US08246259B2
An exemplary camera module includes a lens barrel defining an aperture for light entering the lens barrel and a lens received in the lens barrel. The lens includes a central optical portion aligned with the aperture of the lens barrel and a fixing portion around a periphery of the optical portion for fixing the lens in the lens barrel. An outside surface of the fixing portion of the lens is beveled relative to an optical axis of the camera module.
US08246258B2
An exemplary mechanical shutter includes a base with a through hole defined therein, a blade arranged on the base, two shape memory alloy units, and a control unit. Each of the two shape memory alloy units includes a first end and a opposite second end. The first end of the shape memory alloy element is attached to the base, and the second end is attached to the blade. The control unit is configured for controlling the two shape memory alloy units to selectively deform into a first shape, or into a second shape. In particular, the two shape memory alloy units each straighten to a first shape (straight shape) and move the blade to cover the through hole. In addition, the two shape memory alloy units each deform to a second shape (spring coil shape) and thus move the blade away from the through hole to expose the through hole.
US08246257B2
An optical fiber connector includes a housing, a plurality of lenses fixed to the housing, a plurality of optical fibers, and a glue. The housing defines a plurality of blind holes and receiving cavities. Each blind hole includes a first receiving hole portion. Each receiving cavity is in communication with the corresponding first receiving hole portion. Each optical fiber is received in the corresponding blind hole and includes a core portion. The glue is applied in each receiving cavity and fixes the optical fibers in the housing. Along a lengthwise direction of each blind hole, a projection of each receiving cavity on a plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction covers that of the core portion. The glue surrounds the core portion, and a distal end of the core portion contacts an inner surface of the housing in the corresponding receiving cavity facing the respective blind hole.
US08246256B2
A hub on a wheel bearing unit, which has at least one inner ring, sitting on the hub. The inner ring is axially retained on the hub by a collar, which has a toothing, formed from the hub. The inner ring has a radially inward broken-out section on the front face thereof and the broken-out section is filled with plastically displaced material from the collar such that the material of the inner ring at least engages in the broken-out section and the material in the broken-out section is enclosed in the radial direction by the inner ring.
US08246255B2
A guide shaft bearing including an internal ring mounted on a cylindrical contact surface of a shaft and a device for the axial locking of the ring including a ring mounted sliding on the cylindrical contact surface and an annular rib made of shape memory material mounted in two annular grooves of the cylindrical contact surface and of the ring is disclosed. The annular rib is able to expand radially by shape memory effect when it is subjected to a temperature greater than a transition temperature of its material to pass to a locking position of the ring on the cylindrical contact surface.
US08246252B2
A bearing apparatus has a rolling bearing including an outer ring (11), an inner ring (12), and rolling elements (13) disposed between the two rings, and a temperature sensor (TS) for measuring an internal temperature of the rolling bearing. A wire from the temperature sensor extends to the outside via a through-hole (11d) formed in a component of the bearing apparatus, and hence the temperature sensor can be disposed in a desired position with excellent wiring extension flexibility, thereby enabling a temperature in the desired position of the bearing to be measured. The temperature sensor, which can be configured thin in a small size with flexibility, can therefore be incorporated into whichever portion of the bearing, wherein a high response to temperature detection is attained, and detectability of abnormality in temperature can be improved.
US08246251B1
A thrust chamber using a single thrust bearing and having seals secured to the thrust chamber case. Also a skid for a horizontally mounted submersible pump, thrust chamber and drive mechanism. The skid having a thrust chamber mounting bracket which provides positive mounting locations thus allowing for the change out of the thrust chamber without removing the drive mechanism.
US08246241B2
A mixing device for mixing adhesives containing at least two components comprises a conveying plate having first and second grooved surfaces each overlaid by a respective cover plate. The conveying plate and the opposed cover plates cooperate to define a plurality of separated channels extending through the mixing device. The discharge ends of the channels are interdigitated. First and a second distribution manifolds are defined within the mixing device. A supply port adapted to receive one adhesive component extends through a respective cover plate into fluid communication with one of the distribution manifolds.
US08246229B2
A master/museum picture frame containing integral lighting and a light director (FIG. 1) in accordance with Snell's law of Total Internal Reflection and Refraction By a Prism. Said lights, wired in series with a resistance wire parallel to the filament on the lights dumet, in accordance with the Shunt Theory, such that if one light burns out the remainder remain lighted, to present the artwork in the most favorable manner for the longest period of time when viewed in a depreciating environment. The master/museum frame is interchangeable, both forward and backward, with the capability of being used as a lighted frame or an unlighted frame by substituting a spacer in place of the light director and vice versa as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
US08246228B2
A light guide ring unit includes a first annular surface, a second annular surface opposite to the first annular surface and an inner side surface connecting the first annular surface and the second annular surface. The first annular surface defines a plurality of first elongated grooves extending along a radius of the first annular surface. The second annular surface defines a second groove extending along a radius of the second annular surface. The first annular surface receives light from a light source, and the light is reflected by the inner walls of the second groove.
US08246226B2
A back-lit vehicle emblem is disclosed, that provides an emblem body having a front side facing away from the vehicle and exhibiting the emblem and having a rear side facing toward the vehicle. The body is shaped to provide at least a partial housing for mounting at least one LED. A space between the body and the vehicle when the body is mounted upon the vehicle is provided. At least one LED is mounted in the at least partial housing and oriented to transmit light through the space between the body and the vehicle so that light illuminates one or more contours of the body.
US08246209B2
An exemplary illumination device includes a light source and a light-pervious light guiding barrel. The light source is configured for emitting light along a given light path. The light-pervious light guiding barrel receives the light source therein, and the barrel includes light guiding regions with different light directing and/or reflecting capabilities. In addition, the barrel is rotatable relative to the light source such that each of the light guiding regions can be selectively placed on the light path to direct and/or reflect the light from the light source.
US08246199B2
An LED illuminating device includes a first and a second illuminating module, and a connecting module connecting the first illuminating module with the second illuminating module. The first illuminating module includes a first substrate carrying a double-sided reflector, a first group of LEDs, and a second group of LEDs. The double-sided reflector divides the first illuminating module into a front lighting area and a lateral lighting area, light emitted by the first group of LEDs illuminates the front lighting area, and light emitted by the second group of LEDs illuminates the lateral lighting area. The second illuminating module includes a second substrate and a third group of LEDs mounted on the second substrate. The first group of LEDs and the second group of LEDs are opposite to the third group of LEDs, and the projections of the first substrate and the second substrate are spaced to each other.
US08246197B2
An exemplary lens includes a first light incident surface, a second light incident surface, a reflecting surface, a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface. The second light incident surface is connected with the first light incident surface. The first and the second light incident surfaces cooperatively define a receiving space therebetween. The receiving space is configured for accommodating the point light source. The reflecting surface is connected with the second light emitting surface. The first light emitting surface is opposite to the first light incident surface. Light entering the lens through the first light incident surface exits from the first light emitting surface. The second light emitting surface is connected between the first light emitting surface and the reflecting surface. Light entering the lens through second light incident surface is reflected from the reflecting surface to the second light emitting surface to exit the lens.
US08246193B2
A solar lamp includes a solar panel, a reserve power unit, a luminescence module and a transmission module. The solar panel connecting the reserve power unit transforms solar energy into electric energy, and stores electric energy into the reserve power unit. The luminescence module connecting the reserve power unit receives electric energy outputting from the reserve power unit. The transmission module comprises a port, wherein one end of the port connects the reserve power unit, and the other one end of the port electrically connects an electronic product. Therefore, the solar lamp would supply electric energy into the electronic product by the transmission module, or the electronic product would supply electric energy into the solar lamp by the transmission module.
US08246191B2
A wind-driven light-emitting device comprises a housing, a first shaft sleeving member, a second shaft sleeving member and a plurality of blades. The blades are coupled to a first shaft. The first shaft has a first speed-change gear driving a second speed-change gear of a rotating second shaft. The second shaft has a magnetic element. The second shaft sleeving member has a coil connected with a circuit. The circuit is connected to a plurality of light-emitting (or light-guiding) elements arranged on the blades. When the device is windward, wind propels the blades to rotate. Thus, the magnetic element of the second shaft is rotated to induce voltage on the coil. The circuit rectifies, boosts, stabilizes and regulates the power to drive the light-emitting (or light-guiding) elements. Thereby, the present invention provides a decorative lighting effect without using any external electric power.
US08246184B2
A novel method makes it possible to form cavities intended to contain a liquid with determined optical properties within a film for optical use. The walls (38) of the cavities (40) are formed by plasma etching of a layer of transparent or light absorbent material (30, 34) transferred onto a microtechnological substrate, the walls (38) having a structured profile in order to limit the parasitic phenomena of light diffusion and diffraction.
US08246175B2
A lighting device that lights a discharge lamp which contains a pair of electrodes and light emission substance including mercury, includes: a first terminal connected with the electrode to which mercury easily adheres, and a second terminal connected with the electrode to which mercury is difficult to adhere; a setting unit which sets AC current supplied to the first and second terminals in a starting period from insulation break down of the discharge lamp until start of discharge between the tips of the pair of the electrodes; and a supplying unit which supplies AC current set by the setting unit to the first and second terminals, wherein the setting unit sets AC current such that the half-cycle electric quantity supplied to the first terminal becomes larger than the half-cycle electric quantity supplied to the second terminal in the initial term of the starting period under the condition in which the first terminal initially operates as cathode, and that the half-cycle electricity quantities supplied to the first and second terminals become substantially equal in the final term of the starting period.
US08246157B2
The present invention relates to a printing method, a printing apparatus, and a printed document by which an ink offset can be prevented while securing a sufficient adhesion force of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. Ink is applied so that, when ink applied to a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet cures, a convex section of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer exposed out of the curried ink, thereby printing an image.
US08246156B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a water-based pigment dispersion containing a pigment, a dispersing agent, a resin emulsion, and water, the water-based pigment dispersion is subjected to a heat treatment. The present invention also provides a water-based pigment ink containing the water-based pigment dispersion, a dispersing agent, a resin emulsion, and water.
US08246151B2
A liquid supply device includes a liquid cartridge having a liquid chamber that stores a liquid, a cartridge mounting portion, and a level detector that detects a position of a liquid surface of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber. The position of the liquid surface of the liquid is detected to be at one of at least three liquid surface levels. The liquid supply device also includes a determiner that determines that the liquid supply device is in an abnormal state when the position of the liquid surface of the liquid moves up by two or more liquid surface levels and determines that the liquid supply device is not in the abnormal state when the liquid surface of the liquid moves up by one or fewer liquid surface level.
US08246149B2
A liquid ejecting head including a pressure generating chamber which is in communicating with a nozzle orifice, a piezoelectric element having an active portion which is supplied a drive signal and an inactive portion which is not supplied the drive signal, and a film wiring substrate including an active wiring layer which is electrically connected to an individual connecting terminal of the active portion and an inactive wiring layer which is electrically connected to an individual connecting terminal of the inactive portion.
US08246139B2
An ink supply device includes a cartridge mounting portion to which an ink cartridge is mounted by being inserted thereinto in an insertion direction. The cartridge mounting portion includes a first detector configured to detect a first portion and a second portion of the ink cartridge. The ink supply device also includes an trigger detector configured to output a first signal and a second signal during an insertion of the ink cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion, and a type determiner configured to perform a type determination based on a first determination of whether or not the first detector detects the first portion when the output signal changes from the first signal to the second signal, and based on a second determination of whether or not the first detector detects the second portion when the output signal changes from the second signal to the first signal.
US08246138B2
Print quality feedback is provided about a printer. Printer operation is monitored to determine when printer parts are not operating correctly. Information indicating which printer parts are not operating correctly is stored. A test pattern is modified to produce an emulated test pattern. The emulated test pattern emulates how the test pattern would appear when printed by the printer. The emulated test pattern includes alterations made to the test pattern based on the information indicating which printer parts are not operating correctly.
US08246134B2
An inkjet recording apparatus having: a recording head including a pressure generation section, a pressure chamber, and a nozzle; and a drive signal generator which generates the drive signal including a first expansion pulse, a contraction pulse, and a second expansion pulse, wherein the pulses are generated to satisfy that: a peak value position P1 of positive pressure is not more than 1.45AL from a drive signal applying start time, and |M1/P1|≧0.45, where AL represents a half of the acoustic resonance period of the pressure chamber, M1 is a first peak value of negative pressure in the pressure chamber, P1 is a peak value of a positive pressure succeeding to M1, and M2 is a peak value of a negative pressure succeeding to P1, wherein M1, P1 and M2 are values of a pressure wave generated by total effect of all the pulses.
US08246120B2
A fully electrically controlled electric braking system is provided for a road vehicle fitted with wheels (1). Each of the wheels is connected for rotation to at least one rotary electric machine (2) specific thereto, with at least one electronic wheel control module (23) controlling the electric machine(s) (2) of that wheel. Each electronic wheel control module (23) makes it possible to impart selectively to a corresponding wheel a control torque of determined amplitude and sign, in such a way that the corresponding wheel imparts to the vehicle a drive force or a braking force in accordance with the control torque. The system includes a central unit (3) for managing vehicle displacement, the central unit (3) controlling all the electronic wheel control modules (23). The central unit (3) has a vehicle braking mode activated by a vehicle braking control signal having a given amplitude representing a total desired braking force for the fully electrically controlled wheels. In the braking mode, whatever the amplitude of the braking control signal, the central unit (3) controls all the electronic wheel control modules (23) in such a way that the sum of the longitudinal forces of all the wheels is a function of the amplitude of the braking control signal, the function being proportional, for example.
US08246118B2
A footrest for a foot of a person is provided, where the person is at least partially supported by a seat that is disposed on a stand that has a support post or disposed on a shaft that is part of a pedestal support assembly. Typically the footrest has a plate with a footrest surface and in some embodiments the footrest surface is entirely under the seat. In some embodiments the footrest surface faces away from the support post or shaft. Some embodiments include a mounting bracket and a connecting assembly that operatively secures the footrest plate to the mounting bracket. The connecting assembly generally has two engagement mechanisms and a spring that biases the connecting assembly in selectable angular positions with respect to the mounting bracket and plate.
US08246117B2
An armrest apparatus and chair including one or more armrest apparatuses are disclosed. Each armrest apparatus includes an armrest member attached to at least one chair component. The armrest member has a first aperture and a second aperture. A first plate is positioned above the armrest member. The first plate has a longitudinal slot that is transverse to the first and second apertures. An armrest cover is attached to the first plate. A resilient device is positioned between the first plate and the armrest cover or between the first plate and the armrest member. The resilient device has a first hole sized and configured to receive the first member and a second hole sized and configured to receive the second member. A first member extends through the first aperture, first hole and the longitudinal slot and a second member extends through the second aperture, second hole and the longitudinal slot.
US08246116B1
A head restraint assembly comprising a housing, an armature extending though opposite sides of the housing, at least one latch receiving member provided on the armature and coupled thereto for non-rotatable movement with respect to the armature, and a latch member extending though opposite sides of the housing. The latch member includes a projection that engages the at least one latch receiving member when the latch member is moved into a latched position.
US08246113B2
An office chair or office chair element, such as a backrest or seat, has a flat covering element, such as a fabric, cushioning or webbing element, secured to support elements, such as the arms of a support frame, and tensioned in between. The covering element is provided with a welt strip that, in the fitted state, is placed in an accommodating groove in the support element. The accommodating groove has two oppositely situated contact faces for the welt strip and one of the contact faces is provided with a projection that projects into the accommodating groove and extends in the longitudinal direction of the groove. The welt strip can be pressed into the accommodating groove, resiliently deforming the projection and/or the welt strip and the welt strip, in the fitted state, is positively locked and/or friction-locked in the groove with abutment against the contact faces, with the projection preventing the welt strip from escaping from the accommodating groove.
US08246108B2
A pillar structure of a vehicle body includes a pillar that forms a closed cross-sectional structure made up of an outer panel and an inner panel and that extends substantially along the vertical direction. The inner panel defines an opening and a reinforcing member is joined to a part including at least the periphery of the opening in the inner panel of the pillar.
US08246107B2
A cab stopper device 32 is provided between a bracket 23 on a machine frame of a work machine and a cab 25. The cab stopper device 32 restricts relative movement of the cab 25 with respect to the machine frame in the vertical direction. Two through holes 43, 44 are formed in a floor plate 27 of the cab 25. A stopper 48 of the cab stopper device 32 is inserted in the through holes 43, 44 from above. An engaging portion 48a is formed at the lower end of the stopper 48 that projects from the through holes 43, 44 downward of the floor plate 27. The engaging portion 48a is arranged to be engageable with a restricting groove 42 formed in the bracket 23. In this state, a securing portion 48b at the upper end of the stopper 48 is secured to the floor plate 27.
US08246106B2
A field configurable vehicle armoring system and associated method allow a user to retrofit and reconfigure a combination of armor components in response to a perceived threat change and using original equipment manufacture fasteners and holes. The system includes pillar armor attachable after an original equipment manufacture door and hinge are removed. Fasteners extend through the hinge of the armored door, the pillar armor and an original equipment manufacture pillar using holes other than the original equipment manufacture holes. Rocker panel and underbody armor is further provided, along with a ballistic resistant windscreen and rear wall armor. Where desired, system armor includes a composite plate comprising a strike face that is constructed from softer metallic material than an inner metallic sheet.
US08246105B2
A frontal structure is provided for a motor vehicle that includes, but is not limited to a support structure that can be connected to longitudinal members of a front frame, to which a cooling module is fastened with a retaining device, and a bumper cross member mounted ahead of the cooling module. The retaining device includes, but is not limited to at least two cooling module holders that are attached to a component selected from support structure and cooling module and which are provided with elongate recesses, in which retaining elements attached to the respectively other component are anchored. The retaining device is configured in such a manner that in the event of a backward yielding of the bumper cross member, a translational displacement of the cooling module in the direction opposite to the direction of travel is possible.
US08246104B2
A vehicular reinforcing bar structure includes: a reinforcing bar fixedly fastened at its opposite end portions to a pair of opposed vehicle body frame members, the reinforcing bar having a uniform closed sectional shape from one of the end portions to the other; collars fitted in the respective opposite end portions of the reinforcing bar for imparting fastening force to the end portions; and mounting brackets provided in corresponding relation to the opposite end portions, each of the mounting brackets being formed in a closed section and fixedly fastening the corresponding end portion by sandwiching the end portion with the corresponding vehicle body frame member.
US08246096B2
A differential action railroad car wheelset axle has two individual stub axles, each having one or more annular rings or grooves on the interior ends, with the interior ends of the individual stub axles being rotatably mounted within a multi-piece sleeve assembly. The axle assembly has provision for safety pins to prevent independent rotation during installation in the railcar truck frame and also a device to permit relocking or unlocking the independent axle rotation after the original safety pins have been removed. Dry lubricant coatings eliminate the need for periodic liquid lubrication or maintenance. The differential action of the wheelset reduces the horsepower requirement by approximately 30 percent while also reducing the maintenance requirements for both wheels and track in locations where horizontal curves are predominant.
US08246092B2
Disclosed is a profiled element (66) which is designed as a hollow profiled support section and is used for fastening a bumper to longitudinal beams (30) of a vehicle. Said profiled element (66) is assigned to a longitudinal beam (30) made of steel as an insertable section for the interior (32) of the longitudinal beam (30). The final edge (67) of at least two opposite walls (68) of the insertable section of the profiled element (66), which is made of a light metal material, is attached inside an insertion member (70) which, as a separation layer, prevents adjacent surfaces that are made of light metal and iron-carbon alloys from corroding. The insertable section is inserted into the longitudinal beam (30) along with the insertion members (70).
US08246090B2
A bumper beam has an open hat beam profile with a central flange (11), two webs (12, 13) and two side flanges (14, 15), and it has two fastening portions (16, 17) in which the central flange has transverse recesses (30, 31), which continue along the webs for a maximum of 40% of the extent of the webs in the transverse direction. These recesses strengthen the profile and provide controlled deformation in response to collision loading.
US08246077B2
An occupant restraining device for a vehicle that can regulate a position of a seat belt, without occupying vehicle cabin space. An air belt device includes a retractor that is arranged to the rear, in a vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to a seat back, a seat belt that is pulled out from the retractor when applied to an occupant and that includes a shoulder belt portion for restraining an upper body of the occupant, and a belt insertion portion that is formed by indenting a portion, in a seat width direction, of an upper end of the seat back, and into which an upper side portion of the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt is made to enter.
US08246070B2
A snow glider comprises a longitudinally-extending runner for supporting a rider on ridden snow and having a generally central, longitudinally-extending slot. The glider further comprises an elevated rider-supporting deck and chatter-absorbing means straddling the slot for supporting the deck above the runner. Preferably, the bottom surface of the runner is preferably generally convex across its width, with curved outer edges that provide directional control to the rider when turning, and at least one longitudinally-extending, generally straight longitudinally-extending inner edge adjacent the periphery of the slot for greater directional control when the rider is going straight. To enhance controllability, the deck of the preferred embodiment is preferably coupled to the runner near the runner's outer periphery so that the force exerted by the rider is transmitted from his/her feet directly to the outer edges of the runner. To further reduce frictional contact with the snow, the bottom surface of the runner is preferably dimpled.
US08246069B2
A tow hook assembly that includes a mount bracket, a tow hook having a towing end and a mounting end extending axially along a towing direction and through the mount bracket, a support bracket positioned proximal to the towing end of the tow hook and configured to support the towing end of the tow hook, and a fastener attached to the mounting end of the tow hook. The tow hook assembly is attached between the frame rail and impact beam of a motor vehicle such that the motor vehicle may be towed by the tow hook assembly and such that the tow hook assembly will break away from the motor vehicle upon application of a force which is less than a force required to activate an airbag.
US08246067B1
Described herein is a trailer hitch adapter designed to relieve the weight of a trailer from applying directly onto the hitch of a towing vehicle. The hitch adapter features a towing bar pivotally secured to a frame with a wheel base, the towing bar resists pivotal movement by spring and damper assemblies. The frame has a hitch for receiving the trailer and the towing bar has a hitch for attachment to the towing vehicle. The wheel base of the hitch adapter is movable between a forward and rearward position.
US08246053B2
The present invention relates to an exhaust manifold gasket having a metallic core, at least one insulating layer, and an embossed layer. The metallic core has two sides with at least one side having a plurality of projections. The insulating layer has two sides, with the first side contacting the projections of the metallic core and the second side contacting the embossed layer. The embossed layer is a metallic flange having a lower leg, a convex face, and an upper leg.
US08246049B1
The present invention is a card and board game either real or simulated foundationally based on standard cribbage rules. It enhances play by adding one or more special cards to a standard 52-card deck. The special cards significantly increase the variety of hands players can get as well as the strategy involved during pegging and counting. The special cards also significantly enhance the point totals attainable during pegging and counting while preserving the integrity of the classic game of cribbage. A special pegging board can accompany the card game. The board embodiments provide different length lanes for cribbage based play corresponding to differing number of players, player combinations playing the game and game lengths.
US08246043B2
A media retrieval mechanism includes a pivot shaft, a media delivery device and a driving device. The media delivery device is capable of rotating about the pivot shaft. The media delivery device includes a contact portion and a rotating arm. The contact portion is capable of engaging at least one media. The driving device is attached to the pivot shaft. The driving device is capable of being driven by the pivot shaft. The driving device includes a driving member and the driving member includes a driving arm. The driving arm is capable of directing the rotating arm to angle the media delivery device thereby elevating the contact portion from the lower position to a lift-up position for disengaging the at least one media.
US08246041B2
A system and method for monitoring media stack height utilizes a pick mechanism and stack height sensing mechanism. The pick mechanism has a pick arm and a pick roller, the arm rotatably mounted at one end to pivot about an axis and change its angular position relative thereto. The roller rotatably mounted to an opposite end of the arm contacts a media stack top and is rotatably driven to feed sheets one at a time from the stack top changing the stack height. The angular position of the arm relative to the stack changes as the stack height changes. The stack height sensing mechanism arranged on and adjacent to the arm senses arm angular displacement as the stack height changes to provide an indication of the sheet quantity remaining in the stack. A method for calibrating stack height sensing of the monitoring system provides one or more calibration points such as at “full stack” and “stack out” conditions.
US08246040B2
A sheet feeding apparatus is constituted from a sheet loading section having a raising and lowering plate, sheet side surface regulating members that regulate side surfaces of sheets, and an air blowing section that blows air towards the side surface of sheets in a top part, a sheet suction and conveying section, a reflection type sensor which detects the upper limit position of the sheets in the sheet loading section, a control section which, when an output of the reflection type sensor becomes an output indicating the state between the sheets that are put in the floating state due to the air flow blown out from an air blowing section and the sheets that are maintaining the stacked state, carries out control so as to raise the raising and lowering plate.
US08246037B2
An automatic document feeder includes a feeder casing, a pressing structure, a guiding notch, plural first guiding ribs and plural second guiding ribs. The pressing structure is disposed on a bottom part of the feeder casing. The guiding notch is formed in the pressing structure. The first guiding ribs are arranged downstream of the guiding notch. The second guiding ribs are arranged beside the first guiding ribs. The height of the first guiding rib is smaller than the height of the second guiding rib. The lower first guiding ribs are used for guiding a thicker paper. The higher second guiding ribs are used for guiding a thinner paper.
US08246035B2
An image reading apparatus, which may be used in an image forming apparatus includes a document table including a flat surface for receiving a document, and a document cover that can be moved between a first position covering the flat surface and a second position exposing the flat surface. The image reading apparatus may further include an automatic document feeder disposed on the document cover that can automatically feed a document toward the flat surface. The automatic document feeder includes a gear train, and a gear cover covering a portion of the gear train, wherein the gear cover includes a protrusion that protrudes downward below the flat surface of the document table.
US08246034B2
According to an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes: a processing tray on which a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus is placed; a lateral alignment unit which has a pair of movable alignment boards, holds and the sheet on the processing tray between the pair of alignment boards, and aligns the sheet; a stapler which staples the sheet placed on the processing tray; a sheet discharge unit which discharges the stapled sheet from the processing tray to a discharge port; and a control unit which control so that the sheet is stapled after an operation of holding the sheet between the pair of alignment boards and then opening the alignment boards is performed plural times, when the sheet is inserted to the stapler from the discharge port and manually stapled.
US08246031B2
A new gathering and stitching machine (10) and a new method for operating a gathering and stitching machine (1) are proposed, which make it possible to drive in the staples (K) in a positionally correct manner and to close them satisfactorily even in the case of relatively short staple setting times. This is achieved by the novel control of the position of the staple heads (20) and the saddle-shaped supports (2, 30, 40, 50) in the region of the interaction during stapling. It is an essential feature of the present invention that the staple head (20) and the support (2, 30, 40, 50) are pivoted towards one another in such a way that they come to lie within a common stapling plane (H). This means that the saddle plane which is defined by the pivoting axis (S) of the saddle-shaped support (2, 30, 40, 50) and the support edge (13) and the staple-head plane which is defined by the pivoting axis of the staple head (20) and the ram tip are superimposed on one another in the region of the interaction and for the duration of the interaction and define what is known as the stapling plane (H). Here, the stapling plane (H) is pivoted continuously, with the result that it stands orthogonally on the main conveying plane (X) only in a central position.
US08246027B2
A clamping apparatus includes a motor, a first cone gear secured to a shaft of the motor, and two clamping bodies attached to opposite sides of the motor. Each of the clamping bodies includes a second cone gear meshing with the first, a threaded post fixed to the second cone gear, a carriage threadedly connected with the threaded post, and a clamp arm fixed to the carriage. The motor rotates the first cone gear, and in turn the second cone gears and the corresponding threaded posts. With the rotation of the threaded posts, the carriages move towards or away from each other, whereby the clamp arms cooperatively acquire an object between the clamp arms, or release the object therefrom.
US08246026B2
Disclosed are a tool indexer assembly, a computer numerically controlled machine that includes such tool indexer assembly, and associated methods. The assembly in one embodiment includes a turret and an indexer, the indexer including a portion that is movable with respect to the turret and that includes plural tool station configured to receive plural tool structures. The tool indexer is disposed on a facet of the turret, and, in some embodiments includes a table that is rotatable about an axis that is generally orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the turret. In another embodiment, a tool indexer includes a clamping mechanism having a source of pressurized fluid and a piston that is hydraulically actuated by the pressurized fluid and movable to a clamping position. The assembly further includes a conduit for delivery of the pressurized fluid proximal the tool structure as coolant fluid.
US08246024B2
A bushing, having a core member, at least one enveloping body surrounding the same, and at least one elastic connecting layer, the elastic connecting layer joining together and spacing apart the enveloping body and the core member, and the core member and the enveloping body being movable relative to one another. In view of the object of designing and further refining a bushing of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it exhibits an adjustable stiffness response that is dependent on the deflection of the core member relative to the enveloping body, following the cost-effective manufacturing thereof, the bushing has at least one limit stop, which is structurally separate or is produced separately from the connecting layer, is assigned to the core member and/or the enveloping body and limits the relative movement thereof.
US08246018B2
A diffuser assembly with a buoyancy vessel and a chamber for buoyantly raising the diffuser assembly for maintenance work. The diffuser assembly has a support structure, diffusers connected to the frame, and a buoyancy vessel positioned on the frame, capable of alternating between a state of buoyancy or ballast.
US08246017B2
A downcomer for a gas-liquid contacting device. The downcomer may include first and second spaced apart side walls, first and second end walls, a floor, and first and second opposing discharge walls. Generally, each end wall is coupled to a respective end of the first and second side walls. Typically, the floor is coupled to the side walls and end walls, and the floor has at least one section adapted for permitting the passage of liquid there-through. The first and second opposing discharge walls can be coupled to respective first and second side walls and having respective ends below the floor.
US08246013B2
A hanger for a cable guardrail system is disclosed including a first portion with first and second seats on opposite sides of a post each seat capable of supporting a cable, and a second portion capable of engaging the end of the post. Also disclosed is a cable guardrail system including a plurality of posts, a plurality of hangers attached to at least a portion of the plurality of posts, and at least two cables supported by the seats on opposite sides of the post. The cable guardrail system may redirect an impacting vehicle and dissipate a portion of the impacting vehicle's energy.
US08246012B2
A construction site fence, or barrier foot plate base unit or foot cover attachment for separating the barrier from traffic and to guide traffic. The base unit attaches a traffic delineator thereon top of the base unit. Also, the base unit may include a pad that is tapered away from the construction site barrier panel foot, creating a gentle sloping ramp, including a combination of the sloping ramp and the delineator mount.
US08246008B2
System for lifting and lowering a load, such as a vehicle, with at least one lifting mechanism such as a lifting column, a boom lift, a scissor lift and a loading platform. The lifting mechanism includes a carrier which can be moved up and downward for bearing the load and a drive which acts on the carrier. The drive herein includes at least one electrical power source and an electric motor to be energized at least during ascending of the carrier, and the electric motor forms a generator to be connected to the power source at least during even an unloaded descending movement of the carrier for the purpose of gene rating electrical energy to the power source.
US08246006B2
A valve seal has a sealing lip and a compressible portion. The valve seal is utilized to seal a valve guide and a stem. The valve guide has a height within a predetermined range of heights and the sealing lip sealingly engages the stem. The compressible portion has at least two articulating portions with a hinge portion between the two articulating portions. The compressible portion sealingly engages the valve guide and articulates to accept the valve guide without substantially deforming the lip or interfering with the stem.
