistors. Each GP of the second through fourth MOS transistors may be disposed in parallel to each other. The GP of the first MOS transistor disposed in the predefined direction may be substantially perpendicular to each GP of the second through fourth MOS transistors. The layout structure of an SWD can improve a driving capability without increasing an area of the chip.
US07751270B2

Disclosed herein are memory devices comprising a plurality of memory cells to which a standby voltage is to be supplied during standby mode to avoid loss of data, and methods of operating said memory devices, the methods comprising: (a) determining an actual value of a bit integrity parameter of the memory cells; (b) comparing said actual value with a predetermined minimal value of the bit integrity parameter which takes into account possible variations in cell properties as a result of process variations; and (c) adjusting the standby voltage towards a more optimal value based on the result of the comparison in such a way that said bit integrity parameter determined for said more optimal value of the standby voltage approaches the predetermined minimal value. The circuitry for measuring the bit integrity parameter preferably comprises a plurality of replica test cells which are added to the memory matrix.
US07751264B1

An integrated circuit (IC) comprises a memory module that stores at least one of data and code. A memory repair database stores data relating to defective memory addresses. A memory control module detects defective memory locations in the memory module, locates redundant memory elements in the memory module, and stores information that associates memory addresses of the defective memory locations with the redundant memory elements in the memory repair database. Storing said information includes electrically altering at least one of a plurality of electrical fuses. A redundant memory decoder module receives the information and physically remaps the memory addresses to the redundant memory locations.
US07751258B2

A magnetic random access memory includes a memory cell having a first magnetoresistive effect element, a reference cell having a second magnetoresistive effect element set in a low-resistance state, a first bit line connected to the memory cell, and set at a first bias potential in a read operation, a second bit line connected to the reference cell, and set at a second bias potential in the read operation, and a reference voltage generator including a reference current generator having a third magnetoresistive effect element set in the high-resistance state, and a current-voltage converter having a fourth magnetoresistive effect element set in the low-resistance state, the reference current generator generating a first electric current by applying the first bias potential to the third magnetoresistive effect element, and the current-voltage converter generating the second bias potential by supplying a second electric current to the fourth magnetoresistive effect element.
US07751257B2

A semiconductor memory device can generate an under_drive voltage that maintains a predetermined level stably even in case of a change in the operation mode of the semiconductor memory device or the level of an external power supply voltage. The semiconductor memory device, which includes an external power supply voltage detector configured to detect a level of an external power supply voltage to generate the external voltage detection signal, an under_drive voltage detector configured to detect a voltage level of an under_drive voltage to generate the under_drive voltage detection signal, and an under_drive voltage generator configured to generate the under_drive voltage in response to the under_drive voltage detection signal with a variable driving force in response to the external voltage detection signal.
US07751252B2

A semiconductor memory capable of storing and reading data in a memory cell for holding the data corresponding to a threshold voltage has a reference current generating circuit having a reference current generating section and an amplifier section.
US07751245B2

An analog voltage NAND architecture non-volatile memory device and programming process is described that reduce the effects of NAND string resistance in source follower sensing by programming the cells in NAND memory cell strings to maintain the resistance presented by the unselected cells on the source-side of a given selected memory cell of the NAND string during both the verify and read. In particular, in one embodiment of the present invention, the cells in the NAND string are programmed sequentially in order from the cells closest the bit line to the final cell that is closest the source line in the string. This allows the source follower sensing of the verify and later read operations to read the programmed threshold voltage across the same stable source-side resistance 602, as the source-side unselected memory cells 20831-208N+1 will already have been programmed and thus will present the same channel resistance to both the source follower verify of the program operation and following source follower read operations, maintaining the compensation for the source-side resistance 602 of the source-side unselected memory cells 20831-208N+1.
US07751238B2

A method of reading a memory system including a flash memory includes: reading data from a page in a first block of the flash memory, incrementing a counter each time data is read from the page to store a corresponding number of read-out cycles of the flash memory, and copying data from the first block of the flash memory to a second block of the flash memory when the counter exceeds a reference number of read-out cycles. The data from the first block includes data from the page.
US07751236B2

