US07959059B2
This invention has an object to provide a method for precisely fabricating transportation pallets readily adaptable to model change and other alterations. In the method for fabricating a transportation pallet according to the invention, in which jig mounting plates are fixed on a steel pallet base, projecting pieces having holes to which jigs are attached are provided on one longer side of the jig mounting plates at a predetermined interval, a positioning member is secured on the pallet base, the jig mounting plates are temporarily secured along the positioning member, and the jig mounting plates are welded to be fixed on the pallet base.
US07959057B2
A tool for assembling a part made of a ferromagnetic material with a part made of a paramagnetic material. The tool includes a first tool part including a first abutment and a first electromagnetic coil. The tool also includes a second part including a second abutment, wherein the second part is mechanically assembled with the first part such that the first and second abutments are selectively attracted or repelled with respect to each other. The first electromagnetic coil is used for generating an electromagnetic flux that enables the paramagnetic part to be pushed towards the second abutment and/or the ferromagnetic part to be attracted thereto when the first and/or second part is placed between the first and second abutments.
US07959041B2
An improved valve assembly for use in a pressurized dispenser is disclosed. The disclosed valve assembly may include a valve housing and a blocking member operatively associated with the valve housing, wherein the wall of the valve housing includes at least one transverse primary opening and at least one transverse secondary opening thereon. The blocking member is slidable from a filling position, in which fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the valve housing is established through both primary and secondary openings, to a dispensing position, in which fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the valve housing is established only through the primary opening and not through the secondary opening. The blocking member may include a slidable sleeve, a slidable piston plate, or a combination of both. In operation, the disclosed valve member may provide an increased flow rate during product and/or propellant filling while retaining a regular flow rate during dispensing.
US07959035B2
A fluid product dispensing device that has a container that contains a fluid product, a pump, and a dispensing head that serves as the actuator for the pump. The container is a single molded piece with a neck. The neck of the container has either an opening to accommodate an air filter or has a neck joint that is molded onto the neck of the container, or both. In at least one embodiment, the container also has a shoulder to assist retaining the dispensing head, and a second shoulder to form a maximum amount of actuation.
US07959016B2
A suspension display rack for hand tools has a rail and multiple sliding blocks. The rail has a back-strip and two hooks. The hooks are formed on the back strip and each hook has a longitudinal groove. Each sliding block has a base, two cylindrical slides and a seat. The cylindrical slides are respectively received in the longitudinal grooves so that the hand tools can be hung on the sliding blocks to transversely slide along the rail.
US07959002B2
An air enclosure with multilayer different kinds of substrates comprises an air cylinder sheet, at least one air chamber, at least one air entering passageway and a sheet body in which the air cylinder sheet comprises an air filling passageway; the chambers is positioned at one side of the air filling passageway and used for providing an article with the cushioning protection; the air entering passageway is connected to the air filling passageway and the chambers and outside air in the air filling passageway enters the air chamber via the air entering passageway to allow it to be filled with air and expanded; and the sheet body is closely attached onto one side of the air cylinder sheet and used for preventing the air cylinder sheet from being pierced through to damage. The outside air expands the air filling passage while being filled with air and then enters the air chambers via the air entering passageways to allow them to be filled with air and expanded thereby providing the article with the cushioning protection through the air chambers and the sheet body is used to prevent the air chamber from being pierced through to cause air to be leaked out.
US07959001B2
The wrapping for used chewing gum is formed by an upper part (1) and a lower part (2) of identical form and size, applied together by their full surfaces, where both parts (1), (2) are provided with opposite situated vertical pre-scored lines (3) and where parts (1,2) are attached together along their margins partially, from one-third to one-half of the circumference of the parts (1,2).
US07958997B2
A reversible modular beverage can interlocking device which is adapted for forming a plurality of conventional beverage cans into a building block for use as a toy or in display applications or in building construction. The device generally comprises a plurality of thermoplastic reversible annular means for can retention, each sized and shaped for the releasable retention of either the top lipped portion of a beverage can, or the bottom non-lipped portion of a beverage can.
US07958996B2
A package for containing and dispensing wire from a coil of welding wire. The package having an outer layer with a bottom and an outer side wall having an upper edge defining a box opening for removing the wire from the package. The package further including an inner core positioned within the inner cylindrical opening of the wire coil wherein the inner core has a base supported by the package bottom and an oppositely facing core top. The core base being generally maintained relatively to the package bottom to prevent the core from “walking-up” the wire coil and the core top being allowed to tilt as the wire exits the package.
US07958993B2
A footwear customization kit is disclosed. The kit comprises a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes a customizable portion that can be deformed when heated. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear in a steam environment.
US07958992B1
A dust control inspection door has its door frame formed of frame elements each with a flat outer portion against the associated shroud, and with the seal flange or coaming radiused 90 degrees. The edge of the seal flange or coaming is perpendicular to the door to engage the gasket or seal bead, and is at zero degrees to the frame flat portions, so there is no angled bend line and no weak zones. The coaming is free of any horizontal surfaces on which dust may collect.
US07958989B2
A lug chain apparatus having lugs (22), an endless chain (30) and a positioning mechanism (20). The lugs (22) are releasably engageable with the chain (30). The positioning wheel (20) engages the lugs (22) and moves them along the chain (30), to predetermined locations along the chain respectively. Each lug (22) includes locking mechanism (24, 26, 31) that holds that lug (22) in a predetermined location along the chain (30) when in a locking state, and allows movement of that lug (22) along said chain (30) when in a releasing state, such that repositioning of the lugs (22) along the chain (30) is effected without removal of the lugs (22) from the chain (30).
US07958987B2
A method for transferring articles from a first to a second machine, which packs the articles in containers, using a transport line, interposed between the machines, which removably receives and moves the trays, each tray affording at least a seating complementarily shaped to an article, as well as at least two stores, for receiving the trays, respectively associated to a first station located at a start of the line and a second station located downstream of the first station with a first store containing a predetermined number of empty trays, the method comprising a partial filling of the second store with trays containing articles, and is such that a temporary malfunctioning of the first machine maintains the second machine in service up to emptying of the second store, and a temporary malfunctioning of the second machine maintains the first machine in service up to complete filling of the second store.
US07958986B2
An exemplary device for driving a handrail of a passenger conveyor includes a handrail drive member configured to engage a handrail. A motor is associated with the drive member such that a driving output of the motor is exclusively for moving the handrail drive member. An exemplary passenger conveyor includes a step chain and a handrail. A step chain motor is associated with the step chain for moving the step chain. A handrail motor that is distinct from the step chain motor is associated with the handrail for moving the handrail.
US07958985B2
A parking lock gear (1) for a parking lock arrangement for locking an output shaft of a transmission of a vehicle has teeth (5). An annular element (2) is fixed to the parking lock gear (1) and has outer teeth (3) which engage an actuated locking pawl.
US07958979B2
In a variable damper using magneto-rheological fluid that comprises a cylinder (12) filled with the fluid, a piston (16) slidably received in the cylinder and including an inner yoke (32; 62; 126), an outer yoke (31; 64, 65; 140) and a coil (34; 130), a piston rod (13) having an inner end attached to the piston and an outer end extending out of the cylinder and a magnetic valve formed in a gap between the inner and outer yokes, at least one of the outer yoke and inner yoke consisting of at least two parts that are joined to each other in an axial direction. The two piece arrangement of the inner yoke or outer yoke allows the end plates to be omitted because the gap spacer can be installed without requiring end plates, and this contributes to a compact design and a favorable damping property. Also, the manufacturing and servicing of the damper can be simplified. When end plates (134) are used, the freedom in the positioning of the coil is increased.
US07958973B2
A method of chocking a wheel comprises a step of providing a wheel chock. The wheel chock comprises a stationary body and a rocking body. The rocking body is pivotally connected to the stationary body. The method also comprises a step of rolling a wheel into contact with the rocking body in a manner causing the rocking body to rotate to a wheel securing position relative to the stationary body and causing the wheel to reach a chocked position relative to the stationary body. The method further comprises a step of activating a locking mechanism that limits pivotal movement of the rocking body away from the wheel securing position relative to the stationary body. The activating of the locking mechanism occurs while the wheel is in the chocked position. After activating the locking mechanism, the wheel is fully secured to the wheel chock.
US07958972B2
A sealing device for an elevator door includes a doorway member, doors, a movable member, a push-down mechanism and a sealing mechanism. The doorway member is provided for a gate. The doors open or close along the doorway member. The movable member is set horizontally and provided to be movable in a vertical direction in the doorway member, and it is urged upwards by an urging unit. The push-down mechanism pushes down the movable member against the force of the urging unit just before the doors are closed. The sealing mechanism is kept non-contact with the doors while they are moving, and seals the gap between the doors and the doorway member as it is brought into contact with upper section of the doors when the movable member is pushed down by the push-down mechanism.
US07958971B2
A wireless, portable call request entry kiosk (14) has a control panel (19) with keys (20, 21) and a display panel for entering calls and informing passengers of the responding elevator. The kiosk has wireless communication (42, 56) with a building (43) where the kiosk is located, to transmit call requests to a dispatching controller (48). The kiosk operates on a rechargeable source such as a battery (51). A sensor (52) determines a lull in traffic, causing the kiosk to operate in a low power consumption mode.
US07958970B2
A hoist positioning system includes an accelerometer attached to a hoist, a control unit for processing signals from the accelerometer and comparing the processed signals with reference data to determine a position of the hoist, a drive system for moving the hoist up and down, and a relay that is switched ON and OFF by a control signal from the control unit. When the relay is switched ON, power is supplied to the drive system from a high-voltage power source and the hoist is driven up or down. When the relay is switched OFF, power from the high-voltage power source to the drive system is cut off and the hoist stops moving up or down.
US07958959B2
A breather device provided on the outer peripheral section of a case of an in-wheel motor is located at a position above the rotation shaft of the in-wheel motor, between the in-wheel motor and a wheel. The position is inside the wheel in the width direction of a vehicle.
US07958958B2
A hybrid vehicle controller operates to use GPS navigation information to determine how much energy should be delivered from or sent to, the battery. The battery charge can be better managed by using knowledge of the future path of the vehicle.
US07958954B2
Core drill bits with long crown heights are described herein. The core drill bits have a series of slots or openings that are not located at the tip of the crown and are therefore enclosed in the body of the crown. The slots may be staggered and/or stepped throughout the crown. As the cutting portion of the drill bit erodes through normal use, the fluid/debris notches at the tip of the bit are eliminated. As the erosion progresses, the slots become exposed and then they function as fluid/debris ways. This configuration allows the crown height to be extended and lengthened without substantially reducing the structural integrity of the drill bit.
US07958951B2
An underreaming tool may include a tubular body, a drive tube, at least one blade element (“the blade element”), at least one wedge element (“the wedge element”), and a stop mechanism. The drive tube may include at least one longitudinal groove (“the longitudinal groove”) axially disposed along a length of the drive tube. The wedge element may include a first side having at least one lateral projection (“the lateral projection”) configured to axially slide into the longitudinal groove to couple the wedge element to the drive tube. The stop mechanism comprises a threaded sleeve configured to screw onto the drive tube to lock the wedge element in the longitudinal groove once the lateral projection is slid into the longitudinal groove.
US07958950B2
A reamer for underground boring is provided. The reamer includes at least: (a) a center mandrel, wherein the center mandrel defines a mandrel axis; (b) a plurality of radial members extending radially from the center mandrel; (c) a plurality of cutting heads, wherein each of the cutting heads: (i) is supported by at least one of the radial members; (ii) is arcuately spaced-apart around the center mandrel from the other cutting heads; (iii) has a rounded surface; and (d) a plurality of cutting teeth on the rounded surface of each of the cutting heads. A method of horizontal drilling with the reamer is also provided.
US07958946B2
A handheld work apparatus has a housing (2) wherein an internal combustion engine (10) and a fuel-metering unit for the engine (10) are mounted. A throttle lever (6) is provided which is pivotally journalled on a handle (3). The handle (3) is connected to the housing (2) via at least one antivibration element (33). A vibration gap (9) is formed between the handle (3) and the housing (2). A transmitting unit (13) is provided for transmitting the pivot movement of the throttle lever (6) to the fuel-metering unit. The transmitting unit (13) includes a rigid transmitting element (17, 77) which bridges the vibration gap (9). The transmitting element (17, 77) is rotatably journalled on at least one bearing (18, 19, 59) and transmits the pivot movement of the throttle lever (6) as a rotation about a rotational axis (22) lying transversely to the vibration gap (9). A first bearing (19, 59) of the transmitting element (17, 77) is located on the fuel-metering unit.
US07958933B2
A heat exchange unit, adapted to performing heat exchange between first and second fluids at different temperatures, comprises a heat exchange apparatus provided with a tube bundle, crossed internally by said first fluid, and containing means of the second fluid, adapted to receiving the exchange apparatus so that at least one portion of the tube bundle is externally surrounded by the second fluid. The exchange apparatus further comprises connection means which are structurally separate from said retainer means and to which one end of the tube bundle is operatively connected.
US07958929B2
An apparatus for producing an alloy, including: a casting device which casts a molten alloy using the strip cast method; a crushing device which crushes the cast alloy after casting; and a heating device which keeps the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing at a predetermined temperature or which heats the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing, wherein the heating device is equipped with a container and a heater.
US07958928B2
To cast one or more metal articles, a mold structure is positioned on a support with an anchor extending upward from the support into the mold structure. The mold structure and anchor are interconnected by a retainer which extends through a portion of the mold structure into the anchor. When the mold structure is immersed in a cooling bath, force is transmitted between the mold structure and anchor to retain the mold structure against movement relative to the support.
US07958915B2
Apparatus and methods for delivering liquid color to a plastic resin processing machine include a scale for weighing a container of liquid color, a pump for removing liquid color from the container, controller for actuating pushers in the pump in a sequence whereby a first pusher is displaced to squeeze the delivery tube while a second and third pusher are not displaced thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube squeezing, whereupon a second pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube and substantially trapped liquid color in the tube at the first and second position of tube squeezing, whereupon the first pusher permits liquid color to flow through the tube pass the first position of tube squeezing and the third pusher squeezes the tube and thereby forces at least a portion of the trapped liquid color material through the tube pass the first position of tube squeezing thereby supplying liquid color to the plastic resin processing machine at a predetermined rate according to a selected recipe to produce plastic parts having desired characteristics.
US07958911B2
A shipping plug is disclosed herein. The shipping plug is formed from a cylindrical member that is configured to be operatively disposed within a bore of a component to create a seal therewith. The cylindrical member is a resilient material, and has an upper wall, a lower wall, and a circumferential side defined between the upper and lower walls. A recess is defined in the upper wall. The recess includes a bottom end and at least one wall extending between the bottom end and the upper wall. The recess is configured to operatively receive a complementarily shaped rod which selectively distorts the circumferential side of the cylindrical member in response to a twisting or rotating action exerted thereon to temporarily release the seal.
US07958910B2
A filling nozzle is provided which has a high flow straightening effect and is capable of forming a stable liquid flow of a circular cross section. In a filling nozzle in which a flow straightening member for straightening the flow of liquid is arranged in a hollow nozzle body, a flow straightening plate with a multitude of fine holes formed therethrough so as to pass the liquid therethrough is used a the flow straightening member, and a divergent chamfered portion, which act as a guide means for guiding fine streams of liquid flowing out from adjacent individual fine holes in a direction to bring them into contact with one another, is formed on an opening edge of an outlet of each fine hole on an outlet side surface of the flow straightening plate.
US07958901B2
A umbrella includes an upright post, a swing mechanism pivotally mounted on the upright post, a frame mounted on the swing mechanism to pivot in concert with the swing mechanism relative to the upright post, and a driving mechanism mounted on the upright post and connected with the swing mechanism to drive the swing mechanism to pivot relative to the upright post. Thus, the frame is rolled relative to the upright post to tilt leftward or rightward to adjust the inclined angle of the skeleton of the frame so as to provide a better shading effect.
US07958899B2
At a vibration applying position, ultrasonic vibration is applied upon a liquid film which is on a surface of a substrate. Concurrently with this, at a drop arrival position which is different from the vibration applying position, drops of a cleaning liquid are supplied to the liquid film, whereby wave-generating vibration which is different from the ultrasonic vibration is applied upon the liquid film. This dramatically improves removal of particles adhering to the surface of the substrate as compared with mere application of ultrasonic vibration. Hence, even when the output, the frequency and the like of the ultrasonic vibration are set to such an extent not damaging the substrate, it is possible to effectively remove particles with the wave-generating vibration and favorably clean the surface of the substrate.
US07958885B2
An active thermal energy storage system is disclosed which uses an energy storage material that is stable at atmospheric pressure and temperature and has a melting point higher than 32 degrees F. This energy storage material is held within a storage tank and used as an energy storage source, from which a heat transfer system (e.g., a heat pump) can draw to provide heating of residential or commercial buildings and associated hot water. The energy storage material may also accept waste heat from a conventional air conditioning loop, and may store such heat until needed. The system may be supplemented by a solar panel system that can be used to collect energy during daylight hours, storing the collected energy in the energy storage material. The stored energy may then be used during the evening hours to heat recirculation air for a building in which the system is installed.
US07958864B2
Compression ignition engines and methods of the type wherein the engines operate with one cylinder used as a compression cylinder and a second cylinder used as a combustion cylinder. The engines have all cylinders configured so as to be able to operate as a compression cylinder or a combustion cylinder. In the method of operation, a cylinder may switch its operation between being a compression cylinder and then operate a combustion cylinder. Switching the operation between compression and combustion operation results in an even temperature distribution within the engine, and eliminates the need for special cooling requirements, facilitating retrofit of existing engines. Also use of an air storage tank allows all cylinders to operate as combustion cylinders for short bursts of power. Various other features are disclosed.
US07958862B2
The present invention relates to the field of combustion engines and more specifically to a rotary positive displacement combustor engine. The device employs a scroll compressor and a scroll expander with an orbital shaft displaced between the compressor and expander supplying a means and link for compressing fluids within the scroll compressor and disposing the fluid within the scroll expander within which an ignition source is placed at strategic points within a pair of first isolated zones of the orbiting scroll expander generating a highly efficient process for capturing mechanical and thermal energy from combustion.
US07958857B2
A helical phaser bias spring including at least one linear region and an adjacent region having a radius of curvature less than that of the helix. A channel in the phaser receives the linear region of the spring and adjacent region to lock the spring to the phaser at either the rotor or the stator. Preferably, the spring includes two linear regions separated by a bend of about 90°. Additional linear regions are possible, separated by right and/or other angle bends. In a phaser rotor or stator, the geometric shape required to hold a spring end having a flat is easier to form with powdered metal tooling or diecasting than is a circular, radial, or axial shape for receiving a spring tang as in the prior art, the packaging volume required for the spring is smaller, and spring friction is lowered.
US07958856B2
In an adjusting device for an internal combustion engine, in particular a camshaft adjusting device, an adjusting unit is provided which comprises at least one currentless sensor unit for carrying out in at least one mode an adjustment as a function of a momentary phase angle between cooperating relatively rotatable members.
US07958852B2
Disclosed herein is a once-through boiler capable of achieving a steep increase in temperature of steam via reheating of the steam within a combustion chamber, thereby improving heat and energy efficiency. The boiler comprises a body (110), a steam supply unit (120), and a heating unit (130). The body includes a housing (111), a cover (112), and a guide pipe (113). The steam supply unit includes an annular water tank (122) in a lower region of the body, a steam supply chamber (124) in an uppermost region of the body, water pipes (121) amounted on the water tank, a low-temperature steam inlet pipe (125) and a high-temperature steam outlet pipe (127) mounted at opposite sides of the water pipes, and a steam heating pipe (126) to communicate the inlet pipe with the outlet pipe. The heating unit includes a burner (131), and a combustion chamber (132).
US07958848B2
A method for artificial breeding of farmed sturgeon is disclosed. The method comprises of growing a plurality of fingerling sturgeon; obtaining a plurality of juvenile sturgeon; identifying at least one male juvenile sturgeon and at least one female juvenile sturgeon; Feeding a predetermined amount of a preselected food material to the male and female sturgeon; Determining maturity based on at least controlling sex hormones and stress hormones of the male and female sturgeon; identifying at least one male matured sturgeon and at least one female matured sturgeon; and Selecting male matured sturgeon and female matured sturgeon, wherein said female matured sturgeon carries a predetermined amount of ovule and wherein said predetermined amount of ovule is processed to obtain a predetermined amount of caviar.
US07958841B2
An apparatus to help control the quality of printed three-dimensional objects is provided. The apparatus may include a printing head to print a three-dimensional object and a printing tray having defined surface characteristics serving to control adherence of the object being printed to the printing tray and/or prevent deformations in the printed object.
US07958837B1
A multiple trim modulation system for efficiently and simultaneously controlling multiple trim devices upon a marine vessel. The multiple trim modulation system generally includes a plurality of trim devices movably mounted to a watercraft and a controller adapted to control the plurality of trim devices. The controller includes a plurality of adjustment modes, wherein each of the plurality of adjustment modes moves the plurality of trim devices in a simultaneous manner. The plurality of trim devices either move towards a similar direction or move towards an opposing direction depending on a corresponding mode of the plurality of adjustment modes.
US07958836B2
A stabilizing chamber to be used with a mobile offshore unit and a method of manufacturing and stabilizing therewith are disclosed. The stabilizing chamber includes a housing configured to removably receive and retain fluid therein, a first support, and a second support. The first and second supports are attached to the same side of the housing, and at least one of the supports is configured to support the weight of the stabilizing chamber. These supports are then configured to removably connect with the mobile offshore unit. The housing of the stabilizing chamber may be filled with fluid to at least partially submerge the stabilizing chamber. After fluid is received within the stabilizing chamber, the stabilizing chamber may be disconnected from the mobile offshore unit.
US07958833B2
A presser foot device for a sewing machine includes a presser bar mounted on a head provided at a distal end of an arm and having a lower end having a presser foot, the presser foot device lifting the presser foot upward and downward together with the presser bar, the presser foot device further including a first shaft, a support unit configured to support the first shaft, and a presser foot lifting lever configured to move the presser foot upward and downward, the presser foot lifting lever being rotatably connected to the support unit by the first shaft. The support unit is rotatable between a first position where the presser foot lifting lever is located below the arm of the sewing machine and a second position where the presser foot lifting lever is located behind the head of the sewing machine.
US07958829B1
A sabot with exactly two complimentary halves, wherein each half portion comprises teeth configured to interlock with teeth of the other half portion. The sabot may further comprise a semi-circular groove configured in the teeth of each half portion. Also, each half portion may comprise at least one indented conical end. Preferably, on each half portion, the teeth are spaced apart from the at least one indented conical end. Moreover, each half portion may comprise translucent polycarbonate material. Furthermore, each half portion may be adapted to flush mount together to form a substantially cylindrical configuration when the teeth are interlocked. Additionally, the sabot may further comprise a semi-circular groove configured in the teeth of each half portion, wherein the semi-circular groove extends to the at least one indented conical end.
US07958824B2
Blasting apparatuses are disclosed that include enhanced security features, including biometric analysis of specific biological features of a candidate blast operator, thereby to generate a biometric signature. Other corresponding methods relate to cross-referencing of biometric signatures between components of the blasting system. Additional security features of the blasting apparatuses, and corresponding methods of blasting employing the blasting apparatuses, are also disclosed.
US07958818B2
A soy curding apparatus for continuously producing soy curd from soy milk including a pump for pumping soy milk and soy curd; a coagulator dispensing apparatus positioned for adding a coagulant; an expansion chamber to produce a pre soy curd mixture; a maturing apparatus to allow further mixing and maturing of the soy curd; a whey separating apparatus for separating the whey from the curd; a tower to remove residual whey to form a plug of soy curd of a desired consistency and moisture content and to cut a block from the soy plug; a conveyor apparatus adapted to receive and transport the block from the tower.
US07958817B2
One embodiment of a food heating device includes a platen (101) and an opening (103) disposed in the platen (101). The opening (103) is arranged and sized to receive a food product (203) from a first side of the platen (101) and to output the food product (203) to a second side of the platen (101). Alternative embodiments involve diagonally guiding a food product (203) along a different arrangements of platens (801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1401).
US07958816B2
A multi-function beverage brewer and cup (10) is taught that includes a travel mug (20) with a filter basket (26) that is removably placed within a top opening of the travel mug. A brewed beverage is created by pouring hot water over tea leafs or coffee grounds that have been placed into the filter basket. A storage container (38), including a lid (40), is used to retain additional tea leafs or coffee grounds and is removably attached to the travel mug. A holding cup (54) engages a lower outside surface of the travel mug for storage. When a beverage is brewed the holding cup and filter basket are removed from the travel mug and the filter basket containing tea leaf or coffee ground residue are stored in the holding cup and a basket/cup cover (34) encloses the holding cup.
US07958815B2
A beverage device for making a beverage with a foam layer on top includes a foaming device for generating foam from the beverage. The foaming device includes at least one inlet opening for receiving beverage under pressure and at least one outlet opening for the beverage with the foam. To obtain a fine and stable foam layer on the beverage, the foaming device generates a spray of beverage, and includes a collision surface which, in use, is hit by the beverage spray thus generating the foam.
US07958800B2
An actuation device is provided for actuating a traction element (5), the actuation element comprising in particular a pivotally mounted force transmission element (1) for transferring an actuation force to the traction element (5). The force transmission element comprises first stop means (7), the actuation device further comprises second stop means (9), whereby a possible angle of rotation of the force transmission element (1) is limited. The first stop means (7) and/or the second stop means (9) comprise(s) a resilient element. A stop is thereby dampened and when the first stop means (7) butts against the second stop means (9) energy absorbed by the resilient element (7) can be used to assist a movement of the force transmission element (1) in an opposite direction.
US07958794B2
A device is disclosed for sensing the contents of a fluid flowing in a duct system, such as in a ventilation duct. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the device includes a sensing element and a tubular body extending over a cross-sectional portion of the duct at issue and a supply duct with an inlet facing the main flow direction of the fluid and a discharge duct with an outlet located downstream of the inlet, to divert from the flowing fluid a partial flow which is made to pass the sensing element and then re-enter the duct. The outlet is located upstream of the downstream boundary of the tubular body.
US07958793B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a sampling system for fluid samples having sample receiving vessel for receiving the sample, which is sealed by a septum and holder for the sample receiving vessel for receiving and holding the sample receiving vessel and also a sample probe for dipping into a fluid volume and for taking a fluid sample from the fluid volume, the sample probe being configured as a hollow volume which, at one end, has a first opening for introducing the holder and the sample receiving vessel and, at another end, is sealed by a first valve which is provided with a hollow needle which projects into the interior of the sample probe said valve being able to be opened by contact with at least one of the group comprising the holder and the sample receiving vessel and then connecting the exterior of the sample probe to the inner volume of the hollow needle.
US07958792B2
The present invention relates to a hand-held swipe sampling device which can continuously supply sampling swabs. The swipe sampling device comprises a hand-held portion and a swipe sampling portion, wherein the hand grip portion is a rectangular housing in the interior of which contains a continuous sampling swab space, with a bottom cover provided on the underside of the sampling swab space, and a sampling swab outlet provided at an upper end of one side of the sampling swab space; a front end face of the swipe sampling portion configured as an accurate swipe sampling surface and provided with a sampling swab cutter. The sampling device according to the present invention is designed in a manner that continuous folded sampling swabs can be mounted and used in the sampling device such that the device can be used for many times after each mounting of the sampling swabs, thereby simplifying the mounting operations, reducing the contamination opportunities and facilitating the storage of the sampling swabs.
US07958791B2
A method for operating a cryostorage device (100), especially for biological samples, is described which comprises a sample carrier (10) to receive at least one sample (11) and a data storage (20), wherein data are inductively transmitted from the data storage device (20) into a wireless transmission channel (40) and/or conversely using a resonant circuit (30) connected to the data storage device (20).
US07958790B2
A load cell for measuring extremely low level, anisotropic biaxial loads is disclosed. The system includes at least one load cell of a specific geometry and dimension which, when mounted, provides a rotationless system accurately transmitting both normal and shearing strains to strain gauges mounted thereon. More specifically, by shaping the load cell so as to concentrate the strains imposed thereon, detection of extremely minute loads, such as coefficients of friction, can be measured.
US07958789B2
A capacitive sensor includes a dielectric layer made of an elastomer and a pair of electrodes arranged via the dielectric layer, and detects deformation on the basis of electrostatic capacity variation between the pair of electrodes. The pair of electrodes contain an elastomer and conductive fillers filled into the elastomer, are expandable and contractible in accordance with deformation of the dielectric layer, and exhibit little conductivity variation even when the pair of electrodes expand and contract. At least one of the dielectric layer and the electrodes is formed by a printing method using a dielectric layer coating containing a formation component of the dielectric layer or an electrode coating containing a formation component of the electrode.
US07958786B2
A flow measurement system and method uses enhanced phase detection based on a ratio of amplitudes of summations of two oppositely propagating acoustic signals. A need for direct time measurement and extensive difference calculation is consequently avoided so that in some implementations compact, simple, low power analog circuitry can be used.
US07958783B2
Device and method for recording vibrations transmitted from a vehicle to a person. The person is using a cushioned and preferably sprung vehicle seat of a vehicle by way of at least one detector unit for detecting vibration values, whereby the detector unit is arranged on the vehicle seat frame or an associated component and an analysis unit for analyzing the vibration values detected calculates vibration results for the vibration acting on the person using a preset transmission function.
US07958779B2
An angular velocity/angular acceleration calculator of the crankshaft in an internal combustion engine includes a crank angle detection device, a crank angle correction device, and an angular velocity/angular acceleration calculation device. The crank angle detection device detects a crank angle in the internal combustion engine and a time at the crank angle. The crank angle correction device corrects the crank angle and the time thus detected to an equiangular crank angle and a time corresponding thereto. The angular velocity/angular acceleration calculation device calculates an angular velocity and an angular acceleration of the crankshaft by converting a function of the time with respect to the crank angle that are corrected by the crank angle correction device so as to be regarded as a periodic function, and utilizing the discrete Fourier transform of the converted function.
US07958778B2
A misfiring cylinder identifying apparatus for a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine is provided with a determining portion that determines whether a plurality of cylinders is misfiring, and an identifying portion that identifies two cylinders among the plurality of cylinders in the order of the revolution speed fluctuation from largest as the misfiring cylinders when it is determined that the plurality of cylinders is misfiring.