US08246004B2
The invention relates to a valve cartridge for a solenoid valve having a capsule, a magnetic armature that is movably guided within the capsule, a valve insert inserted into the capsule at a first end, and a valve body, which is pressed into a second end of the valve insert, and having a main valve seat. The magnetic armature, moved by a generated magnetic force, moves a tappet that is guided within the valve insert. The tappet has a locking element which includes a sealing element which plunges into the main valve seat of the valve body in a sealing manner for carrying out a sealing function, and an associated solenoid valve. According to the invention, the valve insert is configured as a slotted bushing, having a collar integrated onto the second end of the valve insert in order to increase an outer diameter and a shape stability of the valve insert.
US08246002B1
A support gasket for use with a concrete panel mold system comprises an inner stiffener bar and engagement structure, attached to or formed integrally with the stiffening bar. The engagement structure is operable to engage an adjacent material. A pliable gasket material is disposed about the inner stiffening bar and is positively engaged with the engagement structure to secure the gasket material to the stiffening bar.
US08245987B2
A mounting bracket for mounting a temperature sensor, a gas valve, a power delivery unit, a controller and/or any other suitable object or device to a water heater tank. An illustrative but non-limiting example may be found in a mounting bracket that includes a polymeric body that has a sensor portion configured to receive a temperature sensor. The sensor portion may have a distal end that extends into and supports the temperature sensor within the water heater tank. The polymeric body may also includes a threaded portion that is configured to threadably engage a threaded spud in a water heater tank such that the distal end of the sensor portion extends into the water tank of the water heater.
US08245986B2
A support stand includes a support body, a connecting member, a fastening assembly. The support body defines an assembling hole. The connecting member is received in the assembling hole of the support body, and defines an engaging hole. The fastening assembly is positioned on the support body. The fastening assembly includes a follower. The follower has a positioning pole. The follower is movably connected to the support body, so that the positioning pole is capable of engaging/disengaging in the engaging hole of the connecting member.
US08245982B2
A wing, comprising a structure, an outer skin, and a leading edge device comprising a moveable body with a leading and a trailing edge and a support and actuation mechanism for attaching said moveable body to a structure of a wing and guiding a substantially circular motion of said moveable body, around a hinge line, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position. Said leading edge device further comprises at least one guiding device comprising a track and a follower with a roller. The track follows a substantially circular arc substantially centered on the hinge line. The roller is arranged to be guided by the track and hold down said moveable aerodynamic surface so as to substantially restrict lift-off of its trailing edge from the outer skin of the wing.
US08245981B2
A leading edge structure for use in an aerospace vehicle includes a body having a flowpath surface which defines a leading edge adapted to face an air flow during operation, and an opposed inner surface. The body is segmented into a plurality of portions having varying thermal properties and/or mechanical discontinuities, so as to promote stress concentrations in ice attached to the flowpath surface.
US08245973B2
A method for improving the conspicuity of aircraft is described that includes determining onto which exposed portions of an aircraft surface a retro-reflective material is to be placed, and attaching the retro-reflective material to the exposed portions such that an observer of the retro-reflective material is provided with an indication of a size, location, and orientation of the aircraft.
US08245967B2
An actuation system including a plurality of actuators; a plurality of position sensors coupled to the actuators, the plurality of position sensors providing rate feedback signals proportional to an actuator rate; a plurality of force sensors coupled to the actuators, the plurality of force sensors providing delta pressure signals; and a feedback control loop configured to receive the rate feedback signals and delta pressure signals and compute a difference in actual actuator rates and sum the difference with a computed difference in actuator forces to generate actuator positioning commands that equalize the actuator forces on a control surface.
US08245956B2
Electromagnetic fuel injector for gaseous fuels comprising: an injection nozzle controlled by an injection valve; a movable shutter to regulate the flow of fuel through the injection valve; an electromagnetic actuator, which is suitable to move the shutter between a closed position and an open position of the injection valve and comprises a fixed magnetic pole, a coil suitable to induce a magnetic flux in the magnetic pole, and a movable anchor suitable to be magnetically attracted by the magnetic pole; an absorption element, which is made of an amagnetic elastic material and is arranged between the magnetic pole and the anchor; and a protective element, which is made of a magnetic metal material having high surface hardness and is interposed between the absorption element and the anchor.
US08245955B2
The occurrence of leaks can be reduced by a fuel injection device (10) for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, wherein the fuel injection device (10) has an injection valve element (14) with a first section (26) on which a guide bearing element (20) is arranged, with provision being made for a first pressure chamber (22) in an area around the guide bearing element (20).
US08245943B2
An integrated circuit, a non-contact IC card, a reader/writer, a wireless communications method, and a computer program are provided to improve communication. The integrated circuit configured to execute wireless communication by means of magnetic field. The integrated circuit has a resonance circuit having resonance frequencies of a plurality of levels, a confirmation block configured to confirm whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, and a switching block configured to change the resonance frequencies if the predetermined condition is found satisfied as a result of the confirmation.
US08245940B2
To provide a card-like magnetic recording medium and a transferable laminate which can make a hologram distinctly recognizable and can prevent the occurrence of an ESD fault.In the card-like magnetic recording medium, on the magnetic recording layer 12 formed on the base material for a card 20, the transparent non-conductive deposited layer 14 and the transparent optical diffraction layer 15 are laminated in this order; between the magnetic recording layer 12 and the transparent non-conductive deposited layer 14, a reflective ink layer 13 which includes, at least, binder resin and metal flake, is formed; and a mass ratio of this binder resin/metal flake is set from 3 to 10.
US08245939B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for investing funds from pre-paid payment accounts. Funds from accounts within a payment system are invested on behalf of account holders of the accounts. Funds are invested in accordance with a risk strategy defined for the payment system (e.g. defining investment amounts and financial assets for investment). Payments and/or gains from invested funds are disbursed to the accounts of the account holders. Payments and/or gains are disbursed in accordance with disbursement rules for the payment system (e.g., based on percentages).
US08245938B2
A method and apparatus for providing a mobile service with the use of a code pattern is disclosed In one embodiment, the method comprising: taking a photograph of a code pattern image, decoding the photographed code pattern image so as to obtain code information, extracting uniform resource locator (URL) information corresponding to the code information, transmitting a content information request message to a service provider server corresponding to the URL information, and receiving content information corresponding to the URL information from the service provider server. According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide various and convenient mobile services to mobile terminal users using a mobile terminal, having a camera, and a code pattern containing the URL information.
US08245934B1
A system and method is disclosed for automatically providing information to a newly-manufactured computing device. During the manufacture of a new computing device at an assembly line, a camera integrated with the computing device is automatically activated as a barcode scanner. On the camera viewing a barcode that includes device-specific configuration information, the barcode is read by the computing device to read the device-specific configuration information for storage in a non-volatile memory of the device.
US08245929B2
There is provided an information processing device comprising: a light emitting unit to supply light to a power generating means mounted on an IC card with a display function and generating a power by photoelectric conversion; a communication unit to transmit and receive data to and from the IC card; and a control unit to stop supply of light by the light emitting unit during communication with the IC card by the communication unit and stop communication by the communication unit during supply of light by the light emitting unit.
US08245906B2
A dose counter for use with a medicament dispenser which comprises a ratchet; a first count wheel arranged to rotate about a first axis of rotation, the first count wheel including one or more ratchet drive receipt elements arranged thereon for receipt of drive from the ratchet to rotate the first count wheel about the first axis of rotation; a second count wheel arranged to rotate about the first axis of rotation, the second count wheel including a set of teeth arranged annularly thereon; and a kick wheel arranged to rotate about a second axis of rotation offset from the first axis of rotation, the kick wheel including a set of kick teeth arranged annularly thereon and in meshed relationship with the teeth of the second count wheel such that rotary motion of the kick wheel results in rotary motion of the second count wheel is described.
US08245898B2
A medical device includes a control handle, an end effector, and a passive articulating joint connecting the end effector to the handle. The handle has a stapling actuator, an articulation joint actuator different from the stapling actuator, and a body through which the stapling and articulation joint actuators traverse. The end effector has an anvil, a stapler cartridge with staples, and an anvil-cartridge control device connected thereto and to the stapling actuator and staples when the stapling actuator is actuated. The stapling actuator passes through the articulating joint and flexes correspondingly to articulation of the articulating joint. The articulation joint actuator, when unactuated, holds the articulation joint and, thereby, the end effector, in a substantially fixed articulation position, and, when actuated, releases the articulation joint into its freely articulating state to permit free articulation of the end effector dependent upon external forces acting upon the end effector.
US08245897B2
A stapling apparatus for performing anastomosis on hollow organs. The apparatus consists of two combinable tools which are L-shaped, one tool for retaining staple retaining clips, and the other tool for retaining staples. The L-shaped tools are each provided with an elongated handle and a C-shaped jaw positioned at a distal bottom end of the handle in a plane substantially transverse to the handles of the tools. When the two tools are combined, the C-shaped jaw retaining a series of staple retaining clips is positioned below the C-shaped jaw retaining the arranged series of staples with the respective staples in registration with respective underlying clips for stapling. The C-shaped jaws provide gaps which permit ingress and egress of hollow organ ends to be stapled. A staple firing mechanism is operated from the proximal top end of one of the handles of the stapling apparatus whereby downward pressures is applied uniformly and simultaneously against the top of all staples to force them from their retaining sockets, through the hollow organ ends, and into stapling engagement with the respective underlying staple retaining clips.
US08245895B2
A retaining and cutting device for positioning a leading edge of material at one end of a roll and for puncturing and severing the material a pre-determined distance from the leading edge after removing from the roll, the retaining device comprising elongated jaw members pivotally connected together, a closure member normally urging the jaw members together, and a cutter along one edge of at least one of the jaw members. Extensions of the jaw members are manually grasped to urge the jaw members into an open position for insertion of the next leading edge of material therebetween. The device may also be utilized as a cutting tool for opening sealed boxes and the like.
US08245879B2
A touch-free dispenser includes a dispenser controller coupled to a memory unit, which includes a database of previously-stored vein patterns. A vein-pattern sensor maintained by the dispenser images the unique vein pattern of a user's hand without contact. The imaged vein pattern is subsequently compared with stored vein patterns, such that if there is a match, the dispenser proceeds to dispense material, such as soap, from a refill container. Alternatively, if there is no match between the imaged vein pattern and the stored vein patterns, the dispenser enters a learn mode to allow the imaged vein pattern to be added to the database. Data associated with the use of the dispenser is also collected during its operation, which is stored and associated with the imaged vein patterns for subsequent analysis.
US08245868B2
Lock mechanisms are provide between a first case part and a second case part, which are openable and closable. Projections are formed on an outer side surface of the first case part. Each projection has a stopper hole that extends along a circumferential direction of the outer side surfaces of the case parts. U-shaped deformable pieces are formed with the outer side surface of the second case part and each deformable piece can be deformed in a direction perpendicular to the outer side surface of the second case part. A hook portion is formed with a distal portion of each deformable piece. Guide portions are formed at an edge of an entrance of the stopper hole and guide the hook portion toward the stopper hole. Holding portions are formed at an edge of an exit of the stopper hole and hold claw portions of the hook portion.
US08245865B2
A container includes a bottom and a plurality of walls that form a storage cavity. A primary lid is disposed over the storage cavity. The primary lid includes a top surface that defines a dispenser portion through which items within the storage cavity may be dispensed. A dispenser lid is pivotally attached to the primary lid. The dispenser lid has a closed position in which the dispenser lid is pivoted downwards relative to the primary lid to cover the dispenser portion and an open position in which the dispenser lid is pivoted upwards relative to the primary lid to expose the dispenser portion. A dispenser lid biasing means includes a biasing pin having a first longitudinal end portion and a second longitudinal end portion, a first biasing pin anchor disposed on the dispenser lid, the first end portion of the biasing pin being held by the first biasing pin anchor, and a second biasing pin anchor disposed on one of the primary lid and the dispenser lid, the second end portion of the biasing pin being held by the second biasing pin anchor, such that the biasing pin urges the dispenser lid towards the open position.
US08245864B2
A diaper pail includes a pail, an upper enclosure having a substantially smooth and continuous outer surface, and a drum assembly mounted within the upper enclosure for transferring a soiled diaper into a disposal bag while minimizing the release of odor from previously disposed diapers already within the disposal bag. The outer surface of the upper enclosure and drum cooperate to form a smooth continuous outer surface which is easily cleaned. The drum assembly includes a flexible plastic seal received around an opening in the lower portion of the drum housing. A deck portion of the seal engages an outer surface of the drum, with the free edge of the flexible seal being movable relative to fixed edge to conform to irregularities in the outer surface of the drum. An actuator handle actuates movement of the drum.
US08245861B2
A container box includes an outer box for receiving an inner box therein. Ribs are formed on an inner surface of the outer box, and extend in a fitting direction, and are gradually changing in height so that molds can be easily removed after the molding. The ribs includes the normally-inclined ribs gradually increasing in height in the fitting direction of the inner box, and the reversely-inclined ribs gradually decreasing in height in the fitting direction of the inner box.
US08245851B2
One embodiment is a filter assembly wherein the shape of the filter is a non-circular geometry. Other embodiments include unique apparatus, devices, systems, and methods to remove contaminates from a flow of fuel while at the same time providing a unique filter and filter assembly geometry. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application shall become apparent from the detailed description and figures included herewith.
US08245849B2
A display package is provided that informs the customer of the product contained therein as well as providing a functional and useful storage unit for artificial nails when not in use. The display package includes a cylindrical portion and a main body, including a cavity within the main body of the display package. A first portion and a second portion of the display package divide the main body and the cylindrical portion and are joined together to form the display package. The display package is preferably in the shape of a bottle of nail polish and contains one or more trays having indentations for holding items such as artificial nails.
US08245845B1
A disposable surgical instrument apparatus that has a generally rectangular shaped holder body with one or more elongated cylinders for retaining a plurality of surgical instruments, such as a suction device, a cautery and other instruments when not in use during surgery. One of the cylinders has a sealed chamber with a passageway that progressively decreases in diameter to accommodate a plurality of different size suction nozzle of the suction device within the chamber. One or more slotted channels are respectively associated with the cylinders for retaining hoses and electrical wires of the surgical instruments. The apparatus has a cleaning spike for de-clogging the suction nozzle of the suction device. The apparatus further has an abrasive pad for scraping char off the tip of the cautery.
US08245844B2
A package for displaying a plurality of items where the package has first and second containers connectable between an open position and a closed position, each container having an outer surface having at least one elongated protrusion, the at least one protrusion having a head end and a tail end, the head end extending further outwardly from the package than the tail end, and an inner surface having at least one inner cavity aligned with the at least one protrusion, the cavity having a depth varying along the protrusion and configured to receive one of the plurality of items, wherein the head end of the at least one protrusion of the first container is proximate the tail end of the at least one protrusion of the second container in the closed position.
US08245841B2
The invention relates to a smoking article packet with an inner packet part for accommodating the smoking articles and an outer packet part for accommodating the inner packet part. The outer packet part has one substantially open face through which the inner packet part can be pushed out of the packet part with a slide aperture in the outer packet part. It also relates to a smoking article packet in which the inner packet part has a lid attached to it, or articulated, and a lid opening tab is provided in the region of the articulation line. The lid opening tab has a cut-out in which a co-operating piece on the outer packet part is able to engage, causing the lid to open as the inner packet part is being pushed out of the outer packet part.
US08245830B2
Provided is a bill processing apparatus capable of preventing a bill contained in a bill housing part from being drawn out. The bill processing apparatus comprises: an insertion slot (5), into which the bill is inserted; a bill housing part (100) capable of housing the bill inserted from the insertion slot (5); an opening (110A), through which the bill housing part (100) receives the bill; and a pressure plate (115) capable of passing through the opening (110A) to house the bill in the bill housing part (100). The bill processing apparatus further comprises a sensor to detect the bill inserted into the insertion slot (5), so that the pressure plate (115) is moved to regulate the passage of the bill from the opening (110A) till the insertion of the bill is detected by the sensor.
US08245828B2
A device for rotationally fixing a shaft to a component that is rotatably arranged on the shaft. The actuating element positively engages the components to rotationally fix the components to the shaft. The difference in rotational speeds, between the component and the shaft, can be at least approximately compensated for by the actuating element. The actuating element, for rotationally fixing the component to the shaft by the actuator, is operatively connected to at least one support body, which is rotationally fixed with respect to the shaft in such a manner that the actuating element can act upon the component with an actuating force that depends on the torque to be transmitted from the shaft to the component and which is independent of the actuation of the actuator in the state in which the actuating element can be rotated relative to the shaft.
US08245819B2
An evacuation support apparatus for an elevator causes an elevator to perform an evacuation operation for conveying people stranded in a building including a plurality of floors to an evacuation floor in an emergency. Further, the evacuation support apparatus for an elevator includes rescue floor setting means for setting the floor determined based on a predetermined condition as a rescue floor, the floor being selected from the plurality of floors, and response floor setting means for registering a call only for the floor on which a call input device for specific persons is operated in a case of the evacuation operation as the call for an evacuation response floor, the call input device for specific persons and a call input device for general persons being provided on each of the plurality of floors. The elevator includes a common car which moves in a reciprocating manner between the rescue floor and the evacuation floor in the case of the evacuation operation. The common car is capable of responding to the registered call for the evacuation response floor in the case of the evacuation operation.
US08245812B2
A device for controlling torsional stiffness of a power steering system, may include a variable torsion bar, an input shaft that is connected with a steering wheel, a pinion shaft equipped with a pinion gear engaged with a rack bar of a steering gear box, wherein the input shaft and the pinion shaft are combined each other to form a guide hole and slidably receive the variable torsion bar therein, and an actuating apparatus that moves the variable torsion bar toward the input shaft or the pinion shaft along a longitudinal axis of the input shaft and the pinion shaft according to a hydraulic pressure so as to change a size of a cross-section of the device.
US08245811B2
A steering system for a vehicle comprising a steering control to effect mechanical steering of the vehicle, the steering control being mechanically connected via a mechanical steering train, to at least one steerable ground engaging wheel. A power assistor apparatus is present for power assisting the mechanical steering of the vehicle when the operator operates the steering control. The system includes a hydraulic steering actuator which is operable by an electronically controlled hydraulic steering control valve to effect hydraulic power steering of the vehicle independently of the operation of the steering control. The electronically controlled hydraulic steering control valve is operable in response to signals from an electronic controller, the hydraulic steering actuator being supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid from a supply valve arrangement. A sensor device detects when the steering control is operated and provides input to the electronic controller, the controller disabling the hydraulic power steering in response.
US08245800B2
The invention relates to a self-propelled, wheeled vehicle that may be converted into a multi-track self-propelled vehicle using one or more track assemblies. Each track assembly includes a carriage with a main frame that support forward and rearward idler wheels and a plurality of centrally located, inner bogey wheels, and an outrigger beam that supports a plurality of centrally located, outer bogey wheels. One of the idler wheels is movably connected to the main frame and is movable by an actuator. The carriage is removably connected to a spindle of a vehicle by an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly includes a first or lower section and a second or upper section that generally encircle a portion of the spindle housing, and which are connected thereto by a plurality of fastening elements. A sprocket is operatively connected to a wheel hub of the spindle either directly or indirectly by way of a spacer element. A flexible endless track is entrained about the idler wheels, the bogey wheels and the sprocket.
US08245799B2
An apparatus for locomotion includes an elongate body member defining a longitudinal axis and having oppositely disposed first and second body ends separated by a body lumen. A power source is operative to selectively provide motive power to the apparatus by changing a lateral cross-sectional area of the body member in at least one actuation location to produce at least one peristaltic wave propagated through the body member substantially along the longitudinal axis. The peristaltic wave is a substantially smooth wave. The peristaltic wave causes the body member to interact with an ambient environment and provide longitudinally oriented locomotion to the apparatus. A method for locomotion is also described.
US08245797B2
An earth-boring tool includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutters are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type suitable for drilling through at least one elastomeric component of a casing string, as well as a casing shoe and cement. Methods of drilling with an earth-boring tool include engaging and drilling an elastomeric component using at least one abrasive cutting structure.
US08245796B2
A hydraulically powered tractor adapted for advancement through a borehole including an elongate body, aft and forward gripper assemblies, and a valve control assembly housed within the elongate body. The aft and forward gripper assemblies are adapted for selective engagement with the inner surface of the borehole. The valve control assembly includes a gripper control valve for directing pressurized fluid to the aft and forward gripper assemblies. The valve control assembly also includes a propulsion control valve for directing fluid to an aft or forward power chamber for advancing the body relative to the actuated gripper assembly. Aft and forward mechanically actuated valves may be provided for controlling the position of the gripper control valve by detecting and signaling when the body has completed an advancement stroke relative to an actuated gripper assembly. Aft and forward sequence valves may be provided for controlling the propulsion control valve by detecting when the gripper assemblies become fully actuated. Furthermore, a pressure relief valve is preferably provided along an input supply line for limiting the pressure of the fluid entering the valve control assembly.
US08245783B2
The present invention relates to methods useful for isolating a portion of a wellbore. In one embodiment, a method includes preparing a sealant composition containing a set modifier component. The sealant composition is placed into the wellbore and is subjected to ionizing radiation that alters the set modifier component, triggering the thickening of the sealant composition.
US08245779B2
A centralizer for an instrument such as an in-place inclinometer is described. The centralizer has a clamp with an inner receptacle configured for coupling to the instrument housing, and a plurality of elongate fingers extending from the clamp that center the instrument in the casing. The fingers carry rollers that fit into grooves in the instrument casing. The fingers are arcuate and provide a spring-like contact force that causes the rollers to abut the instrument casing and stabilize the instrument.
US08245778B2
Flow control systems and methods for use in injection wells and in the production of hydrocarbons utilize a particulate material disposed in an external flow area of a flow control chamber having an internal flow channel and an external flow area separated at least by a permeable region. The particulate material transitions from a first accumulated condition to a free or released condition when a triggering condition is satisfied without requiring user or operator intervention. The released particles accumulate without user or operator intervention, to control the flow of production fluids through a flow control chamber by at least substantially blocking the permeable region between the external flow area and the internal flow channel.
US08245775B2
A subpart of a drill string is described having an outer circumferential surface which is contoured and adapted to engage the wall of the borehole with a small angle of attack while exerting during rotary drilling operations an compacting pressure on mud cake and/or cuttings present in the annulus between the drill string and the borehole.
US08245774B2
The present invention discloses a whipstock assembly for use in forming a lateral borehole from a parent wellbore. The whipstock assembly comprises a body and a deflection member above the body. The deflection member includes a concave portion for deflecting a milling bit during a milling operation. Disposed on a perforation plate portion of the concave portion is a raised surface feature. The raised surface supports a milling bit above the perforation plate portion during a milling operation. This, in turn, substantially prevents frictional contact between the milling bits and the perforation plate portion during a milling operation. The present invention also provides a novel method for manufacturing a whipstock in which a cavity portion is formed behind the perforation plate by milling out the backside of the deflection member and then joining a second back cover member to the whipstock body to complete the assembly.
US08245770B2
By using reactive shaped charges to perforate failure prone formations, the present invention is able to keep formation sand in place and increase productivity. An efficient flow distribution is surprisingly produced without requiring surge flow or post-perforation stimulation. Further, using the secondary reactive effects of reactive shaped charges allows for the reduction of the risk of erosion and minimization of sand production. In a preferred embodiment, a liner capable of producing a strongly exothermic intermetallic reaction between liner components within and around the tunnel is used to achieve a high percentage of substantially clean and enlarged perforation tunnels conducive to flow or gravel packing.
US08245769B2
A refrigerator-oven combination for an aircraft galley food service system includes a housing with a thermally insulated compartment, a heating device for heating the compartment in a heating mode, and a refrigeration device for cooling the compartment in a refrigeration mode.
US08245746B2
A tire inflation system includes a hose that connects to a tire via a valve stem. A control valve is in fluid communication with the hose and senses when pressure falls below a predetermined minimum value. When this occurs, the control valve automatically opens to re-supply air to the tire until the predetermined minimum value is achieved. A pressure relieve valve is also in fluid communication with the hose. If, for example, ambient temperatures increase, causing tire pressure to increase, then the pressure relief valve automatically vents excessive pressure to atmosphere. The pressure relief valve is set at a predetermined maximum pressure level that is generally at least 5 psi more than the predetermined minimum value.
US08245742B2
A method and a system for glulams fabrication, comprising obtaining wood pieces of a target length from raw materials; and assembling them into structural timbers of a target thickness in a continuous line, whereby moisture content, end joints, mixing and applying of adhesives, glue line pressure and clamping time are continuously controlled.
US08245739B1
A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing port for dispensing a beverage, a drip tray located below the dispensing port for collecting the beverage dispensed and an antenna located between the dispensing port and the drip tray is provided. The beverage dispensing system is RFID-enabled by configuring the antenna to receive signals from radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
US08245736B2
A powder packaging includes space for containing powder, an outlet opening for the powder, and a dosing device positioned on the outlet opening, the powder dosing device including a dosing body having a first closing part, a second closing part and a dosing chamber between the closing parts. The dosing body is movable between a filling position in which the dosing chamber is accessible for powder in the powder containing space and the second closing part closes off the outlet opening, and a dosing position in which the first closing part closes off the outlet opening and the dosing chamber allows powder to leave the dosing chamber and thus to exit the powder containing space.
US08245725B2
A pressure relief device usable in a high-pressure fluid circuit for limiting the pressure in the case of a failure of a circuit component is provided, the device includes a body with a pusher sliding therein and axially movable by a spring. A ball seals an orifice connecting a chamber receiving a high-pressure fluid and another chamber. The other chamber includes at least one fluid discharge opening and the ball being held by the spring in a position closing the orifice below a predetermined pressure. The pusher devoid of axial through channels for the fluid, slides in the body and closes at least partially each discharge opening. At least one of discharge openings is connected to an opening also embodied in the body and open at least partially to the opposite side of the pusher.
US08245724B2
The present invention relates to a Pneumatic System that can be employed within the residential environment. The system includes both a section mode and a pressure mode. Both of these modes, in turn, have both a low and a high pressure range. A variety of applications are disclosed for use in conjunction with the various modes of the system. These various applications are described in greater detail hereinafter.
US08245710B2
An apparatus (1) for use humidified gases delivery treatment comprising a housing, a humidifier, and a chamber heating base connected to said housing, said housing includes a pressurized gases supply, a humidifier engagement (17), a pressurized gases outlet (4), a humidified gases return (7), and a patient outlet (9), said humidifier includes a humidification chamber (2) having a base, a humidifier inlet (5), a humidifier outlet (6) and said chamber is engagable with said humidifier engagement (17) via a single motion, and said single motion of engagement urges the base of said humidification chamber adjacent and in contact with said chamber heating base and makes a first fluid connection between said pressurized gases outlet (4) and said humidifier inlet (5), and makes a second fluid connection between said humidified gases return (7) and said humidifier outlet (6), with said first and second fluid connections being made in the direction of said single motion.
US08245709B2
A respiration humidifier with a base unit (2), at least one sensor (3), which is connected to the base unit (2), and a mixing chamber (4), which is designed as a mixing chamber detachable from the base unit (2), with a gas-carrying area (5), wherein the mixing chamber (4) has at least one opening (6), through which the at least one sensor (3) is in connection with the gas-carrying area (5).
US08245708B2
The present invention provides an improved method and novel devices for treating tracheobronchitis, bronchiectasis and pneumonia in the intubated patient, preferably with aerosolized anti gram-positive and anti-gram negative antibiotics administered in combination or in seriatim in reliably sufficient amounts for therapeutic effect. In one aspect, the invention assures this result when aerosol is delivered into the ventilator circuit. In one embodiment the result is achieved mechanically. In another embodiment, the result is achieved by aerosol formulation. In another aspect, the invention assures the result when aerosol is delivered directly to the airways distal of the ventilator circuit. The devices eliminate the dosage variability that ventilator systems engender when aerosols are introduced via the ventilator circuit. The treatment also concentrates the therapeutic agent specifically at affected sites in the lung such that therapeutic levels of administrated drug are achieved without significant systemic exposure of the patient to the drug. The invention further provides a dose control device to govern this specialized regimen.
US08245701B2
A method for charging an intake manifold of an engine comprises adjusting an LP EGR flow rate and an uncooled HP EGR flow rate within first limits to maintain a target dilution level in the intake manifold at steady state. The method further comprises adjusting the LP EGR and uncooled HP EGR rates within second limits, different from the first, to maintain the target dilution level in the intake manifold during transient conditions.
US08245694B2
The invention relates to a fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having a high pressure pump, a high pressure reservoir, a plurality of fuel injectors, a hydraulic pressure booster, and a control valve for actuating the hydraulic pressure booster. The hydraulic pressure booster is provided centrally for all of the fuel injectors. The central hydraulic pressure booster is disposed between the high pressure pump and the high pressure reservoir.
US08245686B2
This invention discloses a non-crankshaft engine which includes the body, the cylinder head on top of the body, and the cylinder inside it. A piston intersecting with one end of a connecting rod is set in the cylinder. In the middle of the chassis where the engine body is set on, there is the basic shaft which intersects with one or more crossbars perpendicularly in way of either fixed joint or swing joint. On the crossbar is installed symmetrically on either side of the axis of the basic shaft a fixing set. It connects with the other end of the connecting rod through a swing joint. Every fixing set is joined by one or two connecting rods linked with the piston. The above structure of basic shaft, crossbar and connecting rod will result in strong explosion pressure that can produce great moment of force, and thus give the utmost work. Therefore, this invention has the advantages of high working efficiency, low energy-consumption, and is expected to produce minimum environmental pollution.
US08245673B2
An engine comprising: a shaft (6) having a first multilobate cam (5a) axially fixed to said shaft (6) and an adjacent second multilobate cam (5b) differentially geared to said first multilobate and a pair of diametrically opposed pistons (1a, 1b) which pistons of a pair of pistons are rigidly interconnected by a connecting plate (4) and wherein, reciprocating motion of said pistons imparts rotary motion to said shaft via contact between said pistons and the camming surfaces of said multilobate cams.
US08245671B2
The present description relates to operation and control of a fuel reformer. In one embodiment, an engine constituent is adjusted in response to limiting an amount of reformate supplied to the engine during a condition of reformer degradation. The approach can improve engine operation. In this way, consequences of reformate system degradation may be reduced by limiting use of the reformate system after degradation is detected.
US08245662B2
A method and a configuration provide dynamic control of a liquid supply for a moisturizing storage device for sealing glued edges of a envelope flap of letter envelopes. Once a measured value has been measured for a sealing liquid which is stored in the tank of a moisturizing apparatus, the type of sealing liquid that is used is qualitatively analyzed on the basis of the measured value and of at least one material parameter as a comparison value. The amount of liquid stored in the moisturizing storage device is then measured by at least one further measurement to allow dynamic control of the liquid supply to the moisturizing storage device as a function of the material parameter and of at least one measured value, which is related to the liquid consumption, in the result of the at least one measurement of the amount of liquid stored in the moisturizing storage device.
US08245657B2
A personal watercraft is disclosed, having a straddle-type seat disposed on a deck. The seat has a seat profile. A storage compartment is disposed rearwardly of the seat. A rear platform is pivotally connected to a rear portion of the watercraft. The rear portion has a raised portion protruding therefrom. The raised portion of the rear portion forms at least in part the storage compartment. The rear platform permits access to the storage compartment when in a raised position, and sealingly closes the storage compartment when in a lowered position. A highest point of the rear platform is disposed lower than the seat profile when the rear platform is in the lowered position.