A carrier storage node such as a floating gate is formed on a moving electrode with a control gate to form a suspended gate non-volatile memory, reducing floating gate to floating gate coupling and leakage current, and increasing data retention.
US07751235B2

A semiconductor memory device includes first to fourth resistance change elements sequentially arranged apart from each other in a first direction, a first electrode which connects one terminals of the first and second resistance change elements, a second electrode which connects one terminals of the third and fourth resistance change elements, a bit line which connects the other terminals of the second and third resistance change elements, first to fourth word lines respectively paired with the first to fourth resistance change elements, arranged apart from the first and second electrodes, and running in a second direction, a first current source which supplies a first electric current to a chain structure, when writing data in a selected element, and a second current source which supplies a second electric current to a selected word line which corresponds to the selected element, when writing the data in the selected element.
US07751234B2

A phase change memory device includes a memory cell having a phase change material, a write driver adapted to supply a program current to the memory cell during a programming interval, and a pump circuit adapted to enhance a current supply capacity of the write driver during the programming interval. The pump circuit is activated prior to the programming interval in response to an external control signal.
US07751233B2

A method for efficiently driving a phase change memory device is presented that includes the operational procedures of writing, reading, comparing and changing. The phase change memory device has a resistor configured to sense a crystallization state changed by currents so as to store data corresponding to the crystallization state. The writing operation writes data having a first state in a corresponding unit cell of the phase change memory device. The reading operation reads a cell data stored in the unit cell. The comparing operation compares the data having the first state with the cell data read from the unit cell to verify whether or not the data having the first state is the same as the cell data. The changing operation changes a write condition when the data having a first state is different from that of the cell data.
US07751226B2

A phase change memory including a threshold device, such as an ovonic threshold switch, and a storage device may be read. Reading the cell may involve applying a first voltage to a selected cell and then a second voltage, lower than the first voltage. The first voltage may be sufficient to threshold the ovonic threshold switch if the storage device is in the set state.
US07751224B2

A method of data recording and reading for a memory device employing magnetic domain wall movement. The memory device includes a writing track, an interconnecting layer formed on the writing track, and a recording track formed on the interconnecting layer.
US07751222B2

A basic cell comprises a memory cell capable of retaining data having at least a binary value, a first selecting transistor connected between a first terminal of the memory cell and the Mth bit line, and a second selecting transistor connected between the first terminal of the memory cell and the M+1th bit line. A gate of the first selecting transistor is connected to the 2·N−1th selecting line, and a gate of the second selecting transistor is connected to the 2·Nth selecting line.
US07751219B2

A novel schematic for executing search, write and valid bit clear operations in one cycle in a CAM system that includes a plurality of CAM blocks is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plurality of CAM blocks are organized into at least one rectangular array having rows each having a plurality of CAM blocks, a group of CAM cells and associated read/write bit lines connecting the group of CAM cells to an addressed search circuit. The write operation depends on the output of the search operation, wherein the same data is written in to the CAM when the search operation results in a miss in a given cycle. Further, during the same cycle a valid bit clear operation is also performed. The resulting CAM cell provides a high speed three port operation.
US07751217B2

Content addressable memory device utilizing phase change devices. An aspect of the content addressable memory device is the use of a comparatively lower power search-line access element and a comparatively higher power word-line access element. The word-line access element is only utilized during write operations and the search-line access element is only utilized during search operations. The word-line access element being electrically coupled to a second end of a phase change memory element and a word-line. The search-line access element also being electrically coupled to the second end of the phase change memory element and a search-line. The search-line being electrically coupled to a match-line. A bit-line is electrically coupled to a first end of the phase change memory element. Additionally, a complementary set of access elements, a complementary phase change memory element, a complementary search-line, and a complementary bit-line are also included in the content addressable memory device.
US07751214B2