US07958772B2
A density and viscosity sensor 1 for measuring density and viscosity of fluid F, the sensor 1 comprising a resonating element 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D arranged to be immersed in the fluid F, an actuating/detecting element 4A, 4B coupled to the resonating element, and a connector 7 for coupling to the actuating/detecting element 4A, 4B. The sensor 1 further comprises a housing 2 defining a chamber 8A isolated from the fluid F, the housing 2 comprising an area of reduced thickness defining a membrane 9 separating the chamber 8A from the fluid F. The actuating/detecting element 4A, 4B is positioned within the chamber so as to be isolated from the fluid F and mechanically coupled to the membrane 9. The resonating element 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D arranged to be immersed in the fluid F is mechanically coupled to the membrane 9. The membrane 9 has a thickness enabling transfer of mechanical vibration between the actuating/detecting element 4A, 4B and the resonating element 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D.
US07958764B2
The invention relates to a method of providing an armature housing having the steps of providing a solid cylinder of malleable material having a first part and a second part; raising at least a part of a perimeter of the first part in a direction away from the second part for defining a raised wall; compressing the second part in an axial direction toward the first part, resulting in a flattened disc generally perpendicular to the first part; and wherein the first part, second part, and at least part of the perimeter are all integrally connected as a single piece.
US07958763B2
An apparatus and process for reducing variations in the profile of a sheet metal stock are shown and described. The process includes the use of two passes, each comprising two smoothing surfaces. The smoothing surfaces of each pass are mateable to define a profile between the smoothing surfaces. The profile defined between the smoothing surfaces of the first pass is substantially the inverse of the profile defined between the smoothing surfaces of the second pass. As a sheet metal is processed between the first and second passes, it is formed with the first profile and the second profile thereby reducing variations in the profile of the sheet metal.
US07958757B1
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a cam lock that allows the user to find the correct code when forgetting. The cam lock has an inner shell, an outer shell, a main core assembly, a secondary core assembly, a tongue and an identification assembly. A cover of the outer shell and the inner shell are secured to each other and are mounted rotatably with the rear casing of the outer shell. The main and secondary core assemblies are mounted in the inner shell. Either the main and secondary core assemblies is unlocked, the tongue is rotatable. The identification assembly cooperates with the secondary core assembly to find the code via unlocking the secondary core assembly. Therefore, the cam lock is convenient for use.
US07958756B2
An improved gasket (1) for a drum-type washing machine comprises a front flange (11) and a rear flange (15). Between the front flange (11) and the rear flange (15), a first substantially U-shaped section (13) connects to the front flange (11) and a second section (14) connects said first section (13) and the rear flange (15), wherein said second section (14) has a substantially flat contour at a lower position and increasingly curves outwardly from the axis from the lower position to a lateral position while decreasingly curves outwardly from the axis from the lateral position to an upper position opposite to said lower position. In such a configuration, said gasket (1) can absorb the greater vibration occurred in the lateral position in a normal washing operation process.
US07958747B2
The cake (7), fitted with the rough pressing (71) of the stem parison (61) is situated on the ring (8) where by the action of its own gravity, it streams off till the rough pressing (71) fits into the cavity (41) of the bottom mould (4). There the rough pressing (71) is fastened by the underpressure and the air is blasted into the flask (6) and, in the same time, the bottom mould (4) is forced downwards. When the orifice (42) of the cavity (41) comes on the level of the surface (51) of the bottom opening of the glass-blowing mould (5), the glass-blowing mould (5) is closed and the air is blasted into the flask (6) until it obtains the shape of the inner wall (52) of the glass-blowing mould (5).
US07958742B2
A refrigerator which includes a dispenser installed at a door so as to enable a user to extract water or ice without opening a door. The dispenser includes a case forming an extraction section which is a space through which the desired object is extracted, a push button installed to the case and causing the desired object to be extracted by push operation, a cover having an opening formed by cutting out part thereof and pivotably installed to the case so as to open and close the extraction section, and a lever hinged to the cover so as to open and close the opening and pushing the push button while the opening is open. Therefore, a front appearance of the refrigerator is beautifully maintained. Further, the refrigerator prevents foreign materials such as dust from entering extraction ports through which the desired objects are extracted.
US07958738B2
Direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system and a method of direct expansion ammonia refrigeration
A direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system and a method of direct expansion ammonia refrigeration is described and which includes a source of liquid ammonia refrigerant which is delivered in fluid flowing relation to a plurality of evaporator tubes which incorporate wicking structures, and which through capillary action facilitated by the wicking structures are effective for drawing liquid ammonia refrigerant along the inside facing surface of the evaporator tubes so as to substantially reduce any stratified and/or wavy flow patterns of the liquid ammonia refrigerant within the evaporator tubes. The invention further includes a novel accumulator vessel and heat exchanger vessel which are coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system and which facilitate the removal of water from the ammonia refrigerant in order to enhance the operation of the direct expansion ammonia refrigeration system.
US07958727B2
An exemplary system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust turbine operably coupled to a generator, an intake air compressor operably coupled to an electric motor and mechanically decoupled from the exhaust turbine and a controller to direct electricity generated by the generator to one or more members of the group consisting of the electric motor, an additional electric motor, and a power storage. Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
US07958720B2
A combustion control apparatus is configured for a direct-injection spark-ignition internal combustion engine. The combustion control apparatus selects an extremely retarded combustion mode while the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined operating state. In the extremely retarded combustion mode, the combustion control apparatus sets ignition timing to be after compression top dead center, and sets fuel injection timing to be before the ignition timing and after compression top dead center. The combustion control apparatus inhibits the extremely retarded combustion mode while an exhaust purifier of the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined cold state.
US07958718B1
A multiple-stage solid rocket motor is operated in a manner designed to control its mass discharge profile. This is accomplished by providing means for igniting one stage and then igniting a subsequent stage while the first continues to burn.
US07958709B2
A grass treatment device height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of a grass treatment tool above ground level includes a height adjustment mechanism and an elongate rotational element, such as a roller, having first and second ends. The rotational element has an axle extending substantially along the longitudinal axis of the element about which the element rotates. The height adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable member connected to the axle of the rotational element wherein the rotatable member is associated with a second fixed axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to but offset relative to the first rotational axis. The second axis of rotation enables the height adjustment mechanism to adjust the position of the first axis of rotation relative to the second axis of rotation.
US07958703B2
A positive orientation container and closure combination is provided. The container includes at least one flange segment having a front and a back face. The container further includes a gap defined by the front face of one of the flange segments and the back face of one of the flange segments. The closure includes a plurality of collar segments. The closure includes at least one collar segment having an engagement face to establish a positive orientation of the closure at a predetermined position.
US07958689B2
A floor panel with coupling devices is provided. The coupling devices have locking elements which include a curved protrusion which is formed on a lower wall of an upper lip of a groove and adjacent to the entrance of the groove, and a curved recess which is formed in an upper side of a tongue and can match with the curved protrusion. Under the cooperation of the elastic deformation of the upper lip of the groove and the engagement of the locking elements, adjacent floor panels can be coupled together by exerting on them a horizontal pressing force and interlocked tightly by meshing engagement of the curved protrusion at the groove and the curved recess in the tongue without glue or other auxiliary binding material so as to ensure that the adjacent floor panels can not move in both horizontal direction and vertical direction. The floor panels are usually used in a floor decoration of indoor environment and have the advantages of easy installation and tight coupling.
US07958685B2
A decorative molding system and method of installation is provided that has a base piece and a crown piece that are adapted to be selectively engageable to each other. The molding system is easy to construct and allows for the separation of the base piece and crown piece for placing wiring or other materials behind the molding.
US07958684B2
A device for suspending equipment such as a lighting fixture or public address speaker from a ceiling mounted track (5) used to suspend a movable partition and including an extruded rail (4) defining a channel having a longitudinal slot opening (8) between flanges (9) projecting inwardly from opposite lateral walls(6) of the rail. The device comprises a threaded stem (13) capped by an enlarged head (14) passes through the slot opening (8) and is engaged by a lug (17) which cooperates with the head to forcibly bear against or capture one or more of the flanges. In an alternate embodiment of the invention the axial movement of the lug along the stem and the rotational movement of the head in reference to the slot are accurately limited for ease of alignment. The device can be quickly loosened to allow horizontal adjustment of the suspended structure along the rail.
US07958683B2
An improved wall panel system is disclosed. The system includes framed panels having side frame members, a top frame member, and a bottom support structure. Also included are a plurality of connection components including a connector post, an I-beam shaped connector, connectors, and decorative caps.
US07958680B2
An apparatus and method for connecting to the down spout of a gutter system to slow, disrupt, diffuse and absorb energy from runoff water to thereby eliminate erosion and destruction of surrounding landscaping is beneficial and desirable. The apparatus has an enclosure for passing runoff water therethrough. At least one upwardly extending baffle is used to slow and disrupt water from the down spout and at least one downwardly extending baffle is also used to slow, disrupt and diffuse runoff water from the down spout. The upwardly extending baffle and the downwardly extending baffle are for managing runoff water from the down spout to prevent erosion and destruction of surrounding landscaping.
US07958676B2
A deflection device includes a support, at least one deflection element which is arranged on the support, a receptacle which is integrally formed on the support and protrudes from the support for the deflection element, an undercut which is formed on the receptacle and an elastic element which is integrally formed on the support or the deflection element and acts on the deflection element in such a manner that the deflection element tends to engage in the undercut of the receptacle. The deflection device is configured for an adjustment device of a motor vehicle for the deflection of an elongate, flexible traction means which can be moved along a direction of extent by means of an adjustment drive and to which a motor vehicle part which is to be adjusted with the adjustment device can be connected.
US07958673B2
A product server for holding and displaying products. The product server has a front customer side, a rear employee side and a breath guard. The breath guard comprises a cover attached to the product server that is moveable between a lowered position covering the products held by the product server and a raised position in which the cover serves as a breath guard and allows access to the products. The cover is sufficiently transparent to allow viewing of the products from the customer side of the product server.
US07958665B2
Rifle scopes with friction reducing elements include a scope body, a movable optical adjustment element connected to the scope body, and a turret rotatably connected to the scope body. The turret includes a contact element contacting the adjustment element at a location of contact. The contact element is rotatable with respect to the turret. The adjustment element at the location of contact differs in hardness from the hardness of a second portion of the adjustment element. The contact element at the location of contact and the adjustment element at the location of contact are of essentially equal hardness.
US07958656B2
A snow melter that may be used to melt snow. The snow melter includes a dump tank for receiving a quantity of snow to be melted. The melter also includes a melt tank and a heat exchanger. The melt tank separate from the dump tank. The heat exchanger heats the water in the melt tank. Water heated by the melt tank is allowed to flow from the melt tank into the dump tank to melt the snow in the dump tank. Doors may also be added to the dump tank to facilitate the removal of debris from the dump tank after use. Further, the dump tank may also have an inclinable floor to further facilitate the removal of debris from the dump tank after use.
US07958650B2
The invention relates to an improved apparatus (1) for drying food-stuffs, comprising at least a centrifugation basket (5) for drying said product by its rotation, the lateral surface of said basket (5) being holed; a pin (13) rotating coupled with said at least a centrifugation basket (5); and a motor (12), mechanically coupled with said rotation pin (13); said apparatus (1) being characterised in that said motor (12) is a synchronous three-phase electric motor (12) and in that it comprises means (16) for controlling rotation of said motor (12) for adjusting the torque output by said motor (12) with respect to its rotation speed.
US07958649B1
A punch deflection gauge is provided having a die adaptor, indicator base, and dial indicator. An indicator stem of the dial indicator measures deflection of a punch in a punch orifice. In some embodiments a plurality of variably sized die adaptors may be provided and removably attachable to the same indicator base.
US07958646B2
A ruler including a slip resistant member, wherein the slip resistant member is operable to engage with a working surface to resist the sliding of the ruler when user applies force on the slip resistant member, and is disengaged from the working surface to allow the sliding of the ruler on the working surface when user releases force applied on the slip resistant member.
US07958644B2
A device comprises a first part (1) which has user input means (10) and comprising a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation sensing system (11) for determining a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (01) of the first part (1) with respect to a reference coordinate frame (XYZ) defined by the earths gravity field (Fg) and magnetic field (Fm). A second part (2) comprises a display (20) for displaying orientation information (OI) on a three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (02) of the second part (2), and sensing means (21) for sensing an one-degree-of-freedom or a two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part (2). Further, are provided means (5) for calculating the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (02) of the second part (2) from the three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (01) of the first part (1) and the one-degree-of-freedom or the two-degrees-of-freedom orientation of the second part (2), and means (6) for generating the orientation information (01) in response to the calculated three-degrees-of-freedom orientation (02) of the second part (2) to obtain correct display of the orientation information (01) independent on an orientation of the second part (2) with respect to the first part (1).
US07958634B2
A method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid supplied from a liquid storing member through a liquid supply path. The method includes positioning a filter to a first or second supply member by using positioning pins upon disposing the filter between first and second liquid supply paths. The first supply member has the first liquid supply path. The second supply member has the second liquid supply path on the side of one surface of the first supply member to communicate with the first liquid supply path. At least the first supply member and the second supply member are integrated such that a fixed portion is molded by injecting a resin material from an injection portion of a mold at a position where the first and second liquid supply paths are interposed between the positioning pins.
US07958626B1
A method of forming an embedded passive component network substrate includes providing a first carrier with a first dielectric layer and patterning the first dielectric layer to form a first patterned dielectric layer including circuit pattern artifacts. A first etch stop layer is plated within the circuit pattern artifacts. A first conductor layer is plated on the first etch stop layer and within the circuit pattern artifacts. The first etch stop layer and the first conductor layer form a first etch stop metal protected circuit pattern comprising a passive component embedded with the first patterned dielectric layer.
US07958623B2
A method of manufacturing a current switch magnetic intensifier that is constructed to be secured in generally close proximity to the stationary contact of the current switch. During termination of the communication of power through the contactor assembly, the magnetic intensifier accentuates a magnetic field associated with a stationary contact and increases the magnitude of a magnetic force directed to the arc arrestor. The intensifier is fitted proximate the stationary contact so that a pair of arc rails extend beyond the stationary contact such that a force of a magnetic field generated by the contactor magnetic intensified is directed in a common direction with a direction of reduced resistance of the pair of arc rails to ensure efficient, repeatable, and expedient transfer of a circuit termination arc to the arc arrestor.
US07958617B2
Screw, particularly for the electrical connection of a cable terminal to a railway track or the like
A screw for the electrical connection of a cable terminal to a railway track or the like comprises a base body having an elongated shank having a longitudinal axis, a strike head connected with a first end of the shank, and threads for the removable connection of a strike organ or nut with a second end of the shank opposite said first end. The screw further comprises a support element manufactured separately from the base body and associated to the strike head so as to form a stroke that defines a cavity turned towards the second end of the shank. The screw is pre-assembled and the support element is substantially irreversibly connected to the base body.
US07958608B2
The piezoelectric device includes a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, a piezoelectric film formed on the first electrode and a second electrode formed on a second side of the piezoelectric film which is away from a first side where the first electrode is formed. The first electrode is composed of a first layer in contact with the substrate and a second layer in contact with the piezoelectric film. The first layer is formed of a material that is wet etched at a different rate than the substrate. The ink-jet head includes the piezoelectric device, a liquid droplet storing/ejecting member for ejecting ink droplets through a ink spout and provided on the piezoelectric device and a diaphragm for vibrating in response to expansion or contraction of the piezoelectric device and provided between the piezoelectric device and the liquid droplet storing/ejecting member.
US07958607B2
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fastener with a first end and a second end, the fastener including a first member, a second member and biasing means, at least a first portion of the basing means being substantially parallel to at least a portion of the first member and at least a second portion of the basing means being substantially parallel to the at least a portion of the second member, the first and second members relatively pivotable at a first fulcrum intermediate the first and second ends and at a second fulcrum intermediate the first and second ends wherein the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum are spaced apart relative to each other, jaws located between the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum, a first handle at the first end of the fastener and a second handle at the second end of the fastener wherein squeezing of the first handle pivots the first and second members about the first fulcrum to open the jaws against closing bias provided by the biasing means and squeezing of the second handle pivots the first and second members about the second fulcrum to open the jaws against closing bias provided by the biasing means.
US07958598B2
Disclosed related to a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner body in which a dust collector mount part is formed; a dust collector attached and removed at the dust collector mount part, and having a dust storage part in the inside; at least one of the compressing member reducing the volume of the dust stored in the dust storage part as arranged in the dust storage part movably; a power transfer unit transferring the driving force to the compressing members from outside as connected with the compressing members; and a control unit deciding the amount of the dust stored in the dust storage unit.
US07958586B1
A roll out multi-tread ramp design supported by its arched design and the preferably identical shape and angle of each of its multiple treads abutting one another creating a surface area that distributes stress from weight placed on the surface of the ramp. Oblong links comprise preferably two holes per link and hold each tread that abut one another together, a cylindrical pin inserts snugly through an end of each ramp tread, passes through the link hole, then preferably re-enters tread of the ramp which connects multiple treads together and creates strength when weight is placed on ramp and allows the ramp to be rolled up. Ramp length is adjustable by using varying numbers of treads in each ramp assembly. An elastic cord runs through all treads to assist with self-deployment of ramp and assists in holding ramp treads in place.
US07958576B1
A toilet is designed and constructed to accommodate the physically challenged persons. The toilet has a wider sitting area to accommodate person of various sizes. The toilet also includes a pair of handles for assisting a person in getting on and off the toilet. The flushing action is accomplished by pulling flush knobs located in the handles while the person is sitting on the toilet.
US07958572B2
This protective helmet comprises a rigid or semi-rigid external shell comprising a plurality of rigid or semi-rigid flaps joined together and a compressively deformable internal liner acting as a shock absorber, the latter also comprising several elements associated with said flaps.At least some of the flaps that constitute the external shell are capable of moving relative to each other at their respective means of connection and the elements that constitute the internal liner associated with the flaps in question are designed so that they retract inside the volume defined by the helmet during relative displacement of the corresponding flaps.
US07958569B2
A protective garment including a body portion and a curved extremity permanently coupled to the body portion and being shaped and configured to receive a leg or an arm of a wearer therein. The extremity has a seam coupling portions of the extremity together such that the seam thereby directly provides curvature to the extremity.
US07962958B2
Methods to detect rogue access points (APs) and prevent unauthorized wireless access to services provided by a communication network are provided. A mobile station (MS) reports to a serving AP the received signal strength (RSS) for all APs in the area it travels. The serving AP detect a rogue AP based on inconsistencies perceived in the RSS reports, assessed during the handover phase or whilst the communication is active.
US07962956B1
In one embodiment, incremental backups containing information on modified addressable portions of a data storage device are evaluated for presence of malicious codes (“malwares”). Each modified addressable portion may be individually accessed and scanned for malicious codes. Each modified addressable portion may also be mapped to its associated file, allowing the associated file to be scanned for malicious codes. These allow an incremental backup to be evaluated even when it only contains portions, rather than the entirety, of several different files. A clean incremental backup may be selected for restoring the data storage device in the event of malicious code infection.
US07962944B2
A method for providing multimedia presentations on demand in a near on demand environment. The method comprises providing beginning segments for pre-recording by subscribers. Each beginning segment corresponds to ones of a plurality of multimedia presentations and each beginning segment has a duration at least as long as a predetermined time interval. Each one of the plurality of multimedia presentations are transmitted concurrently on a plurality of channels with identical presentations transmitted on different channels with start times of each transmission having a periodic interval not exceeding the predetermined time interval.
US07962943B2
A video picture information delivering apparatus delivers moving pictures according to a request from a terminal device. The apparatus comprises a determining unit for determining whether or not a predetermined particular picture is included in some of moving pictures to be skipped, upon receipt of a request to skip the some of the moving pictures; and a transmitting unit for transmitting to the terminal device associated information corresponding to the particular picture along with the moving pictures after being skipped, if the particular picture is included in the some of the skipped moving pictures.
US07962937B2
Aggregating media content catalog data from a plurality of content providers. The catalog data is merged according to rules and provided to a user on a scheduled basis or on demand. In an embodiment, the merged catalog data represents an incremental update to previously delivered catalog data.
US07962930B2
A broadcasting receiving apparatus includes: a broadcasting receiver for receiving downloadable parental rating definition-related data transmitted from an outside source; a data storage for storing the parental rating definition-related data; a user interface (UI) generator for generating a UI for parental lock setup; and a controller for controlling the UI generator to indicate upper item data of the parental rating definition-related data in a first axis direction of the UI and arrange lower item data corresponding to the upper item data in a second axis direction which is different from the first axis direction.
US07962929B1
Disclosed are systems and methods for generating viewing recommendations in a television viewing personalization system, including parsing, in accordance with a set of stored processing rules, a stream of command signals generated by a remote control unit in response to control sequences entered into the control unit by a viewer, to generate information representative of the viewer's viewing behavior; and determining, from the generated information, at least one viewing recommendation.
US07962928B2
In a brushless motor for use in a disk drive, a rotor is mounted onto a tube portion of a housing. A retaining claw is formed at an upper end of the tube portion. A turntable has a central concave portion which accommodates an upper portion of the tube portion of the housing. A retaining member is provided radially outside the central concave portion, and includes a plurality of retaining pieces extending to the inside of the central concave portion. When the rotor is mounted onto the housing, the retaining pieces come into contact with the retaining claw and then move upward. When the rotor moves upward relative to the housing, the retaining pieces come into contact with the retaining claw, thereby restricting upward movement of the rotor. Upward movement of the retaining pieces is restricted by contact between the retaining member and the turntable.
US07962927B2
The present invention relates to an optical disc for use as a recording medium in an optical disc drive, which has a transparent protection film (120) formed on a recording layer on one plane of the disc substrate (110) and a printing label film 130 being of approximately the same film quality and film structure as the transparent protection film (120) formed on the other plane thereof. The printing label film (130) is a synthetic resin film made mainly of polycarbonate and formed on the disc substrate by screen printing, etc. Thus, the optical disc has the same film quality and film structure on the respective one and the other planes, which prevents occurrence of skew caused by the deformation due to the asymmetry of the structure along the thickness direction of the optical disc. The optical disc has a function to present contents of information recorded therein with the printing label film provided on the other plane of the disc substrate.
US07962922B2
A native callback function is registered with a calling component in a native code environment, wherein registering the native callback function is initiated from a secure application area in a managed code environment. A callback is delivered from the native callback function into the secure application area.
US07962921B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a network interface card (NIC), comprising an intelligent wake mechanism and a device driver associated with the intelligent wake mechanism and configured to agree with embedded software on a set of wake codes and wake behaviors associated with the wake codes such that when the NIC encounters a wake event, the NIC first adds the wake code to a command queue, then it drives a PME pin to high to wake a device connected to the NIC.
US07962918B2
A method for controlling the interoperation of a plurality of software applications and resources includes intercepting communications from a first application to a second application or resource, directing the communication to a context management system, generating a candidate list of contexts for the communication, evaluating the candidate list according to at least one policy defined for these contexts to identify the resultant action and namespace for the communication, and performing the action as defined by the policies within the identified namespace. The method further includes tracking one or more versions of the second application, as well as tracking an evolution of application and/or resource names. The method further includes identifying one or more operations associated with a context on the candidate list, and executing the identified operations prior to a further communication.
US07962915B2
A state management system preserves a state for a cluster of file servers in a cluster file system in the presence of load balancing, failover, and fail-back events. The system provides a file and record locking solution for a clustered network attached storage system running on top of a cluster file system. The system employs a lock ownership scheme in which ownership identifiers are guaranteed to be unique across clustered servers and across various protocols the clustered servers may be exporting. The system supports multi-protocol clustered NAS gateways, NAS gateway server failover and fail-back, and load-balancing architectures. The system further eliminates a need for a lock migration protocol, resulting in improved efficiency and simplicity.
US07962914B2
Method and apparatus for load balancing of distributed processing units based on performance metrics
Performance parameters are obtained for distributed processing units. The performance parameters include a utilization value, of each distributed processing unit. Respective weights are obtained for the distributed processing units by applying a mapping function to the utilization values. The respective weights are used for weighted round-robin load balancing of work requests upon the distributed processing units. In one implementation, a set of utilization values of the processing units are collected in response to a periodic heartbeat signal, a set of weights are produced from the set of utilization values, a distribution list is produced from the set of weights, and the distribution list is randomized repetitively for re-use during the heartbeat interval.
US07962912B2
Aspects of the present invention are directed at providing safe and efficient ways for a program to perform a one-time initialization of a data item in a multi-threaded environment. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that allows a program to perform a synchronized initialization of a data item that may be accessed by multiple threads. More specifically, the method includes receiving a request to initialize the data item from a current thread. In response to receiving the request, the method determines whether the current thread is the first thread to attempt to initialize the data item. If the current thread is the first thread to attempt to initialize the data item, the method enforces mutual exclusion and blocks other attempts to initialize the data item made by concurrent threads. Then, the current thread is allowed to execute program code provided by the program to initialize the data item.
US07962906B2
A compiler includes a mechanism for employing multiple synergistic processors to execute long vectors. The compiler receives a single source program. The compiler identifies vectorizable loop code in the single source program and extracts the vectorizable loop code from the single source program. The compiler then compiles the extracted vectorizable loop code for a plurality of synergistic processors. The compiler also compiles a remainder of the single source program for a principal processor to form an executable main program such that the executable main program controls operation of the executable vectorizable loop code on the plurality of synergistic processors.
US07962902B2
A system and method for accessing requested data in a database using result set objects. The invention also provides a set of enhancements to the EJB Query Language (“EJB QL”) for providing result sets using EJB QL and to efficiently access databases using select methods within Enterprise Java Beans. EJBQL language extensions allow for the selection and retrieval of result sets. Since the use of the invention is expressed in terms of object relational constructs defined in an EJB deployment, it allows for the retrieval of data from a database expressed in terms of the relationships defined in that EJB deployment.
US07962895B2
According to a technique described herein, a binding document comprises one or more “
US07962892B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, related to designtime services for multiple patterns of a visual modeling language environment (e.g., generic services to handle events related to pattern components in a designtime environment). Input characterizing events related to patterns components may be received in a visual modeling tool, a type of event may be associated with a service to resolve events related to different patterns having a same type of event, and the service may be initiated to resolve the type of event.
US07962879B2
A system and method are disclosed for legalizing a flat or hierarchical VLSI layout to meet multiple grid constraints and conventional ground rules. Given a set of ground rules with multiple grid constraints and a VLSI layout (either hierarchical or flat) which is layout-versus-schematic (LVS) correct but may not be ground rule correct, the system and method provide a legalized layout which meets the multiple grid constraints while maintaining LVS correctness and fixing the ground rule errors as much as possible with minimum layout perturbation from the input design. The system and method support multiple grid pitch constraints for hierarchical design, and provide for LVS correctness to be maintained while an on-grid solution possibly with some spacing violations.
US07962876B2
Static timing and/or noise analysis are performed on a netlist of an integrated circuit, to estimate behavior of the netlist and to identify at least one violation by said behavior of a corresponding requirement thereon, such as setup time, hold time or bump height in a quiescent net. Thereafter, effect of engineering change order (ECO) to correct the violation are automatically analyzed, based on the layout, the parasitics, the timing and/or noise behavior, and the violation, followed by generation of a constraint on the behavior (called “ECO” constraint), such as a timing constraint and/or a noise constraint. Next, the ECO constraint is automatically used, e.g. in a place and route tool, to select an ECO repair technique, from several ECO repair techniques that can overcome the violation. The selected ECO repair technique is automatically applied to the layout, to generate a modified layout which does not have the violation.
US07962866B2
Disclosed are an improved method, system, and computer program product for a method or system with concurrent models to more accurately determine and represent the three-dimensional design features of electronic designs. Some embodiments disclose a method or a system for determining the design feature characteristics based upon their respective three-dimensional profiles. Some other embodiments further determine whether the design objectives or constraints are met or may be relaxed based upon the design feature characteristics in order to complete the design. Other embodiments store the profile or geometric characteristics, or information derived therefrom, in a database associated with the design to reduce the need for potentially expensive computations. The method or system may modify the designs or the processes to reflect whether the design objectives or constraints are met or relaxed.
US07962862B2
A method and software tool for performing an operation on a graphic object in a display of overlapping graphic objects in a data processing system are provided. The method comprises the steps of detecting the position of a pointer on the display; displaying to a user an indication of potential target objects of the operation which coincide with the pointer position; detecting a selection of one of the indicated potential target objects as the target object; and performing the operation on the selected object. In the case where the target object is not the outermost layer of the graphic objects on the display, the method may also comprise temporarily making the selected target object visible during performance of the operation on the target object by making the overlying objects transparent.
US07962860B2
There is described a method, to a program and to a system for graphically displaying and projecting at least one network of devices of an automation system, a high density of information usually occurring at the user interface. To allow a user to selectively display devices in a network, in addition to a large quantity of overview information, a solution is proposed in which a user can display individual devices in more detail in an overview. The user can therefore select a device, the instantaneously non-visible details of which he wishes to access, and change the appearance of the device from a not very detailed display to a very detailed display by way of further interaction. This applies to any desired number of devices which can be simultaneously displayed in detail. One advantage is that the network interfaces of devices may also be displayed which cannot be displayed with all network interfaces in the overview without the user being forced to have to change to a different, detail-oriented view.
US07962856B2
A system and method for facilitating lookup control configuration is provided. The system incorporates the persistence of the metadata required to associate a field and a display value of a lookup list, and facilitates creation of a lookup type user interface control. Thus, a user (e.g., developer) can drag a lookup control to a design surface and set the relevant property(ies) on the control. The user can then drag lists of information onto the control to automatically set the properties of the lookup control to display the values of the list. The user can then run their application to see immediate results. Optionally, the user can leverage Smart tags to change the default values set to different values.
US07962852B2
An information processing apparatus restricts admission to space occupied by a user in a virtual space. When a second user of a second terminal makes a request for admission to space which is in the virtual space and which is occupied by a first user of a first terminal, a space management server transmits data to the first user causing the first user to recognize that the request for admission is made by the second user. In response to an action based on the data, the first user performs an operation. If the first user performs an operation to permit the second user admission to the space, the second user can enter the space occupied by the first user.