US08245651B1
A suspended storage shelf includes a platform supported by a support frame having at least one platform support element and at least two suspension posts, optionally adjustable in length, attached a platform support element. A fastener secures the support frame to a structure. Optionally, the suspension posts are attachable over a continuous or discrete range of locations on the platform support element. In an embodiment with two or more panels, the panels form a continuous surface by, for example, being positioned adjacent one another along the platform support element, being secured to one another such as with a coupling, and/or being secured to the platform support element. Optionally, the panels are positioned along the platform support element and the length of the platform support element is such that the suspension posts clamp the panels in adjacency.
US08245650B1
A portable, compact computer and projector stand is provided that is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a cellular phone storage adapter and a cup holding adapter. The cell phone storage adapter is formed of a separable housing forming a containment cavity therein. An attachment pin is mounted cantilevered from the outer periphery of the housing to provide for attachment through impingement with a first receiving hole in the table top. A closed cell foam insert fitted within the containment cavity is adapted to graspingly receive, and consequently securely hold, a cellular telephone, portable digital assistant (PDA) or similar handheld electronic device. The cup holding adapter for use in conjunction with the stand incorporates a coaster support platform having an attachment pin mounted cantilevered from the outer periphery of the platform to provide for attachment through impingement with a second receiving hole in the table top. An upper containment ring can further be adapted to attachably affix to and above the coaster support platform, thereby forming a secure beverage container holder.
US08245647B2
A path switching facility for crossed paths comprises: at least one article transport vehicle configured to travel along a first path and a second path that crosses the first path; a guide rail for guiding a guided roller of the article transport vehicle; a travel rail for guiding and supporting travel wheels of the article transport vehicle; a rotatable guide rail and a rotatable travel rail both located in a crossing area; a push operating portion provided to the article transport vehicle to push one of the rotatable guide rail and the rotatable travel rail; and, an operatively connecting device for coupling a rotation of the rotatable guide rail with a rotation of the rotatable travel rail.
US08245640B1
Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle. The fuel may be pressed particles heated below the melting point and then dispersed by a charge providing enough heat to melt the particles; may be a single component, fuel-rich thermite compound; and may include droplet surface tension reducing additives. Advantages are that the weight and volume of a warhead do not include explosives, binders, and underwater-use oxidizers employed with fuel particles in conventional energetic materials. A warhead may thus have greater density for effective penetration; and, since the fuel is not incorporated in an explosive, dispersing charges can be removed until use, and metal fuels hazardous when incorporated in an explosive can be used.
US08245626B2
A direct gas impingement operating system for an automatic or semi-automatic rifle. The direct gas impingement operating system has a gas block fitted to a barrel having a bore, the gas block in communication with the bore. A gas sleeve is located in the gas block, the gas sleeve in communication with the bore through the gas block. A bolt assembly having an impingement cylinder and a gas line is fitted to the sleeve in communication with the bore through the sleeve and the gas block, the gas line further in fluid communication with the impingement cylinder. Gas discharged from a fired cartridge displaces the impingement cylinder displacing the bolt assembly. The sleeve and the gas line are removable from the gas block without removal of the gas block from the firearm.
US08245617B2
An immobilization device and method of restraining vehicles, persons and animals uses tendrils attached to various devices to engage the target. The immobilization device, system and method includes a housing containing launchable tendrils that are launched from the housing by a propellant. The tendrils may be attached to straps or other elements carried by the immobilization device. The tendrils will engage the target and restrain it if it is a vehicle such as a car, truck, boat, submarine, or like vehicle. In stopping a person or animal the tendrils will deliver a marking package, a shocking package or a snare package to mark, shock or snare the target. Straps may be pulled off the housing leaving the housing near the point of deployment.
US08245613B2
To provide a thin-section manufacturing apparatus capable of firmly receiving and transferring a thin-section made by sectioning an embedded block by bringing a transfer belt into a wet state, a thin-section manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a cutter 3 of sectioning an embedded block B, a cutter fixing portion 15 having a fixing base 16 of supporting the cutter 3 and an cutter holder 17 of squeezing the cutter 3 from an upper side, a sample base of fixing the embedded block B, feeding means 4 for moving the sample base 2 relative to the cutter 3 in a predetermined feeding direction X, a liquid bath 6 arranged on a rear side of a cut edge 3a of the cutter 3 for storing a liquid W, and a transfer belt 20 in an endless shape having a first turn back portion 20a provided on an upper side of the cutter 3 and a second turn back portion 20b provided at an inner portion of the liquid bath 6 for transferring a thin-section B1 to the liquid bath 6, an upper face of the cutter holder 17 is formed with a liquid storing portion 18 of storing the liquid W, and the first turn back portion 20a of the transfer belt 20 is arranged at an inner portion of the liquid storing portion 18.
US08245612B2
A power tool in one embodiment includes a table saw with a latch hold mechanism, a swing arm pivotable about a pivot along a swing arm path, a latch movable between a first latch position whereat the swing arm is maintained at a first swing arm position and a second latch position whereat the swing arm is not maintained at the first swing arm position, an actuating device configured to transfer a force to the swing arm, at least one swing arm guide extending adjacent to the swing arm path, at least one swing arm support positioned to be in opposition to the at least one swing arm guide along the swing arm path, and a control system configured to control the actuating device to transfer a force to the swing arm sufficient to move the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position.
US08245610B2
A device for cutting bar-shaped or tubular workpieces (1, 27), for example a peeling machine, is presented, in which, for the first time, the advance of the tools (7, 26, 44, 46) is brought about by a relative rotation between a toolholder (3, 25, 45) carrying the tools (7, 26, 44, 46) and an advancing sleeve (4, 24, 47). The toolholder (3, 25, 45) and advancing sleeve (4, 24, 47) are driven via gearwheels (19, 18) arranged on the same gear shaft (17) and having an oppositely oriented helical toothing. By means of an axial movement of the gear shaft (17), a relative rotation between the toolholder (3, 25, 45) and advancing sleeve (4, 24, 47) is achieved on account of the helical toothing.Moreover, it is proposed to use milling cutters (26, 44) as tools.
US08245605B1
A device is provided for use with a wrench including an opening sized to receive a fastener assembly component therein. The device is coupleable to the wrench. The device includes a flange that extends outward from the device and remains spaced a distance from the wrench such that a slot is defined therebetween when the device is coupled to the wrench. The slot is sized and oriented to receive at least one of a washer and a bushing.
US08245602B2
A ratchet wrench includes a wrench head having a pawl compartment formed between a notch and a chamber of the wrench head, a drive member mounted in the chamber of the wrench head and having a ratchet gear, a pawl slidably received in the pawl compartment of the wrench head for engaging with the ratchet gear and for controlling the driving direction of the drive member by the wrench head, a handle having a pivotal coupling member mounted in the notch of the wrench head, and an actuating member attached to the pivotal coupling member and engaged with the pawl for moving the pawl to either side of the pawl compartment of the wrench head in order to determine the driving direction of the drive member by the wrench head.
US08245591B2
A scissor gear assembly may include first and second gears, a friction plate, and a biasing member. The first gear may have a first number (n) of gear teeth extending from a perimeter thereof. The second gear may have a second number (m) of gear teeth extending from a perimeter thereof and may be concentrically mounted relative to the first gear and rotatable relative to the first gear. The second number (m) of gear teeth may be greater than the first number (n) of gear teeth. The friction plate may be rotationally fixed relative to the first gear. The biasing member may have a first end axially fixed relative to the first gear and a second end axially biasing the second gear and the friction plate into engagement with one another.
US08245589B2
A device (4) for actuating a component mounted to rotate on a shaft (3), preferably a gearwheel (3A to 3D) made as a loose wheel of a transmission device (1). The component can be shifted by an engaging device (4A, 4B) that includes at least one electric actuator (5, 17) to an engaged condition in which the component is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft (3), and such that the component can be acted upon with the actuation force needed for its engagement or disengagement from inside the shaft (3) outwardly. The electric actuator (5, 17) is at least partially arranged inside the shaft (3).
US08245579B2
A method and apparatus to detect the presence of a material at a sensing device and to determine whether the material is a first material having a first material property or a second material having a second material property.
US08245572B2
A system and method facilitates the analysis and sampling of well fluid. A sampling and data collection device is used to detect well fluid properties in situ at a flowline installation. In an exemplary embodiment, the sampling and data collection device comprises a sample collection system having a probe adapted to selectively insert into and selectively retract from the flowline to collect a fluid sample, and a sensor system to determine PVT data in situ at the location where the probe is inserted into the flowline.
US08245564B1
A system for remote detection of a chemical is disclosed. The system includes a sample collection module that collects a sample and produces a sample vapor at a first location; a sample delivery module that delivers the sample vapor from the first location to a second location; a sample storage and concentration module that collects the sample vapor at the second location; and a sample analysis module that analyzes the sample collected in the sample storage and concentration module.
US08245563B2
A system for determining a setpoint associated with a position of a pedal in an automobile of type that includes two sensors each measuring a value associated with the pedal position. The system includes a mechanism capable of switching between a first and second state on a predetermined switching position of the pedal, and a mechanism generating the setpoint on the basis of the measures from the two sensors and of a current state of the switching mechanism. The generation mechanism is capable of selecting the measure corresponding to the smallest of the pedal positions when the switching mechanism is in the first state, and selecting the measure corresponding to the largest of the pedal positions when the switching mechanism is in the second state.
US08245562B2
A method for testing a pressure sensor having a first node and a second node includes coupling the first node to a first input of an amplifier and coupling a reference voltage to a second input of the amplifier; applying a transfer function to an output of the amplifier to provide a first output voltage that is based on a difference in voltage between the first node and the reference voltage; coupling the reference voltage to the first input and coupling the second node to the second input; obtaining a second output voltage at the output of the amplifier; and determining, based on the first and second output voltages, whether the pressure sensor passed or failed. During normal operation, the first node is coupled to the first input and the second node to the second input, and a second transfer function is applied to the output of the amplifier.
US08245558B2
A system and method for removal of dents from wind turbine masts uses a dent pushing tool. The dent pushing tool includes a self aligning ram assembly with a central ram cylinder and removable adjustable length arms. At the end of one arm is a curved base. At the end of the other arm is a dent pusher plate. Removal of the dent is caused by extension of the central ram cylinder.
US08245555B2
A device and method for forming notches in tubes or other parts includes a roller that travels along a non-linear path. The roller may include a component of motion away from the part to reduce bulging or other deformations in an outer surface of the part that could otherwise result from a straight roller path.
US08245552B2
A starting material to be extruded made of a high alloy comprising, in mass %, Cr: 20 to 30% and Ni: more than 22% and 60% or less is heated to a temperature predetermined according to the contents of Mo and W and is subjected to a hot-extrusion process, the heating temperature T (° C.) satisfying a relationship of Formula (1), (2), or (3), which is expressed in terms of the average cross-sectional area A (mm2) of the starting material to be extruded, the extrusion ratio EL (−), and the extrusion speed V (mm/s). As a result, a high-alloy seamless tube can be produced without generating cracking and/or seam flaws. When 0%≦Mo+0.5W<4%: T≦1343−0.001322×A−1.059×EL−0.129×V (1) When 4%≦Mo+0.5W<7%: T≦1316−0.001322×A−1.059×EL−0.129×V (2) When 7%≦Mo+0.5W: T≦1289−0.001322×A−1.059×EL−0.129×V (3)
US08245550B2
The apparatus comprises a crank arm in a crank-arm press with a curved tool at the end of the crank arm being constrained to move so the curved tool makes rolling contact across a flat, stationary substrate. The crankshaft rotates about an axis, the crank arm is rotatably mounted at one end to the crankshaft, a curved tool is mounted at the other end of the crank arm, a line on the surface of the curved tool and parallel to the crankshaft axis of rotation is constrained to move perpendicular to a plane while the curved tool is in rolling contact with the substrate, said plane being the plane of the flat stationary substrate, the radius of curvature of the curved tool being greater than the length of the crank arm; and with the radius of the curved tool, the length of the crank arm, and the eccentric radius of rotation of the crankshaft being selected to maintain the contact line of the curved tool in the substrate plane during the rolling contact.
US08245530B2
An inlet guide vane is turnably installed about an axis line at a suction port into which a fluid is drawn by rotation of an impeller in order to adjust a suction amount and flow direction of the fluid, the inlet guide vane, and includes: a shaft that is turnably supported by inserting a round bar-shaped shaft main body portion thereof in a bearing sleeve; and a plate-shaped vane main body that is joined with the shaft and projects from an inner periphery surface of the suction port to a central portion of the suction port, the shaft including a flange portion that is provided at a distal end side in a direction of the axis line to join with the vane main body and that extends to an outside in a direction perpendicular to the axis line so as to be extended outward in a radial direction of the bearing sleeve.
US08245523B2
An air conditioner is provided. A control unit of an outdoor unit of the air conditioner is divided into a plurality of blocks according to a set of rules. Then, the blocks are mounted on different substrates. Therefore, it is possible to simplify wiring, facilitating the interconnection of the blocks and enable the control unit to be managed in units of the blocks. In addition, it is possible to improve user convenience.
US08245517B2
The system and method of the present invention provides stepping speed control of a gas turbine engine to reliably light-off a gas turbine engine. During starting, the speed of the gas turbine engine is incremented by stepped amounts through the light-off window from a minimum speed value to a maximum speed value, with the speed of the gas turbine dwelling at each stepped value for a period of time before incrementing the speed of the engine to the next stepped level. If the gas turbine engine is stepped through the entire light-off window without success, the controller decreases the speed of the gas turbine engine to the minimum value and begins the process again. The process continues until successful light-off is initiated or until the light-off window is traversed a certain number of times, after which the start process is aborted.
US08245513B2
The invention relates to a combustion chamber of a gas turbine, inside of which a supplied fuel is reacted with supplied combustion air in order to produce a working medium. The inside of the combustion chamber wall is provided with a lining formed from a number of heat shield elements. The or each heat shield element, together with the combustion chamber wall, forms an interior space that can be subjected to the action of a coolant. The aim of the invention is to provide a combustion chamber with a comparatively simple design that has a high system efficiency. To this end, the invention provides that a flow element is placed in the respective interior space while serving to effect a locally specific control of the flow of coolant.
US08245510B2
An electro-thermal actuator device includes a case defining a cavity in which are housed a thermal actuator, an electrical heater and, at least partially, an actuating shaft. The device comprises a multipolar connector for the rapid, secure and reliable coupling to a respective source of electrical power supply for the heater. The connector can be configured as an adapter unit distinct from the case, suitable to transform a traditional electro-thermal actuator device into the actuator device described above.
US08245506B2
This exhaust manifold comprises: an outer envelope comprising: at least one flange connected to the outer shell and having at least one gas circulation port, the outer envelope having at least one gas circulation port; at least one internal duct (31) arranged inside the outer envelope and opening via a gas circulation port, characterized in that: the or each internal duct (31) is formed, at least for the most part of its length, of a ceramic material and is engaged through the or each port; and it comprises an annular diaphragm (34) that is impermeable to the gases but radially and axially elastically deformable and positioned around the or each internal duct (31), between the or each internal duct (31) and the outer envelope (18), the diaphragm (34) being connected at its periphery to at least one out of the outer envelope (18) and the or each internal duct (20, 31).
US08245491B2
An exhaust gas waste heat recovery heat exchanger includes a housing having a working fluid inlet, a working fluid outlet, an exhaust inlet, and an exhaust outlet, an exhaust flow path extending through the housing between the exhaust inlet and the exhaust outlet, and a working fluid flow path extending through the housing between the working fluid inlet and the working fluid outlet and having a first portion and a second portion. A flow of working fluid along the first portion of the working fluid flow path can be substantially counter to a flow of exhaust along the exhaust flow path, and the flow of working fluid along the second portion of the working fluid flow path can be substantially parallel to the flow of exhaust along the exhaust flow path.
US08245487B2
Apparatus and a method for using a packaging system for a sterilizable item. The packaging system includes a first sleeve that is elongated and a second sleeve that encloses one end of the first sleeve. The first sleeve is an elongated open ended tube or pouch. The second sleeve is an open ended tube or pocket. The sides of the first sleeve and the sides of the second sleeve are proximate each other with the closed end of the first sleeve proximate a closed end of the second sleeve. The open end of the first sleeve is folded into a cuff that covers the open end of the second sleeve. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sterilization indicator affixed to the outside of the packaging system.
US08245481B1
A method of forming a deck may comprise forming components for the deck at a first location, including forming components of a perimeter support frame for the deck to extend along a perimeter of the deck. The components of the perimeter support frame may include a plurality of perimeter frame assemblies, and forming components of an interstitial support frame for the deck to position in the perimeter support frame. The components may be transported to a location where the deck is to be used. The method may include assembling the components of the deck to form the deck at the location. The assembling step may include assembling the perimeter support frame from the perimeter frame assemblies, assembling the interstitial support frame in the perimeter support frame, and assembling decking elements on the support frames to form a floor of the deck. A kit for the deck is also disclosed.
US08245480B2
A joist support system including a joist having a joist seat at least at one end, each joist seat having a first portion fastened to an upper chord of the joist and a second portion adapted to engage a support structure and support the joist and a bearing load, and a second steel plate welded to the main steel plate extending downwardly from the main steel plate between the first and second portions, the second steel plate fastened with an upward support portion to an end portion of the joist extending inwardly adapted to resist transfer load on the joist seat, and a support structure adapted to support the one end of the joist by a portion of the joist seat.
US08245469B2
A deck assembly module is disclosed. The deck assembly module can be installed into the steel frame of a steel framed building. The deck assembly module includes a cellular metal deck. In an embodiment, the cellular metal deck includes a bottom plate having a top major surface and a bottom major surface, an angled decking sheet, and fireproof insulation. The angled decking sheet is angled to form a repeating pattern of troughs and peaks, the angled decking is adjacent to the top major surface of the bottom plate, and the fireproof insulation is located in channels formed by the peaks of the angled decking sheet and the top surface of the bottom plate and the angled decking sheet. The deck assembly module may also include a concrete portion that includes a top major surface, referred to as a concrete deck.
US08245466B2
A framing system for a new or existing wall, structure and/or the like is provided that uses just one type of unit or member for various framing applications, namely serving as a framing stud and framing plate or track—i.e. a universal framing unit. The universal framing unit is formed from a single piece of metal as a three-wall member having a front wall, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall. The first lateral wall is continuous with a first lateral side of the front wall via a first curved transition so as to be generally perpendicular relative to the front wall, while the second lateral wall is continuous with a second lateral side of the front wall via a second curved transition so as to be generally perpendicular relative to the front wall. A first slot is formed in the first curved transition and extends from a first end of the universal framing unit a first length along the first curved transition. A second slot is formed in the second curved transition and extends from the first end of the universal framing unit a second length along the second curved transition. A notch may be provided at the junction of the slot and the respective lateral wall to create a wider entrance to the slot. Preferably, the second end of the universal framing unit has the same first and second slot configurations in the first and second curved transitions.
US08245456B2
A telescopic boom broadly comprises an elongated hollow outer boom, an elongated inner boom telescopically received within the outer boom, and a guidance structure for guiding the inner boom for telescopic movement is provided. The guidance structure includes a plurality of guide rails attached to the interior corners of the outer boom, a first roller assembly attached to one end of the inner boom, a second roller assembly attached to one end of the outer boom, and a mid roller assembly positioned proximal to the second roller assembly. The first roller assembly includes a plurality of wheels mounted on axles for engaging the guide rails. The second roller assembly includes a pair of roller bars positioned on opposed sides of one end of the outer boom for guiding the inner boom during telescopic movement. The mid roller assembly includes a third roller bar that engages guide rails positioned on the inner boom.
US08245455B2
A hard side shelter is convertible between transport and deployed modes. When in the transport mode, the shelter has an envelope identical to an ISO-cargo container. A side section floor and cover are each connected to the center section for rotating between being coplanar with the center section floor and roof when in the deployed mode, and being vertical and lying in a center section side planes when in a transport mode. Each side section has end and middle panels that are turnable relative to each other, and a door assembly that is turnable relative to the middle panels. Locking bars engaged the center section floor when the shelter is in a transport mode, and engage the side section floors when the shelter is in the deployed mode. The shelter is handleable by pallet handling systems and includes insulation panels to enhance the heat transfer characteristics of the shelter.
US08245454B2
A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.
US08245445B2
The invention relates to an improved sash window including a window frame (1) containing two sashes (2 and 3) which are disposed in the same first vertical plane in the closed window position. The lower sash (3) is connected to a counterweight mechanism (8) enabling same to move vertically in the window frame (1). The window also includes scissor mechanisms (9) which are guided between the jambs (4) of the window frame (1) in order to move the lower sash (3) horizontally forward from the first vertical plane in which the window is closed to a second vertical plane in which the window is open or vice versa. The lower sash is maintained in the open position by means of blocking elements (24, 25) and is moved vertically with the aid of the counterweight mechanism (8).
US08245442B2
A preformed decorative wrapper for covering a flower pot has an open upper end, an open lower end, and a sidewall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the preformed decorative wrapper extends beyond an upper end of the pot and at least a portion of a lower end of the flower pot extends through the open lower end of the preformed decorative wrapper.
US08245441B1
An apparatus and method for hanging a load from awnings, ceilings or wall brackets, for example a planter or other item to be suspended but selectively lowered. The load is suspended from a cord that is constantly urged to a wound up position on a spool held above the load. The load can be lowered by overcoming the winding force. Optionally, the load can be fixed over a range of lowered positions. In one example, a wedge clamps the cord in any of a range of extended lengths to set different heights of the load. Optionally, the spool can be enclosed. The planter easily and in a controlled manner can be lowered against the winding force with relatively little manual pulling force on the planter. But also, the planter can easily and in a controlled manner by assisted when raised by relatively little manual lifting force.
US08245440B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for aquaculture. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of cultivation areas, a collection area, a pump for returning the culture from the collection areas to at least one of the cultivation areas and a delivery system for providing gases and/or nutrients to the culture. Also disclosed is a method for regulating water temperature of an aquaculture including circulating a culture through a system described herein, and storing the culture in the collection area or at least one of the cultivation areas for at least a portion of a 24 hour period.
US08245439B2
A seed sampling system includes a seed transport configured to hold multiple individual seeds together as a group and transport the multiple individual seeds together as the group, and to allow the multiple individual seeds to be oriented, substantially simultaneously, while the multiple individual seeds are being held in the seed transport. The seed sampling system also includes a seed sampling subsystem configured to remove tissue from the oriented multiple individual seeds. And, a method for removing tissue from the multiple individual seeds includes loading the multiple individual seeds in the seed transport, orienting the multiple individual seeds in the seed transport substantially simultaneously, and removing tissue from the oriented multiple individual seeds.
US08245437B1
A fishing lure having a bent half-moon shape body. The top portion of the fishing lure has a plurality of attachments points for hooks and lines and circular stamp resembling an eye. The bottom portion of the fishing lure is angled relative to the top portion.
US08245426B2
An article including an article including a firearm including a safety that moves between a safe position that does not permit firing of the firearm and a fire position that permits firing of the firearm, the firearm further including a light indicator, and a loaded chamber indicator in electrical communication with the light indicator, wherein when the safety moves to the fire position, the light indicator emits a first distinct color if a round is loaded in a chamber of the firearm, and the light indicator emits a second distinct color if a round is not loaded in the chamber of the firearm.
US08245425B2
A setting apparatus (1) can displace push elements (5) in a sign display module (4), with the push elements (5) each being held in the display ducts (6) of the sign display module (4) and being displaceable from a first position in which the face surfaces (5a) of the push elements (5) are visible on a display surface (7) of the sign display module (4) to a second position in which said face surfaces (5a) are arranged substantially in a non-visible way at a distance behind the display surface (7) in the sign display module (4). In order to enable a flexible and rapid setting of a sequence of signs of random length on a sign display module, at least one receptacle (8) is provided for the sign display module (4) to be set and a setting device (3) is arranged in the receptacle (8) which causes the displacement of the push elements (5) during the insertion of the sign display module (4) into the receptacle (8).
US08245413B2
Disclosed is a micrometer with an improved a heat-insulating property. A micrometer 10 with a U-shaped frame 20 supporting an anvil 12 and a spindle 14 at tip end portions thereof so that the anvil 12 and the spindle 14 are coaxially opposed to each other is provided with a heat insulating cover 50. The heat insulating cover 50 is shaped to accommodate a bottom portion of the frame 20, and is detachable with respect to the frame 20. The heat insulating cover 50 covers a bottom face 22 of the frame 20 while supporting the bottom portion of the frame 20 by sandwiching from both sides of the frame 20.
US08245405B2
A tool and method for accurately and efficiently cutting through a jacket of a fiber optic cable at a break-out location. The tool securely holds the fiber optic cable and accurately controls the depth and length of cut(s). In addition, the tool accurately positions the cut(s) both in relation to the fiber optic cable and in relation to other cuts.
US08245404B2
An inner cutter unit for a rotary shaver includes cutter blades arranged at different radii from a rotation axis of the unit. Depending on their respective positions within the unit, the respective cutter blades may be provided with different wedge angles and/or different bending resistance.
US08245403B2
A process of making a base of a shock-absorbing front fork for a bicycle, includes the steps of winding pre-pregs around an upper section of each of two cured straight tubes to form a bridge having a foamed core therein, and placing the two straight tubes and the bridge in a mold and heating the mold for curing the bridge such that the bridge and the straight tubes are connected integrally.
US08245402B2
The method for manufacturing a solid housing, in particular a valve housing for an electromagnetically operable valve, is characterized in that the following method steps are used: a) providing a sheet metal strip made of a magnetic or magnetizable material, b) introducing an additive into a middle area of the sheet metal strip and fusing there for forming a non-magnetizable structure, c) cutting the sheet metal strip into a sheet metal piece of desired width, d) deforming the sheet metal piece into a sleeve shape, e) mutual fastening of the cut edges now facing each other and running in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve for forming a sleeve blank, f) final machining of the sleeve blank until a desired geometry of the housing is achieved. The housing is suitable in particular for use in fuel injectors in fuel injector systems of mixture-compressing spark-ignition internal combustion engines.
US08245393B2
A method for fabricating a circuit board includes providing a first substrate, forming a circuit on the first substrate, the circuit having a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one nanostructure, and transferring the circuit from the first substrate to a surface of a second substrate made of a polymer.
US08245389B2
The invention aims to provide substrate treatment equipment that can automatically collect a substrate in a normal condition without needing manual operation. The equipment includes a substrate holder for holding substrates in a multistage manner and a substrate transfer unit for transferring the substrates into the substrate holder, wherein a substrate holding condition of the substrate holder is sensed by a sensing section. The sensing section has photo-sensors, and sensing waveforms sensed by the photo-sensors are compared with a normal waveform. A control section is provided, which controls a substrate transfer unit such that substrates other than at least a substrate that was determined to be abnormal are transferred by the unit.
US08245387B2
A disassembling device includes a housing, a rotating element and a battery module. The housing includes a first engaging portion. The rotating element is rotatably disposed on the housing. The battery module, disposed in the housing in a detachable manner, includes a second engaging portion engaging with the first engaging portion. The rotating element rotates to push the first engaging portion, enabling the first engaging portion is enabled to detach from the second engaging portion.
US08245384B2
The present disclosure relates to converting lines for manufacturing absorbent articles. The converting lines include a plurality of process equipment converting modules connected with each other along a machine direction (MD). Adjacent converting modules may be releasably connectable to each other with converting module couplers. The converting modules may also have substantially identical dimensions, wherein each converting module defines the same or substantially the same MD length, CD width, and height. The converting modules may also be sized to be received within a standard shipping container. The converting lines may includes a plurality of accessory service modules supported by respective converting modules and connected with each other along the machine directions. The accessory service modules may also be adapted to be received within standard shipping containers. Adjacent accessory service modules may be releasably connected to each other with accessory module couplers, which may include quick-disconnect couplers.
US08245378B2
Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing components used in the manufacture of wearable articles are presented. Some of the methods of manufacturing a mold and the apparatuses themselves include, among other features, forming a plate having a mold insert. The mold insert is removably connected to the plate and is formed using a rapid prototyping technique. In addition, methods for manufacturing wearable articles are presented. The methods generally including forming a mold, including a mold insert formed using a rapid prototyping technique. In addition, the methods include performing the steps of a molding operation on the mold. The molding operation may include any of several known molding operations.
US08245375B2
A method for repairing a rotor of a turbine includes providing a rotor having a groove portion defined by a circumferential portion of the rotor. The circumferential portion of the rotor is removed to create an opening to provide access to the groove such that the opening, immediately adjacent the groove, is narrower than the groove. A guide block may be extended into a receiving slot separating a first protruding surface from a second protruding surface of the rotor such that a weld area slot of the guide block extends over at least a portion of the opening. The opening may be welded adjacent the guide block to close at least a portion of the opening.
US08245369B2
A karabiner is provided having a hoop and a closing part mounted pivotally via a pivoting axle to the hoop at the insertion opening of the hoop. At least one blocking element is pivotally mounted to the closing part via a blocking element—pivot axle, with the blocking element, at least in a closed position of the closing part, blocking the closing part in its closed position from pivoting towards its opened position and in at least one released position allows the closing part to pivot towards its opened position. The blocking element is pivoted around the blocking element—pivot axle for pivoting it from the blocking position towards the released position in the same rotary direction around the blocking element—pivot axle as the closing part for pivoting the closing part out of the closed position towards its opened position around the closing part—pivot axle.
US08245367B2
There is provided a fastener which can be fixed in a mounting hole in an ensured fashion and which can be removed from the mounting hole in an easy and ensured fashion.This fastener 10 includes a main body 20 which is fixed in a mounting hole and a pin member for releasing the engagement of the main body 20 with the mounting hole. The main body 20 has a base portion 21 and a leg portion 30, a pair of elastic engagement pieces 35, 35 are provided on the leg portion 30, and distal end portions 37 of the elastic engagement pieces 35 are extended towards an insertion opening 23 in the pin member 40. The pin member 40 has a head portion 41 and an insertion portion 43, and a pressing surface 48 is provided on the insertion portion 43 for pressing the distal end portions 37 so as to deflect the pair of elastic engagement pieces 35, 35 inwards to such an extent that the elastic engagement pieces are not brought into engagement with the mounting hole when the pin member 40 is pushed in a predetermined distance. A pin-side engagement portion and a main-body-side engagement portion are provided between the pin member 40 and the base portion 21 of the main body 20 for holding the pin member 40 in a predetermined pushed-in position when the pin member 40 is inserted into the base portion 21.
US08245364B2
A slider actuated closure mechanism includes internal projections that extend from interior sides of the closure elements and retention members that extend from exterior sides of the closure elements. A slider is disposed over the first and second closure elements and includes first and second sidewalls each including a shoulder inwardly extending from a distal end thereof. When the slider is disposed over the first and second closure elements, the first sidewall and the first closure element are minimally horizontally separated by a distance d1, the second sidewall and the second closure element are minimally horizontally separated by a distance d2, and the internal projections are horizontally separated by a distance d3. The sum of the distances d1, d2, and d3 equals a total non-zero distance, dt, that is less than a length that each of the shoulders inwardly extends from the respective first and second sidewalls.