A power control apparatus and power control method that reduce harmonic noise produced when modulating a carrier wave frequency over predetermined cycles. A command value signal is generated for obtaining a desired output voltage, and a carrier wave is output. The frequency of the carrier wave is modulated by a desired frequency over predetermined cycles, and the desired frequency also modulates. The carrier wave is compared to a command value signal and a resulting control signal is provided to a switching unit. Harmonic noise caused by the modulation frequency can be spread, and the peak of the harmonic noise caused by the first modulation frequency can be reduced. Therefore, noise caused by a modulation frequency can be reduced.
US07751213B2

A self-driven synchronous DC-DC converter (100) includes an input circuit (101) having a switching device (110) for selectively generating a pulsed DC input voltage responsive to an input switch control signal, the pulsed DC input voltage being one of a plurality of DC voltage pulses; an output circuit (113) coupled to the input circuit (101) and including an active device (114) having device input, device output, and device control nodes, the device control node responsive to a control voltage for selectively varying the conductivity between the device input node and the device output node; and a control circuit (115) coupled to the device control node and configured for generating the control voltage responsive to the pulsed DC input voltage. In the converter (100), the control voltage is synchronized with the pulsed DC input voltage and varies non-linearly during an interval between the DC voltage pulses for selectively reducing the conductivity in accordance with a non-linear function.
US07751211B2

An instantaneous voltage-drop compensation circuit including: a first voltage detector detecting three-phase voltages to be input to a power converter converting three-phase AC to DC based on control pulse signals, and outputting three-phase voltage signals; a first three-phase to two-phase converter converting the detected signals to two-phase voltage signals; a first current detector detecting three-phase currents to be input to the power converter and outputting three-phase current signals; a second three-phase to two-phase converter converting the detected current signals to two-phase current signals; a first subtracter generating a first deviation signal from input current command signals and the two-phase current signals; an input current controller generating input current control signals based on the first deviation signal; and a first adder adding the two-phase voltage signals to the input current control signals, to generate control pulse signals for the power converter.
US07751206B2

A cable management system includes a cable base comprising a first end, a second end, and a resilient member that is operable to allow a rest distance between the first end and the second end to be changed. A plurality of cables are partially housed in the cable base, wherein each cable includes a first section that extends from the first end of the cable base and a second section that extends from the second end of the cable base.
US07751200B2

According to one embodiment, a display apparatus includes a housing, a display panel contained in the housing, a longitudinal frame extending vertically along a back surface of the display panel and secured to the display panel, a circuit board electrically connected to the display panel, and a chassis member on which the circuit board is mounted. The chassis member is a plate-like member of a size greater than or equal to that of the circuit board, arranged between the longitudinal frame and an horizontal edge part of the display panel, supported by the longitudinal frame to be opposed to the back surface of the display panel, and provided with a stud pin to which the circuit board is secured.
US07751199B2

The present invention can relate to an electronic device having one or more support tabs that protect a circuit board disposed inside the device from externally applied compressive forces. In particular, when a force is applied to a housing of the device, the support tabs can buttress the housing of the device, either directly or through other intervening components disposed within the device, to reduce the likelihood that the housing or intervening components will contact and damage the circuit board. The present invention also can relate to methods for manufacturing such an electronic device.
US07751198B2

The present invention can relate to multiple-connector assemblies for use in, for example, electronic devices. Each of the connectors are constrained to another connector by aligning one or more complementary sets of reference features. A locating bracket may be used to couple multiple connectors together. Alternatively, the connectors may be coupled to each other directly. The electronic device also may include a retainer coupled to the connectors (either directly or indirectly through the locating bracket). The retainer and a surface of one of the connectors may form a single plane to which an end cap of the housing may be coupled, thereby accurately locating the end cap with respect to the connectors. The present invention also can relate to methods of manufacturing such an electronic device.
US07751195B2

Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, electronic circuitry, a first arm member, and a spring. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section. The electronic circuitry is mounted in the housing. The first arm member is connected between the first housing section and the second housing section. The first arm member is configured to move a portion of the second housing section away from the first housing section. The spring is connected between the second housing section and the first arm member. The spring is configured to exert a torque between the second housing section and the first arm member.
US07751192B2