US07962848B2
A method and system for reducing an amount of horizontal space required when displaying a plurality of columns on a display screen is disclosed. The at least one column of the plurality of columns has at least one entry containing text data. The method and system include obtaining the at least one entry from the at least one column, and abbreviating a width of the at least one entry, determining if there is another entry containing text data. The method and system further include repeating the steps of obtaining the at least one entry, abbreviating the at least one entry and determining if there is another entry until all of the at least one entries are abbreviated. The method and system further include displaying the at least one column having the at least one abbreviated entry.
US07962847B2
A system and method for obtaining a process definition; determining the current process; determining the current process step; determining whether a whether a user has requested creation or modification of an annotation of the current process or step; receiving information from the user for creating the annotation when a user has requested creation of an annotation; and displaying the annotation.
US07962844B2
Systems and methods for electronic management can be configured so that content is stored apart from the information for formatting the content. A data structure for the content may be initially defined, and content items may be stored in the data structure. Formatting information may be stored separately from the content in the form of a template. To publish formatted content, the stored content may be merged with the template. Specialized tags may be included in the template to permit added publishing functionality. In this manner, the system can easily manage large volumes of content and deliver the content to a variety of specialized target devices.
US07962839B1
Identifying a burst error is disclosed. Identifying includes computing a syndrome check polynomial corresponding to a burst of length up to 2t−1 in received data and identifying a shortest burst based on the longest consecutive root sequence of the syndrome check polynomial. The received data is corrected based at least in part on the shortest burst.
US07962837B2
A technique for reducing parity bit-widths for check bit and syndrome generation through the use of additional check bits to increase the number of minimum weighted codes in the Hamming Code H-Matrix. The technique of the present invention may be implemented while adding no additional correction/detection capability, in order to reduce the number of data bits that are used for each check bit/syndrome generation and to reduce the width of the parity generating circuitry.
US07962835B2
In a method and apparatus to conceal an error in an audio signal, when the current frame has no error and a past frame input prior to the current frame has an error, a parameter for the past frame is generated using a parameter for the current frame and a parameter of a frame out of frames input prior to the past frame and a previously stored parameter is updated with the generated parameter, thereby concealing an error of an audio signal without additional delay and preventing degradation in sound quality in a frame that is input after a frame having an error.
US07962831B2
A Multi-Level Cell (MLC) memory device and method thereof are provided. The example MLC memory device may be configured to perform data operations, and may include an MLC memory cell, a first coding device performing a first coding function, the first coding function being one of an encoding function and a decoding function, a second coding device performing a second coding function, the second coding function being one of an encoding function and a decoding function and a signal module configured to perform at least one of instructing the MLC memory cell to store data output by the second coding device if the first and second coding functions are encoding functions, and generating a demapped bit stream based on data retrieved from the MLC memory cell if the first and second coding functions are decoding functions.
US07962823B2
A system and method for testing a plurality of packet data transmitters in which multiple devices-under-test (DUTs) are tested by providing similar transmit data streams to the DUTs each of which, in response thereto, provides a respective packet data signal. At least a portion of each packet data signal is captured to provide captured data packets, which are processed to provide multiple sets of test data respective ones of which, in turn, are analyzed in view of the transmit data to determine an operational status of each DUT.
US07962816B2
An emulator for emulating operations of data processing circuitry normally connected to and cooperable with a peripheral circuit includes serial scanning circuitry connectable to the peripheral circuit. The serial scanning circuitry provides to and receives from the peripheral circuit signals which would normally be provided and received by the data processing circuitry. The serial scanning circuitry is connectable to an emulation controller for transferring serial data between the emulation controller and the emulator. The serial scanning circuitry includes a first state machine having plural states controlling the transfer of serial data. The emulator further includes control circuitry connected to the serial scanning circuitry and connectable to the emulation controller. The control circuitry, when connected to the emulation controller, effects the providing and receiving of signals and the transferring of serial data between the emulation controller and the emulator continuously without interruption while the first state machine remains in one state.
US07962809B1
A memory circuit includes a memory interface including an address line and a data line. A first memory is configured to i) receive addresses transmitted on the address line of the memory interface and ii) output data in response to the addresses. Content addressable memory (CAM) is configured to i) monitor the addresses transmitted on the address line of the memory interface and ii) output error correction coding (ECC) bits in response to the addresses. An ECC circuit is configured to receive the ECC bits and the data. The memory interface is configured to selectively receive, via the data line of the memory interface, one of the data from the first memory and an output of the ECC circuit.
US07962800B2
A protocol analyzer is provided including a monitoring state machine for tracking a communication protocol. A trigger mechanism triggers a trace by the analyzer when the state of the protocol differs from the monitoring state machine. The state of the protocol differs from the monitoring state machine when no state change occurs in a pre-defined time period, which may be defined for a given state change. The state of the protocol also differs from the monitoring state machine when a different state change takes place to that indicated by the monitoring state machine.
US07962793B2
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for self-diagnosing remote I/O enclosures with enhanced FRU callouts. When a failure is detected on a RIO drawer, a data processing system uses the bulk power controller to provide an alternate path, rather than using the existing RIO links, to access registers on the I/O drawers. The system logs onto the bulk power controller, which provides a communications path between the data processing system and the RIO drawer. The communications path allows the data processing system to read all of the registers on the I/O drawer. The register information in the I/O drawer is then analyzed to diagnose the I/O failure. Based on the register information, the data processing system identifies a field replacement unit to repair the I/O failure.
US07962780B2
A method, system, and computer program product to preserve data integrity in a mirror and copy environment is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving a write command and data from a host device. The method may further include writing the data to a primary storage device and attaching a primary sequence number associated with the primary storage device to the write command, thereby providing a numbered write command with a command sequence number. The numbered write command may then be transmitted to a secondary storage device. The method may further include comparing the command sequence number to a secondary sequence number associated with the secondary storage device. If the command sequence number matches the secondary sequence number, then the command may be executed. Otherwise, it may be ignored.
US07962772B2
Various embodiments of a backup power system and method may include a transfer switch, connections to primary and secondary power sources, a stored energy component, and an interconnected controller with a processor and memory. The transfer switch may provide power to an external load from a selected one of the primary power source, the secondary power source, or the stored energy component. The controller may compare energy stored within the stored energy component against a first threshold relating to a maximum time necessary for the secondary power source to at least reach a predetermined minimum output level, and also to compare the stored energy level to a second threshold greater than the first threshold. The second threshold may be selected to reduce a number of on/off cycles of the secondary power source during periods of intermittent primary power fluctuation that are less severe than a prolonged loss of power.
US07962769B1
In a method for balancing renewable power usage and workload performance in a room having cooling system components and electronic components, power is supplied to either or both of at least one cooling system component and at least one electronic component from a renewable power source. In addition, power is supplied to either or both of the at least one cooling system component and the at least one electronic component from a nonrenewable power source. The power supplied from at least one of the renewable power source and the nonrenewable power source to balance power usage and workload performance between the at least one cooling system component and the at least one electronic component.
US07962756B2
A method and apparatus to quickly provide a plurality of customized deceptive web pages that is designed to feed an intruder with a number of intrusion opportunities are disclosed. For example, the present method receives a plurality of parameter of interest and “look and feel” information. The method then applies the plurality of parameter of interest and the look and feel information to automatically generate a plurality of web pages for use in a security system, e.g., a honeypot system.
US07962755B2
A computer program for enabling biometrically secured, transparent encryption and decryption provides a user interface that allows a user to drag and drop files into and out of a secure repository, wherein the program automatically encrypts files transferred into the repository and automatically decrypts files transferred out of the repository. The user can transfer file folders into the repository, wherein the program encrypts all of the files within the folder and retains the original file/folder structure, such that individual files can be moved within the repository, moved out of the repository, and opened or executed directly from the repository. The program requires the user to submit biometric data and grants access to the secure repository only if the biometric data is authenticated. The program generates an encryption key based at least in part on biometric data received from the user.
US07962753B2
A Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) operation circuit includes plural storages for storing the variables of the SHA calculation, a permutation section for permuting the output signals of the storages, and an arithmetic unit for calculating a temporary value by the use of the output signals of the storages and a data segment successively extracted from input data from which the hash value is to be obtained. When each data segment is processed, some of the storages are supplied with no clock signal and thereby maintain the values stored therein without change. The SHA operation circuit is thus capable of saving power.
US07962748B2
Methods and systems for establishing a secure access to a proprietary network is provided. The method includes establishing a communication link between a first device and the proprietary network using a first level of secure access to the network, requesting an access code by the first device. The method further includes generating an access code by the proprietary network in response to the request, receiving the access code by the first device, and entering the access code into a second device communicatively coupled to the proprietary network, wherein the second device is positioned in a secure location physically accessible only to an authorized user. The method also includes comparing the entered access code to the generated access code by the proprietary network, and enabling a second level of secure access between the first device and the proprietary network.
US07962747B2
An information processing apparatus allowing proper communication with a communication partner in accordance with a communication time of the communication partner. A reception control unit receives a random challenge (RC) from a transmission terminal and supplies it to a generation unit. The reception control unit transmits an RC reception message indicating an RC reception to a transmission side. The generation unit executes a Hash process relative to RC and supplies resultant authentication data to a generation unit. A transmission control unit controls the generation unit at a timing before a response request command from the transmission side is received, to make the generation unit generate a response message containing authentication data corresponding to the response request command, and when the response request command is received, transmits the response message to a transmission destination terminal. The apparatus is applicable to a content providing system.
US07962744B2
Portable terminal MS downloads coupon data and public key KEYP2 of IP server 20 from IP server 20. Service terminal T obtains from IP server 20, a server certificate to which a digital signature is applied by secret key KEYS2. One to one local communication by infrared radiation is performed between portable terminal MS and service terminal T. At this point, portable terminal MS decrypts a server certificate by utilizing public key KEYP2 of IP server 20. Then, portable terminal MS communicates specified data after authenticating the identity of service terminal T.
US07962741B1
A network device for processing data packets includes an encryption services module, a number of network interfaces and a forwarding module. A network interface receives a packet requiring encryption services and forwards the packet. The forwarding module receives at least a portion of the data packet, where the portion includes header information. The forwarding module identifies a security association for the data packet, appends the security association to the portion of the data packet and forwards the portion of the data packet including the security association to the encryption services module. The encryption services module processes the packet in accordance with the security association.
US07962738B2
A method and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes computing, during runtime, an active hash value of a hypervisor on a computer platform using an authenticated integrity agent. The method also includes comparing the active hash value to a registered hash reference value. The method also includes verifying the integrity of the hypervisor when the active hash value and the registered hash reference value match.
US07962735B2
A servo device auto-booted upon power supply recovery and a method thereof include a plurality of mainboards, a circuit board, a power supply, a memory unit, an auto-booting unit, and a switching unit. The switching unit and the memory unit storing a basic input/output system (BIOS) are disposed on the circuit board. The auto-booting unit outputs a selection signal when the power supply recovers the supply of power after an abnormal power failure, and then the switching unit transmits the BIOS to each mainboard sequentially according to the selection signal, so as to finish the auto-booting of the entire servo device.
US07962734B2
Provided is a method for restarting a computing platform to a state in which applications run in less time than an initial start, including powering on a computing platform having a plurality of devices; identifying one or more of the devices which are not critical to running applications; storing information about the non-critical devices; restarting the computing platform; retrieving the information about the non-critical devices; disabling the non-critical devices; performing at least one of testing and initialization of at least one device of the plurality of devices that are critical to running the applications before the restart is completed; offloading at least one of testing and initialization of at least one of the non-critical devices; enabling devices which are not non-critical; and enabling the non-critical devices after the restart is completed.
US07962724B1
A system and method for management of resource allocation for speculative fetched instructions following small backward branch instructions. An instruction fetch unit speculatively prefetches a memory line for each fetched memory line. Each memory line may have a small backward branch instruction, which is a backward branch instruction that has a target instruction within the same memory line. For each fetched memory line, the instruction fetch unit determines if a small backward branch instruction exists among the instructions within the memory line. If a small backward branch instruction is found and predicted taken, then the instruction fetch unit inhibits the speculative prefetch for that particular thread. The speculative prefetch may resume for that thread after the branch loop is completed. System resources may be better allocated during the iterations of the small backward branch loop.
US07962716B2
The present invention concerns a new category of integrated circuitry and a new methodology for adaptive or reconfigurable computing. The preferred IC embodiment includes a plurality of heterogeneous computational elements coupled to an interconnection network. The plurality of heterogeneous computational elements include corresponding computational elements having fixed and differing architectures, such as fixed architectures for different functions such as memory, addition, multiplication, complex multiplication, subtraction, configuration, reconfiguration, control, input, output, and field programmability. In response to configuration information, the interconnection network is operative in real-time to configure and reconfigure the plurality of heterogeneous computational elements for a plurality of different functional modes, including linear algorithmic operations, non-linear algorithmic operations, finite state machine operations, memory operations, and bit-level manipulations. The various fixed architectures are selected to comparatively minimize power consumption and increase performance of the adaptive computing integrated circuit, particularly suitable for mobile, hand-held or other battery-powered computing applications.
US07962714B2
Systems and methods for protecting data in a tiered storage system are provided. The storage system comprises a management server, a media management component connected to the management server, a plurality of storage media connected to the media management component, and a data source connected to the media management component. Source data is copied from a source to a buffer to produce intermediate data. The intermediate data is copied to both a first and second medium to produce a primary and auxiliary copy, respectively. An auxiliary copy may be made from another auxiliary copy. An auxiliary copy may also be made from a primary copy right before the primary copy is pruned.
US07962712B2
Disclosed herein is a method for controlling a storage device controller connected to a storage device provided with a plurality of storage volumes for storing data respectively and an information processing apparatus for requesting an input/output of data so as to receive an input/output request from the information processing apparatus and execute an input/output processing of the data for each of the plurality of storage volumes. The method brings one (primary) of the plurality of storage volumes into correspondence with another (secondary) in which a copy of data is to be written when the data is written in the primary volume so as to form a pair group consisting of a plurality of pairs, each having such a primary volume and such a secondary volume.
US07962711B2
A method and a processing device may be provided for detecting a device newly connected to the processing device. The processing device may copy files from the device to a cache of the processing device. In some embodiments, the files may include a digital image files and associated files, such as wav files, or other files. Acquisition processing of the files stored in the cache may be initiated at any time after the processing device begins to copy the files from the device to the cache. Via a user interface, a user may preview thumbnail images corresponding to digital image files stored in one or more virtual devices, corresponding to one or more respective caches. The user may be prompted to initiate acquisition processing of a cache, having unprocessed files, after a configurable amount of time has passed since a file was last copied to the cache.
US07962707B2
A method includes executing an application in an execution environment. The application is allocated a plurality of memory blocks in a memory during execution. The method also includes executing a deterministic garbage collection process. The garbage collection process is capable of reclaiming at least one of the memory blocks in the memory from the application so that the at least one reclaimed memory block can be reallocated.
US07962703B1
Techniques for improving dirty page logging are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for memory logging comprising the steps of determining for one or more pages of memory if the pages of memory are likely to be modified in a subsequent epoch, performing a first operation on the pages of memory that are likely to be modified in a subsequent epoch, and performing a second operation on the pages of memory that are not likely to be modified in a subsequent epoch, wherein the first operation and the second operation are dissimilar.
US07962702B1
The present invention is directed to an integrated circuit, a method and a system for executing a sequence of instruction loaded from an external storage element and ensuring the authenticity of the sequence of instructions via RAM paging. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit includes a processor for executing a sequence of instructions loaded from an external storage element. To ensure the authenticity of the sequence of instructions from the external storage element, the processor supports Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) or another partitioning scheme. A zeroizer is included to zeroize the on-die memory banks thereby ensuring that the processor is incapable of accessing residual sequences of instructions as loaded and stored from the external storage element thereby ensuring the authenticity of the sequence of instructions executed by the processor.
US07962697B2
A multiple computer system is disclosed in which n computers (M1, M2 . . . Mn) each run a different portion of a single application program written to execute only on a single computer. The local memory of each computer is maintained substantially the same by updating all computers with every change made to addressed memory locations. Contention can arise when the same memory location is substantially simultaneously updated by two or more machines because of transmission delays and latency of the communications network interconnecting all the computers. In particular a method of detecting contention is disclosed which utilizes a count value indicative of the number of the sequence of occasions on which each memory location has been updated. Contention is indicated if the currently stored count value and the incoming updating count value are the same.
US07962695B2
A method of integrating a hybrid architecture in a set associative cache having a first type of memory structure for one or more ways in each congruence class, and a second type of memory structure for the remaining ways of the congruence class, includes determining whether a memory access request results in a cache hit or a cache miss; in the event of a cache miss, determining whether LRU way of the first type memory structure is also the LRU way of the entire congruence class, and if not, then copying the contents of the LRU way of the first type memory structure into the LRU way of the entire congruence class, and filling the LRU way of the first type memory structure with a new cache line in the event of a cache miss; and updating LRU bits, depending upon the results of the memory access request.
US07962692B2
The present invention is directed to a method and system for managing performance data. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, cache metrics are received. At least one of the cache metrics may be compared with a threshold value. A determination may be made as to whether one or more parameter adjustments are required based upon the comparison.
US07962691B2
An information processing apparatus capable of executing at least one information processing operation is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a process control system to execute one of the at least one information processing operation to a piece of data stored in a first data storage, which is indicated by a first storage name, when the piece of data in the first data storage is recognized. The information processing apparatus further includes the first storage name including a character string to specify the information processing operation to be performed, and a data relocating system to relocate the piece of data from the first data storage when the data processing operation is completed.
US07962682B2
Methods and apparatus for accessing modules on a flash memory package concurrently during testing are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a memory device for storing data includes a plurality of modules and a logic block. The plurality of modules each include a plurality of storage elements that hold the data. The logic block is arranged to enable the plurality of modules to be accessed in parallel, and is also arranged to enable the plurality of modules to be accessed serially.
US07962674B2
A buffer management apparatus that sequentially receives L (L>1) types of data and transmits the L types of data to an external device, including: a reception unit that receives data; M (M
US07962672B1
Described are techniques for storage configuration. Defined are one or more initiator groups each including one or more initiator ports, one or more target groups each including one or more target ports, and one or more storage groups each including one or more devices. A masking view is created where the masking view includes a first of the initiator groups, a first of the target groups, and a first of the storage groups. The masking view indicates which devices of the first storage group are accessible using one or more paths. Each of the one or more paths is specified using an initiator port from the first initiator group and a target port from the first target group.
US07962666B2
A transfer apparatus includes a connection status detection block, a storage status detection block, a no-operation status detection block, and a transfer block. The transfer block can automatically transfer candidate data to a memory device when a connected status is detected by the connection status block, the transfer candidate stored status is detected by the storage status detection block, and a no-operation status is detected by the no-operation status detection block.
US07962665B2
A computer system independently maintains states of multiple condition indicators as logical state data, each indicator for a different respective condition and having at least an active and inactive state. Multiple condition indicators share a single human-perceptible physical indicator having at least (N+1) states, where N is the number of condition indicators, the physical indicator states including a state for all conditions inactive, and a respective separate state for each respective condition active. Preferably, the conditions comprise a fault condition and an identify condition, and the physical indicator is a light which is off if neither condition is active, is constant on if the fault condition is active, and is flashing if the identify condition is active.
US07962662B2
Unique addresses for a plurality of devices may be programmed through a single external connection (pin) on each device by using a one of a plurality of different analog voltage or current values on the single external pin in combination with a serial clock of a serial data bus for each device requiring a unique binary address. The unique binary address is stored in the device after detection of certain number of clocks on the serial data bus. Once the unique binary address has been stored in the device, the single external connection may be used for another purpose such as a multifunction external connection. This unique binary address may be retained by the device until a power-on-reset (POR) or general reset condition occurs. Address detection and address load commands on the serial bus may also perform the same address definition and storage functions.
US07962661B2
A system and a method for determining a bus address for a controller within a network are provided. The method includes coupling a first set of pins of a wire harness connector to a second set of pins of a PCB connector of the controller. The method further includes sampling voltages of a portion of the first set of pins of the PCB connector to determine a wire harness ID utilizing a microprocessor. The method further includes accessing a look-up table from a memory device to select the bus address for the controller using the wire harness ID utilizing the microprocessor. The look-up table includes a plurality of bus addresses correspondingly associated with a plurality of wire harness IDs. The method further includes storing the selected bus address in the memory device utilizing the microprocessor.
US07962658B2
An image output apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives first information from a first radio contact element that performs a close-range radio contact; an image processing unit that forms image data of an image to be output from the first information; and an image output unit that outputs the image to an output medium from the image data.
US07962654B2
A system and method for implementing functionality within a network on behalf of first and second computers communicating with each other through the network. A front-end computer is provided within the network having an interface for communicating data traffic with the first computer. A back-end computer is also implemented within the network having an interface for communicating data traffic with the second computer. A communication channel couples the front-end computer and the back-end computer. Data traffic is encoded over the communication channel in a first process in the front-end computer. Data traffic is also encoded over the communication channel in a second process in the back-end computer, wherein the first process and the second process implement compatible semantics.
US07962652B2
The invention determines if a security association (SA) extends end-to-end between a source node originating a connection and a destination node. In such a case, there will be no ambiguities in routing due to network address translation, and the SA is allowed. In the preferred embodiment, both end nodes of a security connection test themselves and the remote node for gateway status to determine if any ambiguities might exist in network routing due to the presence of a network address translator.
US07962645B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically and transparently mapping tape drives within tape libraries to IP addresses. In one embodiment, the tape library includes, a DHCP server, a LAN to serial switch, and a library manager configured with the necessary modules to map the tape library devices to the proper IP addresses. The entire process may be transparent to users. The result is that the tape library is configured with the proper IP addressing without costly, time-consuming, and error-prone manual intervention. The tape library can be configured more quickly with accurate IP addressing and is able to operate efficiently and properly.
US07962620B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing read and write requests received from a cloned instance of a server application, the cloned instance of the server application having a corresponding instance that is hosted in a production portion of a computing environment.
US07962619B2
The present invention utilizes an XML-based protocol for controlling a plurality of settings to tie network equipment together, such as telecommunications, cable, enterprise, wireless, etc., across different transport network technologies, including optical, wireless, TDM, and packet. Network requests are carried in self-describing XML messages that are parsed by a general XML language parser. This changes the paradigm of XML used to control data records to XML controlling network equipment. This has many benefits including the ability to better function in the new IMS infrastructures being assembled.
US07962616B2
In order to track activities in a computerized system with client-server or other communications, a system configuration is needed which monitors, logs and reports traffic. This is somewhat akin to but not entirely similar a firewall. Thus, the invention contemplates a real-time, platform-independent, rule-based activity monitor for detecting a particular activity of interest as it occurs and for reporting such activity and the user substantially as fast.
US07962603B1
An improved method and system for identifying individual users accessing a web site. A web site server is able to identify distinct users by using a unique identifier associated with each client computer system requesting access to the web site. The unique identifier comprises an Internet address, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address, and a time value associated with each client computer system requesting access to the web site. On starting up a web browser, an application program or browser plug-in may synchronize the internal clock included with the client computer system with a global time standard. The synchronized time value may be based on an event associated with the client computer system, such as the start of a web browser. A web site server may determine the uniqueness of the client computer system by comparing unique identifier records of users accessing the web site. A user may be identified as distinct if no matching record exists in the database. Multiple client computer systems having a common Internet address may be identified by using this method. Users privacy is also protected as the unique identifiers are erased when the client computer system's user exits the web browser or powers down the computer.
US07962598B2
Systems, apparatuses and methods for processing a concurrent IGRS-UPnP architecture for both IGRS and UPnP standards conformance, and to be used for consumer electronics device interoperability.
US07962594B2
A system and method for delivering content on a network using differential caching is described. A request for information is received from a request-generating element coupled to a browser associated with a client through the network. A static portion and a dynamic portion of a document to be included in a response as the requested information are identified based on previously cached information by utilizing a software element that is not part of the client. The static portion is cached in a memory that is logically local to the client that requested the information. The static portion is served to the request-generating element from the cached memory. The dynamic portion is served to the request-generating element from the network. The static portion and the dynamic portion are integrated using the request-generating element into the document included in the response to the browser as the requested information.
US07962588B1
An optical communications network including a plurality of optical network elements and a plurality of network management systems. Each of network management systems executes a framework application. A communications link couples at least one of the network management systems and at least one of the optical network elements. A memory device is accessible by the network management system. The network management system communicates with the optical network element to detect a hardware feature present at the optical network element. The network management system determines a feature application supporting the hardware feature that is not supported by the framework application. The network management system loads the feature application from the memory device to the framework application and executes the feature application to manage the optical network element.
US07962585B2
Embodiments herein change the way item syncing is handled and tracked between two devices. Changes to items are tracked in accordance with well defined property groups and each group is tracked independently of the other. For example, one group could contain large data items, e.g., attachments, while another group could include highly volatile properties like a follow-up flag. The present invention increases the sync rates between a client and a server by syncing only select portions of an item that have changed, without monitoring the change of each individual property within the item. Accordingly, if a change is made to a small data property (e.g., follow-up flag) on a relatively large email message, such change will not trigger a large download to a client running under a cached mode, nor will there be a requirement for high storage and processing for tracking each individual property.
US07962584B2
The present invention provides a local area network system including a computational device or a host, a network apparatus and communication channel (e.g. router). The invention also provides a method for configuring IPv6 addresses in the host. The method includes separating a prefix assignment from generation of an interface identifier. The prefix may be stored in a DHCPv6 server. The procedure further includes requesting the prefix from the DHCPv6 server by the host, generating the interface identifier in the host, and combining the prefix and the generated interface identifier to formulate an IP address in the host, registering the IP address in the DHCPv6 server, and granting the usage of the IP address to the host by the DHCPv6 server.
US07962581B2
Configuring a client device, including receiving, at a vendor, user provided configuration parameters for the client device from a user, receiving at the vendor, a configuration bundle for the client device from a manufacturer, and associating the user provided configuration parameters for the client device with the configuration bundle for the client device, thereby producing an associated configuration bundle.
US07962580B2
A content delivery system for providing content from a content delivery network to end users may include a plurality of delivery servers that host one or more content items and an inventory server having an inventory of content. The inventory of content can indicate which of the delivery servers host the content items. The inventory server may receive a request for a content item from an end user system and may access the inventory of content to determine one or more delivery servers that host the content item. In response to this determination, the inventory server may redirect the request for the content item to a selected one of the delivery servers. The selected delivery server can then serve the content item to the end user system.
US07962575B2
In configuring data synchronization between two devices, the first device generates a user configuration interface to be presented on the second device. The user interface elicits information from a user regarding a personal information manager (PIM) that is installed on the second device. This information is transmitted to the first device, which downloads to the second device a synchronization application package based on the PIM. The user interface installs the synchronization application on the second device, obtains information regarding data to be synchronized, and transmits that information to the synchronization application. This information may include names and locations of folders to be synchronized and synchronization preferences such as synchronization direction and schedule. The devices may include servers, PCs, PDAs, handheld computers, and wireless phones. The server may be network-based, accessible via the Internet, a LAN, or the PSTN. Alternatively, the connection between the devices may be local or dedicated, and wired or wireless.
US07962571B2
A method and system for retrieving data from devices in a way that seeks to preserve privacy and ensure the integrity of the retrieved data is provided. A retrieval system is implemented on a network of devices that communicate with each other via a secure communications link. Each device is directly connected to one or more “friend” devices that it trusts. The retrieval system operates by forwarding a request for data from one friend device to another friend device. Each friend device may optionally add data to the request until all the requested data is added. The request with the retrieved data is returned to the device that initiated the request.
US07962570B2
A data transfer method includes receiving terminal server identification data at a host system from a terminal server, querying a database to obtain localized information service data associated with the terminal server identification data, and sending the localized information service data from the host system to the terminal server. A host system providing localized information system data includes a database system, a network interface, and a processor. The database system includes records to associate terminal server identification data with information service data. The interface couples the host system to a communications link over which the host system can exchange data with a terminal server. The processor is coupled to the interface and to the database and is configured to receive terminal server identification data from the data interface, to query the database for localized information service data associated with the terminal server identification data, and to send the localized information service data obtained by the query to the data interface for transmission to the terminal server.
US07962565B2
A method, system and apparatus for a mobile web client is presented. In one embodiment, the invention is a method of operating a web application. The method includes receiving a request from a client. The method further includes processing the request with a web emulator. The method also includes servicing the request from available data.
US07962562B1
A network storage system includes a non-volatile memory to store data including a log of received data access requests, and a cluster interconnect adapter through which to send data to a cluster partner. The nonvolatile memory and the cluster interconnect adapter are implemented in a single device connected to an expansion bus in the network storage system. Communication with the nonvolatile memory is carried out using LDMA, and communication with the cluster partner is carried out using RDMA via the cluster interconnect adapter. LDMA and RDMA functionality are merged in a common software stack.
US07962558B2
The identity of the sender of an e-mail message is verified by performing a plurality of tests on DNS information. The DNS information is based on a client IP address or a sender address. Each test performed has a corresponding intrinsic confidence value representing the degree of confidence the test provides of the sender identity relationship. If multiple tests are successful the test result with the highest confidence value of the hierarchy of confidence values is used. The confidence value is optionally used in subsequent identity tests as specified by the subsequent test.
US07962552B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and system for “borrowing” and giving back a window from one computer to another. Borrowing refers to actions performed by one computer to temporarily obtain and control a window from another computer.
US07962547B2
One aspect of the present invention includes capturing a client browser state and communicating this captured browser state within markup text for logging at a web server. In one embodiment, the contents of the DOM (Document Object Model) of a webpage accessed by a client are traversed and written as markup text in a string of characters, such as HTML. This markup, in addition to metadata specific to identify the browser display environment, is transmitted from the client to the server as text within a HTTP request. The server may then log the markup text and the metadata for later access. The logged markup text and the metadata can be used to recreate the exact display which occurred within the client browser, and therefore provide details useful for webpage problem determination, testing, and development.
US07962546B2
A method is disclosed for sending content from a mobile sending device belonging to an originator to at least one receiving device associated with a respective recipient. The mobile sending device sends said content to a storage server; the storage server stores the content, associating a content identifier with it; the storage server builds a content page including the content, the content page being associated with a first address, the first address depending at least on the content identifier; the storage server sends the mobile sending device a first message including a second address associated with a recipient-selection page; the mobile sending device accesses said recipient-selection page by the second address; and the originator builds, by the recipient-selection page, a list including an identifier of the receiving device.