US08245361B2
A clamping device comprising: a collar (10) comprising: a belt (12) suitable for being disposed around one or more articles to be clamped, and at least two lugs (14, 16) that are upstanding relative to said belt towards the outside thereof; and a tightening system (18, 19) suitable for co-operating with the two lugs so as to move them closer together; in which device at least one of the two lugs has a connection portion via which it is connected to the belt (26), which connection portion is upstanding relative to said belt, and a tightening wall (30) folded back towards the belt, the tightening system coming into engagement with said tightening wall during tightening of the collar; wherein, on its outside face, the belt (12) has at least one projecting portion (40) situated between the connection portion and the tightening wall, the tightening wall (30) coming into abutment against said projecting portion (40) while the collar is being tightened.
US08245359B2
A spring part without increasing the total surface of the clip body. A part of the clip body is cut out as cutout part which is bent to form the spring part. The cutout part which is a part of the clip body is utilized as the spring part.
US08245356B2
A hinge has a pintle, a spacer assembly, a stationary bracket and a rotating bracket. The pintle is mounted through the spacer assembly and is connected to the stationary and rotating brackets. The spacer assembly has multiple spacers stacked with each other. Each spacer has a ring segment and a bearing segment. The ring segment is mounted around the pintle. The bearing segment has an absorbing space to absorb the stress acting on the ring segment. Therefore, the spacer sustains less stress to prevent breakage easily and a lifespan of the spacer is extended. Therefore, the hinge has a longer lifespan.
US08245350B2
The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) with a wiper strip (14) made of elastic material and having a wiper strip head (20) and a wiper lip (26) which can be placed on a window (22) to be wiped, wherein the wiper lip (26) is designed as a wedge-shaped extension (24) of the wiper strip head (20) and has a point angle (42) of between 60 degrees and 150 degrees, said point angle leading into a contact surface (44) having a radius (46) of smaller than 100 micrometers, and also to a method for the production of said wiper blade.
US08245346B2
Cleaner liquid flow passages for discharging cleaner liquid from a rotatable brush unit are formed in a rotatable brush unit. The cleaner liquid flow passages are formed as passages wherein the cleaner liquid fed to a hollow portion in a rotary shaft flows to openings in brush cleaner circular plates via lateral grooves provided around the outer circumference of a core roller and along the axial direction. A cleaner liquid fed to discs from a cleaner nozzle contains dirt when the discs are cleaned and the dirt is sucked into the cleaner liquid passages and the dirt is discharged from the rotatable brush unit.
US08245331B1
A crib frame includes a main frame, a mattress support frame located at the bottom end of the main frame with two width sides each having two anchor holes, and two sets of symmetrical first and second connection racks. The first and second connection racks respectively include a first bracing plate and a second bracing plate, a first upright plate and a second upright plate extended respectively and horizontally from the first and second bracing plates, and a first support plate and a second support plate extended respectively and vertically from a lower end of the first and second upright plates. The first and second support plates have respectively a first elongate adjustment slot and a second elongate adjustment slot. The first and second elongate adjustment slots are coupled with two anchor holes, thereby the mattress support frame with varying specifications can be at desired locations to improve safety.
US08245330B2
Exemplary apparatuses and methods for providing clean hot and/or cold water on demand from a portable structure include water storage tanks that store the clean water, and a sink assembly for dispensing the clean water to a user. A pumping system pumps water from the water storage tanks to the sink assembly, and a filtration system that filters water flowing from the sink assembly to the water storage tanks.
US08245326B1
A holder for an MP3 player or other music or communication device is reversibly attached to a rigid helmet such as worn by motorcyclists. The back surface of the holder is configured to fit closely and integrally against the back surface of the helmet. A spoiler forms the top of the holder to minimize wind lift, prevent wind from dislodging the holder, and to direct air flow along the helmet and over the holder. The MP3 player is disposed in a compartment within the body of the holder and retained in the compartment by a stop-tab. An adapter is used to connect the MP3 player to an earphone assembly within the helmet. A volume control on the adapter enables the cyclist to adjust the volume while riding. The holder is reversibly attached to the helmet by means of a two component heavy duty interlock fastener system.
US08245321B2
A glove system including a glove and a wrist attachment. The glove has a base portion, which includes a first fastener. The wrist attachment includes one or more straps for enabling wearing of the wrist attachment on a human wrist, a functional feature, and a second fastener adapted to couple with the first fastener and for selectively attaching the first wrist attachment to the glove.
US08250661B2
Upon applying a DRM protection process to an image which is generated by an image processing apparatus, which doesn't have any communication means that allows direct communications with a PC, without any alteration, encryption of the image in the apparatus and that of the image in the PC as an internal process of the DRM are required, resulting in poor efficiency. The apparatus executes a part of the DRM protection process for the image, and outputs the encrypted image. The PC receives the image which has undergone the part of the DRM protection process, executes the remaining part of the DRM protection process, and outputs the image which has undergone the DRM protection process. In this case, the PC transmits use condition of the input image to a license server, receives signed use condition from the server, and combines the signed use condition with the input encrypted image.
US08250659B2
By arranging a redundancy means and a control means upstream from an encryption means which encrypts and decrypts the data to be stored in an external memory, the integrity of data may be ensured when the generation of redundancy information is realized by the redundancy means, and when the generation of a syndrome bit vector indicating any alteration of the data is implemented by the control means. What is preferred is a control matrix constructed from idempotent, thinly populated, circulant square sub-matrices only. By arranging redundancy and control means upstream from the encryption/decryption means, what is achieved is that both errors in the encrypted data and errors of the non-encrypted data may be proven, provided that they have occurred in the data path between the redundancy/control means and the encryption/decryption means.
US08250657B1
A reputation server is coupled to multiple clients via a network. Each client has a security module that detects malware at the client. The security module computes a hygiene score based on detected malware. The security module provides the hygiene score and an identifier of a visited web site to a reputation server. The security module also provides identifiers of files encountered at specified web sites to the reputation server. The reputation server computes secondary hygiene scores for web sites based on the hygiene scores of the clients that visit the web sites. The reputation server further computes reputation scores for files based on the secondary hygiene scores of sites that host the files. The reputation server provides the reputation scores to the clients. A reputation score represents an assessment of whether the associated file is malicious.
US08250651B2
A method for identifying a portion of aggregated software security data is described. The method includes accessing aggregated data associated with software vulnerabilities retrieved from a plurality of on-line sources. The method further includes searching a portion of the aggregated data for an exact match to a particular attribute of the data and searching the portion of the aggregated data for one or more partial matches associated with the particular attribute. The method also includes associating the portion of the data with the particular attribute based on the exact match of one or more of the partial matches.
US08250649B2
System (1) for securing a data processing application, the said system comprising: first means (2) for interfacing with a security device (3); second means (4) for interfacing with the user; third means (6) for interfacing with the application and adapted for intercepting any request to use the said security device originating from the said application destined for the said security device; authentication means (8) connected to the first and second interfacing means, adapted for authenticating the user as legitimate user of the security device by requesting at least one secret; means (10) for storing the result of the authentication; validation means connected to the storage means and to the first and third interfacing means, adapted for authorizing any request originating from the application, destined for the said security device if and only if, the user is authenticated.
US08250640B1
The invention is a system and method for ensuring that a storage virtualization system performs as a trusted delegate for a user attempting to access data on an authenticated server. Data is moved from a first server to a second server by a storage virtualization system. Even though the user may have been authenticated to access the first server, the storage virtualization system which re-directs user requests to the migrated data on the second server may not be authenticated. The first time a user is re-directed to the second server, the storage virtualization system will obtain request to act as a trusted delegate for the user by communicating with a third server, such as a Kerberos domain controller. After the storage virtualization system is properly authenticated as a trusted delegate for the user, future re-directed requests will be seamless and transparent to the user.
US08250630B2
A machine executed method comprising at a first computer, receiving from a second computer a request to gain root-administrator access to an operating system (OS) of the first computer; the first computer, in response to receiving the request to gain root-administrator access, granting the root-administrator access and modifying stored access state data from a first state associated with the OS to a second state associated with the OS, wherein the second state is different than the first state and the second state indicates that root-administrator access to the OS was granted.
US08250629B2
A system and method are described that use a subscriber-centric approach to scalably support the delivery of network services across numerous access protocols and across a multitude of access devices. By allowing the use of a service engine that can range in complexity from a simple macro to a rules engine, this approach is suitable for bundled services, as well as single services.
US08250627B2
One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for transaction authorization within a security service. The computer-implemented method intercepts a request by a security service, wherein a transaction identifier is cached to form a cached transaction identifier, and requests the requester to authenticate to form an authentication request. The computer-implemented method further determines whether the requester was authenticated, and responsive to a determination the requester was authenticated, receives authentication information, including an associated transaction identifier. The request is intercepted and the cached transaction identifier inserted. The computer-implemented method further determines whether the cached transaction identifier is equivalent to the authentication information, including an associated transaction identifier, and responsive to a determination that the cached transaction identifier is equivalent to authentication information, including an associated transaction identifier, passes the request to the application.
US08250625B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reducing communication system downtime when enabling cryptographic operation of a cryptographic system of the communication system where the cryptographic system includes a first cryptographic device operatively coupled to a plurality of second cryptographic devices via a communication network of the communication system. The method includes causing a pass-through mode of the second cryptographic devices to be suspended, sequentially determining a state of each of the second cryptographic devices, causing the second cryptographic devices and the first cryptographic device to substantially simultaneously operate in a secure mode if each of the second cryptographic devices is determined to have a first state, and causing the second cryptographic devices and the first cryptographic device to operate in the pass-through mode if at least one of the plurality of second cryptographic devices is determined to have a second state.
US08250624B2
A device, such as a chip card, is connected to a host platform that is linked to a packet network such as the Internet. The device detects security policy designation parameters in packets leaving and entering the platform and processes the packets according to stored security policies designated by the designation parameters detected. The security information linked to a user can therefore be moved from one platform to another and it is not processed by the platform. Security policies are managed by a server with which the device can initiate a communication when no security policy corresponding to the policy designation parameters detected in a packet is recognized, so that the server can assist the device in negotiating a security policy.
US08250617B2
A method for processing broadcasts comprises receiving a broadcast of the program containing a plurality of perspectives of the program and presenting at least one of the plurality of perspectives to a viewer. The method further includes automatically recording the plurality of perspectives in a storage device and playing alternate recorded perspectives for the viewer without interrupting the recording of the broadcast. A system for recording a broadcast containing a plurality of perspectives of a program is also disclosed.
US08250615B2
A head-end system for providing a two-way VOD service and a service method thereof are disclosed. The head-end system includes: a terminal which is based on a Java virtual machine and a Java TV/GEM standard middleware and has a VOD navigator application of a tool set form for replaying and controlling an audiovisual (AV) which is processed to be replayed in real time and an application related to the AV which is processed to be replayed in real time; and a two-way VOD head-end system server for providing a VOD content list and content information to the terminal through the Internet and providing information of an application related to an AV which is processed to be replayed and an application execution-related file together when a VOD content is selected and requested by a user.
US08250614B1
A media-on-demand (MOD) portal application allows users to view and access from a single display interface MOD content provided by multiple media providers, such as vendors and service providers. The MOD portal application may provide grid display screens showing program listings of available media content. The grids may include rows and columns, where each row and each column includes program listings associated with a particular category. In one illustrative grid, each row includes programming from a single media vendor and each column includes programming of a particular genre. A media guidance application is also provided which automatically determines if a user does not watch an MOD program the user has ordered. The media guidance application may automatically make the unwatched program available to the user at a later time, for example by automatically recording the program or by allowing the user to access the program at the later time.
US08250611B2
An automobile entertainment system includes a video system mounted within an automobile headrest. The headrest includes a headrest body and a first downwardly extending extension arm including a passage therethrough. The video system includes a cable extending therefrom and the one cable passes through the first extension arm, wherein the cable includes a cylindrical connector shroud at a distal end thereof. The connector shroud is shaped and dimensioned to pass through the first extension arm.
US08250603B1
An in-context interactive television ticker is provided. The ticker is rendered on a display screen that also shows a television program, and presents ticker content that is in-context with subject matter of the television program. The ticker remains rendered and context-sensitive to the subject matter of the currently shown television program, whenever there is a change in the television program, such as when the subject matter of the current television program changes, when a commercial interruption occurs during the television program, or when the television channel is changed. The ticker is interactive in that the viewer can perform various interactive operations with the ticker, including interacting with the ticker to obtain additional information related to an in-context item presented by the ticker.
US08250591B2
A tray of an optical disk device and an optical disk device including the tray are provided. In a tray rear portion located at a higher level than a tray bottom portion, a first tapered surface as a draft taper and a second tapered surface sloping more gently than the first tapered surface are formed. An upper end of the second tapered surface is located farther from a center of rotation of an optical disk than a lower end, and thus air in a peripheral portion of the optical disk generated during rotation of the disk is introduced along the tapered surface to a rear.
US08250590B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing seamless multiple format metadata abstraction. A metadata application programming interface (API) is provided to abstract metadata from an incoming business object and provide it to an adapter for processing. The metadata API is configured to operate on multiple metadata formats such as SDO and JavaBean such that the adapter receives the metadata from the metadata API in a common format that is compatible with the adapter. In this manner, the multiple metadata formats may be plugably used with the adapter.
US08250587B2
System, method, architecture, network device, and computer programs and computer program products for inter-process communications. Message structure, procedure for generating the message structure, applications of the message structure and messaging method for obtaining status, statistics, and other information and for performing an information or parameter set operation across one or more process boundaries, and to other device and system architectures and methods for utilizing the messages and messaging methodology.
US08250585B2
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing the user interface (UI) state of an AJAX application by automatically binding a uniform resource locator (URL) to an application code component. The metadata for controller functions contained in an AJAX Web page are read as it is loaded. Once loaded, the URL of the page is monitored for changes in its value. If the URL's value changes, then the value of the ‘action’ property of the changed URL is compared to the application metadata for validation. If the ‘action’ property of the changed URL does not exist in the application metadata, then the changed URL is considered invalid and its associated actions are ignored. If the ‘action’ property is valid, the function specified by the ‘action’ request parameter is called. A single object parameter is sent, with the properties of the single object parameter derived from the request parameters other than ‘action’. The function is executed and the page is updated to display the value of the object property.
US08250581B1
The present invention provides for allocating computer resources to computer workloads at least in part as a function of expected marginal utilities of candidate recipient workloads.
US08250573B2
A device, method, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the device includes a first virtual machine to directly access a physical audio codec. The device also includes a virtual audio codec that is managed by the first virtual machine. The virtual audio codec can provide a custom interface to the physical audio codec for one or more additional virtual machines apart from the first virtual machine.
US08250567B2
The present invention concerns a network terminal, and method in a broadband terminal for upgrading a firmware, said terminal comprising an interface to a network and a non volatile memory adapted to store only one version of the firmware, the firmware comprising a first firmware and a second firmware, the method comprising, at the terminal, the step of erasing the first firmware from the non volatile memory, downloading a rescue firmware to the non volatile memory from a server located on the network, the rescue firmware being adapted to allow the terminal to download the firmware from the server, rebooting the terminal with the second firmware and the rescue firmware, downloading a new version of the first and second firmware from the server to the non volatile memory, erasing the rescue firmware from the non volatile memory, and rebooting the terminal with the new version of the first and second firmware.
US08250566B2
A method for an automated upgrade of hardware devices of a specialized network, such as wireless communication devices or automated teller machines, with new software programs is described. The upgrade is performed over the network and is controlled by a control center of the network. The control center has an access to a software program repository for storing new programs. The automated upgrade is performed by selecting suitable new software programs from the repository, each of the programs being associated with a validity time window and a threshold hardware profile, performing corresponding checks of upgrade time windows and hardware profiles of the hardware devices being upgraded, and downloading the new software programs to the memory medium of the hardware devices being upgraded.
US08250560B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes memory in which first firmware is stored; a controller to execute the firmware; a storage device in which update data corresponding to second firmware that can be used to update the first firmware stored in memory; and a processing unit configured to (a) transfer the update data, and (b) indicate which regions of the memory require updating; and an updating unit configured to rewrite a region in the memory using the update data in response to the indication of which regions of the memory require updating.
US08250550B2
A computing device-implemented method includes initiating a single programming language, and identifying, via the single programming language, one or more data distribution schemes for executing a program. The method also includes transforming, via the single programming language, the program into a parallel program with an optimum data distribution scheme selected from the one or more identified data distribution schemes, and allocating the parallel program to two or more labs for parallel execution. The method further includes receiving one or more results associated with the parallel execution of the parallel program from the two or more labs, and providing the one or more results to the program.
US08250547B2
The present invention provides a method and system for loading and running program images rapidly in a multi-processor system. The method comprises the steps of: starting in a synergistic processor a synergistic processing program listener, which is configured to listen to a notification from a main processor; calling in the main processor a run-synergistic-processing-program function which is configured to notify the synergistic processing program listener to run a synergistic processing program image which is part of the program image and has been transferred to the local store of the synergistic processor; and the synergistic processing program listener running the synergistic processing program image in response to receiving the notification.
US08250540B2
An administration system and methods for mobile security and other software applications operating on mobile devices in a corporate network. The administration system comprises an administration server, administration database and administration console. To facilitate integration of mobile applications into the administration system, each mobile application is provided with an associated administration console plug-in component. The administration plug-in component provides a set of user interfaces for configuring via the administration console application configuration settings specific to the one or more associated mobile applications. In addition, the plug-in component provides web interfaces, such as SOAP interfaces, for communicating application-specific configuration settings to the associated mobile applications. Accordingly, the administration system enables rapid and highly concurrent installation, configuration, updating, and patching of various mobile applications without modifying infrastructure of the administration system.
US08250539B2
With regard to a plurality of data stored in a memory, relationship of data is grasped twice after a time interval therebetween. Next, increased data C1, E2, E3 which are not present in data of a first time are extracted from data of a second time, and weights “1”, “2”, “2” in accordance with data sizes are attached to the increased data. Next, the weights are successively propagated from a lower order data of a destination of reference to a higher order data of a source of reference successively. When there are a plurality of lower order data E2, E3 for a higher order D0, a weight constituted by adding the weights “2”, “2” of the plurality of lower data E2, E3 is made to be a weight “4” of the higher order data D0, and the weights of the respective data represent leak scores which causes memory leak.
US08250534B2
A method and computer program product reads one or more specifications that define, at least in part, a software application. A data storage structure is generated for storing data of the software application. At least one unit of code is generated based, at least in part, upon one or more design elements within the one or more specifications. A first application is generated from the at least one unit of code and data storage structure.
US08250533B2
Different views on an object that has metadata. For instance, one code segment might have one view of the object and be able to view some of the metadata of that object, while another code segment might have a different view of the object and have a view on a different set of the metadata of that object. This may be done even though the code segments reside in the same application. Thus, each code segment may have a view of the metadata on the object that is most useful for that code segment to use the object without getting confused by metadata that is less or not relevant to the manner in which the code segment is to use the object.
US08250528B2
The subject invention pertains to a system and method of extending programming languages to enable static inheritance. In particular, static subclasses can be defined which extend class functionality and/or behaviors without extending base class state. The subclasses can be specified to include static fields as well as static or instance methods and/or properties that provide a more specific interpretation of an object without extending the state thereof. Furthermore, a static subclass can be specified to provide for type aliasing. Casting is also enabled in both directions between base class type and derived class type in a convenient manner without run-time performance penalties. According to one aspect of the invention, the disclosed systems and methods can be employed to create specific programmatic context, for instance for accessing, manipulating, and type checking external data (e.g., XML).
US08250524B2
In one embodiment, a computer system provides an application programming interface (API) for augmenting an application API. A computer system receives software code written in a second programming language indicating a user's intention to augment an application API with contracts from a contract API written in a first programming language. The software code includes a reference to the contract API. The contracts include assertions indicating appropriate use of the application API. The computer system accesses portions of the contract API according to the reference in the software code and compiles the received software code and the referenced portions of the contract API into an intermediate language (IL) version of the software code. The IL version is in an intermediate language common to both the first programming language and the second programming language. The IL version includes the assertions indicating appropriate use of the application API.
US08250520B2
A front-end computing system initializes an instance of a workflow. The workflow contains a plurality of activities. The plurality of activities includes a shim activity. When the front-end computing system executes the workflow instance, the front-end computing system performs the shim activity. When the front-end computing system performs the shim activity, the front-end computing system sends a custom activity assembly to a sandbox computing system. The custom activity assembly is not fully trusted. The sandbox computing system executes the custom activity assembly. The sandbox computing system is isolated from the front-end computing system such that unexpected behavior of the sandbox computing system does not cause the front-end computing system to perform unexpected behavior.
US08250519B2
A method is provided for executing guest computations in a virtual machine of a virtualization system and forcing execution of registered code into an execution context of the guest. The forcing is performed from the virtualization system based on an execution trigger monitored without reliance on functionality of the guest software.
US08250517B2
A shape-based layout beautification operation can be performed on an IC layout to correct layout imperfections. A shape is described by edges (and vertices) related according to specified properties. Each shape can be configured to match specific layout imperfection types. Corrective actions can then be associated with the shapes, advantageously enabling efficient formulation and precise application of those corrective actions. Corrective actions can include absolute, adaptive, or replacement-type modifications to the detected layout imperfections. A concurrent processing methodology can be used to minimize processing overhead during layout beautification, and the actions can also be incorporated into a lookup table to further reduce runtime. A layout beautification system can also be connected to a network across which shapes, actions, and IC layout data files can be accessed and retrieved.
US08250510B2
An SSO noise calculating unit estimates the amount of simultaneously operating signal noise caused by simultaneous operations of input/output pins peripheral to a power supply voltage pin as a center. A PLL jitter calculating unit estimates the amount of jitter occurring at the power supply voltage pin by using as an input the estimated amount of simultaneously operating signal noise, and by referencing a correlation between the amount of simultaneously operating signal noise and the amount of jitter, which indicates a correlation calculated beforehand between the amount of simultaneously operating signal noise and the amount of jitter.
US08250506B2
A system and method of designing the physical shape of and determining the electromagnetic characteristics of a bondwire in an electrical circuit, comprising the steps of enabling a user to define the position of the bondwire in the electrical circuit layout, defining the position and loop shape of the bondwire in a 3D representation of the electrical circuit, segmenting the bondwire into discrete segments, determining the electromagnetic characteristics of each of the bondwire segments thereby to determine the overall electromagnetic characteristics of the bondwire.
US08250495B2
Method and apparatus for generating a pair of layouts suitable for forming exposure mask to use in a double dipole lithographic process are disclosed. With some implementations, a y-dipole layout and an x-dipole layout are generated by decomposing a target layout. Subsequently, an optical proximity correction process is implemented on the y-dipole layout and the x-dipole layout. The decomposition may designate ones of the edge segments in the target layout at major edge segments and other ones of the edge segments as minor edge segments. A higher feedback value may then be assigned to the minor edges than the major edges. Subsequently, a few iterations of an optical proximity correction process that utilizes a smaller than intended mask rule constraint value and the assigned feedback values is implemented on the target layout. The minor edges separated by a distance of less than the intended mask rule constraint distance are then collapsed. After which, a few iterations of the optical proximity correction process are allowed to iterate. In further implementations, once the y-dipole and x-dipole layouts have been generated. An additional optical proximity correction process is implemented on the layouts. During this optical proximity correction process, a higher feedback values is again assigned to the minor edge segments. At a point during the optical proximity correction process, minor edges within portions of the layouts that have a bias value larger than a predetermined value are expanded back from their collapsed position.
US08250492B2
A method that enables an internet user to determine whether an image viewed truly represents the color, clarity, and depiction of the item the image represents. A test pattern-like graphic, made up of a series of bars, shapes, lines, and shadings, is photographed or scanned alongside an item and published to the internet. The viewer compares the published graphic with a hardcopy of the same graphic. Inconsistencies in depiction between the two graphics enable the viewer to determine the extent to which the image appearing alongside the published graphic fairly represents the item the image represents. Revenue is generated through licensing of the graphic to both internet displayers and viewers as well as advertising space on the graphic. The graphic can appear in different versions and sizes through different media: hardcopy, digitized on the internet, broadcast television.
US08250490B2
A plurality of object arrays in which a plurality of objects are sorted under a plurality of order conditions are generated. A display image is generated by sorting the objects in an order for each object array to line up in the first direction for each of the plurality of object arrays, selecting one object of a first object array of the plurality of object arrays as a reference object, and sorting the objects for each of the plurality of object arrays so that the reference object and objects corresponding to the reference object included in the object arrays other than the first object array line up in the second direction.
US08250489B2
The present invention relates to a control unit for a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same. A control unit for a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises an input means for receiving an operation signal for setting a service mode of a dispenser provided at the refrigerator; a storage means for storing a plurality of mode image data corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser; a display means for displaying mode images of the mode image data; and a control means for performing control such that mode image data corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser are read from the storage means according to an operation signal received by the input means and a mode image corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means. According to the present invention, there are advantages in that more various menus can be displayed in different manners, and the configuration of the input unit is simplified and thus can be more conveniently used.
US08250488B2
The presently disclosed technology provides curved slider GUIs with user interface sensitivity independent from a distance between a cursor and a radial center of the curved slider on a display. An area of operation is defined by an area between parallel bounds oriented equidistant from a radial center of a curved slider and extending from the outermost limits of the curved slider in both directions. Because of the geometry of the area of operation, a distance required to operate an entire range of the curved slider is independent from a distance between the cursor and the radial center of the curved slider. Since a distance that the cursor moves on the display often directly corresponds to movement of a physical input device, the presently disclosed technology results in a more intuitive operation of curved slider because the physical input motions more directly correlate to movements of the curved slider.
US08250485B2
A method and article of manufacture in computer readable form for web page navigation without use of a computer mouse. A computer program is executed on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system that includes a keyboard and a display screen. A first web page, which includes at least one Universal Resource Locator (URL), is fetched. The fetched first web page is parsed. As each URL of the at least one URL on the first web page is encountered during the parsing of the first web page, computer code that associates a two-key code with each URL on the first web page is generated and executed. The first web page is displayed on the display screen, which includes depicting on the displayed first web page: each two-key code and an indication of which URL on the first web page each two-key code is associated with.
US08250483B2
A method of configuring a programmable pump for delivering an agent to a patient. The method comprises generating a user interface having a plurality of pages, at least one of the pages being a home page; retrieving at least one banner from memory; and displaying the retrieved at least one banner in the home page.
US08250473B1
A visualization service generates a graphical representation or visualization of each user's behavior within a network resource, such as a website. In one example, the visualization service provides a dynamic visualization of each user accessing the network resource. Each user is graphically represented in the visualization with an indicium, such as a point or dot. The visualization (and thus, the position of each indicium representing a user) is dynamically updated as each user accesses data files from the network resource and thus, moves from state to state (or page to page) over time. The effect is similar to watching cars move along a complex highway system.
US08250459B2
First, second, and third sets of spreadsheet cells are defined in a display, the first and second sets being separated by a first boundary having a selected orientation, the second and third sets being separated by a second boundary having the selected orientation. A selected scrolling function is disabled within selected sets among the first, second and third sets of cells in accordance with an alternating pattern.
US08250451B2
An IC card is provided that is capable of identifying a communication type of incoming data received by non-contact communication. The IC card includes: an error detection portion that, for each of a plurality of communication types, performs error detection of incoming data based on an encoding format defined by each of the communication types; and a type identification portion that identifies, among the plurality of communication types, a communication type in which error information is not detected by the error detection portion as a communication type of the incoming data.
US08250448B1
Method and apparatus for concatenated and interleaved turbo product code decoding are described. The turbo encoder include a plurality of decoders coupled to receive first portion of data, a processor coupled to receive second portion of the data, and a controller providing a plurality of control signals coupled to the plurality of decoders and the processor. A control signal of the plurality of control signals coupled to the processor when enabled configures the processor to pre-calculate the second portion of the data, where the second portion of the data is trellis termination data.
US08250444B2
In the field of coding/decoding in telecommunications networks, an error correcting decoder and associated decoding method are adapted to a mesh network.In particular, the system for the decoding of a plurality of coded copies of a data word includes at least a first decoding stage with: a plurality of soft decision decoders, each decoder being arranged for decoding a coded copy received as decoder input, and a graph-based decoder comprising a plurality of nodes, each node of said graph-based decoder receiving the soft output value from a corresponding decoder and the graph-based decoder determining a decoding value of said data word on the basis of said soft output values.
US08250440B2
A method for address generation checking including receiving a starting memory address for a data, an ending memory address for the data, a length value of the data, and an address wrap indicator value that indicates if the data wraps from an end of a memory block to a start of the memory block, determining whether the ending memory address is equal to a sum of the starting memory address added to a difference of the length value to the address wrap indicator value, and transmitting an error signal that indicates an error occurred in a generation of the starting memory address or the ending memory address if the ending memory address is not equal to the sum.
US08250436B2
A memory arrangement comprises a first memory module and a second memory module. An item of information to be written to the memory arrangement is written with a first address both to the first memory module and to the second memory module. When reading, the item of information is read either from the first memory module by means of the first address or from the second memory module by means of a second address differing from the first address. Subsequently a check is made as to whether the item of information is defective. If this is the case, the item of information is read from the respective other memory module.
US08250434B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes an increased iteration enable signal, a first detector circuit, a second detector circuit, and a data decoding circuit. The first detector circuit receives a data set and performs a data detection on the data set to provide a detected data set. The data decoding circuit receives a derivative of the detected data set and performs a decoding process to provide a decoded data set. The decoded data set is provided to the second detector circuit based at least in part on an assertion level of the increased iteration enable signal.
US08250431B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes a first data detection circuit that applies a phase dependent data detection algorithm to a data set such that a first output of the first data detection circuit varies depending upon a phase of the data set presented to the first data detection circuit. A first phase of the data set is presented to the first data detection circuit. The circuits further include a decoder circuit that applies a decoding algorithm to the first output to yield a decoded output, and a phase shift circuit that phase shifts the decoded output such that a second phase of the data set is provided as a phase shifted output. A second detection circuit applies a phase dependent data detection algorithm to the phase shifted output such that a second output of the second data detection circuit varies from the first output at least in part due to a different phase of the data set presented to the second data detection circuit.
US08250423B2
Methods and systems for performing hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ) in conjunction with broadcast/multicast channels are presented. In particular, an access node may transmit a series of hybrid ARQ subpackets to one or more client nodes using a broadcast/multicast channel. Each of the subpackets may be derived from the same full packet. Upon receiving a subpacket, a client node may attempt to decode the full packet from the subpacket(s) derived from the full packet. If the client node fails to do so, the client node may transmit a negative acknowledgement to the access node. If the access node receives more than a threshold extent of negative acknowledgements, the access node may transmit a subsequent subpacket in the series on the broadcast/multicast channel.
US08250418B2
One or more embodiments of the invention enable a memory device to load its memory array with desired background data, such as to reduce total test time and costs associated with testing. A background data loading circuit according to one embodiment of the invention includes a buffer, a data loading circuit, and a pattern generating logic. The buffer is coupled to the array of memory cells. The data loading circuit is coupled to load data into the buffer to be transferred to a respective row of the memory cells. The pattern generating logic is coupled to the data loading circuit. The pattern generating logic applies a pattern generating algorithm corresponding to a test mode when the memory devices is in the test mode and generates patterns of data each for a respective row of the memory cells according to the pattern generating algorithm. The pattern generating logic further causes the data loading circuit to load each of the generated patterns of data into the buffer for transferring to a respective row of the memory cells.