A heatsink having tapered geometry that improves passive cooling efficiency is discussed. A tapered geometry between heatsink heat dissipation elements, as a function of distance along a z-axis opposing gravity, decreases resistance to rarification of passively flowing cooling gas upon heating. Thus, the tapered heatsink elements result in higher velocity of gas flow and increased cooling efficiency of the heatsink. Optionally, the heatsink is made from a thermally conductive polymer allowing the heatsink to be created in complex shapes using injection molding.
US07751186B2

A chassis having a bypass channel for air flow is disclosed. The chassis include a bypass channel that is proximate one side of the chassis. The bypass channel may be formed by the side of the chassis and a module of the computing system, such as the processor module of the computing system. A second module exists in the rear of the chassis. A physical barrier may be used to direct air from the bypass channel to the second module, which may be an I/O module. A plenum is placed on the opposite side of I/O module from the air flow. The presence of the plenum creates a negative pressure on the opposite side of the second module, causing air to cross the second module into the plenum. A fan in the rear of the chassis causes air to leave the plenum and exit the chassis.
US07751185B2

A docking station applied to a portable electronic device includes a casing module, a circuit module, a first input/output module and a second input/output module. The casing module has a casing, an opening formed on the casing, and a cover pivoting around the casing in order to selectively open or close the opening. The circuit module is disposed inside the casing. The first input/output module is disposed on the casing and electrically connected between the circuit module and a plurality of different peripherals. The second input/output module is disposed on the casing and electrically connected between the circuit module and an external connector of the portable electronic device. Therefore, when a rear side of the portable electronic device pushes the cover, the cover is opened in order to make one part of the rear side of the portable electronic device pass through the opening and receive in the casing.
US07751179B2

Replacing, and in particular extending, the body of an outdoor distributor cabinet includes removing the body of the old distributor cabinet, slipping a new hollow base over the old assembly frame and the old base. A new body, which has at least the same inner capacity as the old body, is placed on top of the old assembly frame, aligned therewith, and secured. Accordingly, the distributor cabinet remains in its original position, whereby no new authorization for installation or building permit is required.
US07751174B2

The present invention is intended to solve the problem of a conventional thermosetting conductive paste with respect to bonding-property between an internal electrode(s) and an external electrode(s) so as to provide a multilayer ceramic electronic part suitable for its mounting on a substrate and for its plating-treatment. The present invention relates to a multilayer ceramic electronic part, characterized in that it has an external electrode(s) formed from a thermosetting conductive paste comprising conductive particles having a high melting point, metal powder having a melting point of 300° C. or less and a resin(s).
US07751169B2

The present invention contemplates systems and methods for distributing RF and DC signals and detecting, logging and suppressing surge energy associated with surge events such as lightning and power line surges. The detection and logging is provided in order to determine possible causes of a failure and who might be responsible for the repair. The suppression is provided in order to protect electrical equipment such as split mount wireless radio systems from catastrophic failure due to surge events.
US07751168B2

A power supply supplying electric power through parallel operation of power supply units is disclosed. Each of the power supply units includes a transformer; a stopped state latch part configured to latch a control signal for controlling outputting of the power supply unit in a predetermined stopped state to stop the outputting, after passage of a first time in response to detection of an overcurrent on a primary side of the transformer; and an outputting restriction part configured to set the control signal in a predetermined restricted state to restrict the outputting of the power supply unit without stopping the outputting, after passage of a second time in response to detection of an overcurrent on a secondary side of the transformer. The second time is shorter than the first time.
US07751163B2

An electric device protection circuit comprises at least one conductive bridging unit which electrically connects a terminal of the electric device to a protection node set to a protection potential, the protection potential being chosen such that the conductive bridging unit switches from a resistive state to a conductive state in case that the voltage or current at the terminal exceeds a predetermined threshold value.