US07962543B2
A division method includes determining a precision indicator for the division operation that indicates whether the quotient should be a single precision, double precision, or extended precision floating-point number. The division is performed at a rectangular multiplier using the Goldschmidt or Newton-Raphson algorithm. Each algorithm calculates one or more intermediate values in order to determine the quotient. For example, the Goldschmidt algorithm calculates a complement of a product of the dividend and an estimate of the reciprocal of the divisor. The quotient is determined based on a portion of one or more of these intermediate values. Because only a portion of the intermediate value is used, the division can be performed efficiently at the rectangular multiplier, and therefore the quotient can be determined more quickly and still achieve the desired level of precision.
US07962540B2
A method is provided for masking a process used in generating a number sequence. The method includes generating a first sequence of numbers contained within a Galois field GF[M]. The method also includes performing a first modification to a first number in the first sequence of numbers. The first modification includes summing the first number with a result of a modulo P operation performed on a second number of the first sequence that proceeds the first number. M is relatively prime with respect to P. The method further includes performing a second modification to the first random number. The second modification is comprised of a modulo P operation. This second modification is performed subsequent to the first modification. The method includes repeating the first and second modification for a plurality of numbers comprising the first sequence of numbers to generate a second sequence of numbers.
US07962530B1
A system and method for retrieving musical information from a database based on a melody fragment. The system may be used by a person without formal musical training to retrieve musical data (e.g., the name of a song, bibliographic information about a song, or the song itself) from a database by providing the melody or fragment of the melody of the desired music to a computer interface. The melody may be provided by singing, humming, whistling, or playing a musical instrument, for example, a keyboard. The inputted melodic information is encoded using relative changes in pitch and rhythm throughout the melody. The encoded information is then compared using a matching algorithm to similarly encoded melodic information representative of many musical pieces (e.g., songs). Results may also be sorted using a weighted algorithm.
US07962526B2
Techniques are provided for (1) extending SQL to support direct invocation of frequent itemset operations, (2) improving the performance of frequent itemset operations by clustering itemset combinations to more efficiently use previously produced results, and (3) making on-the-fly selection of the occurrence counting technique to use during each phase of a multiple phase frequent itemset operation. When directly invoked in an SQL statement, a frequent itemset operation may receive input from results of operations specified in the SQL statement, and provide its results directly to other operations specified in the SQL statement. By clustering itemset combinations, resources may be used more efficiently by retaining intermediate information as long as it is useful, and then discarding it to free up volatile memory. Dynamically selecting an occurrence counting technique allows a single frequent itemset operation to change the occurrence counting technique that it is using midstream, based on cost considerations and/or environmental conditions.
US07962522B2
A method of displaying and navigating information using a hierarchical, spring loaded DHTML menu system that adjusts to fit the boundaries of a resizable, container (FIG. 1). A set of standard HTML table row elements, having a hierachical dependency (11), is consistently displayed as a web-page, under reasonable resizing. This is done using a strut row that produces the largest width requirement when the table structure is resizing to occupy a small width. Only the current row elements and the strut element are required in calculating table resizing to ensure that whichever data elements are displayed when a web-page resizing occurs, the browser auto-layout algorithm calculations will result in a resize attributes that enables all other row elements of that menu to be accommodated by the newly determined table width. As the row elements may themselves be table structures, nested menus of information may be displayed and navigated (12).
US07962519B2
In general, the present invention allows one to define both a hierarchy with one or more peers and no parents (e.g., one or more blades and no chassis) and a hierarchy with one or more peers and a parent (e.g., one or more blades and a chassis) as long as the relationships are valid. Rather than relying on a user's a priori knowledge of the hierarchical relationships, this invention allows a user to select any starting point and then drive in any desired direction. Despite this flexibility, the invention still allows rules for permissible relationships to be enforced. Thus, driving is limited by the relationships extant in the underlying data, or the known combining rules.
US07962515B1
A system and method for logon access management that includes capturing a logon id and associated user data, the logon id allowing access to at least one of an application or data outside of a entity, automatically searching for a match of at least a portion of the user data with id data inside the entity, and transforming the logon id into a network id when a match is found. The entity may be a company, business, organization, system, or network.
US07962514B2
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture that may be used to attach annotations to a particular view of data described by the annotation are provided. The annotation may be attached in a manner that allows the annotation to be viewed when subsequent views having at least some visible cells in common with the annotated view are displayed. An annotation created for a view of data may be stored with links to each cell visible in the view. When a predetermined set of cells visible in the annotated view are subsequently displayed in another view, the annotation may be retrieved via the cell links and an indication of the annotation may be provided.
US07962513B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for applying policies at a database appliance. The database appliance, according to one embodiment, can receive a database request and determine a set of information related to the request. The information related to the request can include information, such as metadata, defined at information systems external to the database server to which the request is directed. Policies can be applied in terms of the information related to the request. By leveraging information systems, embodiments of the present invention allow policies to be applied to account for the networked environment.
US07962509B2
Exemplary systems and methods for server management are provided. An exemplary system comprises a plurality of servers, with each server having the ability to access a database or, in some embodiments, be configured to perform a calculation, computation or make a determination of a particular value, values or other information. A communications network delivers queries to each server whereby a look-up table directs query processing by the servers. Further embodiments of the system feature a program logic controller for rebalancing the workload of the network servers. Exemplary methods of processing queries on the system comprise submitting a query to the network, communicating the query to each server in the network and each server looking-up on a look-up table the processing responsibilities of the servers in the network. The query is processed by the server having primary responsibility for processing the query while other the servers monitor query processing. Transmission of a query result to a user typically completes the process.
US07962501B1
A duplicate lead removal system comprises a matching engine, a vendor duplicates database, and a conflict engine. The matching engine is configured to determine at least one vendor to receive a lead. The vendor duplicates database is configured to store duplicate lead information that is at least partly created by and received from vendors outside of the duplicate lead removal system. The conflict engine is configured to compare information that is at least derived from the lead with information stored in the vendor duplicates database in order to determine if the lead is a duplicate lead for the vendor such that the system can prevent transmission of duplicate leads to the vendor.
US07962494B2
A relationship among data in a tree data structure is effectively traced by assigning nodes respective unique node identifiers, a parent-child relationship is represented by a C->P array containing node identifiers for parent nodes associated with node identifiers for non-root nodes that are nodes other than a root node, a list of vertex nodes is provided by storing node identifiers for respective vertex nodes in order to represent one or more node groups, each node group including a particular node, which is the vertex node, and descendant nodes of the particular node, and the node identifier for the vertex node belonging to other vertex nodes are deleted from the list of vertex nodes by referring to the C->P array such that neither vertex nodes nor respective descendant nodes of the vertex nodes duplicate each other across vertex nodes identified by the node identifiers included in the list of vertex nodes.
US07962493B2
Enterprise Identity Management systems control access to information derived from identity-related data stored in various data repositories. An identity-based management system can automatically and dynamically compute derived data when the source data changes. Rule-base tools can be used to compute derived data from arbitrary attribute-based datasets. Dynamic computation of identity-based attributes within information system servers allows data to be aggregated and normalized from multiple data sources deployed across an organization so that updated related information can be persisted and pushed to various servers in the organization.
US07962491B1
A near-duplicate component includes a fingerprint creation component and a similarity detection component. The fingerprint creation component receives a document of arbitrary size and generates a compact “fingerprint” that describes the contents of the document. The similarity detection component compares multiple fingerprints based on the hamming distance between the fingerprints. When the hamming distance is below a threshold, the documents can be said to be near-duplicates of one another.
US07962486B2
Discovery and modification of data clusters such as synonyms. In one aspect, a method for clustering data includes receiving information on a system, the information manipulating one or more data attributes stored or to be stored in a database accessible by the system, where the information and manipulation does not explicitly relate to data clusters. A data cluster is automatically adjusted based on the received information, the data cluster including multiple data attributes and including at least one of the data attributes manipulated by the received information. The data cluster is adjusted dynamically and in response to the information being received.
US07962480B1
The relevance of documents is automatically determined based upon a weighted tree. Terms considered to be relevant are assigned to the leaf nodes of a tree data structure. A location can also be specified in a leaf node, indicating where in a document the term must appear to be considered relevant. Internal nodes of the tree are assigned operators (e.g., add, maximum or minimum). The connections between nodes are assigned weights. A relevance value for a given document is calculated as a function of occurrence in the document of terms assigned to leaves, operators assigned to internal nodes, and weights assigned to the associated node connections. Weighted trees can be used to process search queries. Documents with high relevance scores calculated against the tree can be returned to a user as the results to a query.
US07962479B2
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for generating one or more related queries with respect to a given query. The method may comprise receiving a query comprising one or more terms, generating a corpus of candidate reformulations and identifying one or more queries or terms from the corpus of candidate reformulations related to the received query. One or more related queries are generated on the basis of the identified one or more queries or terms from the corpus of candidate reformulations.
US07962469B1
A system limits search results based on context information. The system obtains the context information and a search query, and obtains a set of references to documents in response to the search query. The system then filters the set of references based on the context information and presents the filtered set of references to a user.
US07962464B1
Federated search is disclosed. A result associated with a search of a content source not natively configured to provide content type data for content items is received. A content type is associated with a content item included in the result based at least in part on information associated with the result.
US07962463B2
Keyword candidates are identified by in response to receiving an identification of a web page. Content of the web page is analyzed to identify terms from the web page. An automated keyword expansion is performed using the identified terms to produce a set of candidate keywords. Keyword suggestions are generated for the web page using the set of candidate keywords, and one or more of the keyword suggestions are used in a paid listing campaign. A performance of a paid listing campaign is compared with a performance threshold. An automated keyword expansion is performed using one or more keywords from the set of keywords to produce a set of alternative keywords in response to the comparison. One or more alternative keywords are selected from the set of alternative keywords for use in the paid listing campaign.
US07962458B2
An automated method is provided of replicating a locking protocol in a database environment for performing I/O operations wherein the database environment includes a plurality of databases. A locking protocol is performed that includes one or more explicit locking operations on objects in a first database of the database environment. The one or more explicit locking operations are replicated in one or more other databases in the database environment. At least some of the explicit locking operations are performed asynchronously with respect to the explicit locking operations performed in the first database. I/O operations are performed at the first database of the database environment that are associated with the one or more explicit locking operations implemented in the first database.
US07962446B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which a search request containing search criteria is received from a first user. A search is performed based upon the search criteria and the first user's organizational identifier to identify data records that match the search criteria and to which the first user is allowed to access based upon the first user's organizational identifier. In another embodiment, a search is performed based upon the search criteria and a list of categories to which the first user is authorized to access to identify records that match the search criteria and to which the first user is allowed to access based upon the list of categories.
US07962437B2
Data for a first time period in a primary data sequence is compared with data for a second time period in each of a set of secondary data sequences. The durations of the first and second time periods are correlated, and the first time period is different from the second time period. A ranking is assigned to each secondary data sequence based on the corresponding data for the second time period. The ranking for each of the set of secondary data sequences is written to a computer useable medium. The primary data sequence and the set of secondary data sequences are adjusted based on a request to change the primary data sequence to one of the set of secondary data sequences. The comparing, assigning, and writing are repeated for the adjusted primary data sequence and set of secondary data sequences.
US07962436B2
An enhanced call-back service, in which a local rule engine is caused to be capable of invoking a rule defined at an external rule engine, and a function provided by the local rule engine is exposed as a call-back service. At the call-back service and from the external rule engine, a request to interact with the function is received, and, using the call-back service, an interaction is provided between the external rule engine and the function.
US07962425B1
A method and system for responding to an alert pertaining to an event. A unique processor of a first micro grid apparatus of at least one micro grid apparatus detects an alert data packet that includes the alert. Each micro grid apparatus includes at least two processors that contain a unique processor. Each processor of each micro grid apparatus has its own operating system. The unique processor of each micro grid apparatus has a unique operating system. Each unique processor selects at least one processor from each micro grid apparatus. Each selected processor is designated as a macro grid processor of a respective macro grid by altering the operating system of each selected processor. An artificial intelligence is generated for each macro grid. The event is responded to and quenched by implementing the artificial intelligence of each macro grid, after which each macro grid is extinguished.
US07962415B2
Techniques are described for facilitating interactions between computing systems, such as by performing transactions between parties that are automatically authorized via a third-party transaction authorization system. In some situations, the transactions are programmatic transactions involving the use of fee-based Web services by executing application programs, with the transaction authorization system authorizing and/or providing payments in accordance with private authorization instructions previously specified by the parties. The authorization instructions may include predefined instruction rule sets that regulate conditions under which a potential transaction can be authorized, with the instruction rule sets each referenced by an associated reference token. After one or more of the parties to a potential transaction supply reference tokens for the parties, the transaction authorization system can determine whether to authorize the transaction based on whether the instruction rule sets associated with the reference tokens are compatible or otherwise satisfied.
US07962414B1
An improved interactive network system is provided that allows the Network Operator to control the transfer of information to and from the network end users, the system preferably using triggers or markers embedded within the programming broadcast to users via the network. As a consequence of this system, the Network Operator is able to efficiently garner revenues from third parties transacting business over the network and to control the look and feel of programming offered to network users. Additionally the system can be used as a means of limiting network access, filtering programming, providing on-screen graphics or audible signals for particular programming types or providers, bookmarking programming, profiling network users, targeting advertising, and simplifying network transactions.
US07962407B2
A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also enables the allocation of a portion or all of a charge or loyalty points to different transaction accounts issued by different issuers, or to sub-accounts.
US07962403B2
A computer implemented method for assessing different expected payment behavior of a debtor with respect to different creditors.
US07962402B2
An on-line system for creating an open market for matching buyers and sellers of brand name products. The system enables buyers to achieve the maximum value in the purchased product by engaging in an open ended on-line reverse auction and a negotiation process with multiple sellers of the specified product. The system enables sellers to generate sales leads and engage in the open ended on-line reverse auction bidding and the negotiation process with buyers.
US07962400B2
A system for wagering comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores a bet regarding a plurality of outcomes associated with financial market indicators. The bet comprises a first bet component indicating whether a value of a first financial market indicator will go up or go down in a first predetermined period of time, and a second bet component indicating whether a value of a second financial market indicator will go up or go down in a second predetermined period of time. The processor is coupled to the memory and is operable to determine an outcome of the first bet component, the second bet component, and the overall bet.
US07962395B2
Method for establishing an investment mandate and for managing institutional investment funds associated with equity-based investments, bond-based investments and other investments.
US07962391B2
A system and method for determining eligibility of persons and enrolling those persons in various programs. For example, one embodiment is particularly suited for enrolling credit card members in payment programs. A program is selected, after which enrollment information is entered. The enrollment information is checked and verified, and the enrollment application is checked for eligibility. The enrollment may be either accepted or declined. The possibility of reiterative enrollment in more than one program is provided. A system is provided for tracking which payment programs are the most enticing for later feedback analysis.
US07962389B1
A method is disclosed for providing financial functions by an agent for each of a plurality of clients. One embodiment includes, relating to a financial function of each client, demonstrating that more than one activity of the agent can be transparent to the client, receiving financial information at the agent, creating risk management information relating to the financial information, analyzing the risk management information in the context of the financial information, determining an action based on the analysis, facilitating implementation of an action on behalf of the client, and communicating with the client one or more activities of the agent.
US07962388B2
A method for computing possible future values of a portfolio of an investor including (a) receiving user inputs comprising an initial value of a portfolio and a current age of an investor; (b) randomly drawing a number between 0 to 1; (c) determining a mortality rate of the investor in accordance with a mortality table based on the current age of the investor; (d) comparing the randomly drawn number with said determined mortality rate using a preselected logical relation to define the current age as the age of death of the investor; (e) computing a future value of the portfolio using the age of death defined in step (d)(1), a predetermined rate of return, and the initial value of the portfolio; and (f) outputting the computed future value of the portfolio.
US07962385B2
An intelligent electronic subrogation network (“ESN”) automates intra-organization workflow, inter-organization workflow and collaboration for insurance subrogation. This ESN is facilitated by a novel system architecture and process that includes an inter-organizational workflow management system, an inter-organizational transaction processing system, and a unique mechanism for optimizing and enriching web-based user interaction within any such system.
US07962381B2
In one embodiment, a system and method are provided that allows easy integration of an existing third-party information or services management system into a services platform such as a Platform without requiring actual compiled code to be written. In addition, in one embodiment, the system and method allow developers to create new applications without requiring actual code to be written, which applications run on a services platform such as a Platform and are easily billable, upgradeable and supportable.
US07962379B2
The present invention is directed to a method of increasing win probability of a vendor competing in a complex contract competition. A request is received from a buying organization. The subject vendor calculates a value position of the buying organization, and frames a response to the request based on the calculated value position. The value position is determined by any changes in wealth of the buying-organization. The framed response is then submitted to the buying organization.
US07962375B2
A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services using plural electronic options with associated option fees based on one or more different pre-determined priority system. The plural electronic options include electronic option terms established by one or more suppliers who can supply the goods or services. An option fee is associated with a reservation price to purchase desired goods or services at a desired future time using a priority system.
US07962373B2
A system and method for providing financial account messages to customers while accessing web sites is disclosed. Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention enable a financial account issuer to provide an application to customer's computer system over a network. The application may be configured to provide various messages associated with the customer's financial account provided by the financial account issuer while the customer browses web sites. The financial account messages may be configured to provide interactive and dynamically changing account status information based on attempted purchases of goods and/or services by the customer at merchants' web sites. The application may also be configured to provide rating information associated with web sites accessed by the customer.
US07962370B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a media service system provides at least one transaction configuration option that is enabled to be selected by a user. The media service system implements a transaction process in response to a user selection.
US07962368B2
The invention provides a purchase sequence browser (PuSB), i.e. a graphical user interface (GUI) that facilitates insight discovery and exploration of product affinities across time, generated by a purchase sequence analysis of a retailer's transaction data. A purchase sequence browser allows the user to browse the most significant product phrases discovered by an exhaustive search of the product affinities across time; explore the retail grammar to create both forward and backward phrase trees or alternate purchase paths starting from, or ending in, a product; generate consistent purchase sequences given some constraints on the products and their order; and profile the value of a product across time with regard to other products fixed in time.
US07962367B1
The present invention provides Internet users with access to an on-line vendor that has detailed product information some or all of which is supplied by at least one product supplier. Through selected storage and sharing of data, an on-line store is married to a supplier's product database. The on-line vendor is able to provide greater product information at a vastly reduced cost. The product supplier is provided with a unique company forum in which company activities such as sales training can be consolidated with advertising activities and product information to provide the most economical and up-to-date training information for the company.
US07962365B2
Techniques for using transactional and visual event information to facilitate loss prevention are provided. The techniques include obtaining video of one or more visual events at a point of sale environment and one or more transaction log entries that correspond to the video, wherein the one or more transaction log entries comprise one or more transactional events, categorizing each event as one of one or more model events, using each categorized event to create a revised transaction log, wherein the revised transaction log comprises a sequence of categorized events, wherein each categorized event is a combination of the one or more transactional events and the one or more visual events, examining the revised transaction log to correct one or more mis-categorizations, if any, and revise one or more model event categories with the one or more corrected mis-categorizations, if any, and using the revised transaction log to facilitate loss prevention.
US07962362B2
A lottery system and method is disclosed which promotes the continued play of a participant by rewarding them, on a pro-rated basis, for their loyalty. There are two aspects to the invention: (i) the tracking of a player's behaviour; and (ii) calculating a lottery payout structure based on the player's behaviour. In general, players are recognized for their loyalty or patronage, with those demonstrating superior loyalty being awarded a greater amount of a loyalty prize pot. In the event that several players select the winning number in a given lottery, the main prize would be equally divided amongst them. However, for those particularly loyal customers, additional moneys would be paid out from a loyalty reward pot. A mathematical formula in the form of a decay function incorporating the recency, frequency and intensity of a player's lottery ticket purchases would establish whether or not a player qualifies for a loyalty reward payout from the loyalty reward pot as well as the amount to be awarded.
US07962360B2
A mobile telephone system device having an electronic assistant component is disclosed. The device includes a first software module configured to provide a first operating feature to a user of the mobile telephone system and a second software module that includes a first submodule configured to provide a first additional operating feature to the user and a second submodule configured to provide a second additional operating feature to the user of the mobile telephone system. A third module is configured to track the user's use of the first operating feature by storing usage data related to the user's interaction with the first software module. A fourth module analyzes the stored usage data and determines a usage data pattern. Based on the usage data pattern, a fifth module stores one or more rules which select one of the first submodule and the second submodule based on the usage data pattern and the selected one of the first submodule and the second submodule is offered to the user for installation on the mobile telephone system.
US07962358B1
A system and method for integrated resource and project planning are provided. A system for project forecast and resource forecast management integration includes a web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) including an input component and a display component; wherein the input component receives project inputs relating to approved projects and proposed projects and further receives resource inputs relating to actual resources and placeholder resources. The system also includes a generation/analysis component that, based on the received inputs, generates a resource forecast of actual resources and placeholder resources, and generates a project forecast of approved projects and proposed projects. The system also includes a reporting component that generates a report on the resource forecast and the project forecast for display in the display component of the GUI; the reporting component generating the report for at least one of a resource level, a role level, and a project level.
US07962357B2
System and method for determining maximal price for projects are provided. A project scope of a project based on a plurality of selected criteria is defined, and total cost of the project is estimated. A value model of the project is generated and estimated value of the project is determined using the value model. A composite object function that includes cumulative distributive functions of the total cost and of the estimated value is computed to determine potential maximal price or share rate or combinations thereof.
US07962356B2
Methods are provided of creating a deployment plan for staff members with single or multiple qualification for performing activities, each activity requiring at least a single qualification. The methods include the following operations performed by a computer: repeatedly generating a deployment plan assignment of the staff members, and assessing a quality of the assignment generated using a target function, using one of the assignments on the basis of the assessment of the quality as the assignment representing the deployment plan, wherein the target function comprises a term that determines the quality of the assignments, such that the smaller the difference is between the number of the staff members deployed to the activities and the calculated total staff member requirement of the activities the higher the quality of the assignment.
US07962355B2
A method of preparing a presentation instrument includes receiving, at a host computer system, an electronic transmission from an external customer. The external customer is an entity other than the operator of the host computer system. Transactions using the presentation instrument are processed by an entity other than the operator of the host computer system. The electronic transmission comprises information to define a decision rule. The method also includes receiving an electronic transmission from the external customer that comprises a decision information. The method further includes applying the decision rule to the decision information and, based on the application of the decision rule to the decision information, sending control signals to plastics production equipment that cause the presentation instrument to be prepared. The method also includes sending control signals to mail processing equipment to package the presentation instrument for transmission to a customer.
US07962347B2
An apparatus and method for an advisor referral tool for objectively matching professional services between users and advisors in an on-line or computer based environment. The advisor referral tool matches users with professional advisors by executing an advisor matching algorithm to select a subset of advisors from an advisor database based on user selected search criteria. A server computer calculates a percent match value for each advisor in the subset of advisors that corresponds to consumer responses to predetermined psychographic/profile questions. The server computer then creates a best fit advisor list of advisors from the subset of advisors that is based on the calculated percent match value. The best fit advisor list is then transmitted to and displayed on the user's computer.
US07962343B2
A method (200) of building a grammar with baseforms generated dynamically from user utterances can include the steps of recording (205) a user utterance, generating (210) a baseform using the user utterance, creating or adding to (215) a grammar rule using the baseform, and binding (230) the grammar rule in a grammar document of a voice extensible markup language program. Generating a baseform can optionally include introducing a new element to VoiceXML with attributes that enable generating the baseform from a referenced recording such as the user utterance. In one embodiment, the method can be used to create (235) a phonebook and a grammar to access the phonebook by repeatedly visiting a form containing the grammar rule with attributes that enable generating the baseform from the referenced recording.
US07962342B1
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to reconfiguration of a communication device or other network node based on a determination that a user has a target (altered) physical condition.
US07962327B2
A method and system for pronunciation assessment based on distinctive feature analysis is provided. It evaluates a user's pronunciation by one or more distinctive feature (DF) assessor. It may further construct a phone assessor with DF assessors to evaluate a user's phone pronunciation, and even construct a continuous speech pronunciation assessor with phone assessor to get the final pronunciation score for a word or a sentence. Each DF assessor further includes a feature extractor and a distinctive feature classifier, and can be realized differently. This is based on the different characteristic of the distinctive feature. A score mapper may be included to standardize the output for each DF assessor. Each speech phone can be described as a “bundle” of DFs. The invention is a novel and qualitative solution based on the DF of speech sounds for pronunciation assessment.
US07962324B2
Techniques are provided for globalizing handling of service management items. The techniques include obtaining a service management item in a language convenient to a first of two or more actors, translating the service management item into a language-neutral format to obtain a language-neutral service management item, applying one or more annotators to the service management item, translating the language-neutral service management item into a language convenient to a second of two or more actors acting on the service management item, and routing the translated service management item to the second of two or more actors. Techniques are also provided for generating a database of service management items in a language-neutral format.
US07962321B2
A method and computer program product models connections for a system having a plurality of components, having component terminals, and connections. The connections are located to selectively connect the components of the system to each other. The method and computer product models signal levels for nodes of the system as a variable wherein the nodes of the system are representative of the connections. Each potential component terminal connection of the connections that could potentially influence the signal level on each of the nodes is modeled, as a qualitative variable. This results in each node of the system being modeled with n+1 variables.
US07962320B2
A method of creating a power pin model of an LSI having appropriate analysis accuracy in consideration of information on positions within the LSI is provided. A divided cell size decision unit automatically decides a divided cell size of the LSI from power supply circuit network wire information, transistor structure information, analysis frequency information, size information, and element arrangement information of the LSI as well as from a semiconductor integrated circuit entire power pin model. A model creation unit allocates a model of an active section and a model of an internal capacitance section, including the positional information, within the LSI to the cells at an appropriate proportion, and a model coupling unit couples the models in each cell to create a power pin model of the LSI. Here, the size of each divided cell is determined to be electrically sufficiently smaller than a wavelength corresponding to an upper limit analysis frequency derived from power supply circuit network wire information, transistor structure information, and analysis frequency information.
US07962313B2
A sensing system includes a set of sensors and a data-fusing mechanism coupled to at least one of these sensors. In the set of sensors, at least one sensor is configured to store one or more measurement models for one or more phenomenon states. Furthermore, at least one sensor in the set of sensors is configured to sample a measurement value and generate a likelihood function based on the sampled measurement and the measurement models. The data-fusing mechanism coupled to a respective sensor in the set of sensors is configured to collect one or more likelihood functions generated by the one or more sensors and use the collected likelihood functions to compute an aggregate probability of a phenomenon state.
US07962311B2
The present invention relates to a method for discriminating the morphology of a passenger seating in an automotive seat, comprising the steps of i) providing a set of a plurality of capacitive sensors (100) covering substantially a transversal cross section of a seat, ii) collecting the outputs of said plurality of capacitive sensors (100) provided on the seat, iii) determining the morphology of a target (10) facing the seat on the basis of measured distance separating the target (10) from the sensors (100) and measured surface of the sensors (100) covered by the target (10), from said outputs, and iv) comparing the determined morphology with at least a reference so as to classify the determined morphology between a plurality of reference ones.
US07962302B2
Techniques for estimating a quality of one or more wafers are presented. One or more first wafers comprising one or more first dies are tested. A probability of wafer failure is determined in accordance with one or more first test measurements of the one or more first dies. A pass status and/or a fail status of one or more second wafers is inferred by testing a select one or more second dies of the one or more second wafers and evaluating one or more second test measurements of the select one or more second dies in accordance with the determined probability of wafer failure.
US07962298B2
A power meter for measuring power parameters on one or more electrical power lines/loads is configured to include a revenue class metering module and a power quality metering module. The revenue class metering module and the power quality metering module may use the same measured voltage and current signals to generate revenue accurate power consumption information and power quality information, respectively. The power meter may also include a plurality of filters configured to attenuate high frequency signals included in the voltage and current signals. Each of the filters may be configured with a corner frequency, gain and signal propagation delay that is substantially equal. The filtered current and voltage signals may be received and processed by the revenue class metering module, and the power quality metering module to generate revenue accurate power consumption information and power quality information, respectively. Alternatively, the filtered current and voltage signals may be received and processed by the power quality metering module to generate power quality information, and unfiltered current and voltage signals may be received and processed by the revenue class metering module to generate revenue accurate power consumption information.
US07962295B2
A method for detecting and predicting total hydraulic fluid level for aircraft hydraulic systems includes determining an estimated value for a parameter indicative of total fluid level or mass. Each new value is combined with an historical indication (e.g., from previous flights) to provide a prediction for the future value of total quantity indication. With the same combination, one can provide an estimated value for total system leakage or level loss. An alert can be generated if hydraulic fluid level or mass is predicted to fall below a predetermined level.
US07962287B2
A wellbore tool for optimizing magnetic signals is provided. The wellbore tool has a tool body and an electric current driving device with an insulated gap on the downhole tool body. The electric current driving device generates electric current across the gap. The wellbore tool has a a magnetometer capable of measuring a magnetic field.
US07962282B2
In order to eliminate erroneous map matching, when a link is set on a road, the direction and distance the link is displaced are calculated in accordance with the width of the road and the width of a road paralleled to the road, or the positional relationship of both roads in road network.
US07962274B2
In an vehicle-mounted engine control apparatus according to the present invention, a restart inspection mechanism, which is simpler than an activation inspection mechanism, is provided, and the mechanism to be applied is selected by an initialization determination device. The contents of the restart inspection are limited to malfunction items detected by a periodic code inspector during driving of the vehicle. As a result, the time required to restart a microprocessor when a malfunction occurs is shortened.
US07962271B1
An analysis tool which extracts all the available parameter identifications (i.e. PIDS) from a vehicle's power train control module for diagnostic decisions. This is done by checking these PIDS and other information (e.g., calculated PIDS, Break Points, charts and algorithms) in three states; key on engine off, key on engine cranking, key on engine running. In all three modes the tool is comparing the live data from PIDS and voltage to the other information (e.g., Break Points). If any of this data are outside the programmed values a flag is assigned to the failure or control problem. The relationship between a particular PID and its associated preprogrammed value(s) may be indicated by a light. The depth of the problem (if any) is conveyed by the color of the light. Also included are tests/charts for fuel trim, engine volumetric efficiency, simulated injector, power, catalyst efficiency, and engine coolant range.