US08250406B2
A system is provided with the ability to intervene, when a suspend process is initiated in response to an AC failure condition to place the system in a suspended to memory state, to save a persistent copy of an operational state of the system, before allowing the suspend process to complete.
US08250403B2
A solid state disk device comprises a plurality of nonvolatile memories and a controller. The plurality of nonvolatile memories are electrically connected to a plurality of channels, respectively. The controller controls storing, erasing and reading operations of the nonvolatile memories. The controller divides input data into a number of units corresponding to a number of the plurality of channels and stores the divided input data in the nonvolatile memories through the plurality of channels.
US08250398B2
An electric vehicle charging station, which does not include a battery-backed Real Time Clock, is in a charging station network managed by a charging station network server. Upon booting, the charging station requests actual real time from a remote source. While the charging station has not received the actual real time, it records the time of charging station specific events in a local system time format that resets when the charging station loses power. The charging station maintains the events recorded in their local system time until actual time is received. When actual real time is received, the charging station synchronizes its local system clock with the actual real time and converts the time of each event into real time format. When actual time is received, the charging station converts the time of each event into real time format. After the time of the events are converted to real time format, they are communicated to the charging station network server for further processing. After synchronizing its local clock with actual real time, the charging station records the time of any subsequent events in actual real time.
US08250394B2
A system and method provide adaptive frequency scaling for predicting the load on a processing unit and dynamically changing its clock frequency while keeping the synchronization with other processing units. The amount of data in an input memory waiting to be processed is a good indicator of the current load and thus embodiments utilize the same concept for predicting the load on the processing unit. The frequency of operation is thus changed on the basis of the percentage of memory being occupied by its input data. Algorithms according to embodiments allow the processing unit to use the maximum possible clock frequency only when it is required and to run at some lower frequencies in low processing power requirements. Operating the circuit at low frequency helps in reducing power consumption.
US08250393B2
A power management method for use in a computer system having a processor, a power management module and a phase lock loop circuit (PLL) is provided. The power management module is coupled to a plurality of peripheral modules and the computer system and the processor are capable of being operated in a working state and power saving states. The method includes the following. When the computer system is operated in the working state and the processor is entered into a lowest power consumption state among the power saving states, states of the peripheral modules are detected to determine whether a specific condition has been matched. If the specific condition is matched, the processor is directed to a control state to control the PLL according to a control state configuration.
US08250379B2
Temporarily sensitive information can be stored in the non-volatile storage of a TPM, from which it can be securely, and irretrievably, deleted. Additionally, information stored in a TPM can secure information stored on communicationally disconnectable storage media such that, when communicationally disconnected, the information stored on such media is inaccessible. A whole volume encryption service key can be protected by a key stored in a TPM and, even if the protector remains accessible, the secure deletion of the key from the TPM prevents unauthorized disclosure of the whole volume encryption service key. Additionally, TPM stored data can be released only when a computing device is in a particular state, as determined by the PCRs. A hibernation image can be encrypted and the key stored with the TPM such that it is released to decrypt the image and restore active computing only if the state has not materially changed during hibernation.
US08250378B1
Embodiments provide systems and methods for the encryption of data to be stored on media in a library. A method of data encryption may comprise intercepting or monitoring commands sent to a library comprising one or more media stored at secure slots. If in response to a command or commands, media is moved from a secure slot to a drive, data stored on the media by the drive is encrypted, either by an encryption device, the drive or other encryption system, thus allowing encryption based on individual slots or media in a library.
US08250369B2
The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for acquiring a physical measurement, and for creating a cryptographic certification of that measurement, such that its value and time can be verified by a party that was not necessarily present at the measurement.The certified measurement may also include corroborative information for associating the actual physical measurement process with the certified measurement. Such corroborative information may reflect the internal or external state of the measurement certification device, as well as witness identifiers of any persons that may have been present at the measurement acquisition and certification.The certification may include a signal receiver to receive timing signals from a satellite or other external source. The external timing signals may be used to generate the time included in the certified measurement, or could be used to determine the location of the measurement certification device for inclusion in the certified measurement.
US08250359B2
A packet forwarding process, on a data communications device, forwards a packet to a plurality of destinations within a network from that data communications device using an “encrypt, then replicate” method. The packet forwarding process receives a packet that is to be transmitted to the plurality of destinations, and applies a security association to the packet using security information shared between the data communications device, and the plurality of destinations, to create a secured packet. The secured packet contains a header that has a source address and a destination address. The source address is inserted into the header, and then the packet forwarding process replicates the secured packet, once for each of the plurality of destinations. After replication, the destination address is inserted into the header, and the packet forwarding process transmits each replicated secured packet to each of the plurality of destinations authorized to maintain the security association.
US08250357B2
A flexible, scalable hardware and software platform that allows a service provider to easily provide internet services, virtual private network services, firewall services, etc., to a plurality of customers. One aspect provides a method and system for delivering security services. This includes connecting a plurality of processors in a ring configuration within a first processing system, establishing a secure connection between the processors in the ring configuration across an internet protocol (IP) connection to a second processing system to form a tunnel, and providing both router services and host services for a customer using the plurality of processors in the ring configuration and using the second processing system. A secure communications tunnel is formed by routing all packets for the tunnel through an encrypting router at the sending end to obtain encrypted packets, and routing the encrypted packets through a decrypting router at the receiving end of an IP connection.
US08250347B2
Asymmetric hardware support for a special class of threads is provided. Preferably, the special class threads are high-priority, I/O bound threads. Preferably, a multithreaded processor contains N sets of registers for supporting concurrent execution of N threads. At least one of the register sets is dedicated for use by a special class of threads, and can not be used by other threads even if idle. The special class of threads can fill only the a limited portion of the cache memory, in order to reduce flushing of the cache which might otherwise occur.
US08250334B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) to store entries each having a translation portion to store a virtual address (VA)-to-physical address (PA) translation and a second portion to store bits for a memory page associated with the VA-to-PA translation, where the bits indicate attributes of information in the memory page. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08250331B2
Operating system virtual memory management for hardware transactional memory. A method may be performed in a computing environment where an application running on a first hardware thread has been in a hardware transaction, with transactional memory hardware state in cache entries correlated by memory hardware when data is read from or written to data cache entries. The data cache entries are correlated to physical addresses in a first physical page mapped from a first virtual page in a virtual memory page table. The method includes an operating system deciding to unmap the first virtual page. As a result, the operating system removes the mapping of the first virtual page to the first physical page from the virtual memory page table. As a result, the operating system performs an action to discard transactional memory hardware state for at least the first physical page. Embodiments may further suspend hardware transactions in kernel mode. Embodiments may further perform soft page fault handling without aborting a hardware transaction, resuming the hardware transaction upon return to user mode, and even successfully committing the hardware transaction.
US08250327B2
In a storage apparatus and its control method including multiple first virtual volumes to be provided to a host system and multiple pools each having a memory capacity, and equipped with a function of dynamically allocating a storage area to the first virtual volumes from the pools associated with the first virtual volumes in accordance with the usage status of the first virtual volumes, the unused capacity in each of the pools is managed, and, when the unused capacity of one of the pools falls below a predetermined threshold value, a part of the unused capacity of the other pools is allocated to the one pool. It is thereby possible to realize a highly reliable storage apparatus and its control method.
US08250325B2
A data deduplication method using a small hash digest dictionary in fast-access memory. The method includes receiving customer data, dividing the data into smaller chunks, and assigning hash values to each chunk. For each chunk, the method includes performing lookup for a duplicate chunk by accessing a small dictionary in memory with the chunk's hash value. When no entry, the small dictionary is updated to include the hash value to fill the dictionary with earliest received data. When an entry is found, the entry's hash value is compared with lookup value and if matched, reference data is returned and an entry counter is incremented. If not matched, additional accesses are attempted such as with additional indexes calculated using the hash value. Collisions may trigger an entry replacement such that some initially entered entries are replaced when determined to not be most repeating values such as based on their counter value.
US08250324B2
A method for facilitating fast reconstruction of metadata structures on a memory storage device includes writing a plurality of checkpoints holding a root of metadata structures in an increasing order of timestamps to a plurality of blocks respectively on the memory storage device utilizing a memory controller, where each checkpoint is associated with a timestamp, and wherein the last-written checkpoint contains a root to the latest metadata information from where metadata structures are reconstructed.
US08250320B1
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a command cancellation channel (CCC) including a plurality of stages, the CCC configured to receive a first memory address of a sequence of memory addresses and a corresponding first modification command, determine that at least a first stage of the plurality of stages includes the first memory address and a corresponding second modification command, and erase the first memory address or cancel the second modification command while shifting the first memory address and the second modification command from the first stage to a second stage. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08250311B2
A method and apparatus for preserving memory ordering in a cache coherent link based interconnect in light of partial and non-coherent memory accesses is herein described. In one embodiment, partial memory accesses, such as a partial read, is implemented utilizing a Read Invalidate and/or Snoop Invalidate message. When a peer node receives a Snoop Invalidate message referencing data from a requesting node, the peer node is to invalidate a cache line associated with the data and is not to directly forward the data to the requesting node. In one embodiment, when the peer node holds the referenced cache line in a Modified coherency state, in response to receiving the Snoop Invalidate message, the peer node is to writeback the data to a home node associated with the data.
US08250308B2
The method includes initiating a processor request to a cache in a requesting node and broadcasting the processor request to remote nodes when the processor request encounters a local cache miss, performing a directory search of each remote cache to determine a state of a target line's address and an ownership state of a specified address, returning the state of the target line to the requesting node and forming a combined response, and broadcasting the combined response to each remote node. During a fetch operation, when the directory search indicates an IM or a Target Memory node on a remote node, data is sourced from the respective remote cache and forwarded to the requesting node while protecting the data, and during a store operation, the data is sourced from the requesting node and protected while being forwarded to the IM or the Target Memory node after coherency has been established.
US08250300B2
A cache memory system comprises a cache memory and a cache controller that receives a first address to access the cache memory. The cache controller includes a first address transformer receives the first address and to transform it into one first cache address; the first cache address is used for accessing the cache memory to retrieve a first part of a tag address portion. The cache controller includes a hit detector establishes an partial hit condition based on a comparison of the retrieved a first part of the tag address portion and a first predetermined part of the first address, and a second address transformer receives the first address and to transform it into one second cache address. The cache controller uses the one second cache address for accessing the cache memory to retrieve a data word in case the partial hit condition is established.
US08250297B2
This invention describes an improved high bandwidth chip-to-chip interface for memory devices, which is capable of operating at higher speeds, while maintaining error free data transmission, consuming lower power, and supporting more load. Accordingly, the invention provides a memory subsystem comprising at least two semiconductor devices; a main bus containing a plurality of bus lines for carrying substantially all data and command information needed by the devices, the semiconductor devices including at least one memory device connected in parallel to the bus; the bus lines including respective row command lines and column command lines; a clock generator for coupling to a clock line, the devices including clock inputs for coupling to the clock line; and the devices including programmable delay elements coupled to the clock inputs to delay the clock edges for setting an input data sampling time of the memory device.
US08250292B2
A data writing method for writing data from a host system into a flash memory chip is provided. The method includes configuring a plurality of logical page addresses, grouping the logical page addresses into a plurality of logical blocks, and recording the data dispersion degree of each of the logical blocks. The method also includes receiving write-in data from the host system, identifying a logical block that a logical page address to be written by the host system belongs to, and writing the write-in data into the flash memory chip according to the data dispersion degree of the logical block, wherein the data dispersion degree of each of the logical blocks is not larger than a logical block data dispersion degree threshold value. Accordingly, the method can effectively reduce the time for executing a host write command.
US08250287B1
Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to storing a streaming mode enable value in a configuration register, receiving a streaming mode entry signal at a first data input/output terminal during a dummy clock cycle of a read command sequence, and/or entering a streaming mode for serial flash memory read operations at least in part in response to receiving the streaming mode entry signal.
US08250282B2
A memory controller for a phase change memory (PCM) that can be used on a storage bus interface is described. In one example, the memory controller includes an external bus interface coupled to an external bus to communicate read and write instructions with an external device, a memory array interface coupled to a memory array to perform reads and writes on a memory array, and an overwrite module to write a desired value to a desired address of the memory array.
US08250279B2
A custom control system created based on combinations of software applications and hardware control and communication modules overlaid in a virtual backplane. The user can select the modules of interest and map them together without the loss of communications between the modules while the control system is configured and overlaid. The user can then archive the system design and implement the system with a greater level of confidence in the ability of the design to meet the requirements of the application while reducing the costs of the implementation.
US08250276B2
An I/O adapter is installed in a slot in a computer system. Online deletion of the I/O adapter is achieved by a three step process, in which a device driver that controls the adapter first attempts to quiesce the adapter, the slot is then powered off, if it is possible to do so, and finally, if the quiesce operation was successful or the slot is powered off, the driver completes the delete operation by unmapping buffers and cleaning up datastructures associated with the device driver.
US08250270B2
A method of processing J1850 requests using a scan tool having multiple processor systems is provided. The scan tool includes a first processor that processes data according to scan tool functions to assist with diagnosing and repairing a vehicle. A second processor receives data transmitted to the first processor and stores the data in a buffer. The second processor determines whether the data is complete to enable the first processor to make a determination regarding the data.
US08250268B2
A DDC interface circuit includes a first NMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor. The gates of the first and the second NMOS transistors are all connected to a 3.3V system power via a first resistor. The source of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a DDC_CLK pin of a north bridge. The drain of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a 5V system power via a second resistor, and also connected to an SCL pin of a VGA interface via a third resistor to receive an ACK signal. The source of the second NMOS transistor is connected to a DDC_DATA pin of the north bridge. The drain of the second NMOS transistor is connected to the 5V system power via a fourth resistor, and also connected to an SDA pin of the VGA interface via a fifth resistor.
US08250267B2
Various embodiments of systems, methods, computer systems and computer software are disclosed for implementing a control I/O offload feature in a split-path storage virtualization system. One embodiment is a method for providing split-path storage services to a plurality of hosts via a storage area network.
US08250261B2
The present invention discloses an application method for universal serial bus (USB) file transfer device. When USB file transfer device is connected between two computers loaded with operating such systems as Window, Mac, Linux, etc., that support Mass Storage Class standard while the USB file transfer device also supports Mass Storage Class, either computer can access system information provided in the USB file transfer device. Since the application program is stored in the USB file transfer device and the USB file transfer device is simulated as an auto-run storage device, such as a floppy disc drive, a hard disc drive or a CD-ROM drive, etc., the USB file transfer device in the present invention is capable of carrying out file transfers automatically without having to install drivers and programs. To users, the application method for USB file transfer device offers plug and play capabilities as file transfers can be performed automatically between two computers without having to install drivers and programs in either computer.
US08250258B2
A hybrid serial peripheral interface (SPI) data transmission architecture adapted in a network device for connecting a host and a network is provided. The architecture comprises a RX buffer and RX SPI for maintaining a data receiving process, a TX buffer and TX SPI for maintaining a data transmission process, a configuration and status register and a hybrid SPI processing module. The hybrid SPI processing module makes the RX SPI performs the data transmission process as well when the RX SPI idles and the data transmission process proceeds at the same time and makes the TX SPI to performs the data receiving process as well when the TX SPI idles and the data receiving process proceeds at the same time. A hybrid SPI data transmission method is disclosed herein as well.
US08250245B2
An information processing system includes a host device transmitting an order according to a USB standard and an information processing terminal responding to the order. The information processing terminal includes a storing unit, a first operation unit, a receiver, an operation-mode switch, a first processor, and a first outputting unit. The host device includes a second operation unit, a transmitter, a second processor, and a second outputting unit.
US08250229B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to secure communications for multiple hosts in an address translation environment and provide a method, system and computer program product for IPsec SA management for multiple clients sharing a single network address. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method for IPsec SA management for multiple hosts sharing a single network address can include receiving a packet for IPsec processing for a specified client among the multiple clients sharing the single network address. A dynamic SA can be located among multiple dynamic SAs for the specified client using client identifying information exclusive of a 5-tuple produced for the dynamic SA. Finally, IPsec processing can be performed for the packet.
US08250228B1
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may include computer-executable instructions stored thereon. When executed by at least one processor, the instructions may be configured to cause a computing system to receive, by a web browser, a file from a web server, the file including an instruction to launch a plug-in of the browser, launch the plug-in in an active state based on the instruction, provide a message to the plug-in indicating that the plug-in is hidden and is not displayed as visible by the web browser, and modify running of the plug-in from the active state based on the message.
US08250226B2
In one embodiment, a method for generating one or more synthetic transactions with one or more web service operations includes accessing a Web Services Description Language (WSDL) file describing a web service and, according to the WSDL file, generating a symbol table for describing a client for generating one or more synthetic transactions with the web service. The method also includes receiving input from a user specifying one or more operations of the web service for invocation, an order for invoking the operations of the web service, and one or more values of one or more parameters of the operations. The method also includes incorporating the input from the user into the symbol table and generating the client according to the symbol table.
US08250225B1
An electronic system provides a plurality of address components arranged in a plurality of mutually exclusive groups, and maintains for each of a plurality of electronic network users a respective group assignment specifying one of the groups that is determined by assignment criteria. Each such group assignment can change over time as a function of the assignment criteria, and the assignment criteria is configured so that every user is initially assigned to a predetermined one of the groups. The electronic system allocates to each user over time a sequence of address components from the group specified by the current group assignment of that user.
US08250224B2
A method and system for conducting communications over a network is provided. An embodiment includes a server that is connectable to a client machine via a virtual private network that includes a VPN concentrator. The client machine and the VPN concentrator are configured to delay renegotiation of the VPN link in the event that an important stream is being carried over the VPN link.
US08250221B2
A method and system provide efficient, flexible, and convenient data communication services for users over public wireless systems. The system includes a data communication server, having a plurality of interface units, for facilitating data communication between a moving object and one or more ground terminals via a radio communication path. The data communication server establishes the radio communication path over one of a plurality of wireless data networks including packet data networks and satellite data networks and preferably includes a pre-determined software architecture.
US08250218B2
This invention has as its object to set a one-to-one relationship upon establishing a wireless communication channel between a wireless communication device on the information transmitting side and a wireless communication device that receives and processes the information even in an environment including a plurality of wireless communication devices, and to assure simple user's operations at least until the communication channel is established. To this end, when the user inputs a wireless communication channel establishment instruction to both a digital camera and printer having wireless communication functions, these devices execute wireless communication establishment processes within an allowable time period which is specified by a time set in a timer and a retry count. When the devices can seize each other within that time period, the communication channel is established. After that, the digital camera sends a sensed image to the printer, which prints the sensed image.
US08250217B2
A first server detects a condition that requires a service to be invoked, and the detection of this condition triggers it to establish a connection with a second server. The first server relays data relevant to a first communication between first and second terminals and the second server over the established connection. The first server also relays data relevant to a second communication between the first and second terminals and the second server, or between third and fourth terminals and the second server. Alternatively, the second server both receives and returns the data relevant to the first communication from/to the first server over the established connection.
US08250215B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a multi-cloud management module having a plurality of cloud adapters. The multi-cloud management module provides a unified administrative interface for provisioning cloud-based resources on any one of several clouds for which a cloud adapter is configured for use with the multi-cloud management module. Each cloud adapter converts non-cloud-specific commands to cloud-specific provisioning commands for the cloud to which the cloud adapter is associated.
US08250210B2
A method of balancing user registration lifetimes in a network is disclosed for smoothing the load of the registration server. The method of balancing user registration lifetimes in a network includes providing an initial registration lifetime for a registration request that is calculated using the time of the request and the previous history of registration requests, and in a particular embodiment, using the cumulative distribution function of the history of registration requests. The method of balancing user registration lifetimes in a network is particularly useful for handling spikes in registration traffic, and can accommodate user-specified variable lifetimes, as well dynamic user arrivals and departures. It provides effective load balancing over time for a single server, at the expense of a constant factor additive load per user, which can be amortized to near zero over the long run.
US08250207B2
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device implements a service profile for assisting control of a communications device use of a service on a network, in which the service profile includes service policy settings, and the service profile is associated with an ambient service plan for the communications device that provides for initial access to the service with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan for the communications device; and monitors use of the service by the communications device based on the service profile.
US08250202B2
A method, system, and computer code for administrating a data mirroring relationship between a first node and a second node. The invention includes an event coordinator configured to receive a notification from the first node when an event that may potentially affect the mirroring relationship has occurred, and to perform a predetermined task in response to the notification. The predetermined task may include logging the event that occurred at the first node, notifying the second node that the event occurred at the first node, and notifying a system administrator that the event occurred at the first node.
US08250188B2
A method and devices for restoring at least one setting are provided, the client device receives a code generated by a management device based on a time value and a parameter value that uniquely identifies the client device; the client device determines whether the code is valid; and if the code is valid the client device restores the at least one setting of the client device. It provides a convenient way to restore at least one setting of a client device.
US08250183B1
A system, method and computer program product for launching a plurality of active virtual servers in a computing system, including as a background process, generating a plurality of inactive virtual servers, wherein data related to the inactive virtual server comprises a set of private files and a set of common files used by multiple virtual servers, that are required for the virtual server to function and each of which is stored in its own dedicated container; setting up a disk image and a mount point associated with a particular virtual server, the mount point required for activating a functional virtual server, the disk image including any blank areas, implemented by a system administrator during activation of the virtual server, for each inactive virtual server on a storage device of the computing system, and copying files associated with each inactive virtual server to the disk image, wherein the inactive virtual servers are not associated with any owner; upon request from a user for a virtual server, activating one of the inactive virtual servers using the dedicated container by associating the activated virtual server with an owner; and configuring the activated virtual server based on user parameters, wherein a process of one virtual server only runs in that virtual server, and no other virtual server.
US08250182B2
The load of a server and its client is balanced during connection setup time and dynamically during operation. In one embodiment, a server that hosts virtual machines for a plurality of clients balances its load with its clients. The server receives a request from a requesting client to establish a connection. The request includes capacity information about the requesting client. The server then negotiates with the requesting client about load allocation based on the capacity information. The negotiated load can be dynamically rebalanced after the connection is established.
US08250180B2
A content delivery system includes a delivery server, a storage apparatus having a logical unit for storing data regarding content items, and a management apparatus having a content management unit for managing a delivery server. The delivery server includes a conversion unit and a delivery unit. The conversion units acquires original data regarding a content item from an external origin server in response to a content addition request from the content management unit, converts the original data to data for delivery, and stores the content data for delivery in the first logical unit. The delivery unit reads, in response to a content delivery request from the client, the data for delivery from the logical unit and transmits it to the client.
US08250172B2
A system for synchronizing digital content stored on a user's mobile device with digital content stored on the user's computer is disclosed.
US08250168B2
Methods for accessing published content from a mobile device are described herein. In one aspect of the invention, an example of a process includes receiving a first message received from a mobile device over a network for accessing a destination, where the first message includes an identification associated with a destination and a predetermined indicator. In response to the first message, returning a second message to the mobile device, the second message including a link linking with a network-based resource associated with the destination. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08250165B2
A method and system are provided for transferring data in a networked system between a local memory in a local system and a remote memory in a remote system. A RDMA request is received and a first buffer region is associated with a first transfer operation. The system determines whether a size of the first buffer region exceeds a maximum transfer size of the networked system. Portions of the second buffer region may be associated with the first transfer operation based on the determination of the size of the first buffer region. The system subsequently performs the first transfer operation.
US08250160B2
An email is created that includes one or more destination email addresses, plus historical information regarding previously exchanged emails. Before sending this email, each of the destination email addresses is checked against the email addresses in the historical information and, if a destination email address (or the domain name of that destination address) is not found in the historical information, then a warning is displayed to alert the user to the fact that this historical information may be sent to an unintended recipient. In response to this warning, which may include a list of unapproved destination email address, the user may approve a previously unapproved destination email address, change the unapproved destination email address to one that has been previously approved, or enter a new distribution email to be substituted for the unapproved one. When creating the email, the user may also specify other approved email addresses.
US08250149B2
A method and system for accelerating receipt of data in a client to client network. The method includes the steps of intercepting queries and responses, storing the intercepted queries and responses in an acceleration server and transmitting the intercepted responses to clients submitting intercepted queries. The system includes at least one acceleration server designed and configured to perform the steps included in the method.
US08250141B2
In one embodiment, a determination is made that a specified event of a collaborative computing session has occurred. In response to the specified event, a real-time electronic notification is transmitted to a particular set of one or more attendees of the session that the event has occurred, the notification illustratively transmitted via a communication channel other than the session.
US08250140B2
An apparatus for enabling connections for use with a network comprising at least one vertex, the apparatus comprising: a receiver, for receiving a first message associated with the first vertex, wherein the first message comprises an indication that the first vertex wishes to join the network; a generator, responsive to receipt of the first message, for generating a second message associated with the at least one vertex, wherein the second message comprising an indication that the at least one vertex is operable to connect to the first vertex; and a probabilistic component for determining a first time value associated with transmission of the second message to the first vertex in accordance with probabilistic data.
US08250138B2
In a file transfer security system and method, a file transfer request sent to a file server is intercepted. The need for examination of the file transfer request is assessed, and, if present, an auditor is notified to examine the file transfer request and award approval or rejection thereof. File operations are executed according to the examination result.
US08250136B2
An information processing system includes an electronic apparatus, a server, and an external apparatus. The electronic apparatus acquires operation information for the electronic apparatus from the server, and directs the electronic apparatus to operate according to the operation information. The server receives an external apparatus identifier, electronic apparatus identifier, and operation information, from the external apparatus, and accumulates the information. The external apparatus accepts input of the electronic apparatus identifier and the operation information, and transmits the external apparatus identifier and the operation information to the server. Such an information processing system enables operation information for an electronic apparatus to be set and acquired, without directly accessing an electronic apparatus from an external apparatus, improving security.
US08250132B2
A message and a tag are sent to a set of recipients, wherein the tag contains state information for the message. In response to receiving an event from a recipient within the set of recipients, the reply message tag is processed with a policy to identify an action. The action identified by processing the event with the policy is performed.
US08250126B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that estimates the location of the leading zero or the leading one in the result of an addition of floating-point numbers A and B. The system includes a half-adder circuit associated with each separate bit position i in A and B. The half-adder circuits compute a sum (S) for the associated bit position of A and B and a carry (K) for a next bit position of A and B. The system also includes a set of estimation circuits coupled to the set of half-adder circuits. The set of estimation circuits computes an estimate for the location of the leading zero or the leading one in the result from the K and S computed by each half-adder circuit.
US08250117B2
Generally speaking, systems, methods and media for processing a spreadsheet for storage in a database are disclosed. Embodiments may include a method for processing records of a spreadsheet by receiving a request to process a spreadsheet having a plurality of records for storage in a database. Embodiments may also include accessing a configuration file associated with the spreadsheet and, for each record of the spreadsheet, creating a new business object and populating the new business object based on the record and the configuration file associated with the spreadsheet. Embodiments may also include passing each new business object to a back-end business component for processing. The configuration file may include a name of a business object associated with a record of the spreadsheet, metadata for one or more columns of the spreadsheet, and/or a name of a back-end business component associated with the spreadsheet.
US08250113B2
A method includes querying a discovery registry associated with a data abstraction model of a database to discover one or more web services that are resolvable based on a particular logical field selected via a database query interface. The data abstraction model includes a plurality of logical fields that each correspond to a particular data structure of the database. A web service input of a discovered web service is associated with a first logical field of the data abstraction model via the discovery registry, and a web service output of the discovered web service is associated with a second logical field of the data abstraction model via the discovery registry. A modified database query interface includes a text entry element to receive a text search term and a first selectable input associated with the first discovered web service.
US08250105B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for compressing data included in several transactions. Each transaction has at least one item. A unique identifier is assigned to each different item and, if taxonomy is defined, to each different taxonomy parent. Sets of transactions are formed from the several transactions. The sets of transactions are stored using a computer data structure including: a list of identifiers of different items in the set of transactions, information indicating number of identifiers in the list, and bit field information indicating presence of the different items in the set of transactions, said bit field information being organized in accordance with the list for facilitating evaluation of patterns with respect to the set of transactions. A data structure for compressing data included in a set of transactions is also provided.
US08250096B2
A method to access trusted user generated content (UGC) is provided. User registration information containing one or more identities is obtained. Each identity corresponds to an internet social network that is facilitated by one of a plurality of social network sites. The social relationships are collected using the provided user identities at the different social network sites and user extended social networks are created for each user by joining the social relationships collected. Then, UGC is collected from the plurality of social network sites and the collected UGC is correlated with the extended social networks. The correlated UGC is filtered according to the user configuration of a user making a request, and then the results are presented to the requesting user. A search function is provided to obtain information on demand, or alternatively, a user receives feeds of information according to configured information regarding the user's extended social network.
US08250092B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems directed to receiving search queries, retrieving documents, computing the number of categories to present for a given query, computing the number of results to show in each category, computing an ordering of categories, and for all the result pages beyond the first page employing user interface elements that optionally allow the user to quickly zoom in on a specific category and get more results belonging to that category.
US08250091B2
A method for managing an request on a communication resource for a user terminal. In the method for an access request access request settings that comprise a user-specific set of one or more selection criteria for determining applicability of a communication resource for the re-quested access are determined. Communication resources are queried from a group of access nodes; and the determined access request settings are in selecting the communication resource for the access.
US08250086B2
A method of providing enterprise applications with shared access to a data warehouse. A web service request is issued over a data network from a first client enterprise application to a second server enterprise application. A database query is then constructed at the second server enterprise application. It is then determined whether a response to the web service request will include the results of posing the database query against the data warehouse, or the SQL syntax necessary to pose the query. If the response is to include the results of posing then the second server enterprise application poses the query against the data warehouse and issues the results to the first client enterprise application. If the response to the request is to include the SQL syntax necessary to pose the query, then the second server enterprise application provides the database query syntax to the first client enterprise application.
US08250075B2
Methods and systems for the generation of computer readable indexes or other ordered lists are provided. A corpus of electronic documents or other electronic information is parsed into postings that include key and reference pairs. An inversion buffer in memory is explicitly or implicitly formatted to receive the postings in a predetermined order by key. Each key is assigned a space in the inversion buffer that is subsequently filled with references associated with the key during an inversion method. In an embodiment, an index file is generated directly from the inversion buffer, or in the case of large inversions, from a plurality of inversion buffer segments.
US08250073B2
Systems and techniques to prepare and present content. In general, in one implementation, a technique includes receiving information identifying a first streaming content element describing a first scope of material, receiving information identifying a second streaming content element describing a second scope of material, and describing a presentation including the first streaming content element and the second streaming content element in a parent/child relationship. The second scope of material can be more detailed than the first scope and included in the first scope.
US08250065B1
A system and method displays information from a consolidated set of Web log entries or other information. The system and method provides links to the actual information to allow users to view it by clicking the link, and records the number of times users have clicked the link to each entry or other information. The system and method counts the number of click throughs and provides a ranking of each entry it displays that indicates the number of click throughs relative to other entries, such as those in a same category or dealing with a same topic. The system and method displays the date and time of retrieval or storage of the entries by the system and method, adjusted to the user's local time.