US07962266B2
A method, a controller and a vehicle for performing agricultural operations on a field with parallel arranged rows having ends. The operations are performed at positions related to the positions of the rows under control of the controller, based upon stored information about the orientation of the rows, stored information about a distance between adjacent rows, a distance signal related to a distance traveled by the vehicle and a direction signal related to the heading of the vehicle. The invention is particularly suited for providing dams to prevent water from a head ditch to enter into pre-selected, dry furrows on a field with an irrigation arrangement with raised rows and lower furrows between the rows, or dams matching up with adjacent raised rows so that water runs down each furrow.
US07962255B2
A method for estimating inertial acceleration bias errors including obtaining uncorrected acceleration measurements on board a vehicle; obtaining independent position and independent velocity data of the vehicle; transforming the uncorrected acceleration measurements into a reference frame of the independent position and independent velocity data; blending the transformed acceleration measurements with the independent position and the independent velocity data to produce feedback errors; transforming the feedback errors into the reference frame of the acceleration measurements; multiplying the feedback errors by a gain and integrating to estimate the acceleration measurement bias errors.
US07962252B2
A self-contained avionics sensing and flight control system is provided for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The system includes sensors for sensing flight control parameters and surveillance parameters, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Flight control parameters and location signals are processed to generate flight control signals. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is configured to provide a look-up table storing sets of values with each set being associated with a servo mechanism mounted on the UAV and with each value in each set indicating a unique duty cycle for the servo mechanism associated therewith. Each value in each set is further indexed to a bit position indicative of a unique percentage of a maximum duty cycle for the servo mechanism associated therewith. The FPGA is further configured to provide a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) generators coupled to the look-up table. Each PWM generator is associated with and adapted to be coupled to one of the servo mechanisms.
US07962251B2
A Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system guides navigation of a vessel enabled to extract energy from wind and/or water currents primarily in offshore marine environments. An exemplary SCADA system could embody server and client software applications running on microprocessor systems at a remote control central service logging and energy distribution facility, and the vessel itself. The remote control service facility runs Human Machine Interface (HMI) software in the form of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) allowing choices to maximize system performance. The central server accesses information to control vessel position based on transmitted Global Position Satellite (GPS) data from the vessel, and weather information from the Geographic Information System (GIS) provided by multiple spatial temporal data sources. A server-side optimization algorithm fed the parameters delivered from vessel aerodynamic/hydrodynamic performance simulation software models, the vessel onboard sensor data, and integrated real-time weather and environmental data determines an optimal navigation through weather systems and presents choices to the HMI.
US07962221B2
A method and apparatus for adjusting a visual image provided to a patient. In one embodiment, an image may be presented to the patient to obtain the patient's subjective perception of the image, and the patient may either manipulate the image to obtain a desired adjustment, or guide a clinician performing the adjustment. In another embodiment, the clinician may make objective observations of, for example, the position of an electrode array on the patient's retina, and make adjustments accordingly. The adjustment may be a spatial adjustment comprising a re-mapping performed to decreases image distortion resulting from differences in the patient's perception of stimulation of different areas of the retina. Such distortion may result from differences between the patient's perception of stimulation falling within the macula, and stimulation falling within the periphery surrounding the macula. The adjustment may also compensate for translations or rotations of the electrode array on the retina.
US07962218B2
Systems and methods for treating movement disorders using cortical stimulation. In one embodiment, a method for treating movement disorders comprises determining a site at the cortex of the brain of a patient related to a movement disorder of an afflicted body part. The site can be determined by obtaining a representation of neural activity occurring in the cortex of the patient and correlating an area of neural activity with the afflicted body part. The method can also include applying neural stimulation, such as electrical or magnetic waveforms, directly to the site.
US07962217B2
A method for providing relief from Meniere's disease, includes reversibly disabling vestibular function following detection of an attack of Meniere's disease following detection of an attack of Meniere's disease.
US07962204B2
A method and system for utilizing neurophysiologic information obtained by techniques such as quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), electrode recordings, MRI in appropriately matching patients with therapeutic entities is disclosed. The present invention enables utilization of neurophysiologic information, notwithstanding its weak correlation with extant diagnostic schemes for mental disorders, for safer and expeditious treatment for mental disorders, discovering new applications for therapeutic entities, improved testing of candidate therapeutic entities, inferring the presence or absence of a desirable response to a treatment, and deducing the mode of action of one or more therapeutic entities. In particular, methods for effectively comparing neurophysiologic information relative to a reference set are disclosed along with database-based tools for deducing therapeutic entity actions on particular patients such that these tools are readily accessible to remote users.
US07962201B2
A method of creating a virtual lead associated with a physiological recording is provided. The method can include obtaining a first physiological signal from a first lead having a first angle and a second physiological signal from a second lead having a second angle, the first lead and the second lead being associated with a subject. The method can also include transforming the first and second physiological signals into a vector representation of the first and second physiological signals and transforming the vector representation to a virtual physiological signal representing a virtual lead having a virtual lead angle.
US07962198B2
An optical tomography system has a group of lasers for generating light of multiple distinct wavelengths within a first wavelength band. Light from these lasers is directed into mammalian tissue at laser-specific locations on the tissue, and light from the mammalian tissue is collected at a plurality of reception points. Collected light from each reception point is separated according to its wavelength, and received by a photodetector to produce path attenuation signals representing attenuation along paths between the laser-specific locations on the tissue and the reception points. Image construction apparatus generates a tomographic image of heme concentrations in the mammalian tissue from the path attenuation signals. In an alternative embodiment, there is a second group of lasers operating in a second wavelength band, and the image construction apparatus can generate an image of heme oxygenation In the mammalian tissue.
US07962191B2
An expandable tip cannula system, comprising: a hollow cannula shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and an expandable tip mounted at the distal end of the hollow cannula shaft, the expandable tip comprising a plurality of generally-triangular shaped petals held together in a radially-inwardly tapered arrangement between adjacent petals, each petal comprising a nerve sensing electrode disposed therein.
US07962182B2
A technique for adjusting or modifying content delivery to devices is provided, thereby offering a degree of power consumption control in such devices. The device can determine a need to modify power consumption, either in response to an input or via detection of an unfavorable power supply condition. In response, the device sends a request to an infrastructure for at least one reduced rate data stream. Because the at least one reduced rate data stream requires less processing power when undergoing decoding operations, the device subsequently consumes less power. In one embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the unfavorable power supply condition may be based on a configurable power condition profile. Furthermore, subsequent to receiving the at least one reduced rate data stream, the device may provide a request to the infrastructure for at least one increased rate data stream.
US07962173B2
A portable personal server connectable through a network with a PC connected with an external network that permits communication with the PC only when user's fingerprint information read out by means of a fingerprint authentication unit matches registered information. In order to communicate through the network, the portable personal server and the PC acquires an address, preferably using APIPA, so that the collision of address does not take place in the external network. Consequently, the portable personal server also functions as a network server on the external network. A portable personal server exhibiting high confidentiality of data and suitable for central management of data can thereby be realized.
US07962170B2
A multi-mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) includes at least one antenna, first and second communication mode receivers and a first communication mode transmitter. The first and second receivers simultaneously receive signals from the antenna. The first transmitter generates and sends a first type of signal to the antenna while, at the same time, the second receiver receives a second type of signal from the antenna. In a preferred embodiment, the WTRU further includes a vector multiplier configured to reduce or eliminate interference of signals received by the second receiver, the interference being caused by the first transmitter. The vector multiplier adjusts the phase and amplitude of noise (i.e., spurious in-band noise) measured by the second receiver. The WTRU may further include a second communication mode transmitter configured to generate and send a second type of signal to the antenna.
US07962165B2
A portable GPS/radio unit (10) communicates over a wireless radio network (12) with at least one other such unit. The unit (10) may transmit radio signals over the network (12) indicative of the unit's location. The unit (10) includes a single, push-to-talk button (38) that may be pressed to both transmit a voice communication and to initiate transmission of location data. The unit (10) also includes a “polling” function that requests location data from other units, an auxiliary coding system that codes or encrypts all transmitted data, and an emergency message feature that facilities the transmission and receipt of emergency messages.
US07962162B2
A wireless simulcast system, such as an OFDM network, includes the ability to determine the location of a mobile user. Location-based services can be provided to the mobile user.
US07962159B2
disclosed are a method of and a system for receiving data on a portable device. The method comprises the steps of providing a portable device having a data modem with active and dormant stages, and a short message service (SMS) capability; receiving a pre-defined SMS message and in response thereto, switching said data modem from said dormant stage to said active stage; and thereafter, receiving data through said data modem. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses a cellular PDA type device that can receive phone calls and Short Message Service (SMS) type messages even when the data modem of the PDA is not engaged. In this preferred embodiment, a special SMS message is sent from a back-end server infrastructure of a computer network to the PDA device to tell that device to “wake up” and connect to the network.
US07962157B2
The present invention includes a wireless communication method and device comprising a one-to-one exchange of wireless electronic device identifications or unique profile IDs between a sending and a receiving party who are both registered users of the electronic business/personal card service and further comprising upload of the wireless electronic identifications to a data server computer system wherein said system matches said identifications with those of registered users and said computer system displays information about the user associated with each identification.
US07962155B2
A method for managing devices is described. The method includes receiving wireless fingerprints from a plurality of devices, each of the wireless fingerprints comprising a unique device identifier, a wireless signal strength indicator that corresponds to a relative position a device is located with respect to one or more wireless access points and unique identifiers associated with the access points. The method further includes identifying a similarity between a first wireless fingerprint associated with a first of the plurality of devices and a second wireless fingerprint associated with a second of the plurality of devices and determining the first device is located physically close to the second device based on the similarity.
US07962152B2
In part, the invention relates to a method for generating location data using a wireless mobile device, the wireless mobile device adapted to communicate with a plurality of location services, each service associated with one of a plurality of networks. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: selecting a first location service from the plurality of location services; transmitting a first request for location data to the first location service; if the first request fails, selecting a second location service from the plurality of location services; and receiving location data from one of the first and the second location services.
US07962146B2
Network resources can be allocated more efficiently to communication sessions in a wireless telecommunications network, by the method of—monitoring the traffic load in the uplink and downlink direction in the network,—for the at least one session, determining the parameters ul_ratio and dl_ratio, given as ul_ratio=ul_throughput/(ul_throughput+dl_throughput) dl_ratio=dl_throughput/(ul_throughput+dl_throughput) wherein ul_throughput is the throughput in the uplink for the at least one communication session and dl_throughput is the throughput in the downlink for the at least one communication session, and—allocate resources to the at least one session in dependence of the traffic load and ul_ratio and dl_ratio, by allocating resources in the uplink in dependence of the dl_ratio and/or allocating resources in the downlink in dependence of the ul_ratio.
US07962144B2
A communication system is provided for communication between network nodes and a communication controller. In the network, a reservation request is transmitted from a node to the communication controller in an assigned timeslot. In response the controller provides a grant of permission to the requesting node to transmit packet data containing a message. The timeslot assigned to the requesting node is one of a series of timeslots occurring repeatedly on a separate frequency. The timeslots will be continuously available to receive requests from nodes irrespective of transmission of data from one node to the controller, or transmission of a grant from the controller to a node.
US07962132B2
A method and system for reducing interference in a cellular radio communications network. At least one parameter affecting user terminals within a cell is adjusted such that the cell boundary is modified, such that interference in the network is reduced. In alternative embodiments the at least one parameter is adjusted adaptively.
US07962127B2
A notification service and correspondingly configured wireless device for providing asynchronous communications over a communication network for an application of the wireless device in communication with a selected service. The selected service has a source schema definition including an output notification definition associated with a correlation ID. The notification service comprises a reverse schema definition of the source schema definition such that the reverse schema definition includes an input notification operation definition corresponding to the output notification definition. The input definition is associated with the correlation ID and a parameter list of the output definition. The output definition is for defining an output message of the selected source that corresponds to an input message of the notification service defined by the input definition. The notification service has a first communication port adapted for receiving the output message of the selected service as the input message to the notification service, wherein the messages are adapted to include the correlation ID for identifying the network address of the wireless device. The information contents of the output message of the selected source are transmitted as an asynchronous communication to the application of the wireless device identified by the correlation ID.
US07962121B2
During a connection between a network infrastructure and user equipment a first indication of the amount of data transmitted over the connection is maintained in the network infrastructure and a second indication of the amount data transmitted is maintained in the user equipment. A checking procedure is triggered in response to encountering a predetermined checking value. The checking procedure utilizes integrity protected signalling. During the checking procedure the first indication is compared with the second indication. This checking procedure enables easy discovery of an intruder who either sends and/or receives data on an authorized connection between a network infrastructure and a mobile station, the data transmission being charged from the mobile station.
US07962120B2
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing customized cost allocations for telecommunications session in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. A Home Subscriber Service stores data describing the policies and rules for allocating charges requested by a particular customer. The charge message sent to charge control system is the product of the charges for the telecommunications session and the policies and rules for allocating charges. Advantageously, this arrangement permits each customer to specify a preferred charge allocation arrangement.
US07962119B2
An emergency call system transmits an emergency call with emergency information from a vehicle using a communication system. The emergency call system includes an emergency call device that connects with an emergency assistance center during an emergency. The emergency call device may be automatically or manually triggered to transmit data and information related to an emergency to the assistance center. Data and information may be transmitted over a data connection and/or a voice connection over a hardwired or wireless network.
US07962113B2
In one embodiment, a method provides multiple-tone wideband I/Q mismatch calibration. A plurality of calibration frequencies is selected within a channel. A calibration tone is applied to the channel at each of the plurality of calibration frequencies. An I/Q mismatch is estimated at each of the plurality of calibration frequencies. An n-th order filter is constructed to compensate received signals relative to the estimated I/Q mismatch related to each calibration frequency.
US07962101B2
A method and system for providing a network protocol for utility services are disclosed are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method determines whether a measured real signal strength differs from a an accepted real signal strength by a configurable control limit parameter. In the event the measured real signal strength exceeds either an upper or lower bound based upon the configurable control limit parameter a determination is made whether there has been an unacceptable number of measured real signal strengths that exceed either an upper or lower bound based upon the configurable control limit parameter. In the event there has been an unacceptable number of measured real signal strengths that exceed either an upper or lower bound, which may include reaching or exceeding a configurable out of bound incidence limit, then a determination is made to calculate a new accepted real signal strength.
US07962097B2
A method and system for quickly selecting a device desired by a user from among a plurality of devices on a home network and playing content included in a portable device using the selected device are provided. The method includes displaying a device list of the plurality of content player devices based on the received descriptions, receiving selection of an item on the device list from a user, sending a device notification request message to a content player device corresponding to the selected item, and executing device notification using the content player device that has received the device notification request message.
US07962096B2
A system and method for representing on a user interface a plurality of transponders in a file system of a computing device, the user interface provided by the device, the device configured for communicating with the transponders when present in an electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device. The communication between the transponders and the device uses radio frequency signals to obtain information of the transponders. The system and method comprises a first memory location configured for storing the transponder information as a plurality of corresponding transponder files in the file system. The system and method also have a driver for coordinating the transfer of the transponder information between the transponder and the first memory location according to an access command, the access command configured for directing the computing device to obtain the transponder information for the transponders when in communication range of the device. The system and method also have a file processor for manipulating the transponder information present in the transponder files, wherein the transponder information contents of the transponder files represents at least a portion of the transponder information available in the electromagnetic spectrum in communication range of the device.
US07962094B2
A sending subscriber system may participate in a wireless network by generating a message to transmit in a wireless network, identifying a local wireless subscriber system with which communications may be established, and determining whether to use the wireless local subscriber system as a relay.
US07962081B2
There is disclosed an improved fuser cleaning system in which a strip of flexible material, including first second and third portions, is fed from a source roll to a take-up roll in such a manner that a fuser roll is cleaned or oiled. A first detectable mark may be disposed on a side of the strip of flexible material in one of the first and second portions. During operation of the fuser cleaning system, the third portion is taken up by the take-up roll and when an amount of the third portion is taken up by the take-up roll, the first detectable mark is detected by a sensor and a signal, indicating that the amount of the third portion has been taken up by the take-up roll, is transmitted to a controller. A second detectable mark may be disposed on the side of the strip of flexible material. When substantially all of the third portion has been taken up by the take-up roll, a signal is transmitted from the sensor to the controller indicating that substantially all of the third portion has been taken up by the take-up roll.
US07962071B2
A developing device which can stably supply a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the scattered developer from being discharged and thereby preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device does not increase, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. A block member serving as a scattered developer discharge prevention member is provided so as to block a path through which the developer scattered as a result of a conveyance operation of a supply screw serving as a developer conveying member moves toward a developer discharge port. Accordingly, the scattered developer is prevented from reaching the developer discharge port and being discharged therefrom.
US07962070B2
Provided is a replenisher developer cartridge for a trickle developing system image forming apparatus producing no image problem such as image density unevenness, image roughness or the like. Not only an image forming apparatus by which high quality images are stably output, and a replenisher developer cartridge for the image forming apparatus were possible to be provided, but also durability of a two-component developer used in the image forming apparatus was possible to be improved, by replenishing the image forming apparatus with a replenisher developer in the carrier concentration range of 5-30% by weight in terms of the mean value, and in the carrier concentration deviation range of 10% by weight or less, based on the replenisher developer.
US07962067B2
An image forming apparatus including: a first and a second photoconductor groups constituted of one or more photoconductors respectively; a first and a second drive control sections for controlling the drive of the first and the second photoconductor groups respectively to rotate the photoconductors thereof, wherein the rotational phases of the first photoconductor group and the second photoconductor group are adjusted to be matched therebetween; and the first and the second drive control sections control so that the first and the second photoconductor groups are driven simultaneously with an equal target speed during a formation of a image, wherein an initial drive speed is lower than a predetermined speed for image-formation, and after the first and the second photoconductor groups reaches the initial drive speed, the target speed is changed from the initial drive speed to the speed for image-formation.
US07962065B2
An image forming apparatus includes first and second intermediate gears configured to transmit a driving force to a heat roller gear. The first and second intermediate gears are removably assembled to a body frame of the image forming apparatus in an installation space defined in the body frame. When a fixing unit is removed from the body frame, the installation space is open and the first and second intermediate gears can be attached to and removed from the body frame.
US07962058B2
A sheet-size decision table indicative of a correspondence of a plurality of sheet sizes and an image size printable on each sheet size is prepared in advance. An acquiring unit acquires image data, and an extracting unit extracts an image size of the image data. A searching unit searches the sheet-size decision table for a sheet size corresponding to the image size. If the searching unit cannot find a sheet size corresponding to the image size, a selecting unit selects a sheet size that can accommodate the image data when printed. Finally, a printing unit prints the image data on a print sheet corresponding to the sheet size selected by the selecting unit.
US07962055B2
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, an environment detecting unit and a control unit. The charging unit includes a charger and a static eliminator. The charger contacts with a surface of the photoreceptor and charges the surface to a first voltage. The static eliminator contacts with the surface and discharges the surface to a second voltage. The environment detecting unit detects an environmental data. The control unit controls the first voltage based on the environmental data.
US07962050B2
A system and method for managing customer orders associated with at least one printer device for consumable supplies under a contract. The method includes receiving printer usage data from at least one printer indicative of consumption of at least one consumable supply and calculating for each printer device based on the received print usage data associated with the printer device an allowed amount of at least one consumable supply that can be ordered for the printer device by a customer based on a contract. The method further includes receiving a customer order request for ordering an amount of a consumable supply for a printer device under the contract; determining whether the requested amount exceeds the allowed amount calculated for the consumable supply for the printer device, and limiting the amount of the requested consumable supply which can be ordered when the determination is positive.
US07962049B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for communication system control utilizing corrected forward error correction (FEC) error location identifiers in multi-level modulation scheme systems. The present invention utilizes precise error correction information, available for each FEC block of a particular code (including, but not limited to, block codes and concatenated block codes employing iterative decoding as well as convolutional codes (including turbo codes) and low-density parity-check code (LDPC) class codes) used (e.g., Bose, Ray-Chaudhuri, Hocquenghem (BCH), Reed-Solomon, etc.), as a result of the FEC decoding process to provide feedback to close the loop for control of a demodulator (i.e., receiver). Each error location can be uniquely traced back to a particular sub-rate signal path, with running, post-FEC corrected BER (bit error rate) calculations generated on each sub-rate signal. Advantageously, this provides the ability to adjust thresholds and various other parameters to achieve and maintain error-free operation quickly.
US07962047B2
When an optical signal that is a wide dynamic range and different in level depending on burst signals is input as in a GPON system, a preamplifier can stably control the gain within a short preamble. The gain changeover of the preamplifier is controlled by the aid of timing information that is extracted from a data signal as data count number, to change over the gain at a high speed and with high precision. A level detector, a preamble recovery, a counter, and a control circuit are disposed within the preamplifier in addition to a TIA main body. In order to suppress the band deterioration or the phase margin reduction which are attributable to the gain changeover, there is provided a bias terminal for conducting a current injection and a current drawing with respect to the signal amplification transistor of the TIA main body.
US07962039B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple wavelength light source capable of generating lights of more wavelengths, and a generation method for multiple wavelength light using a multiple wavelength light source.A multiple wavelength light source of the present invention is a multiple wavelength light source having an optical comb generator for obtaining an input light and a group of lights shifted from the input light by predetermined frequencies; and an optical adjusting portion adjusting lights to be inputted to the optical comb generator; wherein the optical comb generator is composed of an optical fiber loop (105) which is provided with an optical SSB modulator (101), an optical amplifier (102) for compensating a conversion loss at the optical SSB modulator, an optical input port (103) for inputting lights from the light source, and an optical output port (104) for outputting lights, and the optical adjusting portion obtains a plurality of lights having different wavelengths.
US07962036B1
A number of fiber optic networks, nodes, and methods are disclosed. One fiber optic network embodiment includes a network module including a star coupler for receiving a signal from a number of nodes and outputting a combined signal, including the received signals, to the number of nodes, and the number of nodes optically connected to the network module, the number of nodes including a transmit module including a first adjustable optical amplifier and a number of optical emitters, a receive module including a second adjustable optical amplifier and a number of receivers, and a controller coupled to the transmit and receive modules for adjusting the first and second optical amplifiers in response to the combined signal.
US07962026B2
Provided are a discrete AF control method and an error correcting method of a camera module using a diffraction device. In the method, a focus is moved to a (the number of all positions/m)-th position, and a focusing value at a start position is compared with that at the (the number of all positions/m)-th position. A focus is moved by two positions in a first direction according to the comparison result. If a position having a maximum focusing value is passed, a focus is moved by one position in a direction opposite to the first direction and a location (corresponding to an n-th position) is stored. Focusing values of the n-th position, an (n−1)-th position, and an (n−2)-th position are compared with one another to determine a maximum focus location, m being an integer equal to or greater than 2.
US07962022B2
A photographic apparatus comprises a movable platform, an acceleration sensor, and a controller.The movable platform has an imager that captures an optical image, and is movable and rotatable in an xy plane. The acceleration sensor detects a first gravitational component and a second gravitational component. The first gravitational component is the component of gravitational acceleration in the x direction. The second gravitational component is the component of gravitational acceleration in the y direction. The controller specifies a holding state of the photographic apparatus, calculates an inclination angle formed by rotation of the photographic apparatus, as measured with respect to a level plane, on the basis of the first and second gravitational components, and performs a movement control of the movable platform for an inclination correction based on the inclination angle. The controller specifies the holding state before an imaging operation, and performs the inclination correction during the imaging operation.
US07961998B2
Exemplary embodiments include a tracing clip for a fiber optic cable including: a clip body including an inner and an outer surface; a metal clip disposed on the outer surface; a metal tooth disposed on the inner surface, wherein the metal clip tooth connects to a metal element extending substantially axially along a length of fiber optic cable and to the metal clip.
US07961993B2
A control section of an optical switch calculates information relating to a polarization amount in an insulating film at each predetermined time, to update the information relating to the polarization amount in the insulating film. On the other hand, when a drive voltage is applied to a MEMS mirror, an initial value of the drive voltage corresponding to an input setting command is read out from an initial value memory, and also, the information relating to the polarization amount in the insulating film is read out from the polarization amount memory, and the initial value of the drive voltage is corrected according to the read information relating to the polarization amount in the insulating film, to thereby set a new drive voltage, and the new drive voltage is applied on electrodes of the MEMS mirror.
US07961988B2
A system and method are disclosed for a rapidly tunable wavelength selective ring resonator. An embodiment of a voltage-tunable wavelength selective ring resonator includes a ring-shaped waveguide formed on a semiconductor substrate, an electro-optic cladding layer formed over the ring-shaped waveguide, and voltage applying means for applying a voltage across the electro-optic cladding layer. The ring-shaped waveguide is configured to propagate optical signals having predetermined resonant wavelengths, the electro-optic cladding layer has a voltage-controlled variable refractive index, and the means for applying is configured to apply a wavelength-specific control voltage to the electro-optic cladding layer. The wavelength-specific control voltage will shift or tune the predetermined resonant wavelengths for the ring-shaped waveguide.
US07961975B2
The present invention includes methods for the reduction of speckle noise in an image and methods for segmenting an image. Each of the methods disclosed herein includes steps for analyzing the uniformity of a pixel within a plurality of pixels forming a portion of the image and, based on the uniformity of the intensity of the plurality of pixels, adjusting and/or replacing the pixel in order to produce a speckle-noise reduced image, a segmented image, or a segmented and speckle-noise reduced image. The methods of the present invention can employ for example conditional probability density functions, nonlinear estimator functions, convex energy functions and simulated annealing algorithms in the performance of their respective steps.
US07961972B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for generating and storing in a lookup table a first array of next field values for use in generation of weighted pixel values and generating and storing a second array in the lookup table of previous field values for use in generation of the weighted pixel values, determining if motion is present in a pixel of a field under analysis, if the motion is present, performing spatial de-noising using a weighted pixel average of a window of a predetermined size, otherwise performing temporal de-noising using a weighted pixel value between the pixel and a previous pixel using information in the lookup table. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07961970B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that dynamically refocuses an image to simulate a focus plane and a depth-of-field of a virtual camera. During operation, the system receives an input image, wherein the input image includes depth information for pixels in the input image. The system also obtains parameters that specify the depth-of-field d and the location of the focus plane for the virtual camera. Next, the system uses the depth information and the parameters for the virtual camera to refocus the image. During this process, for each pixel in the input image, the system uses the depth information and the parameters for the virtual camera to determine a blur radius B for the pixel. The system then uses the blur radius B for the pixel to determine whether the pixel contributes to neighboring pixels in the refocused image.
US07961965B2
An apparatus for transmitting multimedia, the apparatus including an image compression unit for compressing an image portion of a multimedia data frame, an audio compression unit for compressing an audio portion of the multimedia frame, a bit rate manager in communication with said image compression unit, and said audio compression unit for controlling frame flow, and a merger unit in communication with each of said image compression unit and said audio compression unit for merging a compressed image portion and a compressed audio portion into a single compressed multimedia frame, wherein the image compression unit utilizes multidimensional hierarchical categorization trees to compress said image portion, and wherein the multidimensional hierarchical categorization trees examine pixel blocks that are structurally similar to a reference block, and organize pixel blocks in a hierarchical manner.
US07961962B2
A method for generating a halftone image includes the steps of, for each input pixel, adding a previously determined error term to the input pixel value to obtain a modified input pixel value; determining an error diffusion threshold level based on the input pixel value; applying a quantization operation to the modified input pixel value using the determined error diffusion threshold level for obtaining an output pixel value; and determining an error contribution. The error diffusion threshold level depends on a result of a comparison operation performed between the input pixel value and a threshold value selected from a set of threshold values, the selection of the threshold value being based on the position of the input pixel in the input image.
US07961961B2
It is an object to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing program in which motion information detected from an image is used for a different image processing corresponding to image information so that the detected motion information capable of easily synchronizing the image with the motion information to reduce a circuit scale is shared in a signal processing requiring a plurality of motion information. Motion information is detected by a motion detecting portion (102) from an image signal input to an image acquiring portion (101) and an image signal stored in a memory (104), a noise is reduced by a noise reducing portion (103) using the motion information which is detected, a moving object is detected by a motion detector portion (105), and an interlace progressive conversion is carried out in an IP converting portion (106), and furthermore, an image is coded in a coding portion (107).
US07961953B2
In an image monitoring system, an image data acquisition unit takes in video signals from a camera to acquire image data. An image recognition unit carries out image recognition processing using an inputted image obtained from the image data acquisition unit. A reference image registration unit registers a reference image selected from among the inputted images. An image blur detection unit detects a difference in image blur between the reference image and the inputted image. A similarity computation unit computes a similarity between the reference image and the inputted image. A camera anomaly detection unit detects any anomaly in the camera from the difference in image blur and the similarity.
US07961945B2
A method for on-the-fly segmentations for image deformations, includes: selecting an object in an image that is displayed on a computer screen; immediately after selecting the object, automatically segmenting the object to find a boundary of the object and marking an area inside the boundary undeformable and an area outside the boundary deformable; and dragging the object to a desired location in the image while the area inside the boundary remains stiff and the area outside the boundary deforms.
US07961933B2
Reference data for automatically inspecting shapes of fillets formed on a substrate are set to an inspection device that illuminates the substrate from specified directions to generate an image. For each type of components mounted to the substrate, a database is prepared, registering sets of reference data corresponding to different fillet shapes in correlation with heights of solder for forming fillets having these shapes. After components to be an object of inspection are identified, specified steps are carried out on each of these components, including the step of obtaining data on the height of solder for forming the fillet related to a land for which a target area for inspection has been set and reading out reference data corresponding to the data obtained from the reference data registered in the database.
US07961932B2
In a first aspect, an inventive apparatus for imaging a chip on a wafer includes a combined diamond chip image and kerf image having a plurality of sloped sides. The combined diamond chip image and kerf image includes a diamond chip image comprising a plurality of chip image rows that are parallel to at least one diagonal of the diamond chip image, and includes a kerf image adjacent to the diamond chip image. The kerf image comprises at least one kerf image row that is parallel to the at least one diagonal of the diamond chip image. The apparatus further includes a blocking material extending from the combined diamond chip image and kerf image to at least a periphery of an exposure field of a stepper. In a second aspect the imaging apparatus comprises an n-sided polygon-shaped combined chip image and kerf image. Also provided are inventive methods of manufacturing chips, and wafers manufactured in accordance with the inventive methods.
US07961929B2
A method for enhancing an ultrasound image is provided, wherein the ultrasound image is segmented into a feature region and a non-feature region, while sufficiently utilizing features contained in the ultrasound image, in particular including some inconspicuous features. the enhanced image according to present invention is not susceptive of the image segmentation and avoid dependence of the enhancement effect on the segmentation template, so as not to produce an evident artificial boundary between the feature region and the non-feature region but to highlight some special information in the image and to remove or mitigate invalid information. Thus the enhanced ultrasound image is particularly suitable for the visual system of the human beings.
US07961925B2
A method and system for dual energy image registration is disclosed. In order to segment first and second images of a dual energy image pair, the first and second images are preprocessed to detect edges in the images. Gaussian pyramids, having multiple pyramid images corresponding to multiple pyramid levels, are generated for the first and second images. An initial optical flow value is initialized for a first pyramid level, and the optical flow value is sequentially updated for each pyramid level based on the corresponding pyramid images using an optimization function having a similarity measure and a regularizer. This results in a final optical flow value between the first and second images, and the first and second images are registered based on the final optical flow value.
US07961921B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system for medical diagnosis and tracking. In an embodiment, a medical diagnosis and tracking system includes one or more medical imaging devices adapted to create one or more current images. The medical diagnosis and tracking system also includes a historical images archive adapted to storing the one or more current images and/or one or more historical images. The system also includes a three-dimensional subtraction application adapted to create one or more three-dimensional subtracted images by performing three-dimensional subtraction on the one or more current images and the one or more historical images. The medical diagnosis and tracking system also includes a Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) workstation adapted to display the one or more three-dimensional subtracted images.
US07961914B1
A system and method by which a portable, personal storage container can be secured and protected using the owner's fingerprint is herein disclosed. While the features of the invention can be incorporated into almost any type of physical container, it is most likely to be envisioned to be incorporated into a wallet, purse, sack or eyeglass case. The invention relies on a biometric sensor that recognizes the owner's fingerprint, and unlocks the container when a match is presented. In addition to physical storage and security, the invention also provides electronic storage for computer files such as electronic files, documents, photos and the like via an integral computer connector. Finally, the invention is provided with a proximity sensor that detects when it has been moved more than a preset distance away from the rightful owner. This feature thus provides security against theft. The use of the present invention provides storage and protection for all-important items, whether physical or electronic, in a manner, which is not only quick, easy and effective, but safe and secure as well.
US07961912B2
A method for creating a 3D map of the surface contours of an object includes projecting a variety of patterns onto the object, and imaging the patterns as they fall on the object to encode the topographic features of the object. In one embodiment a three dimensional image is taken in a single flash to avoid blurring due to motion of the object. Thereafter a secondary pattern is projected to detect changes in the initial image. The images are processed in a computer program in a manner such that a complete 3D map of the surface of the object is obtained in digital form. Reiteration of the method can detect motional variation such as a breathing human, flexure of a complex mechanical structure, or a stress-strain testing of an airplane, vehicle, beam, bridge, or other structure.
US07961908B2
The likelihood of a particular type of object, such as a human face, being present within a digital image, and its location in that image, are determined by comparing the image data within defined windows across the image in sequence with two or more sets of data representing features of the particular type of object. The evaluation of each set of features after the first is preferably performed only on data of those windows that pass the evaluation with respect to the first set of features, thereby quickly narrowing potential target windows that contain at least some portion of the object. Correlation scores are preferably calculated by the use of non-linear interpolation techniques in order to obtain a more refined score. Evaluation of the individual windows also preferably includes maintaining separate feature set data for various positions of the object around one axis and rotating the feature set data with respect to the image data for the individual windows about another axis.
US07961906B2
A method and apparatus for determining human beings from terrain or man-made obstacles is provided. A long-wave infrared camera along with additional devices such as a color camera, two cameras in stereo configuration, and/or a LADAR scanner are used such that the physical scene captured in one image is the same from all of the devices. The images may be processed such that areas of interest representing characteristics of human beings are labeled likely human. The processing may include determining the physical size, range, and relative locations of the objects found in the images. The system, method and apparatus may be used in unmanned vehicles or autonomous machines, as a driving aid to a manned vehicle or system, or as part of a security system.
US07961898B2
A hearing prosthesis whereby the change of a parameter by the user is only possible in discrete maximum steps, with the availability for further increments being dependant upon some conditional event or occurrence (“condition” herein) represented by one or more parameters such as the time which has elapsed since some previous event. In embodiments in which the parameter(s) include an event, such event may be, for example, the initial fitting or adjustment by a clinician, the last user adjustment, the last upward adjustment by the user, etc. In certain embodiments, the condition parameter(s) may include, for example, an elapsed period of time, a certain quantity of stimuli at a particular current level, or some combination of time, stimulation count and stimulation level. In alternative embodiments, there may be a tiered set of increasing increments, of which more gradually are available over time.
US07961896B1
Systems for an expander circuit are disclosed. An expander circuit comprising a transmit amplifier for amplifying electrical signals received from a microphone. A rectifier circuit is responsive to the electrical signals and generates a D.C. voltage. A dynamic resistor circuit is coupled to the transmit amplifier for regulating the gain of the transmit amplifier. The dynamic resistor circuit includes a bipolar junction transistor for receiving the D.C. voltage. The bipolar junction transistor is operated such that the collector current is zero and the bipolar junction transistor has a variable impedance seen by the transmit amplifier dependent upon the D.C. voltage.
US07961892B2
An apparatus for monitoring speaker cone displacement in an audio speaker includes: (a) an electromagnetic coil structure; (b) a ferrous core structure; the ferrous core structure and the electromagnetic coil structure being mounted with the speaker to effect variable electromagnetic coupling between the ferrous core structure and the electromagnetic coil structure as the speaker cone moves; (c) a signal injecting circuit coupled with the electromagnetic coil structure for injecting a predetermined input signal into the electromagnetic coil structure; and (d) a signal monitoring circuit coupled with the electromagnetic coil structure; the signal monitoring circuit receiving an output signal from the electromagnetic coil structure and generating an indicating signal based upon the output signal; at least one signal characteristic of the indicating signal being related with the cone displacement.
US07961890B2
A parametric representation of a multi-channel audio signal describes the spatial properties of the audio signal well with compact side information when a coherence information, describing the coherence between a first and a second channel, is derived within a hierarchical encoding process only for channel pairs including a first channel having only information of a left side with respect to a listening position and including a second channel having only information from a right side with respect to a listening position. As within the hierarchical process the multiple audio channels of the audio signal are downmixed iteratively into monophonic channels, one can pick the relevant parameters from an encoding step involving only channel pairs carrying the information needed to describe the spatial properties of the multi-channel audio signal.
US07961882B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for using explicit initialization vectors in both encryption and decryption processing. In one example, a sender generates an initialization vector, identifies cryptographic keys, encrypts data using the initialization vectors and the cryptographic keys, and transmits the encrypted data in a packet along with the initialization vector. A receiver identifies cryptographic keys, extracts the initialization vector from the received packet, and decrypts the encrypted data using the cryptographic keys and the initialization vector extracted from the received packet.
US07961881B2
Apparatus and methods for including a code having at least one code frequency component in an audio signal are provided. The abilities of various frequency components in the audio signal to mask the code frequency component to human hearing are evaluated and based on these evaluations an amplitude is assigned to the code frequency component. Methods and apparatus for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal are also provided. A code frequency component in the encoded audio signal is detected based on an expected code amplitude or on a noise amplitude within a range of audio frequencies including the frequency of the code component.
US07961878B2
This specification describes technologies relating to imparting cryptographic information in network communications. In general, aspects of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include identifying a location in a pre-defined portion of a network communication to be sent in a client-server environment, wherein the pre-defined portion is reserved for random data, inserting cryptographic information into the pre-defined portion of the network communication at the location, and sending the network communication in the client-server environment to facilitate modifying interactions in the client-server environment based at least in part on a result of processing of the cryptographic information; and on a receiving side, receiving cryptographic information inserted into the pre-defined portion of the network communication in the client-server environment, identifying the location, processing the cryptographic information, and modifying interactions in the client-server environment based at least in part on a result of the processing.
US07961874B2
Secure communications over an insecure channel is provided using symmetric key elliptic curve cryptography. More specifically, a shared secret key and/or data bit string is embedded in the X-coordinate and the Z-coordinate of an elliptic curve point defined in projective coordinates, wherein the embedding process is deterministic and non-iterative. In addition, the base point may be blinded by making the base point dependant on the shared secret key.
US07961869B1
A hands-free voice communication apparatus includes a speakerphone and earpiece combo, a digital signal processing (DSP) module, and a communication module. The hands-free apparatus may be used as a speakerphone or an earpiece. The speakerphone and earpiece combo includes a loudspeaker and one or multiple microphones. The loudspeaker provides an acoustic output. Each microphone receives an acoustic input and provides an input signal. The DSP module performs digital signal processing on the input signals from the microphones and provides an output signal for the loudspeaker. The DSP module may perform digital signal processing with different sets of parameters for the speakerphone and earpiece modes. The communication module provides communication between the hands-free apparatus and a communication device, e.g., a cellular phone or a wireless PDA.
US07961866B1
A method and computer readable medium for routing a call to geographically dispersed agents based on agent skill-set, agent location and caller location that results in the call being delivered to the best available agent. The computer readable medium and method are utilized with a system comprised of a call center application module coupled to a database module with a communications network being used to couple incoming calls from customers with the best available agent. A database contains a ranking of available agents, based on a dataset including information regarding skill-set, previous interaction with the customer, proximity to the customer, language capability, current availability, and the like. The method chooses the best available agent to service a customer call based on the agent rankings. In the case where the customer has a preference for proximity of the agent to the customer, the system adjusts the agent rankings according to the agent's distance from the customer prior to making a selection.
US07961857B2
A network assurance analytics (NAA) system and method is disclosed. The NAA can be part of a risk analytic for telecom (RAFT) program. The NAA system is configured to monitor telecommunications networks, detect errors or fraud in those telecommunications networks, and provide solutions to resolve the errors or reduce the fraud. Traffic of a telecommunications network is electronically monitored for at least one pattern that is indicative of a telecommunications anomaly. Based on a set of a set of telecommunications profiles stored in a database, a model score representing a value of the telecommunications anomaly is generated. A solution for the telecommunications network to reduce the model score associated with the telecommunications anomaly is then generated for execution on the telecommunications network.
US07961853B2
A method of sorting a received information message in which a source of delivery of the message is indicated by a unique identifier accompanying the message, for example, in an e-mail or voice message system. The method includes steps of receiving the message, looking-up the identifier in a database, assigning a code for the message per the result of the step of looking-up, and prioritizing or forwarding the message according to the code.
US07961851B2
A system and method to selectively retrieve stored messages are disclosed. The method comprises receiving a voice command from a user, the voice command comprising at least one spoken search identifier, determining at least one stored message that corresponds to the spoken search identifier, and presenting the at least one stored message to the user. The plurality of stored messages may comprise content data for allowing messages with matching content data to be retrieved. The plurality of stored messages may also comprise caller data, for allowing messages with matching caller data to be retrieved. The stored messages may either be voice messages or text messages.
US07961847B2
A monitor access is gradually applied an removed from a communications circuit, including a digital subscriber line (DSL), by a gradual monitor access (GMA) technique, in which a variable impedance element is gradually applied to the communications circuit until the monitor can be introduced to the communications circuit without data disruption.
US07961844B2
A rotating irradiation therapy apparatus used for particle beam therapy includes a rotating gantry equipped with a charged particle beam irradiation device beam transport devices for guiding a charged particle beam to the irradiation device and a roller in contact with a ring member included in the rotating gantry and supporting the gantry. A front ring is disposed in contact with the roller of a rotating body support device at one end in the axial direction of the rotating gantry, and a rear ring is disposed in contact with the roller at the other end in the axial direction of the rotating gantry. At least one intermediate ring is disposed in a position different in the axial direction of the gantry between the front and rear rings and in contact with the roller.
US07961840B2
A detector unit for mammography of this invention includes a gamma-ray detector having a configuration with a cutout formed in part of a closed curve, a hollow portion thereof providing a field of view. The gamma-ray detector can easily be placed in a position where a breast and breast peripheries of a patient enter the field of view at the same time, by fitting sites of the patient not to be examined, such as a top of an arm and a shoulder, in the cutout. This allows breast tissues present in the breast and breast peripheries to be diagnosed at the same time.
US07961838B2
Systems and methods include coordinated (KV) and megaelectronvolt (MV) computerized tomography (CT) imaging. KV and MV data are combined using a normalization process in order to generate CT images. The resulting CT images can include an improved signal to noise ratio in comparison to CT images generated using either KV or MV imaging alone. The coordinated KV and MV imaging process may be accomplished in significantly less time than using KV or MV imaging alone. This time savings has advantages in treatment verification. The MV projections are optionally generated using MV x-rays configured for x-ray treatment. In these cases the combined projections will reflect the treatment volume.
US07961830B2
A clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit includes a sampler, a CDR loop and a phase interpolator. The sampler samples serial data in response to a recovery clock signal to generate a serial sampling pulse. The CDR loop transforms the serial sampling pulse into parallel data, generates a plurality of phase signals with a first speed based on the parallel data, and generates a phase control signal with a second speed higher than the first speed based on the plurality of phase signals. The phase interpolator generates the recovery clock signal by controlling a phase of a reference clock signal in response to the phase control signal. Therefore, the CDR circuit may recover data and a clock with a relatively high speed.
US07961823B2
Data error such as mean square error may be reduced in a system such as a communication receiver using a dithering algorithm that adjusts one or more parameters in the system. The dithering algorithm may be applied to more than one parameter in a nested manner. The dithering algorithm may be modified to immediately check the MSE after a parameter has been adjusted.
US07961812B2
A polar transmitter includes a digital processor coupled to receive a complex modulated digital signal and a feedback signal produced from the complex modulated digital signal and that is operable to compare the complex modulated digital signal to the feedback signal to determine an error signal indicative of a difference between the complex modulated digital signal and the feedback signal. The digital processor is further operable to produce a correction signal from the error signal and to add the correction signal to the complex modulated digital signal to produce a corrected complex modulated digital signal.
US07961811B2
A radio transmitting apparatus and method thereof wherein a guard interval (GI) having a variable length allows a radio receiving apparatus to precisely and easily obtain a symbol synchronization. A GI adding part adds a short GI or a long GI to the head of each of a plurality of data parts. In a case of adding the long GI, the GI adding part copies the symbols of a portion of a second data part, which immediately follows a first data part, including the rear of the second data part, and then adds the copied symbols to the head of the first data part, thereby providing a second GI. Moreover, the GI adding part copies the symbols to a portion of the first data part including the rear thereof, and then adds the copied symbols to the head of the second GI, thereby providing the first GI.
US07961809B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems of transmitting data signals from at least one transmitting terminal with a spatial diversity capability to at least two receiving user terminals, each provided with spatial diversity receiving device. The methods and systems are useful, for example, in communication between terminals, e.g., wireless communication. In certain embodiments, transmission can be between a base station and two or more user terminals, wherein the base station and user terminals are each equipped with more than one antenna.
US07961804B2
According to the disclosure, a system adapted to estimate and track a channel for wireless orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM) communication is disclosed. The system utilizes scattered pilot symbols being subject to channel conditions and estimates the channel value using the plurality of received pilot symbols and in accordance with correlation of the channel conditions over time.
US07961802B2
Feedback bandwidth may be reduced in a closed loop MIMO system by Householder transformations, vector quantization using codebooks, and down-sampling in the frequency domain. A column of a beamforming matrix is quantized using a codebook, a Householder reflection is performed on the beamforming matrix to reduce the dimensionality of the beamforming matrix, and the quantizing and performing of Householder reflection on the previously dimensionality reduced beamforming matrix is recursively repeated to obtain a further reduction of dimensionality of the beamforming matrix. These actions are performed for a subset of orthogonal frequency divisional multiplexing (OFDM) carriers, and quantized column vectors for the subset of OFDM carriers are transmitted.
US07961797B1
System and methods for reducing the complexity or area of a non-linear Viterbi detector. In some embodiments, a Viterbi detector calculates branch metrics for a subset of the branches in a trellis diagram. This subset may be selected based on comparing an equalized signal with a signal level table of all the possible branches. These branch metrics may be calculated using high performance branch metric calculation techniques. The remaining branch metrics may be calculated based on the computed branch metrics using a technique that consumes fewer resources. The Viterbi detectors in the present invention may also be used in an iterative decoding scheme, where multiple detectors are cascaded. In these embodiments, a Viterbi detector may select a subset of the branches based on detection results from other Viterbi detectors.
US07961796B2
An apparatus and a method for estimating a Carrier to Interference and Noise Ratio (CINR) of an uplink channel in a wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a subcarrier separator for separating subcarrier bundles from a received signal, a detector for calculating squares of correlation values acquired by correlating one or more codewords with signal streams of the separated subcarrier bundles, and a CINR estimator for estimating a CINR using a maximum value and an average value of the correlation value squares calculated at the detector. With the accurate CINR estimated, the channel information delivery and the stable system operation can be achieved.
US07961795B2
The channel estimation for a current data block is based on a previous data block, where the two data blocks are based on common information. Data symbol hypotheses of the previous data block can be forwarded to a channel estimator and used as known reference symbols when estimating the channel response for the current block. Alternatively, a combination of the data symbol hypotheses and preliminary data symbol estimates of the current block are used as reference symbols in a refined channel estimation for the current block. Data bit hypotheses of the previous block can also be input as a priori data in a preliminary demodulation of the current block. The demodulator output is used as reference data in a refined channel estimation for the current block. The technology is well-adapted for use in connection with Hybrid ARQ.
US07961793B2
A picture coding apparatus (300) is a picture coding apparatus that codes a difference between picture data (Img) representing an input picture and predictive picture data (Pred) representing a predictive picture for the input picture and generates coded picture data, and includes a picture decoding unit (104) for decoding coded picture data (Img) after the picture data (Img) is coded; inter pixel filters A and B (303 and 304) for performing inter pixel filter operation for decoded picture data (Recon) obtained by the picture decoding unit (104); switches (301 and 302) for selecting one of the inter pixel filters; and an inter picture predicting unit (108) for generating the predictive picture data (Pred) for the input picture data (Img) using filtered decoded picture data (FilteredImg1), as reference picture data (Ref), obtained by the selected inter pixel filter.
US07961781B2
Embodiments include a system for performing dispersion compensation on an electromagnetic signal received over a communication channel, the electromagnetic signal bearing information at a symbol rate. An interleaved analog to digital converter (“ADC”) block may be used, wherein the interleaved ADC block may be configured to generate a plurality of digitally sampled signals from the electromagnetic signal. An interleaved equalizer block may be configured to digitally process each of the digitally sampled signals generated by the ADC block to generate a plurality of digitally equalized signals. A multiplexer may be configured to aggregate the digitally equalized signals into a composite output signal.
US07961768B2
An integrated semiconductor laser device capable of improving the properties of a laser beam and reducing the cost for optical axis adjustment is provided. This integrated semiconductor laser device comprises a first semiconductor laser element including a first emission region and having either a projecting portion or a recess portion and a second semiconductor laser element including a second emission region and having either a recess portion or a projecting portion. Either the projecting portion or the recess portion of the first semiconductor laser element is fitted to either the recess portion or the projecting portion of the second semiconductor laser element.
US07961767B2
Disclosed is a high current radiation system. The system includes a high current radiation source to generate radiation and an analog circuit to generate, based, at least in part, on an input signal representative of the present current level delivered to the high current radiation source and a user-controlled input representative of a desired current level, an output signal to control a current level to be delivered to the high current radiation source. The system further includes a current driver to control the current delivered to the high current radiation source based, at least in part, on the output signal of the analog circuit.
US07961766B2
A method for controlling wavelengths of a multi-path laser is provided. The method includes: obtaining a difference between an actual output wavelength and a target output wavelength of each laser (S601); obtaining a corrected control amount of a temperature controller of each laser by decoupling calculation according to the difference (S602); and determining a die temperature of each laser according to the corrected control amount of the temperature controller (S603). A system for controlling wavelengths of a multi-path laser includes a multi-path laser (10), a difference module (12), a decoupling module (14), and a temperature control module (16).
US07961762B2
A white light-emitting lamp (1) includes a light-emitting portion (9) which is excited by light emitted from a semiconductor light-emitting element (2) to emit white light. The light-emitting portion (9) contains a blue phosphor, a yellow phosphor and a red phosphor. The yellow phosphor is composed of a europium and manganese-activated alkaline earth silicate phosphor having a composition expressed by (Sr1-x-y-z-u, Bax, Mgy, Euz, Mnu)2SiO4 (0.1≦x≦0.35, 0.025≦y≦0.105, 0.025≦z≦0.25, 0.0005≦u≦0.02).
US07961757B2
A device and method for interfacing with an advanced switching (AS) platform is provided. In the uplink direction the device includes: a line side interface processing module, which receives SDH/SONET frames and conducts frame header searching and descrambling; a de-framing processing module, which de-frames the descrambled frames to obtain the payloads; a packaging module, which packages the obtained payloads into AS packets according to the packet format of the AS platform and transmits the AS packets to the AS platform through the AS interface processing module. In the downlink direction the device includes: an AS interface processing module, which receives AS packets switched by the AS platform; an un-packaging module, which conducts un-packaging to obtain the payloads of the AS packets; a mapping module, which maps the payloads into SDH/SONET frames; a line side interface processing module, which scrambles the SDH/SONET frames and transmits the frames to the SDH/SONET network.
US07961752B2
A method of controlling access in a telecommunication network in which a communication medium, such as a set of frequencies, time slots, or codes, is shared among a plurality of mobile units. Transmissions from the mobile units utilize different access modes, such as a direct access mode and a scheduled access mode. Additionally, the transmissions are divided into different communication types, each having an associated priority. A mode access control unit determines for each priority, which access mode to utilize for the associated communication type. Mobile units having data to transmit access the shared communication medium utilizing the access mode determined for the priority of the communication type to which the data belongs.
US07961749B2
A signaling method and apparatus for channel switching in a WLAN are provided. In the signaling method and apparatus, a data transmission channel is allocated to a receiver and a transmitter. A channel index is set to indicate the allocated channel in a duration field. A current channel is switched to the data transmission channel indicated by the channel index.
US07961746B2
This invention relates to a single-chip USB-to-Ethernet controller that can operate either as a standalone USB-to-Ethernet controller integrated circuit chip in one mode, or the Ethernet PHY or the USB-to-Rev-MII Bridging chip in another mode, namely Dual-PHY mode, to interface with an external Network Microcontroller's Ethernet MAC for providing Ethernet and USB Device interface in a network communication system and to provide a mechanism for auto-detection and auto-selection between the Ethernet interface and USB Device interface through some Station Management Register access wherein the Network Microcontroller's Ethernet MAC can access two PHY devices through the same Station Management Interface.
US07961744B2
A frame multiplexer includes a plurality of counters each of which is provided for each of the lines. A flow monitoring unit monitors frame flow of each line by referring to the counter of the line, and adds length of a passed frame to a value of the counter. A bandwidth managing unit cyclically selects one of the lines through which a frame is input, and subtracts a predetermined token value from a value of the counter of the selected line. An output control unit stores a frame passed through the flow monitoring unit in a queue buffer, and outputs the frame at an output rate of the frame multiplexer.
US07961739B2
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for transmitting voice over multiprotocol label switching is provided. A packet that includes layer 3 and layer 4 headers is received. A label that identifies a label switched path in the packet is inserted, and a stream identifier is generated. The stream identifier is associated with at least a portion of content of the layer 3 and layer 4 headers. The layer 3 and layer 4 headers are removed from the packet, and the stream identifier is inserted into the packet. Additionally, methods, systems, and a computer-readable medium for processing a voice over multiprotocol label switching frame that excludes layer 3 and layer 4 headers are provided.
US07961736B2
A method of converting application data to transport data in a power line communication system includes receiving application data from an application in a device through a service access point. The connection type and connection specification for the application data is then analyzed to determine if a connection exists for the application data. If a connection exists for the application data, mapping the application data is mapped into transport data.
US07961734B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a policy vector module configured to retrieve a compressed policy vector based on a portion of a data packet received at a multi-stage switch. The apparatus can also include a decompression module configured to receive the compressed policy vector and configured to define a decompressed policy vector based on the compressed policy vector. The decompressed policy vector can define a combination of bit values associated with a policy.
US07961730B2
Disclosed is a packet forwarding system having an efficient packet memory management unit and an operation method therefor. The packet forwarding system includes an input unit inputting data in unit of transmission; a packet memory management unit assembling the data into an Internet Protocol(IP) packet and loading the packet into a packet memory, and reading out pointers of an IP packet header and an IP packet trailer connected to the header; a header processing unit deciding a packet classification and a transmission destination by using the read header, and re-transmitting to the packet memory management unit the pointer of the trailer connected to the header; and an output unit dividing the trailer read from the packet memory management unit into data in units of transmission based on the pointers of the header transmitted from the header processing unit and the trailer, and outputting the divided data to a channel.
US07961729B2
A method, computer program product, and system for managing broadcast packets or multicast packets received by an Ethernet adapter comprising a plurality of logical ports are provided. The method, computer program product, and system provide for a first function operable to register a logical port of the Ethernet adapter as a recipient of any broadcast packet received by the Ethernet adapter satisfying a first predefined criterion and a second function operable to register the logical port of the Ethernet adapter as a recipient of any multicast packet received by the Ethernet adapter satisfying a second predefined criterion, wherein the Ethernet adapter is shared by a plurality of applications executing on a plurality of virtual systems, the first function and the second function being invocable by an application assigned to the logical port.
US07961727B2
An internetworking system operating over an ATM backbone. The physical internetworking devices within the system are shared to provide the internetworking functions while servicing two or more distinct and isolated user networks. This is accomplished by logically partitioning the devices into distinct sub-elements which provide all or part of the internetworking functions. These sub-elements are uniquely allocated to independent realms which are then assigned to specific user networks.
US07961721B2
A router for a network is arranged for guiding data traffic from one of a first plurality Ni of inputs (I) to one or more of a second plurality No of outputs (O). The inputs each have a third plurality m of input queues for buffering data. The third plurality m is greater than 1, but less than the second plurality No. The router includes a first selection facility for writing data received at an input to a selected input queue of the input, and a second selection facility for providing data from an input queue to a selected output. Pairs of packets having different destinations Oj and Ok are arranged in the same queue for a total number of Nj,k inputs, characterized in that Nj,k
US07961714B1
A packet-based multimedia service is provided to a terminal in a network. A packet signaling connection is established between the terminal and the network. Signaling information for the multimedia service is transferred via the packet signaling connection using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or a similar protocol. A circuit bearer connection is also established with the terminal. Data for the multimedia service is transferred via the circuit bearer connection. This allows the data to be carried across networks which do not support the required QoS functionality for the packet-based service, or which cannot efficiently carry packet-based data. The circuit bearer connection can be established by a network entity or by the terminal. The circuit bearer can be interworked to a packet-switched bearer at some point in the network, such as at a gateway, so as to provide a remote party with the appearance that a fully packet-switched connection is being used.
US07961701B2
A method and system for event polling have been disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a session request from a client device. A session key is provided to the client device in response to the session request. A session timer is set for a predetermined time period. An event revision number is received from the server device. The client is provided with an updated event revision number if the event revision number matches an expected revision number. An event from an instant messaging server is placed in a queue until the event revision number matches the expected revision number, the event including one or more of instant messages, buddy events, typing, and application events.
US07961691B2
What is described is an approach to assigning timeslots of appropriate duration when using a TDMA based MAC protocol for forwarding VOIP traffic. It is known that a typical user speaks only 35% of the time in a voice session. Existing VOIP systems exploit this fact and reduce the amount of data generated by employing Voice Activity Detection (VAD) algorithms. The packets generated when a user is silent are shorter than the packets generated when a user is speaking. Hence there is a need to assign timeslots of different duration based on user speech activity. When the user is speaking we assign an Active Speech Timeslot (AST). When the user is listening a Silent Speech Timeslot (SST) that is long enough to transmit packets generated by a Comfort Noise Generator is assigned.
US07961679B2
A base station may broadcast quality of service (QoS) and loading information to mobile stations. When a mobile station determines that there is demand for a new traffic connection, the mobile station may select a base station from which to request the desired traffic connection based on the QoS information and the loading information received from one or more base stations.
US07961676B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for providing a call-processing service in a mobile terminal. The apparatus includes a circuit processor that provides a Circuit Service (CS), a packet processor that provides a Packet Service (PS), a period measuring unit that measures a delayed paging period in which a call-processing signal is detected while the PS is provided, and a monitoring unit that shifts the PS to a standby mode during the delayed paging period measured by the period measuring unit if the packet processor is in the process of receiving the PS, and controls the circuit process to provide the CS if the call-processing signal is received.
US07961668B2
A method of synchronizing a smart antenna apparatus with a base station transceiver includes receiving at the smart antenna apparatus control signals being communicated from a base station transceiver to one or more mobile stations via an antenna unit. The control signals are operable to be used to synchronize the mobile stations with the base station transceiver. The method further includes executing one or more algorithms using the control signals received by the smart antenna apparatus as input to synchronize the smart antenna apparatus with the base station transceiver.
US07961665B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for using adaptive coding and modulation (“ACM”) to adaptively communicate with a plurality of data terminals having different capabilities. Embodiments provide hierarchical communications of content, generated by applying hierarchical pre-coding schemes to the source data and then associating the pre-coding levels with coding and modulation schemes of varying order. The pre-coding and/or coding and modulation may be based on one or more capabilities of the data terminals in the network. In some embodiments, data terminals may be used to cache certain data intended for other data terminals, for example, to allow time-shifted playback of the content on terminals with varying capabilities.
US07961658B2
A communication system includes a transmission device and a reception device. The transmission device includes a first software processor that performs, if a first information portion has been updated, software processing on the first information portion, a first hardware processor that performs hardware processing on a second information portion, a generation unit that generates a beacon signal, and a transmitter that transmits the generated beacon signal. The reception device includes a reception unit that receives the beacon signal, a separator that separates the first information portion from the second information portion, a second hardware processor that performs hardware processing on the separated second information portion, a determination unit that determines whether the separated first information portion has been updated, and a second software processor that performs, if the first information portion has been updated, software processing on the updated first information portion.
US07961656B2
Contents of extension packets of a DisplayPort specification are described that can permit a computer to control a target device. In one example, an extension packet controls the target device in at least one of power consumption, image rendering, and register updating.