US08250050B2
Systems and methods enable remote (or “off-campus”) users complete authorized access to full-record content of 3rd-party databases subscribed to by the user's institution. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system that acts as a transparent conduit between the user and a remote database, managing relevant session/context information without the user's awareness and without the need for users to install plug-ins or configure browser proxies.
US08250046B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a cross-language search can be performed. A search query is received in a first language. A translated search query of the search query is obtained and evaluated to determine whether it is a candidate for cross-language searching. Upon identifying a candidate, a search can be performed using the translated search query to generate search results relevant to the translated search query.
US08250045B2
The present system, software, and methods relate to computer system security, particularly to tracking and controlling electronic access to legacy applications and data records without modifying the legacy applications or records. The present system, software, and methods allow for implementation of complex access audit and control rules even when the continued use of legacy application and data are required.
US08250026B2
In one embodiment, a method receives a plurality of documents. The documents may be received from different medical providers. Also, the documents may be medical record documents generated or captured in a first format and a second format. The first format may be an unstructured data format and the second format may be a structured data format. The first and second documents are then converted to a common format. For example, a common format may emerge as the most restrictive or constrained denominator of the first format and the second format. A schema is determined that provides an organizational structure with categories that can be used to index the content of the first and second documents while they are being converted to the common format. The schema and indexing enable the different formats of documents to be combined and organized simultaneously into a single view for a comprehensive review.
US08250025B2
An anonymous reporting system for use in reporting and following up on incidents, accidents, and the like. The system may be accessed via an Internet website. A reporting individual may select a type of incident to report. In one example, the reporting individual may select a level on anonymity and some, none or all of the individual's personal identification is displayed to the organization according to the selected level.
US08250010B2
According to embodiments of the invention, a system, method and computer program product producing spike-dependent plasticity in an artificial synapse. In an embodiment, a method includes: receiving a pre-synaptic spike in an electronic component; receiving a post-synaptic spike in the electronic component; in response to the pre-synaptic spike, generating a pre-synaptic pulse that occurs a predetermined period of time after the received pre-synaptic spike; in response to the post-synaptic spike, generating a post-synaptic pulse that starts at a baseline value and reaches a first voltage value a first period of time after the post-synaptic spike, followed by a second voltage value a second period of time after the post synaptic spike, followed by a return to the baseline voltage a third period of time after the post-synaptic spike; applying the generated pre-synaptic pulse to a pre-synaptic node of a synaptic device that includes a uni-polar, two-terminal bi-stable device in series with a rectifying element; and applying the generated post-synaptic pulse to a post-synaptic node of the synaptic device, wherein the synaptic device changes from a first conductive state to a second conductive state based on the value of input voltage applied to its pre and post-synaptic nodes, wherein the resultant state of the conductance of the synaptic device after the pre- and post-synaptic pulses are applied thereto depends on the relative timing of the received pre-synaptic spike with respect to the post synaptic spike.
US08250007B2
A method for generating precedence-preserving crossover and mutations operations for genetic algorithms is provided. The method is based on the determination of activities' Forward Free Float (FFF) and Backward Free Float (BFF) values, utilizing these float values in randomly selected forward and backward paths, respectively. The method may be applied to the finance-based scheduling domain using large scale projects, with the chromosomes of the genetic algorithm encoding activities' start times in a resource-constrained scheduling problem.
US08250005B2
To detect a statistical change-point that appears in time-series data with a high accuracy. A first model learning section 102 learns the occurrence probability distribution of time-series data 111 as a first statistical model (for example, a latent Markov model) defined by a finite number of variables including a latent variable. In the subsequent processing, the degree of a temporal change in the probability distribution is computed for each of the probability distribution of the entire first statistical model, its partial probability distribution (the probability distribution of the latent variable and conditional probability distribution contingent on the value of the latent variable), and the probability distribution in which the above plural probability distributions are linearly-combined with a weight. The change-point of the time-series data 111 is detected on the basis of the computed degree of the change.
US08249999B2
Systems are provided for costing service proposals, each comprising a set of proposal elements (OEs) selected from a predetermined group of proposal elements. A proposal costing system has a proposal formulator for selecting a set of proposal elements (OEs) for a new service proposal from the predetermined group of proposal elements in response to user input. The system includes a cost controller for maintaining, for each OE, service data indicative of service tasks associated with that proposal element. The system is adapted for determining a total cost for a new service proposal in dependence on the service data for the selected proposal elements and cost data indicating a cost of service tasks indicated by the service data. In addition, the cost controller is adapted for automatically updating the service data for OEs in the group in dependence on maintenance data indicative of service tasks performed in operation of real services.
US08249994B2
A system for managing mineral interests includes at least one database for storing data records relating to oil and gas mineral interest. A server enables generation of a graphical user interface at a plurality of locations over an open network. The graphical user interface enables creation and editing of data records stored in the at least one database from the plurality of locations and the editing may occur over the open network. The graphical user interface further enables viewing of data records from the plurality of locations over the open network.
US08249989B2
A system and method of check cashing at an ATM are provided. In some examples, the system and method may include receiving a check at an ATM that does not include denominations of bills and/or coins to cash the check. The amount of the check may be rounded up to an amount for which appropriate denominations are available and the difference between the amount of the check and the rounded up amount may be charged to an account of a user, such as checking account, savings account, credit card, and the like.
US08249979B2
A multi-protocol trading system in which traders preferring different trading protocols may coexist within the same system, and access the same liquidity pool, while maintaining their trading rule preferences. The system supports two protocol preferences: a workup preference and a FIFO preference, and includes a single integrated order book that stores orders received from both workup and FIFO traders. Received orders are matched against orders in the order book in accordance with a FIFO and/or workup protocol, as a function of preferences selected by the traders and/or the system operator. Alternatively, the system includes a pair of order books, a workup order book and a FIFO order book. Customers submit linked orders having a workup leg and a FIFO leg which may be matched against the workup and/or FIFO order books, as a function of preferences selected by the traders and/or the system operator.
US08249970B1
Provided is a technique for evaluating an asset, such as a share of stock in a corporation, by processing historical data for value of an asset and historical data values for various exogenous variables to obtain a formula for calculating a measure of a tendency of the value of the asset to change as a result of changes in the data values for the exogenous variables, the formula being a function of the exogenous variables. Projected data values are then obtained for the exogenous variables, and a measure of the tendency of the value of the asset to change based on a change in at least one of the exogenous variables is estimated using the formula and the input projected data values.
US08249969B2
A system and method are provided for trading a tradeable object. One example apparatus includes a microprocessor, a graphical user comprising a first screen region having a plurality of locations in the first screen region, each location corresponding to a price level along a first axis and a time along a second axis. The apparatus also comprises a user input device for sending a command to initiate placement of a timed trade order, and an indicator being dynamically displayed in one of the plurality locations of the first screen region and corresponding to the timed order. In one example embodiment, the indicator dynamically moves over time relative to the second axis indicating a time until the order will be automatically sent to a computerized matching process.
US08249967B2
Disclosed is a method and system for use of an image-based payment medium through images stored on the consumer's mobile phone in place of traditional plastic gift, credit or debit cards. Upon authentication, an image is sent to the consumer's mobile phone. The consumer displays the image at the retailer's point of sale when completing a transaction. The image is scanned with a barcode reader, a webcam or other scanning device and the consumer's account in a database is debited or credited based on the amount and type of transaction. An image-base payment medium provides for the ability to target specific ads to the consumer, directed to the registered mobile phone number and also to attach loyalty and coupon programs to the account, which the recipient may redeem upon scanning of the encoded image on the mobile phone at the point of sale. The system and method is suitable for “virtual” gift cards, credit and debit cards, loyalty payment programs and other methods of value exchange.
US08249964B2
A method for facilitating donations to a charitable organization in which a first financial transaction involving property is linked to a second financial transaction involving a charitable donation. A fundraising program facilitates the transactions which directly contribute to affiliated charitable organizations. A property seller aligns with the fundraising program to list their property and selects a charitable organization to receive the donation. The fundraising program affiliates agent/brokers to sell the listed property. All fees and transactions are regulated through a title company at closing. The title company funds a commission to the agent/broker, a referral fee to the fundraising program, a nominal administrative fee to the fundraising program, and a percentage of the property's sale price to the charitable organization.
US08249961B1
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing purchase, billing, and payment transactions. A unique identifier of a consolidated purchase card account, issued by a service provider to a user, is accepted by a plurality of vendors as a proxy of the unique identifier of their own vendor-issued purchase card account. Purchase transactions resulting from acceptance of the consolidated purchase card account are processed to produce an individual billing statement for each vendor. The individual billing statements are aggregated into a consolidated billing statement by the service provider, which is then presented to the user on behalf of each vendor. The user reviews the consolidated billing statement and provides payment instructions to the service provider. The payment instructions are processed to pay funds from a funding account of the user to each respective vendor.
US08249950B2
The wizard steps the merchant through creating an account to obtain credentials and educates the merchant on the page flows of the payment mechanism that the merchant wishes to integrate. Then, the wizard generates code snippets and files to be downloaded by the merchant and to be easily inserted into key pages of the merchant's online commercial website. The merchant can then test the completely integrated code in a developer's sandbox or go live with the completely integrated code.
US08249947B2
A vehicle seat component selection system includes a showroom having a vehicle seat component display and a touch screen terminal for input of customer data such as vehicle identification, vehicle assembly location and vehicle assembly volume. The terminal has access to a vehicle seat component database which defines characteristics of each component, such as sourcing location, cost, and compatibility with other components. A customer seat selection report is created by selecting components from the database, with a signal provided in the event incompatible components are selected. The terminal graphically displays the components as they are selected, and indicates a price range for the seat assembly as it is being proposed.
US08249942B2
The subject invention relates to electronic buying and selling systems and methods. In particular, the invention concerns relations among distinct price curves, price curve attributes (i.e., factors of the offer that can affect the price curves) and buyers or potential buyers. For instance, a price offered to a system user can vary based on total volume of all people aggregating in private environments, cumulative total order by user, ship date, optimal time, as well as terms and conditions associated with the offer (e.g., no cancellation of order, cancellation possible, payment method . . . ).
US08249941B2
In one example embodiment, a system and method is illustrated that includes receiving an item choice including a fashion item. The system and method also includes matching the fashion item with an additional fashion item selected from a style matrix, the matching based upon an attribute. Further, the system and method includes transmitting the additional fashion item as part of an outfit match set. Moreover, the system and method includes selecting the fashion item from a digital closet. The system and method includes processing the fashion item to build an attribute association matrix. In addition, the system and method includes comparing the attribute association matrix and the style matrix to determine a match of the fashion item and the additional item.
US08249934B2
IMS network providing purchasing sessions to mobile devices that are located proximate to a business
IMS networks and methods are disclosed for providing purchasing sessions to mobile devices that are located proximate to a business. IMS network includes an application server that provides advertisements for the business to mobile devices that are located proximate to the business (i.e., the advertisements are pushed to the mobile devices). Responsive to an advertisement, the user of a mobile device may contact the application server through the mobile device to purchase one or more items from the business. The application server responds to the mobile device with receipt information for the purchase. The user may then request delivery of the purchased item through the mobile device by transmitting some or all of the receipt information to the application server. The application server may then schedule delivery of the item to the user of the mobile device.
US08249924B1
A system and method for providing an individual with advertisement information. At least one database including electronic trait information, electronic preference information and electronic advertiser information is stored on at least one database. One or more communication devices receive a first electronic request for first information from a first computing device, and determine first electronic responsive information that comprises information that is at least responsive to the first electronic request. Further, a user relevance factor is determined that represents a relevance of the advertiser information to the first user. First advertisement information is determined for at least one of branded products and services. The first advertisement information and the first electronic responsive information are transmitted to the first user computing device.
US08249920B2
An interactive direct response system combines the use of short text message systems (SMS) via cell phones (100) with a database (102) and website to enable advertisers to view in real time customer responses to a direct response campaign. Customers are invited to respond to a defined advertisement on for example a billboard by responding to a single telephone number associated with the website by sending a text message linked to that particular advertisement, i.e. a single word (104,106). A computer receives and analyses the responses and sends an acknowledgement message to the customer.
US08249919B2
A user-computer-readable medium provides all or part of a product labeling system for engaging purchasers. Executables, data, or both are recorded in the medium embodied in a tag or other product labeling structure, in order to deliver to a consumer or purchaser engaging presentations of products, information, or registration templates. As a result, purchasers may receive launchers, browsers, viewers, e-mail systems, facsimile centers, players, or interface brokers for the foregoing, if organically installed already on a workstation of a purchaser. In certain embodiments, entertainment, games, skill tests, and the like, recorded in the medium as a product tag or label may execute to engage a purchaser and provide purchaser profiling information.
US08249907B2
An intelligent solution for monitoring, assigning, and accounting fueling operations. An automated dispatch fueling system comprises a fuel management server populated with airport profile and dispatcher configurations. Utilizing information stored in the database and received from external systems, the automated dispatch fueling system can automatically assign and monitor fueling operations.
US08249906B2
This invention relates to providing a system for project planning and scheduling which supports simplified, interactive, graphics-based project planning and scheduling using new planning concepts, new scheduling concepts and new graphics-based software systems. Further, this invention permits an inexperienced user to simultaneously plan and schedule a project including establishing appropriate relationship (or dependency) links between activities, also commonly referred to as tasks, and between activities and milestones. This invention offers the simplest possible scheme of thought that can tie together activities, relationships and milestones, with or without deadlines, to yield a complete, correct network project schedule in the shortest possible time.
US08249905B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing future job information. According to embodiments, a method for providing future job information is provided. According to the method, a number of non-dispatched jobs within a future time frame for a plurality of buckets and a plurality of turfs is determined. A numeric indicator indicating the number of non-dispatched jobs associated with at least one turf and at least one bucket is displayed.
US08249904B1
Techniques are described for managing execution of programs. In some situations, program execution is managed for multiple users using excess program execution capacity of one or more computing systems. In some such situations, excess or otherwise unused program execution capacity may be made available to execute programs on a temporary basis, such that the programs executing using the excess program execution capacity may be terminated at any time if other preferred use for the excess program execution capacity arises. The excess program execution capacity may in some situations be provided in conjunction with other dedicated program execution capacity that is allocated to particular users, such as to use unused dedicated capacity of some users as excess capacity for other users. In some situations, the techniques are used in conjunction with a fee-based program execution service that executes multiple programs on behalf of multiple users of the service.
US08249898B2
A set of answers is received to a series of questions sent to a consumer of services, the set of answers to the series of questions is analyzed in a computer to identify types of service providers that can provide services to the consumer based on the received answers, and an agenda is produced, the agenda including the identified types of service providers and topics for the consumer of services to discuss with a service provider of each type, with the topics determined at least in part based on the answers.
US08249892B2
The present invention relates to a method of creating databases for data mining in medical applications. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to providing a data-driven objective reimbursement model incorporating performance and quality measures, tied to patient, exam, context, and provider-specific variables. In another embodiment, the present invention creates standardized databases where context, patient, provider, and technology specific variables are used to create an objective quantitative measure of exam complexity, which can be correlated with performance times and outcomes measures for iterative refinement. In another embodiment, through the combined analysis of examination complexity, interpretation accuracy, and interpretation times, specific to each individual radiologist, external pacers are created which can be customized to a radiologist's individual needs and preferences. The derived data is used to identify best practice patterns and end-user performance, which can be used by radiologists for individualized education and training.
US08249878B2
A speech recognition client sends a speech stream and control stream in parallel to a server-side speech recognizer over a network. The network may be an unreliable, low-latency network. The server-side speech recognizer recognizes a first portion of the speech stream and, if a predetermined criterion is satisfied by the speech recognition result, waits until the speech recognizer has been reconfigured before recognizing a second portion of the speech stream. The speech recognition client receives recognition results from the server-side recognizer in response to requests from the client. The client may remotely reconfigure the state of the server-side recognizer during recognition.
US08249871B2
A clustering tool to generate word clusters. In embodiments described, the clustering tool includes a clustering component that generates word clusters for words or word combinations in input data. In illustrated embodiments, the word clusters are used to modify or update a grammar for a closed vocabulary speech recognition application.
US08249869B2
The method is suitable for dysorthographic or partially sighted persons, to facilitate the semantic, syntactic and/or lexical correction of an erroneous expression in a digital text input by a user. The method comprises the sequence of: a step (74) of transforming the digital text into a digital voice message, in which the graphemes of the erroneous textual expression are converted into phoneme(s) constituting an intelligible vocal expression, then a step (78) of processing the digital voice message obtained at the end of the transformation step (74), in which the phoneme or phonemes constituting the intelligible vocal expression are converted into grapheme(s) constituting a corrected textual expression of the erroneous textual expression, with the aid of pre-established writing rules.
US08249863B2
An apparatus and method for estimating audio signal spectrum information. The method including the steps of performing a morphological operation on a received audio signal, extracting peaks by using various peak extraction methods and extracting a remainder signal region from the extracted peaks, selecting a high-order peaks spectrum from the extracted remainder signal region. In addition, spectral envelopes are detected by performing an interpolation operation on the high-order peaks spectrum.
US08249853B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to process an input/output (I/O) transaction. An emulated device driver in a guest partition interacts with a virtual machine (VM) manager in processing an input/output (I/O) transaction on behalf of an application via an operating system (OS). The I/O transaction is between the application and a device. A device emulator in a service partition communicatively coupled to the emulated device driver interacts with the VM manager in processing the I/O transaction on behalf of a device specific driver via the OS. The device specific driver interfaces to the device.
US08249847B2
An exemplary simulation system for manufacturing a printed circuit board is provided. The simulation system includes at least one simulation sub-system. The simulation sub-system includes an input module, a storing module, a processing module, and an output module. The input module is configured for acquiring a number of processing parameters associated with steps of a process for manufacturing the printed circuit board. The storing module is configured for storing a number of simulation functions relating to the steps of the process for manufacturing the printed circuit board. The processing module is configured for selecting and performing the corresponding simulation function according to the acquired parameters, thereby obtaining a simulation result. The output module is configured for output the simulation result.
US08249840B2
A simulator system transfers parameters between an enhanced nuclear power plant simulator and a safety control system simulator. Problems concerning software common mode failure, interface interactions errors, software failure complexity, and other failure modes, are evaluated. Thus, diversity and defense-in-depth are analyzed and safety is improved.
US08249834B2
Device, system, and method of Computer-Aided-Design (CAD). A system of CAD may include a server to provide data of a CAD model to at least one client, wherein the server is capable of providing to the client section information defining a plurality of geometric sections of the CAD model, wherein the section information includes boundary information representing a plurality of boundaries defining the plurality of geometric sections, respectively, and a plurality of identifiers to identify the plurality of geometric sections, respectively; receiving from the client a request for one or more files corresponding to at least one requested section of the geometric sections, wherein the one or more files include information of one or more geometric elements of the CAD model, which are included within the boundary of the requested section; and providing to the client the one or more requested files. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08249831B2
A system determines athletic performance. A pressure sensor senses change in elevation. A microprocessor processes signals from the pressure sensor to determine speed corresponding to the change in elevation. A display reports the speed to a user.
US08249830B2
A method and system for automatically determining an optimal re-training interval for a fault diagnoser based on online monitoring of the performance of a classifier are disclosed. The classifier generates a soft measure of membership in association with a class based on a training data. The output of the classifier can be utilized to assign a label to new data and then the members associated with each class can be clustered into one or more core members and potential outliers. A statistical measure can be utilized to determine if the distribution of the outliers is sufficiently different than the core members after enough outliers have been accumulated. If the outliers are different with respect to the core members, then the diagnoser can be re-trained; otherwise, the output of the classifier can be fed to the fault diagnoser.
US08249827B2
A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with electrical resistance that varies with temperature and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, Relect. The diagnosis is performed by heating the substrate in the area between the electrodes and detecting whether resistance varies with temperature as expected, and then cooling the substrate back down and detecting whether resistance varies with temperature as expected. If resistance varies as expected during both heating and cooling, then a validation is diagnosed that the sensor is in proper operating condition if resistance increases in a manner consistent with evaporation of condensate. If resistance does not vary as expected, then a failure condition is diagnosed.
US08249821B2
A testing method for a fan module is provided. When the fan module is tested, a testing computer sends a testing command to a testing device first. Then, the testing device responds to the testing command and controls the fan module to work in a plurality of rotational speed modes in sequence. The testing device reads an actual rotational speed when the fan module works in one of the rotational speed modes and sends the actual rotational speed back to the testing computer. The testing computer compares the actual rotational speed with a corresponding reference rotational speed value stored in the testing computer, and determines the testing result. Finally, the testing result is shown.
US08249814B2
Disclosed is a method of testing for colorectal cancer in a test individual by providing data corresponding to a level of products of selected biomarkers and applying the data to a formula to provide an indication of whether the test individual has colorectal cancer. Also disclosed are kits for measuring data corresponding to the products of selected biomarkers, and kits and methods of monitoring therapeutic efficacy of treatments for colorectal cancer.
US08249805B2
A method and apparatus for automatically updating information on favorite places upon change of home address. The method includes the steps of: checking data received by the navigation system to detect whether the old home address of a user has been changed to the new home address; searching for favorite places around the new home address equivalent to that around the old home address; determining whether the updating of the favorite places should be conducted automatically or upon instruction by the user; updating the favorite places by replacing the favorite places for the old home address with the equivalent favorite places for the new home address; and repeating the above steps every time when there is a change in the home address.
US08249799B2
The invention relates to a method of presenting zones at risk for an aircraft comprising a system of databases, a processor, an anticollision device and a viewing device, wherein to display on the viewing device the zones at risk in relation to the obstacles, the processor carries out the steps of: acquiring obstacle data, the data corresponding to obstacles situated in the aircraft's close displacement zone; calculating the risk of collision with each of the obstacles of the displacement zone; calculating the limits of the zones at risk of collision in the close displacement zone, these limits representing the positions from which the anticollision device might possibly produce collision alerts in relation to the obstacles if the aircraft were to steer towards the obstacle while maintaining the instantaneous flight parameters; and displaying the limits of zones at risk.
US08249793B2
An amount of fuel injected into an internal combustion engine is controlled to adjust an air-fuel ratio. An air-fuel ratio sensor is disposed upstream of a three-way catalyst. An ammonia sensor is disposed downstream of the three-way catalyst. Main feedback control based on the air-fuel ratio sensor is performed such that the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas becomes close to a target air-fuel ratio in the neighborhood of a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. Sub-feedback control is performed on the basis of an output value of the ammonia sensor.
US08249785B2
A control apparatus for a vehicular automatic transmission which has a plurality of coupling elements selectively released and engaged to perform shifting actions, the control apparatus including a shift control portion configured to control at least one specially controlled coupling element which is included in the coupling elements provided to perform the shifting actions of the automatic transmission and which is placed in a fully released state prior and subsequent to the shifting action performed according to a presently generated shifting command, the shift control portion controlling each specially controlled coupling element so as to enable the specially controlled coupling element to have a torque capacity during the shifting action performed according to the presently generated shifting command.
US08249778B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling the steering feedback torque of a power steering system within a closed loop control system, whereby the power steering system provides an actual value (TACT) of the steering feedback torque, whereby a nominal value (TNOM) of the steering feedback torque is calculated by first processor using vehicle dynamic related measurements or estimates, whereby a difference between said actual value (TACT) of the steering feedback torque and said nominal value (TNOM) of the steering feedback torque is used as an input for a controller providing an controller output (COUT), and whereby an input for the power steering system is provided on basis of said controller output (COUT) influencing said steering feedback torque in a way that the difference between said actual value (TACT) of the steering feedback torque and said a nominal value (TNOM) of the steering feedback torque is eliminated.
US08249773B2
To provide a vehicle capable of performing a transition between a stable state and an inverted state with a simple structure. A vehicle in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is a vehicle that moves by inverted pendulum control, including a rider seat, a chassis, a right driving wheel, a left driving wheel, motors to rotationally drive the right driving wheel and the left driving wheel, a forward bar protruding forward beyond the chassis, a motor to rotational drive the forward bar, a footstep attached to the forward bar, and a control box to control the motor. The feet of a rider 80 are put on the footstep. The control box changes the vehicle to an inverted state by raising the footstep so that the footstep moves away from a ground, or changes the vehicle to a stable state by lowering the footstep so that the footstep comes into contact with the ground.
US08249765B2
Engine driving characteristics are achieved for driving a hydraulic system during non-traveling and traveling in an electrically driven dump truck.When a shift lever 16 is located at a neutral position, the target revolution speed Nr1 corresponding to the operation amount (p) of an accelerator pedal 1 is calculated on the basis of first target revolution speed characteristics (Nr1(p)) which are suitable for driving of a hydraulic pump for working so that an electronic governor 4a is controlled on the basis of this target revolution speed. When the shift lever 16 is located at a forward position, the target revolution speed Nr2 corresponding to the operation amount of the accelerator pedal 1 is calculated on the basis of second target revolution speed characteristics (Nr2(p)) which are suitable for driving of electric motors 12R, 12L so that the electronic governor 4a is controlled on the basis of this target revolution speed.
US08249760B2
A remote starter system for a vehicle having an electronic ignition module connected to vehicle controller modules by a serial data interface. The electronic ignition module is capable of receiving at least one keycode from a cryptographic controller vehicle key for verification before changing the state of at least one vehicle controller module. The remote starter system is defined in one embodiment to include a remote starter module having at least a memory for storing at least one keycode and having the ability to send the at least one keycode for verification and the ability to request modification of a state of at least one vehicle controller module. Wherein when the at least one keycode is verified, the state of at least one vehicle controller module is modified as requested by the remote starter module.
US08249747B2
A robot safety system configured to protect humans in the vicinity of a working robot (1, 11, 21, 31) against harmful impacts by said robot (1, 11, 21, 31), said safety system comprising a sensor system (3, 13, 23) and a safety controller (4, 14, 24) configured to establish an impact risk profile of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31) and deliver an operating signal to a robot controller (2, 12, 22) based on said impact risk profile, wherein the safety controller (4, 14, 24) is configured to establish the impact risk profile based on stored data and input signals, and that the stored data and input signals comprise stored impact data, stored data related to the path of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31), and signals from the sensor system of events in the vicinity of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31), such as a detected human (P1, P11, P21, P22, P31, P32) in the vicinity of the robot (1, 11, 21, 31).
US08249741B2
A method for controlling the loading and unloading of machine tools where the tools from a magazine are first taken over into an intermediate storage station or provision area and from there are supplied to the machine tool. The tools are inserted into the machine tool using a changing apparatus for transfer to the machine tool. The magazine and the machine tool are each provided with a CNC controller and a PLC controller, and these components are adjusted by a separate controller. The magazine and the machine tool can each be provided with a separate CNC controller and PLC controller or a common CNC controller and PLC controller. Multichannel controllers, preferably dual-channel controllers, can also be used.
US08249733B2
A computing system is communicated with a metal fabrication device for analyzing performance of an industrial robot. The metal fabrication device includes the industrial robot, and a plate bender. The computing system is operable to generate an analysis report of the performance of the industrial robot by providing section model creating function, bending point obtainting function, bending operation monitoring function, workpiece modeling function for the metal fabrication device. The quality of a finished workpiece bent by the industrial robot from a metal plate may be analyzed from the analysis report generated by the computing system.
US08249730B2
Systems and methods for “shadowing” a target codec to provide additional features that are not available in the target codec. In one embodiment, an audio amplification system includes a High Definition Audio (HDA) bus, and an HDA controller, a conventional HDA codec and a shadow HDA codec coupled to the HDA bus. The conventional codec receives audio data and commands from the HDA controller via the bus and processes them to generate an output audio signal. The shadow codec snoops the audio data and commands on the HDA bus that are targeted to the conventional codec. The shadow codec processes the snooped audio data and commands to generate a second audio output. The shadow codec does not communicate with the HDA controller and is transparent to the controller. The shadow codec does not request enumeration from the HDA controller and does not receive an address from the HDA controller.
US08249711B2
An embodiment relates to a method for delivering a vagal stimulation therapy to a vagus nerve, including delivering a neural stimulation signal to non-selectively stimulate both afferent axons and efferent axons in the vagus nerve according to a predetermined schedule for the vagal stimulation therapy, and selecting a value for at least one parameter for the predetermined schedule for the vagal stimulation therapy to control the neural stimulation therapy to avoid physiological habituation to the vagal stimulation therapy. The parameter(s) include at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters consisting of a predetermined therapy duration parameter for a predetermined therapy period, and a predetermined intermittent neural stimulation parameter associated with on/off timing for the intermittent neural stimulation parameter.
US08249705B1
Described here are devices, systems, and methods for improving left ventricular function in a patient with systolic heart failure with left ventricular dysfunction using baroreflex activation therapy. In general the systems have at least one electrode and a control system in communication with the electrode, the control system including a processor and memory, wherein the memory includes software defining a stimulus regime configured to effect improvement in left ventricular function. The methods for improving left ventricular function in a subject typically include identifying a patient in need of left ventricular function improvement and stimulating a baroreceptor with a baroreceptor activation device to improve left ventricular function.
US08249704B2
Method and apparatus for preventing heart rhythm disturbances by recording cardiac electrical activity, measuring beat-to-beat variability in the morphology of electrocardiographic waveforms, and using the measured beat-to-beat variability to control the delivery of electrical impulses to the heart during the absolute refractory period.
US08249701B2
Methods, devices and systems are provided to efficiently identify, from among a plurality of possible neurostimulation parameter sets, one or more preferred neurostimulation parameter sets that treat a targeted pain of a patient. Each neurostimulation parameter set defines electrode parameters and neurostimulation signal parameters. A plurality of different neurostimulation parameter sets are tested on the patient to thereby identify those tested neurostimulation parameter sets that treat the targeted pain. Each of the tested neurostimulation parameter sets defines an electrode configuration that differs from the other tested neurostimulation parameter sets. All of the tested neurostimulation parameter sets comprise a same value for a specific neurostimulation signal parameter (e.g., pulse width) that if reduced reduces power consumption. If more than one of the tested neurostimulation parameter sets are identified as treating the targeted pain, then neurostimulation parameter sets identified as treating the targeted pain are retested, with the value for the specific neurostimulation signal parameter reduced by a same amount for each of the retested neurostimulation parameter sets, to thereby identify those neurostimulation parameter sets that treat the targeted pain at the reduced power consumption level.
US08249699B2
A method for affecting balanced brain functioning with relational ambient sound is disclosed. During the process of balancing the brain's activity, an ambient sound is played for the subject to hear. The subject's brain develops a relationship between the process of bringing the brain to a balanced state and the ambient sound. As a result of this relationship, balanced brain functioning may then be affected by exposing the subject to that same ambient sound.
US08249696B2
Various methods and devices are provided for navigating through bone. In one embodiment, a bone navigation device is provided and includes a bone penetrating member configured to be implanted in bone and having at least one optical waveguide extending therethrough. The optical waveguide is adapted to illuminate tissue surrounding the device and to receive reflected/transmitted light from the tissue to determine the optical characteristics of the tissue, thus facilitating navigation through the tissue. At least one window can be formed in the bone penetrating member for allowing light from the at least one optical waveguide to illuminate the tissue, and for receiving the reflected light.
US08249689B2
An electromagnetic tracking coil arrangement, comprising three co-planar electromagnetic sensors and a fourth electromagnetic sensor that is not co-planar with the three co-planar sensors, wherein the three co-planar electromagnetic sensors and the fourth electromagnetic sensor are each located at a vertex of a tetrahedron.