US07961652B2
A method for traffic engineering of connectionless virtual private network (VPN) services that includes receiving physical connectivity data for a connectionless VPN. The data includes service nodes and links between the service nodes. One or more of the service nodes are also edge nodes. Logical connectivity data for the edge nodes is received. A restricted topology is created in response to the physical connectivity data and to the logical connectivity data. The restricted topology includes a single path between each pair of the edge nodes and each path includes a plurality of the service nodes and one or more of the links. A bandwidth requirement for each link in the restricted topology is calculated. The bandwidth requirement is reserved on each link in the restricted topology. The method further comprises directing routing software to force a packet received from an edge node through one of the paths in the restricted topology.
US07961651B2
A method for managing energy in a sensor network environment using a spanning tree includes the steps of collecting amount of remaining energy of nodes at a predetermined cycle by a base station in a region having a number of clusters a number of nodes forming a spanning tree in each cluster; assigning a number of links for connecting the nodes to each cluster; determining a maximum number of allowable links of the nodes; and updating the spanning tree based on the maximum number of allowable links.
US07961650B2
The present invention provides a network architecture. An embodiment includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by links. Each node can maintain knowledge of other nodes in a database. The database contains a list of other nodes in the network, and a ‘next-best-step’ for each of those other nodes, pointing to a neighbouring node that is the next best step to that other node. Where a particular node of the network is not in the list, then the next-best-step is assumed to be the next-best-step most commonly identified in the database. Such a network will form a “core” wherein any node in the network can find any other node in the network by first seeking out that other node at the core. Once the nodes locate each other via the core, a more optimum route forms in the network according to the most desirable path between those nodes.
US07961640B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for generating and exchanging codebooks in a multiple access wireless communication system. The codebooks include a plurality of preferred precoding matrices.
US07961638B2
A method for routing data over a telecommunications carrier network including at least two switching devices defining at least one physical link, the method including defining in advance a plurality of traffic flows, each associated with specific routing through at least one of the physical links in the network; configuring a routing system according to the traffic flows; collecting data of traffic transmitted over at least some of the traffic flows, calculating traffic statistics, from the collected data, for each of the flows in the network; and re-calculating the routing system configuration utilizing the calculated traffic statistics.
US07961627B2
A method and system discovers a route in a wireless communications network including multiple nodes. A RREQ frame is broadcast by a first node. The RREQ frame is generated to discover a route. A second node receives the RREQ frame. The second node unicasts a PING frame to the first node to verify an integrity of a wireless communications channel between the first node and the second node. Then, the second node unicasts a RREP frame only if the integrity of the wireless channel is verified.
US07961621B2
The present invention provides improved methods and devices for managing network congestion. Preferred implementations of the invention allow congestion to be pushed from congestion points in the core of a network to reaction points, which may be edge devices, host devices or components thereof. Preferably, rate limiters shape individual flows of the reaction points that are causing congestion. Parameters of these rate limiters are preferably tuned based on feedback from congestion points, e.g., in the form of backward congestion notification (“BCN”) messages. In some implementations, such BCN messages include congestion change information and at least one instantaneous measure of congestion. The instantaneous measure(s) of congestion may be relative to a threshold of a particular queue and/or relative to a threshold of a buffer that includes a plurality of queues.
US07961620B2
Provided are a network scheduler and a network scheduling method capable of effectively managing network bandwidths by selectively supporting a work conserving mode to network entities by using an improved token bucket scheme. The network scheduler selectively supports a work conserving mode to network scheduling units (NSUs) serving as network entities by using a token bucket scheme, such that the network scheduler ensures an allocated network bandwidth or enables the NSUs to use a remaining bandwidth. The network scheduler manages the NSUs by classifying the NSUs into a green state, a red state, a yellow state, and a black state according to a token value, a selection/non-selection of the work conserving mode, and an existence/non-existence of the packet request to be processed.
US07961612B2
An improved solution for limiting the transmission rate of data over a network is provided according to an aspect of the invention. In particular, the transmission rate for a port is limited by rate limiting one of a plurality of queues (e.g., class/quality of service queues) for the port, and directing all data (e.g., packets) for transmission through the port to the single rate limited queue. In this manner, the transmission rate for the port can be effectively limited to accommodate, for example, a lower transmission rate for a port on a destination node.
US07961606B2
A method, system, and computer program product for controlling data packet traffic flow into a link partner device such as an ethernet adapter. In one embodiment, an occupancy level of an adapter receive queue is monitored to detect a receive queue overrun or underrun condition or event. The detected overrun or underrun condition or event is utilized as the criteria for adjusting a pause time value within a pause time flow control frame. The pause time flow control frame is transmitted from the link partner device to a corresponding remote link partner device to pause data packet transmission in accordance with the adjusted pause time value.
US07961591B2
A transmitter 100 transmits an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal. A control unit 104 receives a group of input symbols (X0 to XN-1) based on which the transmitted signal is to be generated. The control unit selects, from among a plurality of available allocations of input symbols to sub-carriers, one allocation to apply to the received group of input symbols. Each available allocation serves to allocate the input symbols to respective sub-carriers in a different way from each other available allocation. The allocation selection is based on predicted values of a predetermined property, e.g. a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), of the transmitted signal for different available allocations. The available allocations may be different rotations. Further elements 102, 14, 16 of the transmitter generate the transmitted signal using the selected allocation.
US07961584B2
An operating current modifying device is provided for a power generating element. The power generating element generates an output power when the operating current is larger than a threshold current in the power generating element. A functional relationship is between the threshold current and the temperature of the electrical device. The operating current modifying device includes a threshold current modifying module, a power modifying module, a current compensating module, and a power control module. The threshold current modifying module receives a temperature signal from the power generating element to output a threshold current modifying signal according to the temperature signal and the functional relationship. The power modifying module receives a power feedback signal from the power generating element and a target power signal to output an operating current modifying signal. The current compensating module receives the threshold current modifying signal and the operating current modifying signal to distribute the operating current modifying signal into an operating current compensating signal and a threshold current compensating signal. The power control module receives the operating current compensating signal and the threshold current compensating signal to adjust the operating current.
US07961576B2
A detection signal is asserted when a surface of an optical disc or an information recording layer is detected. An asserting (masking) time interval of the detection signal is set such that the number of times of asserting the detection signal becomes at most two times when a focal position of the objective lens passes at least the surface of the optical disc. After the objective lens is moved for a prescribed section in a direction along which the objective lens comes closer to the optical disc, a kind of the optical disc is discriminated based on a time interval T1 from a first beginning of assertion to a second beginning of assertion, if the number of times of asserting the detection signal is two times, or based on a time interval which is a longer time interval between the time interval T1 from the first beginning of assertion to the second beginning of assertion and a time interval T2 from the second beginning of assertion to a third beginning of assertion if the number of times of asserting the detection signal is more than two times.
US07961574B2
There is provided a type judgment device capable of rapidly and safely identifying the type of an optical disc while preventing unexpected information recording or information erase. An optical beam as parallel light is applied in a circular polarized state to an optical disc having recording tracks and the polarization characteristic in the reflected light is detected. According to the detected polarization characteristic, the type of the disc is judged in accordance with the interval of the adjacent recording tracks.
US07961565B2
An optical disk apparatus irradiates first and second lights, which are emitted from an identical light source, on a disk-like volumetric recording medium from both sides thereof with first and second object lenses corresponding to the first and second lights, respectively, such that the lights are focused in an identical focal point position and records a standing wave. The optical disk apparatus includes an aberration adding unit that adds complementary aberrations to the first and second lights made incident on the volumetric recording medium, respectively.
US07961563B2
A media processor such as a CD publisher functions as a media library. The CD publisher takes out media from a media storage unit, sets the media in a media drive, performs writing of data, and stores the media in a writing-completed media storage unit if there is a data writing request and/or an additional data writing request. The publisher takes out the target media from the media storage unit on the basis of details stored in the storage unit and sets the media in the media drive if there is a data reference request and a data output request. Data of the media can be referenced from the outside, and media in which data writing has been completed can be used as a media library. When final additional writing is completed or there is a discharge command of the media, printing of a label related to data written on a label surface of the media is collectively performed, and then the media is discharged.
US07961556B2
The present invention aims to provide a day display apparatus having less risk of occurrence of a day hopping even when an impact caused by a drop or the like is applied and a watch having the same. A day display apparatus of a watch includes a first day display wheel having a program tooth portion, a second day display wheel having a claw wheel portion and a gear portion, a jumper configured to perform a jump-and-stop operation with respect to the claw wheel portion, a day intermediate wheel engaging the gear portion, being rotated by the program tooth portion every time when the first day display wheel reaches a predetermined rotational position, and transmitting the rotation to the second day display wheel, and jump-and-stop control means configured to assume a rotation restrained position in which a jump-and-stop claw portion is restrained from coming apart from between the adjacent claw portions of the claw wheel portion when the jumper is at a rotation restrained state and assume a rotation allowing state in which the jump-and-stop claw portion is allowed to climb over the claw portion of the claw wheel portion every time when the first day display wheel reaches the predetermined rotational position and allows the second day display wheel to rotate.
US07961555B2
A “medication communicator” chart is used as a teaching tool to educate patients and to schedule events corresponding to a prescribed medication regimen. The “medication communicator” chart includes a scheduling graph having the shape of a 12-hour or 24-hour analog clock. The scheduling graph is divided into regions corresponding to each hour of a day for scheduling event information. Fields, on the “medication communicator” chart, are receptive to labels communicating information corresponding to numerous medications in the medication regimen. Timing indicators may be applied to the regions of the scheduling graph to indicate consumption or application times of each of the medications.
US07961554B2
Methods and systems for providing accurate time-keeping on battery-powered communication devices used in AMI systems, mesh networks, and multi-channel radio networks. One embodiment allows the use of low power (and low cost) crystals in battery-powered endpoints by periodically correcting the poor timing of these crystals using communications with a nearby, non-battery-powered device. Such communications allow the battery-powered devices to align their timing with that of their non-battery neighbors, among other things.
US07961552B2
A transducer assembly including a fan beam transducer having a beam generation axis for generating a fan shaped acoustic beam along the beam generation axis. The fan shaped acoustic beam can have a generally elliptical cross sectional shape with a major axis and a minor axis across a plane generally perpendicular to the beam generation axis. The transducer can be housed in a housing and have a direction of travel axis. The fan shaped acoustic beam can be rotatable relative to the direction of travel axis. The housing can have a release locking arrangement for rotationally releasing and locking the position of the fan shaped acoustic beam for orienting at least one of the major axis and minor axis of the fan shaped acoustic beam at a desired position relative to the direction of travel axis.
US07961544B2
A method of managing operation of a plurality of storage devices includes receiving current consumption information from at least one of the plurality of storage devices; and managing operation of at least one storage device, the operation management including permitting current consumption of a first one of the storage devices based on current consumption information that pertains to at least a second one of the storage devices. Also provided is a storage system that includes a plurality of storage devices, where each storage devices is configured to store data. A state machine, connected to each of the storage devices, is operative to permit current consumption of a first storage device based on current consumption information pertaining to at least a second storage device.
US07961543B2
A semiconductor memory device executes a refresh operation on memory banks, and includes: a command decoder that decodes a command from outside the semiconductor memory device, and outputs a refresh instruction when the command is an auto-refresh command; a refresh command generating unit that outputs a refresh command signal by a predetermined number of times corresponding to the number of word lines to be refreshed in response to the refresh instruction; a bank address counter that holds a bank address for selecting a memory bank to be refreshed, counts up the bank address every time the refresh command signal is output, and performs a carry-over action when count-up operations equivalent to the number of the memory banks are performed; and a row address counter that holds a row address for selecting a word line to be refreshed, and counts up the row address in response to the carry-over action.
US07961542B2
Embodiments for selecting regions of memory are described. For example, in one embodiment a memory device having an array of memory cells includes an array selection block. The array selection block receives an input signal indicative of a region in the array of memory cells. The array selection block generates a selection signal to map the region to at least one physical location in the array of memory cells, based on the detection of the number of defects in that location.
US07961540B2
A dynamically-operating restoration circuit is used to apply a voltage or current restore pulse signal to thyristor-based memory cells and therein restore data in the cell using the internal positive feedback loop of the thyristor. In one example implementation, the internal positive feedback loop in the thyristor is used to restore the conducting state of a device after the thyristor current drops below the holding current. A pulse and/or periodic waveform are defined and applied to ensure that the thyristor is not released from its conducting state. The time average of the periodic restore current in the thyristor may be lower than the holding current threshold. While not necessarily limited to memory cells that are thyristor-based, various embodiments of the invention have been found to be the particularly useful for high-speed, low-power memory cells in which a thin capacitively-coupled thyristor is used to provide a bi-stable storage element.
US07961538B2
Methods for measuring the resistance of multiple memory elements are disclosed. The memory elements may be multi-bit memory and through precise measurement of resistance of the multi-bit memory elements, determination of how many and which memory elements fall into specific memory ranges can be accomplished. Furthermore, storage and/or display of this information may allow for the creation of resistance distribution histograms for modeling of one or more memory arrays.
US07961534B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a read/write bit line configured to supply a cell driving voltage. A selecting unit is connected to the read/write bit line and is controlled by a word line. A plurality of cells are connected between the selecting unit and a source line, and the cells are configured to read and write data according to a cell driving voltage. Each switching element of a plurality of switching elements are connected in parallel with a single cell of the plurality of cells, and the plurality of switching elements are controlled selectively by a plurality of bit lines.
US07961531B2
Herein, a voltage sensing circuit, which is capable of controlling a pumping voltage to be stably generated in a low voltage environment, is provided. The voltage sensing circuit includes a current mirror having first and second terminals, a first switching element configured to control current on the first terminal of the current mirror by a reference voltage, a second switching element configured to control current from the second terminal of the current mirror in response to a pumping voltage, and a third switching element configured to control current sources of the first and second switching elements to receive a negative voltage.
US07961526B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed, such as those involving a solid state memory device. One such method includes selecting a plurality of memory cells in a memory array. States of a plurality of data bits stored in the selected plurality of memory cells are determined. In determining the states of the plurality of data bits, a portion of the plurality of data bits are sensed faster than others. The plurality of data bits are sequentially provided as an output. In one embodiment, the portion of the plurality of data bits includes the first bit of the sequential output of the memory device.
US07961525B2
To provide a method of releasing charges which have been injected into charge accumulating layers of nonvolatile memory elements without using a substrate terminal such as a p well or an n well, as a method for deleting data from a NAND-type nonvolatile memory. In the method for deleting data from the NAND-type nonvolatile memory, charges stored in a charge accumulating layer of a first nonvolatile memory element are released by applying a first potential to a bit line and a source line, a second potential to a control gate of the first nonvolatile memory element, and a third potential which is different from the second potential to a control gate of a second nonvolatile memory element.
US07961524B2
A method for driving a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is provided. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device has source/drain diffusion layers spaced from each other in a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate, a laminated insulating film formed on a channel between the source/drain diffusion layers and including a charge storage layer, and a gate electrode formed on the laminated insulating film, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device changing its data memory state by injection of charges into the charge storage layer. The method includes, before injecting charges to change the data memory state into the charge storage layer: injecting charges having a polarity identical to that of the charges to be injected; and further injecting charges having a polarity opposite to that of the injected charges.
US07961521B2
A sensing circuit that operates even at a low power supply voltage and reduces stress on a memory cell in a flash memory device without lowering a reading speed at the low power supply voltage is provided. The sensing circuit includes a first load element, a first inverting circuit, a second load element, a second inverting circuit, and a sense amplifier. The first load element includes an end connected with a bit line of a main cell array within the flash memory device. The first inverting circuit includes an input terminal connected with the bit line of the main cell array and an output terminal connected with another end of the first load element. The second load element includes an end connected with a bit line of a reference cell array within the flash memory device. The second inverting circuit includes an input terminal connected with the bit line of the reference cell array and an output terminal connected with another end of the second load element. The sense amplifier compares a voltage of the bit line of the main cell array with a voltage of the bit line of the reference cell array and generates an output signal according to a result of the comparison.
US07961517B2
A method and apparatus for setting trim parameters in a memory device provides multiple trim settings that are assigned to portions of the memory device according to observed or tested programming speed and reliability.
US07961512B2
A non-volatile memory can perform a first operation (such as a write, for example) on a designated group of one or more addressed pages using a first set of data stored in the corresponding set of data latches and also receive a request for a second operation (such as a read, for example) that also uses some of these corresponding data latches with a second set of data. During the first operation, when at least one latch of each set of the corresponding become available for the second operation, the memory whether there are a sufficient number of the corresponding set of data latches to perform the second operation during the first operation; if not, the second operation is delayed. The memory subsequently can perform the second operation during the first operation when a sufficient number of latches become available; and if, in response to determining whether there are a sufficient number of the corresponding set of data latches to perform the second operation it is determined that there are a sufficient number, performing the second operation during the first operation.
US07961511B2
A hybrid method of programming a non-volatile memory cell to a final programmed state is described. The method described is a more robust protocol suitable for reliably programming selected memory cells while eliminating programming disturbs. The hybrid method comprises programming the non-volatile memory cell to a first state according to a first coarse programming mechanism, and programming the non-volatile memory cell according to a second different more precise programming mechanism thereby completing the programming of the non-volatile memory cell to the final programmed state. Additionally, the described method is particularly advantageous for programming multilevel chips.
US07961506B2
Memory devices and methods described are shown that provide improvements, including improved cell isolation for operations such as read and write. Further, methods and devices for addressing and accessing cells are shown that provide a simple and efficient way to manage devices with multiple cells associated with each access transistor. Examples of multiple cell devices include phase change memory devices with multiple cells associated with each access transistor.
US07961503B2
An apparatus includes at least one memory device including a floating gate element and a magnetic field generator that operably applies a magnetic field to the memory device. The magnetic field directs electrons in the memory device into the floating gate element.
US07961498B2
A Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cell comprising a leakage compensation circuit. The leakage compensation circuit allows a compensation current from a source to flow to the memory cell storage node of the DRAM cell to compensate the leakage current from the memory cell storage node of the DRAM cell to improve retention time.
US07961497B2
Variable resistive punchthrough access methods are described. The methods include switching a variable resistive data cell from a high resistance state to a low resistance state by passing a write current through the magnetic tunnel junction data cell in a first direction. The write current is provided by a transistor being electrically coupled to the variable resistive data cell and a source line. The write current passes through the transistor in punchthrough mode.
US07961495B2
A programmable resistance memory employs a feedback control circuit to regulate the programming current supplied to a selected programmable resistance memory element. The programmable resistance memory may be a phase change memory. The feedback control circuit monitors and controls the characteristics of a current pulse employed to program a memory cell.
US07961492B2
A charge storage circuit includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and a plurality of memory cells connected to a corresponding word line among the word lines and connected to a corresponding bit line among the bit lines. Each of the memory cells includes a transistor turned on in response to a predetermined voltage of the corresponding word line and connected to the corresponding bit line, and a capacitor having one end connected to the transistor and the other end connected to the corresponding word line.
US07961483B2
A comparing circuit and a control loop are used to maintain the peak level of current flowing through an inductor of a flyback converter. An inductor switch control signal controls an inductor switch through which the inductor current flows. The inductor current increases at a ramp-up rate during a ramp time and stops increasing at the end of the ramp time. The comparing circuit generates a timing signal that indicates a target time at which the inductor current would reach a predetermined current limit if the inductor current continued to increase at the ramp-up rate. The control loop then receives the timing signal and compares the target time to the end of the ramp time. The pulse width of the inductor switch control signal is increased when the target time occurs after the end of the ramp time. Adjusting the pulse width controls the peak of the inductor current.
US07961481B2
A pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuit is applied to a power converter with a charging capacitor. The PWM control circuit includes a PWM signal generator, a first comparator, and a reference voltage modulator. A PWM signal generator generates a PWM signal to control a power switch in the power converter. Two input terminals of the first comparator respectively receive a first reference voltage and a sensing voltage, which is proportional to a primary-side current of a transformer. When the power switch is turned on and the sensing voltage rises to the level of the first reference voltage, the first comparator outputs a first control signal to the PWM signal generator. Then, the PWM signal generator outputs a signal to turn off the power switch. The reference voltage modulator outputs the first reference voltage according to a feedback voltage relative to the output voltage of the power converter.
US07961477B2
A housing comprising a liquid-tight electric bushing is provided. The housing comprises an opening and a printed circuit board comprising at least first and second layers. The first layer is a top side of the printed circuit board and spans the opening. A first contact element is disposed on the top side and in a blind bore through the first layer that extends to the second layer. The second layer is a conductor track in the interior of the printed circuit board.
US07961475B2
Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating immersion-cooling of an electronic subsystem having multiple different types of components to be immersion-cooled. The apparatus includes a container sized to receive the electronic subsystem, and a hermetically sealed electrical connector disposed on a wall of the container. The electrical connector is sized and configured to receive an electrical and network connector of the electronic subsystem when the electronic subsystem is operatively inserted into the container, and to facilitate external electrical and network coupling to the subsystem. The apparatus further includes coolant inlet and outlet ports coupled to the container for facilitating ingress and egress of coolant through the container. When the electronic subsystem is operatively inserted into the container and coolant flows through the container, the electronic subsystem is immersion-cooled by the coolant.
US07961473B1
An integrated circuit is disposed on a circuit board. A heat sink retention module includes a bracket, members, and coil springs. The members extend through the coil springs and corresponding holes within the bracket to attach to the board. A heat sink is removably installed within the bracket in a toolless manner, such that the heat sink comes into contact with the integrated circuit. The heat sink and the bracket join together to become a single entity that is permitted to float along an axis perpendicular to a surface of the circuit board. The coil springs are tuned to define a predetermined force at which the heat sink is pushed against the integrated circuit. The module can include a latch having tabs bent at different angles relative to one another to balance forces applied by the tabs against the heat sink while the latter is being installed within the bracket.
US07961472B2
The present invention provides an electric circuit device in which it is possible to achieve simultaneously the improvement of cooling performance and reduction in operating loss due to line inductance.The above object can be attained by constructing multiple plate-like conductors so that each of these conductors electrically connected to multiple semiconductor chips is also thermally connected to both chip surfaces of each such semiconductor chip to release heat from the chip surfaces of each semiconductor chip, and so that among the above conductors, a DC positive-polarity plate-like conductor and a DC negative-polarity plate-like conductor are opposed to each other at the respective conductor surfaces.
US07961471B2
An information processing apparatus having improved cooling efficiency is disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes a first chassis and a second chassis separated from each other at a prescribed distance, the first chassis accommodating a substrate on which high heat generating parts such as a CPU and a chipset are mounted, and the second chassis accommodating low heat generating and low heat resistance parts. Because of this structure, the first chassis and the second chassis are thermally isolated, and the surface area of the apparatus is increased, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the apparatus.
US07961459B2
An electronic device according to the present invention includes: a substrate; first and second connectors provided on a front surface and a back surface of the substrate, respectively; and first and second storage devices connectable to the first and second connectors, respectively. In the electronic device, the first and second storage devices are connected to the connectors with the largest surfaces of each of the first and second storage devices being substantially parallel to the front surface and the back surface. Moreover, a placement position of the first connector on the front surface is not opposed to a placement position of the second connector on the back surface, with the substrate in between.
US07961454B2
A multi-layered solid electrolytic capacitor and a method of manufacturing the capacitor that improve the product yield drastically by preventing increases in leakage current and defects due to short circuits without increasing manufacturing cost or capacitor size. A multi-layered solid electrolytic capacitor includes: a plurality of capacitor elements, each including an aluminum foil having an anode portion and a cathode portion having a dielectric oxide film and a cathode layer formed in succession on a surface of the aluminum foil, wherein the plurality of capacitor elements are stacked on top of one another, the anode portions of adjacent capacitor elements are welded each other, and the anode portion of one of the outermost capacitor elements is weld-secured to an anode terminal, the multi-layered solid electrolytic capacitor having a first stress alleviating groove and a second stress alleviating groove formed in at least one of weld surfaces of the anode portion.
US07961453B2
A multilayer chip capacitor including: a capacitor body formed of a lamination of a plurality of dielectric layers and having a bottom surface that is a mounting area; a plurality of internal electrodes disposed to be opposite to each other, interposing a dielectric layer there between in the capacitor body and having one lead extended to the bottom surface, respectively; and three or more external electrodes formed on the bottom surface and connected to corresponding internal electrodes via the leads, wherein the internal electrodes are vertically disposed on the bottom surface, and the leads of the internal electrodes having a different polarity from each other, adjacent to each other in a lamination direction, are disposed to be always adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction.
US07961445B2
A new method for three-phase reclosing of transmission lines is disclosed. According this method, after the type of fault is identified and the faulted line is opened for all three phases from both ends, fault extinction is recognized by comparison of amplitudes and angles of voltages induced at opened phases with predetermined settings. The transmission line is reclosed after the fault is found to be extinguished.
US07961440B2
A magnetoresistive sensor having a greatly reduced read gap. The sensor has a pinned layer structure formed above the free layer. A layer of antiferromagnetic material (AFM layer) is formed over the pinned layer structure and has a front edge disposed toward, but recessed from the air bearing surface. An electrically conductive, magnetic lead is formed over the pinned layer and AFM layer such that the lead fills a space between the AFM layer and the air bearing surface. In this way, the read gap is distance between the outermost portion of the pinned layer structure and free layer. The thickness of the AFM layer and capping layer are not included in the read gap.
US07961435B2
A composite single structured hard disk drive, comprising: a machine casing having a power port and two signal I/O (input/output) ports at an outer surface thereof; an interior of the machine casing having a driving unit which is electrically connected to the power port; the driving unit being able to rotatably drive at least one recoding disk; two read/write modules (R/W modules) being installed, respectively, each R/W module having a rotatable arm set and a dynamic unit connected to the rotatable arm set; one end the rotatable arm set having at least one R/W head at a front end thereof; another end of the rotatable arm set having no the R/W head is connected to the dynamic unit; the dynamic unit being connected to the power port and being controlled by a processor in the substrate in the machine casing.
US07961431B2
A fabric for forming a storage media disk texturing member is formed from a non-woven polymeric material formed from fibers and having substantially no titanium dioxide. A method for texturing a surface of a metal storage media disk is also disclosed.
US07961416B2
Approaches for estimating the operating radius of a head in a hard-disk drive. These approaches may be used in a constant or approximately constant density servo scheme. Statistics, which describe the proportion of high frequency values to low frequency values in a readback signal read by the read/write head of a persistent storage medium, such as a hard-disk drive (HDD), are maintained. An estimated location for the read/write head using the statistics is determined. The estimated location may be expressed as an estimated operating radius, which is an estimated distance from the center of the magnetic-recording medium to a current position of the read/write head. Based on the estimated location of the read/write head, an estimated clock frequency for a readback channel to use in reading the servo data stored on the magnetic recording medium is determined. The readback channel reads the servo data using the estimated clock frequency.
US07961415B1
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises two or more slave channels, wherein each one of the slave channels comprises a non-adaptive filter operable to filter an input signal to the slave channel using filter coefficients received from a master channel; and the master channel coupled to each one of the slave channels, wherein the master channel comprises an adaptive filter operable to: for each one of one or more of the slave channels, determine the filter coefficients for the slave channel using the input signal to the slave channel; and send the filter coefficients to the slave channel.
US07961411B2
To easily combine a lens holding barrel with a mobile barrel, or separate the lens holding barrel from the mobile barrel, and to protect the lens holding barrel in an assembling process, a lens barrel and an optical device including the same are provided. The lens barrel includes: a first barrel including: a first cylinder that includes a lens and is cylindrical, and a first flange formed around an outer surface of the first cylinder; and a second barrel including: a second cylinder that is cylindrical and aligned with respect to the first cylinder, a second flange that is formed on an inner surface of the second cylinder and supports one surface of the first flange, and a plurality of supports that protrude from the inner surface of the second cylinder in a direction parallel to a surface of the second flange and support another surface of the first flange.
US07961409B2
Providing a zoom lens system having excellent optical performance, an optical apparatus, and a method for zooming the zoom lens system. The zoom lens system includes, in order from an object, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power, a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power, and a third lens group G3 having negative refractive power. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state W to a telephoto end state T, each distance between adjacent lens groups is varied. The second lens group G2 includes, in order from the object, a front group G2a having positive refractive power, and a rear group G2b. Focusing on the object is carried out by moving the front group G2a along an optical axis. Given conditional expressions are satisfied.
US07961406B2
An optical lens system for taking image comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; an aperture stop; a second lens element with negative refractive power; a third lens element having a convex object-side surface; and a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface, an image-side surface of the fourth lens element being aspheric and formed with inflection points. A distance from the image-side surface of the fourth lens element to an image plane along an optical axis being BFL, a total track length of the optical lens system for taking image being TTL, and they satisfy the relation: BFL/TTL>0.12. In the optical lens system for taking image, the number of lens elements with refractive power being limited to four.
US07961404B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit of negative refractive power, a second lens unit of positive refractive power, and a third lens unit of positive refractive power. The zoom lens changes the distances between the lens units during zooming. The following condition is satisfied: 0.3<|f1/fT<0.5 2.3<|f1/fw<3.5, where f1 is a focal length of the first lens unit, fT is a focal length of the zoom lens at a telephoto end, and fw is a focal length of the zoom lens at a wide-angle end.
US07961401B1
A system for providing a two-position zoom-focus capability in a video inspection device comprising, in one embodiment, a focus lens cell and primary aperture attached to a set of fixed rails and connected to a zoom lens cell. In one embodiment, the focus lens cell is moveable into a first position along the rails through activation of a proximally located lens movement mechanism, and moveable into a second position through relaxation of a tensioned focus spring. In one embodiment, movement of the focus lens cell between first and second focus positions causes movement of the zoom lens cell and a secondary aperture between corresponding first and second zoom and aperture positions to provide unmagnified and magnified images of a target object.
US07961390B2
A screen of a projector having a substrate and a plurality of asymmetric optical structures is provided. There is a plurality of light absorbing zones and a plurality of reflective zones alternatively disposed on a surface of the substrate facing the projector. The asymmetric optical structures are disposed on the surface of the substrate and correspond to the reflective zones, respectively. The asymmetric optical structure has a first curved surface and a second curved surface, and the first curved surface protrudes toward the projector for converging an incident light from the projector on the reflective zone, and the second curved surface is disposed at a side of the first curved surface away from the projector for refracting a reflective light from the reflective zones toward the normal direction of the surface of the substrate.