US08249685B2
An apparatus for mapping and/or ablating tissue includes a braided conductive member that may be inverted to provide a ring-shaped surface. When a distal tip of the braided conductive member is retracted within the braided conductive member, the lack of protrusion allows the ring-shaped surface to contact a tissue wall such as a cardiac wall. In an undeployed configuration, the braided conductive member is longitudinally extended, and in a deployed configuration, the distal end of the braided conductive member is retracted to invert the braided conductive member.
US08249683B2
A system and method for calibrating a sensor of a characteristic monitoring system in real time utilizes a self-calibration module for periodic determination of, and compensation for, the IR drop across unwanted resistances in a cell. A current-interrupt switch is used to open the self-calibration module circuit and either measure the IR drop using a high-frequency (MHz) ADC module, or estimate it through linear regression of acquired samples of the voltage across the sensor's working and reference electrodes (Vmeasured) over time. The IR drop is then subtracted from the closed-circuit value of Vmeasured to calculate the overpotential that exists in the cell (Vimportant). Vimportant may be further optimized by subtracting the value of the open-circuit voltage (Voc) across the sensor's working and reference electrodes. The values of Vmeasured and Vimportant are then controlled by respective first and second control units to compensate for the IR drop.
US08249680B2
A rotating mechanism comprises a retaining plate, a rotating plate, a rotation enabling member and a biasing member. The rotation enabling member comprising a rail, a track, a guiding post and a guiding groove. The biasing member comprising a first biasing member end and a second biasing member end. The first biasing member end is retained on the retaining plate and the second biasing member end is retained on the rail. When the rotating plate rotates from a first state to an intermediate state, the biasing member is compressed by the rail to exert a force on the rotating plate and the retaining plate causing the rotating plate to automatically rotate toward an third state once the rotating plate passes the intermediate state.
US08249678B2
A wireless communication device having a configurable antenna, includes: a first antenna having a first resonant frequency; a first frequency modification unit for modifying the first resonant frequency of the antenna; a function operation unit activating a plurality of functions; and a control unit controlling the first frequency modification unit to modify the first resonant frequency in accordance with a function activated by the function operation unit.
US08249677B2
A handheld electronic device including a first body, a second body and a sliding mechanism is provided. The first body includes a first frame and a first cover connected to each other. The second body includes a second frame and a second cover connected to each other. The second frame is stacked over the first frame and partially located between the first frame and the first cover. The first frame is partially located between the second frame and the second cover. The sliding mechanism is disposed between the first body and the second body and is covered by the first cover and the second cover. The first frame and the second frame are slidable relative to each other through the sliding mechanism so that the first frame and the second frame are exposed by the second cover and the first cover, respectively.
US08249673B2
A portable electronic device comprises a cover, a base and a sliding mechanism. The sliding mechanism includes a connecting rod mechanism and a controlling mechanism. The connecting rod mechanism is rotatably mounted between the base and the cover and is configured to rotate the cover relative to the base. The controlling mechanism is configured to control the rotation of the connecting rod mechanism.
US08249669B2
A portable terminal having a slide module, comprising: first and second slide members coupled to first and second bodies, respectively, and connected to each other so as to perform a sliding motion with respect to each other; and an elastic force providing unit for providing an elastic force to one of the first and second slide members, wherein the elastic force providing unit comprises: first and second arm members each having one end coupled to the first or second slide member, and another ends coupled to each other so as to perform a relative motion with respect to each other; and an elastic unit configured to generate the elastic force by a relative motion of the first and second arm members.
US08249664B1
In some implementations, a computer-implemented method of displaying alert information with a mobile communication device includes displaying device status indicators to a user of a mobile device in a status area; receiving information from an application to display an alert in the status area; displaying in the status area a first level of information for the alert and a user-selectable control; and displaying, in response to a selection of the user-selectable control, a second level of information for the alert that provides greater detail than the first level of information.
US08249662B2
A mobile terminal including a transparent display configured to display information on both surfaces of the transparent display, a sensing unit configured to detect a movement of the terminal, and a controller configured to control the information displayed on said both surfaces of the transparent display based on the detected movement of the terminal.
US08249649B2
An apparatus includes a code division multiple access (CDMA) antenna that is configured to transmit and receive communication signals. The apparatus includes a memory that is configured to store multiple mobile equipment identifiers (MEIDs), multiple activation protocols and instructions, where each MEID includes an identifier that is uniquely recognizable on one of multiple networks and where the activation protocols include protocols for uniquely activating the apparatus on one of multiple different networks each of which have different communication protocols. The apparatus includes a processor that is coupled to the CDMA antenna and to the memory and that is configured to execute the instructions to enable a user to select a network from the multiple different networks on which to activate and operate the apparatus and activate and operate the apparatus on a selected network using an MEID recognizable by the selected network and the activation protocol for the selected network.
US08249640B2
The present invention provides a method for determining a paging slot of a CDMA mobile station trunking service. The method includes two situations: the mobile station supporting the minus slot function and not supporting the minus slot function. When the station supports the minus slot function, according to the matching situation of the system identifier and a network identifier of a base station, and the system identifier and the network identifier stored in the mobile station, and whether the minus slot paging cycle information is contained on the paging channel overhead message, the paging slot is determined by different modes.
US08249636B2
A wireless device detects for an adverse channel condition, which may be (1) a frequent out of service (FOOS) condition indicative of frequent in and out of service or (2) an unbalanced forward/reverse link condition indicative of unbalanced coverage for the forward and reverse links. A FOOS condition may be detected based on an average in-service time, the number of lost system connections, the number of systems to which connections have been made, the rate of change for the systems, the altitude of the wireless device, and/or other parameters. An unbalanced forward/reverse link condition may be detected based on the average in-service time, the number of system access failures, and/or other parameters. The wireless device performs at least one action to conserve battery power if an adverse channel condition is detected. The action(s) may include performing system acquisition less frequently, disabling system registration, performing registration less frequently, and/or going to sleep.
US08249629B2
Methods and systems for sending, receiving, storing, and reading CDMA type SMS messages on wireless non-CDMA or multimode mobile devices include embedding a CDMA SMS message in a non-CDMA SMS host message. Such a host message may be created, transmitted, received, or otherwise processed by a mobile device, such as one operating in a GSM or UMTS mode. Similarly a CDMA SMS message may be stored in a SIM/USIM module using similar techniques. An embodiment provides a software application programming interface (API) which transparently processes SMS messages regardless of whether they are CDMA or non-CDMA and regardless of the operating mode of the mobile device.
US08249625B1
A method and system for routing position-determining requests to position-determining platforms. The method includes receiving into a position-determining system a position-determining request specifying a given processing-duration within a given range. The processing-duration defines a maximum amount of time that the system should spend determining position and thereby defines a corresponding granularity of position-determination by the system. All processing-durations in the given range, although different from each other, define the same corresponding granularity of position-determination by the system. The method further includes the system selecting, based on which processing-duration of the range the given processing-duration is, a position-determining platform of the plurality to process the received position-determining request. The method then includes routing the received position-determining request to the selected position-determining platform for processing.
US08249620B1
A system and method are described. A communication interface receives a request that identifies a service and a first communication device. A location system determines a location of the first communication device and a location of a second communication device. A processing system processes the location of the first communication device and the location of the second communication device to determine if the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device. In response to determining that the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device, the processing system transfers a notification indicating that the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device.
US08249619B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided which may be adapted for use in and/or with mobile device positioning systems and/or the like. In an example, a method may include accessing a plurality of measurements associated with a plurality of location signals as received by the mobile device from at least a first portion of a plurality of transmitters. The method may include dynamically establishing at least one location signal transmission parameter based, at least in part, on the plurality of measurements. The location signal transmission parameter(s) may be adapted for use by at least a second portion of the plurality of transmitters to operatively initiate subsequent transmission of an additional plurality of location signals adapted to be received by the mobile device.
US08249610B2
A method for admission control of control plane signaling requests includes receiving a signaling request. Upon receipt of the signaling connection request, a first determination is performed to determine whether to provide admission to common resources. When the first determination is negative, a second determination is performed to determine whether to provide admission to dedicated resources. When the second determination is negative, the signaling request is rejected. When the second determination is positive, the request is admitted to dedicated resources. When the first determination is positive, a third determination is performed to determine whether the quality of the signaling request is high or low. If the quality of the request is high, the signaling request is admitted to common resources. When the quality is low, a fourth determination is performed to determine whether to provide admission to dedicated resources. If the fourth determination is positive, the request is admitted to dedicated resources. If the fourth determination is negative, the request is admitted to common resources.
US08249609B2
Provided is a radio resource allocation method of allocating common radio resources shared among a plurality of radio stations or a plurality of sectors to each of the plurality of radio stations or each of the plurality of sectors. The method includes defining, as a frame set, a given number of radio frames for repeatedly providing the common radio resources along a time axis, defining, as radio resource units, minimum units obtained by dividing the common radio resources provided by the frame set in units of the radio frames and in units of sub-channel groups, and allocating at least one of the radio resource units to each of the plurality of radio stations or the each of the plurality of sectors.
US08249608B2
A resource allocation method and apparatus for downlink transmission of a base station in a mobile communication system. The base station compares the number Ntx of data transmissions with the number Nper of available persistent resource allocations, and allocates resources by at least one of a persistent resource allocation scheme and a dynamic resource allocation scheme according to the comparison result.
US08249603B2
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for selecting a communication line from two or more lines on a communication device are described herein. The communication device comprises a display module, an input module, a line selection module, and a communication module for making a call over a network to a target recipient. In one broad aspect, a determination of which of the communication lines is a communication line associated with the one of two or more message addresses at which a message is received is made in the selection of a communication line accessible at the communication device on which an outgoing call may be placed.
US08249597B2
A method of packet switched handover in a mobile communication system comprising a terminal, a source node and a destination node comprises negotiating protocol parameters for the destination node on behalf of a new network entity, by communicating with an old network entity whilst the terminal is still connected to the source node; and completing the packet switched handover, such that service interruption on handover is reduced.
US08249593B2
Electronic messages such as pages are exchanged between a user device and a message service using one of multiple wireless communication networks. The wireless communication networks may include mobile and/or fixed wireless networks. The user device registers with the message service through at least one of the wireless communications networks. The user device may register through multiple wireless communication devices when available. The user device sends messages through the wireless network through which registration has been established and may apply rules to choose when registration has occurred via multiple wireless networks.
US08249592B1
To authenticate a mobile station that is able to access packet-switched services in a packet-switched services network, an intermediate server receives a registration request from a local premises wireless gateway on behalf of the mobile station. In response to the registration request, the intermediate server performs an authentication procedure with an authentication infrastructure in a circuit-switched network, where the authentication infrastructure contains authentication information relating to the mobile station to enable authentication of the mobile station.
US08249590B2
A power management system is described where the handset can enter sleep or hibernation mode for a particular service, when the particular service is either not used or not available. The handset is capable of using the service, even in response to a non-user initiated incoming request for communication. The handset receives the request over the active service. The handset can then check for the availability of the inactive service, activate it, and a selection can be made between them.
US08249586B2
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture enable routing a communication from a cell phone associated with a service provider in which the cell phone is located in a predetermined area in which the service provider does not have an operational base station or in which routing assistance is required. A cell base station having one or more antennas is provided in an aircraft. Each of the antennas is configured to monitor a respective sector of the predetermined area for a cell phone communication when the aircraft is flown in proximity to the predetermined area. A registration request from a first cell phone in the predetermined is detected via the cell base station and an ID and location associated with the first cell phone is routed to a ground based telephone switching office, such as the mobile telephone switching office associated with the service provider of the detected cell phone.
US08249584B2
The present invention provides a portable electronic device. The device includes a first controller, a second controller, a mode switch unit, and a main controller. The mode switch unit is for a user to operate thereby generating a mode switch instruction. The main controller is for switching a work mode according to the mode switch instruction from the mode switch unit. When the mode switch unit generates a first mode switch instruction, the device enters a common work mode whereby the main controller activates the first controller and the second controller to be on standby; and when the mode switch unit generates a second mode switch instruction, the device enters a single work mode whereby the main controller activates only one of the first controller and the second controller to be on standby.
US08249582B1
A processor-implemented method is provided comprising a portable electronic device receiving a first message that a key sequence was entered into the device wherein the key sequence is associated with sending of an outgoing transmission that was not connected. The method also comprises the device performing a first test comprising confirming at least one of the mobile directory number (MDN) and the network access identifier (NAI) of the device. The method also comprises the device performing a second test comprising requesting a first server to transmit a short message service (SMS) message to the device. The method also comprises performing a third test comprising transmitting a hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) message to a second server. Based on the results of at least one of the tests, the device at least one of displays a first visual message and plays a second audible message advising at least one corrective action step.
US08249578B2
A radio communication control device includes a radio parameter update determination portion, a transmission power value change portion and a radio parameter update portion. The radio parameter update determination portion determines whether or not to update a radio parameter relating to at least one of a communication frequency and transmission power to a new radio parameter. The transmission power value change portion performs a transmission power change process to change a transmission power value during data transmission to a radio communication station to a smaller value in stages at predetermined intervals when the radio parameter update determination portion determines to update the radio parameter to the new radio parameter. A radio parameter update portion updates the radio parameter to the new radio parameter when the transmission power value change portion changes the transmission power value to a preset lower limit or less.
US08249577B2
Network-initiated uninstallation of programs on remote modules, such as wireless telephones, is performed over a wireless network to recall programs stored on the wireless telephone that are faulty or harmful to the wireless telephone, the wireless network, or a user of the wireless telephone. If one or more recall criteria are met for uninstallation of a targeted application program, a recall command source constructs a recall command. A program manager, using a database containing information about each program downloaded onto each wireless telephone in the network, identifies, for the recall command source, which wireless telephones carry the targeted application program. The recall command includes a unique application identification for the targeted application program and an instruction to the wireless telephone to uninstall the targeted application program. The recall command is broadcast over the wireless network to the wireless telephones. In response to the recall command, the wireless telephone automatically uninstalls the targeted application program by executing a recall program on the wireless telephone.
US08249574B2
A software button and software agent downloaded to a computing in response to actuation of the button make it possible to create a communication connection providing privacy, security and dynamic control of service. In one embodiment an online telephone directory comprised of software buttons is provided, in which a calling party can select a called party by clicking a software button dedicated to the called party. The button provides an identification of the called party, but all contact information is hidden and inaccessible to the calling party. Upon actuation of the button server containing the directory causes download of a software agent to the calling party's computing device, causing it to establish communication with the called party. In a second embodiment, software buttons provide a communication service which is dynamic, the nature or type of service changing based on conditions predefined by the called. For example, a called party may specify that, during business hours, communication be by telephone to a specific telephone number and outside of business hours, communication be by text message if urgent and e-mail if not urgent. When the calling party clicks a software button, the software agent downloaded to his computing device would then be a soft phone during business hours. Outside of business hours, a software agent would be downloaded to the calling party which would inquire whether the call is urgent and, depending upon the response, would provide a text message agent or an e-mail agent, respectively.
US08249573B2
Methods and systems for software definition of a power amplifier for multi-band applications are disclosed and may comprise configuring a single programmable output stage of a transmitter to transmit a signal via one of a plurality of selectively coupled antennas, wherein each antenna handles signals in a different frequency band. A power amplifier within the single programmable output stage may be tuned to a frequency within a range of frequencies handled by the selectively coupled antenna. The tuning may be accomplished by programmably adjusting at least one inductance and capacitance. The antennas may be impedance matched to the power amplifier using transformers and may be activated by at least one integrated transistor. The power amplifier may be biased in a class of operation, which may include Class A, AB, C and F, and may be biased utilizing a digitally-controlled current source and a digitally-controlled voltage source.
US08249572B2
A device for programming user-defined information into an electronic device is provided. The programmer allows a user to program customized information, such as user-selected audio, video, or Internet access information into his or her programmable device. Such electronic devices include wireless telephones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. The programmer allows a user to, among other things, customize the device to suit his or her particular taste.
US08249569B1
In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes evaluating local codecs of a cellular telephone. The method further includes playing a content file with a media player on the cellular telephone. The method also includes accessing encoded media referred to by the content file in a format determined based on local codecs of the cellular telephone.
US08249568B2
Described is a system and method for processing a voice mail. The method comprises receiving a voice mail, converting the voice mail into a text message using a predefined speech-to-text conversion algorithm and transmitting the text message to a wireless computing device.
US08249567B2
A multicast communication method in a CDMA mobile communication system which is capable of reducing a transmission power in a base station system, and is capable of performing an efficient multicast operation for a large number of mobile subscribers is provided. The starting of information distribution by a multicast operation and identification information indicating a content of the information thereof are notified through a broadcast channel to a mobile subscriber. Further, through the broadcast channel, information such as a spread code or the like to be used at this time, which is necessary for actual reception of communication data, is notified. Then, in the mobile subscriber, a surround environment of the mobile subscriber is checked to determine the possibility of simultaneous receiving from a plurality of other base station systems. If possible, similar notified information is also received from other base station systems. Thus, all kinds of information regarding the spread code or the like to be used for receiving distributed information are obtained.
US08249551B2
The PCRF Selection Function selects the PCRF for an IP-CAN session. In embodiments, the PCRF Selection Function is located in the HSS and/or the 3GPP AAA server. The PCRF Selection Function is only required to be located in the HSS if a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function (BBERF) is deployed in the serving gateway. In this case, the PCRF selection takes place at the time that the PDN Gateway is selected and returned by the HSS to the serving gateway over the HSS to MME interface (S6a).
US08249549B1
Automating emergency calls globally involves receiving, from a user and at a mobile device, a number associated with an outgoing call; identifying, at the mobile device, the received number is a first emergency number; and identifying, at the mobile device, a country associated with the first emergency number. The mobile device also identifies a country of operation of the mobile device at a time of receiving the first emergency number. The device then determines whether the country of operation corresponds to the country associated with the first emergency number. Upon determining that the country of operation does not correspond to the country associated with the first emergency number, a second emergency number associated with the country of operation is determined. The mobile device transmits the second emergency number to a wireless network servicing the mobile device, instead of the first emergency number, to initiate the emergency call.
US08249544B2
A directional coupler with a high coupling per unit area and small variations in characteristic at manufacturing capable of achieving a high directivity easily and an RF circuit module provided with the directional coupler are achieved. A main-line is provided on a front surface of a multi-layer substrate, a ground plane is provided on a back surface of the multi-layer substrate. On an inner layer immediately under the main-line, two lines in parallel with the main-line are provided, and one line is provided on a layer closer to the ground plane than the two lines. By connecting the two lines and the one line with vias, a sub-line with a shape of a winding of a loop is formed. In the sub-line, a main component of a vector vertically penetrating the loop is horizontal with respect to the ground plane.
US08249540B1
A radio frequency receiver subject to a large in-band interferor employs active cancellation with coarse and fine cancellation signals, each with a respective radio frequency combiner, in order to increase the effective dynamic range of the receiver for weak signals of interest. One or both can be digitally synthesized. This is particularly applicable for co-site interference, whereby the interfering transmit signal is directly accessible. A similar system and method may also be applied to external interferors such as those produced by deliberate or unintentional jamming signals, or by strong multipath signals. An adaptive algorithm may be used for dynamic delay and gain matching. In a preferred embodiment, a hybrid technology hybrid temperature system incorporates both superconducting and semiconducting components to achieve enhanced broadband performance.
US08249519B2
The invention relates to a method of determining the instant of consideration of a modification of at least one reception condition for signals in a communication system comprising at least two communication devices. The method comprises the steps, executed by a communication device, of detecting (E702) at least one modification of the reception conditions for signals in the communication system, determining (E703) the instant at which at least one other communication device will have detected the modification of the reception conditions for the signals, and establishing (E704) an operating mode of the first communication device as a function of the instant determined. The invention also relates to an associated determining device.
US08249517B1
A system for visualizing a Radio Frequency (“RF”) environment around an observation site includes a receiver, a scanner, a detector, and a display. The receiver includes an antenna and a shield shielding the antenna to create a directional signal reception path to enable reception of RF signals at known orientations. The scanner is coupled to the receiver and is configured to rotate the shield to modify the directional signal reception path of the receiver. The detector is coupled to the receiver and the scanner, and the detector is configured to receive the RF signals from the receiver along with their associative orientation information and to detect an intensity of the received RF signals. The display is coupled to the detector and is configured to generate a display responsive to the received RF signals from the receiver, including their associative orientation information and intensity.
US08249509B2
A dynamically adaptive channel estimation process is provided for use in a wireless communication device. At a first device, a wireless transmission is received from a second device. The transmission comprises a plurality of successive symbols each of which comprises a plurality of subcarriers. The first device is configured to compute channel characterizing information for a wireless channel between the first device and the second device based on the received values at subcarriers of the successive symbols. The first device is configured to select one of a plurality of channel estimation schemes based on the channel characterizing information, and to compute an estimate of channel information for the wireless channel using the selected one of the plurality of channel estimation schemes.
US08249507B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising communicating in a wireless network using a low-rate quasi omni-directional communications mode implemented as TX-RX space scanning using directional antennas, and a high-rate directional communications mode with beamformed directional antennas, and wherein the quasi low-rate omni-directional communications mode using TX-RX space scanning uses a same frame to simultaneously carry control information and perform beamforming training of the directional antennas.
US08249504B2
In a communication control method for wireless communication between a first communication device and a second communication device through a wireless communication unit, identification information is notified from the second communication device to the first communication device by using a communication unit other than the wireless communication unit. Wireless communication between the first and second communication devices is performed by the wireless communication unit using the first communication parameter shared in advance, and authentication processing based on identification information is performed. When authentication is acquired by this authentication processing, the second communication parameter to be set with respect to a wireless communication unit is shared by the first and second communication devices through the above wireless communication. Parameters for wireless communication between the first and second communication devices are set in the wireless communication unit by using the second communication parameter shared in this manner.
US08249503B2
A communication partner appliance is implemented within a near field communication system. The communication partner appliance includes a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The receiver receives a NFC command signal from another communication partner appliance. The detector detects whether a carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver and generates a corresponding status signal. The processor receives the command signal from the receiver, recognizes an end of the command signal, receives the status signal from the detector after the end of the command signal, and controls a power supply element based on the status signal after the end of the command signal. The power supply element is configured to establish a connection to either a first power supply or a second power supply. The first power supply is dependent on the carrier signal, and the second power supply is independent of the carrier signal.
US08249500B2
An NFC device configured at least in part as an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit including a controller and a plurality of capacitors. The controller is operable to control one or more of the plurality of capacitors to vary an operating parameter of the NFC device.
US08249495B2
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet supply unit for supplying a printing medium; and a sheet discharge unit for discharging the printing medium after an image is transferred to the printing medium. Further, the image forming apparatus includes a transport path medium number storage unit for storing a transport path medium number; a discharge number storage unit for storing a discharge number; an upper limit print number storage unit for storing an upper limit print number; an addition unit for calculating an addition sum of the discharge number and the transport path medium number; a number comparison unit for comparing the addition sum with the upper limit print number; and a sheet supply stop unit for stopping the sheet supply unit when the addition sum exceeds the upper limit print number.
US08249487B2
According to an electron emitting element of the present invention, an electron acceleration layer sandwiched between an electrode substrate and a thin-film electrode contains (i) insulating fine particles and (ii) at least one of (a) conductive fine particles having an average particle diameter smaller than an average particle diameter of the insulating fine particles and (b) a basic dispersant. The electron acceleration layer has a surface roughness of 0.2 μm or less in centerline average roughness (Ra). The thin-film electrode has a film thickness of 100 nm or less. As such, according to the electron emitting element of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the thin-film electrode to an appropriate thickness. Accordingly, it is possible to increase electron emission.
US08249481B2
The change in an output voltage when a control voltage is changed is calculated, and the change in the control voltage divided by the calculated change in the output voltage is defined as a sensitivity coefficient. The sensitivity coefficient is recalculated for each predetermined time interval or whenever a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the control voltage is corrected based on the recalculated sensitivity coefficient. Example of the predetermined condition include the time of start-up of the apparatus, the time at which the accumulated number of printed sheets reaches a predetermined number, and the time of carrying out process control.
US08249474B2
An image forming apparatus including a latent image carrier; a developing device to develop a latent image formed on a surface of the latent image carrier with toner to form a toner image; a transfer device to either directly transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, or to primarily transfer the toner image from the latent image carrier onto an intermediate transfer body and then secondarily transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium; a post-transfer imaging unit to photograph the surface of the latent image carrier or the intermediate transfer body after transfer of the toner image; and a control unit to control one or more image forming conditions based on a quantified value for residual toner of a detection pattern formed on the surface of the latent image carrier or the intermediate transfer body.
US08249468B2
An image forming apparatus includes at least one image carrier and a recording medium conveyor forming a transfer nip therebetween, a conveyance member disposed closest to the transfer nip on an upstream side of the transfer nip to convey the recording medium to the transfer nip, and a conveyance control mechanism to deactivate the conveyance member to stop providing a conveyance force to the recording medium after the leading edge of the recording medium has entered the transfer nip and before the trailing edge of the recording medium passes a point of force application and remaining in the inactive state until the recording medium passes the point of force application. The conveyance force remains unapplied to the recording medium from when the conveyance control mechanism deactivates the conveyance member to when the trailing edge of the recording medium passes the transfer nip.
US08249465B2
A light transmitting apparatus of the invention includes: a light transmitting section having a light source and an EA modulator, and a control section that controls the optical output power of the light transmitting section to be constant, based on a monitor value of EA photoelectric current. The control section uses a reference value corresponding to a wavelength of the light source, from amongst reference values of the EA photoelectric current that are different for each wavelength, and feedback controls the light transmitting section depending on a difference between the reference value and the monitor value. As a result it is possible to reliably suppress fluctuations in the optical output power due to changes in the wavelength of the light source.
US08249458B2
An optical communication system has a master station and a plurality of slave stations connected thereto via an optical fiber network, which is provided with an optical splitter and a relay unit which relays signals transmitted/received between the master station and the plurality of slave stations. The master station includes a first controller for performing ranging between the master station and the relay unit, and the relay unit includes a second controller for performing ranging between the relay unit and the plurality of slave stations. The master station determines, on the basis of the results of ranging performed by the first and second controllers as well as reports from the slave stations, timings for the slave stations to transmit signals to the master station, and receives signals multiplexed through the optical fiber network from the slave stations.
US08249452B2
This disclosure describes ONT-based management of micronodes in an RFOG network. A micronode is configured to permit remote management via an ONT in an optical network. An optical networking protocol, such as a PON protocol, may be used to exchange information with an ONT for management of the micronode. Management may include configuration and monitoring of the micronode. The micronode may have a management interface that supports remote configuration and monitoring via an ONT coupled to the management interface. An operator may use the ONT as a management terminal for the micronode. The ONT may permit an operator to effectively manage micronodes, and also may offer a ready upgrade path to provide optical networking services such as PON services to a subscriber when the operator is ready to upgrade its CO equipment and CPE.
US08249451B2
A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising creating a port restriction matrix comprising a plurality of port restrictions, and compressing the port restriction matrix. Included is a method comprising establishing a port wavelength restriction data for an optical component, establishing a port connectivity data for the optical component, and transmitting the port wavelength restriction data and the port connectivity data to a path computation element. Also included is an apparatus comprising a path computation client configured to communicate data to a path computation element, wherein the data comprises a port restriction data.
US08249450B2
A method for port mapping a fiber optic network device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a first fiber optic network device and configuring the first fiber optic network device by disposing therein a first plurality of ports and a plurality of optical fibers optically coupled to a distribution cable. The method also comprises routing predetermined ones of the plurality of optical fibers to respective predetermined ones of the plurality of ports. The first plurality of ports may comprise a first drop port and a first pass-through port. At least one of the predetermined ones of the plurality of optical fibers routes to the first drop port and at least one of the predetermined ones of the plurality of optical fibers routes to the first pass-through port. The method may also comprise providing and configuring a second fiber optic network device optically coupled to the first fiber optic network device through the first pass-through port. The configuring may also comprise disposing one or more splitters in the first and second fiber optic network devices.
US08249444B2
A covert camera for surveillance in an aircraft comprises a front panel that can have an appearance other than a conventional camera. The front panel can include at least one aperture therethrough. A lens can be in or near the aperture, the lens having a field of view. A camera mount can be positioned on the front panel. The camera mount can include a sensor capable of receiving an image of at least a portion of the field of view. The camera mount can be capable of adjustment without movement of the lens.
US08249443B2
An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus body including an image sensor built therein, and a lens unit, the apparatus body is provided with a back focus adjustment mechanism and a sliding member which is slidable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the image sensor, the sliding member is provided with an infrared blocking filter and a dummy glass plate arranged next to each other, the apparatus is capable of switching modes between a day photographing mode in which the infrared blocking filter is positioned on the optical axis of the image sensor and a night photographing mode in which the dummy glass plate is positioned on the optical axis of the image sensor, and the dummy glass plate has a thickness greater than a thickness with which optical path length extension equivalent to that with the infrared blocking filter is obtained.
US08249442B2
A flash unit includes a flash device operable to emit flash, a storage member operable to store the flash device, a cover with which the storage member is covered from above, and to which the flash device is attached, a first link member that is turnably connected to the storage member at one end and turnably connected to the cover at another end, and a retaining member. The first link member is stored in the storage member in a lying state when the flash device is not used, and the first link member is adapted to turn about a connection portion of the first link member and the storage member to take a raised up state in which a connection portion of the first link member and the cover is located above the connection portion of the first link member with the storage member when the flash device is used, the cover can turn about the connection portion with the first link member to take the raised up state in which the flash device is raised higher than the connection portion with the first link member, and the retaining member retains the first link member in the raised up state.
US08249435B2
A device may include a housing defining a generally nonlinear path between an intake port for taking in fluid and an outlet port for outputting heated fluid. The device may also include a fan assembly disposed of the intake port for supplying the intake port with the fluid. Additionally, the device may also include a heat source disposed along the generally nonlinear path for heating the fluid supplied by the fan assembly. Further, the device may also include a compression assembly for at least partially defining the generally nonlinear path. The compression assembly may be configured for creating a first pressure region proximal to the intake port and a second pressure region distal to the intake port. The first pressure region may be a higher fluid pressure than the second pressure region.
US08249433B2
A data multiplexing apparatus for arranging video streams and audio streams respectively into packs and multiplexing these packs to create a system stream. The apparatus includes a virtual decoding video buffer occupancy calculator virtually calculating an occupancy of a decoding video buffer temporarily storing the video streams, a virtual decoding audio buffer occupancy calculator virtually calculating an occupancy of a decoding audio buffer temporarily storing the audio streams, a virtual decoding audio buffer storing a calculation result in the virtual decoding audio buffer occupancy calculator, and a payload length setting section setting an overflow limit value for the virtual decoding audio buffer. The payload length setting section sets the overflow limit value to a value of an integral multiple of an audio frame length.
US08249425B2
When an image is displayed on a material administration browser, a story board window and a time line window based on material data, the editing image display is controlled to display items of the material data that is combined with the frame rate information as the associated information and not combined with the frame rate information as the associated information with the items of the material data being distinguished from each other. When the material data is combined with the frame rate information as the associated information, a speed range available for reproduction of said material data is displayed based on the frame rate information. A console indication in variable speeds for indicating a reproduction speed or for altering the reproduction speed within the speed range available for reproduction is provided. Thus, reproduced image may be displayed on material image representation at set reproduction speed.
US08249423B2
Various embodiments provide an electronic device that includes video storage memory, a video signal receiver, and a video storage controller. The video signal receiver is configured to receive a video stream containing advertising content and program/movie content from a broadcast source. The video storage controller is configured to identify locations of advertising content interspersed among program/movie content in the received video stream, and to record addressable chapter marks for the identified locations of the advertising content and a video stream that is based on the received video stream into the memory. The addressable chapter marks may be displayed on a display and used by a viewer to jump playback of the video stream between the chapter marks.
US08249421B2
An information recording medium includes a recording area for an auxiliary signal, and a recording area for a main signal. The auxiliary-signal recording area and the main-signal recording area are successively arranged. The main-signal recording area stores first information, second information, and third information. The first information represents plural tunes. The second information includes playback control information for separating the tunes into groups and implementing playback of the tunes group by group. The third information includes interactive data for permitting an access to the first information of the tunes group by group.
US08249419B2
A method for generating additional information for guaranteeing seamless playback of data streams, a recording medium for storing the information, and recording, editing and/or playback apparatus using the same are provided. The method generates additional information for guaranteeing seamless playback. The method includes a step of generating data stream information for each of two or more data streams, which includes packet data to which information on an arrival time of the respective packet data is added. The data stream information includes seamless playback information, which indicates whether a corresponding data stream is to be seamlessly reproduced after playback of a preceding data stream, and/or seamless time control information for controlling an output time of the corresponding data stream to be seamlessly reproduced. Therefore, data streams can be seamlessly reproduced without interruption between the data streams, by using data stream information which includes seamless information and/or seamless time control information including reference time, an offset value and/or a gap length value. Especially, by using the information structure, even if data streams are edited, the data streams can be seamlessly reproduced in such a simple manner of just modifying data stream information, instead of directly rewriting or modifying arrival time information which is added to packet data.
US08249417B2
On an optical disk, video object sets (VTST_VOBS) to be reproduced and video title set information (VTSI) serving as management information on the video object sets have been stored. In each video object set (VTST_VOBS), many data cells, each containing video, audio, and sub-picture data, are arranged. Management information on programs chains, which are combinations of programs to be reproduced one after another, has been written in a video title set PGC table (VTS_PGCIT). By referring to the program chain table (VTS_PGCIT) according to the user's input, the playback order of program chains can be changed, enabling the program chains to be reproduced one after another in various modes.
US08249414B2
A media playback device capable of displaying multiple streams simultaneously and with expanded picture-in-picture capabilities is provided. The placement, size, aspect ratio, cropping, scale, transparency, tint, contrast, and cropping of the media can be set or adjusted arbitrarily. Furthermore, the audio may be mixed between separate tracks accompanying the video streams and may also be set or adjusted arbitrarily. Each variable can be dynamically changed during playback through either automated or user-initiated means. A system and method are provided for simultaneously displaying a first video stream and at least a second video stream on a display comprising the steps of feeding the video streams into a video player; providing control of the display of the video streams; displaying a first video stream substantially across the display; and displaying the other video streams in a secondary display.
US08249411B2
An underground utility enclosure assembly with a sealed fiber distribution enclosure includes a grade level box and a removable cover that mounts to the box. The cover includes a removable plug that provides access to the interior of the box. A removed plug area in the cover allows access to utility cables contained in the box and access to the interior of the sealed fiber distribution enclosure mounted to the open plug area. The bottom of the enclosure includes a rigid lower base frame assembly that removably attaches to the open plug area, and an above-ground fiber distribution base structure affixed to a cable opening passing through the base frame assembly. The sealed fiber distribution enclosure can be removed as a unit from the cover on the grade level box, with active cables undisturbed, and moved to a remote site for making above-ground fiber optic cable splices. The sealed fiber distribution enclosure then can be re-installed in the cover plate, with the active cables undisturbed.
US08249397B2
A method of displaying digital images is described in which a display length indicator is received and digital images are accessed. A set of digital images are selected from the accessed digital images in accordance with the display length indicator and displayed in a predetermined order. The method may be performed by a computer program, which may be embodied on a computer readable medium.
US08249392B2
A method for aligning point clouds is disclosed. The method includes inputting point cloud data of a reference object and a to-be-measured object, and confirming an original position of point cloud of the to-be-measured object. The method further includes determining a virtual position of point cloud of the to-be-measured object at each iteration, determining a minimum distance between point cloud of the reference object and point cloud of the to-be-measured object, and determining coordinates of each point in point cloud of the to-be-measured object corresponding to the minimum distance. The method further includes moving each point in point cloud of the to-be-measured object.
US08249379B2
A first intermediate image generating means (1) generates an intermediate image (D1) by extracting a component of an input image DIN in a particular frequency band; a second intermediate image generating means (2) generates an intermediate image D2 having a frequency component higher than the intermediate image (D1); a first intermediate image processing means (3M) generates an intermediate image (D3M) by amplifying the pixel values in the intermediate image (D1); a second intermediate image processing means (3H) generates an intermediate image (D3H) by amplifying the pixel values in the intermediate image (D2); and an adding means (4) adds the input image (DIN) and the intermediate image (D3M) and the intermediate image (D3H) together to obtain an output image (DOUT). A first amplification factor (D3MA) and a second amplification factor (D3HA) are determined according to pixel values in the input image (DIN). Even if the input image includes a fold-over component on the high-frequency side or does not include an adequate high-frequency component, an enhanced image can be provided without causing overshoot.
US08249375B2
An information processing apparatus includes a device for performing horizontal analysis filtering, a device for performing vertical analysis filtering, and a device for horizontal control. The information processing apparatus also includes a first control device. This device allows the device for horizontal control to repetitively perform the horizontal control until the horizontal analysis filtering is performed on all of columns of a processing object line. The information processing apparatus further includes a device for vertical control and a second control device that allows the device for vertical control to repetitively perform the vertical control until the vertical analysis filtering is performed on all of lines.
US08249374B2
Systems and methods for signal analysis using orbits of a chaotic system are provided. For example, a multiresolution analysis may be constructed and cupolets may be used to approximate arbitrary signals and compress images. Cupolets may be phase transformed to produce compact cupolets that are well-suited for producing sharp changes in signals, or to produce compact cupolets that are more oscillatory and have less or no sharp global maximum amplitudes. Alternatively, cupolets may be phase transformed to allow for optimal or near optimal adjustment to fit a signal.
US08249370B2
A recording process records low-resolution video data while obtaining a high-resolution image in a window region being a portion of an entire image. Then, the process learns, as a resolution conversion rule, a resolution increasing parameter by using the high-resolution image. In a resolution increasing process, the resolution of the recorded low-resolution video data is increased by using the resolution increasing parameter learned in the recording process.
US08249365B1
Methods and apparatus for directional texture generation using flow-guided, sample-based texture synthesis. A texture synthesis directional texture generation method may, for example, be used to design hair or hairstyles. The method may obtain one or more strokes, one or more optional masks, one or more optional user maps, and directional texture samples. A target region and one or more samples may be divided into patches. For each patch in the target region, a matching patch from the samples may be located according to one or more features to generate a similarity map. The patches in the target region may then be replaced with the patches from the samples according to the similarity map. To match sample patches to target region patches based on features such as color and brightness, a procedural directional texture generation method may be used as a pre-processing step.
US08249352B2
A document image processing apparatus includes an specifying section, an extracting section, a recognizing section, an interpreting section, an arranging section and a generating section. The specifying section specifies a sentence region including a character row from a document image. The extracting section extracts at least one of character row images included in the specified sentence region. The recognizing section recognizes respective characters included in the extracted character row image. The interpreting section interprets an original sentence character row comprising the recognized characters and generates an interpreted sentence character row. The arranging section arranges the respective character row images in the sentence region by contracting the respective character row images. The arranging section arranges the generated respective interpreted sentence character rows in a vacant region except a region arranging the respective character row images from the sentence region.
US08249349B2
An image processing system is described which automatically labels image elements of a digital image. In an embodiment an energy function describing the quality of possible labelings of an image is globally optimized to find an output labeled image. In the embodiment, the energy function comprises terms that depend on at least one non-local parameter. For example, the non-local parameter describes characteristics of image elements having the same label. In an embodiment the global optimization is achieved in a practical, efficient manner by using a tree structure to represent candidate values of the non-local parameter and by using a branch and bound process. In some embodiments, the branch and bound process comprises evaluating a lower bound of the energy function by using a min-cut process. For example, the min-cut process enables the lower bound to be evaluated efficiently using a graphical data structure to represent the lower bound.
US08249340B2
A dimensionality reduction method and system for efficient color transform compression is disclosed. A multi-dimensional color transform with an n-dimensional input color space can be received. A projection operator can be derived and applied to the n-dimensional input color space to form a k-dimensional input color space. A functional approximation can be designed to the n-dimensional input color space and can be evaluated on the k-dimensional input color space to form an m-dimensional output color space. The projection operator and the approximation function can be combined to form a compressed transform by mapping the n-dimensional input color space to m-dimensional output color space. Such an approach provides a significant reduction in size of the color profile with respect to storage and speeds-up real-time computation.
US08249339B2
An image processing device includes an interpolation color processing circuit receiving images of continuous frames to perform interpolation and color processing thereon, a storage part cyclically storing a plurality of frames of images being processed and having been processed by the interpolation color processing circuit, a plurality of image compression processing circuits reading the images of frames processed by the interpolation color processing circuit to perform image compression processing on the images and being cyclically started up for each of frames to perform parallel processing, and a compression data storage part storing compression data processed by the image compression processing circuit. The image processing device can solve a problem of a prior art in that long processing time is required because image compression processing is heavier than interpolation processing and color processing.
US08249331B2
A method, system and a computer program product for evaluating a object; the method includes: (i) obtaining an image of an area of the object; wherein the area comprises multiple arrays of repetitive structural elements that are at least partially surrounded by at least one group of non-repetitive regions; wherein non-repetitive regions that belong to a single group of non-repetitive regions are ideally identical to each other; wherein the non-repetitive regions are arranged in a repetitive manner; and (ii) providing an evaluation result in response to a comparison between image information of a first sub-area to image information of a second sub-area that is proximate to the first sub-area; wherein the first sub-area comprises a first array of repetitive structural elements and a first non-repetitive region; wherein the second sub-area comprises a second array of repetitive structural elements and a second non-repetitive region.
US08249308B2
A portable fluorescence and transmittance imaging spectroscopy system for use in diagnosing plant health. The system has a primary LED light source array with spectral wavelengths in the 400-600 nm range, a focus cone that collects the LED light source output and focuses it, a controller that controls the primary LED array to turn it on and off, or certain of the spectral wavelengths on and off such that the primary LED array controllably emits light of a desired wavelength in the range, the light irradiating the plant through the focus cone, a digital imaging device that both spatially and temporally captures a fluorescence image comprising chlorophyll fluorescence emitted by the plant due to the emitted light from the LED array, a leaf holder located proximate to the output of the focus cone to maintain a consistent position and distance between the digital imaging device, the LED light source and the leaf and providing for fixed position and non-destructive leaf imaging and testing, a secondary light source for providing broad-band transmissive light through the leaf, a lens for focusing onto the imaging device the light emitted from the secondary light source, and one or more memory devices that store the fluorescence image and the transmitted light data received by the digital imaging device and store a library of plant fluorescence-intensity data indicative of both healthy plants and stressed or diseased plants, and plant light transmittance data indicative of certain plant conditions.
US08249303B2
In a restoration apparatus, an estimating unit divides a captured original image into a plurality of local pixel blocks, and estimates an luminance level of airlight in each of the plurality of local pixel blocks. A calculating unit directly calculates, from a particle-affected luminance model, a luminance level of each pixel of each of the plurality of local pixel blocks in the original image to thereby generate, based on the luminance level of each pixel of each of the plurality of local pixel blocks, a restored image of the original image. The particle-affected luminance model expresses an intrinsic luminance of a target observed by the image pickup device as a function between the luminance level of airlight and an extinction coefficient. The extinction coefficient represents the concentration of particles in the atmosphere.
US08249301B2
Techniques for classifying one or more objects in at least one video, wherein the at least one video comprises a plurality of frames are provided. One or more objects in the plurality of frames are tracked. A level of deformation is computed for each of the one or more tracked objects in accordance with at least one change in a plurality of histograms of oriented gradients for a corresponding tracked object. Each of the one or more tracked objects is classified in accordance with the computed level of deformation.
US08249293B2
A method of obtaining information included in an image, the method includes dividing the image into a plurality of pairs of blocks. The image includes a plurality of codes. Each of the codes includes a plurality of digits. The method further includes determining a digit value of each of the block pairs on the basis of difference of a degree of characteristic value between adjacent blocks in each of the pairs. The method further includes weighing each digit value of each of the block pairs. The method further includes deciding a new digit value of associated pairs of blocks on the basis of the majority of the weighed digit values of the associated pairs of the blocks and repeating the deciding in other associated pairs of the blocks to determine the code.
US08249287B2
A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a users ear and retains the earpiece in its position.
US08249284B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a hearing system comprising an input unit, an output unit and a transmission unit operationally interconnecting said input output units. Said transmission unit implements a transfer function describing, how audio signals generated by said input unit are processed in order to derive audio signals fed to said output unit, and can be adjusted by one or more transfer function parameters. Said method comprises obtaining, by means of said input unit and with a first directional characteristic, first audio signals from incoming acoustic sound; deriving from said first audio signals a first set of sound-characterizing data; and deriving, in dependence of first directional information, which is data comprising information on said first directional characteristic, and of said first set of sound-characterizing data, a value for each of said one or more transfer function parameters. This allows to gain insight into the acoustic environment and allows for better automatic adjustments of said transfer function.
US08249282B2
A speaker assembly includes a speaker housing with a closed top wall, an opposed open end and first, second, third and fourth sidewalls extending downwardly from the closed top wall. The closed top wall is substantially planar and forms a support surface. First and second midrange drivers and first and second high frequency drivers are mounted within the housing, wherein the first midrange driver and the first tweeter are mirror images of second midrange driver and the second tweeter. A first support bracket supports the first midrange driver and first tweeter along a first side of the closed top wall adjacent the first sidewall of the speaker housing. The first support bracket includes a planar support surface which is obliquely oriented relative to a plane in which the closed top wall lies. A second support bracket supports the second midrange driver and the second tweeter along a second side of the closed top wall adjacent the third sidewall of the speaker housing. The first support bracket includes a planar support surface which is obliquely oriented relative to the plane in which the closed top wall lies.
US08249272B2
An audio playback apparatus is disclosed. The audio playback apparatus processes an audio signal and provides at least one output signal to at least one speaker or an earphone connected to a phone-jack. The audio playback apparatus comprises a clock generating module, a processing module, an amplifier module, and a detecting module. The processing module is connected to the clock generating module and processes the audio signal to generate a processed signal according to a clock signal generated by the clock generating module. The amplifier module amplifies the processed signal to generate an output signal. The detecting module detects whether the earphone is plugged in the phone-jack. If the earphone is plugged in the phone-jack, the amplifier module provides the output signal to the earphone. If not, the amplifier module provides the output signal to the speaker.
US08249268B2
A woofer-less and box-less loudspeaker system including a plurality of tweeter drivers is provided. The speaker system includes a plurality of drivers, each driver including a front face and a rear face with an axis of symmetry, each driver configured for propagating sound energy along the axis of each driver from the front face, wherein the sound energy includes low frequency and high frequency components; and a support structure for arranging the plurality of drivers in such a way that the axis extending from the rear face of each of the drivers converge in a single point in space, wherein as the sound is propagated along the axis of each driver from the front face, the high frequency components from each driver are evenly spaced and the low frequency components from each driver are reinforced by the low frequency components of adjacent drivers.
US08249267B2
There is provided an earphone comprising a hoop band (1) for receiving at least one ear pad (OM). The hoop band (1) has at least two hoop band portions (2a, 2b), wherein at least two of the hoop band portions (2a, 2b) are rotatably connected together by way of a rotary joint unit (5). In addition in the region of the rotary joint unit the hoop band has a spring unit (10) which couples the two hoop band portions together and thus exerts a spring force on the hoop band portions (2a, 2b), wherein the spring force is adjustable by adaptation of the coupling by way of a coupling means.
US08249262B2
A device for acoustic analysis has a first hearing device with a first sound input and a first sound output and a second hearing device with a second sound input and a second sound output. The first hearing device is in acoustic communication with the second hearing device. The first hearing device can analyze the acoustic communication and output a corresponding result. Consequently, two hearing aids, for example, can test each other, and permit a user to check hearing devices and, in particular, hearing aids in a simple fashion without the hearing aid wearer having to visit an audiologist for the test.
US08249261B2
A method and a graphics facility are provided to allow a choice of hearing apparatus to be made easier for a user via a three-dimensional presentation of a hearing apparatus on a head of a user. A 3D model of the hearing apparatus is provided as a virtual hearing apparatus and a 3D model of the head of the user or of a part thereof is obtained as a virtual head. The virtual hearing apparatus is subsequently aligned to the virtual head so that the virtual head can be presented graphically in three dimensions along with the fitted virtual hearing apparatus. This especially allows different types and colors of hearing apparatus to be represented in an animation on the user's head.
US08249257B2
The present subject matter related to trusted computing, and more particularly, to virtual trusted platform module keys rooted in a hardware trusted platform module. Some embodiments include a trusted platform virtualization module operable to capture virtual machine trusted platform module calls and operates to generate, maintain, and utilize hardware trusted platform module keys on behalf of the one or more virtual machines. Some embodiments include virtual trusted platform module keys having a public portion on top of an private portion including an encrypted hardware trusted platform module key.
US08249252B2
An information processing apparatus for outputting a predetermined video signal from a component output terminal includes signal detection means for detecting a copy protection signal embedded in the video signal to protect copyright, setting detection means for detecting a currently set output format of the video signal output from the component output terminal when the copy protection signal is detected by the signal detection means, and changing means for changing the output format detected by the setting detection means to an alternative output format when the output format is a predetermined format.
US08249225B2
A call directing system receives an incoming call from a caller. The caller is prompted to speak, thus enabling a prosody analyzer to generate an analysis of a prosody of the caller's voice. This analysis provides a basis for generating a caller profile that describes caller preferences of the caller. Based on the analysis of the prosody of the caller's voice and the generated caller profile, the call is directed to a particular call recipient.
US08249210B2
A cooling device component of monobloc design has a heat shield made from tungsten, a tungsten alloy, a graphitic material or a carbidic material provided with a through-hole. A cooling pipe for carrying coolant is joined in the through-hole. The heat shield is in turn joined or metallurgically joined to a structural part made from a material with a tensile strength at room temperature of >300 MPa and an electrical resistivity of >0.04 Ohm mm2m−1.
US08249209B2
Systems and methods provide for data transfer and transmission according to a synchronous one-bit interface protocol. A bit stream is generated including first data to be transferred or transmitted and second data from which a clock period used to encode the first data may be extracted. The bit stream is provided to a processor for decoding. In one embodiment, the bit stream includes a start segment or sequence, a data segment and a stop segment or sequence. A clock period is encoded into and is extracted from the start and/or stop sequences. The data segment is decoded on the basis of the clock period.
US08249207B1
Methods and apparatus are disclosed, such as those involving clock and data recovery sampler calibration. One such method includes receiving an electronic data stream by a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit comprising a data sampler and an edge sampler. The data stream includes data portions and transitioning portions. The method further includes conducting calibration of the CDR circuit. The calibration includes acquiring samples from the transitioning portions of the data stream using the data sampler; and calibrating the data sampler based at least partially on the samples acquired using the data sampler. The method allows one not only to improve performance, but also to improve yield and reduce testing and screening requirements without requiring any additional circuitry to detect the offsets and works with regular input signals.
US08249201B2
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure allow for detection of a transmitted preamble sequence by processing a correlation of a received signal and a preamble hypothesis in a way that exploits the good correlation properties of the known set of preamble sequences. For certain embodiments, the highest peaks of the correlation output may be compared across all preamble hypotheses to decide which preamble sequence is transmitted.
US08249196B2
An equalizing structure and method for a wireless communication system receiving device, in which two or more transmit signals transmitted in parallel from one or more transmitters are received in received signal vectors representing two or more received data streams, the signals including information modulated onto carrier signals according to a modulation scheme, all possible transmit signals being represented by candidate constellation values in the signal constellation of the modulation scheme. A metric value calculator calculates metric values based on the received signal vectors and the product of channel estimation values with candidate signal vectors, each candidate signal vector including a candidate constellation value for each of the two or more transmit signals. A maximum likelihood detector detects one of the candidate signal vectors having a minimum Euclidean distance to a respective receive signal vector as a most likely transmit signal vector based on the metric values. A soft decision value calculator calculates a soft decision value for the most likely candidate signal vectors based on the candidate signal vectors of at least some of the metric values.
US08249192B2
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to techniques to transmit data rate control signals for multicarrier wireless systems. According to an example embodiment, a wireless apparatus may be adapted to transmit at least a first data rate control (DRC) value via an in-phase channel and at least a second DRC value via a Quadrature-phase channel. The first DRC value may be associated with a first forward link carrier and the second DRC value may be associated with a second forward link carrier. In this manner, DRC values may be transmitted over both the I and Q channels, for example.
US08249190B2
A coding unit for determining two different types of modulation to be applied to two carrier signals such that each modulated carrier signal represents a data symbol in accordance with a group of modulation points, each modulation point representing a modulation of the first type and a modulation of the second type that can be applied to one of the carrier signals, the coding unit being arranged to associate the data symbol with a first one of the modulation points by applying a first mapping function to that data symbol and associate the data symbol with a second one of the modulation points by applying a second mapping function to that data symbol, the first and second mapping functions being such that they each map two different data symbols to a respective common modulation point; and determine the modulation of the first and second types to be applied to the first carrier signal to be the modulation of the first and second types represented by the first modulation point and the modulation of the first and second types to be applied to the second carrier signal to be the modulation of the first and second types represented by the second modulation point.
US08249184B2
The present invention employs hierarchical modulation to simultaneously transmit data over different modulation layers using a carrier RF signal. Each modulation layer may be of a higher or lower order than the other modulation layers. Certain embodiments of the present invention may transmit different information on the different modulation layers. Other embodiments of the present invention may use the different layers for processing different information streams.
US08249176B2
The present invention is directed to determining a length of at least one bridged tap on a transmission line. The invention includes estimating an Equivalent Working Length (EWL) associated with the transmission line using an Hlog spectrum by converting at least one Hlog data point in an EWL estimation, determining the shortest EWL estimation to be an EWL associated with the tap, and determining loss due to the tap by subtracting the Hlog for a straight piece of 26G wire of length EWL from the input data Hlog. The losses are then removed from the Hlog spectrum using the EWL. A tap associated with a peak can be identified in a Fourier analysis of the Hlog spectrum. A length of a tap is determined using a Chi-squared analysis by verifying a tap, subtracting the theoretical loss due to the tap from the Hlog spectrum and repeating the process until all taps are identified.
US08249175B2
The present invention provides a communication device that may suppress unnecessary break points. A communication device 200 includes a noise measuring unit 205 that measures noise occurring on a communication line 300; a communication controlling unit 202 that adjusts an SNR value of a transmission signal based on the noise measured in the noise measuring unit 205 and carries out a communication; a virtual noise determining unit 206 that determines the amount of virtual noise applied to some noise and stores the determined amount of noise in a memory unit 204; and a virtual noise applying unit 207 that applies the amount of noise stored in the memory unit 204 to the noise, wherein the virtual noise determining unit 206 dynamically divides a frequency band and determines the amount of noise of the divided frequency band as the amount of virtual noise.
US08249174B2
In one embodiment, four horizontal successive pixels are first filtered by a decoder in a digital video appliance based on a determined horizontal filtering coefficient. Two pixels of the four horizontal successive pixels are in a first block and two pixels of the four horizontal successive pixels are in a second block. Then four vertical successive pixels are filtered by the decoder based on a determined vertical filtering coefficient. Two pixels of the four vertical successive pixels are in the first block and two pixels of the four vertical successive pixels are in a third block.
US08249171B2
A data synchronizer that receives an input stream of asynchronous digital data in packets, and provides an output stream of synchronous data in packets. The synchronizer includes a first memory unit and a second memory unit, each having a data input, a data output, a write clock input and a read clock input. A first switch is provided for switching connection of the input in alternating manner between the first memory unit input and the second memory unit input, and a second switch is provided for switching connection of the data synchronizer output in alternating manner between the first memory unit output and the second memory unit output. A write clock is provided to write clock inputs of the first and second memory units. The average data rate of the received valid data during the reception of the packet is determined, and a read clock is generated and provided to the first and second memory units at a rate corresponding to the average data rate of the received valid data bits during the reception of the packet being read. The switching of the first and second switches is controlled such that the switches switch between adjacent packets, with the second switch switching in opposite phase to that of the first switch.
US08249162B2
In one embodiment, the method includes determining a reference pixel group including a pixel to be filtered. The reference pixel group includes at least three successive pixels. The method further includes applying weight factors to at least each of the three successive reference pixels. The weight factors are different according to pixel position. A filtered value is obtained by summing at least the three weighted successive pixels and applying a shift operation to the sum for dividing the sum.
US08249158B2
Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation.
US08249148B2
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a block type of the second block and the third block. The second block is adjacent to the first block horizontally, and the third block is adjacent to the first block vertically. The method further includes determining whether the second and third blocks have non-zero transform coefficient information if the block type of the second and third block, respectively, are not an intra-coded blocks. First and second motion vector differences between a motion vector for the first block and motion vectors for the second and third blocks, respectively, are obtained. A horizontal filter strength value and a vertical filter strength value are determined based on the above steps, and the blocking phenomenon in the first block is removed according to the horizontal filter strength value and the vertical filter strength value.
US08249146B2
A method for selecting content adaptive coding mode can apply a critical value to update by taking the advantages of a content adaptive MCTF update method and a covered pixel detection algorithm and, at the same time, improve the image quality by selecting a block having improper motion information and converting it into a coding in screen mode. The method also provides a method for selecting content adaptive coding mode that can improve the conventional MCTF algorithm by reusing JND, which is used in content adaptive MCTF, to find a block that has improper coding information and selecting a block that has improper motion information.
US08249135B2
Aspects of a reconfigurable system for providing channel coding in a wireless communication device are described. The aspects include a plurality of computation elements for performing channel coding operations and memory for storing programs to direct each of the plurality of computation elements. A controller controls the plurality of computation elements and stored programs to achieve channel coding operations in accordance with a plurality of wireless communication standards. The plurality of computation elements include a data reordering element, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) element, a convolutional encoder element, and a Viterbi decoder clement.
US08249130B2
Methods and systems for fast synchronization and data reception for frequency hopping wireless communication systems are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include receiving a plurality of RF signals corresponding to a plurality of hopping frequencies. The RF signals may be processed in parallel to determine a hopping sequence. For example, the plurality of RF signals may be down-converted to a corresponding plurality of IF or baseband signals. The down-converted signals may be combined together to a single combined signal, and the single combined signal may then be processed to determine the frequency hopping sequence.
US08249129B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that provide ultra-wideband frequency hopping spread spectrum (UWB-FHSS) solutions for transmit and receive architectures. These UWB-FHSS transmit and receive architectures can transmit signals over an extremely wide bandwidth while using a relatively slow analog-to-digital converter (ADC) without suffering from unacceptable performance degradation. For example, ADCs can be used having sample rates lower than standard Nyquist criteria would require for the bandwidth of the spread spectrum utilized.
US08249119B2
Apparatus comprising an optical fiber laser having at least two laser cores and means arranged to combine laser output from the at least two laser cores at a first end of the optical fiber laser to produce a combined laser output having one or more beat signals.
US08249116B2
The embodiments provide mechanisms for synchronizing a receiver with OFDM pilots that are robust in the presence of channel fading conditions. In addition to using instantaneous channel estimate values to locate the first arriving path and last arriving path, the methods calculate time-domain averaged channel estimate values and use those averaged values to determine an average first arriving path and last arriving path. A combination of the instantaneous first arriving path and last arriving path and the average first arriving path and last arriving path may then be used to determine the delay spread and calculate a timing offset to be applied in timing synchronization. The various embodiments introduce improvements under channel fading conditions. Time-domain averaging may be embodied in a flexible DSP processor, or implemented in hardware and/or software. Using both instantaneous and time-averaged channel estimates greatly improves the robustness of time synchronization under channel fading conditions.
US08249113B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for switching between channels of encoded media data involving receiving encoded media data including reference frames and dependent frames for a plurality of channels, wherein each dependent frame refers to at least one reference frame. Frames associated with a first channel from the plurality of channels are decoded to generate a decoded signal for the first channel. While decoding frames associated with the first channel, data corresponding to at least one reference frame associated with a second channel from the plurality of channels are stored. In response to a control signal for switching from the first to the second channel, at least one dependent frame associated with the second channel is decoded by utilizing the stored data corresponding to the at least one reference frame associated with the second channel, to generate a decoded signal for the second channel.
US08249101B2
According to one embodiment, a method for facilitating communication of a MANET is provided. A MANET may include a plurality of nodes configured as a virtual IP network. The virtual IP network may comprise a plurality of physical paths of the MANET. The physical paths may couple an IP network to an IP node. Each physical path may traverse a distinct set of nodes of the MANET. The physical paths may be represented to the IP network as a logical path comprising one or more virtual IP nodes.
US08249100B2
A method includes providing at a first computer an application generating service requests at a duplex channel interface, at least a first service request requesting multiple subsequent data responses from a service located on a second computer. The method also includes employing a first process to convert the first service request into a first http request and transmitting the first http request over a network. The method further includes employing the first process to generate a second http request in the form of a polling request. A context reply to the second http request containing data responsive to the first service request is received. The method alsod includes providing the data response to the first service request to the duplex channel interface.
US08249099B2
A device manages data for a digital signal processor. The device includes an external random access memory (RAM), configured to store channel specific data for plural different channels; and a microprocessor, in communication with the external RAM. When receiving the packet, in a transport layer processing the packet, the microprocessor determines a channel of the plural different channels corresponding to an indication in a transport layer header of the received packet. The microprocessor fetches channel specific data specific to the channel into an internal memory internal to the microprocessor from the external RAM, by the transport layer, before the packet is passed to an application layer, thereby avoiding a wait for reading the packet at the application layer.
US08249096B2
A system, method and apparatus for providing multiple access modes in a data communications network includes a network access device having a plurality of input ports, a plurality of output ports, and a switching fabric for routing data received on the plurality of input ports to at least one of the plurality of output ports. Control logic within the network access device is adapted to determine whether a user device coupled to one of the plurality of input ports supports a user authentication protocol used by a host network. If the user authentication protocol is not supported, then the input port to which the network access device is coupled is placed in a semi-authorized access state that limits access to a pre-configured network accessible via the host network.
US08249091B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for reporting a Power Headroom (PH) of a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system having a plurality of aggregated uplink carriers. The PH is calculated for a Power Headroom Report (PHR)-triggered uplink carrier. A PHR having the PH and an identifier of the PHR-triggered uplink carrier is generated, and the PHR is transmitted to a network. Also, a PHR having the PH is generated, and the PHR is transmitted to a network over one of a plurality of PHR-transmitting uplink carriers configured to correspond to the PHR-triggered uplink carrier.