US07961383B2
The invention is directed to elements having fluoride coated surfaces having multiple layers of fluoride material coatings for use in laser systems, and in particular in laser systems operating at wavelength <200 nm. In a particular embodiment the invention is directed to highly reflective mirrors for use in wavelengths <200 nm laser systems. The invention describes the mirrors and a method of making them that utilizes a plurality of periods of fluoride coatings, each period comprising one layer a high refractive index fluoride material and one layer low refractive index fluoride material, and additionally at least one layer of an amorphous silica material. The silica material can be inserted between each period, inserted between a stack consisting of a plurality of periods, and, optionally, can also be applied as the final layer of the finished element to protect the element.
US07961379B2
A pump probe measuring device (1) includes an ultrashort optical pulse laser generator (11) for generating a first ultrashort optical pulse train, which becomes a pump light, and a second ultrashort optical pulse train, which becomes a probe light, a delay time adjusting unit (15) for adjusting a delay time between ultrashort optical pulse trains, a first pulse picker and a second pulse picker (13, 14) for accepting each of the first and the second ultrashort optical pulse trains and allowing only one pulse to be transmitted at an arbitrary repetition periodicity, thus reducing the effective repetition frequency of the optical pulses, a delay time modulation unit (10) for periodically changing a position through which pulses are transmitted by the first and the second pulse pickers (13, 14), an irradiation optical system (16) for applying pump light and probe light to a sample (19), a measuring unit (20) for detecting probe signals from a sample (19), and a lock-in amplifier (18).
US07961377B2
A method for making an electrophoretic solution includes:including two kinds of particles having different charging polarities into the electrophoretic solution; calculating a mixing ratio so that charge amounts of the two kinds of particles become approximately equal to each other on a basis of a unit volume of a dispersion medium; and mixing the two kinds of particles in each mixed quantity that satisfies the calculated mixing ratio.
US07961370B2
Apparatus for marking a bitmap image on tape includes a scanning mirror which is incorporated in a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS). The MEMS is torsionally resonant at two frequencies one being about three time the other. The MEMS is excited to resonance by applying an AC signal to the actuators, causing the mirror to oscillate. The AC signal has components at the two frequencies. The magnitude and phase-relationship of the components can be selected such that the mirror oscillates in an approximation of a triangle-wave.
US07961369B2
A laser beam steering apparatus includes a beam steering cell with an adjustable shape, with the cell having opposing Fabry-Perot filters, and a steering mechanism coupled to the cell to adjust its shape so that the direction of a laser beam emitted from the cell is changed in response to a change in the cell shape.
US07961366B2
An image processing method according to the present invention achieves gamut mapping between devices having different color reproduction ranges in gamut compression, and enables good color reproduction without reversal of tonal change. An image processing method converts a color signal representing a color in a first color gamut to a color signal representing a color in a color gamut of an image forming apparatus. The image processing method includes modifying a shape of the color gamut of the image forming apparatus according to a shape of the first color gamut, and converting a color signal representing a color in the first color gamut to a color signal representing a color in the color gamut of the image forming apparatus.
US07961360B2
A scanning device for scanning an interface surface is disclosed. The scanning device includes a beam generator for emitting a beam, a deflector for deflecting the beam to generate a raster scan pattern over a scanning patch, and a sensor for receiving a reflected beam from the scanning patch and sensing from the reflected beam data encoded by coded tags printed on an interface surface. The data encoded by each tag includes an identity of the interface surface and the position of the respective tag on the interface surface. The scanning device further includes a processor for determining a description of the interface surface from the sensed interface surface identity and at least one region of the interface surface from the determined description and the position of the sensed tag on the interface surface.
US07961355B2
A printing method includes: providing a print head that includes a plurality of nozzle arrays for ejecting at least 3 colors of inks; performing a halftone process with a dither matrix on image data to generate dot data that represents a state of dot formation at each pixel. The dither matrix includes a single reference matrix that is set by determining threshold values in the reference matrix based on a predetermined index value being calculated based on an arrangement pattern of at least two colors of dot groups among M colors (M is an integer of at least 3 and less or equal to N) of dot groups among the at least N colors of dot groups, with respect to at least some tone values among the input tone values.
US07961354B2
The present invention provides an image-forming apparatus capable of reducing the amount of toner at a position at which the trapping is carried out. The apparatus has an image-deformation processing unit where input image data is processed to deform the image shape or the trapping or overprinting is carried out on the respective color plates. The apparatus determines whether or not the trapping should be carried out to the target pixels on the boundary between color plates in the adjacent different objects, determines the color plate having the trap color, obtains the amount of toner of the trap color, determines based on the amount of toner of the trap color and the target pixels whether or not the total amount of toner of the trap exceeds the limit value, and reduces the total amount of toner if the total amount of toner of the trap exceeds the limit value.
US07961346B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for determining a complexity value for a subregion of an electronic document page that includes one or more objects. In one aspect, a method includes dividing a subregion of an electronic document page into a plurality of cells, where the electronic document page includes one or more objects, the objects include one or more transparent objects, the subregion includes at least part of a transparent object, and each cell has an associated cell counter. The method includes, for each object partly or completely located in the subregion, identifying cells that are overlapped by the object, and increasing the associated cell counter for each of the identified cells. The method includes summing all cell counters associated with all cells in the subregion to determine a complexity value for the subregion.
US07961339B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section for forming images on papers based on image data of a document having a plurality of document pages and an additional image which is previously set; a post-processing device for carrying out a post-processing for the papers; a first input section for inputting and setting a division of the post-processing of the document pages; a second input section for setting the additional image so as to be formed on a first document page of the plurality of document pages; and a control section for causing the image forming section to form the additional image on the first document page of each division when the division of the post-processing of the document pages is set by the first input section and when the additional image is set by the second input section so as to be formed on the first document page of the plurality of document pages.
US07961334B2
A coordinate measuring machine (1) for measuring structures (3) on a substrate (2) including a measurement table (20) movable in the X-coordinate direction and in the Y-coordinate direction, a measurement objective (9), at least one laser interferometer (24) for determining the position of the measurement table (20) and the measurement objective (9) wherein the measurement table (20), the measurement objective (9) and the at least one laser interferometer (24) are arranged in a vacuum chamber (50).
US07961331B2
The present invention relates to a system for sensing a disturbance in a sensing region along an optical path. The sensing system includes: a source of optical radiation; an upstream junction for channelling light along a first path and along a second path, the first and second paths each extending through the sensing region in an acoustically coupled relationship, such that, in use, a disturbance experienced at one of the first and second paths is experienced at the other of the first and second paths; and, a downstream junction for combining light from the first path with light from the second path so as to provide an interferometric signal from which the presence of a disturbance can be inferred.
US07961327B1
A method to sense pH of a fluid and an optical pH sensor. The method includes the steps of supplying at least a portion of an optical source through an input fiber. The optical source is passed through a sensor head having a sapphire window to a fluid. Optical power reflected from the fluid is collected in a plurality of output fibers in the sensor head. The reflected optical power in the output fibers in the sensor head is thereafter converted to an electrical signal which is used to determine the pH of the fluid.
US07961310B1
The present invention relates to a transmission liquid flow cell capable of high rates of liquid flows regardless of the optical pathlength of the cell. This increase in the cell's internal flow rate is provided by an internal bypass created around the circumference of the windows. The high rate of internal flow of liquid around the circumference of the windows and in direct contact with the liquid between the windows provides a push-pull action that urges the flow of liquid through the gap between the windows. The faster the circumferential flow, the stronger the push-pull action. The cell is used for the measurement of the absorption of light passing through a liquid sample contained in the gap between the cell's windows.
US07961307B2
A structure for locating a fault in a semiconductor chip. The chip includes a substrate on a dielectric interconnect. A first electrical response image of the chip, which includes a spot representing the fault, is overlayed on a first reflection image for monochromatic light in an optical path from an optical microscope through a SIL/NAIL and into the chip. The index of refraction of the substrate exceeds that of the dielectric interconnect and is equal to that of the SIL/NAIL. A second electrical response image of the chip is overlayed on a second reflection image for the monochromatic light in an optical path in which an optical stop prevents all subcritical angular components of the monochromatic light from being incident on the SIL/NAIL. If the second electrical response image includes or does not include the spot, then the fault is in the substrate or the dielectric interconnect, respectively.
US07961305B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to an internal reflection light funnel, including an internal reflection cone having a first diameter at an entrance end and a second diameter at an exit end, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter; and a light source embedded within the cone. The funnel has a half angle of less than about 25 degrees.
US07961301B2
The present invention pertains in general to a single, integrated flash LADAR system and method. The system includes data processing hardware and software, a passive two-dimensional camera, a three-dimensional camera, a light source, and a common optical path. One or more star trackers can also be included. In addition, auxiliary components, such as an inertial measurement unit and a global positioning system receiver can be included. The system can be closely integrated with a critical algorithm suite that operates in multiple modes, in real-time to enable landing, docking, and navigation functions, such as Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), Altimetry, Velocimetry, Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN), Hazard Detection and Avoidance (HDA), and dust penetration.
US07961299B2
The present invention relates to a transfer device that can feed a work in a stable condition without applying it any excess loads. The transfer device for feeding a tape-shaped work to a process stage standing in an upright position, which is placed on one side of the process stage and which includes a supply reel, a take-up reel and a work feeding mechanism. Specifically, the supply reel, around which the work and a protective sheet are wound, is adapted to feed the work and the protective sheet therefrom. The take-up reel is adapted to wind the work and the protective sheet that have been fed from the supply reel, and it is located below the supply reel. The work feeding mechanism is adapted to forward the work from the supply reel to the take-up reel through the process stage.
US07961298B2
A polarization rotator and crystalline quartz plate for use with an optical imaging system. The system has several imaging optical components (L1-L16) sequentially arranged along an optical axis (16), a means for creating radially polarized light arranged at a given location in that region extending up to the last of said imaging optical components, and a crystalline-quartz plate employable in such a system. A polarization rotator (14) for rotating the planes of polarization of radially polarized light and transforming same into tangentially polarized light, particularly in the form of a crystalline-quartz plate as noted above, is provided at a given location within a region commencing where those imaging optical components that follow said means for creating radially polarized light in the optical train are arranged. The optical imaging system is particularly advantageous when embodied as a microlithographic projection exposure system.
US07961291B2
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system to condition a radiation beam, a patterning device support to support a patterning device in a projection plane, the patterning device to pattern the radiation beam, a substrate table to hold a substrate, a projection system to project the patterned beam onto the substrate, and an exchange device to exchange an exchangeable object with an exchangeable object support that holds the exchangeable object during projection. The exchange device includes a load unit and an unload unit that each have a holding device to hold an exchangeable object. The holding devices are positioned substantially adjacent to each other and configured to hold an exchangeable object in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which the exchangeable object is held in the exchangeable object support during projection. The exchangeable object support exchanges an exchangeable object with each of the holding devices.
US07961290B2
An apparatus and method maintain immersion fluid in the gap adjacent to the projection lens during the exchange of a work piece in a lithography machine. The apparatus and method include an optical assembly that projects an image onto a work piece and a stage assembly including a work piece table that supports the work piece adjacent to the optical assembly. An environmental system is provided to supply and remove an immersion fluid from the gap between the optical assembly and the work piece on the stage assembly. After exposure of the work piece is complete, an exchange system removes the work piece and replaces it with a second work piece. An immersion fluid containment system maintains the immersion liquid in the gap during removal of the first work piece and replacement with the second work piece.
US07961288B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate including a gate line, a data line crossing the gate line, and an insulating layer interposed between the gate line and the data line, defining a pixel, and a thin film transistor disposed at the pixel, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a cell gap maintaining member disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a connecting wall attached to either the first substrate or the second substrate, and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the connecting wall.
US07961286B2
The present invention realizes a bright image display by enhancing a numerical aperture of pixels. At least a portion of a pixel electrode is overlapped to a thin film transistor by way of a first insulation film, the pixel electrode is connected to an output electrode of the thin film transistor via a contact hole which is formed in the first insulation film, the counter electrode is arranged above the pixel electrode by way of a second insulation film in a state that the counter electrode is overlapped to the pixel electrode, the counter electrode is formed at a position avoiding the contact hole formed in the first insulation film as viewed in a plan view, and at least a portion of the counter electrode is overlapped to the thin film transistor.
US07961281B2
A display device includes a display panel to display an image, a protection plate that is arranged on an observation side of the display panel with a predetermined gap with respect to the display panel, spacer that is arranged between the display panel and the protection plate to surround a region that corresponds to a screen area of the display panel, and a filler layer filling the region that is surrounded by the spacer of a gap between the display panel and the protection plate. The spacer includes at least one missing portion to connect an inside and an outside of the region to each other. The filler layer has been polymerized by irradiation of light and heating.
US07961276B2
In the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a circular polarizer is provided to each of a pair of substrates that hold a liquid crystal layer, wherein the circular polarizer on the display surface side is composed of a polarizer, λ/2 plate in which Rth>0, and a λ/4 plate in which Rth<0; and the circular polarizer on the backlight side is composed of a polarizer, a λ/2 plate in which Rth<0, and a λ/4 plate in which Rth>0. Rth is a retardation in the thickness direction of a λ/2 plate or a λ/4 plate. A reduction is achieved in the absolute value of the sum of the Rth between the λ/2 plate for which Rth>0 and the λ/2 plate for which Rth<0, and in the absolute value of the sum of the Rth between the λ/4 plate for which Rth<0 and the λ/4 plate for which Rth>0. A circular polarizer having excellent wavelength characteristics and excellent viewing angle characteristics when viewed at an angle is thereby obtained, and a liquid crystal display device and a terminal device that use the circular polarizer are obtained.
US07961274B2
Disclosed herein is an area light source apparatus for illuminating a liquid crystal display apparatus of the transmission type, which has a display area formed from a plurality of pixels arrayed in a two-dimensional matrix, from the back, including: a plurality of light emitting element assemblies each provided as a light source and each including a light emitting element and a lens through which light emitted from the light emitting element passes; and a plurality of dummy lenses disposed in the proximity of each of the light emitting element assemblies and configured same as the lenses of the light emitting element assemblies.
US07961273B2
The invention provides a retardation-controlling optical member that includes a retardation layer obtained by aligning and fixing crosslinkable liquid crystal molecules and columnar structures disposed on the retardation layer. When a liquid crystal cell is formed by use of the retardation-controlling optical member, the columnar structures are effectively inhibited from subsiding in the retardation layer to locally make the cell gap smaller even when pressure is externally applied in a thickness direction of the liquid crystal cell. A sum total of lower bottom areas of columnar structures disposed on a retardation layer is made larger sufficiently compared to a total area of, in particular, an effective display region of a retardation layer surface where the columnar structures are disposed, whereby pressure applied from a thickness direction is dispersed.
US07961267B2
An image display device includes a display panel module, a middle frame which places the display panel module thereon, and an upper frame which is engaged with a side face of the middle frame in a state where the upper frame covers a periphery of the display panel module, wherein the engaging portion includes projecting portions on a side face of the middle frame, each projecting portion being smoothly raised in the direction opposite to the display panel module and forming a sharp stepped portion which follows a raised portion, and pawl portions which are formed on portions of the upper frame which face the projecting portions, the pawl portions being bent along side faces of the stepped portions of the projecting portions and, thereafter, being bent such that the pawl portions extend while having arcuate face which has a center thereof in the vicinity of bent portions.
US07961264B2
A pixel electrode structure for a liquid crystal display with a high aperture ratio increases the aperture ratio and eliminates Mura phenomenon. Any two adjacent pixel electrodes are disconnected to each other. Each pixel electrode comprises a first-lengthwise periphery that overlaps a first-adjacent data line to form a first overlapping portion, and a second-lengthwise periphery that overlaps a second-adjacent data line to form a second overlapping portion. The first-lengthwise periphery and the second-lengthwise periphery have an identical triangle-wave profile and are symmetrical to each other. The triangle-wave profile is formed by connecting a plurality of right-angled and equilateral triangles.
US07961262B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) and a manufacturing method thereof. The LCD comprises a color filter substrate, an array substrate disposed opposite to the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sealed between the two substrates, wherein a conductive nano-particle is introduced between the two substrates.
US07961261B2
An image forming apparatus comprises: a holding unit that holds a medium on which an image is formed by irradiation of image-bearing light, the medium having a liquid crystal layer, a photoconductor layer that changes a resistance in response to irradiation of light, and a pair of electrode layers provided in an opposing relation so as to sandwich the liquid crystal layer and photoconductor layer, with at least one of the pair of electrode layers being divided into stripe-shaped sub-electrode layers; an irradiating unit that irradiates the medium with image-bearing light linearly along a longitudinal direction of the sub-electrode layers; a transporting unit that transports the irradiating unit along the surface of the medium in a first or second direction; a power supply unit that applies a voltage between the sub-electrode layer and the electrode layer; and an optical shielding unit that shields the photoconductor layer.
US07961254B2
A 2:3 pulldown sequence detecting system includes a history data table that stores a correspondence between each input field and a determination result of whether each input field is a repeated field and a threshold value table that stores threshold values. The system compares pixels of each (or a first) field that forms an interlaced image with pixels of a third field one frame before the first field to calculate a difference absolute value, uses the threshold values to determine a distribution bias of the difference absolute value, detects, from the interlaced image, a repeated field candidate that occurs once in a five field cycle and fields other than the repeated field, and determines, based on a regularity of repeated field occurrence, whether each repeated field candidate is the repeated field. If any repeated field candidate is not the repeated field, the system controls the threshold values.
US07961245B2
An image surface illuminance varying apparatus includes a variable power optical system in which the optical power thereof can be varied by changing a relative position of a plurality of optical elements thereof; and a light-quantity ratio varying optical element whose transmittance varies in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the variable power optical system, the light-quantity ratio varying optical element being located in a light path of the variable power optical system to reduce an illuminance difference of an imaging surface. A distance from the light-quantity ratio varying optical element, which is moved along the optical axis, to a diaphragm or a shutter is varied in accordance with the power varying operation.
US07961233B2
The present invention provides an electronic blurring compensation device applied to a digital camera that includes an angular rate sensor for detecting blurring of an image, an solid-state image pickup element for shooting continuously over time a plurality of images, compensating mutual blurring of the plurality of shot images in accordance with the amount of blurring detected by the angular rate sensor, and generating one image by synthesizing the plurality of compensated images, and a CPU for controlling the number of continuous shootings by the solid-state image pickup element such that the total amount of blurring over the plurality of continuously shot images falls within a previously set predetermined value.
US07961232B2
An edge directed demosaicing algorithm for determining an edge direction from an input color filter array (CFA) sampled image is disclosed. Aspects of the present invention include calculating for a current missing green pixel, interpolation errors in an East-West (EW) direction at known neighboring green pixels, and averaging the EW interpolation errors to obtain an EW error. Interpolation errors are also calculated for the current missing green pixel in a North-South (NS) direction at known neighboring green pixels, and the NS interpolation errors are averaged to obtain a NS error. An EW or NS direction indicated by a minimum of the EW error and the NS error is then selected as the edge direction.
US07961231B2
A photographing apparatus includes: a photographing unit having an image pickup device, the photographing unit carrying out first photographing for obtaining a first image with the image pickup device being set in an exposure state, and second photographing for obtaining a second image with the image pickup device being set in a light-shielded state; a correcting unit for correcting the first image based on the second image to obtain a corrected image; and a photographing controlling unit for controlling priorities between new first photographing and the second photographing if an instruction for carrying out the new first photographing is given during the second photographing.
US07961230B2
There is provided a configuration including a subject detection section adapted to detect an image of a specific subject in a target image, a ratio information acquisition section adapted to acquire ratio information representing a ratio between a size of the subject captured via a monocular lens used for taking an image of the target image and a size of the subject sensed by both eyes, and a transformation processing section adapted to execute image transformation on an area including the image of the subject on the target image based on the ratio information obtained by the ratio information acquisition section.
US07961222B2
To provide an image capturing apparatus that detects a camera movement accurately and corrects image blurring appropriately. An image capturing apparatus (200) includes: an image sensor unit (103) that captures and outputs an input image (105); an output unit (121) that outputs an image of a framing area (160) of the input image (105); a motion vector calculation unit (106) and a stationary object detection unit (201) that detect motion vectors in an outer-frame area (161) of the input image (105) and derive detection accuracy; an outer-frame area adjustment unit (205) that adjusts the outer-frame area (161) in size so that the detection accuracy meets an outer-frame area change threshold (tr); and a camera movement calculation unit (113) and a framing area modification unit (115) that move the framing area (160) according to motion vectors in the adjusted outer-frame area (161), irrespective of motion vectors in the other area.
US07961209B2
Each of a plurality of driver circuits includes a first 3-terminal switch element, a second 3-terminal switch element, and a 3-terminal light emitting element driven by the first 3-terminal switch element. The first 3-terminal switch element in a first circuit of adjacent driver circuits is driven by one of first and second clocks and the first 3-terminal switch element in a second circuit of the adjacent driver circuits is driven by the other of the first and second clocks. The second 3-terminal switch element in the first circuit supplies a signal to the second driver circuit, the signal representing an operational state of the first circuit. The second 3-terminal switch element in the first circuit includes a control electrode to which a third clock is supplied. The second 3-terminal switch element in the second circuit includes a control electrode to which a fourth clock is supplied.
US07961205B2
A display apparatus capable of reducing discrepancies between the image data received from the external graphic controller and the image that is actually displayed on the display panel is presented. The display apparatus includes a display panel having horizontal sub-pixels arranged in a first direction and a data modifier that receives image data for vertical sub-pixels arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction from an external graphic controller. The data modifier converts the image data to allow the image data to be applied to the horizontal sub-pixels and precisely display the intended images. The display apparatus displays an image using the modified image data by the data modifier. The display apparatus also includes a timing controller, a data driver, and a gate driver.
US07961198B2
In a method of managing color output by appearance intent a color display value is received. The color display value comprises at least one appearance intent tag and is associated with an item of graphic content. The color display value is converted into an intermediate color value such that an appearance intent specified by the appearance intent tag is preserved in the intermediate color value. The intermediate color value is converted into an output color display value recognizable by an output device, such that the appearance intent is preserved in the output color display value.
US07961193B2
The invention refers to a video data processing system and a video data processing circuit, comprising at least two functional blocks of which at least a first functional block is programmable so that different functions can be provided by said first functional block.
US07961180B2
An optical sensor providing enhanced reliability in sensing peripheral light and reduced power consumption, and a liquid crystal display device incorporating this optical sensor. In the optical sensor, a first transistor is electrically coupled between a first power supply and a second transistor, which is electrically coupled between the first transistor and a second power supply having a voltage less than that of the first power supply. The first transistor is either turned-on or turned-off according to a control signal. The second transistor controls an amount of an electric current flowing from the first transistor to the second power supply corresponding to an intensity of peripheral light. A sensing section is constructed with a first capacitor electrically coupled to the second transistor in parallel. A gate electrode of the second transistor is electrically coupled to the second power supply.
US07961172B2
A radio-capable device, comprising: a data collection unit for collecting data, and having a normal operating mode in which it is enabled for collecting data and a low-power mode; a radio communication unit for transmitting over a radio channel data collected by the data collection unit; and a radio channel sensor coupled to the radio unit for sensing at least one physical characteristic of the radio channel, and arranged to cause the data collection unit to enter the normal operating mode if the physical characteristic meets a pre-set threshold.
US07961144B2
A communication device for use in a system including a first global positioning system satellite, a second global positioning satellite, a broadcast transmitter and a database. The communication device includes a first receiver, a processing portion, a transmission portion, a second receiver portion and a communication portion. The first receiver portion is operable to receive the broadcast signal. The processing portion is operable to extract the broadcast transmitter identification information from the broadcast signal. The transmission portion is operable to transmit the broadcast transmitter identification information to the database. The second receiver portion is operable to receive the correlation signal. The communication portion is operable to transmit a communication signal to the one of the first global positioning system satellite and the second global positioning satellite, based on the correlation signal.
US07961141B2
In a method of mitigating errors in satellite navigation measurements at a satellite navigation receiver, respective single-frequency signals are received from respective satellites in a plurality of satellites in a satellite navigation system. Pseudorange and carrier-phase measurements corresponding to respective received single-frequency signals are calculated. These calculations include filtering the pseudorange and carrier-phase measurements in a Kalman filter having a state vector comprising a plurality of states, including a position state, a receiver clock state, and a plurality of bias states. Each bias state corresponds to a respective satellite in the plurality of satellites. The filtering includes updating the state vector. An estimated position of the satellite navigation receiver is updated in accordance with an update to the state vector.
US07961133B2
The disclosed system, device, and method for diverting a guided missile generally includes a ground-based sensor array generating tracking data of a guided missile tracking a target. A control node in communication with the ground-based sensor array generates targeting data from the tracking data. A phased array directed-energy unit in communication with the control node radiates the guided missile with variable beam width microwave radiation based on the targeting data received from the control node, where the microwave radiation disrupts an electronic component of the guided missile such that the guided missile discontinues tracking the target.
US07961130B2
Portions of a digital signal are buffered prior to being provided to a sub-system (e.g., a segmented DAC of a LDD) that is responsive to the digital signal. While being buffered, there is a determination, based on the buffered portions of the digital signal, of when one or more portions of the sub-system and/or another sub-system can be switched from a first state to a second state, where the second state results in less power dissipation than the first state. Additionally, or alternatively, while the portions of the digital signal are being buffered, there can be a determination, based on the buffered portions of the digital signal, of when one or more system related parameters can be adjusted to temporarily reduce power dissipation. Based on results of the determination(s), the state of one or more portions of the sub-system and/or another sub-system is/are selectively switched from the first state to the second state, or vice versa. Eventually, the portions of the digital signal are provided to the sub-system so that the sub-system can respond to the portions of the digital signal.
US07961124B1
A device and process to compensate for asymmetrical qualities of an analog input signal, if present, and generate a timing signal. The timing signal is then used for analog to digital conversion.
US07961119B1
A network optimization device may receive a stream of data and generate a signature for a plurality of fixed length overlapping windows of the stream of data. The device may select a predetermined number of the generated signatures for each Ln-byte segment of the data stream, wherein Ln is greater than a length of each of the windows. The network device may store the selected signatures in a bucketed hash table that includes a linked-list of entries for each bucket.
US07961113B2
A lighting fixture, and methods for powering and operating same. The fixture comprises a housing having multiple portions. One or more power and control circuit boards are disposed in a first portion of the housing, comprising one or more switching power supplies for receiving an A.C. line voltage and providing a D.C. output voltage, and a communication protocol converter for receiving first lighting instructions formatted according to a first communication protocol and converting at least some of the first lighting instructions to second lighting instructions formatted according to a second communication protocol. A plurality of modular circuit boards are disposed in the second portion of the housing and coupled to the power and control circuit board(s). Each modular circuit board comprises a plurality of LED-based lighting units coupled to the D.C. output voltage and responsive to the second lighting instructions formatted according to the second communication protocol.
US07961109B2
Provided are a fall detecting apparatus and method and an emergency aid system and method using the same. The fall detecting apparatus includes a storing unit configured to store fall data vectors; an angular velocity measuring unit configured to measure an angular velocity value; an acceleration measuring unit configured to measure an acceleration value; an acceleration extracting unit configured to extract a kinetic acceleration value and a gravitational acceleration value by filtering the acceleration value measured by the acceleration measuring unit; and a fall determining unit configured to convert the angular velocity value, which is measured by the angular velocity measuring unit, and the kinetic acceleration value and the gravitational acceleration value, which are extracted by the acceleration extracting unit, into a fall data vector, and determine a use's fall by comparing the converted fall data vector with the fall data vector stored in the storing unit.
US07961108B2
Updateable, customizable identification bands are disclosed herein. The identification band may include a band having an opening therein and at least one transparent surface. An information tag is insertable into the opening and is visible through the at least one transparent surface. The information tag is updateable, customizable or replaceable. The identification band may include accessible digital data storage as well. The identification band may also include a clasp. The clasp may include a male part and a female part, the female part having a cave-like opening that enables the information tag to be inserted into the opening in the band. The male part desirably secures the “cave-like” opening such that a water tight seal is formed.
US07961106B2
The present invention relates to a method for constructing location management system using RFID series. In particular, the present invention provides RFID series to complete work with a little time and workforce without confusion by concurrently installing a number of RFID tags, even where a number of RFID tags are required in order to constitute an RFID system, and a method for constructing a system to effectively manage the location of an objective space using RFID series, wherein additional drawings (or computerized drawings) for an objective space are nor required even where RFID tags are attached over a considerably wide space, but rather drawings for location management system of an objective space can be produce by attaching RFID tags.
US07961098B2
A locationing system for use in a wireless network generally includes a wireless switch and a global positioning system (GPS) located proximate to or integrated into the wireless switch such that it communicates GPS data to the wireless switch. At least one access port (AP) is coupled to the wireless switch. At least one RFID reader (mobile and/or fixed) is configured to communicate with the access port, and the RFID reader is configured to read an RFID tag and communicate RFID tag data to the wireless switch. The wireless switch is configured to determine the location of the RFID tag utilizing the GPS data and the RFID tag data.
US07961095B2
Devices and methods using wireless or wired network communications to form cooperative alarm networks centered on themselves. Intrusion detection alarms broadcast signals notifying other intrusion detection alarms of its status. When an alarm system experiences a security event, such as an attempted break-in, it notifies its network of its security event and other alarm systems within a cooperative network commence security measures, such as honking horns and flashing headlights. The cooperative response of the networked alarm systems increases decibel level and, in turn, the likelihood of a deterrent intervention, such as the perpetrator being apprehended, as well as increases the deterrence capability of the alarm systems.
US07961091B2
A method for synchronizing a security system control panel and a sensor. The control panel and the sensor each have a transceiver. The control panel monitors a publicly broadcast signal for an time signal, periodically receives the time signal, calculates a frequency hopping index pointer using the time signal and accesses a frequency hopping table using the frequency hopping index pointer. The frequency hopping table is used by the control panel to determine when to hop between multiple receiving channels and which of the receiving channels to hop. The sensor wakes up from a standby mode when the sensor determines that the sensor is to send data, receives the publicly broadcast signal that includes a time signal, selects the channel that the control panel is actively receiving data using the time signal and transmits the data to the control panel using the selected channel.
US07961087B2
Holistic alarm monitoring may be provided. An alarm display interface may receive alarm messages relating to assorted priorities and/or categories. Users may configure rules for displaying and processing the alarm messages as they are received. Historical alarm messages may be correlated and analyzed to determine trends, as by displaying the alarm messages on a calendar. Users may also configure and share alarm display views, search through received alarm messages, annotate and/or attach files to alarm messages, and categorize alarm messages.
